I Read: Broken Genius

Broken Genius by Drew Murray

Alright, so this one is a little different. The author this time, is the instructor I had for the Science Fiction/Fantasy course I took at the beginning of the year. I  enjoyed his class, and he talked about his writing and publishing journey, and despite the fact that this is not generally what I would read, I was interested.

Short review - it's a good book. I enjoyed it. It was suspenseful, and kept my attention. There are some annoying character things, and a few things I think an copy editor should have picked up on, but might just be language preferences. And I'm just going to put it out there that I hate that every kind of book has to have some kind of love/sex/romance piece to it. Can't it just be a mystery/thriller for it's own sake?  Anyway...

I Read: On The Come Up

On the Come Up by Angie Thomas

Angie Thomas really seems to have a knack for creating characters. Ones that make you feel something, even in situations you relate to.

This was Thomas' second novel, and while not as acclaimed as The Hate U Give, is still poignant and dramatic. It's not a sequel, but it is set in the same community, and there are references to events of The Hate U Give in On the Come Up. (There's also a reference to On the Come Up's lead character in The Hate U Give if you were able to remember it. - The advantage of reading them consecutively.)

I Read: The Hate U Give

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

I don't even know where to start with this one. I can not say enough about it. I know it's acclaimed, and it's been talked about for several years already - long enough that there's already been a follow-up released, which is next on my TBR list.

This was amazing. Heartbreaking and lovely and powerful and scary. And wonderful. It's no wonder it was acclaimed. I haven't yet seen the movie, but I'm afraid to because the book left me with so much.

I Read: The Rural Diaries: Love, Livestock, and Big Life Lessons on Mischief Farms

The Rural Diaries: Love, Livestock, and Big Life Lessons on Mischief Farms by Hilarie Burton Morgan

If you know me well, you're not surprised that I had to read this one. I watched One Tree Hill from start to finish, and then found out that "Peyton" was practically (and then officially) married to "John Winchester" from Supernatural.  Instant fascination with them as a couple.

Hilarie Burton as Peyton was never my favourite on OTH, but there was always something about her that I respected. Having read this book now, that respect is heightened.

I Read: Glory in Death

Glory in Death by J.D. Robb

(#2 in In Death series)

Another mystery Nora Roberts style.  Sex, romance (of a sort) and some mystery and action thrown in.  I'm enjoying the progression of the character, even though I think she's her own obstacle the majority of the time. Especially in the "love" story, but I'm intrigued to see how far her character growth can go, considering the series is something like 40 or 50 books long.  I'll stop whenever I don't feel it moving anymore. 

The story is somewhat similar to a futuristic Castle. Differences being that the male lead isn't actually in the detective story, and he's not a writer. But I can see comparisons between Dallas and Beckett. This might be why I'm finding that I'm enjoying this book series now. I miss Castle. 

Three stars. It's not great literature, but it's entertaining. 

#35-2020

I Read: Naked in Death

Naked in Death by J.D. Robb
(First in the In Death series)

For some reason, I've never read anything by J.D. Robb, despite reading a lot of Nora Roberts series.  J.D. Robb is a pseudonym of Nora Roberts, in case you weren't aware. So I took the opportunity, during one particular paperback sale at Chapters. Indigo, to purchase the first two books in the series.

I could have just started wherever the series is currently, which I think is somewhere in the 50s, but I felt like I wanted to begin at the beginning.

I Read: The Last Little Blue Envelope

The Last Little Blue Envelope by Maureen Johnson

(sequel to 13 Little Blue Envelopes)

Okay, so the sequel didn't disappoint. I enjoyed this as well, and read it very quickly. Like I said in talking about the first book, I didn't have any expectations so this was a very pleasant surprise. It's a very cute story, and I was very happy to revisit it with the sequel. 

I very much wanted something to end. Properly. And while there is still room that this could continue, it's only in the way that life continues. There's not really a big expansive story to continue with.