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ampersandinc's reviews
1315 reviews
Lost and Lassoed by Lyla Sage
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This was my first toe-dip into the world of Lyla Sage's Rebel Blue Ranch series. While it was a fun small town romance, its many similarities to Elsie Silver's Heartless made it feel a little like ground I had already covered. What follows is a plot summary that works for both books:
A grumpy single dad cowboy feels the pressure of taking on the running of the family ranch from their widowed father; as the eldest son, he has taken on a great deal of responsibility over his lifetime and doesn't know how to let others in or be vulnerable. He meets his match in the creative, upbeat and free-spirited redheaded heroine, who he reluctantly hires to nanny his adorable and precocious child during a time of need. The two have loads of chemistry, thanks to their "opposites-attract" style banter and while heated tempers and forced proximity lead to conflict at times, they also lead to spicy encounters in the bedroom. Faced with the end of her employment contract, the two must learn to trust their growing emotional bond and embrace the family they have unexpectedly built.
I enjoyed Heartless slightly more than this book, but Lost and Lassoed is not a bad book and worth a read, especially if you are looking to scratch the same itch that Silver's book does.
A grumpy single dad cowboy feels the pressure of taking on the running of the family ranch from their widowed father; as the eldest son, he has taken on a great deal of responsibility over his lifetime and doesn't know how to let others in or be vulnerable. He meets his match in the creative, upbeat and free-spirited redheaded heroine, who he reluctantly hires to nanny his adorable and precocious child during a time of need. The two have loads of chemistry, thanks to their "opposites-attract" style banter and while heated tempers and forced proximity lead to conflict at times, they also lead to spicy encounters in the bedroom. Faced with the end of her employment contract, the two must learn to trust their growing emotional bond and embrace the family they have unexpectedly built.
I enjoyed Heartless slightly more than this book, but Lost and Lassoed is not a bad book and worth a read, especially if you are looking to scratch the same itch that Silver's book does.
The River Has Roots by Amal El-Mohtar
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Dani:
I enjoyed this highly immersive and lyrical novella. With familiar folktale beats, It felt like a fairy tale forgotten and re-remembered: a sisterly bond, an otherworldly fae lover, a spurned suitor turned murderer, transformation, and truth revealed via riddles and magic. I only wish the end was given a bit more room to breathe as it felt a tad rushed, even for a novella. I appreciate that El-Mohtar created something that felt fresh, despite the fact that roots of this particular story come from well-traveled folkloric traditions.
The bonus short story from the author's upcoming collection was similar in its vibes of "fairy tale reworked anew" and I also liked it, but slightly less than the main story.
I read this as an ARC and am excited to see the finished package as the planned art was not included in the pre-pub edition. I could see it being enjoyed by fans of Gaiman's Stardust and V.E. Schwab's The Near Witch.
I enjoyed this highly immersive and lyrical novella. With familiar folktale beats, It felt like a fairy tale forgotten and re-remembered: a sisterly bond, an otherworldly fae lover, a spurned suitor turned murderer, transformation, and truth revealed via riddles and magic. I only wish the end was given a bit more room to breathe as it felt a tad rushed, even for a novella. I appreciate that El-Mohtar created something that felt fresh, despite the fact that roots of this particular story come from well-traveled folkloric traditions.
The bonus short story from the author's upcoming collection was similar in its vibes of "fairy tale reworked anew" and I also liked it, but slightly less than the main story.
I read this as an ARC and am excited to see the finished package as the planned art was not included in the pre-pub edition. I could see it being enjoyed by fans of Gaiman's Stardust and V.E. Schwab's The Near Witch.
We Killed: The Rise of Women in American Comedy by Yael Kohen
4.0
This is an oral history of women in American comedy. It was totally fascinating, and I loved it! Anyone who's interested in women's history, Hollywood, or gossip should totally check it out!
Breaking Point by Kristen Simmons
3.0
This is the sequel to Article 5. It was pretty similar to the first book, in that I really enjoyed the story, and the action, and yet, still wanted to repeatedly shake the protagonist!
Marco Impossible by Hannah Moskowitz
4.0
The protagonist in this is Stephen, whose best friend Marco wants to confess his love to a boy in their class. Stephen gets dragged into helping with an elaborate plan, while they dodge a gang of kids who bully Marco for being gay. I really enjoyed it!
Nose: A Novel by James Conaway
3.0
This is a novel that pokes fun at the wine business in the Napa Valley. The main character is an unemployed reporter who is doing duty as a PI trying to find out the origins of an unlabeled bottle of wine left with a prominent wine critic who gives it the top score (20 points) of any wine he has reviewed. Meanwhile, said wine critic accidentally kills himself in a wine vat at an industry party at a winery (the locals wonder if it was murder…). You can tell while reading it that the author knows his stuff and there are a lot of real people in the book, thinly disguised. A fun read.
Unremembered by Jessica Brody
4.0
The opening scene of a girl floating in the ocean amidst wreckage of an airline flight caught me immediately. I was right with her through the many twists and turns of her journey to discover who she really is and how she came to be in that ocean. I was impressed by how Brody managed to make the situation believable and still keep that element of mystery. She revealed the truth gradually and in such a way that I couldn’t put the book down as I really needed to find out that truth. Unlike many YA titles Unremembered did not telegraph the ultimate resolution right from the start and I found myself often surprised and intrigued by the unfolding of the story. No spoiler – but the ending is a cliff hanger in more ways than one!
The Sunshine When She's Gone by Thea Goodman
3.0
Anyone who has ever experienced the mind numbing fatigue that accompanies new parenthood will recognize the descriptions in this book. Not everyone responds to the fatigue and challenges to the relationship by absconding to Barbados with the baby, however! The author managed to make that understandable although I did find the father’s character more relatable and more sympathetic than the character of the mother. Although the baby is at the centre of the book it is really about the marriage, friendships and lives of the parents and how they are thrust into crisis by the birth of their baby.
Down the Mysterly River by Bill Willingham
4.0
I read this because I love Bill Willingham’s Fables comics. The concept of the book was really interesting, with Max the Wolf (not a real wolf) finding himself lost in a forest he doesn’t recognize. In due time he meets a talking badger, cat, and bear and adventures ensue. It was a sweet book and the ending really did surprise me, which was a nice treat.
The Most Improper Miss Sophie Valentine by Jayne Fresina
3.0
This was actually pretty original for a regency romance. The characters weren’t the stereotypical ones, but didn’t seem overly historically unlikely.