Susan Isaacs - Shining Through

It's 1940 and Linda Voss, legal secretary extraordinaire, has a secret. She's head over heels in love with her boss, John Berringer, the pride of the Ivy League. Not that she even has a chance--he'd never take a second look at a German-Jewish girl from Queens who spends her time taking care of her faded beauty of a mother and following bulletins on the war in Europe. For Linda, though, the war will soon become all too real. Engulfing her nation and her life, it will offer opportunities she's never dreamed of. A chance to win the man she wants...a chance to find the love she deserves. Made into the movie of the same name starring Melanie Griffith, Michael Douglas, and Liam Neeson, Shining Through is a novel of honor, sacrifice, passion, and humor. This is vintage Susan Isaacs, a tale of a spirited woman who wisecracks her way into heroism and history--and into your heart.

Comment: This was the book picked this month for the buddy read I share with my friend H. I'm no longer certain why I felt like adding this to my TBR and suggesting H. we should try it but it probably had something to do with mixing romance and a work place, something not all authors do well, and the fact there was a movie adaptation none of us has seen.

In this story we meet Linda Voss, a secretary who works for a very handsome boss in the 40s, when Europe is facing Hitler and the US is debating the tactic of getting secretly involved or not.

Linda is a fascinating narrator who comes from a humble family of German origins and that helps her in her job too, since her boss and the company they work for has some business with German contacts or such and her translations skills are a good bonus.

Linda wasn't able to pursue her studies and she comes from a socially poor family but she isn't stupid and she does fear what Hitler is doing and what it means. In the process of dealing with some personal situations and how that affects her job as well, Linda will have the opportunity to become someone special indeed. Will she take that chance with both hands?

I started this book with no notion whatsoever of what the story would actually be about. I knew there was a movie from the 80s or beginning of the 90s based on this novel published originally in 1988, but I never saw it nor did I felt interested in doing so. 

I thought this would more contemporary but the plot takes place in the 1940s and focuses on Linda, a 35 years old if I remember well, who works as a secretary to a very sophisticated man and who she secretly likes. Linda dreams about him but since he is married, she doesn't let her daydreams go past reality and that includes her mother and the humble house they live in and all the worries she has. I liked Linda. She does seem to have a very simple way of behaving but I admired her will to go ahead, to look for positive things and to describe everything around her.

Of course this means she can be a little too dedicated to descriptions and I confess some parts were more boring than they had to and editing some passages wouldn't have changed how the reader is supposed to look at Linda.

This story, for me, could be divided into two segments. The first regarding Linda's life as a secretary and the second about her work trying to fight the Nazis the way she saw possible. In the middle of all this we also have to think about her personal life and the choices she makes. Her relationship with her boss John is key for her development especially after his wife demands a divorce. Despite this meeting Linda's dreams the reader always has this sense of something not quite right and what happens does shape a lot of Linda's future decisions.

I really liked reading this after a certain point. I didn't like Linda got involved with her (separated) boss and I disliked several scenes where the descriptions made it confusing what she was doing and why.

However, Linda is a resilient character and all the less than good situations she faces are obviously a way for her to improve and evolve. There were a few passages ahead, after she discovers a negative situation for herself and her replies in a conversation are incredible, some of those replies one can re-read often. I got fond of Linda as time goes by and she must deal with new things all the time.

This is the first book by this author I read and seeing comments on her other books, I kind of dread having to try them but in this case I can't fault the eye for detail, the way Linda expresses herself in such a way one can't help but wish her well. I saw some critics saying Linda took too long to grasp some things but that's part of the interest, how she dealt with what she always wanted and reality and who she is. There's some light and bubbly behavior from Linda though the book and that can clash with the war theme but on one hand that's great, it gives the reader the possibility to adjust light and dark in what is happening.

The book ends with a situation that wasn't totally unexpected because there were some clues here and there but it was really amazing! Too bad there's no epilogue so I could dream myself about how Linda's life would be. Despite that, the end did get engraved in my mind and I felt so proud of Linda because she finally chose right and saw her values and beliefs rewarded. 

I do recommend this novel despite its boring parts. The end certainly compensates for it, in my opinion. 

I also confess I don't feel like watching the movie, though, considering it focuses on just some elements and I can see by the synopsis alone they didn't include a lot of what made this book special.

Grade: 8/10

Juliet Marillier - Dreamer's Pool

In exchange for help escaping her long and wrongful imprisonment, embittered magical healer Blackthorn has vowed to set aside her bid for vengeance against the man who destroyed all that she once held dear. Followed by a former prison mate, a silent hulk of a man named Grim, she travels north to Dalriada. There she’ll live on the fringe of a mysterious forest, duty bound for seven years to assist anyone who asks for her help.
Oran, crown prince of Dalriada, has waited anxiously for the arrival of his future bride, Lady Flidais. He knows her only from a portrait and sweetly poetic correspondence that have convinced him Flidais is his destined true love. But Oran discovers letters can lie. For although his intended exactly resembles her portrait, her brutality upon arrival proves she is nothing like the sensitive woman of the letters.
With the strategic marriage imminent, Oran sees no way out of his dilemma. Word has spread that Blackthorn possesses a remarkable gift for solving knotty problems, so the prince asks her for help. To save Oran from his treacherous nuptials, Blackthorn and Grim will need all their resources: courage, ingenuity, leaps of deduction, and more than a little magic.

Comment: I've read plenty of books by this author to consider myself a fan of her work. Therefore, it was no surprise I'd feel interested in more of her books and this is the first of the Blackthorn and Grim series.

Once again, the author picked her vast knowledge of old Irish, Celtic and Pict tales and successfully used them as inspiration for her novel. This time the focus is on some older Irish stories, in a very good blend of fantasy and romance.

In this novel we meet the pair Blackthorn and Grim (as they call themselves), two companions on a prison cell who have sort of bonded over their common debasement and imprisonment. Despite not having shared personal stories, they life through the same current fate until one day Blackthorn is rescued and Grim finds his way out as well.

By having her freedom, Blackthorn is told she cannot get revenge on the man who caused her so much suffering and put her in prison. She agrees with the hope of serving the seven years on the agreement she has with one of the fey but then all bets will be off. One of the demands she has to fulfill is to help others when they ask, for she is a wise woman. 

She was not counting on Oran, prince of Dalriada to ask such a task of her but when his intended bride seems to act so strangely, Blackthorn and Grim set off to help. Will they be able to do so?

This is a story told by three narrators, Blackthorn, Grim and prince Oran. The chapters alternate between them so that the reader follows the story through the eyes of people who can be participants of different settings and this way it does feel like the reader never misses a transition moment.

The story is evocative as is a habit with this author's "voice" and, of course, the fantasy elements are superb in their descriptions.

Mrs Marillier is a good storyteller, as she often likes to introduce characters who do the same, and this time, it's no different. Probably, one of the best elements in the book is that she uses details of stories, of fables, of old legends and makes them both mysteriously dark and seductively magic to the reader. I kept thinking that these elements were a little superficial, after all the dark side of this fantasy could have been much more dangerous but the author knew how to balance things out and the magic we see happen isn't as mean as it could and I finished the book with the sense of balance and debts settled in my head.

The plot centers a lot on prince Oran and his fiancée and what I wrote above is linked with this part of the story. I think the author did a good job letting the reader get a notion of things in a very slow mode, but at the same time I must confess the huge part of the mystery wasn't that mysterious. I understand some clues had to be given, otherwise the plot wouldn't need to move on, but the reality is that I guessed the secret of this novel early on. It doesn't mean the surprise isn't there, after all we don't know how things happened or how they will be solved but yes, it was a little complicated.

I liked prince Oran, he is a sweet character and I was really rooting for him and his happiness.

Blackthorn and Grim are the central characters though, and they will be of the future books too. We do discover Blackthorn's past story and I can really understand why she feels like getting revenge. This information is told quite slowly too, not only to grab the reader's attention but mainly to give us an opportunity to see for ourselves how we like or not, these characters. This is so obvious and still some readers prefer to tell instead of showing when really, the beauty of a good tale is on how we can connect with the characters by seeing their actions and attitudes.

Regarding Grim, he's still mysterious but I suppose we'll know more about him in the next book.

The best part of this book is on the small details. One little thing here, another there can be worked to explain a bigger picture later on. I do like this style but for some it can look a bit boring and without much intention. I think this author has a good way of avoiding this by presenting doubtful situations in which the reader is forced to think about possible solutions/scenarios and that helps people to think for themselves on the heroes' worthiness.

I'm a fan, so I'll certainly read the next installments in the future. It's always good to go back to a style we like and this author is usually a hit for me.

Grade: 8/10

Denis Diderot - The Nun

In 1758 Diderot's friend the Marquis de Croismare became interested in the cause célèbre of a nun who was appealing to be allowed to leave a Paris convent. Less than a year later, in an affectionate attempt to trick his friend, Diderot created this masterpiece - a fictitious set of desperate and pleading letters to the Marquis from a teenage girl forced into the nunnery because she is illegitimate. In these letters, the impressionable and innocent Suzanne Simonin describes the cruelty and abuse she has suffered in an institution poisoned by vicious gossip, intrigues, persecutions and deviance. Considered too subversive during Diderot's lifetime, The Nun first appeared in print in 1796 following the Revolution. Part gripping novel, part licentious portrayal of sexual fervour and part damning attack on oppressive religious institutions, it remains one of the most utterly original works of the many eighteenth-century.

Comment: A few years ago I bought an used copy of this book at a little book fair happening at my local library. They were selling some older editions of many books in order to, hopefully, get more new books although most books were being sold at a very symbolic price. Anyway, since I had heard of this book before, it caught my eye and I got it but of course it has been waiting a lot too.

This is a classic by Diderot, an author from the 19th century and to write this story he got his inspiration on a real life situation of a woman who had been sent to a convent by her family but she wasn't religious enough to want that.

In this book we have a possible vision of the types of situations created for those who were not following the expectations and the customs of those times of a life in a convent and especially if someone had a different way of thinking of what it meant to behave in a morally correct manner.

For many readers, this story, more than a portrait of the miserable life of a woman who is sent to a convent against her will, is the metaphor of those who profess a belief or a faith, whether religious or of another kind, and go on in life without being honest to themselves and to others just to gain the benefits, leading to corruption and stagnation.

History tells us that in the past those people, especially from good families, rich and poor, when in need they were forced to follow the monastic life for lack of other dignified options. Convents were also used as a way to hide a woman or to pay a debt and several other situations, which led to many young women, without nay religious inclination whatsoever, being locked for the rest of their lives.

Had I the time and the knowledge I'm certain there would be a lot more detail regarding this subject but I'll let you be willing enough to search for more information about this. 

Concerning this book, the protagonist Susan is sent to the convent for another reason, her parents gave money to her older sisters, there wasn't any left for her and besides, we are told Susan's mother also wants to pay for what she perceived as a sin of her past by allowing Susan to be a nun against her will.

Susan's experiences are gruesome to read about but the level of distaste isn't as gritty as it would probably be in a contemporary novel because of course the writing style is very formal and according to the author's times.

Susan has three main experiences living in a convent. When she goes into one initially, the mother superior is a kind one, even when it comes to understand Susan wants to be honest and speaks about her lack of devotion for a religious life (but not lack of faith, which is something different). However, things change, the mother superior dies and  new one is appointed. This new person is completely different in disposition and behavior and Susan suffers years on her hands and of those who follow that nun's POV. Susan tries to appeal to a civil court but it was very difficult to be heard and that knowledge influenced the way she was treated after.

Eventually, Susan is transferred to another convent where she finds another kind of reality, where some nuns use their isolation for personal relationships and once again, the contemplative and religious life is not done in a way Susan considers proper.

I think this is my favorite aspect of the novel: Susan is not just a lazy or silly young woman who doesn't want to be a nun because she wants something else. She wants to be truth to herself and she feels she isn't being a morally good person by being in a place she doesn't want and being something she feels no inclination for. She only wants to be able to have her own choices but everything surrounding her is working against her. Her tale certainly illustrates what happened to many, and some never had a voice for sure.

I liked this moral debate: should you give yourself to that task as best as you can even if you don't really want it or should you voice yours doubts and be honest as any religious person would have deemed correct?

The fact the end wasn't as decisive as I would have liked is a weakness, I'd say. Things end up still a little doubtful for Susan and I wish I could have seen her settled with whatever should have happened. Yes, one can infer any possible outcome but I feel things were left too much in the air.

Still, this was one of those classics I've read easily, it wasn't boring nor filled with countless descriptions of things that don't matter to the plot. As far as classics go, this was a good one for me.

Grade: 8/10

Gail Honeyman - Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine

Eleanor Oliphant has learned how to survive - but not how to live. Eleanor Oliphant leads a simple life. She wears the same clothes to work every day, eats the same meal deal for lunch every day and buys the same two bottles of vodka to drink every weekend. Eleanor Oliphant is happy. Nothing is missing from her carefully timetabled life. Except, sometimes, everything. One simple act of kindness is about to shatter the walls Eleanor has built around herself. Now she must learn how to navigate the world that everyone else seems to take for granted - while searching for the courage to face the dark corners she's avoided all her life. Change can be good. Change can be bad. But surely any change is better than. . . fine?

Comment: This is a very much hyped book of last year, even though its original publication is from 2017. The premise seemed intriguing so I also added it to my reading list but only now I finally got to it. I was positively impressed although I would say the impact of the final twist wasn't as high for me because the clues were there during the novel regarding some secrets.

In this book we meet Eleanor Oliphant, a young woman working in accounting, a job she has had since she finished college. Eleanor considers herself to be fine all the time, she has a very easy life, with simple routines and she rarely deviates until the day she decides she will get a HEA with a singer she sees suddenly and after she and a co-worker randomly help an old man after he has a heart attack on the street.

As the story progresses through Eleanor's eyes and experiences, we get to see she has some secrets, she has some pain and terror in her past but her mind allows her to function as best as she can. If others would describe her as weird, she can't understand, after all she is a very logical person...

Eleanor is a fascinating character. I'm reluctant to label her as being autistic or having a syndrome since this is never done in the novel but the reader can clearly see her mind processes things in a very unique manner. However, I would also say this doesn't affect Eleanor's likability, as the author has said she didn't want Eleanor to be like a victim and despite some more touching scenes and affirmations which can sound so, Eleanor is a good person underneath all her quirks and often her experiences in the daily life routines can be quite amusing, like when she decides to have a manicure.

The story is pretty simple. Eleanor leads a very easy, simple life. She organizes all her days around the same usual expectations and even new things are often planned too. Her interactions with others are easily perceived by the reader as being a little too heavy on the silly possibilities but, honestly, when seen through her eyes, everything does seem to get a better/different meaning.

It was easy to like Eleanor and thus, the pages went by very quickly and in a very fluid way as well.

The steps Eleanor takes to change things, her perspective included, don't seem forced. Things and people happen around her and she feels challenged to response. What feelings come through that can be quite deep, depending on how one looks at it.

I think the author has done a great work pacing this novel. Things happen at the perfect pace for the drama to increase and for the details to come to light as Eleanor needs to deal with them. I think the only issue is that the story is divided into segments related to how Eleanor is coping, from good days, to bad days and better days. The transition from good to bad is explained but I don't think the process as as smooth as that. A bit more transparency in Eleanor's steps prior to that moment would have helped, I think.

An interesting component of the novel is the concept of loneliness. The author has also said this was one of the things that made her write the novel, how more and more people are alone and lonely and not just older people for several reasons. Younger people find themselves alone too and some not by choice. I think the author didn't really try to portray Eleanor as a desperate lonely person even though at times it can look so. Thankfully, the process of taking Eleanor from a status to another is well paced and believable, considering how she behaves. Would this have worked, without other clichés, with another type of character? I wouldn't say it would, as easily.

Personally I don't think about Eleanor's loneliness here. In a way she had her routines and interests. Yes, it can be seen as lonely by those who center their lives around many other people but I don't know if her life was that bad (apart from the obvious emotional content derived from her past but that's another issue) from a social POV, had it been a choice. The question is, I'd day, does Eleanor really have a choice, considering the way things are and how she is made to think of herself by life and experiences and her past?

The story goes a certain rout, of course. It all goes towards a final situation where the reader discovers things about Eleanor. I felt pity and sorry for her but I don't think she is a pitiful person; I think she coped in a way that enabled to carry on, even though her life hasn't been easy.

The book doesn't end promising countless romantic or ambitious scenarios where Eleanor is "cured". I liked how she felt like maintaining herself as she has been but aware of her issues and trying to find a way to understand them.

Yes, this might not have been the perfect book but it was very good and entertaining for certain.

Grade: 8/10

Adam Kay - This is Going to Hurt

Adam Kay was a junior doctor from 2004 until 2010, before a devastating experience on a ward caused him to reconsider his future. He kept a diary throughout his training, and This Is Going to Hurt intersperses tales from the front line of the NHS with reflections on the current crisis. The result is a first-hand account of life as a junior doctor in all its joy, pain, sacrifice and maddening bureaucracy, and a love letter to those who might at any moment be holding our lives in their hands.

Comment: I've seen this book gained some popularity and I do like real life experiences when it comes to these sorts of books (regarding real life cases of professionals in certain areas as opposed to those books about overcoming a personal hardship or obstacle), namely when it's someone sharing their experience with the everyday public. 

Since I also work directly with public in a touristic context, it does fascinate me how professionals often deal with clients/visitors/patients, or any other form of public welcoming. People can amuse you but also frustrate and make you angry and the possibility of seeing this in the book did made me curious.

Adam Kay was a doctor on the NHS for several years, he worked in different hospitals and he gave countless hours, even out of his own life, to help/cure/treat/operate on his patients.

In his journal he wrote the cases and situations he remembers the most until the last case that made him finally evaluate if being  doctor was his life or if the burnout was more serious than the worst days would indicate.

In this book we have a summary of some funny situations, some realistic ones and the stories in-between, along some personal details of how his life was actually affected by his dedication and long hours.

I liked this book. 

I also liked the fact the author was not trying to defend or attack anyone nor any entity. His critique of the way some things work in health care is not a gratuitous rant but a considerate comment on some of the most difficult parts of the job and the constrictions that often (usually regarding money) limit the action of the professionals or how much they can do.

I'd say anyone working in any public capacity would share similar opinions.

The author decided to use his current activity as a comedian/writer to present his thoughts in a funny manner. Most entries of his journal demonstrate how much he went through but filtered through a sarcastic or funny tone makes it easier for the reader to enjoy knowing about his cases. Of course it doesn't hurt that the funny ones seem to be too weird to be believable but where there is a human mind and thought process, there can be a bizarre reaction and I don't work in health but I also hear my share amount of weird things coming out of - apparently - mildly educated people.

I'd say that my biggest issue with this book is that even with some explanations, this book portraying a bit of the reality in the UK, some aspects still seemed complicated for me to grasp because there are some differences regarding my own country's way of doing things. Not the technical aspects of how things work but the nomenclature, the specific words and names given to things. Even for readers used to read in English (like me) there are things that still sound confusing and I confess I probably missed some jokes or "ta dah" moments because I was not following its complete meaning.

Still, some situations seemed more interesting than others but that is the same in any book of this type. I liked how some serious or potentially emotional examples were touching even when thinks most of the entries wouldn't be more than 10 or 11 lines.

I liked how the author not only shared the clinical/human sides of the patients he saw but his own position in the case. He was the doctor yes, but not the know-it-all and not the one that could determine every outcome. I liked how failed he showed himself to be but still considerate and professional. The general public tends to have quite an idea of how a doctor is supposed to be/act but aren't we all human, to use a cliché?

Overall, this was a difficult book to out down. once one gets into the flow of things, this can be addictive because it mixes the fun and the seriousness. The end of the story explains why the author gave up on being a doctor and it can be a little sad why but at the same time who can judge? Everyone is different in how we perceive the same situation and only when we can walk in someone's shoes, would we know what we are talking about.

This is a great non-fiction, for certain.

Grade: 8/10

JR Ward - The Savior

In the venerable history of the Black Dagger Brotherhood, only one male has ever been expelled—but Murhder’s insanity gave the Brothers no choice. Haunted by visions of a female he could not save, he nonetheless returns to Caldwell on a mission to right the wrong that ruined him. However, he is not prepared for what he must face in his quest for redemption.
Dr. Sarah Watkins, researcher at a biomedical firm, is struggling with the loss of her fellow scientist fiancé. When the FBI starts asking about his death, she questions what really happened and soon learns the terrible truth: Her firm is conducting inhumane experiments in secret and the man she thought she knew and loved was involved in the torture.
As Murhder and Sarah’s destinies become irrevocably entwined, desire ignites between them. But can they forge a future that spans the divide separating the two species? And as a new foe emerges in the war against the vampires, will Murhder return to his Brothers... or resume his lonely existence forevermore?

Comment: This is the latest installment in the Black Dagger Brotherhood series by JR Ward. This is the series that made me interested in PNR beyond the basic stories where supernatural characters were the enemies of humans that were the norm for me until I started reading about this group of vampires, who instead of being turned humans were actually part of a specific type of human.

In this 17th installment, we finally have the story of Muhrder, a character that has been mentioned from time to time, always with some mystery surrounding him and his whereabouts but who now has returned to the group and wants nothing more than solve unfinished business before his path takes him to a final goal.

However, he also meets Sarah Watkins, a researcher/scientist who sees her path mingle with that of Murhder after they meet each other while trying to accomplish something they have in common which is to to solve a situation related to Sarah's job. Things aren't simple though and even less so is the fact they are destined to be important to one another... but will the BDB accept these new changes and additions to their world?

It's no mystery I've been  - and remain so - a fan of this series and I won't go too much into it because I could write and write but I think it's better to be concise about what I think.

This was a book that reminded me of the first ones, where it was mostly about the romance and the surroundings took second place but for me this didn't really work for two reasons:

1) I'm invested in the series so this "back to basics" technique felt a little flat and

2) the romance was too quick, even for this world's rules.

I think it's positive the secondary characters that were important for the main plot weren't on too much and also that the villain POV's weren't too detailed (thankfully for me) either. I know this is a general complaint of some readers, that the focus is too spread through multiple POVs and although i'm not bothered by that, in fact I like it, it was good this story was simpler in terms of how the reader was able to focus properly on what was happening.

The plot follows Muhrder and his attempts to make something right off a wrong situation years ago and the reason he was expelled from the brotherhood, something fans have known he was the only only to have gone through that for unexplained reasons. We finally have an explanation about it and although it makes sense I sort of expected something bigger.

I have to say I imagined this character's return in several ways but not that it would be as simple as this. Or, maybe I should say I imagined his personality to be one of someone harder to empathize with and to be honest I must say it was the complete opposite because he is probably one of the best male characters/protagonist of the whole series. The title is very apt for him, indeed.

His romance with Sarah has high points and I can see why they could be a good match. I'm just a little sad they practically had no time to know each other well besides attraction and bonding. I know some rules help this situation along and the "being mates" card does help but even with - for me - less POVs, I still think the romance could have had a better reinforcement.I would have liked more scenes with them discovering why they were a good match instead of a situation that pushed them into one another (and I don't mean the being mates thing).

I think there were ways for this story to be stronger but overall I liked spending time with the characters, I liked reading a little bit about other characters and if there's one thing the author accomplishes well is the teasing, the leaving of little clues here and there about this or that and speculation spreads. I'm obviously eager to read more.

I can be aware the quality of the books might not appear the same for everyone, some expectations weren't met and sometimes the author does include unnecessary stuff to situations taken for solved/definite. But I also think she managed to create a fascinating world and I confess I wouldn't be able to think about letting go of all the characters...

It was good to see Muhrder back, that's for certain.

Grade: 8/10

Laura Lee Guhrke - Governess Gone Rogue

Lady Truelove may be London's most famous advice columnist, but James St. Clair, the Earl of Kenyon, knows his wild young sons need a tutor, not a new mother. They need a man tough enough to make his hellions tow the line, and James is determined to find one.
Miss Amanda Leighton, former schoolteacher and governess, knows she has all the qualifications to be a tutor. And while female tutors are unheard of, Amanda isn't about to lose the chance at her dream job because of pesky details like that. If Lord Kenyon insists on hiring a man, then she has only one option.
Jamie isn't sure what to make of his new employee, until he realizes the shocking truth—beneath the ill-fitting suits, his boys' tutor is a woman. An unconventional, outspoken, thoroughly intriguing woman. Despite Amanda's deception, he can't dismiss her when his boys are learning so much. Yet Jamie, too, is learning surprising lessons—about desire, seduction, and passionate second chances.

Comment: This is the third installment in the Dear Lady Truelove series by author Laura Lee Guhrke. This is a series focusing on a group of people who, somehow, is connected to the Lady Truelove column (for people to ask questions and lady truelove replies with wise advice) and how their lives are affected by being a part responsible for that column.

In this story, the heroine Amanda is in need of a position but with her reputation that won't be easy. She visits the paper which has the lady Truelove column not to leave a message for her, but to post the advertisement of her skills and eventually that can help her find work. While in there, she overhears the conversation between Rex (the hero from the previous book) and the earl of Kenyon, bother-in-law to the hero of book #1, regarding the fact the earl's sons have tried to post a question for lady truelove to give advice on how their father can find a wife. 

Amanda discovers what the earl needs the most is actually a tutor for the boys and if only she were a man...

What follows is a game to prove Amanda is as able as any man to teach young boys even if for that she has to resort to extreme measures...

This is one of those historical stories that has plenty of situations and dialogues that any reader can immediately suspect is not very accurate. In fact, I've finished the book with the thought that besides the historical anachronisms, this was also much like a contemporary plot. The only thing characterizing it as historical is precisely the description because in anything else it could't be described as such.

However, I can also say that I couldn't care less because this was also very sweet and romantic and offered such a silly plot that nevertheless I feel happy just by thinking about it. It's actually quite perfect for those times you're feeling down and need a "feel-good" type of book.

That aside, this was a cute story. We have Amanda, a woman who has gotten a reputation after being deceived by a man she thought she was in love with and now has difficulty to be accepted as a governess, especially because those who hire her, like her previous employer, tend to want her to be more than just a governess. Amanda is a bright woman, her father wanted to be as clever and able as any man and she has a lot of academic knowledge but prefers to teach children. Too bad young girls are educated to be ladies and not scientists.

When Amanda finds a way to teach the earl of Kenyon's sons, though, she is ecstatic, even though they have many pranks to play on her. But everything can change if their father discovers what is happening.

I must say what troubled me the most in the story itself was how the romance developed. It's sweet and both characters keep the other's feelings in mind when they interact or when they need to make decisions but from the initial signs of attraction to the HEA there weren't many steps. I guess  a way would have been if they had interacted even more or if there were more scenes with the two of them. The way things are, it feels like they didn't spend enough time together for their feelings to be justified as strongly as they declare.

The adventures portrayed are cute, that's true, even if sometimes I'd have liked a bit more seriousness to be used. The author gave the idea Amanda's past and her worries could be enough to convey some drama but I would also say it's a pity these Avon titles all seem to follow certain rules and page limit...this story could have been even better had the author developed some of the details much more.

(Another unimportant personal opinion, but that I can't ignore... what is it with these cheesy titles...? I can't understand why there is the need to enhance the possible silliness of things with bad titles, along the often bad covers too).

This is a simple book, not to philosophy about, not to process. I liked it because it's entertaining and sweet and when life seems difficult it's always good to know there are books like this to make us feel better.

Grade: 8/10

Laura Lascarso - The Bravest Thing

High school junior Berlin Webber is about to reap the fruits of his hard work and land a football scholarship—if he can keep his sexuality a secret from his best friend, Trent, and their homophobic coach. Then Hiroku Hayashi swerves into the high school parking lot on his tricked-out motorcycle like some sexy comic book villain, and Berlin knows he doesn’t stand a chance.
Hiroku is fleeing his sophisticated urban scene to recover from drug addiction and an abusive relationship when he arrives in Berlin’s small Texas ranch town. Initially sarcastic and aloof, Hiroku finds in Berlin a steady, supportive friend who soon becomes more. As Hiroku and Berlin’s romance blossoms, they take greater risks to be together. But when a horrific act of violence tears them apart, they both must look bigotry in the face. While Berlin has always turned to his faith for strength, Hiroku dives into increasingly dangerous ways of coping, pushing them in opposite directions just when they need each other most.
Two very different young men search for the bravery to be true to themselves, the courage to heal, and the strength to go on when things seem darkest. But is it enough to bring them back together? 

Comment: I decided to get this book after reading a recommendation somewhere. I think what made me more interested in reading this was the fact it would present opposites attract and I tend to enjoy stories where the protagonists find common ground and fall in love.

In this YA novel - I know I always say i prefer to avoid it but since it's m/m I don't dislike reading these as much because usually they present content I tend to enjoy reading about, unlike the usual m/f ones - we meet Berlin Webber, a junior at his school and a part of the football team. He also thinks he might be gay but has kept it a secret all his life because he knows his small Texas town isn't the most accepting and his future might be in a sports' scholarship, so he endures the homophobia and the lying.

Things change when the new guy in school arrives in his motorcycle, with a seriously stay-out attitude, all dressed in black and with eyeliner. Berlin is hooked from day one but he is still trying to find the courage to even think about talking to the guy.

Hiroku is a transfer from bigger city Austin and he has a past he would like to forget but it seems he can't ignore his mistakes. Berlin seems the complete opposite of what he has known but will he be able to accept the guy's friendship an interest? How will they react if they are found out to be more than that?

This is primarily labeled a romance but I think that can be a little limitative and reductive because this is certainly not only focused on how two guys become more than friends and the emotions evoked by this story aren't as simple as a classic romance plot. I'm actually impressed with the level of emotion this caused me even if from my personal POV I'd have preferred the characters to be more fantasy-like and have an easier path in what they faced.

Basically we have the usual coming of age tale with one of the characters facing his own sexuality and ehat it means for him, for those he deals with in a daily basis and how that can affect his future. He's also religious to some extend.

I liked Berlin wasn't one of those characters whose biggest fear is not allowing himself to accept he is gay but mostly how that can affect his friendships and the good feelings he has from belonging in a community which he feels a strong part of. I think his ideas were presented in a very realistic way, without drama.

I also think he clearly symbolizes the naivete of those who can't just hate or judge others. Berlin is a good guy, he is very aware of what is good and bad and his actions come from his heart and his sense of justice.

As his opposite we have Hiroku, another young man who has had a totally different life experience, especially when it comes to how he deals with his problems. We are told he suffered abuse from his first boyfriend and how that meant drugs and physical abuse and how he struggled to cope not only with what that meant for his state of mind but also to the difficult aspect of how he felt while with his ex, a strange mix of dedication and fear which has caused him to change and to not know himself anymore. We know he is in therapy and has a lot on his mind and he is the character we all know to exist but wish could simply turn away or ignore what happened but that isn't realistic.

His struggles with addiction, with his low self esteem and his loneliness in a place he doesn't feel welcomed in are all very strongly depicted.

The romance between these two different people shouldn't be easy because there's a lot that should put them apart and attraction isn't a strong enough base to support adversity and issues. I liked the simplicity of how they start talking, of how they start liking each other and even, more or less, falling in love. In my POV, there's a certain sweetness to how their relationship starts, develops and the promise of what it can be when I turned the last page.

However, the path they go through is very difficult to accept. This was not the heaviest nor the toughest story I've read regarding abuse and bigotry but I think the message was well made. People are always going to have stupid opinions and will always act wrong. I got emotional here and there because it was obvious how much hurt they were going through and it's even more emotional to imagine real people suffer like this.

This book is told by both main characters, in alternate chapters. I liked it because it was poignant and easy to follow but it's not the kind to re-read because it also invokes many sad feelings. The HFN is adequate considering the age of the characters but yes, it isn't as satisfying as I hoped. Some issues were also...I guess, a little too strongly presented and in parts maybe it didn't have to be. Some scenes felt really avoidable too.

I also liked the personal note the author left in the end, it was interesting to have her own experience.

I'd recommend this story but bearing in mind it's not a cookie cutter one.

Grade: 8/10

Dan Brown - Inferno

In his international blockbusters The Da Vinci Code, Angels & Demons, and The Lost Symbol, Dan Brown masterfully fused history, art, codes, and symbols. In this riveting new thriller, Brown returns to his element and has crafted his highest-stakes novel to date.
In the heart of Italy, Harvard professor of symbology Robert Langdon is drawn into a harrowing world centered on one of history’s most enduring and mysterious literary masterpieces . . . Dante’s Inferno.
Against this backdrop, Langdon battles a chilling adversary and grapples with an ingenious riddle that pulls him into a landscape of classic art, secret passageways, and futuristic science. Drawing from Dante’s dark epic poem, Langdon races to find answers and decide whom to trust . . . before the world is irrevocably altered.

Comment: I got this book practically two years ago but as it often happens with many of the books I buy, it got stuck in the shelves. I finally decided to read it, especially since I've read the one that came after this one, also featuring the main character Robert Langdon, and because I liked it well enough, I've thought about giving this one a try too.

In this adventure, Robert Langdon wakes up in Florence with no idea of how he ended up there and in a hospital to top it off. However, not soon after he wakes up with some sort of recent amnesia, certainly caused by a concussion, he is attacked in his bed, one of his doctors dies and the othr one helps him escape despite his physical condition.

Then, a chase against times begins and Robert must find why he is in this situation, why he is having weird dreams and why everything seems to be connected with the Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri and a possible plague against the world...

I was quite curious to read this book because I knew there was a movie about it too (my edition even has Tom Hanks and Felicity Jones on the cover, although Felicity is brunette and her character Sienna is described as blond, how annoying it is, right? but anyways...) and I wanted to be able to see it after reading the book which - any reader would say about 95% of the movies based on books - is always the best course of action.

This is another fast paced story mixed with a lot of historical and cultural information and that is truly captivating.

I do think that the best part of Dan Brown's books, especially his most recent work, is how he manages to teach or inform the readers about certain facts in a very interesting manner. I happened to be able to read the book while often being near a computer and it's quite fascinating to google some of the things and process them like that.

Besides the adventure side of things, though, the author always focus on a little detail that somehow pertains to humanity in general. In this book the cause of everything is based on the premise that the planet is overpopulated and will continue on being so in the future until one day humans can no longer survive as they have so far. 

I'll say that the author has done a great job putting this question in the open and creating a great plot about that. Even more so, he has found a way to discuss (and control) the problem in a way that would ensure life wouldn't end in an inferno scenario as described by Dante in his work.

Of course there's the ethics of things but in a case of humans being acutely in need of survival, wouldn't it be a viable option? I must say the solution Dan Brown proposes in the figure of the book's villain is both clever and merciful and probably why the story felt as amazingly done for me.

As for plot, well, of course there isn't much to discuss there. The plot of this book is pretty much the same as his other work, except for the setting and the amazing end.

I liked there's a twist which surprised me even if there are other elements that are a little too exaggerated or difficult to accept as being realistic (for instance, why Robert is in that specific hospital... which we only learn why close to the end) and overall that made me not see this as a scarier story in terms of anticipation. I could see the building up of the drama and the adrenaline of the characters' movements but it didn't have such a big impact on me, personally.

I really think the author was very clever with this story. I also liked learning about Dante and I bet the majority of readers who have not read his Divine Comedy thought about it. It also made me want to visit Florence but that isn't only Dan Brown's influence.

I would say this is a book to recommend, not for the writing itself which is as easy and basic as one can expect but mainly for the cleverness of the ideas debated and the end.

By the way, I won't be seeing the movie unless is free on TV since I just saw plenty of reviews criticizing how different it is from the smart book. Why do producers do that...oh well.

Grade: 8/10

Anyta Sunday - Pisces Hooks Taurus

Zane has it all planned out: land the perfect Meet Cute, fall in love, and live happily ever after.
Should be simple enough if he put his mind to it. A little creativity and some thinking outside of the box, and voila, he’d be married to the woman of his dreams.
It would be perfect.
And it would be before his visa ran out.
But why are his feelings running wild now that the pressure’s on? Why is his picture-perfect plan turning into a muddled mess of morphed metaphors he can’t make sense of anymore?
Just as well he’s met an English professor to help. And even though their first meet is anything but cute, this down-to-earth teacher may just be the realist Zane needs to ground him and give him a shot at love after all.

Comment: This is the fourth installment in the Signs of Love series by author Anyta Sunday. I liked the previous installments so I'm going to keep reading the series as long as it gets published. 

Once again, the author picked her favorite type of story, a slow burn one, and presented two characters that might not seem the best match but ed up finding a lot in common...

In this story we meet Zane as the focus protagonist and narrator, meaning that although this is written in third voice, we only get to follow the story through the eyes of one of the characters.

Zane is from New Zealand and is in America because his brother married and just had a baby, whom Zane is hoping to visit before his visa runs out. The thing is, Zane feels very alone back in New Zealand and he still struggles to feel others like him despite his obvious deficiencies in learning. He wants to be close to his brother, someone who has always showed Zane what it's like to have a support system and someone who truly cares. 

When the story begins, Zane is being told he needs to leave the room where he's been staying in because it will be necessary for someone else. Zane ends up on the street with nowhere to go since his brother lives in a ranch at some distance. On the phone, Zane's sister-in-law mentions Becky as possible helper and  Zane text messages this Becky to see if there is room available. What a surprise for Zane to discover Becky is a diminutive for Beckett but he is still determined to be the best possible roommate so he can have the time to find love and stay in America...

 This was a cute story. I liked Zane and how vulnerable he seemed to be (through hints here and there) but he never let what he assumed were his deficiencies stop him from being kind, helpful and even more, hopeful he would find someone he could love and who would love him back. Although he talks about girls from page one, his slow developing friendship with Beckett and also how she starts to feel attracted to him without being aware were situations I could be convinced of being realistic.

In fact, putting aside some coincidences (like Beckett's ex being in the same store at the exact same time just because Beckett thought he might.. can only be plot suiting) explored in the novel, pretty much everything felt it could be genuine and realistic somehow. 

I loved how both characters felt shy over what they assumed to be issues, things clearly out of their control but which every human person would potentially feel (we all have stuff we feel vulnerable for, even if rationally we can know we wouldn't have to) as being a negative aspect of their personality.

Zane is super friendly and dedicated to what he feels is the best path for him: to find true love. He dates some women who are an obvious "tool" to show how people would see Zane only for his good looks but ignoring he might have deeper wishes than just random sex by app dating. Only by having a more profound connection with Beckett, initially a friend/roommate, did he realize you don't need a cliché to find what you really need and the end of the novel was more realistic than what I imagined it would, just expecting a romance from the start.

Beckett, I felt, was a bit more obvious. While we inferred some of Zane's self esteem issues by how he reacted to this or that, we can immediately tell Beckett feels somewhat unworthy because of how he and his ex divorced. I can also see how easy it was for Beckett to feel confused over Zane's initial behavior towards him (a little clueless but funny) but he still kept his more serious personality in check, hoping but not acting on something he wasn't certain of. I could totally understand Beckett's personality and expectations. I probably would act as cautious as him were I in the same type of situation. This means the romance is a slow burn and it's convincing it has to be so.

I'd say my biggest issue is that from the moment Zane's feels attracted to Beckett, things progress very smoothly and very quickly in the intimacy department but I wasn't completely convinced Zane was really interested in Beckett for those reasons. I could see he was in love but for a man who had never been attracted to guys suddenly feel so comfortable with one to the point of sexual intimacy, without even being aware he could have bisexual inclinations... I mean, I can accept the notion of being attracted to the person and not the gender but... it still feels a little unlikely.

Nevertheless, I think this was a successful story. I was captivated by every little step and action the characters tool, I liked how there were serious matters in play but not in a way that would steal the attention from the story. It was more like one being able to read between the lines.

I'm hoping the author continues this signs series for there are yet four zodiac signs to go.

Grade: 8/10

Anyta Sunday - Gemini Keeps Capricorn

Sometimes, one stubborn Capricorn is all it takes… to drive Wesley Hidaka to crazy, flirtatious lengths.
Wesley loves annoying his RA, Lloyd Reynolds. He just can’t help it. Lloyd is focused, decisive, grounded. He has this amusing ability to follow rules.
Of course Wesley wants Lloyd to break one… or three hundred.
Sometimes, one smirking Gemini is all it takes… to have Lloyd laying down the law and marching Wesley straight back to his dorm room.
It doesn’t stop Wesley teasing again. And again. And again…
But damn. Lloyd doesn’t crack easily. He’s full of principles. He’s unshakable.
He’s the perfect friend to have when Wesley needs help. Like with his truant brother and his old high school principal.
Sometimes, one little lie is all it takes… to find Wesley fake-engaged to his off-limits RA.
What can he say? It seemed like a good idea at the time…


Comment: This is the third installment in the Signs of Love series by author Anyta Sunday. I really liked the first book but the second was a little weaker (even though I liked it too). I didn't have high hopes for this one because it's a friends-to-lovers story and these can go quite wrong. Thankfully, it wasn't the case of this book.

In this book we meet Wesley Hidaka, a funny guy who is studying law to honor his late father, who was a renowned judge. Wesley is living in the dorm whose RA is a guy he really looks up to. Lloyd is a serious but fair RA and someone with whom Wesley can't help but flirt all the time. They are friends and not only because Lloyd takes his responsibility for the residents under his care as a serious task.

When a situation regarding his brother Cal gets tricky, Wesley asks Lloys to pretend they are engaged and the attraction and flirtation go up another notch. 

Lloyd, however, doesn't break his principles by acting on his attraction for someone he is supposed to be responsible for but there is so much a guy can take... will these two find a way to be together without breaking any rules?

I had a great time reading this book. Although it had a trope I'm not usually such a fan of and a first person narrator that more times than not gets on my nerves when it comes to romances, I think the author did a good job depicting the friendly relationship between two people that don't share a lot but still make them closer than they imagined. I also think this story was balanced between funny and (subtle) serious content and the tone matched this too.

Wesley is one of those characters that could very easily turn into annoying or bothersome because he acts a way that could be seen as that of someone who wishes so hard to impress or to be funny that those around wouldn't be able to endure their presence for long. I'm very glad the author has found a way to not make Wesley an overconfident person because those people can get on someone's nerves. I think this was achieved by letting the reader get glimpses of Wesley's vulnerabilities, such as his relationship with his mother and the way he thinks some people might look at him. I liked we were made aware he knows he could be misunderstood due to his sunny disposition.

Lloyd is a little more difficult to read, we don't have his POV after all, but he is someone others can trust and that is visible in several moments when someone needs his help. I liekd that he had the willpower to fight Wesley's more obvious advances sometimes but always with a sense that he isn't always so certain about how real the attraction between them is. The fact they get to be friends and trust one another before they give in to their attraction made me like Lloyd a lot more.

Actually, I'm glad the "friends-to-lovers" trope wasn't based on a lifelong or a childhood friendship crossing borders now they are more mature. Those are the stories that make me wrinkle my nose because I can't help thinking things inevitably change and that can't go right all the time... from personal experience, having a very close friend and starting to change things never ends well... therefore, it was great to see they only started to become closer friends in the college setting, thus not that long.

The plot is filled, as any reader can imagine, with funny/cute scenes mixed with some more serious content and ideas but nothing too angsty or complicated to go through. I assume one of the purposes of these stories is to showcase how a place/setting can be friendly, secure and even fair for people to be themselves and become better people with time and space to learn/to improve.

There are some scenes where the protagonist don't seem to know they are falling in love and that can be a little too unrealistic but I also think the way the story is developed highlights this so that the end can look even more special. The reality is that I had a great time reading this story despite some less than interesting moments/situations and it was so cute at times, I devoured it. I'm now eager to get to the next one!

Grade: 8/10

Jodi Picoult - Small Great Things

Ruth Jefferson is a labor and delivery nurse at a Connecticut hospital with more than twenty years' experience. During her shift, Ruth begins a routine checkup on a newborn, only to be told a few minutes later that she's been reassigned to another patient. The parents are white supremacists and don't want Ruth, who is African American, to touch their child. The hospital complies with their request, but the next day, the baby goes into cardiac distress while Ruth is alone in the nursery. Does she obey orders or does she intervene?
Ruth hesitates before performing CPR and, as a result, is charged with a serious crime. Kennedy McQuarrie, a white public defender, takes her case but gives unexpected advice: Kennedy insists that mentioning race in the courtroom is not a winning strategy. Conflicted by Kennedy's counsel, Ruth tries to keep life as normal as possible for her family--especially her teenage son--as the case becomes a media sensation. As the trial moves forward, Ruth and Kennedy must gain each other's trust, and come to see that what they've been taught their whole lives about others--and themselves--might be wrong.
With incredible empathy, intelligence, and candor, Jodi Picoult tackles race, privilege, prejudice, justice, and compassion--and doesn't offer easy answers. Small Great Things is a remarkable achievement from a writer at the top of her game.

Comment: I've decided to buy this book because the blurb seemed quite interesting and I knew the author would use a provocative but not dismissive style to address the racism subject. I got curious and got it. Of course, it took me a long time to actually read but that's the usual for me...

In this book we meet Ruth Jefferson, a nurse with years of experience working at labor and delivery an that, in the course of an apparently normal day, meets a couple who recently had a baby but the parents are white supremacists and don't want Ruth to be near their child. Although discriminatory and unfair, Ruth is put aside but things get to a very bad path when the baby dies, right after Ruth is seen close to him but seemingly not doing anything.

What follows is a spiral road towards situations Ruth has never imagined herself in but that still change the rest of her life.

I had read Keeping Faith by this author several years ago because it was said that was one of the author's easier stories (on an emotional level) to read and ended well. It also helped that it would touch the theme of faith which I more or less appreciate reading about. I liked that book but the writing style didn't seem to be that special so I never tried another book, especially after the fame she got with her more complicated subjects.

This book, thankfully, also has an end that wasn't too difficult to accept in terms of how emotional it was. I liked that it as possible to see choices and difficulties but the end was positive.

Before that, however, the protagonist Ruth must face a lot of challenges. I think the racism depicted in the book had the perfect dose to be informative, to be descriptive but not the only idea to focus on. Socially, it is quite a shock to imagine people must face the stigma of what it all involves and for me, personally, because I don't live in a place where there are many black people communities/families, the subject is especially strong as it's not part of my routines. I can't imagine how frustrating and unfair it must be for those who feel the racism, literally, on their skin.

The biggest part of the novel is focused on Ruth's trial. When the baby dies, his parents decide to blame and sue Ruth for malpractice but it gets quite clear the real reason is they want to blame someone from the black race for their hate and sadness.

This aspects was well portrayed and, as expected by this author, the issues related to both Ruth and Turk, the white supremacist father, are meant to let the reader think without inferring any pre - judgment. I confess some of the sections told by Turk were a little difficult to read, not because they were harsh or just hateful descriptions of cruelty and racism but because Turk is portrayed and having been convinced and almost manipulated to follow the path he did... I suppose this was also done to suit the end more convincingly.

The book is narrated by three people, Turk and Ruth, who both relate in the fist person their perspectives and backgrounds and also Kennedy, the white lawyer that helps and defends Ruth during her trial. I suppose Kennedy is the character most readers are supposed to relate to, not because she is white but because the plays the role of someone who isn't directly affected by the racism theme but who, inadvertently, lets it go or ignores it unconsciously precisely for that. Still, I really liked Kennedy because the is a young professional,she is a mother and her attitude and life are happy and table and it is a good counterbalance to the less positive aspects.

I had a good time reading this novel. The theme isn't always easy and I did cry here and there over the injustice of things. I liked the characterization, the ending and some details regarding the trial. It also made me want to try another book by the author that might have a positive end... let's see, but this one was touching and had the right balance, in my POV. 

Like I mentioned, some of the narrative by Turk and some dragging over certain parts of the plot were reasons that made me not like the book more. Still, a good read.

Grade: 8/10

Ainslie Paton - The Love Experiment

Can you fall in love in thirty-six questions?
The closest rookie lifestyle writer Derelie Honeywell gets to megastar reporter Jackson Haley is an accidental shoulder brush in The Courier's elevator. That is, until the love experiment: a study designed to accelerate intimacy using thirty-six questions and four minutes of sustained eye contact.
As far as Derelie is concerned, Jack Haley has always been a man best imagined in his underwear. He's too intimidating otherwise. But participating in the love experiment is her make-or-break chance. With another round of layoffs looming, Derelie knows holding on to her job means getting the story no matter what. Even when the what is kissing Jack like a maniac.
Jack Haley has zero interest in participating in a clickbait story. He didn't plan on finding Derelie smart and feisty and being mesmerized by her eyes. He certainly had no intention at all of actually falling in love with her.
The conclusion to this experiment? Thirty-six questions might lead to love, but finding the answer to happily-ever-after is a lot more complicated.

Comment: I got interested in reading this story because of two details which I do like to see in books: the protagonists would have a sort of opposites attract kind of relationship and there is a slight age difference where the hero is older. Call me conservative or unfair but the situation with younger heroes and (considerable) older women doesn't appeal to me.

Anyway, in this story we meet Derelie Honeywell, a young woman starting from the bottom at a newspaper which is facing several financial issues including the possibility of going only digital or dismissing workers. Therefore, Derelie does want to perform well, which includes to write and be a participant of the so-called love experiment. In this experiment, the couples are supposed to see if they match and have what ti takes to fall in love by answering 36 questions and a staring contest somehow. 

Since the article based on this will be published in the newspaper, Derelie has all intentions of succeeding but the problem is when they decide to test her with Jackson Haley, an older cynic guy considered the hero of the people because of his provocative but detailed investigation pieces, always reveling some fraud or crime which affects the population. 

Could two more different people find common ground to accomplish a successful experiment?

This was a cute romance story and when I started it, I imagined a certain path which seemed to be the most likely one to happen. However, I must say the author included some more realistic and not as cute tones which make me think of this book as one with serious content, opposed to what the blurb and cover indicate. For me, it was a positive surprise.

Derelie and Jack are quite different and the experiment doesn't seem to go well at first mostly because Jack isn't really interested in doing it and when he accepts it's only because of office politics. However, when both decide to be professionals, they do discover a lot about each other and that is when their relationship does gain power. Of course this means we still have some pages of them not really agreeing on things, of the reader seeing how different they are and how opposed in several things (background, expectations, personality) but then, obviously, those same differences disappear when they notice at last the attraction they feel towards one another.

In a way, we could see how the experiment was successful but when things really start getting more serious,  they don't really care about it... as expected, though, there are several less than positive situations to go through before any understanding can happen between them.

At the same time, we are able to follow both their thoughts and I'm very happy this was a third person narrator, I feel readers can get so much more out of this method than first person, especially when the narrators aren't compelling.

The more serous tones issues are related to their personal experiences. Some readers didn't like Jack but I think his behavior and personality are understandable considering his past. And he does change/improve so...

Derelie was more difficult to read, especially because she does stress out the fact she is a small town girl a lot. But the fact she misses home and wants to succeed made me like her. Although the characteristics of both her and Jack don't seem individually something I appreciate about "my" protagonists, neither was bad to the point of not accepting and enjoying they got a HEA. Still , one mist be aware the happy ending only comes after some obstacles.

This is not a perfect romance, the flaws can be quite obvious but to be honest, I liked reading this, I liked how several scenes were played out and when I finished, I did wonder about these characters and imagined how their lives might have gone had we more pages to read. I think the wondering about what could happen is always a good indicator the book, at least, left a mark.

I'm still debating if I'll read another by the author.

Grade: 8/10

TJ Klune - Wolfsong

Ox was twelve when his daddy taught him a very valuable lesson. He said that Ox wasn’t worth anything and people would never understand him. Then he left.
Ox was sixteen when he met the boy on the road. The little boy who talked and talked and talked. Ox found out later the little boy hadn’t spoken in almost two years before that day, and that the little boy belonged to a family who had moved into the house at the end of the lane.
Ox was seventeen when he found out the little boy’s secret and it painted the world around him in colors of red and orange and violet, of Alpha and Beta and Omega.
Ox was twenty-three when murder came to town and tore a hole in his head and heart. The boy chased after the monster with revenge in his bloodred eyes, leaving Ox behind to pick up the pieces.
It’s been three years since that fateful day—and the boy is back. Except now he’s a man, and Ox can no longer ignore the song that howls between them. 

Comment: My favorite type of PNR world is the one with shape shifters, which this book has. My favorite type of romance pace is slow, which this book also has. My favorite type of book is one that explores the character's feelings and personality, which this book also has. Added to the fact I've read some stellar reviews from people whose taste is alike mine most of the time, of course I had to read this book, which I did.

In this book we slowly follow the developments surrounding Ox's life, since he is a young 12 year old until he becomes an adult, along with everything happening to him and to those around him.

Ox is a guy who is used to not think much of himself but he knows there are people he can trust and who care about him, a notion even stronger after he meets the Bennet family one day, especially Joe, their youngest son.

However, Ox doesn't have an easy life understanding what others think or decide to do... and he sees himself in the middle of some secrets, strange politics between different groups and, most important of all, the strange feelings he has regarding those he is close to. As Ox learns things about those he cares about, and tries his best to help protect them, can he also save his own heart from breaking?

This was my first book by this author. I was only mildly aware of his work because of the usual recommendations when we read certain books but I had a certain idea about what his themes might be and I wasn't that interested. After reading very good reviews about this one and knowing it would be a shape shifter story, I decided to try it but it's been a while. This book was released in 2016 and, I'm quite glad I waited because now I want to read the other books too and this might mean less waiting time overall.

I was positively surprised by the tone of this book. Is both angsty and sweet in the right places and has an amazing emotional depth I confess I didn't think the author would be able to convey. At the same time, there's this whole world building, well structured, with "rules" that make sense within what was explained to us (there are still obvious secrets for the upcoming books for certain) and the notion there's a purpose on this, there's a path to follow. Even the saddest situations, which often are used as crutches to propel the plots, were well done and had meaning. I'd have preferred them to not be anyway, but still.

Ox is a fascinating character. I liked the fact he didn't consider himself anyone special but he clearly was. He was not vain not conceited and although we could say his emotional journey is one of self discovery and self worth somehow, he never has any thoughts about overcoming his issues, about becoming stronger and other sayings most people wouldn't think if they were that modest. This felt even better for my reading taste because the story is told from Ox's POV. Since he is a reliable and likable character, it was so easy to feel everything perfectly.

The biggest focus of this novel isn't the romance. I'd describe it as being slow burn and there's only one detailed sex scene towards the end. In 400 pages, this tells us a lot about what really matters. 

Still, it was both angsty and rewarding to see the development of the relationship between Ox and Joe and how they slowly go from friends to mates without any frivolity in how they interact. Even when younger, they have always been "mature" in how they felt and lived.

The depth of the subjects treated here, the way the author often uses short sentences and descriptions better reveals the intensity of what is happening. I think even the secondary characters seemed to be very well fleshed and had a vital personality. I liked the feeling everyone was special. I liked the balance between the difficult moments and the funny/light ones.

However, there is one detail I'd change. In some pats of the story, the descriptions of what we, the readers, are supposed to infer and to analyze seems to stretch too much. There are times where too much time would be spent on repeating things and not always with an obvious goal in sight, as if we had to stress out every single thing and often it could become exaggerated I think.

Then, when the story is finally over, I imagined an extra sweet and long scenes to fit the rest of the book but... no. It was almost rushed and that felt a little annoying.

This was, for all purposes, a great book. Yes, some details weren't as well achieved but it all points out to the fact this author knows what he is doing. I'm ow more curious about his work and, obviously about this series, which I need to read for certain.

Grade: 8/10