Adorabrooke

My heart is happy

Revisado: 03-27-25

I’m so beyond excited for this podcast. The first episode was fantastic. Thank you for being the joy I needed. It’s lovely to have this to look forward to.

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Sigh

Revisado: 11-19-23

I reread The Firm to refresh myself before jumping into The Exchange: After The Firm. (Terrible title)

A running line from The Firm is, "The Mafia never forgets." It is repeated so many times that you would have thought Mr Grisham would have at least remembered it. Never = 15 years, I guess, because this book takes place in 2005 and tells us that it's been 15 years since the first book several times. Mitch and Abby got bored with hiding and decided Living in New York and having high-profile jobs was (I guess) safe. And although in The Firm, Mitch says more than once that he is sick of being a lawyer and says that he could never ever be a lawyer again after handing case files over to the FBI, guess what... he's a lawyer. Why, he's even a partner at a big firm.

Now, there are a lot of "almost" plot points in this book that seem to be important and end up going absolutely nowhere. So many, in fact, that I lost count after 12. Any tension that starts to build immediately and constantly deflates because the characters get distracted by breakfasts, lunches, dinners, pretty views, and most importantly, where their next drink will come from. I mean, drinking wine (or beer, or liquor, or ANYTHING THEY CAN GET) is more important in this book than any chick-lit rom-com or Hallmark movie. It just sort of ends with a "kind of" resolution that really only resolves one or two things. I get the feeling that we are supposed to feel grateful to have been told this epic story and now finally know what happened to Mitch and Abby McDeer. I am not grateful; I am sad (and a little bitter) that I got excited and wasted time reading it. They were better off left to my imagination; they were certainly happier and so was I.

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Unique collabrative writing project

Revisado: 09-18-23

This was a fun idea. The story has merit. Although it is overall enjoyable, it understandably lacks cohesion throughout. The different voices and styles of the overlapping authors did make the narrative feel disjointed at times, and like a nonsensical fever dream at others.
The late great Katherine Kellgren's narration helps to keep the listeners steady through out this off-kilter children's parable. She of course gives a wonderful performance and lovely distinctive voices for the many, many interesting characters we meet along the way.
Even though I liked it, I think I loved the idea of this experiment more than it's final results. It goes a long way to prove why creativity by committee rarely works out well.

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Trigger Warning

Revisado: 08-25-23

Had to stop reading at the graphic physical, sexual, and psychological torture of our 16 year old protagonist. An unknown (to me) male was also being physically, sexually, and psychologically tortured in the same scene. There is a better way. We do not need to write or read about anyone experiencing such graphic details about these horrific acts for the sake of bad plot. We don't need to read or write about them for the sake of good plot. If for some reason, you do not believe your character can grow or develop without such trauma, then please imply that it happens an move on. All of us sexual violence survivors will thank you for skipping this "rape as plot device" trope.

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Fantastic sequel

Revisado: 06-23-23

Kelley Armstrong is a wonderful writer and creator of worlds. I thoroughly enjoyed A Rip through Time, and The Poisoner's Ring has increased that enjoyment. In lesser hands, this series could end up hokey and full of anachronistic mistakes. Armstrong is clearly a history buff and researches everything she can and lets her imagination fill in the rest. She writes about what fascinates her, and that passion and fascination infect the readers of her stories.

You can start with this book if you'd like, but you will get a lot more out of the story if you read A Rip Through Time first. I won't go into the plot as I don't want to spoil anything. Suffice it to say it is a worthy follow-up, and I am chomping at the bit to see where this goes next.

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Unfortunately not worth the hype

Revisado: 04-18-23

I wanted to enjoy this more than I did, especially with its fairy-tale rise to fame. It's a lovely story about how the author's daughter made an impassioned TikTok about the book and her father's abilities. That sweet TikTok went viral, and here we are.

The book is ok. It starts strong with compelling and scary murders that our heroine, an FBI agent, and her, eventual love interest, a small-town sheriff (in a "rivals to lovers" arc that is so fast, it almost feels like there must have been a time skip) are of course the only one's intelligent enough to solve it. The pace does get mired down in homicide-solving procedures, but I was ok with that because it was well-presented and did not bore me. However, even I, a complete crime-solving novice who sometimes likes to watch murder mystery shows, felt the procedures and proof they gathered seemed incorrect. Why go into painstaking detail about how you do something and be entirely wrong?

A side story is happening simultaneously with a young man who appears to be receiving visions of the killer and his victims. I can't say more about this because it will spoil too much.

Overall I was intrigued and enjoying the book until the middle-end of the second act when all of our detailed procedure-following setups were just tossed into the garbage can; our FBI agent lost at least half of her IQ and started making choices that even if the killer were caught, any lawyer would have the case thrown out and the murderer freed. I finished it because I wanted to know what happened, but I ended up putting the last 120 minutes of the audiobook on an angry fast speed. The FBI agent got dumber as the book went along.

The only reason I gave it two stars instead of one is that the author is a good writer. I hope he chooses a better-researched subject next time. (I looked it up, and it's a sequel to this book. *sigh)

I feel guilty saying this, but it's not worth the hype.

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Great whether you are a fan or new Buffy

Revisado: 02-10-23

What a ride! I enjoyed myself a great deal. This book is as close to a direct sequel to Buffy The Vampire Slayer season 7 as we are ever going to get. This skips the graphic novels entirely, and I'm alright with that.

Frankie is a worthy successor to the slayer lineage. Our new Scoobies are dynamic, compelling, and diverse. The returning gang of characters is well-written and in sync with their original counterparts. The witty dialogue is also instep with the show. It had me laughing out loud during some parts.

I don't want to spoil anything, so I won't go into any more detail, but if you are a Buffy fan, you will enjoy this book.

The audio version was a lot of fun. Sarah Mollo-Christensen, no novice when it comes to narrating Buffy books, is often, but not always, spot on with our original characters' voices. Close enough to make you smile when listening.

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Enjoyable

Revisado: 10-26-22

It's a Phryne book so I knew what I was getting into. I enjoyed it, but it was my least favorite in the series so far. However, I still loved it.

This installment suffered some pacing issues that didn't really get fixed until the last quarter of the book. Also, I didn't feel the mystery was up to the usual Phryne standard. To me, it was obvious "who done it," and the "how done it" was a bit contrived.

All that said, it is still full of incredible details. I often come away from these books with education and this was no exception. I was thrilled with Phryne and what she accomplishes and the fact that we are still reaching new depths of character for her. I was literally biting my nails in the third act of this book. Terrifying stuff.

Overall: Enjoyable. 3.5 rounded up to 4.

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An excellent new chapter in this fun series!

Revisado: 10-26-22

This is a delightful and creative addition to the Time Stitch world. I have loved them all so far and this is no exception.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time with Miranda and Nicolas and their adventure.

All of the Time Stitch books have a great deal of flirting and sexiness, but this one goes 11. One of my favorite things about Armstrong heroines is they are unapologetic about their needs and expectations. They will be treated well by others or they will not participate in the conversation. I am here for it!

I don't want to spoil this for anyone, but I will say that this story expands the rules and possibilities of the Tims Stich in an exciting way. I can't wait for what happens next.

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I want to join the O'Sullivans

Revisado: 09-23-22

Thoroughly enjoyable. This one is a doozy of a mystery. The ending is satisfying although the climax is pretty crazy. This series is cozy and Irish rosy. the characters are charming and well-developed. The family dynamic is enviable. I have enjoyed every installment in this series and I hope this isn't the last.

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