I enjoyed this a lot, but I liked the first book more. I think the first book was so much funnier, and I also felt like it had more action. I wasn't bI enjoyed this a lot, but I liked the first book more. I think the first book was so much funnier, and I also felt like it had more action. I wasn't bored with this, but there weren't as many moments where I was riveted as I listened. This was more of a spy thriller, if the first book was a fast-paced action comedy. I love the heck out of Murderbot. They just crack me up. Something about their aspirations to watch tv all day, and not be bothered by their human clients. My favorite part was how Murderbot bonded with the AI on the ship they stole over tv programs. It's like making a friend at work/school because you like the same tv show! Seriously, this book series is too good to miss out on. I like some hard sci-fi, but I will admit I'm a bit of a lower brow sci-fi reader, so this series is more to my taste because there is plenty of worldbuilding, but the plot isn't bogged down by it. It's more character and action focused. I think this is more comfort science fiction. I would definitely recommend this series.
I found this so entertaining. Agatha is a pretty grumpy character who's set in her ways. On the outside, she's tough, but also so vulnerable inside. II found this so entertaining. Agatha is a pretty grumpy character who's set in her ways. On the outside, she's tough, but also so vulnerable inside. I love a good sleuth, especially when they are bumbling around in the midst of solving mysteries. I also loved how fixated she was on having a perfect Christmas and it wasn't happening. I've been there. You want things to be perfect, but learn the hard way that perfect doesn't exist. I think in this short book, Agatha learns some important lessons, and Christmas stories are such a good setting for those life lessons. Christmas is both a wonderful time and also pretty traumatic for many reasons. I read this a while ago, so I don't 100% remember everything, but I do remember how much I enjoyed listening to the story. I felt like I was a part of the story, I was so engaged. I definitely want to read more of these books. Good news is there's also a tv show that I want to watch. Right now I'm completely consumed with anime, but maybe I'll check those out in the nearish future....more
Oh, I loved the heck out of this book! Anna Bennett writes delicious heroes. Hazel and Blade felt so right together. I felt so much sympathy for what Oh, I loved the heck out of this book! Anna Bennett writes delicious heroes. Hazel and Blade felt so right together. I felt so much sympathy for what they'd gone through together and I am so glad they found each other. I loved the girls too. This was such a fun read, and I had a smile on my face when I finished it.
When I want a lighter Regency romance that hits all the notes, I know I can pick up an Anna Bennett and get exactly what I'm searching for.
This was a satirical science fiction novel that I listened to on audio. It's been a while since I read it, so some details are foggy. I enjoyed it. ItThis was a satirical science fiction novel that I listened to on audio. It's been a while since I read it, so some details are foggy. I enjoyed it. It was not at all what I expected. I have not read The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (don't hate), but I've seen the movie. I think it's in that kind of vibe of a science fiction space travel movie with a critique on bureaucracy and militarization, and the use of military force to control resources and exert a specific world order. The characters are well-drawn and the plotting is good. While there are some character archetypes, they didn't feel cookie cutter but had depth. It's not one of those kind of Sci-Fi books that you have to use a lot of cognitive function to parse through terminology or the mechanics of technology, but it's fleshed out enough that it feels plausible. I think fans of Star Trek will enjoy this movie, although this goes in a lot more of a humor direction as I said above. There's even a bit of a 2001 HAL 9000 nod. It has a feel good vibe that I enjoyed as well. Honestly, if someone considers themselves a science fiction cultural nerd/geek at all, there are plenty of nods that will be appreciated in this book. I follow this author on Twitter and his snarky humor definitely shows in the writing as it does in his tweets. I'll read more of his books.
This was pretty good. It has the humor of the movie. I'm not that familiar with Scott Lang as Ant-Man, other than what I know of him from the movie anThis was pretty good. It has the humor of the movie. I'm not that familiar with Scott Lang as Ant-Man, other than what I know of him from the movie and from the Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes animated show.
Marvel fans will enjoy all the cameos and the look at the Marvel Universe from a humorous perspective, with some truly odd villains and heroes.
I was glad my library had this. I don't know that I would buy it, unless you are a huge Ant-Man fan....more
This was a nice change of pace. I've been in a major reading funk and this helped to get me out of it. It was an easy read and the characters feel verThis was a nice change of pace. I've been in a major reading funk and this helped to get me out of it. It was an easy read and the characters feel very realistic and modern--very millennial. Not my usual cup of tea, but this proves I need to drink some different tea more often.
This is silly Harley Quinn. In this one, she teams up with Power Girl. They have an unlikely alliance. Power Girl is all serious business and Harley iThis is silly Harley Quinn. In this one, she teams up with Power Girl. They have an unlikely alliance. Power Girl is all serious business and Harley is all about fun. However, they do work well together. Their adventures span the galaxy and include no less than androids, a planet where its ruler is worshipped as a sex god, and even weirder things along the way.
I prefer the less silly Harley, but this was amusing. And any Harley is worth reading.
A cozy mystery that Anglophiles who find "Downton Abbey" a guilty pleasure will enjoy. The characters are zany and will keep the readers laughing. TheA cozy mystery that Anglophiles who find "Downton Abbey" a guilty pleasure will enjoy. The characters are zany and will keep the readers laughing. The mystery is surprisingly dark. I'd definitely read more of these.
I enjoyed this slightly less than the first book. I think this had too many poems and songs for my taste. While I enjoy poetry, I'm not a big fan of it taking over a prose narrative. A number of the scenes were quite funny, and I found myself laughing as I listened to this working on my Design project today (I laughed more with the first book though). The interactions between the three queens (including Alice) went a little too long for my tastes, but I did enjoy some of her other adventures, including the soldier who kept falling off his horse.
After the clever storytelling in the first book, this one feels like more of an afterthought. I think I would have enjoyed it more if I hadn't found the recitations tedious. I do love Alice though. ...more
3.5 stars. It was entertaining and a pleasant read, but I did find both characters' stubborn insistence on not listening to their hearts irritating af3.5 stars. It was entertaining and a pleasant read, but I did find both characters' stubborn insistence on not listening to their hearts irritating after a while. I loved the humor, and the cat Poppy steals the show.
This was a group read for the Dangerous Hero Addict Support Group, and I'm glad it got voted for. It gave me that push to read Shelly Laurenston. I'veThis was a group read for the Dangerous Hero Addict Support Group, and I'm glad it got voted for. It gave me that push to read Shelly Laurenston. I've heard from many that she's a good author, and I actually have most of her Dragon books written under G.A. Aiken, but I just hadn't gotten around to reading her books written under this name.
One thing that one needs to understand about this book is that it's very heroine and women-bonding centered. Kera is a woman who needed strong bonds with women who had her back and who accepted her no matter what, and she found that with the Crows. At the same time, it's a romance, but the romance doesn't really develop until maybe 70 or so pages into the novel. Having said that, I found this very enjoyable. It's really funny and every character is a real 'character'. There's even a dog that manages to steal some scenes.
I liked Vig, a lot. He's a dangerous hero, but in a cuddly kind of way (when he's not in battle mode and ripping people's arms off.) He's very supportive to Kera, and I'd call him the perfect boyfriend. I would say the cover is highly misleading. I tried not to be embarrassed about it when I'd have it at work and my coworkers saw it. Vig has a big beard and lots of hair. He's not a clean-shaven male model type. I guess the publishers didn't think people would go for a cover with Vig as he looks in the book. It seems to me that having big beards is very much in vogue, so I'd find that intriguing if the cover actually reflected that (not that like facial hair, because I don't). I like that Vig was comfortable with himself and thus with Kera as she was. I think that's so crucial in a relationship that people accept you as you are. They want the best for you, but they aren't constantly trying to change you. The romance worked for me because it was built on mutual like and respect, as well as passion and strong emotion.
This book is pretty violent, with descriptive action scenes. It wasn't over the top, and after reading Matt Reilly this past month, it seemed kind of mild, to be honest. The story is about a violent subculture of fighters for the Norse gods who go all out. I wasn't surprised for it to be violent with that expectation. The story itself is intriguing and makes me want to keep reading this series.
So I really liked this one. I liked Kera a lot. She was a real person and I appreciated her strengths and weaknesses. She was very caring, but tough as well. I loved the multicultural feel to this book. There are people of just about every race and ethnicity. And considering this is based on Norse mythology, it was cool that Laurenston was able to achieve this. I also loved how the Crows are all strong women but not all cut from the same mode. I love when the diversity of strong women is presented instead of making it seem like all women have to be the same to be strong and confident.
There was a lot to appreciate about this book. Four well earned stars....more
I'd have to say this isn't my typical type of book, so I'm glad it was selected for Action group's read this month. I found it enjoyable. I think thatI'd have to say this isn't my typical type of book, so I'm glad it was selected for Action group's read this month. I found it enjoyable. I think that if this was a movie, it would be a Steven Soderburg movie for sure. I could see his touch all over the movie adaptation.
What I liked:
*I liked the wry and subtle humor. You have to be paying attention to see it, and it's highly ironical. The CIA's big thinkers believe their culprit is anything from the Russians to a huge terrorist cell, but it's not anything of the sort. Their antics to resolve the situation only seem to make things worst. I felt kind of bad rooting for Chinese and his gang, but they were seeming more and more like the good guys in that situation anyway. This book doesn't give a person the best view of the CIA, that's for sure. *I liked Doctor Henry Metzger and his dog. I wish they were in the book more. Considering that the book is named after them, I expected more of an appearance. But when they are there, they steal the scenes. I think Perry is an animal person. He seems to understand their psychology and how they seem to run the households in which they live and often leave their persons baffled. *The descriptions were very well rendered. I used all my senses as I read this book. The narrative is never wordy, which would have lent this book to boredom, considering that some much of the narrative hinges on theoretical sociological research. *This whole book is deftly plotted. I think it could have easily fallen apart, considering the subject matter. But it doesn't. *I think Margaret is one of the strongest characters. Surprisingly Chinese Gordon takes a back seat to her. She is really the brains of the operation.
I wasn't at all sure what I'd get when I started this book. It's kind of like when you go to a restaurant and let your companion pick something off the menu, and you decide you like it. It's a win on both sides....more
Two years after Lucy Trotter leaves the loveless but familiar confines of Brooding Cranesbill (the orphanage and school for underprivileged giSynopsis
Two years after Lucy Trotter leaves the loveless but familiar confines of Brooding Cranesbill (the orphanage and school for underprivileged girls where she was raised), and takes employment as the nanny to the aristocratic Sedley family, Lucy is accused of murdering Lord Sedley, mainly because she is poor and without family. Lady Sedley calls upon the national hero, Lord Adair to solve the crime and prove that Lucy is the murderess, along with finding a set of family jewels that disappeared around the same time. Lucy is mesmerized by the unearthly beauty of Lord Adair, however, she knows that if she doesn't give him a helping hand solving the murder, there's a real chance she will end up hanging for a crime she didn't commit, while the real culprit walks away a free person. Lord Adair has his hands full solving a crime in a house full of strange characters, including a ghost, an animal obsessed male heir, and an amorous valet having an affair with the lady of the house.
Review
Anya Wylde has written another novel chock full of puns and slapstick humor that will make even the most hardened reader chuckle. Her heroine, Lucy is very lovable, because of her indomitable spirit and her atypical view of the world. Every character in this book is weird, which makes the distinguished recurring character of Lord Adair feel almost normal. The mystery was well done, and actually was a complete surprise to me.
While I enjoyed this book, I didn't find it as hilariously funny as her previous books. Sometimes, it even felt like Wylde was trying too hard to get laughs. There were a few odd moments that seemed so random; it was hard to be convinced they were being played for laughs. For some reason, the writing feels less cohesive. The story, while a shorter length novel, tends to meander a bit, prompting me to wonder when it would get to the climax.
It was a very pleasant surprise to see the character of Lord Adair again. His presence in previous books has endeared this reader and no doubt all of Wylde's other readers. I would have liked to see more chemistry between him and Lucy, although I am not sure this novel is meant to be a romance. It seems as though Lucy's attraction to him was one-sided, despite Lucy being highly endearing. This seemed like a missed romantic opportunity for Lord Adair's lonely character.
Lucy will appeal to readers who love characters like Bronte's Jane Eyre. She is a strong-minded, vibrant, unique and indefatigable young woman who deserves a happy ending, and no doubt readers will root for her. Her poor treatment by the family and servants alike inspired pathos in me as I read, and her antics made me laugh.
Overall, Murder at Rudhall Manor is a good book. The humor is quirky and entertaining, and the touch of the supernatural, teamed with a mystery that the readers have to work to solve, makes for a diverting read overall. A more cohesive storyline and a plot with greater momentum would have made this a close to flawless book. But even with its flaws, this was a fun read.
Loving Lord Ash does the estranged married couple theme very well. I had some happy surprises reading this book, including two main characters who I fLoving Lord Ash does the estranged married couple theme very well. I had some happy surprises reading this book, including two main characters who I found thoroughly likable. Lighter historical romance, but the tone and the storyline are very engaging.
Proper young lady, Celine Fairweather is summoned to stay with her pregnant sister, Penelope, Duchess of Blackthorne, keep her company, and heSynopsis
Proper young lady, Celine Fairweather is summoned to stay with her pregnant sister, Penelope, Duchess of Blackthorne, keep her company, and help run her household through her final month of pregnancy. Shortly after her arrival, the dashing Lord Adair asks the ducal couple if his second cousin, the roguish George Rodrick Irvin, Viscount Elmer, who is apparently hiding from pirates can stay with them since he's going out of the country. Celine is nursing an affection for a very bad poet by the name of Philbert Woodbead, and the bored Viscount is eager to help her reconnect with him to keep his mind off his own situation of being Public Enemy Number One with a vicious group of pirates. With his checkered past and happy-go-lucky personality, Viscount Elmer brings life and chaos into Celine's ordered existence. He makes her realize the difference between a temporary affection and true love, but is Viscount Elmer here to stay or is this just a temporary diversion while he's in hiding from his enemies?
Review
Seeking Philbert Woodbead has the slapstick humor tone of its predecessor, Penelope, but unfortunately, it lacks its charm and the cohesiveness. Celine doesn't have the presence and doesn't captivate (and bewilder) the reader as thoroughly as her sister Penelope. That was a shame, since I really loved Penelope, her personality and her antics. I perceive that the author wanted to flip the page with this book, and have a serious heroine with a silly hero, but George isn't as funny or as lively a main character as this book needed.
While there are some humorous moments, they didn't feel organic. The silly tone felt contrived, as if the author was trying a little too hard. The biggest issue was this book doesn't have the energy and spirit a story of this kind needs. When a story is played for laughs, it needs to own its absurdity, and I didn't feel that needed sense of abandon to silliness that makes Penelope such a delightful read.
Overall, Celine is likable, although a bit bland. I didn't connect with her as much as I liked, and I hardly felt any connection with George. For a hero who supposedly had his sense of joie de vivre, I didn't feel it. The pirate storyline could have been a bit more prominent and better integrated into the storyline, because a lot of the humorous potential within this plot was left undeveloped.
It was great to catch up with Penelope and her duke again, and their scenes were some of my favorite parts. Penelope is now a married woman who is heavily pregnant, and seeing her and the duke deal with some of the aspects of pregnancy and marriage was a lot of fun.
Unfortunately, I was disappointed with Seeking Philbert Woodbead after being so captivated with Penelope. This is a decent book, and if I hadn't loved the first Fairweather series book so much, I would have enjoyed it more than I did. It just doesn't hold up as well in comparison. I'm still looking forward to continuing this series, because I do enjoy Anya Wylde's writing and her desire to make the reader laugh with sweet, fun Regency romance.
A huge thanks to Nenia for recommending this when I asked for a Nerd Romance. This was exactly what I wanted and more. I can't even begin to classify A huge thanks to Nenia for recommending this when I asked for a Nerd Romance. This was exactly what I wanted and more. I can't even begin to classify this into a genre. It's so distinctive. First of all, it's hilarious! I felt like Connie Willis nailed what it's like to work in Corporate America. I could have changed the name of HiTek to the places I worked and it would have been exactly the same. The complete waste of time exercises they come up with in the hopes that it will increase productivity (when it actually interferes with it), the jive turkey meetings, and horrible acronyms, and the fact that said environment is so fertile for folks like Flip, Desiderata, and even Dr. Bullock. I loved the wry and deadpan humor. I mainly listened to this while I was doing my Wii Fit exercises, and this is one where you can't be quiet while you read. It made the exercise time fly by!
Sandra is a very accessible heroine. While she does have a snarky way of looking at the world, and the narrator has her sounding a bit superior at times, her inner voice is very realistic. You don't always see people in the most charitable ways internally, even when you make an effort to treat others well. Sandra's field of study is fascinating. She's a sociologist/statistician who investigates fads. I loved the facts about various fads throughout the many years of human history. While I feel that she is really a hater of Barbies and I like Barbies, I can't argue with her on most of what she says. I loved how Sandra processed Flip, who is a complete slave to fads and seems about the most useless person on earth. Flip is that person you know who just seems to make your life a living 'you know what', but then you realize that they do have a purpose in your life, and they help you to grow as a person. With that in mind, her sometimes superior way of looking at Flip and folks like her is put into complete perspective. I also loved how Sandra is a big reader and she processes life events in light of what she's read. This book is definitely for bibliophiles.
Can I tell you I adored Bennet? Oh my, he made my Nerd Love meter go off big time. I wanted to hug him with his horribly fashion-challenged self and his adorable Coke Bottle glasses. Man I wish I could find a Bennet of my own. :)
The sheep storyline had me dying of laughter. Yeah, sheep aren't the brightest animals, and you really understand why they need shepherds. I had no idea about the bellwether and it just draws the story together so well when we learn about it.
I tell you, this is a really clever and just wonderful book. It takes a lot of writing talent to take such dissimilar ideas as sheep, fads, Chaos theory and hair bobbing and actually craft a meaningful story around it. A nice sized read. It helped me enormously with my book reading slump because it was just so clever and vivid and kept me interested. I never thought I'd enjoy a book about something so non-specific as research into fads. I surely did. I definitely recommend this to readers who want something different. And for sure to those looking for Nerd Love and satire about the corporate work environment. It hits high on every point, so five stars!...more
Young country maiden, Penelope Fairweather arrives in London to stay with the Radclyffs, her goal to catch a husband. However, Penelope is theSynopsis
Young country maiden, Penelope Fairweather arrives in London to stay with the Radclyffs, her goal to catch a husband. However, Penelope is the most awkward of ducklings. She is a disaster magnet, with no polish, a penchant for saying whatever comes to her mind, and a best friend (Lady Bathsheba) who is a goat. So the dowager Duchess of Blackthorne and her daughter, Anne, Lady Radclyff, have their work cut out for them. It doesn't help that Charles, the present duke, despises Penelope, and wants to send her back to Finnshire. What they don't know is that Penelope has no home to go back to, since her stepmother hates her. Penelope has one chance to have a home, and that's to succeed at finding a husband. If only she could do something right and temper her incautious, enthusiastic ways, so she can have a chance at a home and a family of her own.
The Radclyff women recruit Madame Bellafraunde, a dynamo at styling women of the ton, who just happens to be a man dressed as a woman, to turn Penelope into a stylish young lady who can catch a husband. What ensues is moment after moment of zany scenes, as Penelope struggles to find her feet in a new world. The Duke of Blackthorne slowly finds his feelings change for Penelope, her sweet spirit and generous, authentic nature finding the key to his frozen heart. Now if he could only convince Penelope that he doesn't hate her. There's also the matter of his mean-spirited fianceé, Lady Lydia Snowly.
Review
Penelope is a laugh riot. This is a book for romance readers who really want to enjoy themselves with lots of slapstick-style comedic scenes and absurdity. Penelope is absolutely adorable. Her sweetness and honest spirit makes her a heroine that readers will love. At times, I wondered how she could constantly stumble from disaster to disaster, but it's all in fun. Mixed with the hilarious moments is pathos for Penelope's situation. She lost her true mother at birth, and was never loved by her stepmother. She never felt accepted in her own home. She hasn't had the same opportunities as many, but that doesn't stop her from being a young woman of courage and strength.
Charles, Duke Blackthorne is not very likable for most of the book. He says the most horrible things to Penelope, which makes him seem like a puppy-kicker. I loved that Penelope stood up to him, and demanded his respect. She didn't try to fit into his narrow boxes and narrow world, and over time, he realizes that he loves her for who she is, despite her lack of a verbal filter and penchant for disaster. While I didn't much care for Charles initially, he does come around and redeem himself, and he and Penelope have great chemistry. I wanted him to fall in love with her, just because that would be the last possible thing a lofty duke like himself would ever consider doing.
This novel is populated with quirky characters that kept me laughing and engaged in the story. I love to laugh, and Anya Wylde definitely had me laughing with this book. I couldn't wait to see what zany disaster would occur next. I liked the crazy twist on "My Fair Lady", with a little cross-dressing thrown in.
Penelope is a thoroughly enjoyable novel. It's unashamedly goofy, but it's done so well, this book is infectiously readable as a result. I would recommend this novel to readers who love funny romance stories. Penelope is a heroine that you can't help but love. Charles isn't quite as likable, which is why this isn't a five star read, but I did like how he comes to realize that he can't resist falling in love with Penelope. And it's great to see her get the happy ending she deserves. Definitely recommended!
I picked this up because it was recommended to readers who enjoyed A Tale Dark & Grimm on Amazon. I loved the humor and the quirky twist on the fairy I picked this up because it was recommended to readers who enjoyed A Tale Dark & Grimm on Amazon. I loved the humor and the quirky twist on the fairy tale of Hansel and Gretel in A Tale Dark and Grimm, and I just plain love fairy tales, so I am looking for innovative, interesting retellings of these classic stories. I'm glad my library had this on audio. It was a fun and quick read, about 3 hours (It took me longer because I listened in spurts).
Initially, I was very drawn in. The characters of Sol and Connie are captivating, their story was somewhat poignant. I definitely felt for these kids. If you're familiar with Hansel and Gretel, you can get a head start on the storyline, although McGowan throws in some novel touches that were fun. I won't say which, because that's the fun of reading it. Sol is a young genius and inventor who gets a huge blow to his confidence that he has to work through. His mischievous, free-sprited, and intuitive sister Connie carries a burden of guilt related to Sol's greatest failure. This is a pivotal element of this story, and the author does carry it through successfully to the end. The story shows what the child-eating witch is up to in the modern age, and she's definitely streamlined her operation.
The child-eating witch is truly heinous. What makes it even more harrowing is that people actually volunteer their kids to be eaten because of the manifold failings of those kids! Definitely folks who shouldn't have reproduced! It's humorous, but on one level it's really kind of disturbing that parents would set their children up to be eaten by a witch just because they misbehave or fail to live up to certain standards. I think that they are even worse than the witch, honestly.
This is one of those books that won't appeal if you don't like a dark and kind of twisted sense of humor. Let me just say that here and now. But I think readers who like the Hansel and Gretel story won't find anything here that countermands the original story. Instead, this is just a modern update with more humor.
If there was anything I was underwhelmed with, it was the use of the secondary character who happened to be a witch as well, but she's a good witch. I understand why she couldn't help the kids very much, but I still feel she was underutilized in the story. I also wished there was some sort of confrontation between her and the evil witch. Also, I feel the ending was too abrupt. I know this is supposed to be a short book, but I wasn't fully satisfied with the ending. I definitely wanted more story and more closure.
Overall, this was pretty good. It's hard to rate it higher or to perform a very intensive analysis, because it's very short. I am glad this was recommended to me because I liked A Tale Dark and Grimm. However, it doesn't live up to the excellence of that book, and that's one caveat I would give any reader who is investigating humorous, middle grade/juvenile fairy tale retellings.
As far as suitability for young readers, I think it's fine for kids who are 8-12 (or older readers who like J/MG fiction). However, this would be too scary for a younger reader. Not that much is described, but the idea of a witch eating bad kids or even worse, their parents giving them away to the witch, is pretty disturbing, even for a much older reader like myself.
If you are able to get this on audiobook, I recommend it. I liked the narrator.
Danielle The Book Huntress
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