Review: After Life by Gayle Forman

After Life by Gayle Forman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Read for Battle 27

This is a short but VERY powerful book. It took me just a couple of hours to read but the feelings and emotions it makes you go through is strong. It made me cry at the end! 

The idea of loving someone so much they come back from the dead is beautiful. Amber died 7 years ago and yet she shows up at her house as if she never left. And in my mind, that's because of Melissa, her younger sister. Melissa never stopped taking to Amber. Never stopped believing she wasn't there to ask questions to. And that is honestly so beautiful to think about. 

I, at first, got annoyed with all of the viewpoints only beautiful i didn't know who some of them were. But once you delve into the story it all comes together and makes the meaning of this novel more powerful. Gayle Forman once again created a deep story that fills the readers hearts with love and possibilities. 

I'm glad i read this book. It will stay with me for awhile and leave the powerful question: "What If?".

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Review: The Last Bloodcarver by Vanessa Le

The Last Bloodcarver by Vanessa Le
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

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This was an okay book for me. The twist of magic and science was a cool concept but sometimes the author got really involved in the explaining that I got lost a few times since I'm not a fan of science. I liked that Nhika was so passionate about her heartsoothing and that she had fond memories of her grandmother. I also loved her passion to learn more and got smart she is. 

The rest of the characters were blah for me, including the love interest Kochin. Plus the love kinda came out of nowhere and was a little too convenient that those two ended up together since they are the last heartsoothers. 

I see there is a sequel but sadly I don't have enough interest to find out what will happen after this strange ending.

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Review: Everything We Never Had by Randy Ribay

Everything We Never Had by Randy Ribay
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Read for Battle 27

I struggled through this book. A LOT. I saw the life decisions each of the 3 characters were going through and how each life time has had to adjust and pivot. I see the appeal that most readers like. 

I was just bored and kept falling asleep. Each character just felt a bit dull to me in the end. I did finish it, but it took days longer than it should have. 

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Review: Drifting Dawn by Samantha Young

Drifting Dawn by Samantha Young
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

It never fails, Samantha Young always sucks me into her stories and makes me forget reality until I get to the end of the book. I devoured Drifting Dawn in practically one sitting and was so sad when it was over.

I think Quinn might be my favorite MMC of Samantha's to date! I got so emotional reading the flash backs to when they were kids and meeting each other, becoming friends, becoming more. Then years later, seeing him with Heather and Angus, seeing him pursue Taran in a determined but respectful way. He is so in love with Taran but realizes how awful of a mistake he made and doesn't want to make the situation worse. But honestly some of the things he said to her were so swoon-worthy and had me giggling and kicking my feet.

Taran has been through a lot of emotional trauma in her life so I 100% understand her hesitation to trust anyone again. Especially the one person who hurt her the most. She's honestly just trying to survive one day at a time and has lost her passion. To see her open back up to the idea of love with her soul mate and finding her way back to passion and living was so beautiful.

I also absolutely adored Cammie and her bluntness. And seeing Heather follow in her footsteps in priceless! I also love love love the tension and absolute attraction that is going on between Murray and London!

This was honestly perfection. It shows that true love can exist, but we are human and will make giant mistakes along the way. I'm so glad I got to read this book and it will be on my mind remembering this wonderful second chance story (which I usually don't like) for months to come I'm sure!

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Review: Home Stay by Mickey Miller

Home Stay by Mickey Miller
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Mickey Miller always delivers amazing novels, and this one did not disappoint! I love the intensity and energy between Cassie and Logan. And meeting at a country concert and getting caught in a rainstorm? You really can't go wrong with that! 

I also adored that this book was set close to and sometimes in Davenport IA since that's where I live and could literally picture the scenery of a small town in the Midwest. 

The chemistry between Cassie and Logan was a mix of extreme intensity but also a fun, humorous rom com. Basically you get both with these two and it became a binge worthy novel! I can relate to Cassie going through her major life change all too well. And Logan has some giant decisions to muddle through which I know can be hard. But when the two of them are together? All of that just fades away.

So glad I got the chance to read this book and always love it when a new Mickey Miller gets released! I definitely recommend picking this up! 

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Review: Dragonfruit by Makiia Lucier

Dragonfruit by Makiia Lucier
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Read this for Battle 27

Hanalei has been on her own for 10 years after her father stole a dragonfruit, a dragon egg, to save Hanalei from a poison she and the princess consumed, making them both sick and stay in a coma. The dragonfruit was supposed to be for the princess until it was stolen, and Hana has been exiled from the home she loved with all of her heart. But with stealing and using a dragonfruit comes consequences, and once Hana got better, her father died, leaving her alone at age 8. 

Ten years later, Hana is reconnected with her home island and her closest friend Sam, son to the princess. She is on an adventure to find another dragonfruit to help the princess, but is having a lot of conflicting emotions when it comes to harming the seadragons and their dragonfruit. 

I honestly adored this book. I read it in one sitting and gobbled up the story so quickly! I loved all of the dragon parts and how Hana had a connection with them. I love how they learned more about these seadragons as the story grew. I love the culture in this book and how easy it was to picture everything so clearly. It was a great novel and I'm glad I got the chance to read it! 

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Review: Stay Dead by April Henry

Stay Dead by April Henry
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

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This book takes you on an ultimate survival story, showing you that anything is possible if you have the determination to survive. This novel has 3 POVs: Milan, Janie, and Lenny. 

Milan is a 16 year old girl who lost her father in a car accident, and has now just lost her mother in a plane accident. Both accidents Milan was with them and both times she survived the crashes. Only now when the plane crashes, she's alone on top of a mountain and has to survive the cold weather along with wild animals. With thoughts of her parents life lessons, Milan takes one step at a time to find help and also find out why her whole family has been targeted.

Janie has lived on her family farm her whole life. But farm life is showing signs of struggle and when she's offered the chance to give up a little bit of her land for a lot of money, she decided to take the deal. But the longer the workers are there digging, the worse her farm gets. Animals and family members are getting sick, the water is getting extremely dirty, and construction workers are literally in her front yard. What she discovers had really happened, Janie's sole mission is to take down the company that has destroyed her life. 

Lenny grew up with a hit man as a dad, so it's no surprise Lenny also became a hit man. And now she is currently hunting down any one who was in that plane crash that survived: Milan. Lenny is there for a party check. She had no qualms about her target, until she finds out it's the same girl she helped after the car accident she cause that killed Milan's dad. But a target is a target, so Lenny, while extremely impressed by Milan's resources and talent to survive, is on a mission to complete her assignment. 

This book had a lot of suspense and thrilling moments. My biggest issue was the beginning was excruciatingly slow. I need dialog to get immersed into the story and when Milan was on her own after the plane crash, not a whole lot of dialog happened. Because of that it took me a lot longer to get through this book. Definitely a me issue and not the story, but my brain is already mushy in what occurred for the first 45% of the book. The ending was really good though! 

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