What The Woods Keep by Katya de Becerra

FEATURING⇢

Creepy Supernatural

Mystery

Contemporary

YA/NA Kind of Feel
Stand-Alone

LINK TO SYNOPSIS (AUTHOR'S WEBSITE)

MY RATING⇢ ☆3.7☆STARS - GRADE= B

MY THOUGHTS⇢

What The Woods Keep is a YA-ish Contemporary about a just-turned 18-year-old girl who just inherited her childhood home in Promise, Co.  But Promise is not like other towns...it's wholly different and completely steeped in the supernatural, and our MC is irrecoverably tied to this town.  With a very unique premise, a heap of mystery, and characters that I found unusual, from the very start, I was loving this...

This had my full and complete attention for about the first third of the book...unfortunately, it sort of stalled-out for me, after that.   Not sure why; the best way to explain is the writing just wasn't as engaging as it was in the beginning.  Then towards the end, it picked the momentum back up and finished fairly strong.  I wish it was available on Audio...

THE BREAKDOWN⇢  

Plot⇢ 3.5/5

Main Characters⇢ 4.3/5

Secondary Characters⇢ 3.5/5

The Feels⇢ 3.5/5

Pacing⇢ 3.5/5

Addictiveness⇢ 3.2/5

Theme or Tone⇢ 4/5

Flow (Writing Style)⇢ 3.5/5

Backdrop (World Building)⇢ 3.5/5

Originality⇢ 4/5

Ending⇢ 3.7/5 Cliffhanger⇢ Not really...

_____

Book Cover⇢ It's quite striking...

Setting⇢ Promise, Colorado

Source⇢ Kindle eBook (Library)

Length⇢ 384 Pages

Necessary People by Anna Pitoniak

FEATURING⇢

A Study In Friendship
The Needs of People...
Psychological
Semi-Thrilling
Broadcast News...& Drama
Murder-ish
Narration Performed by Vanessa Johansson

LINK TO SYNOPSIS (AUTHOR'S WEBSITE)

MY RATING⇢ ☆3.2☆STARS - GRADE=C+

MY THOUGHTS⇢

This is more a study in friendship than a mystery thriller. Two girls who couldn't be more opposite of each other and the way they connect with one another--what it's like to be necessary to someone, right up until your not necessary to them anymore...

Necessary People is more the type of story to stimulate your thoughts than one to throw shock (mystery & action) and awe (twists) at you.  Despite that, some or most, readers found this to be a great read.  I want to say that I agree with them...but, the slowly developing plot left me bored most of the time, even though the writing is totally there.  This reminded me of a Megan Abbott book, (Give Me Your Hand) that I listened too...it really has a similar feel to it, so if you like that, then you might really like this. 

Lastly, the narration was excellently executed by Vanessa Johansson.  She had a way of making you forget that only one person was telling the story.

 

THE BREAKDOWN⇢  

Plot⇢ 3/5

Narration Performance⇢ 5/5

Characters⇢ 3.3/5

The Feels⇢ 2.5/5

Pacing⇢ 2.8/5

Addictiveness⇢ 3.5/5

Theme or Tone⇢ 3/5

Flow (Writing Style)⇢ 3.3/5

Backdrop (World Building)⇢ 3/5

Originality⇢ 3/5

Ending⇢ 2.7/5

_____

Book Cover⇢ It's different...kind of cool...I guess.

Setting⇢ New York mostly...but also Maine and London for a bit, too.

Source⇢ Audiobook (Library)

Length⇢ 10 hours, 35 minutes

Under A Dark Sky by Lori Rader-Day

FEATURING⇢

Closed Circle Murder Mystery
A Dark Sky Park

Lake Michigan Setting

Dealing With Loss Of Spouse

Audio Performed By Tavia Gilbert

LINK TO SYNOPSIS (AUTHOR'S WEBSITE)

MY RATING⇢ ☆3.5☆STARS - GRADE= B-

MY THOUGHTS⇢

Initially drawn in by the familiar setting of Northern Michigan, (I've not only driven but also walked across the Mackinaw Bridge...which is very cool) I sadly only found this to be an okay read, overall.  My favorite element of the story is the setting, actually.  Also, if you've read this and you're wondering if the phone service is really as bad as they make out to be in this story...it totally is.

As for the other elements...while I've never read this type of mystery, a closed circle or locked-room sort of thing...I feel like the idea is to make us believe that each person involved could be guilty of the murder.  Rader-Day did, for the most part, accomplish this, but it was done somewhat weakly or maybe, it just felt too contrived.  The story was also overly long and could've been less detailed in some areas.  I also found the MC kind of odd...with her random almost-hook-up to the very random eventual romance interest, to her fear of the dark...why was she afraid of the dark after her husband's death???  Overall, I feel the mystery did have many layers going for it, and the ending did surprise me. 

Audio by Tavia Gilbert was doable...she's not the best and she's definitely not the worse, either.  I will forever be reminded of the first series I listened to narrated by her, though.

THE BREAKDOWN⇢  

Plot⇢ 3.3/5

Narration Performance⇢ 4/5

Characters⇢ 3.2/5

The Feels⇢ 3.5/5

Pacing⇢ 3/5

Addictiveness⇢ 3.5/5

Theme or Tone⇢ 3/5

Flow (Writing Style)⇢ 3.7/5

Backdrop (World Building)⇢ 4.5/5

Originality⇢ 4.5/5

Ending⇢ 3.8/5

_____

Book Cover⇢ It's pretty enough...but it doesn't really represent the story.

Setting⇢ The tip of the middle finger of Michigan...only in Michigan can you explain a geographical location with parts of your hand.  (A Dark Sky Park really does exist in this exact spot)

Source⇢ Audiobook (Library)

Length⇢ 11 hours, 44 minutes

The Night Before by Wendy Walker

FEATURING⇢

 Internet Dating

A Many-Layered Mystery

Psychological Thriller

Suspenseful

Twisted & Twisty

With Audio Performed by Saskia Maarleveld & Gabra Zackman 

LINK TO SYNOPSIS (AUTHORS WEBSITE)

MY RATING⇢ ☆4.7☆STARS - GRADE=A

MY THOUGHTS⇢

I was totally wrapped up in this story.  On the outside, it's a story about internet dating...but on the inside, it's so......much......more.  I've now listened to three books by Wendy Walker and I've devoured all of them.  Her writing has a way of drawing you in.  She gives you just enough clues for you to draw some of the correct assumptions, but the solutions are never that simple, she always has a way to completely twist things and leave you reeling. 

The only thing that really brought this down for me was the audiobook narration.  I'm not sure, but I'm fairly certain it was Gabra Zackman's performance as the sister that I found fault with.  Her other voices, specifically the male ones were so nasally.  They just came off as ridiculous.  Despite that, I would still recommend the Audio for this.

THE BREAKDOWN⇢  

Plot⇢ 5/5

Narration Performance⇢ 4.3/5

Characters⇢ 4.7/5

The Feels⇢ 4.7/5

Pacing⇢ 5/5

Addictiveness⇢ 5/5

Theme or Tone⇢ 4.7/5

Flow (Writing Style)⇢ 4.5/5

Backdrop (World Building)⇢ 5/5

Originality⇢ 5/5

Ending⇢ 5/5

_____

Book Cover⇢ Hmmm...such an innocuous cover, masking the crazy inside it.

Setting⇢ Branston, CT

Source⇢ Audiobook (Library)

Length⇢ 8 hours, 43 minutes

 

Warrior Of The Wild by Tricia Levenseller

FEATURING⇢

Viking Inspired
Fantasy

(More) Young (Than) Adult
Clean Romance

A Quest
Stand-Alone
Audio Performed By Marisa Calin

MY RATING⇢ ☆4.2☆STARS - GRADE=B+ 

MY THOUGHTS⇢

I do believe that Tricia Levensellers books are geared more towards the younger of YA set.  They are easily the type of story you could have your preteen read.  With squeaky clean romances and courageous heartfelt characters.  The overall life lessons are inspiring and also make them perfect for teens.  That's not to say that it can't be enjoyed by an adult who is young at heart, as long as go into it expecting a book that's geared more towards the aforementioned.

While the story is predictable, and the romance wasn't always there, these issues feel small or insignificant when stacked up against the good in the story.  Rasmira is an indelible, fierce heroine, her tenacity for success is inspiring.  That and the camaraderie she has with Soren and Iric is what made this story not only memorable but enjoyable for me.

The Audio was done with skill by Marisa Calin, she was a perfect fit for Rasmira.  Her other voices were seamless, as well.

THE BREAKDOWN⇢  

Plot⇢ 4/5

Narration Performance⇢ 5/5

Characters⇢ 4.3/5

The Feels⇢ 4/5

Pacing⇢ 4.3/5

Addictiveness⇢ 4.3/5

Theme or Tone⇢ 4.3/5

Flow (Writing Style)⇢ 4.3/5

Backdrop (World Building)⇢ 4.3/5

Originality⇢ 4/5

Ending⇢ 4/5 Cliffhanger⇢ Nope.

_____

Book Cover⇢ Love it!!!

Setting⇢ The wilds outside a fantastical Viking inspired Villiage.

Source⇢ Audiobook (Library)

Length⇢ 9 hours, 11 minutes

My Lovely Wife by Samantha Downing

 ๏ ๏ ๏  Highlights ๏ ๏ ๏ 

Disturbed In Suburbia = Disturbia
Unlikable Main Characters
A Twisted Mystery Thriller
With A Serial Killer(s)
Suspenseful
Thought-Provoking

With Audio Performed by David Pittu

๏ ๏ ๏  MY RATING ๏ ๏ ๏ 

☆4.5☆STARS - GRADE=A-

๏ ๏ ๏  My Thoughts ๏ ๏ ๏ 

What makes a serial killer into a serial killer...we've all thought this...we've all asked ourselves, why?  Why would someone do this or become this?  This is one couples twisted story of how.  Well, sort of, anyway...

Told entirely from the Husband's POV, in the beginning, you'll be thinking that this couple is just wretched horrible.  You might even feel like you don't want to finish there story.  I'm not saying that they will redeem themselves or anything like that...but stick with it because this story is fiendishly clever and seriously twisted.  A thrilling stunner...it's one that will have you thinking about it well after you finish it.  I found the narrator, David Pittu, to be exceptional, with a decent range of voices.

๏ Breakdown of Ratings ๏ 

Plot⇝ 5/5
Narration Performance⇝ 5/5

Main Characters⇝ 5/5

Secondary Characters⇝ 4.3/5

The Feels⇝ 5/5

Pacing⇝ 4.5/5

Addictiveness⇝ 4.5/5

Theme or Tone (for this book it's how truly f*cked-up it is)⇝ 5/5

Flow (Writing Style)⇝ 4.5/5

Backdrop (World Building)⇝ 5/5

Originality⇝ 5/5

Ending⇝ 4.3/5

๏ ๏ ๏

Book Cover⇝ It goes perfectly with the story.

Setting⇝ A Gated Community in Florida

Source⇝ Audiobook (Library)
Length⇝ 10 hours, 13 minutes
๏ ๏ ๏

Managed by Kristen Callihan

VIP #2

๏ ๏ ๏  Highlights ๏ ๏ ๏ 

Contemporary Romance

Music Biz

Laugh Out Loud Banter

Rock, Rock Til U Drop

Stand-Alone

๏ ๏ ๏  MY RATING ๏ ๏ ๏ 

☆4.5☆STARS - GRADE=A-

๏ ๏ ๏  My Thoughts ๏ ๏ ๏ 

The second book in the VIP Series, focusing on a new couple.  Kristen Callihan is one of the authors whose books I always seem to enjoy.  This one is no exception.  The VIP Series centers around a rock band that goes by the name of Kill John.  With a mix of American characters and British.  I really love the banter between this set of characters and plan to read all the books in the series, eventually.  I may have liked Gabriel and Sophie's story even more than Killian and Liberty's.  My only issue is the there is a tad too much explicit sex...but some like that, I know. 

๏ Breakdown of Ratings ๏ 

Plot⇝ 4.5/5

Main Characters⇝ 4.5/5

Secondary Characters⇝ 4.3/5

The Feels⇝ 4.3/5

Pacing⇝ 4/5

Addictiveness⇝ 4.5/5

Theme or Tone⇝ 5/5

Flow (Writing Style)⇝ 5/5

Backdrop (World Building)⇝ 4.3/5

Ending⇝ 4.3/5 Cliffhanger⇝ Nope...next up is Jax's Story.

๏ ๏ ๏

Book Cover⇝ It's quite doable...

Setting⇝  On tour throughout Europe with Kill John

Source⇝ I Own Kindle eBook Version
๏ ๏ ๏

The Kingdom by Jess Rothenberg

๏ ๏ ๏  Highlights ๏ ๏ ๏ 

Perfected Series Mixed With a YA-ish Westworld 

With a Dash of Dollhouse

Fantasy-Themed Amusement Park

Science Fiction/Dystopian Future
What It Means To Be Human Themes

Told In Courtroom Testimonies, Interviews
& Flashbacks To Memories
Stand-Alone

With Audio Performed by Amy Landon

๏ ๏ ๏  MY RATING ๏ ๏ ๏ 

☆4☆STARS - GRADE=B+

๏ ๏ ๏  My Thoughts ๏ ๏ ๏ 

The Kingdom™ is a fantastical-themed park and that is as far as the fantasy goes in this story.  At its heart, this is more a science fiction meshed with mystery.  Very similar to the Perfected Series by Kate Jarvik Birch.  If you've read that series then you know that it's about the production of man-made human/robotic girls made for the pleasure of other humans.  Essentially human, but made to believe that they are not because they were made in a lab.  Both that series and this have this sleazy undertone that left me feeling sort of icked out.  Ultimately, I believe that is the intention, though, bringing to mind thoughts on what it means to be human and the like.  Despite my comparing it to Perfected, Westworld and Dollhouse, it still manages to be unique in its own way.

This story has the added element of a murder-mystery, and I found myself pulled into this element of the story more so than the science fiction one.  It also made it stand apart from the mentioned series above.  The twist at the end took me completely by surprise...more or less but I'm not sure how I feel about it because this could be turned into a second book with the way things ended.  Amy Landon was perfect for the voice of Ana, and overall, she did an excellent job of bringing the story to life.

๏ Breakdown of Ratings ๏ 

Plot⇝ 4/5
Narration Performance⇝ 5/5

Main Characters⇝ 3.7/5

Secondary Characters⇝ 3.5/5

The Feels⇝ 3.5/5

Pacing⇝ 4/5

Addictiveness⇝ 3.7/5

Theme or Tone⇝ 4/5

Flow (Writing Style)⇝ 4/5

Backdrop (World Building)⇝ 4.3/5

Originality⇝ 4/5

Ending⇝ 4.3/5 Cliffhanger⇝ not really...but it feels like there could be a second book...

๏ ๏ ๏

Book Cover⇝  Love it...

Setting⇝ The Kingdom™

Source⇝ Audiobook (Library)
๏ ๏ ๏

June Re-Cap

The month of June was sort of a blah reading month for me.  I have been spending more time actually reading this month so that's a nice change.  Although, I thought I would...it being summer and all.  I didn't have a single 5 star read this month...I did have 4.5 Star one though...so pretty close.

๏ ๏ ๏ A Bookish Obsession Monthly Reading Re-Cap ๏ ๏ ๏

(Audiobook) Lies Beneath by Anne Greenwood Brown

Highlights Include:

MerPeople
Killer Mermaids
Lake Superior Setting

Insta-Romance

Finish Date:  06/02

☆3.2☆STARS - GRADE=C+

(Audiobook) The Winner's Crime by Marie Rutkoski

Highlights Include:

Dystopian/Fantasy

Lies & Betrayals

YA

Revolution

Crappy Narration

Book #1 Rating: ☆3.8☆

Finish Date:  06/06

☆2.5☆STARS - GRADE=D+

(Netgalley eARC) Say You Still Love Me by KA Tucker

Highlights Include:

A Favorite Author

Part Adult Contemporary Romance

Part YA Romance

Love at First Site

Summer Camp

Corporate Real Estate

A Tragic Accident

Finish Date:  06/07

☆4.5☆STARS - GRADE=A-

(Audiobook) Step Sister by Jennifer Donnelly

Highlights Include:

YA, That's Heavy on the Y...Light on the A

Children's Fantasy & Fairytales

Beauty Isn't Always Pretty

Continuing Cinderella's Story Through Her Stepsisters

Darkish...No Bippity, Boppity, Boo Here

Ultimately Uplifting

Finish Date:  06/10

☆4.3☆STARS - GRADE=A-

(Audiobook) Dark Places by Gillian Flynn

Highlights Include:

Murder Mystery

Psychological Thriller

Graphic Depictions of Slaughter

Amazing Character Development

So F-IngTwisted

Wow, This Shit Is Dark

Finish Date:  06/12

☆4.3☆STARS - GRADE=A-

(Audiobook) Transcendence by Shay Savage

Highlights Include:

Primitive Man/ Modern Woman

but...NO Dinosaurs :(

Sex-plicit (lots of it)

Told In First Person from Ehd's POV

Almost Non-Existant Communication

A Love to Transcend Time

Time-Travel

Companion Novella (Luffs) Told From Beh's POV

Finish Date:  06/13

☆3.7☆STARS - GRADE=B

(Audiobook) The Cheerleaders by Kara Thomas

Highlights Include:

YA Mystery

Twisty Thriller

Secrets & Betrayals

Amateur Sleuthing

High School Drama

Second POV Told in Flashbacks

Finish Date:  06/17

☆4☆STARS - GRADE=B+

(Audiobook) The Truth About Lies by Aly Martinez

Highlights Include:

Adult Contemporary Romance

Drugs & Prostitution

Lies & Betrayals

Duology

Twisty

Dual POV's

Crappy Narration

Finish Date:  06/20

☆2.8☆STARS - GRADE=C-

(Kindle eBook) In Harmony by Emma Scott

Highlights Include:

The Aftermath of A Rape

Contemporary Romance

High School

Hamlet

Thespians in the Making

Favorite Author

Finish Date:  06/21

☆4.2☆STARS - GRADE=B+

(Audiobook) Polaris Rising by Jessie Mihalik

Highlights Include:

Deep Space Adventure

Dystopian

Futuristic Techy

Romance

Sex-Plicit

Crappy Narration

Finish Date:  06/27

☆3.7☆STARS - GRADE=B




8 Audiobooks, 1 Netgalley eARC, and 1 Kindle eBook.

that's 3781 pages read; including Audios and a Novella (Luffs*cover below)

Sadly I DNF'd Two Books...I wish they could have worked for me, the synopsis' for both were so promising.

and Best Cover goes to...

I love the shattering glass slipper!

Polaris Rising by Jesse Mihalik

Consortium Rebellion #1

 ๏ ๏ ๏  Highlights ๏ ๏ ๏

 

Deep Space Adventure

Dystopian
Futuristic Techy

Romance

Sex-Plicit

Crappy Narration

With Narration by Emily Woo Zeller

๏ ๏ ๏  MY RATING ๏ ๏ ๏ 

☆3.7☆STARS - GRADE=B

๏ ๏ ๏  My Thoughts ๏ ๏ ๏ 

Maybe, Emily Woo Zeller should stick to narrating YA books.   She is normally quite good but with this, she infused her voice with this breathy, sexiness that just came off as overtly comical and didn't work for me.  Which in turn made the romance somewhat comical and cheesy for me.

I tried to not let those issues influence my rating too much because overall this was fairly good adult-themed space romp.  Featuring a dystopian Earth, set in the future with lots of futuristic tech, space travel and people inhabiting other planets.  Plus warring factions, intrigue, and space-jumping, it sort of has it all.  The second book in the series is Bianca's story, who is Ada's (MC) sister.  Hopefully, she goes with a different narrator for this book, otherwise, I will probably skip it.

๏ Breakdown of Ratings ๏ 

Plot⇝ 3.8/5
Narration Performance⇝ 2.5/5

Characters⇝ 4/5

The Feels⇝ 3.5/5

Pacing⇝ 3.5/5

Addictiveness⇝ 3/5

Theme or Tone⇝ 3.7/5

Flow (Writing Style)⇝ 4/5

Backdrop (World Building)⇝ 4.3/5

Originality⇝ 4.3/5

Ending⇝ 4.3/5 Cliffhanger⇝ "to be continued...with a new sister".

๏ ๏ ๏

Book Cover⇝ Love it!

Setting⇝ Deep Space, some random planets and Earth.

Source⇝ Audiobook (Library)
๏ ๏ ๏

In Harmony by Emma Scott

 ๏ ๏ ๏  Highlights ๏ ๏ ๏ 

The Aftermath of A Rape

Contemporary Romance

High School

Hamlet

Thespians in the Making
Favorite Author

๏ ๏ ๏  MY RATING ๏ ๏ ๏ 

☆4.2☆STARS - GRADE=B+

๏ ๏ ๏  My Thoughts ๏ ๏ ๏ 

I love Emma Scott's writing and her characters...so genuine and heartfelt...and no necessary drama.  Although, this particular book might have dabbled in some of that.  Hence, my reason for rating only 4.2 Stars...but that rating is still good.  I loved how the play of Hamlet is interwoven with the MC's own lives...it was portrayed beautifully, and even made some sense of Shakespeare for me.  I was totally loving the story...up until the very end.

My problem was I didn't buy the ending.  Seriously, three years later...I don't know, I could've gone with one, maybe one and a half because everything leading up to it was so amazing.  Then things fell apart, at least somewhat.  I know, this could be construed as spoilery, but I can't help it, I feel like I need to say something about it.

The epilogue had me feeling all smiles by the end, though. 😁  For reference, this is Young Adult that splashes into Adult by the end.  It also deals with rape and the aftermath of that rape.

๏ Breakdown of Ratings ๏ 

Plot⇝ 4.2/5

Characters⇝ 4.5/5

The Feels⇝ 4.7/5

Pacing⇝ 5/5

Addictiveness⇝ 4.7/5

Theme or Tone⇝ 4.2/5

Flow (Writing Style)⇝ 5/5

Backdrop (World Building)⇝ 5/5

Ending⇝ 3.2/5 Cliffhanger⇝ Nope...

๏ ๏ ๏

Book Cover⇝  It's somewhat adequate...but that couple doesn't fit with high school seniors...in my opinion.

Setting⇝ Harmony, Indiana

Source⇝ Own Kindle eBook Version
๏ ๏ ๏