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Showing posts with label books. Show all posts
Showing posts with label books. Show all posts

Sunday, August 2, 2020

Book Thoughts: The Silent Wife

Sunday, August 02, 2020 0 Comments



Summary:

Atlanta, Georgia. Present day. A young woman is brutally attacked and left for dead. The police investigate but the trail goes cold. Until a chance assignment takes GBI investigator Will Trent to the state penitentiary, and to a prisoner who says he recognizes the MO. The attack looks identical to the one he was accused of eight years earlier. The prisoner’s always insisted that he was innocent, and now he’s sure he has proof. The killer is still out there.

As Will digs into both crimes it becomes clear that he must solve the original case in order to reach the truth. Yet nearly a decade has passed—time for memories to fade, witnesses to vanish, evidence to disappear. And now he needs medical examiner Sara Linton to help him hunt down a ruthless murderer. But when the past and present collide, everything Will values is at stake…



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The history. Jeffrey. The Jeffrey Tolliver. He's the character who absolutely broke me when he died. And now we got a glimpse of him – eight years ago in Grant County. It made me want to reread the Grant County series which I totally loved and what made me a Slaughter fan. 


That said, this does not mean that I do not like Will because I do adore him too and I am deeply enjoying the Will Trent series.


Of course, where there’s Jeffrey, we could sense that Lena will also be there. This book sheds more light in their relationship, which I appreciated--but, I just have to say, I still don't like Lena. Period. The end. Sorry.

 

The different timelines. The shifting timelines worked really well here. When the story changed perspective to Jeffrey, back to eight years ago, I had flashbacks of the previous novels and this added depth to what had actually transpired back then.  It somehow felt surreal revisiting Grant County--it felt like actually returning there and witnessing events unfold in real time.

 

The hunch. Could Jeffrey really have done something like that? Is the image we have built of Jeffrey going to collapse? Honestly, I found myself resisting the idea. I did not want any of my thoughts to happen. I somehow got this feeling that something wasn't right--that if anything wrong happened, it was from someone on their side. While I'm not sure I fully predicted the reveal, I was no longer shocked by it either. In the end, everything that was done made sense.

 

The crime. Horrifying and chill-inducing. This is how I would describe this 10th installment. This is deeply unsettling. Ms. Slaughter, as always, doesn't hold back when it comes to gruesome details; her descriptions are so vivid that it's impossible not to pictue them, and that's what makes them disturbing and gives me chills. And I applaud Ms. Slaughter for bringing such into her books and never once hesitates to show the evils of this world in a powerful way.


What I admired in this one is how Ms. Slaughter was able to show us how people, or women to be more specific, deal with such types of encounters in their life. The realization of the trauma and the suffering they would have to endure which will stay with them their whole life was something else. The depth and the effect of such crimes will forever stay with these victims and something that can never be erased – it is so heartbreakingly depicted in this one.


The relationship. I always enjoy reading the dynamics of the different characters in this series. The partnership between Faith and Will, the GBI team and Amanda's bossiness, and especially the realtionship between Sara and Will. This brought back realizations from Sara and Will of their past. Their pasts, especially that of Sara, resulted to tensions to their relationship. This book dives deeper into their relationship. I was a bit heartbroken for Will but I’m glad they were able to work it out. I cannot wait to see what will happen to them next and how their relationship will evolve in future books. As Ms. Slaughter said, there will be more Will and Sara stories. A love story weaved into terrifying crimes. 


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For new readers, do not hesitate, you can start on this one. However, if you want to dig deeper into this Slaughter world, go start reading the Grant County series first then dive into the Will Trent Series. I'm telling you, you will not be disappointed.


Wednesday, April 1, 2020

Book Thoughts: Karin Slaughter's The Kept Woman and The Last Widow

Wednesday, April 01, 2020 0 Comments
These are the latest installments (Books 8 & 9) from Karin Slaughter's Will Trent Series.

I've been a fan of her since reading "A Faint Cold Fear" back in 2009, and as always, she never disappoints.

One of the things I love about Karin Slaughter's writing is how each character shines and develops. She vividly describes things or events that are happening that you would see everything unfolding in your mind. And sometimes it just gets to you - the graphic details may sometimes make you shudder. As her site says "Stories that get under your skin." And truly, they do.

Here are my thoughts on the two books:

The Kept Woman

I started with this book sometime last year. And I honestly could not remember why I have to put it down. When I picked it back up this time, I was not able to stop reading.

The star of this book was definitely Angie, Will's ex-wife. I absolutely hated Angie—especially in this book. Everything about her was just... it's honestly hard to explain. Still, you cannot deny the fact that she is one well-written character and you wouldn't be able to keep your attention away from her. 

In this book, I felt Sara's pain and I hated Will for it.

The Last Widow

Right after finishing The Kept Woman, I immediately dived into this one.

The plot of the story was something new and on a bigger scale, not just within their towns. As someone who isn't from the US, I honestly don't know the basis of what was happening in the book, but wow that is some freaking insane stuff going on there.

As for Sara and Will, it was further shown here how their relationship is growing over time. There was this part where Will talks to Sara about her parents and that made me tear up. At this point, I was already way too invested with the characters, and I really felt his emotions. This book further solidified their love for each other.

I also loved the shifting perspectives. Some scenes were revisited from different points of view, which may feel repetitive to some, but I definitely understood why it has to be done. It actually gave you a better picture of what was happening and made you understand the thoughts and emotions of each and every character.

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I don't know why it took me so long to read the last 2 books in the series. But wow! Classic Slaughter. Packed from start to finish. You wouldn't be able to put this down. 

Next book, please.





Monday, January 28, 2013

Book Thoughts: Just One Day

Monday, January 28, 2013 1 Comments

 "...being in love... It's something that never comes off, no matter how much you want it to."

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A breathtaking journey toward self-discovery and true love, from the author of If I Stay

When sheltered American good girl Allyson "LuLu" Healey first meets laid-back Dutch actor Willem De Ruiter at an underground performance of Twelfth Night in England, there’s an undeniable spark. After just one day together, that spark bursts into a flame, or so it seems to Allyson, until the following morning, when she wakes up after a whirlwind day in Paris to discover that Willem has left. Over the next year, Allyson embarks on a journey to come to terms with the narrow confines of her life, and through Shakespeare, travel, and a quest for her almost-true-love, to break free of those confines.




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I love you, Gayle Forman. I love you for writing books such as Just One Day: books that stain.

I was so excited to read this new book by Gayle Forman and I will tell you now, it did not disappoint. I LOOOVED IT!  I never thought I’d like the story this much when I started reading it but when I read the last few words, the story totally stayed with me. I felt it.

The emotions: happiness, giddiness, sadness, longing, hopefulness… The exciting, the heartbreaking, the Awww…, the OMG!,  the Shocks! moments.

The theme... discovering yourself and finding true love. Something we all can totally relate to. Something that always comes up in most YA novels. But Allyson's journey is definitely captivating and unforgettable.

The characters…  Oh, Allyson (aka Lulu) and Willem. I love, love, love the two of them. The secondary characters also added a lot of layers to the story. Melanie, Dee, The roommates, The parents, The Ausies, Wren, all of them.

The setting… Paris! How romantic can this get? Forman showed a different side of Paris that I have not read before. This is just the place. 

The ending… Why oh why, Gayle Forman, did you have to end it the way it ended? Such a cliffhanger. Please release Just One Year very soon. I can’t wait.

...

Meeting someone in a foreign country, joining him on a journey, touring Paris together for a day, seeing a whole new side of yourself and falling in love... ALL IN JUST ONE DAY. This is the story… and a whole lot more. If you loved If I Stay and Where She Went, you’ll definitely love this one.

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My Just One Day Playlist:

 

Daylight by Maroon 5- Alex G cover 
"And when the daylight comes I'll have to go
But tonight I'm gonna hold you so close
'Cause in the daylight we'll be on our own
But tonight I need to hold you so close."

Everything Has Changed - Taylor Swift feat. Ed Sheeran
"'Cause all I know is we said hello
And your eyes look like coming home
All I know is a simple name, everything has changed."

4 AM - Alex G
"I feel so close to you right now
But have you fallen for me yet?"

"It's still your heart that lifts me
And your words that can kill me
But still I'd run for miles
Just to be near you"

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Book Thoughts: Left to Love (The Next Door Boys 2)

Wednesday, August 15, 2012 0 Comments

"...the best place in the world will always be next to you. I'm there until you send me away."

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Leigh’s life is shaping up to be pretty perfect.

She married the father of a little boy she fell in love with. They live in a nice house, on a quiet street, and her hobby of a sewing business is keeping her busier than she ever imagined. She’s back in touch with her brother who she hasn’t seen since she was a child, and her new husband has an “in” for his dream job when he graduates in the spring.

But when her small symptoms begin to lead up to something big - she has to face the shattering realization that her cancer is back.

Leigh struggles with her new marriage, her faith, her desire to adopt the little boy who calls her mom, and the strength to keep fighting for her life.


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Sadness… Tears: Yes, there were some. Happiness: a lot. Hope: Plenty. Love: overflowing. These are the feelings and emotions that stood out reading Left to Love, the continuation of The Next Door Boys by Jolene Perry.

I looked forward to what would happen to Leigh and Brian’s love story and I was so happy with how it continued but I wasn’t prepared for the events that transpired next. I felt sad and scared for Leigh because for how long did she try to step out of the shadow of her sickness. Then it just suddenly comes spiraling back down. I was broken-hearted for her. How could this happen to her? At the same time, I felt frustrated with Leigh when she kept pushing people away especially Brian.  Bri, I was also broken-hearted for him, he’s so lost and didn’t know what to do to make her feel better. And I loved him for doing whatever he can to help Leigh, and he never once gave up and left her side. I admired them both for how they pushed through and fought the battle together.

Then you also have the adorable Nathan; he brought so much happiness to the story. He’s just so cute.

What I also loved in this book was that Leigh’s family and the people around her never left her side and never loosed hope and they really did their best to make her happy. 

This second book dug deeper. It was highly emotional than the first. Some tears fell and I was overwhelmed with a lot of emotions. If you’re an emotional person or you’re a softy, prepare some tissues while reading this. I really liked this as much as the first. This is just so full of love, love , and more love. I am now an official Jolene Perry fan.

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My Left to Love Playlist:

  • Keep Holding On - Avril Lavigne 
  • "Keep holding on. 'Cause you know we'll make it through, we'll make it through. Just stay strong. 'Cause you know I'm here for you. I'm here for you."
  •  
  • I Wouldn't Mind - He Is We 
  • "Forever is a long time. But I wouldn't mind spending it by your side. Tell me every day. I get to wake up to that smile. I wouldn't mind it at all."
  •  
  •  I Won't Let Go - Rascall Flatts 
  • "I will dry your eyes. I will fight your fight. I will hold you tight. And I won't let go."


Thursday, August 9, 2012

Book Thoughts: The Next Door Boys

Thursday, August 09, 2012 0 Comments

“We only see what's close to us, but if we allow ourselves to simply feel, and not see, we can understand so much more.”
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With her body still recovering from last year's cancer treatments, Leigh Tressman is determined to be independent. Despite the interference from her overprotective brother, physical frustrations, and spiritual dilemmas— not to mention the ever expanding line of young men ready to fall in love with her— Leigh discovers what it actually means to stand on her own and learns that love can be found in unexpected but delightful places.







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What got my attention about this novel was its nice book cover. Sometimes I’m like that I read a book because the cover caught my attention…

I didn’t know that there would be a whole lot of religious things going on in this novel. (They are Mormons.) So, when I found that out, I was a bit apprehensive of how this would affect me reading the story because I’m not one. But hey, this definitely didn’t affect my liking of the story. In fact, it was a good thing; it added a different element in the story that we don’t usually get in other YA novels.

I totally loved the characters in this book.  They are well developed.  I especially loved Leigh. She has a strong spirit and after being sick she doesn’t want to depend much on other people. She wanted to be independent and do things she usually does before. And it’s just so funny how she seemed oblivious that boys are not just being friendly but that they do actually like her. 

Plus, the romance thing... I have a liking to relationships that start out as a friendship thing; one that grows gradually.  

And, having a brother myself, I enjoyed Leigh and Jaron’s moments together. I admired their closeness. 

This is a story about moving forward and finding independence, about love, faith, family, friendship, and a whole lot more. It is inspirational, sweet, romantic, and fun to read.

I felt that I wanted more when the story ended because there’s just so much more that could happen to Leigh's love story. So, I was so stoked when I found out that there actually is a book 2, Left to Love. I cannot wait to read the second book. I’m off to read it now. 


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My The Next Door Boys Playlist:
  •  Wonderwall - Oasis
  •  "Because maybe, you're gonna be the one that saves me. And after all, you're my wonderwall"
  • Nothing Like You and I - The Perishers
    "We spent some time together walking
    Spent some time just talking about who we were"
    Stronger - Britney Spears
    "Stronger than yesterday. Now there's nothing but my way. My loneliness ain't killing me no more, I'm stronger."
    Here in My Life - Hillsong United
    "You are my freedom, Jesus You're the reason, I'm kneeling again at Your throne. Where will I be without You here in my life?

Monday, August 6, 2012

Book Thoughts: Endless Summer

Monday, August 06, 2012 0 Comments

"Love Hurt. Honesty made it hurt worse, and I could hardly stand it." 

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Two irresistible boys. One unforgettable summer.  Lori can’t wait for her summer at the lake. She loves wakeboarding and hanging with her friends—including the two hotties next door. With the Vader brothers, she's always been just one of the guys. Now that she’s turning sixteen, she wants to be seen as one of the girls, especially in the eyes of Sean, the older brother. But that’s not going to happen—not if the younger brother, Adam, can help it. Lori plans to make Sean jealous by spending time with Adam. Adam has plans of his own for Lori. As the air heats up, so does this love triangle. Will Lori’s romantic summer melt into one hot mess?

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The weird thing about reading this book is that I actually started somewhere in the middle. 

I was just browsing through my e-books when I stumbled upon a random part that really grabbed my attention. I got so engrossed right at that moment that I didn't even think about going back to the beginning--I just kept reading.  I didn't care how it started; I just needed to know what happened next.

So I reached the end... and that was the only time that I went back to the beginning.

Weird? Definitely.

Now, my thoughts...

Wasn't being instantly hooked a sign that I really liked this book? Yeah. Definitely. Ha! 

The story is just sooo cute. 

I absolutely adore Lori's relationship with the boys. Surrounded by attractive boys, how can you not go nuts? Lori was unsure of a lot of things in this book and comes up with some crazy ideas to get the guy she likes. 

And when she finally got together with one of the Vader Boys? It was so cute. For a while, at least... because things got a little crazy all over again. This gave them the chance to prove their love for each other and further test their relationship, especially their trust in each other. I loved how they fought through the hard times. 

One of my favorite parts was the second part of the book because of the changing point of view from Lori to Adam. It added a whole new perspective to some parts of the story. Plus, it allowed you to dig into Adam's thoughts on certain things.

If you're looking for something light, fun, and cute for a summer read, you might want to check this one out.

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My Endless Summer Playlist:

  • Far Away - Nickelback
  • "I'd give it all. I'd give for us. Give anything but I won't give up. 'Cause you know, you know, you know. That I love you, I have loved you all along.
  • I Won't Give Up - Jason Mraz
  • "I won't give up on us. Even if the sky gets rough. I'm giving you all my love. I'm still looking up."
  • How We Do This - Sterling Knight
  • "I found, that nothin' can come from nothin'. So you better come round, I'm down. How do we do this?"
  •  

Tuesday, July 3, 2012

Book Thoughts: Amy & Roger's Epic Detour

Tuesday, July 03, 2012 0 Comments

 "It's not about the destination. It's getting there that's the good part."

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 Amy Curry thinks her life sucks. Her mom decides to move from California to Connecticut to start anew--just in time for Amy's senior year. Her dad recently died in a car accident. So Amy embarks on a road trip to escape from it all, driving cross-country from the home she's always known toward her new life. Joining Amy on the road trip is Roger, the son of Amy's mother's old friend. Amy hasn’t seen him in years, and she is less than thrilled to be driving across the country with a guy she barely knows. So she's surprised to find that she is developing a crush on him. At the same time, she’s coming to terms with her father’s death and how to put her own life back together after the accident. Told in traditional narrative as well as scraps from the road--diner napkins, motel receipts, postcards--this is the story of one girl's journey to find herself.

 
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I had high expectations for this book since I kept seeing it in a lot of book blogs' weekly lists. And guess what? It did not disappoint. 

I love, love, love this book.

What I Loved…

1.  Amy & Roger. They are such lovable characters, each carrying their own emotional baggage, which made them feel real and relatable.

2. The budding romance. I kept waiting for that momentand when it finally happened, it was so worth it. The slow build made everything more genuine and beautiful.

3. The unforgettable/epic detour.  From the places they visited to the food they ate and the games they played—everything about the journey felt vivid and fun.

4. The emotional journey. Yes, it is a feel-good road trip story,  but it isn’t just about that. It’s also about love, grief, guilt, family, friendship, and moving on.

5. The Travel Scrapbook (photos, receipts, maps, sketches). This was such a unique touch. It added a whole lot to the story. It made it more real and made me, the reader, more engaged. This made me feel like I was part of the trip myself.  (See below.)

6. The playlists. As a music lover, this is a major plus. It was a good way to discover songs and artists I haven't heard before. (I’m currently downloading the songs from the playlists.)  
7. The secondary characters. They met a whole lot of characters and they’re just great. Even the brief encounters were memorable. Every character added something special to the journey.  

8. It ended with this... 
       Which says something more about the story. And is just great!

I didn’t realize how much I loved this book until I turned the last page. I felt a little sad the road trip was over. All throughout the story, I felt like I was with them on the trip. I totally connected with Amy as the voice of the book. I just liked how Ms. Matson put this together—the scrapbook elements, the flashbacks, the notes, the quotes

I wanted to go on a road trip after finishing it. Something spontaneous, with no set plans, never knowing where you’ll be next, just seeing where the road takes me. If I lived in America, I would want to retrace Amy & Roger’s route. 

This is such a great novel. I’m officially a fan.
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