mshultz89's reviews
270 reviews

Silent Shadows by Natalie Walters

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challenging inspiring mysterious medium-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? Yes

3.0

A Court of Frost and Starlight by Sarah J. Maas

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emotional inspiring medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.0

Throughout I wasn't real sure what the point of this book was. Before I went into the book I thought it was going to be a feel good "holiday" solstice with the family. However, it was mostly Nesta being awful and everyone other then Feyra and Rhys not being settled. There just was no plot and normally that wouldn't bother me, but I STRUGGLED to even want to pick this book up. Pretty disappointing for me unfortunately.
The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon

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challenging emotional informative inspiring reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

First of all, Martha Ballard was a total badass in a time when women were largely kept down. I'm so happy that the author wrote this book about this amazing woman. The author made these characters jump off the page they felt so real. I know that they were at one time, but for me to feel they were right here with me is just a representation of how well written this book is. I could literally feel the love pouring off the pages between Martha and her husband Ephraim. It's definitely a favorite book of the year.
You Like It Darker by Stephen King

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dark mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

There's were some stories I absolutely loved, but there were way more that I didn't like or were completely indifferent to. I wished Danny Coughlins Bad Dream was a full book. That one was a 5 star. I also hate books with covid reference  and this one had A LOT. 
Bourbon & Lies by Victoria Wilder

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emotional funny mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

This was 100% a cover/title buy. It gave me good vibes. My husband is a huge bourbon man, and he loves doing tastings. That part of this book delivered. It was a lot of fun in the beginning, and the writing was pretty good to where I was flying through the book. The things I think this book suffered from was the plot point of the reason why Laney was running/hiding was not fully developed. It was very half done and didn't make a lot of sense to me. For this book being as long as it is, it definitely got a little repetitive and relied on the smut a little too much imo. I'm curious to see if the next book is better and will probably give it a try.
A Winter in New York by Josie Silver

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challenging emotional funny medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I was really conflicted about this book. I really enjoyed the writing. It flowed so well and made me fall in. The way is touched on grief, and love was so good. The characters were so loveable. However, I HATED the fact that the whole story was built off lies and how it took until way too far into the book for the truth to come out. That's the only reason I'm not giving this book 5 stars. 
The Deepest Blue by Sarah Beth Durst

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adventurous challenging emotional medium-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

3.5

Absolutely loved the setting of this book. It was atmospheric and the island setting was great. I really liked the first half of the book and then the second half was like this big whirl wind to the finish. There were some slow and repetitive parts. And there were some things that happened or were said that I didnt really see the point. The ending was really satisfying though and rounded out and finished the book strong in my opinion.
Incidents Around the House by Josh Malerman

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dark fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I truly thought this was creepy in the beginning. It was like the epitome of when your a little kid afraid of the monster under the bed. How bad is attracted to innocence and how it can corrupt it. The mom was an absolute shit person and drove me crazy. So I really liked the beginning and really didn't like the ending. 
The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah

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adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

This book hurt me bad. I cried like a freaking baby once again reading Hannah's work. I'm not going to lie and say I had a great time reading this book, but it was beautifully written. It put me in a dark head space and thank God for the audiobook because that's the only way I was able to finish after reading about 60% physically and then having to put down for about a month to finally finish. It was a whole lot of heartbreak and pain, yet somehow found the beauty. I guess in a way, that's how Alaska is.
With Love, from Cold World by Alicia Thompson

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emotional funny inspiring lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

How freaking sweet. I loved these characters and all their imperfections. They really grew together, and you seen true childhood trauma being worked through. It was lighthearted and tough in all the right spots.