REVIEW: All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker

 

OUR REVIEW: 

I'd been seeing this novel on a ton of 'best of' lists at the end of last year, so when I saw it go on major sale, I purchased it. Because it was so lauded, I think my expectations may have been a smidge too high. I don't know what I thought this would be, but what it was, was not what I was expecting. That's not necessarily a bad thing...just a thing.

There are quite a few things I liked about All the Colors of the Dark: I liked that it covered decades of the lives of Patch and Saint. I liked that we got both of their points of view. I liked that there was a feeling of finality and resolution by the end, even if it wasn't quite what I was hoping for. 

The things that weren't my favorites? It seemed a bit slow and draggy in places and I wanted more for these characters than what they endured. I know that last one isn't really a fair critique, especially because it speaks to how well developed the characters were that I cared that much, but it's how I felt, soooooo *shrugs*

I could definitely see this being a limited series on a streaming service; it has all of the depth and breadth that many viewers would like. So ultimately, while it wasn't the thriller, page turner I was anticipating, it was definitely a good read. 

BUY IT: https://amzn.to/4lbFmL1

SYNOPSIS:

1975 is a time of change in America. The Vietnam War is ending. Mohammed Ali is fighting Joe Frazier. And in the small town of Monta Clare, Missouri, girls are disappearing.

When the daughter of a wealthy family is targeted, the most unlikely hero emerges—Patch, a local boy with one eye, who saves the girl, and, in doing so, leaves heartache in his wake.

Patch and those who love him soon discover that the line between triumph and tragedy has never been finer. And that their search for answers will lead them to truths that could mean losing one another.

A missing person mystery, a serial killer thriller, a love story, a unique twist on each, Chris Whitaker has written a novel about what lurks in the shadows of obsession, and the blinding light of hope.

REVIEW: The Kiss Lottery by Ilsa Madden-Mills

 OUR REVIEW:

Ilsa Madden-Mills typically gives me a good read with good laughs and while The Kiss Lottery definitely has its moments, I think it wasn't a higher rated read for me because the novella length made it feel a little underdeveloped. Even with the slightly rushed feel of it all, I still enjoyed the story of how Everly and Beckett find love, all these years later. Cute, short, sweet read.

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SYNOPSIS:

Roses are red, violets are blue—someone in Rose has feelings for you…

Yeah, bad ones. Everly Davis didn’t leave her tight-knit hometown on the best terms. It’s been ten years, but you don’t forget heartbreak like that. Then again, the anonymous invite to the annual Kiss Lottery in Rose, Tennessee, gives Everly content for her podcast. And she has a bone to pick with that old heartbreak anyway.

Beckett Whitfield has never left Rose—and he’s never forgotten Everly. He even named the villain in his latest bestseller after her. Turns out she’s not happy about that. Nothing about their reunion is particularly happy, and after the way they left things, what did he expect?

When the Kiss Lottery pairs them together, Everly and Beckett will have to confront old feelings that never went away and the secrets they never shared. But finally telling each other everything might be exactly what they’ve needed all along.

REVIEW: First Time Caller by B.K. Borison

OUR REVIEW:

This is the second thing I've read by B.K. Borison and I have to say I'm a fan. The novels are engaging, the characters and their situations seem recognizable and yet fresh, and I find that I fly through them when I'm reading. In the case of First Time Caller, you have a grump, Aiden, and a sunshine, Lucie, inadvertently being brought together by Lucie's daughter. Her daughter just wants her to find love and a companion and decides to use Aiden's romance hotline/radio show to help her find the right person. What starts out as a search ends with Aiden--though there are some pretty sucky dating incidents to get through first. Despite what they think would or should happen, these two really are a great match and once they get out of their own ways, they figure it out.

Delightful secondary characters, great scenes and banter, make this a definite fun read. 

BUY IT HERE: https://amzn.to/42q0cis

SYNOPSIS:

A hopeless romantic meets a jaded radio host in this cozy, Sleepless in Seattle-inspired love story from beloved author B.K. Borison.

Aiden Valentine has a secret: he's fallen out of love with love. And as the host of Baltimore's romance hotline, that's a bit of a problem. But when a young girl calls in to the station asking for dating advice for her mom, the interview goes viral, thrusting Aiden and Heartstrings into the limelight.

Lucie Stone thought she was doing just fine. She has a good job; an incredible family; and a smart, slightly devious kid. But when all of Baltimore is suddenly scrutinizing her love life-or lack thereof—she begins to question if she's as happy as she thought. Maybe a little more romance wouldn't be such a bad thing.

Everyone wants Lucie to find her happy ending... even the handsome, temperamental man calling the shots. But when sparks start to fly behind the scenes, Lucie must make the final call between the radio-sponsored happily ever after or the man in the headphones next to her.

 

REVIEW: Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros

 OUR REVIEW:

The way this series has a choke hold on us and we are its willing victims? Yes ma'am. 

Thank you baby Jesus for my library acquiring extra copies in their Libby app and so my wait time was significantly decreased. And while we're thanking people, thank you Rebecca Yarros for making it easy to pick up Onyx Storm and read it a whole year after reading book 2....I didn't do a re-read of the series and I'm happy to report that it was easy to get right back into the Empyrean world and remember plot and characters.

In this third book, there were definitely answers to some questions, definitely more questions raised, and a continued cliffhanger ending. I felt like I began to understand more and more about their world and the hazards of living in it. Secondary characters were given more development, the dragons were hilarious and wonderful and awesome...how do I get to bond with my very own dragon?!...there was a section that reminded me of The Odyssey (which I know felt long to some, but I appreciated the journey aspect of it), and of course Violet and Xaden gave us plenty to work with. 

My one complaint is that I'll have to wait for what will seem like a lifetime for the last two books and if Rebecca Yarros had any mercy at all she'd release them back to back. I know she won't but it's worth an ask. Ultimately, though, I've found each book to be worth the wait and I love that my students are DYING over these books and rushing into my classroom to tell me all the things about where they are and how they feel and that just makes my life, right now. 

Happy Reading. 

BUY IT: https://amzn.to/3QIkRHP

SYNOPSIS:

After nearly eighteen months at Basgiath War College, Violet Sorrengail knows there’s no more time for lessons. No more time for uncertainty. Because the battle has truly begun, and with enemies closing in from outside their walls and within their ranks, it’s impossible to know who to trust.

Now Violet must journey beyond the failing Aretian wards to seek allies from unfamiliar lands to stand with Navarre. The trip will test every bit of her wit, luck, and strength, but she will do anything to save what she loves—her dragons, her family, her home, and him.

Even if it means keeping a secret so big, it could destroy everything. They need an army. They need power. They need magic. And they need the one thing only Violet can find—the truth. But a storm is coming...and not everyone can survive its wrath.

REVIEW: The Favorites by Layne Fargo

 

OUR REVIEW:

The Libby app gods have been smiling on me; I didn't have to wait long to read The Favorites--a novel by a new to me author, following a young woman's quest to be the best ice dancer in the world. What I really enjoyed about this novel was how I didn't have to love Katarina to enjoy her story. As a matter of fact, I don't think you're supposed to like her at points in this novel, which makes her redemption that much better. I found myself fascinated at her evolution and her absolutely narrow minded focus to be the best of the best, no matter the cost. And as much as I shook my head at some of her decisions, as much as I'd like to think I wouldn't do the same, I also felt like I understood why she did what she did. Her justifications and excuses for her behavior weren't always likeable, they were honest. She was deeply flawed and I truly appreciated it.

While The Favorites mainly follows the story of Katarina, you also get to see the evolution of the characters that she interacts. You begin to understand how people like her, in those intensely focused, pressured-filled bubbles, make some of the good (and bad) choices that they make. 

I zoomed through this read and found it a completely satisfying read--the twists and turns held my interest, and the fact that it follows Kat for decades, so you get to see her change and grow made it hard to put down and easy to recommend. 

BUY IT: https://amzn.to/4hNMtab

SYNOPSIS:

To the world, they were a scandal. To each other, an obsession.

An epic love story set in the sparkling, savage sphere of elite figure skating about a woman determined to carve her own path on and off the ice

She might not have a famous name, funding, or her family’s support, but Katarina Shaw has always known that she was destined to become an Olympic skater. When she meets Heath Rocha, a lonely kid stuck in the foster care system, their instant connection makes them a formidable duo on the ice. Clinging to skating—and each other—to escape their turbulent lives, Kat and Heath go from childhood sweethearts to champion ice dancers, captivating the world with their scorching chemistry, rebellious style, and rollercoaster relationship. Until a shocking incident at the Olympic Games brings their partnership to a sudden end.

As the ten-year anniversary of their final skate approaches, an unauthorized documentary reignites the public obsession with Shaw and Rocha, claiming to uncover the "real story" through interviews with their closest friends and fiercest rivals. Kat wants nothing to do with the documentary. But she can't stand the thought of someone else defining her legacy either. So, after a decade of silence, she's telling her story: from the childhood tragedies that created her all-consuming bond with Heath to the clash of desires that tore them apart. Sensational rumors have haunted their every step for years, but the truth may be even more shocking than the headlines.

Inspired by the powerful love and hate that fuel Emily Bronte’s classic, Wuthering Heights, The Favorites is an exhilarating dance between passion, ambition, and what it truly means to win.