Josephine (Joey) has been through so much: her father died while in the military and her mother lives with illness. Joey's passion is singing: will shJosephine (Joey) has been through so much: her father died while in the military and her mother lives with illness. Joey's passion is singing: will she ever sing again?
The Songbird's Courage has real life struggles, grief, moving on and romance. It's enjoyable and heartwrenching. I'm glad I found this book.
4 stars
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. ...more
Students at a high school in North California are rehearsing for a play when one happens. I liked the chaWhat would you do if there was an earthquake?
Students at a high school in North California are rehearsing for a play when one happens. I liked the characters and their lives and backstories. I especially liked Sandy and Miss G.
In Disrupted, B. Linn Goodwyn has created an atmosphere and storyline that is both true-to-life because of school and relationships, but also shocking because of what happens with the earthquake. It’s shocking to me at least as I have never lived in an area where there are earthquakes.
I enjoyed learning about earthquakes in my physical geography lessons. Disrupted is a lesson in itself: a lesson through the students’, teachers’ and townspeople’s experiences of the 7.1 quake. This aspect is especially interesting to me as I have a degree in human geogaphy which studies the effects of humans on the physical environment and their lived experiences of it. This includes lived experiences of natural disasters.
My mind immediately started forming questions:
Will they get out alive?
How will they move on?
and more.
I think the book will make everyone ask questions. That’s great, as it certainly made me think and reflect. The subject matter and way it’s written will capture a lot of people’s hearts. It did mine.
The plot is immersive and atmospheric. I have no experience of earthquakes fortunately, and I was concerned, anxious and even fearful for everyone.
The novel is definitely not your standard YA one It’s full of real life for the students, some romance, but also adversity and it all felt so real. It was almost as if it were happening around me. This excited and fascinated me, and made it even more compelling.
The pacing is perfect.
Will San Ramos High and the town ever be the same?
Thanks to B. Lynn Goodwin and Women on Writing for my eARC in exchange for an honest and voluntary review.
This is a review of the excerpt of the book. This was 35 pages of an ebook.
I liked the synopsis of the book, and my first thoughts were that it soundThis is a review of the excerpt of the book. This was 35 pages of an ebook.
I liked the synopsis of the book, and my first thoughts were that it sounded original. Lovesend certainly was an original name for the town, and the settings of Susannah and Laura's home, and the high school were realistic and well chosen.
Laura, Daniel, and Mo all had distinct personlities. They have died, but are they really forgotten? Magical happenings and science fiction collide in this highly detailed, fast-paced story.
I really felt Susannah and Laura's relationship as sisters come through, and the emotions were well shown.
I enjoyed the sample and it left me wanting to review the entire book.
4 stars
Merged review:
This is a review of the excerpt of the book. This was 35 pages of an ebook.
I liked the synopsis of the book, and my first thoughts were that it sounded original. Lovesend certainly was an original name for the town, and the settings of Susannah and Laura's home, and the high school were realistic and well chosen.
Laura, Daniel, and Mo all had distinct personlities. They have died, but are they really forgotten? Magical happenings and science fiction collide in this highly detailed, fast-paced story.
I really felt Susannah and Laura's relationship as sisters come through, and the emotions were well shown.
I enjoyed the sample and it left me wanting to review the entire book.
TRIGGER WARNING: Strong language from the bullies and some repitition of this by Lily
I’ve never reviewed anything by John Holmes and I picked this froTRIGGER WARNING: Strong language from the bullies and some repitition of this by Lily
I’ve never reviewed anything by John Holmes and I picked this from Coffee and Thorn’s selection because it sounded. really positive.
In Lily, John Holmes has created a feisty teenager who isn’t afraid to fight for herself. Having been bullied myself, I immediately felt for Lily in her fight to want to get her own back for what she’d experienced because of them. I loved the characters of Lily and her Gran. Her Gran was witty, wise and supportive.
I enjoyed the mystery of the drink and how, in Lily and her grandmother John Holmes really “gets inside” the heads of the characters and recreates their thoughts, feelings mannerisms and actions in a way that’s absolutely gripping.
The story is helped along by quick pacing.Lily and her Gran are certainly people to cheer on in life. I hope their story encourages many girls to fight for what they want.
Thanks to John Holmes and Coffee and Thorn for my eARC in exchange for an honest and voluntary review
I liked the sound of this synopsis. It's a long time since I requested a YA book, but I was doubly interested as it was an audiobook. And it was the fI liked the sound of this synopsis. It's a long time since I requested a YA book, but I was doubly interested as it was an audiobook. And it was the first book I had listened to via Spotify. I enjoyed the experience.
The boy meets girl again he once knew. groupwork assignment and will-they-won't-they find a connection that's down to more than schoolwork/coincidence between them is one I've found in books before, but there are things that set Blinded Me With Science apart from other books with these themes.
I identified with the uncomfortable feeling of having to work with another student, and think so many people will, too..
Emmerson is a great character. She's focused and caring. Steel is kind of a know it all at times, and sometimes I felt irritated by him. I was really wanting to know if they'd get on or not.
The narrator was absolutely outstanding.
Blinded Me With Science is a quick listen and the romance and internal thoughts for both characters get very hot at times. We see them being confident, vulnerable, lusting after each other then in conflict and then doubting what they feel...it's a real emotional rollercoaster and the quick pacing with carefully chosen words and excellently placed visual details here and there makes for a great YA romance.
I didn't know it was book 2 in the series, but it reads like a standalone. I am eager to find the other books in the series. I didn't feel like I was missing things as sometimes happens with other series where I don't start off with book 1.
Thanks to Tara September, Plus It Up and Rachel's Random Resources for my eARC in exchange for an honest and voluntary review.
TRIGGER WARNING: Early onset dementia, sudden medical diagnosis, brain injury.
What happens when a past love reappears?
I was really looking forward tTRIGGER WARNING: Early onset dementia, sudden medical diagnosis, brain injury.
What happens when a past love reappears?
I was really looking forward to this. I did not find the characters very well fleshed-out or very visual though, which is a shame. I struggled to get into this novel, but it grew on me because of the pace and plot.
The plot was good and I loved the way that songs were woven into it and the therapeutic aspect of them in the characters' lives and as a kind of life soundtrack. I remember liking some of the songs, and I have some on CDs. The plot and songs bought me back to my own teen/university years and was nostalgic. There's so much emotion in this book.
The writing style is easygoing and relaxing and the chapters are a good length. A Love to Last a Lifetime is a great combination of past love, loyalty to the past or present and made me ask who Erin's true love really was. Her teen love or her husband? I liked Erin's friend and Erin's parents, but Erin was hard to like. She seemed self-centred and indecisive.
I felt like maybe this was intentional though, as the other characters were so different. There's a real feeling of doubt and being hesitant about what you really want in life running through the book as a theme.
Thanks to Clare Swatman and Rachel's Random Resources for my eARC in exchange for an honest and voluntary review.
