Burial Rites by Hannah Kent

What is it about?

A brilliant literary debut, inspired by a true story: the final days of a young woman accused of murder in Iceland in 1829. 

Set against Iceland's stark landscape, Hannah Kent brings to vivid life the story of Agnes, who, charged with the brutal murder of her former master, is sent to an isolated farm to await execution. 

Horrified at the prospect of housing a convicted murderer, the family at first avoids Agnes. Only Tóti, a priest Agnes has mysteriously chosen to be her spiritual guardian, seeks to understand her. But as Agnes's death looms, the farmer's wife and their daughters learn there is another side to the sensational story they've heard. 

Riveting and rich with lyricism, BURIAL RITES evokes a dramatic existence in a distant time and place, and asks the question, how can one woman hope to endure when her life depends upon the stories told by others?

My Thoughts...

5 out of 5 stars

This a beautifully written debut novel by Hannah Kent. It is very obvious that a lot of research and time went into writing this. The writing was so descriptive at times it felt like I was watching this book happen. The feelings this story evokes are all encompassing- the desolation of the landscape, the isolation, the weather, the endless work to be done, etc. It was interesting to read about how much a role the church played in the lives of people back then- one that stood out to me was when the preacher was going to all the houses to test everyone for knowledge, literacy and so on.
I really enjoyed this book and I'm glad I made the time to read it. 

Fat Angie by E.E. Charlton-Trujillo

What is it about?

Her sister was captured in Iraq, she’s the resident laughingstock at school, and her therapist tells her to count instead of eat. Can a daring new girl in her life really change anything?

Angie is broken — by her can’t-be-bothered mother, by her high-school tormentors, and by being the only one who thinks her varsity-athlete-turned-war-hero sister is still alive. Hiding under a mountain of junk food hasn’t kept the pain (or the shouts of "crazy mad cow!") away. Having failed to kill herself — in front of a gym full of kids — she’s back at high school just trying to make it through each day. That is, until the arrival of KC Romance, the kind of girl who doesn’t exist in Dryfalls, Ohio. A girl who is one hundred and ninety-nine percent wow! A girl who never sees her as Fat Angie, and who knows too well that the package doesn’t always match what’s inside. With an offbeat sensibility, mean girls to rival a horror classic, and characters both outrageous and touching, this darkly comic anti-romantic romance will appeal to anyone who likes entertaining and meaningful fiction.

It has been awarded the Stonewall Book Award-Mike Morgan and Larry Romans Children's & Young Adult Literature Award for 2014.

My thoughts....

 3 out of 5 stars

This book encompassed many issues teens face these days. Some people believe that Angie was to tragic and was given to many issues to deal with, but isn't that what usually happens? When things are bad, they are real bad! Especially when you are a teenager. The book, like Angie, was a beautiful, tragic mess. It provides lots of issues for teens to talk about with each other, a parent or a teacher.

King (King #1) by T.M. Frazier

What is it about?

Homeless. Hungry. Desperate.
Doe has no memories of who she is or where she comes from.
A notorious career criminal just released from prison, King is someone you don’t want to cross unless you’re prepared to pay him back in blood, sweat, pu$$y or a combination of all three.
King’s future hangs in the balance. Doe’s is written in her past. When they come crashing together, they will have to learn that sometimes in order to hold on, you have to first let go.
Warning: This book contains graphic violence, consensual and nonconsensual sex, drug use, abuse, and other taboo subjects and adult subject matter. Although originally slated to be a standalone, KING is now a two part series. 

My Thoughts.....

I rated this 3 out of 5 stars

I waited for this book to come out for so long! I had it built up to be something it totally wasn't. It went in the other direction completely. However, it was still a great read. It was a quick read and ended on a cliffhanger which I think sucked but I'll be reading the next one just to see where it goes. I really liked the characters and I felt for Doe. I would like to know more about how and why she ended up in the situation she was in. I guess that will be in the next book. I think readers should heed the warning though as it does contain rape scenes that could be disturbing for some readers. Actually, the book tackles some pretty big issues- child abuse, rape, social classes, privilege, family and love.

Fire Me Up by Rachael Johns

What is it about?

Travis “Cash” Sinclair values only two things from his days with the Deacons of Bourbon Street: his prized Harley Davidson and the man who gave it to him. But now Priest Lombard is gone, and Cash has inherited the Deacons’ clubhouse—not to mentions its unexpected tenant. She’s exactly the type of woman he tries to avoid: all incense and art, with a sharp tongue that promises trouble. So why does Cash want to push aside those flowing skirts and lose himself between her legs?
Billie Taylor fled a bad marriage to start a new life among the grit and glamour of the French Quarter. She refuses to let another man distract her from her dreams, especially an outlaw biker with nothing to offer except hot sex and an eviction notice. Cash is dangerous, with an untamed streak he tries desperately to conceal. He drives Billie wild, sending her too close to the edge for her own good. And she won’t fall under his spell—or into his bed—without a fight. 

My Thoughts......

The best part of this book was the author's description of the setting. The detailed description of New Orleans- the mystery, spookiness, romantic, dark vibes of the city created an amazing backdrop for this love story. It was a good second installment in the series. I liked learning more about why the guys were sent away from the city. The whole love story between Billie and Cash seemed to be secondary to the club story. It wasn't as passionate and wild as the first book but it was a good read.

Torched (Iron Serpents Motorcycle Club #1) by Shay Mara

What is it about?

Warning: This story contains contains explicit language, sex, and violence. 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

My name is Livia Ash. It's an alias. The secrets and lies don't end there. 
As a teenager, I was forced into a dark life, my freedom and innocence ripped out from under me. To get out, I had to become like the very people I hated, people who had no problem spilling blood just to make a point. 
It almost cost me my own life, but I did it. Battered and broken, but determined to start over, I ran. Right into the path of Cameron "Torch" Larter, nomad member of the Iron Serpents Motorcycle club. Overbearing, rude, and intimidating, he was everything I didn't want to deal with. But this rugged biker Adonis -- with his piercing eyes and sharp tongue -- also got under my skin. 
Forgetting him proved to be just as hard as breaking free from a life of crime. Neither happened. And by the time our worlds collided a second time, old enemies and new threats meant that I couldn't act on my desires. But Torch wasn't a man who took no for an answer. 
Could two very different breeds of outlaws on a warpath ever unite without ending up on a cold slab or prison cot? 
This is our story.

My Thoughts....

4 out of 5 stars

This book started out strong and stayed strong throughout for the most part. The beginning provides the circumstances surrounding the first time Livia and Torch meet. The rest of the book takes part eight years later. 

I have to say one of things that really pulled me in and kept me reading was wanting to know more about Livia and the life she was running from. I loved how strong her character was. She was smart and resourceful and could take care of herself, yet she was smart enough to know when she needed to ask for or accept help. I also liked how she took her life experiences and used them to build her character, creating her own set of morals and values and sticking to them. She was a great character.

It was nice to see an MC book with a hero like Torch. Initially, he tried to dominate Livia for her protection of course. But when he realized how strong she was, he struggled and searched to find a way to work with her instead of using her love for him to change her into something she didn't want to be.

The storyline was great. It wasn't all mushy romance or all unbelievable MC action. And if you are looking for hot and steamy sex scenes this book provides quite a few of them. The supporting characters were believable. I look forward to reading more about them all in future books in this series. Yes, it was the first book to a series, but for the most part MC novels tend to be stand alone even if they are part of a series. This book was also a debut novel for this author.

Crash & Burn (Tessa Leoni #3) by Lisa Gardner

What was it about?

My name is Nicky Frank. Except, most likely, it isn’t. 
Nicole Frank shouldn’t have been able to survive the car accident, much less crawl up the steep ravine. Not in the dark, not in the rain, not with her injuries. But one thought allows her to defy the odds and flag down help: Vero.
I’m looking for a little girl. I have to save her. Except, most likely, she doesn’t exist. 
Sergeant Wyatt Foster is frustrated when even the search dogs can’t find any trace of the mysterious missing child. Until Nicky’s husband, Thomas, arrives with a host of shattering revelations: Nicole Frank suffers from a rare brain injury and the police shouldn’t trust anything she says.
My husband claims he’ll do anything to save me. Except, most likely, he can’t.
Who is Nicky Frank, and what happened the night her car sailed off the road? Was it a random accident or something more sinister given the woman’s lack of family and no close friends? The deeper Wyatt digs, the more concerned he becomes. Because it turns out, in the past few months, Nicky has suffered from more than one close accident. . . . In fact, it would appear someone very much wants her dead.
This is my life. Except, most likely, it’s not. Now watch me crash and burn.

My Thoughts.....

I gave this book two out of three stars.

I am a huge Lisa Gardner fan and I have read all her books. This is the first of her books that I have been disappointed with.I could not get into it, and it took me a long time to read it. When I book grabs my interest I read until its done. This book I was reading a few pages at a time and I can honestly say I finished it only because of who the author is. I found it to be repetitive and very much dragged out. It wasn't a difficult mystery to solve and the author threw in some twists that I still haven't figure out what there purpose was.
If this is your first Lisa Gardner novel I suggest reading some of her other books

The Good Girl by Mary Kubica

What is it about?

One night, Mia Dennett enters a bar to meet her on-again, off-again boyfriend, but when he doesn't show up, she leaves with an enigmatic stranger. At first Colin Thatcher seems like a safe one-night stand, but following Colin home will turn out to be the worst mistake of Mia's life.

My Thoughts...

I gave this book two out of five stars.

It seems like the majority of folks who read this book really liked it. I am one of the few that didn't. I didn't like any of the characters. I found the book to be predictable and boring. I also found the cover blurb to be very misleading regarding what his book is actually about. Maybe that is why I disliked it so much because it was nothing of what I was expecting.