Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?

Review:

I've had this on my radar for awhile. Noticed the library had this on Overdrive audio and thought "I need to give that a try." So I listened to this on my commute this past week., narrated by Mindy Kaling herself. I found myself laughing out loud, she's got an excellent sense of humor. I'm a year older (yes, I'm turning 40 in April, holy shit!), so we can of age about the same time. Best of all, she came across as someone I can relate to. Bonus: she's nice, intelligent, talented, and opinionated. 
Bossypants is next!

Original post: RachelGoodbyeBorders.booklikes.com/post/1644639/is-everyone-hanging-out-without-me

The Player and the Pixie

Review:

I really didn't like Sean from book 1. I thought he was an asshole. I wasn't crazy about Lucy either. Lucy was too dependent on her brother's generosity and blamed her mother for her stealing. Get therapy you idiot! I read this in the hope that I would end up liking both of them by the end.
Despite my issues (not liking either character to start, Sean not knowing how to get a woman off, etc) I kept reading this. I enjoyed the writing and the banter between all the characters. I ended the book not hating Sean anymore, so there's that. Lucy got some help and stood up for herself. A huge point in Sean's favor: He fell for Lucy. Just. As. She. Was.

 

 

 

Original post: RachelGoodbyeBorders.booklikes.com/post/1643532/the-player-and-the-pixie

If the Slipper Fits

Review:

Annabelle was abandoned as a baby. She knew nothing of her parentage. She's lived, worked, and taught at an all girl's school. While the school educated her, she's had to work for her keep. She's always been treated differently and doesn't have close friends. Simon was in love with a woman who then decided she wanted Simon's older brother. Simon, bitter, bought a commission in the army and left. He had no contact with his family for years. His brother and sister-in-law's deaths brought him back. Simon is the guardian of his nephew. 
Annabelle gets hired by Clarissa to be Nicholas's governess. She gradually makes changes and Nicholas comes out of his shell. I liked both characters, Annabelle is strong and outspoken. Simon is bitter, but comes out of his funk.
What I didn't "buy" was the romance- to a point. Annabelle and Simon didn't spend much time together, IMO. Simon does spend plenty of time "courting" Louisa. I didn't think the reveal of Annabelle's parentage was necessary. But all said, I did like it.

Original post: RachelGoodbyeBorders.booklikes.com/post/1640850/if-the-slipper-fits

The Glass Mermaid

Review:

Kate is a mermaid and is the last. She buried her (mermaid) family decades ago. She lives as a human, collecting beach glass to sell, and hasn't been in the water for a 100 years. Cooper was diagnosed with terminal cancer. He opted to move back to his childhood home. He notices Kate on the beach. This was nice, short and sweet. The epilogue was important, otherwise I would have thought this had a completely different ending. A little more explanation would have been nice, but considering the length, didn't happen.

Original post: RachelGoodbyeBorders.booklikes.com/post/1640318/the-glass-mermaid

Magic Mourns

Review:

I wish I had read this earlier, my anal-retentive self *should* have read this in order. But didn't, oh well. I was glad to read an Andrea-centric story. However, having already read Gunmetal Magic, I didn't really get any new insight into Andrea. The only difference is she is still a member of the Order.

Original post: RachelGoodbyeBorders.booklikes.com/post/1639759/magic-mourns

Sounds to Die By

Review:

Ian is blind. Despite that disability, his hearing is extraordinary. He works for the NSA. Kieralyn is a FBI agent who is tired of not being taken seriously by her colleagues. She is working a series of kidnappings that she believes are connected. But her (male) colleagues disagree. So, she goes rogue and enlists Ian's help. Ian agrees because he hears and recognizes a code name on the recording Kieralyn brings him.
This has so much potential, but ended up being such a disappointment. I got tired of Kieralyn and her (for lack of a better word) rantings. If I liked her, I would have had more sympathy for her. She was quite stupid at times (not having backup, taking on a situation herself when she was outnumbered). She didn't act like a smart FBI agent. There were times I wondered how she got as far as she did.

This is the new cover.  Originally published in 2009 by Samhain.  And I've had this on Mt TBR since 2010ish.  I think.

Original post: RachelGoodbyeBorders.booklikes.com/post/1638311/sounds-to-die-by

High Tea & Flip-Flops

Review:

Chelsea lives on the first floor of an apt complex in a dead-end job that she is overqualified for. She has a fairly new upstairs neighbor, Jeremy that she is curious about, but knows nothing about him. He comes across as a bit stuffy. 
So, yeah, no. I would have liked this had I liked Chelsea. She's an idiot. Not a likable idiot either. She's constantly making bad choices, not growing up, jealous of her best friend, and is very immature. Here's an example. She's got a business degree, but forget to pay her cable bill. She's "tired of being broke." But thinks nothing of going to the mall to shop because SALE! Whine! She is clumsy (physically and in manners), forgetful, etc. It's funny, but only to a point. She doesn't grow or mature by the end of the book. Instead, there's a "misunderstanding." It's out of left field and blown so out of proportion. 
I didn't care that much for Jeremy either. He came across as very stuck up at first and I had a very hard time getting over that. I also just didn't see the romance between him and Chelsea.

Original post: RachelGoodbyeBorders.booklikes.com/post/1637677/high-tea-flip-flops

Angel Betrayed

Review:

I remember being intrigued and curious about Sammael, AKA Sam, from the first book, Angel of Darkness. Like the first, neither character is very good or bad. Shades of gray this very much is. It seemed, at least for awhile, the one that was truly evil was consistently overlooked and allowed to go on and on. 
I liked the twists and turns. Both characters I liked and had depth. Seline was a personal favorite. She started out ignorant, having not known she was being lied to, disliking herself. She comes full circle and I liked her growth throughout the book. Sam, what can I say? He was likable as well and he meet his match with Seline. 
Az's book is next and I look forward to his as well.

Original post: RachelGoodbyeBorders.booklikes.com/post/1637259/angel-betrayed