Book Review - The Changing Man by Tomi Oyemakinde

  

The Changing Man by Tomi Oyemakinde is about a young woman, Ife Adebola, who is trying to adjust to her new school. Ife knows she should be excited about starting at the prestigious Nithercott School. However, she misses her old friends and school. She felt like she used to belong at her old school but at her new school she feels like an outsider.

As her parents couldn’t afford the tuition on their own, she is placed in the Urban Achievers scholarship program. She feels that this makes her an outsider and she is determined to focus on her schoolwork. However, when another student, Malika, starts acting strange, Ife wonders if there is more going on at the school. She wonders if Malika’s new behavior is related to the disappearance of the older brother of her classmate.

I love horror and mystery books, so I was so excited to read this book. The cover had a lot of spooky vibes.  However, I had a hard time getting into the book. The writing didn’t flow very smoothly for me. It also felt forced and disjointed. I had a hard time liking Ife. She was struggling to make friends but, when someone was interested in being her friend, Ife just used her when it was convenient. For example, she was only interested in talking to one girl, Bee, because Ife wanted to use Bee’s phone. I felt that there were also a lot of characters and it was hard to keep track of them all. It was a cumbersome process to remember how they all related to the plot. The book was so slow that nothing happened for more than half of the book. I stopped reading towards the midpoint as there wasn’t anything keeping me tethered to the novel.

 

Book Review - Bittersweet in the Hollow by Kate Pearsall

 

Bittersweet in the Hollow by Kate Pearsall is about a young woman named Linden James, who is trying to find out the truth about her strange disappearance experience last year. 

The rural Caball Hollow is surrounded by the vast National Forest. It is home to the James family who own a farm and local eatery, the Harvest Moon Diner, in the area. 

The family is well known in the area for their delicious food and it’s an open secret that they’re witches. However, that isn’t the only “secret” they are keeping, this one not so open. Linden and every female in her family tree, is born with an unusual ability. Linden can taste what other people are feeling.

Linden usually loves her gift until it costs her her relationship with Cole Spencer to sour one night. The pair grew up together and then their relationship blossomed into a romantic one. Everything was going great between the two of them, until Linden did something she was told by her family she should never do. She decided to tell an outsider more about her secret ability. She thought Cole would be excited but she tasted his confused and fearful emotions instead. Then he started pushing her away and told her to go back home.

Linden was upset from her interaction with Cole and left him to go back home. She later decides that she shouldn’t let Cole get in the way of her plans. She decides to join her friends in the depth of the forest for a party. Everything was going well, until she woke up hours later in the woods with no memories of what happened that night. All Linden can recall are hazy bits that suggest that a lot more happened to her that night than she can remember.

A few months pass and now, it’s another hot day in summer and one of the hottest summers so far. Things seem to be going well, until another girl, Dahlia, goes missing in the forest. It seems to be very similar to Linden’s experience last year except this time, the missing girl is found dead. When her body is found, it is clear that the girl was murdered.

Linden knew Dahlia and Linden was also the one who found the body. She is determined to find out what happened to her friend. However, as she begins digging, it becomes clear that someone is trying to keep the past buried and they will do anything to keep it that way. Will Linden be able to find out the truth about her friend’s murder and her disappearance last year, and if there’s a connection?

The book was an interesting read and had some vivid imagery. It had some spooky and paranormal elements. However, I felt that the book was dragging some of the time and it took a while before the author got into the meat of the story. At times, there was a lot going on and it was hard to keep track of who was speaking and what was going on and how it related to the story.

The romance between Cole and Linden could have been fleshed out more. It seemed to me that they were once pretty close but then they had a falling out. It seems obvious that they both liked each other and Cole was always still friendly and nice to her even though they didn’t talk. Linden seemed to have feelings for Cole as well. I also didn’t understand why Cole pushed her away that night. If he knew “something”, it seemed that they had a strong relationship and they both trusted each other— It just seems weird that he wouldn’t tell her especially when she was so open with him.

I love the relationships and the scenes with Linden and her sisters and family. The dynamics were fun and most of the time, Linden was open and honest with her sisters. They did things together and they didn’t keep any secrets from each other. I do wish that the sisters had more of a role when Linden was searching for the killer. I did like side plots with Rowan’s and Hadrian’s cat and mouse antics with each other. They seemed like a cute couple and I liked their scenes together.  I also liked the scenes with Linden’s aunt, Sissy, I thought she was a fun character. I wished to learn more about her backstory and why she decided to come back home. The James family are portrayed as strong and powerful witches but they rarely showcased their abilities and didn’t help Linden with her quest to find answers.

I thought I would have been able to guess who the killer was and I was able to guess it towards the end. However, I didn’t get the motivation and that was surprising to me. I wished the author spent more time explaining the ending and certain loose ends.

Book Review - Exiles (Aaron Falk, #3) by Jane Harper

Aaron Falk is a federal investigator, on his way to a small town deep in Southern Australia for a christening of a friend's baby. Aaron is hoping for a relaxing vacation but, his hopes are dashed when he realizes it's the one year anniversary of Kim Gillespie's disappearance.

A year ago, at a busy town festival, Kim tucked her sleeping baby into her stroller and left the stroller in the parking lot and then disappeared. No one has heard or seen her since. Kim's older daughter is desperate to find out what happened to her mother and makes a plea for anyone who has information to come forward. Falk decide to help with the case since, his old friend, Raco, can't seem to leave the case alone. As Falk enjoys his vacation, he notices that things has changed since Kim had disappeared. Will Falk be able to discover the truth behind Kim's disappearance?

The novel had an interesting premise but, it moved very slowly for my liking. The book was filled with boring filler after filler that I almost lost interest in the novel. I didn't connect with or liked any of the characters to be invested in the story. When the truth was revealed, it was a surprise but, it felt like it came out of nowhere especially, since there were two mysterious deaths and almost no details were revealed. I felt that there were a lot of characters at times and not all of them needed to be included as they added nothing to the story. I am not sure if I  would be interested in reading any of her other books after reading this book. This book is the final book in the series but, I was able to read it as a standalone. 

Book Review - Nice Girls by Catherine Dang

 

Mary was a nice girl. She was well known as "Ivy League Mary" in her small town of Liberty Lake, Minnesota. She was expected to leave the small town behind and make it into the big leagues. Mary had transformed from a chubby teen with a scholarship to a thinner and cynical failure who was kicked out of Cornell in her senior year. She returns home to work at a local grocery store and watches as her life takes a sharp downward spiral.

As Mary's life takes a dip, her once best friend, Olivia Willand, disappears. She was a rising social media star and beloved by everyone except Mary. Mary knows behind the girl next door vibe is a mean and manipulative girl with sharp edges. As the town obsesses over Olivia, Mary believes that her disappearance might be tied to another missing person, nineteen-year-old DeMaria Jackson, who people thought she ran away. As Mary begin to investigate the disappearances, she is forced to face the truth about herself and others.

I thought the book was an interesting read. I was a bit disappointed in the ending. I thought the reason for the disappearances was going to be a bit more sinister even the reason for her being expelled was overblown. I am surprised that Mary wanted to keep her head down but, kept doing things that throws her into the limelight. It was an okay read and I would be opened to reading other books by the author.

Book Review - Elizabeth Is Missing by Emma Healey

 

Maud is an elderly woman dealing with the early stages of dementia. As she is slowly losing her memory and her grip on everyday life, she is certain that her best friend has disappeared. Her search for Elizabeth goes back decades and she refuses to give up about her friend.

No one believes Maud, not even her daughter, Helen or her caretakers and the police. Maud has her handwritten notes that she leaves for herself while she searches for the truth. However, she can't fight the overwhelming feeling that Elizabeth is in dire need of her help. Maud resolves to find out the truth about her friend.

As Maud begins focusing on Elizabeth, her obsession leads to her rapidly being more forgetful while leading her to remember about her sister, Sukey. Her sister had vanished shortly after World War II and was never heard from again. As she remembers vivid memories of Sukey, she wonders if it ties into Elizabeth's disappearance.

I thought the book had an interesting premise of an elderly woman with cognitive issues trying to solve two disappearances. However, I found the novel to be boring and incredibly repetitive after awhile. We would gleam a nugget of information on either Sukey or Elizabeth and then Maud would forget. I also didn't like that Maud clearly needed to be institutionalized and that having her living alone was dangerous to her well-being. Even though she was a fictionalized character, I kept worrying about her safety every time she was hungry or left her house. I stopped reading the book one third of the way because it started getting too repetitive and had to much detail about Maud's everyday life than the actual "disappearance".

Book Review - The Bone Code (Temperance Brennan, #20) by Kathy Reichs

 

Tempe receives a call from the Charleston coroner about a medical waste container that was tossed ashore.  When the container was opened, they found two decomposed bodies wrapped up in plastic sheeting and bound with electrical wire. Tempe realizes that these details are identical to an unsolved case she handled in Quebec years earlier. She feels that the two cases are connected and she travels to Montreal to gather more evidence.

In South Carolina, the state is chaos because a human flesh-eating contagion is spreading. Tempe is so focused on the container victims that she doesn't register that the murders and the disease may be related. As Tempe continues to investigate the murders, she realizes someone is keeping a dark secret and will is do anything to protect their secret.

I was excited to read this book because my mom loves the TV show. However, this book was a complete and utter bore. I didn't care for the writing style and I felt like the book was dragging along. This is the first book for me in the series, so I am guessing I am missing nuances between the characters but, I don't really have an interest in reading the other books in the series.

Book Review - Olive the Lionheart: Lost Love, Imperial Spies, and One Woman's Journey into the Heart of Africa by Brad Ricca

Photo Credit - Amazon

Olive MacLeod is a thirty-year-old Scottish aristocrat. In 1910, she received word that her fiancé, the famous explorer Boyd Alexander, went missing in Africa. Olive decides to Africa determined to find out what happened. Olive and her two travel companions, the Talbots, traverse across the diverse landscape of Africa to find the truth. They cross paths with dangerous animals, native chiefs, politicians, a haunted forest, and a murderous leopard cult. As Olive and the Talbots travel across Africa, they uncover secrets that might hold the key to her fiancé's whereabouts.

The book is based on true events and gleams highlights from Olive's own diaries and letters. The author wrote the book in the same writing style and language if Olive was writing the book. I thought it was a great idea until I found myself rereading things over and over to understand it. I was excited to read about a female explorer taking the world by the horns. However, I felt quite disconnected from Olive. I had a hard time understanding some of her motives and her reactions. For example, Mr. Talbot was showing her how to de-feather a bird. She volunteered for the job but, purposely wasn't following his instructions. I felt like she took the job to provide that she was an asset to the journey and her not following the instructions was counter-intuitive. Unfortunately, I found the novel boring and moved slowly that halfway through the novel I just abandoned the book.

**Disclosure -  This post may contain affiliate links which means I earn advertising and/or referral fees if you purchase an item through my link. Please note, there will be no extra charges to you. Thank you for your support.**

Book Review - The Missing Years by Lexie Elliott

Photo Credit - Amazon

Ailsa Calder's mother recently willed her an old Scottish manor. However, only half of the house belongs to her. The other half belongs to her father who disappeared twenty-seven years ago with diamonds. Ailsa is torn between leaving her life in London behind and returning to her childhood home. She returns to get the house in order before selling and asks her half-sister to join her.

While spending time at the Manse, Ailsa feels claustrophobic and can't sleep. She feels drained and tired. She senses someone is watching her and especially when she hears stories about the manor's past. Then one night an intruder shows up causing Ailsa to fear what secrets the Manse might be hiding. Will Ailsa be able to move on from her father's disappearance?

I have read the "French Girl" and liked it but, this novel left me baffled. While the "villain" was unexpected, I felt disappointed. The novel dragged on and on only for a mediocre ending. I was left with more questions than answers. This novel is an easy pass and not worth even a second glance.

 **Disclosure -  This post may contain affiliate links which means I earn advertising and/or referral fees if you purchase an item through my link. Please note, there will be no extra charges to you. Thank you for your support.**

Book Review - The Center of the Universe by Ria Voros + Giveaway

Photo Credit - Amazon

GG Carter is a beautiful famous celebrity news anchor. GG is everything her daughter, Grace is not. GG is flawless, beautiful, and has impeccable taste. While Grace is an aspiring astrophysicist. GG and Grace have never quite understood each other.

Then one day GG just disappears. Reporters and camera descend on their house to report on the story. Grace and her family are struggling for answers over GG's disappearance. While the authorities are looking into GG disappearance, Grace grows closer to her high school's popular boy, Mylo. Grace realizes she doesn't know her mother as well as she thought. She is left wondering did her mother leave on purpose or was she abducted?

When I first read the premise of the book, I thought it would be an interesting read. However, roughly one-third of the book, I lost interest in the novel. I felt it like it was very slow and boring. There were almost zero buildups on why GG disappeared. During, the GG's disappearance I felt like the disappearance was a side story compared to Grace and Mylo's budding friendship. The book didn't have enough material to keep me interested in the characters.

 **Disclosure - I received a free uneditted copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion. This post may contain affiliate links which means I earn advertising and/or referral fees if you purchase an item through my link. Please note, there will be no any extra charges to you. Thank you for your support.**

Title: THE CENTER OF THE UNIVERSE

Author: Ria Voros

Pub. Date: April 2, 2018

Publisher: KCP Loft

Formats: Hardcover, eBook

Pages: 512

Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, B&N, TBD

Grace Carter's mother --- the celebrity news anchor GG Carter --- is everything Grace is not. GG is a star, with a flawless wardrobe and a following of thousands, while Grace --- an aspiring astrophysicist --- is into stars of another kind. She and her mother have always been in different orbits.

Then one day GG is just ... gone. Cameras descend on their house, news shows speculate about what might have happened and Grace's family struggles to find a new rhythm as they wait for answers.

While the authorities unravel the mystery behind GG's disappearance, Grace grows closer to her high school's golden boy, Mylo, who has faced a black hole of his own. She also uncovers some secrets from her mother's long-lost past. The more Grace learns, the more she wonders. Did she ever really know her mother? Was GG abducted ... or did she leave? And if she left, why?

Author Ria Voros (Nobody's Dog, The Opposite of Geek) reaches for the stars here, deftly combining mystery with a passion for science and themes of mother-daughter bonds, celebrity, first love and best friendship.

Facts about astronomy and astrophysics are seamlessly woven into the story and are supplemented by an interview with real-life astrophysicist Elizabeth Tasker, making this the perfect book for readers who love STEM. And even readers who don't have stars in their eyes will love this smart, suspenseful, relatable and literary novel.

About Ria:

Ria Voros is a YA and children’s author, teacher, presenter and obsessive reader. Her children’s and young adult novels have been finalists for the White Pine Award, the Rocky Mountain Book Award, and been a Best Books for Kids and Teens selection. She has an MFA in creative writing from the University of British Columbia. When she’s not writing, teaching or eating sweet things, Ria can be found hiking to the tops of mountains or buying too many books at any bookstore she enters. She lives in Victoria, BC, Canada with her husband, daughter and son.

Website | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads

Giveaway Details:

3 lucky winners will win a finished copy of THE CENTER OF THE UNIVERSE, US Only.

Giveaway Link:

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/e2389ba2907/?

Tour Schedule:

Week Two:

4/1/2019- Moonlight Rendezvous- Review

4/2/2019- PopTheButterfly Reads- Review

4/3/2019- A Gingerly Review- Review

4/4/2019- Here's to Happy Endings- Review

4/5/2019- two points of interest- Review

Book Review - The Night Before by Wendy Walker

Photo Credit - Amazon

Laura Lochner doesn't have much luck in the love department. She has a habit of choosing the wrong men and falling too fast and hard for them. After her last relationship ended, she left her prestigious high paying Wall Street job to move into her sister's home in Connecticut. Although Laura is still haunted by her previous failed relationships, she is determined she will find love again online.

Rosie Ferro has spent most of her life worrying about her sister, Laura. She has been dealing with Laura's emotional rollercoaster since they were children. When Laura returns unexpectedly, Rosie questions Laura's return given her past. Her shadow of doubt grows when Laura leaves for her blind date one night and doesn't return home the following morning. Rosie begins to fear the worst and Laura left no information about the man she planned to meet. As Rosie begins her search for Laura, she is worried about what this mysterious man might have done to her sister but, also what Rosie might have done to him.

I found the novel to have an interesting premise as Laura wasn't portrayed as a damsel in distress. I thought that the novel had a good amount of suspense but, I felt like it didn't have many unexpected twists. Overall, it was a fun and great read and I look forward to reading more books by the author.

**Disclosure - This post may contain affiliate links which means I earn advertising and/or referral fees if you purchase an item through my link. Please note, there will be no any extra charges to you. Thank you for your support.**