Too dramatic writing

Alive in the Shadows by Hope Waters sounded incredible and I did not think it would be one of those books that would disappoint, but I never made it past the second page. The writing was a little too dramatic for me and reminded me of things that I wrote when I was fourteen.
I'm sure it is probably a fascinating book, but it was not what I needed at the moment.

2.5 out of 5 stars

Halfer

Night Spinner by Addie Thorley could have been incredible if the first half of the book did not exist. It's not like one missed much in the first half anyways unless you missed Enebish's complaint about what she wasn't the first 500 times.
The characters had little characterization and the first half of the book I felt like they were caricatures and not characters. I persevered though and the second half paid off. It was what I thought the book was about and started to display evidence of being a Hunchback of Notre Dame retelling. Enebish slowly began to believe in herself (although it was questionable sometimes). The worldbuilding was incredible in the second half, and I fell in love with the book.
Although, I find it funny that the main love interest was a major part of the book yet is not mentioned in the blurb at all.

The first half of the book was soooooo slow that I almost fell asleep a couple of times, and I was questioning why I was reading this book until 50% into the story when Temujin tried to open her eyes like all the characters have tried doing.

I love the ending though and am curious to read the second book when it comes out.

Rating based on the second half of the book: 4 out of 5 ⭐
Rated based on the entire book: 1.5 out of 5 ⭐

Creature, creature: where are you?

Join or Die by J. Adrian Ruth has so much potential, but two things brought it down a star. The first thing is the prologue because it needs to be clarified, especially since it is from the same point of view. Is it Alex or the other scion that was murdered before Alex came to the school? If it is the first, then it spoils everything, and when I first read it, I thought that was what had happened. However, as I took a couple of days to think it over, the more, I feel like the author was aiming for the latter, but forgot that people are not privy to that kind of knowledge. Also, if you are doing creatures, feel free to play around with it like I love how this one guy was expected not to have any abilities because the magic only goes onto females. And another thing, if a person dresses in black, it does not entirely make them depressed. I kept waiting for a sad vampire, but it lacked in that department. He had the identity crisis down pat.
I devoured it in one and a half days and would have finished it in a day if I didn't have to work in between.
If the author fixed those things, then there would be nothing holding this novel back, but I cannot help feeling like this book could be so much more.

4 out of 5 stars.

A Good Christian Story

Hold Me Still by Britaini Armitage is one of those stories that I wish there were more Christain books like this. It does not preach to the choir, and I think having Elliott Quinn question his faith was an excellent way to get both sides of it. Also, Ella does not respond with the typical God says it response or thinks because it has to do with God. The answer doesn't need to clarify anything. She takes the time to think through her answers, and this is where it becomes hard.
I fell in love with all the characters and know that at least two other books are already published, but I am really hoping Ella and Elliott stay together because they are so perfect together.
This is one of those novels where everything ties in with each other, and even the cover makes sense. The orchid playing a considerable part in their story was a beautiful touch to the overall romantic feeling. There were a couple of sections where I started laughing because if they got taken out of context would be a completely different novel.
The ending had me thinking of the movie The Vow, where I cried as well. I devoured this in a day and eagerly await to see where Ella and Elliott's journey goes from here.

4.5 out of 5 stars.

Nothing on Earth

Nowhere on Earth by Nick Lake is one of those books where you need to stop and reflect on it for months on end. It is a beautiful sci-fi, and there were moments in the book where I forgot I was reading a book. However, there was also a lot of suspension of disbelief in the novel that I let slide because it is supposed to be a sci-fi, maybe those things work in that world?

It took me until we meet Emily's parents in the mountain to like Emily because that's when you got to see the depth of Emily and how she changes as a character. I would have loved it more if the pilot had maybe questioned why they were stowed away on his plane a bit more, but it could have been because he was still traumatized from the crash?

I finished it in two days and am still thinking about it over a month later, so it did make an impact on me. I yet don't know which one.

4 out of 5 stars.

Not for me

Shade of Night by Stephen R. Deppermann sounded interesting from the blurb:

"A medical thriller that will leave you guessing all the way to the end.

Dr. Daniel Ross has invented a cure for glaucoma—a debilitating, blinding disorder. He's ecstatic - until his psychopathic boss steals his breakthrough.

Daniel is then framed for stealing secret Department of Defense documents from a server and is now being blackmailed. If he wants his discovery back, he must return what he has not stolen.

Then he has to face deranged assassins (controlled by a mind-altering vaccine), hostile FBI agents, and the possibility of permanent brain damage with only Zina, the exotic granddaughter of a critical patient to help him. Soon a romance develops between them, but is it real? 

Will he recover his invention? Will their romance survive? The answer lies, as the doctor always suspected, in the Shade of Night!

Shade of Night is loaded with surprises, real twists, and comes with an ending you won't see coming."

However, what it does not describe is how conceited and arrogant Dr. Ross is, not to mention the fact that he cannot tell a broken neck when he sees one. This has nothing to do with the author, it is only that I cannot stand those kinds of characters as main characters. I am particular in the main character males that I read. The writing was good; however, I could not get into it, and kind of wished it started off with him being blackmailed because that's what got my attention, not his trying to get 15 minutes of fame.

I am not trying to discourage other people from reading it, but I had to DNF this one about 5 percent in. If you love arrogant, conceited men, then this is the book for you.

1 out of 5 stars.

Starborn

Starborn by Katie Macalister is one of those sagas where it is so bad, and yet somehow, it is so good. I could not put this book down even with those few moments that made me want to. Do not ask me to describe the book because its hard to put into words. There are a lot of horny moments, and honestly, mos,t of the time, it felt like watching a train wreck in slow motion. I loved the characters even as they all started to blur together, there was not a lot to distinguish between the characters. The only thing I did not enjoy was the prologue because the main character in that blurb was so annoying, and I have no clue if it takes place before or after the story. Although I loved the ending where one of the characters is now a wanted fugitive. I'm curious to see where it goes because somehow everything worked together, and I cannot imagine the book any other way.

4.5 out of 5 stars.