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Review Date: 1/26/2021
Blue Like Jazz storms into the world of Christian faith and blasts away at it, showing Christians doing some pretty un-Godly things. But it's also a two-way street. The most relatable, lovable characters are also Christians. There's a reason that this is such a popular book, it's well worth the read and would be great for a small group or book club.
Review Date: 1/26/2021
Do you love physiological thrillers as mush as me? Here's one for you: Quinn's a stereotypical millennial in her early twenties, both self-centered and lacking in basic reasoning skills. âSmart decisions aren't really my forte,â she says. Characters don't need to be likable, of course, but I couldn't quite tell whether Quinn's childish, whiny demeanor was intentional. Unable to think about anyone but herself, more than a quarter of the novel passes before Quinn is able to stop navel-gazing and try calling her missing roommate's cell phone. Finally, crafting a compelling plot twist is no easy task. Done right, the twist feels both surprising and inevitable, thanks to subtle seeds planted throughout the story. When that âa-ha!â moment hit us, it should be accompanied by âHow did I not see that coming?!â
Review Date: 1/18/2016
Helpful Score: 1
See Me by Nicholas Sparks
There have been several Nicholas Sparks books that I have read and enjoyed. This was not one of them. My advice move on, unless you are a huge fan of his, or simply want to kill 4 hours. I didn't think it was as good as most of his other books - but it wasn't terrible. As with most of Nicholas Sparks books, they are interesting while reading them and at keeping your attention but the moment I close the cover and re-shelf the book, I've forgotten the characters.
It has everything readers have come to expect: a brooding male lead, disapproving parents and a desire not to ruin a second chance. Maybe the only difference is that, "See Me" is more than a love story; it might even be categorized as a suspenseful thriller.
Set in North Carolina, the story centers around Maria Sanchez, a Duke-educated lawyer whose Mexican immigrant parents run a popular restaurant. Enter Colin, who is striving to make amends with his current anger and his violent past. Their two worlds collide on a highway and the plot-line of suspense begins and keeps the reader somewhat interested to the end. Yes, it's predictable and we see glimpses of a budding love beginning to blossom. Maria admits that prior to meeting him, she could never have pictured herself with someone like Colin. It appears that the acceptance of each other's flaws and the pure honesty in confessing about each other's lives that gradually remove that doubt and fear. Gosh, didn't see that coming (not).
While I thought the book was worth finishing (proves I'll read most anything...), I did feel that it generally lacked something, almost as if the story didn't go deep enough into the characters, but remained superficial. Other than the two main characters, I knew virtually nothing about the supporting cast, and frankly didn't care.
There have been several Nicholas Sparks books that I have read and enjoyed. This was not one of them. My advice move on, unless you are a huge fan of his, or simply want to kill 4 hours. I didn't think it was as good as most of his other books - but it wasn't terrible. As with most of Nicholas Sparks books, they are interesting while reading them and at keeping your attention but the moment I close the cover and re-shelf the book, I've forgotten the characters.
It has everything readers have come to expect: a brooding male lead, disapproving parents and a desire not to ruin a second chance. Maybe the only difference is that, "See Me" is more than a love story; it might even be categorized as a suspenseful thriller.
Set in North Carolina, the story centers around Maria Sanchez, a Duke-educated lawyer whose Mexican immigrant parents run a popular restaurant. Enter Colin, who is striving to make amends with his current anger and his violent past. Their two worlds collide on a highway and the plot-line of suspense begins and keeps the reader somewhat interested to the end. Yes, it's predictable and we see glimpses of a budding love beginning to blossom. Maria admits that prior to meeting him, she could never have pictured herself with someone like Colin. It appears that the acceptance of each other's flaws and the pure honesty in confessing about each other's lives that gradually remove that doubt and fear. Gosh, didn't see that coming (not).
While I thought the book was worth finishing (proves I'll read most anything...), I did feel that it generally lacked something, almost as if the story didn't go deep enough into the characters, but remained superficial. Other than the two main characters, I knew virtually nothing about the supporting cast, and frankly didn't care.
Review Date: 1/18/2016
Under the Cajun Moon by Mindy Starns Clark's
Anyone who knows me would answer the following trivia question "What is Karen's all-time favorite novel?" with the answer: "The Princess Bride!" So, it's no wonder that I loved this book. Murder, mayhem, mystery, kidnapping, snakes, alligators, hidden treasure, romance and history -- you'll find all these and more in this absolutely amazing book!
More than 6 years had passed since I had read the series, Million Dollar Mysteries by Mindy Starns Clark, and liked them, so I was eager to read this stand alone. You can read the plotline on the back cover, so I won't repeat and just dive into my review. Clark is so descriptive of her characters and locations, I actually felt as if I were there with them. Since much of the story is told in various flash backs, we feel involved from the first page. Weaving through the book is the story of Jacques, a young man in France in 1719. It is fairly obvious early on what his story is doing in the book, although there were a few curves' tossed in, for good measure. I must admit that I found myself so caught up in the second storyline that I was often tempted to jump to the following chapter to see what happens to Jacques! Obviously, this works because the characters are so well constructed. I connected with both Chloe and Jacques right away. I have found that, in some stories the characters are too perfect and you just can't relate to them, but in this book, the main character is easily relatable. Travis is a little obvious as the love interest, but seemed a perfect balance and didn't take away from the main or secondary storyline. There were plenty of surprises.
Yes, this is a Christian mystery. Outside of one scene, however, there is nothing remotely preachy. And that scene? It was still entertaining and feels like a real part of the story and not something forced in to make it religious'.
I didn't want to put this book down and I thoroughly enjoyed the French story line and its connection to the present. I learned a great deal about New Orleans and its surrounding geography and rich history. A win-win, in my book (pun intended!). This book is a must for readers who enjoy mystery and history, as it has the perfect amount of suspense. I enjoyed it so much -that I don't intend to list it on Paperbackswap.com, but rather pass it along to friends to read it's that good! Oh, by the way - naturally, the villain is the person we least suspect....
Anyone who knows me would answer the following trivia question "What is Karen's all-time favorite novel?" with the answer: "The Princess Bride!" So, it's no wonder that I loved this book. Murder, mayhem, mystery, kidnapping, snakes, alligators, hidden treasure, romance and history -- you'll find all these and more in this absolutely amazing book!
More than 6 years had passed since I had read the series, Million Dollar Mysteries by Mindy Starns Clark, and liked them, so I was eager to read this stand alone. You can read the plotline on the back cover, so I won't repeat and just dive into my review. Clark is so descriptive of her characters and locations, I actually felt as if I were there with them. Since much of the story is told in various flash backs, we feel involved from the first page. Weaving through the book is the story of Jacques, a young man in France in 1719. It is fairly obvious early on what his story is doing in the book, although there were a few curves' tossed in, for good measure. I must admit that I found myself so caught up in the second storyline that I was often tempted to jump to the following chapter to see what happens to Jacques! Obviously, this works because the characters are so well constructed. I connected with both Chloe and Jacques right away. I have found that, in some stories the characters are too perfect and you just can't relate to them, but in this book, the main character is easily relatable. Travis is a little obvious as the love interest, but seemed a perfect balance and didn't take away from the main or secondary storyline. There were plenty of surprises.
Yes, this is a Christian mystery. Outside of one scene, however, there is nothing remotely preachy. And that scene? It was still entertaining and feels like a real part of the story and not something forced in to make it religious'.
I didn't want to put this book down and I thoroughly enjoyed the French story line and its connection to the present. I learned a great deal about New Orleans and its surrounding geography and rich history. A win-win, in my book (pun intended!). This book is a must for readers who enjoy mystery and history, as it has the perfect amount of suspense. I enjoyed it so much -that I don't intend to list it on Paperbackswap.com, but rather pass it along to friends to read it's that good! Oh, by the way - naturally, the villain is the person we least suspect....
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