Rules for Ruin - Review

Rules for Ruin (The Crinoline Academy, # 1)

By: Mimi Matthews

Publication: May 20, 2025 by Berkley

400 pages

Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction, Victorian

Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--No one betrays the Academy. But now Euphemia must decide: break the rules for her enemy, or let the rules break her heart.

On the outskirts of London sits a seemingly innocuous institution with a secretive aim—train young women to distract, disrupt, and discredit the patriarchy. Outraged by a powerful politician’s systematic attack on women’s rights, the Academy summons its brightest—and most bitter—pupil to infiltrate the odious man’s inner circle. A deal is struck: bring down the viscount, and Miss Euphemia Flite will finally earn her freedom.

But betting shop owner Gabriel Royce has other plans. The viscount is the perfect pawn to insulate Gabriel’s underworld empire from government interference. He’s not about to let some crinoline-clad miss destroy his carefully constructed enterprise—no matter how captivating he finds her threats.

From the rookeries of St. Giles to the ballrooms of Mayfair, Euphemia and Gabriel engage in a battle of wits and wills that’s complicated by a blossoming desire. Soon Euphemia realizes it’s not the broken promises to her Academy sisters she should fear. . . . It’s the danger to her heart.

I've read 18 of Mimi Matthews' published books. I find her to be a consistent author who writes characters I can root for and stories that pull me in. Out of 18 I've read, I've only rated 5 less than 4 Stars. So I generally expect to like her books. Yet when I started Rules for Ruin, I had a hard time connecting to the beginning of it. I worried the story was going to stray more into a mystery than her books have in the past. All it took to change my mind was to make it to the part where Gabriel and Effie met. That was enough to hook me.

Effie has grown up in an orphanage for girls. But this wasn't a typical orphanage. The owner of the orphanage wasn't affectionate, and she and Effie often butted heads. Effie was eventually sent to Paris, and now she's returning for a mission that will, hopefully, earn her freedom. Mrs. Corvus has tasked her with ruining a man who stands in the way of laws to further women's rights--specifically protecting women's property that they bring into a marriage from being taken over by their husbands and leaving them completely dependent upon their spouses, who might not have their best interests in mind. Effie is hosted in society by a lady who owes a debt of some sort to Mrs. Corvus. This lady is frequently in the company of Lord Compton--the mark. Lord Compton has an impeccable reputation, but how he votes often sways his peers. 

When Effie meets Lord Compton, she also meets a man named Gabriel Royce. Gabriel runs a betting house in the Rookery. He is trying his best to grow his business and improve the Rookery. He has good intentions. But he uses Lord Compton as protection from the law. And he's recently been pressing him for introductions to more noblemen and businessmen, hoping to garner investors in his improvement ideas. But he has to do so using a bit of blackmail. Effie's goals run counterproductive to his own. And he lets her know up front that any plans she has against Lord Compton will be undermined by Royce himself. 

Effie and Gabriel have a fun journey. I liked seeing them work against each other and for each other. I liked seeing them bump heads as both tend to have a little temper and fire about them. I appreciated that Gabriel isn't a typical hero. Most wouldn't root for a man who owns a betting shop in the slums. But he was a good match for Effie. And I enjoyed their story. 

I did wonder a little at a few things. The Crinoline Academy is essentially raising spies. They are trained in unconventional arts. And Effie is supposed to be the prize student. Yet, I found her skills lacking several times. Maybe she's out of practice, having been in Paris and not necessarily on a mission. But a few things felt obvious to me that she missed. Even after being warned by Nell to assume she's being followed, her correspondence being read, and being spied on herself by keyholes, Effie is never as paranoid as I would assume she would be. 

Favorite quotes:

-"A finishing school in Paris, was it?" Gabriel inquired. "That's correct." Miss Flite returned her attention to the others. "And were you?" he asked. She glanced back at him again, distracted. "Was I what, sir?" "Finished?" Her mouth curved into a slow, feline smile. "On the contrary," she said. "I'm just getting started."

-"There you are," he said, with a husky scrape of triumph. "I see you now."

-"Fashion is fleeting, but a well-timed right cross is forever." She added wryly, "To paraphrase The Oracle of the Ring."

-"You're too bitter, that's the trouble. You persist in blaming Miss Corvus for the conditions that brought you here. And she's accepted the blame--foolishly, I feel--in the mistaken belief that your anger would fuel you. Instead, all it's done is cloud your judgment. It's made you suspicious of everything you've learned. Perpetually dissatisfied, imagining there's something better waiting just around the corner, if only you could be free of this place."

-"Never talk about other people. It is the mark of a small and common mind."

-"Don't be ridiculous," she said. "Blackmail is a loathsome business." She smoothed her gloves. "I intend to remove Compton from the board entirely."

-"Everyone must sleep eventually." "Some people sleep with one eye open." Effie gave him a thoughtful look. "Some people must be very tired." Gabriel's mouth hitched wryly. "Exhausted." "That's why it's important to have a true friend. Someone you trust with your life. You can sleep in turns."

-"When all the world desserts you, you will have no friend but yourself to rely on," Miss Corvus had told them. "See that you are a fierce and competent friend. A friend to be reckoned with."

Rules for Ruin is multifaceted, and I've barely scratched the surface in my review. Miss Corvus's backstory. Effie's backstory. I mentioned Nell, but I haven't described any of the side characters. Franc, the dog. I enjoyed it all. I'm so glad that I pressed on when things felt slow in the beginning. And I can't wait to continue the series with Nell's book next. Rules for Ruin gets 4 Stars. Have you read Rules for Ruin? What did you think? Let me know!

The Muse of Maiden Lane - Review

The Muse of Maiden Lane (Belles of London, # 4)

By: Mimi Matthews

Publication: November 19, 2024 by Berkley

384 pages

Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction

Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--A silver-haired equestrienne and a charismatic artist turn a scandalous bargain into a vibrant portrait of love.

Stella Hobhouse is a brilliant rider, stalwart friend, skilled sketch artist—and completely overlooked. Her outmodish gray hair makes her invisible to London society. Combined with her brother’s pious restrictions and her dwindling inheritance, Stella is on the verge of a lifetime marooned in Derbyshire as a spinster. Unless she does something drastic…like posing for a daring new style of portrait by the only man who’s ever really seen her.

Aspiring painter Edward “Teddy” Hayes knows true beauty when he sees it. He would never ask Stella to risk her reputation as an artist’s model but in the five years since a virulent bout of scarlet fever left him partially paralyzed, Teddy has learned to heed good fortune when he finds it. He’ll do anything to persuade his muse to pose for him, even if he must offer her a marriage of convenience.

After all, though Teddy has yearned to trace Stella’s luminous beauty on canvas since their chance meeting, her heart is what he truly aches to capture….

I read the first chapter of The Muse of Maiden Lane at the end of The Lily of Ludgate Hill, and immediately, I felt secondhand embarrassment on behalf of Stella. She has naturally silver hair and has decided to dye it for a house party she's going to with Anne. No one there hardly knows her so she isn't worried about them knowing her hair is dyed. I wasn't aware it was culturally taboo to dye one's hair, but it makes sense that the only ones who would do so during this period would be people of questionable morals. But Stella is hoping for a connection that might turn into a marriage. And so it's obvious that she didn't quite think this through. Because even if she does find someone she connects with at the party, and she fools them into thinking she's someone who doesn't have silver hair, eventually dyes wash out. Thus she would be faced with either coming clean about her hair or attempting to maintain the ruse the rest of her life. Quite impossible. 

Stella, in fact, quickly runs into Teddy who already knows she has silver hair. Teddy is a crossover character from Mimi Matthew's Parish Orphans of Devon series. And I love that she's crossed these series. There is so much fan service. Tom Finchley already appears nearly every time she needs a solicitor. But now we have Archer and Laura crossing over with Teddy as is necessary. Teddy is now wheelchair-bound after having a bad case of scarlet fever when he was younger. He's an artist. Art is what has sustained and driven him through his challenges in life. And now he's met Stella. He feels a drive that he can't even explain to paint her. Another scandalous thing. Models in those days were usually loved ones, mistresses, or again, women of questionable morals. 

Because of Stella's choice to dye her hair, she spends time hiding from the other guests at the house party. And, she stumbles upon a drawing room that the host has allowed Teddy to use as his personal art studio during the stay. Stella and Teddy spend much of the book here getting to know one another. And Teddy spends much of that time begging her to let him paint her. 

Favoriote quotes:

-Of all the offensive masculine qualities that ladies detested, eagerness was one of the worst.

I can attest to this one. It's so offputting. 

-"Your face is the only reason I'd consider keeping it," he said frankly. "But  I don't need to." He tapped his forefinger to his temple. "You're etched up here, more indelibly than a pencil drawing. I won't easily forget you."

The Muse of Maiden Lane was probably my second favorite in the series. It's a hard tie for second place though. I had a clear favorite of the series and a clear least favorite. Stella and Teddy were both characters that I could feel for and root for a happily ever after. They had a non-traditional courtship and journey. And sometimes I balk when characters do things intentionally against the norms, but I didn't mind it in this book. It fits the characters and the story. I loved the crossovers from Mimi Matthew's previous series. I can always appreciate fan service. The Muse of Maiden Lane gets 4 Stars. Have you read The Muse of Maiden Lane? What did you think? Let me know!

Can't Wait for Rocky Mountain Promise

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings to spotlight and talk about the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they're books that have yet to be released as well. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous Jill at Breaking the Spine. Find out more here.

Rocky Mountain Promise (Sisters of the Rockies, # 2)

By: Misty M Beller

Expected Publication: November 23, 2023

320 pages

Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction, Christian Fiction

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Lorelei Collins possesses a soft heart for any animal in need, so when she finds a buffalo calf bawling beside its mother's lifeless body, she can't help but bring it home to raise on the ranch she and her sisters are building in the Rocky Mountain wilderness. Little does she realize that its white coloring is rare and considered sacred by Native Americans, which makes it highly valuable to them and the European trappers alike.

A flood of men visit their ranch to regard the marvel, some trying to woo Lorelei into marriage so she'll bring the buffalo calf along as dowry, and others trying to steal the calf outright. When the men's advances become more sinister, she approaches Tanner Mason, the quiet and mysterious owner of the new trading post, with an idea: She and the calf will move to his post, along with her family's trusted Blackfoot friend. This will solve both their problems, bringing customers to his trade room and protecting her family from the trouble brought on by so many strangers. Yet as the danger travels with her, Lorelei and Tanner are faced with a threat greater than anything they're prepared for--one that will test the limits of both their abilities and the love growing between them.

What are you guys waiting on this week? Let me know!

The Dreaming Beauty - Review

The Dreaming Beauty

By: Anneka R Walker

Expected Publication: July 11th 2022 by Covenant Communications

256 pages

Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Once upon a dream, two cursed people fell in love...

Tansy White doesn't want to end up alone like her three aunts who raised her, but when she is betrayed by her would-be betrothed, she fears she might never change her fate. At her aunts' suggestion, she seizes the chance to visit Rose Cottage, the country home of her late mother. For years, dreams of the cottage have haunted Tansy, and she is convinced it holds the answer to her hidden past. But after getting caught in a terrible storm, she meets a man who is just as determined as she is to learn all her secrets.

Marcus Taylor, brother to the Duke of Westmorland, is also troubled by vivid dreams. On a sleepless night, as a tempest rages outside his brother's estate, he makes a discovery far more mysterious than any dream: a young woman, cold as ice, lies unconscious in the library, and he is sure she is the key to solving his problems. When she makes, what begins as a shared quest for information turns into an unexpected friendship. As they piece together the fragments of their past, they discover a tangled web of lies, and their feelings for each other become just as entwined. But is their love as strong as their dreams. . . or their fate?

I've only read one other book by Anneka Walker--Bargaining for the Barrister--and I enjoyed it. She's not a novice author as far as I can tell since she has 14 published works (including anthologies). That being said, pieces of The Dreaming Beauty felt unpolished. I'll do my best to explain.

I wasn't sure, given the description and how certain pieces of this story are written, if this was intended to be fantasy in a historical fiction setting. I'll clear it up for you, it's not. But Tansy has dreams that sometimes seem prophetic. She dreams of Rose Cottage in vivid detail when she's never seen it before. And some other dreams appear to be prophetic, essentially warning her of something bad about to happen. Tansy's aunts all refer to a curse upon their family. The curse results in all the female aunts (sisters) being alone. One aunt's husband left her, although they claim he died. One aunt's husband did die. And one aunt is barely older than Tansy and has never married as far as I can tell. Tansy's mother died of an illness when she was very young. And there is an estranged aunt none of the family has heard from in many years.

Marcus has been plagued by dreams all his life. Nightmares. And he doesn't know how to explain them or how to get them to stop. He began to research dreams, but it was difficult to get a subject who had similarities to his own dreams until he meets Tansey. Marcus's dreams don't appear to be prophetic, but there's a mystery within them.

One of my biggest frustrations with mysteries is how side characters often have more information than the main characters. The main characters know the side characters know so much more than them, but the side characters refuse to enlighten the ones who really need the knowledge they hold. And so the story drags on. Either leaking snippets here or there or by the secondary characters holding it over their heads that one day the time will be right and all the information will be revealed. For me, this is just frustrating as a reader, and I would be quite frustrated were I the main character as well.

I found myself annoyed with Marcus and Simon. I don't understand why Marcus couldn't be open with Simon about his feelings for Tansy up front. He kept pursuing his own relationship with her even after finding out that Simon was interested in her. I don't know what his plan was. I mean he makes plans to go back to teaching in order to have a profession where he would be able to court Tansy. But he uses that as a method of escape instead. And then for Simon to say later that he knew Marcus was interested in Tansy, I don't understand pursuing someone that you know your sibling is interested in.

Favorite quotes:

-The key to learning motivation, and ultimately to uncovering truth, was to approach it as a friend, not as an inquisitor.

-The subtleties of tone, physical expression, and word choice were the manifestation of the soul.

-"I cannot resist a night's sky. Of all of God's creations, this is my favorite." Marcus let his head fall back again. "The stars are tranquil and comforting, aren't they? They see everything that happens, and while I am sure they hold the secrets of the world, they reflect only the light."

-...some lessons did not come without a degree of pain.

All in all, I was a little disappointed with The Dreaming Beauty. The mystery aspects were just frustrating. I didn't feel an excitement about discovering the secrets, I just felt annoyed that the characters that had more information weren't sharing it. I liked Marcus and Tansy's relationship, but Marcus was a bit of a dunderhead when it came to Simon's interest in Tansy. The Dreaming Beauty gets 3 Stars. Have you read The Dreaming Beauty? What did you think? Let me know!

All Things Halloween Review - Pretty When She Dies

Pretty When She Dies (Pretty When She Dies, # 1)

By: Rhiannon Frater

Published: November 24th 2008 by CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform

238 pages

Genre: Paranormal, Vampires, Horror, Urban Fantasy

Source: Kindle Freebie Deal

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*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Amaliya wakes under the forest floor, disoriented, famished and confused. She digs out of the shallow grave and realizes she is hungry...

... in a new, horrific, unimaginable way...

Sating her great hunger, she discovers that she is now a vampire, the bloodthirsty creature of legend. She has no choice but to flee from her old life and travels across Texas. Her new hunger spurs her to leave a wake of death and blood behind her as she struggles with her new nature.

All the while, her creator is watching. He is ancient, he is powerful, and what's worse is that he's a necromancer. He has the power to force the dead to do his bidding. Amaliya realizes she is but a pawn in a twisted game, and her only hope for survival is to seek out one of her own kind.

But if Amaliya finds another vampire, will it mean her salvation... or her death?

I think it’s possible that I might be in a reading slump. Or well…I think I was in a reading slump at the time I read Pretty When She Dies. Unfortunately. Since I’m scheduled in advance this review won’t go live until quite some time so hopefully I’ll be out of my slump by the time this review is posted. (I did get out of the slump, but I think I'm edging back into one! Sheesh!) Anyway, I think I would have enjoyed Pretty When She Dies more had I been in a different place with my reading life. I was browsing all my titles in my possession, looking for a short book that I would be able to read quickly and I decided on Pretty When She Dies. It being one of only two that I had under 300 pages at the time, I picked it up. Also, I can’t really remember the last time I read a vampire book so I was kind of excited to return to the genre that started it all.

I loved the very beginning of Pretty When She Dies. Amaliya wakes up buried alive and turned into something that she doesn’t know or understand. I loved how disoriented she was. And I was struck with the writing from the very beginning. Her creator watches her rise and feed for the first time. He stays long enough to tell her that he’s going to be watching to see how she handles her new life but that he won’t interfere or help her out at all. The next section was necessary but slow moving for me. Amaliya needed to establish how alone she was in the world, but this section of the book felt like it would drag on forever. Eventually, Amaliya makes her way to Austin where she meets up with Cian, another vampire who happens to have been created by the same vampire as Amaliya. Once she made it to Austin, Pretty When She Dies picked up speed for me, thankfully.

Cian has never really embraced his vampire self. Being forced to turn against his will and losing his wife and two children have damaged him. He’s made a life for himself in Austin, but he’s working so hard to be human—or as human as he can be. Unfortunately, Amaliya brings out the vampire in him like he’s never experienced before. Despite being engaged to a human, Samantha, Cian and Amaliya are drawn to each other. Their connection isn’t easily severed.

But the thing is, Cian and Amaliya’s creator likes to play with his creations. He has all kind of twisted games that they have to endure. Amaliya being his newest creation has just drawn his attention back to Cian. Things get heated, battles are fought, the series must go on. While everything is wrapped up by the end of Pretty When She Dies, Rhianon Frater adds just enough unrest to have need of continuing the series.

Pretty When She Dies is one of those vampire books that brings the heat to this genre. It wasn’t overly graphic, but in this series blood mixes with pleasure. Amaliya has a colorful vocabulary, which is a nice way to say that she drops a lot of f-bombs. While the beginning sucked me in, the middle of Pretty When She Dies dragged for me, and the end had me skimming a bit. Overall I’d happily give Pretty When She Dies 3.5 Stars. Have you read Pretty When She Dies? What did you think? Let me know!

This review is part of my All Things Halloween event--a month of paranormal, supernatural, mystery/thriller, etc reviews and books.

Driftwood Tides - Review

Driftwood Tides

By: Gina Holmes

Published: September 1st 2014 by Tyndale House Publishers

Genre: Adult, Realistic Fiction, Contemporary

Source: Publisher via Edelweiss (Thank you!!)

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*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--He made himself an island until something unexpected washed ashore.When Holton lost his wife, Adele, in a freak accident, he shut himself off from the world, living a life of seclusion, making drifwood sculptures and drowning his pain in gin. Until twenty-three-year-old Libby knocks on his door, asking for a job and claiming to be a friend of his late wife. When he discovers Libby is actually his late wife's illegitimate daughter, given up for adoption without his knowledge, his life is turned upside down as he struggles to accept that the wife he'd given saint status to was not the woman he thought he knew.Together Holton and Libby form an unlikely bond as the two struggle to learn the identity of Libby's father and the truth about Adele, themselves, and each other.

I read Crossing Oceans by Gina Holmes back in 2012 and LOVED it. I don’t often cry when reading, so if there’s a book that even gets me close then I consider that a good book. And Crossing Oceans did. Crossing Oceans was my first experience reading anything by Gina Holmes, and since I was so impressed I knew when I came across Driftwood Tides on Edelweiss that I would need to check it out. I’m glad that I did, but yet Driftwood Tides did not live up to the expectations I had of it either.

I enjoyed reading Driftwood Tides because it was a nice change of pace from what I normally read. Instead of being about young adults dealing with teenage and college problems, this book was about adult problems. Yet, I didn’t feel like this book was very original either. It felt predictable on every level to me, which is always a disappointment. Even though this is an adult book, the problems weren’t that much different. Guilt. Shame. Alcohol abuse. Rejection. Fear. Who am I? Where did I come from? Can I move on? All of those things were touched on in this book. Also different from what I normally read is the fact that this was definitely a Christian book.

I like reading Christian fiction, but honestly, I don’t read more Christian fiction because some of it can be a bit cheesy. Yes, that’s right. I said it. Even being a Christian myself, I can struggle with this in Christian fiction. A lot of times it feels like the authors are trying to teach the reader a lesson versus the character learning a lesson. And often the seemingly miraculous situations that occur feel unrealistic and far-fetched. On top of all that, if a “regular” fiction book can struggle with everything being tied up too nicely in the end, then Christian books even more frequently suffer from this. And so that’s one of the reasons why I don’t read more Christian fiction—the stories don’t always feel real. And unfortunately Driftwood Tides fell into this pattern for me. It wasn’t overly, beat-you-over-the-head with the lesson Gina Holmes was trying to get across, and it wasn’t completely cheesy. But there were aspects of both.

Holton was a character that I struggled with because his first reaction to losing his wife was to turn to alcohol. It happens so frequently in the world, but it just felt so cliché. And I thought this as a conflict was too easy. He’s sober more than I expected throughout the book, but I really thought based off the description that the majority of the book would be about him trying to bond with Libby. Yet that wasn’t exactly the case. Libby was fairly likeable. I enjoyed her being able to see through her fiance’s emotional struggles, but she went through this phase of self-sabotage that annoyed me. Speaking of Libby’s finace, Rob was very familiar to me. I know a few Robs out there, but Rob learned his lessons easier than the “Robs” I know IRL. Tess was probably the most likeable character, but even then it was a bit hard to understand how she had fallen in love with drunk Holton.

Favorite quotes:

-“It’s not fair getting mad at you for being the person I fell in love with.”

-“You’ll like him a lot more if you listen more to his actions than to his words.”

-There were a million things she wished he was mature enough to hear at that moment—that his behavior was threatening to cause what he feared most. She loved him and only him, but she was so afraid that she was going to have spend the rest of her life trying to convince him of something he would never believe…or that his never ending well of neediness would never be filled no matter how many compliments and reassurances she poured into it. One day that neediness might even suck the life out of their marriage, but it didn’t have to be that way. If he could just learn to trust in her, trust in himself and his own lovability, they’d be okay. But those were all things she had already said a million times, in a million different ways, and it always ended with him apologizing, but not really getting it. … She just couldn’t bring herself to repeat it one more time.

”When I love someone God just takes them away.” “I know how that feels. But maybe—I don’t know—maybe it’s not God.”

Driftwood Tides was a fairly enjoyable read. It was a nice change from what I normal read. But I found Driftwood Tides a little on the cheesy and “pretty” side. Driftwood Tides gets 3.5 Stars from me. Have you read Driftwood Tides? What did you think? Let me know!

The Immortal Crown - Review

The Immortal Rules (Age of X, # 2)

By: Richelle Mead

Published: May 29th 2014 by Dutton Adult

432 pages

Genre: Adult, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Dystopian, Paranormal

Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!!)

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Goodreads description--The #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Vampire Academy and Bloodline series returns with the second installment in her acclaimed Age of X series.

Gameboard of the Gods introduced religious investigator Justin March and Mae Koskinen, the beautiful supersoldier assigned to protect him. Together they have been charged with investigating reports of the supernatural and the return of the gods, both inside the Republic of United North America and out. With this highly classified knowledge comes a shocking revelation: Not only are the gods vying for human control, but the elect—special humans marked by the divine—are turning against one another in bloody fashion.

Their mission takes a new twist when they are assigned to a diplomatic delegation headed by Lucian Darling, Justin’s old friend and rival, going into Arcadia, the RUNA’s dangerous neighboring country. Here, in a society where women are commodities and religion is intertwined with government, Justin discovers powerful forces at work, even as he struggles to come to terms with his own reluctantly acquired deity.

Meanwhile, Mae—grudgingly posing as Justin’s concubine—has a secret mission of her own: finding the illegitimate niece her family smuggled away years ago. But with Justin and Mae resisting the resurgence of the gods in Arcadia, a reporter’s connection with someone close to Justin back home threatens to expose their mission—and with it the divine forces the government is determined to keep secret.

I didn’t love Gameboard of the Gods. It wasn’t bad. There was just a lot to learn about the world, and overall the book felt very slow to me. That being said, I requested The Immortal Crown because I had faith that Richelle Mead would pick things up and once the story got moving then I’d be hooked. However, that didn’t mean I was dying to pick up The Immortal Crown immediately when I got it.

The Immortal Crown was STILL really slow for me. It wasn’t until the 50% mark that I started really getting interested in what was going on, and truly not until the 60% mark when I actually felt hooked. This is so odd to me because I’m usually sucked into Richelle Mead’s books fairly quickly. Maybe it was because work has been really stressful lately, but I literally found myself dozing off every single time I picked up this book until I hit 50%. It took me 9 days to finish The Immortal Crown and while the book itself isn’t exactly small, I also can’t really remember the last time it took me 9 days to finish a fiction book (aside from one of the A Song of Ice and Fire books). Despite the slow beginning, The Immortal Crown packed a lot of action in the last 40%.

Richelle Mead writes from multiple POVs in this series, but it often feels like none of the characters are actually narrating. Sometimes, I feel like some ambiguous third party is the one describing the events. Maybe that’s because the POV wasn’t always clear as it was supposed to be. The Immortal Crown isn’t a first person narrative even when the focus is on a particular character. Maybe this is what keeps me from connecting as much to this series. I'm just not sure.

The characters really grew on me from how I felt about them after reading Gameboard of the Gods. Justin started out in a place where I wasn’t loving his character. He reminds me of Sherlock Holmes. While being utterly brilliant and a master at deduction and manipulation, he also relies on vices to get him through the day to day. Justin grew on me in The Immortal Crown. I couldn’t agree with all of his decisions, but he had Mae’s back explicitly. He jumped in and protected her when she needed it.

Mae has always been likable to me. She fits the strong female leads that Richelle Mead is known for. She’s smart and strong. She’s capable of taking care of herself and others. She’s a protector at heart. And she’s even a warrior. I was happy that Mae was able to evaluate that if Justin can misinterpret her at times then it’s possible that she’s misinterpreted him in the past as well. I was afraid she’d be angry and bitter toward him for too long, but that wasn’t the case. Mae learns that she can trust Justin to have her back when she needs it the most. And yet everything isn’t quite the way she’d like with him either. They make a good team, but in the end Mae might be a little hasty in jumping in out to protect Justin. I’m a little fearful of where things left off with Mae. While she might be smart, she doesn’t have the knowledge that Justin has about the different gods and the mythology surrounding them.

Unlike Mae, Tessa is a character that I’ve struggled with for a bit. For her to be so bright, even at times being referred to as a mini-Justin, she sure seemed to miss the obvious to me in this installment. How she couldn’t see from early on that Daphne wouldn’t be any friend to her or would have ulterior motives is beyond me. Any reader would be able to spot that within seconds. Tessa’s sections weren’t as interesting to me, and when the narration would swap to her I always found myself sighing a bit. I knew Richelle Mead would weave Tessa’s storyline into the overall plot, but it just wasn’t as interesting to me. Overall, by the end of the book I found myself thinking that her part was a lot of work for a small—at least at this point—piece of the puzzle.

As the description says, the elect have really stepped up their game. For the longest time, I was wondering where this big war was going to come in, but then it seemed like four others were revealed within the last 40% or so of the book. I’d love to tell you who they are, but that’s part of the process and you just have to read the book to find out for yourselves.

I feel like I really haven’t even touched on the events of the book itself, but the description really does do a good job of telling you what you need to know there. All in all, I ended up enjoying The Immortal Crown even though it took me a really long time to get hooked into the story. The characters and plot are set up just perfectly for the next (and last????) book in the series. I can see Richelle Mead putting the pieces of the puzzle in their proper places and even though I wasn’t hooked early on like I would like to be, Richelle Mead is the master at setting up and executing a series. The Immortal Crown gets 3.5 Stars from me. Have you read The Immortal Crown? What did you think? Let me know!

Takedown Twenty - Review

Takedown Twenty (Stephanie Plum, # 20)

By: Janet Evanovich

Published: November 19th 2013 by Bantam

320 pages

Genre: Adult, Mystery, Humor

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository | Booksamillion.com )

*Note: The above links to Amazon, Book Depostiroy, Booksamillion.com are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Stephanie Plum has her sights set on catching a notorious mob boss. If she doesn’t take him down, he may take her out.

New Jersey bounty hunter Stephanie Plum knows better than to mess with family. But when powerful mobster Salvatore “Uncle Sunny” Sunucchi goes on the lam in Trenton, it’s up to Stephanie to find him. Uncle Sunny is charged with murder for running over a guy (twice), and nobody wants to turn him in—not his poker buddies, not his bimbo girlfriend, not his two right-hand men, Shorty and Moe. Even Trenton’s hottest cop, Joe Morelli, has skin in the game, because—just Stephanie’s luck—the godfather is his actual godfather. And while Morelli understands that the law is the law, his old-world grandmother, Bella, is doing everything she can to throw Stephanie off the trail.

It’s not just Uncle Sunny giving Stephanie the run-around. Security specialist Ranger needs her help to solve the bizarre death of a top client’s mother, a woman who happened to play bingo with Stephanie’s Grandma Mazur. Before Stephanie knows it, she’s working side by side with Ranger and Grandma at the senior center, trying to catch a killer on the loose—and the bingo balls are not rolling in their favor.

With bullet holes in her car, henchmen on her tail, and a giraffe named Kevin running wild in the streets of Trenton, Stephanie will have to up her game for the ultimate takedown.

The Stephanie Plum series is not a series of books that I take too seriously. I purposefully try NOT to overanalyze them. I almost feel like I’ve said everything there is to say about these books. They’re quick and fun reads. I don’t have to think too hard, predict what’s going to happen, or expect too much of them. And Takedown Twenty is no different.

As per usual, I listened to this one on audio at work. It had moments were I giggled a little and smiled a bit, but there were no laugh out loud moments. As with Notorious Nineteen, I felt like Takedown Twenty was a filler novel. Not much progress was made in the way of Stephanie making any major life decisions.

The narrator, Lorelai King, once again did a great job. She makes these novels even better. But even if I had to go back and read them myself, I think I would still hear each character in the voices that she’s done for them at this point. Janet Evanovich has done a great job of creating such memorable characters that have their own way of speaking, their own taglines, their own patterns, but Lorelai King brings all of those things to life even more.

Favorite quotes (these might not be accurately punctuated etc…I’m going off notes I took while listening to the audio version):

It goes good with my favorite color—leopard. – Lula

I’m just not ready to pay the price right now. – Ranger (you need the context, but that’s all I’m going to give you.)

Babe… – Ranger

No, she’ll poison you. She’s Sicilian. She’ll get you with a meatball. – Morelli.

I worry that someday I’m not going to be able to get to you in time. – Ranger

Lula & I are like Lucy Ricardo and Ethel Mertz. Ranger is batman. – Stephanie

Your nose don’t look so good. It’s swollen up already and making a right hand turn. – Lula

You gotta admire a woman who takes her pay in porkchops. – Lula

Takedown Twenty gets 3 stars. Have you read Takedown Twenty? What did you think? Let me know

Waiting on The Immortal Crown

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

The Immortal Rules (Age of X, # 2)

By: Richelle Mead

Expected Publication: May 29th 2014 by Dutton Adult

432 pages

Genre: Adult, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Dystopian, Paranormal

( Goodreads | Amazon | Booksamillion.com )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Booksamillion.com are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--The #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Vampire Academy and Bloodline series returns with the second installment in her acclaimed Age of X series.

Gameboard of the Gods introduced religious investigator Justin March and Mae Koskinen, the beautiful supersoldier assigned to protect him. Together they have been charged with investigating reports of the supernatural and the return of the gods, both inside the Republic of United North America and out. With this highly classified knowledge comes a shocking revelation: Not only are the gods vying for human control, but the elect—special humans marked by the divine—are turning against one another in bloody fashion.

Their mission takes a new twist when they are assigned to a diplomatic delegation headed by Lucian Darling, Justin’s old friend and rival, going into Arcadia, the RUNA’s dangerous neighboring country. Here, in a society where women are commodities and religion is intertwined with government, Justin discovers powerful forces at work, even as he struggles to come to terms with his own reluctantly acquired deity.

Meanwhile, Mae—grudgingly posing as Justin’s concubine—has a secret mission of her own: finding the illegitimate niece her family smuggled away years ago. But with Justin and Mae resisting the resurgence of the gods in Arcadia, a reporter’s connection with someone close to Justin back home threatens to expose their mission—and with it the divine forces the government is determined to keep secret.

What are you waiting on this week? Let me know!

Waiting on Takedown Twenty

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Takedown Twenty (Stephanie Plum, # 20)

By: Janet Evanovich

Expected Publication: November 19th 2013 by Bantam

320 pages

Genre: Adult, Mystery, Humor

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository | Booksamillion.com )

*Note: The above links to Amazon, Book Depostiroy, Booksamillion.com are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Stephanie Plum has her sights set on catching a notorious mob boss. If she doesn’t take him down, he may take her out.

New Jersey bounty hunter Stephanie Plum knows better than to mess with family. But when powerful mobster Salvatore “Uncle Sunny” Sunucchi goes on the lam in Trenton, it’s up to Stephanie to find him. Uncle Sunny is charged with murder for running over a guy (twice), and nobody wants to turn him in—not his poker buddies, not his bimbo girlfriend, not his two right-hand men, Shorty and Moe. Even Trenton’s hottest cop, Joe Morelli, has skin in the game, because—just Stephanie’s luck—the godfather is his actual godfather. And while Morelli understands that the law is the law, his old-world grandmother, Bella, is doing everything she can to throw Stephanie off the trail.

It’s not just Uncle Sunny giving Stephanie the run-around. Security specialist Ranger needs her help to solve the bizarre death of a top client’s mother, a woman who happened to play bingo with Stephanie’s Grandma Mazur. Before Stephanie knows it, she’s working side by side with Ranger and Grandma at the senior center, trying to catch a killer on the loose—and the bingo balls are not rolling in their favor.

With bullet holes in her car, henchmen on her tail, and a giraffe named Kevin running wild in the streets of Trenton, Stephanie will have to up her game for the ultimate takedown.

I really hope Stephanie ends up picking one of the guys, and Janet Evanovich wraps this series up pretty soon. What are you waiting on this week? Let me know!

Succubus Blues - Review

Succubus Blues (Georgina Kincaid, # 1)

By: Richelle Mead

Published: March 1st 2007 by Kensington (first published February 27th 2007)

496 pages

Genre: Urban Fantasy, Adult, Paranormal

Source: Personal Kindle Library

( Goodreads | Amazon | The Book Depository | Books-A-Million )

Goodreads description--When it comes to jobs in hell, being a succubus seems pretty glamorous. A girl can be anything she wants, the wardrobe is killer, and mortal men will do anything just for a touch. Granted, they often pay with their souls, but why get technical?

But Seattle succubus Georgina Kincaid's life is far less exotic. At least there's her day job at a local bookstore--free books; all the white chocolate mochas she can drink; and easy access to bestselling, sexy writer, Seth Mortensen, aka He Whom She Would Give Anything to Touch but Can't.

But dreaming about Seth will have to wait. Something wicked is at work in Seattle's demon underground. And for once, all of her hot charms and drop-dead one-liners won't help because Georgina's about to discover there are some creatures out there that both heaven and hell want to deny. . .

So I think anyone who stumbles upon my blog can tell that I'm a huge Richelle Mead fan. I believe I've now read 12 of her published works. And I've pretty much loved them all. However, I've always been a bit wary of adult books--usually there's more detail that I'm comfortable with. Although I've read quite a bit adult and new adult this year. Anyway, I put off reading Richelle Mead's adult work because of this, and I guess I was even more afraid of Succubus Blues because we all know what a succubus does and what is needed for her survival.

However, Succubus Blue surprised me. (I shouldn't have been surprised, after 12 books, I should pretty much know that Richelle Mead has my back.) Richelle Mead tells a story of a succubus who doesn't want to be a succubus. Georgina Kincaid will do just about anything to keep from stealing life from those around her that she cares about. She's all about doing as little soul-sucking as necessary just to get by. And what I found out about Georgina was that there's so much more to her than just being a succubus. She's a lonely girl who made a mistake centuries ago that she's still paying for and that still haunts her.

Of course like the Cambion series which also involves a succubus (here's my review for Cambion, # 2, Waiting for Mercy--review for book 3, Angel of Mercy coming soon), there are several guys that make an appearance and compete for Georgina's attention. However, unlike the Cambion series, it's easy to tell who Georgina actually cares about and how much in relation to each which I can very much appreciate. Not only does the reader know, but Georgina knows as well. That's always been something that I've admired from Richelle Mead's leading ladies--they're not idiots. They make mistakes, sure, but they're strong women with strong personalities and really intelligent. Love it!

Now, I'm not going to discuss all of the guys that Georgina comes up against in this book, but I do want to discuss Seth a bit. I loved his quirky character. I love how he's extremely brilliant, smart, and witty, but Georgina rarely sees that from him in person. She sees it in the books he writes (he's an author...LOVE THAT!) and in the emails he sends to her, but not so much face to face. I love this quirk because I can be the same way. So much in my head face to face (and shy), but much more relaxed over email or in writing. Because Seth is an author, I wonder how much Richelle Mead put herself and her writing habits into Seth. Whether a lot or none at all, I still think this was a neat idea for Seth's character. And I guess it really is true that people write what they know.

All in all, I really enjoyed Succubus Blues, much more than I expected to. The story was deeper than I expected, but shouldn't have been surprised considering this is Richelle Mead after all. Readers who enjoy the paranormal but need a little more depth than normal will enjoy Succubus Blues. Succubus Blues gets 4 stars from me. Have you read Succubus Blues? What did you think? Let me know!

Gameboard of the Gods - Review

Gameboard of the Gods (Age of X, # 1)

By: Richelle Mead

Published: June 4th 2013 by Dutton Adult

464 pages

Genre: Adult, Fantasy, Science Fiction

Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon | The Book Depository | Booksamillion.com )

Goodreads description--In a futuristic world nearly destroyed by religious extremists, Justin March lives in exile after failing in his job as an investigator of religious groups and supernatural claims. But Justin is given a second chance when Mae Koskinen comes to bring him back to the Republic of United North America (RUNA). Raised in an aristocratic caste, Mae is now a member of the military’s most elite and terrifying tier, a soldier with enhanced reflexes and skills.

When Justin and Mae are assigned to work together to solve a string of ritualistic murders, they soon realize that their discoveries have exposed them to terrible danger. As their investigation races forward, unknown enemies and powers greater than they can imagine are gathering in the shadows, ready to reclaim the world in which humans are merely game pieces on their board.

Gameboard of the Gods, the first installment of Richelle Mead’s Age of X series, will have all the elements that have made her YA Vampire Academy and Bloodlines series such megasuccesses: sexy, irresistible characters; romantic and mythological intrigue; and relentless action and suspense.

First off, Gameboard of the God has a lot of information that needs to be taken in and absorbed. Richelle Mead has created an extremely technical new world, and the new terminology was a lot for me to follow without having a complete written world history for RUNA and what other surrounding countries may be left after the Decline. Luckily Richelle Mead does have a post on her blog about Gameboard of the Gods: History and Background. I did have to access Richelle Mead's blog post about a glossary for Gameboard of the Gods at time or two, and that helped some.

Because there was so much to learn about the country and current state of the world, I found that Gameboard of the Gods didn't feel story driven for me as many of Richelle Mead's other books have. However, I've read enough of her work (12 books, I believe), to trust in her ability to carry this story through her series and pull me in further. It kind of reminds me of reading Bloodlines. There's so much setup that's needed that I didn't get to really enjoy the story just yet. But like I said, I have faith that it's coming.

I have to say that I spent half of the book being completely miffed at this world that Richelle Mead has created. It all felt like a complete political statement. RUNA comes off, and it's citizens fully believe this, as being the perfect society. There are identity chips in every citizen's arm. They're extremely technically advanced. There are gun control laws where no citizen should be able to have access to any gun. As well as the number one rule that the country as a whole not only doesn't believe in deity, but religion is basically outlawed. There are some licensed practitioners and organizations, but it's all very regulated and as a general rule the citizens of this country do not believe in a God or gods. Annoying political statement. I read for fun, not to have political agenda forced down my throat.

However, as I progressed through the book, it became clear about halfway through the book that this society can't stay this way forever. The book is titled Gameboard of the Gods afterall. There must be some deity floating about in this world that Richelle Mead has created. It's my opinion that this carefully constructed, "perfect" society will fall apart throughout the series, and truthfully I pray for that to be the case. There will never be a "perfect" society because humanity at it's core is imperfect. That's just my two-cents.

The narrative switches between three POVs. Justin, a servitor--servant of truth--who's job is essentially to disprove the existence of any deity. Mae, Justin's bodyguard, and a praetorian--the most elite branch or group of RUNA's military. And Tessa, an sixteen year old immigrant Justin arranged to have brought to RUNA on a student visa. Justin was a bit annoying to me as he plays the role of a guy who will sleep with any girl he can get in his bed despite being extremely intelligent. I guess out of everyone I connected with Mae the most. She's spent her whole life with people vying for control over her. She just wants to make her own decisions and her own mistakes. Then there's Tessa. I liked her, but she did have an annoying teenager quality about her. I hope to see more development for her in the future books.

Some plot points and story lines were left open, which makes sense considering this is just the first book in a series. But apparently I missed the memo that this series was being upgraded from YA to Adult. I might be wrong, but I could have sworn Richelle Mead's first blog post about the Age of X series said this was going to be a YA series. Heads up for anyone else who might have missed the memo: this is an adult novel.

All points considered, I'm giving Gameboard of the Gods 3 Stars. There was so much information that needed to be swallowed in order to follow this new world thus taking away some from the story for me. But I trust Richelle Mead and look forward to reading the future installments of the Age of X series.

Have you read Gameboard of the Gods? What did you think? Let me know!

Someday, Someday, Maybe by Lauren Graham - Review

Someday, Someday, Maybe

By: Lauren Graham

Published: April 30th 2013 by Ballantine Books

352 pages

Genre: Adult Fiction

Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon | The Book Depository | Booksamillion.com )

Goodreads description--From Lauren Graham, the beloved star of Gilmore Girls and Parenthood, comes a witty, charming, and hilariously relatable debut novel about a struggling young actress trying to get ahead―and keep it together―in New York City.

It’s January 1995, and Franny Banks has just six months left of the three-year deadline she set for herself when she came to New York, dreaming of Broadway and doing “important” work. But all she has to show for her efforts so far is a part in an ad for ugly Christmas sweaters, and a gig waiting tables at a comedy club. Her roommates―her best friend Jane, and Dan, an aspiring sci-fi writer―are supportive, yet Franny knows a two-person fan club doesn’t exactly count as success. Everyone tells her she needs a backup plan, and though she can almost picture moving back home and settling down with her perfectly nice ex-boyfriend, she’s not ready to give up on her goal of having a career like her idols Diane Keaton and Meryl Streep. Not just yet. But while she dreams of filling their shoes, in the meantime, she’d happily settle for a speaking part in almost anything—and finding a hair product combination that works.

Everything is riding on the upcoming showcase for her acting class, where she’ll finally have a chance to perform for people who could actually hire her. And she can’t let herself be distracted by James Franklin, a notorious flirt and the most successful actor in her class, even though he’s suddenly started paying attention. Meanwhile, her bank account is rapidly dwindling, her father wants her to come home, and her agent doesn’t return her calls. But for some reason, she keeps believing that she just might get what she came for.

Someday, Someday, Maybe is a story about hopes and dreams, being young in a city, and wanting something deeply, madly, desperately. It’s about finding love, finding yourself, and perhaps most difficult of all in New York City, finding an acting job.

I requested Someday, Someday, Maybe because I really love Lauren Graham in Gilmore Girls and in Parenthood. And really I wanted to be a part of her new venture into writing. I think it's awesome that Lauren Graham's character on Parenthood just started tinkering with writing as well. I don't know if they went in that direction because of her real life or if that was planned out all along. Either way, really neat. I also wonder how much of Lauren Graham's life is molded into Franny and her life. "They" say it's easiest to write what you know, right? Anyway...just curious.

Speaking of Franny, she was an easily relate-able character. Franny begins the book with some super self-esteem issues. And she's super analytical, which I love because that's pretty much how I am. Franny's constantly questioning herself, her decisions, her talent, her appearance. Pretty much any aspect of herself that can be questioned is. More than anything Franny wants to be validated. She wants to know that she's not fooling herself into thinking that she can make a career out of acting. And I don't think anyone can blame Franny for having the thoughts that she has. She's quirky, sarcastic, and a bit clumsy. She reminds me of exactly the type of character that Lauren Graham portrays in her own acting roles.

I prefer female lead characters that I read about to be a bit stronger emotionally than Franny initially is. Yet the entire book is about the character growth that Franny experiences, so that makes all of the insecurities not only real but extremely worth it and valuable to read about. Franny doesn't stay in this place of low self-esteem and criticism. She learns to love herself for who she is...quirks and all.

Nothing in the story line was particularly surprising or unpredictable, but I enjoyed the story just the same. I don't read too many stories about aspiring actresses so it was just different enough to keep my interest. I definitely enjoyed this look into what a competitive world Franny desires to be in and how difficult just getting a start in it can be. Something I'd never thought about before was how frantic actors and actresses are to become established, yet taking just any and every job that comes their way could be the very thing that brings their careers to a screeching halt. You just never really know.

I enjoyed this debut novel by Lauren Graham even more than I expected to. While I was initially excited to experience this book, I also wasn't overly thrilled about the concept. Someday, Someday, Maybe proved to be more than I expected and would definitely recommend it to others for a light read about a character willing to grow and open to learning. Someday, Someday, Maybe gets a well-deserved 3.5 stars from me. Have you read Someday, Someday, Maybe? What did you think? Let me know!

Safe Haven - Review

Safe Haven

By: Nicholas Sparks

Published: September 14th 2010 by Grand Central Publishing

340 pages

Source: Borrowed from my sister

( Goodreads | Amazon | The Book Depository)

Goodreads description--Love hurts. There is nothing as painful as heartbreak. But in order to learn to love again, you must learn to trust again.

When a mysterious young woman named Katie appears in the small North Carolina town of Southport, her sudden arrival raises questions about her past. Beautiful yet self-effacing, Katie seems determined to avoid forming personal ties until a series of events draws her into two reluctant relationships: one with Alex, a widowed store owner with a kind heart and two young children; and another with her plainspoken single neighbor, Jo. Despite her reservations, Katie slowly begins to let down her guard, putting down roots in the close-knit community and becoming increasingly attached to Alex and his family.

But even as Katie begins to fall in love, she struggles with the dark secret that still haunts and terrifies her . . . a past that set her on a fearful, shattering journey across the country, to the sheltered oasis of Southport. With Jo’s empathic and stubborn support, Katie eventually realizes that she must choose between a life of transient safety and one of riskier rewards . . . and that in the darkest hour, love is the only true safe haven.

As I said in my review of The Guardian by Nicholas Sparks, the stories Mr. Sparks creates are, in my opinion, better fitted for film than for books. There's no doubt that he's a gifted storyteller, but each book has repetitive themes and events.

In each Nicholas Sparks book or movie I've experienced one character dies. There's not too much that surprises me within the plot. However, Safe Haven struck me particularly because of the abusive relationship that Katie or Erin and her husband, Kevin, have. I know abusive relationships exists, and nothing about this relationship seemed particularly different from most abusive relationships you've probably heard of, but I don't read about these relationships very often. It was interesting to see the mindset Kevin has. Along with being abusive, Kevin is also apparently an alcoholic.

If I'm being truthful, the abusive relationship as described in Safe Haven hit home because I've recently discovered a situation close to home where emotional abuse resides, and it breaks my heart because I don't know how to help.

As books go, Safe Haven was an average read for me. It wasn't overly exciting or anything new, but there was nothing bad about it either. Safe Haven gets 3 stars from me. Have you read Safe Haven? If so, what did you think? Let me know!

The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo - Review

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (Millennium, # 1)

By: Stieg Larsson

Published: first published March 1st 2001

465 pages

Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Suspense, Adult

Source: Personal Library

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*Note: The above links to Amazon, Book Depository, and Booksamillion.com are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Mikael Blomkvist, a once-respected financial journalist, watches his professional life rapidly crumble around him. Prospects appear bleak until an unexpected (and unsettling) offer to resurrect his name is extended by an old-school titan of Swedish industry. The catch—and there's always a catch—is that Blomkvist must first spend a year researching a mysterious disappearance that has remained unsolved for nearly four decades. With few other options, he accepts and enlists the help of investigator Lisbeth Salander, a misunderstood genius with a cache of authority issues. Little is as it seems in Larsson's novel, but there is at least one constant: you really don't want to mess with the girl with the dragon tattoo.

I finally finished. The beginning of this book was challenging to say the least. After digging further into the story, I understood the necessity of the information presented in the first 200 pages. However, initially pushing through those pages wasn't always easy.

This book was a bit out of my typical genre, but I'm glad I branched out. The story was multi-layered and all of the pieces fit together so nicely. There were definitely disturbing scenes that I wasn't expecting at all. Even though this book is fiction it just goes to show you that there are truly some disturbed, mentally sick people out there. And you don't always know who they are.

I really enjoyed how the story built and built the further you got into it. It didn't wait until the last 100 pages to climax and resolve. It grew in intensity even from the tough beginning. In the same way, I really enjoyed the ending. I'm sure alot of readers will be disappointed with the very end, but I enjoyed that it left me wanting more. That just makes me curious about the next book. I already know that Salander is in both of the other books, but I really hope to see a reappearance of Mikael in the future books as well. We will see.

4 Stars.

*Updated: September 6, 2013