Winter's Bone by Daniel Woodrell

Winter's Bone: A Novel by Daniel Woodrell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I heard good things about the movie that is based on this book, so I wanted to watch the movie. But I wanted to read the book first because I find if I read a book after watching the movie I can't really enjoy the book.

Anyways. What do I think about the book?

I really enjoyed the overall story, Ree Is a strong 16 year old, Having to deal with things 16 year olds shouldn't have to deal with. Her father has put the house and land they own up as bail and skipped town. He hasn't been seen since and his court case is next week. If he doesn't turn up at court Ree, her mother ---who has sunk into a terrible depression and does nothing but sit in a chair and stare all day and night.--- and her two brother's Sonny and Harold will lose everything and be left to survive with nothing. Ree has to hunt him down and take him to the police dead or alive to make certain they don't lose the roof over their heads. It's a mighty harsh path she chooses to take but it's her only option, she has no other choice. She must find her father.
It's a sad story and we see terrible things, terrible people and a terrible life they seem to live. But it also shows strength of character especially in Ree and How people can step forward and help whether it means they get caught up in your trouble or not.

I really did like this story but I wasn't too keen on they way it was written. I didn't understand what it was that I didn't like at first but I read a few reviews and after reading time and time again that it was written poetically, I figured that may be my problem, I am not one for the complicated poetry. Call me uneducated if you wish but I just don't get poetry. Never have and don't think I ever will.

I still recommend this book as everyone should take something from Ree's story. Everyone should try for even a smidgen of Ree's strength.


View all my reviews

Visitor Bob: A Horrible Short by Ellen C. Maze

Visitor Bob: A Horrible Short by Ellen C. Maze
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I found that this was a fun, yet horrible (as described in the title) short. A great little story to keep you entertained when you are stuck in a queue or waiting in the car for the kids to come out of school or Martial Arts. Everything I have read that Ellen has written always leaves me smiling. I hope Visitor Bob never pops into my room. :-/


View all my reviews

Beauty (An Anita Blake Sexy Outtake) by L.K. Hamilton

Beauty (An Anita Blake Sexy Outtake) by L.K. Hamilton


5 of 5 stars.


I had read a lot of reviews complaining that this isn't long enough and it didn't have any action in it. I found It was exactly what L.K. Hamilton advertised it as "a sex scene between Jean-Claude, Anita and Asher that got cut from KISS THE DEAD (out June 5)"
It was a HOT, HOT, HOT scene. It was great to see Asher full of confidence instead of his self pity. Ooh and the ever dominant Jean-Claude... Give me a bucket of cold water.. Quick sharp. We also got a sneak peek at Anita in action with stilettos and Vampire chests in a scene which will be in KISS THE DEAD.

Insurgent by Veronica Roth

Insurgent by Veronica Roth
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I give INSURGENT 3.5 stars.

I loved the story and feel like i would give 5 stars for the story and character angle the author went in. But the style of how she wrote it didn't seem to flow smoothly like DIVERGENT did. --I will have to reread DIVERGENT to make sure it wasn't written the same, but I don't remember noticing it so I think I am right to say it wasn't-- She gave us a scene and instead of finishing the scene off and smoothly lining us up for the next we got **** and a totally new scene. It was almost like she wrote the scenes as they came to her and instead of smoothing them all into a story she just plonked them into order an left it like that. It was like reading a tv show script. I just feel that we got ripped off a lot of story that we could of enjoyed more.

After saying all that I loved everything that went on with Tris, her journey of self discovery. Four/Tobias really annoyed me, he seemed to be on Tris' back most of the time. At one point I thought she should go for Uriah, which is something that would never cross my mind in DIVERGENT. Four did win me back with his last few sentences in the book. I just hope he stays that way in the next instalment. I don't like calling him Tobias, he will always be Four to me. maybe that why he was horrible in INSURGENT he was Tobias, not sweet Four.



View all my reviews

Fifty Shades Freed by E.L. James

Fifty Shades Freed by E.L. James
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was my favorite of the whole trilogy. I loved it. It was ended really well, everything wrapped up where it should. The author still used those ridiculous words and Grey's constantly using the word "come" really did my tree in... But I still loved it, I managed to over look those things.
I am so glad the hype made me pick these books up.


View all my reviews

Fifty Shades Darker by E.L. James

Fifty Shades Darker by E.L. James
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Daunted by the singular sexual tastes and dark secrets of the beautiful, tormented young entrepreneur Christian Grey, Anastasia Steele has broken off their relationship to start a new career with a Seattle publishing house. 

But desire for Christian still dominates her every waking thought, and when he proposes a new arrangement, Anastasia cannot resist. They rekindle their searing sensual affair, and Anastasia learns more about the harrowing past of her damaged, driven and demanding Fifty Shades. 

While Christian wrestles with his inner demons, Anastasia must confront the anger and envy of the women who came before her, and make the most important decision of her life.

I am loving this series. I was up until 4am finishing this last night, It obviously resulted in me waking with a pounding headache but oh well It was worth it.

I still have issues with the author using strange words like loquacious, inveigle, avaricious, taciturn and panacea to name just a few. Seriously what twenty something would really use words like that in everyday life?  I think the author swallowed a thesaurus whilst writing this book.

I was also really irritated that Christian Grey constantly said "Come" as an order to follow him or go with him. I was so ecstatic when at the 80% mark of my Kindle book he actually switched things up and said "let's go" If I wasn't sat down I would of fallen over. He spoilt it when he said "Come" again on the next page... and the next... and the next... and yep you guessed it... the next!

Even though I am complaining about these little things, I still can't give it less then 5 stars. I love the story/plot and characters way too much.
I am now going straight for the third installment. Laters :)


View all my reviews

Fair Game by Patricia Briggs

Fair Game by Patricia Briggs
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Patricia Briggs is one of my favourite authors. I love her Werewolf/Fae/Vampire world. This is another fabulous edition to her Alpha and Omega series. I am so glad we get to see more of Charles, Anna and Bran who we have seen pop up sometimes in her other series (Mercedes Thompson Series) I can not wait to find out how what they Fae did at the end of this is going to affect the Werewolves in the next book from both of these series.
Charles and Anna are having trouble with their relationship due to the role Charles plays as the boogeyman of the wolves. The FBI needs help to find a serial killer who has been killing werewolves, Anna goes to help as a werewolf consultant taking Charles as her bodyguard. Can they catch the killer before they become the next victim.
Brilliant plot, full of action, awesome as always.. :)

View all my reviews

Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L.James

Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I picked this book up because the huge hype about it intrigued me. Previous books that have been raved about I have avoided for a long time thinking they will no doubt be a disappointment. But recently I gave in to two other hyped about series and fell in love with them, so I thought I would believe the hype over this trilogy too. I am so glad I did.
This book belongs in the erotica genre. One of the main characters are heavily involved in the BDSM world. It's very steamy and kinky. I am not ashamed to say I loved every page of it. ;)
The only thing that bugged me was the fact that the author used words I had never heard of before, I was glad I was reading this on a kindle because I had the ability to use the built in dictionary when I came across an unusual word, which was quite often. The main characters where meant to be in their 20's, I am in my late 20's and no twenty-something year old that I know including myself, would use half of those 'Unusual words'. There are many other words that meant the same thing, I felt the author was just... dare I say 'showing off'?! Now I may be less educated then the MC as I did not attend university like her but I don't believe that she would use words like that on such a regular basis, English Lit student or not.
I think the title would of been more fitting if it was 'Fifty Shades of Fucked up" as one of the characters referred to themselves as that a few times throughout the book, quite rightly so too. But I guess some people in stores may find that an offensive title and it would be hidden on high up/out of sight shelves and not sell well.
Don't get me wrong I still love the book --I gave it 5 stars for crying out loud-- and will be moving straight onto "Fifty Shades Darker" regardless of the irritating unneeded words. I love the main characters and can't wait to find out whats going to happen to Ana and Christian next. I definitely recommend this as long as you are not scared of floggers and cable ties.

View all my reviews

Archangel's Blade by Nalini Singh

Archangel's Blade by Nalini Singh
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

"The severed head marked by a distinctive tattoo on its cheek should have been a Guild case, but dark instincts honed over hundreds of years of life compel the vampire Dmitri to take control. There is something twisted about this death, something that whispers of centuries long past...but Dmitri's need to discover the truth is nothing to the vicious strength of his response to the hunter assigned to decipher the tattoo...."

I was pleasantly surprised when I started this book and found it was based around Dmitri. It was the most erotic of the series yet, but that is expected with Dmitri being the most seductive Vampire in New York. I loved getting to know his past and seeing him move into the future. He is definitely on of my favorite of Raphael's Seven. I'm hoping we are going to get a book for each of the Seven because Illuim, Jason, Venom and Aodhan intrigue me.


View all my reviews

Dead Witch Walking by Kim Harrison

Dead Witch Walking by Kim Harrison

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

"All the creatures of the night gather in "the Hollows" of Cincinnati, to hide, to prowl, to party...and to feed.

Vampires rule the darkness in a predator-eat-predator world rife with dangers beyond imagining - and it's Rachel Morgan's job to keep that world civilized.

A bounty hunter and witch with serious sex appeal and an attitude, she'll bring 'em back alive, dead...or undead"

I liked this story, but I finished it feeling like there was something missing, I can't put my finger on what it was.

The characters were all good characters, funny, well described, they all seem to have a mystery hanging around them. Ivy, Rachel's roommate has a few mysterious things about her like: Why is she helping Rachel? How come she lived in the church before Rachel moved in but made Rachel think it was the same day? I like the character Ivy but the WHYS are adding up and it is starting to bug me. Nick is similarly odd. The fact that Rachel doesn't question anything makes me think of her as weak.

Now Trent has that whole 'What is he?" question hanging over him. I like a good mystery but this book and its characters seem overloaded with it. Maybe thats what put me off giving it more stars. It flowed well, was full of action, but there wasn't really any romance, that could also be putting me off because I love a good romance.

I didn't see any of the "sex appeal" that was described in the above synopsis.

I will definitely read more of the series, even if it's just for Jenks, the only character that doesn't have any mystery to him. He is a funny little Pixie is Jenks.

View all my reviews