Nerd Girl Loves Books

4 stars

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book. It tells the story of Samuel Hawley and his daughter Loo. Samuel Hawley is not a good man. He’s a thief and a killer and he’s led a dangerous and deadly life. When he meets Lily after a job goes bad, he finds something he never thought he’d have – love. He tries to go straight but when Lily gets pregnant he needs to go back to his old ways to support his new family. When Lily dies he is lost in his misery and leaves his daughter Loo with Lily’s mother. Continue reading “The Twelve Lives of Samuel Hawley by Hannah Tinti” →

4 stars

This is the second book in the Kingfountain series. The story picks up 1o years later. Owen is the Duke of Westmarch and is about to embark on his first real battle. His long time friend, Evie, is awaiting word of the battle at her home in the North. Owen’s first battle is a huge success and King Severn bestows several honors upon him – as well as challenges to his loyalty. Upon his return to Kingfountain, Owen learns that a new poisoner, Etayne, has taken up residence in Ankarette’s tower. She was sent to Pisan to be trained by the King’s head of the Espian, Mancini. Since Etayne is beholden to Mancini, Owen must decide if she is trustworthy or is just another self-serving foe. Continue reading “The Thief’s Daughter (The Kingfountain series #2) by Jeff Wheeler” →

3 stars

Let me start by saying I love Charlaine Harris’ books and I really enjoyed the Aurora Teagarden series. I was so excited that the author had re-visited this character and couldn’t wait to read the book. I even went to her book signing event and had the book autographed by her.

That said, I was pretty disappointed in this book. The writing was fun and classic Harris, but the story itself was pretty thin and blah. This character has so much potential for interesting storylines, and I felt like that potential was just wasted in this book. 
Continue reading “All the Little Liars (Aurora Teagarden #9) by Charlaine Harris” →

4 stars

This is the first book in the series and it starts well. The worldbuilding is good, but not oppressive, and the characters are well-written and interesting. King Severn is a ruthless king that is not loved by his people. When Duke Kiskaddon aids an attempt to depose the King and fails, he must turn over his youngest son Owen as a hostage to the King. If he fails the King again, the Duke’s entire family will pay the ultimate price. While at Court in Kingfountain, Owen finds an ally in the former queen’s poisoner. She helps Owen devise a plan to save him and his family, but is it too risky to work?

The story is fun, fast-paced and keeps the reader’s interest. It is a quick read and I look forward to reading the rest of the series.

3.5 stars

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

King Toran is greatly admired for uniting the 5 realms and bringing peace to the land. When the King dies, his throne stands empty. It is rumored that he left 5 heirs throughout the land, however their identities remain a mystery.

The story is told from several character’s point of view. Reann is a 17 year old ward of the castle that is working as a servant until her guardianship ends. She is the self-appointed librarian and has been secretly searching for clues to the lost heirs. She hopes that if she finds one she will gain a permanent position at the castle and not be cast out when she turns 18. A mysterious man arrives at the castle who is also secretly searching for the heirs, but can he be trusted? Continue reading “Fall of the Dragon Prince (The Forgotten Heirs Trilogy #1) by Dan Allen” →

3.5 Stars

This is a good book, but there is something about it that prevents me from saying it’s a great book. I can’t really put my finger on it, but something really bothered me about it. Perhaps it was the fact that the story was told in reverse. Sometimes this works, but for me it was pretty confusing. I read the book over the course of a week or so, and every time I picked the book up, I had to skim back several pages to figure out what was going on. I also didn’t really like the ending. If you’re going to have a twisty book like this, you shouldn’t have a neat and tidy ending. Continue reading “All the Missing Girls by Megan Miranda” →

4 stars

When I requested this book, I didn’t realize it was book #12 of a long series. Nevertheless, I still enjoyed the book and didn’t feel too lost. The author does a good job of interspersing background information throughout the book about the characters which clearly came from previous books so that even a first time reader such as myself didn’t feel too lost.
Continue reading “A Great Reckoning by Louise Penny” →

4 stars (Release date Feb. 28, 2017)

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest opinion.

This is a fast-paced, fun fantasy read. I enjoyed it and look forward to reading the next book in the series. The story begins in modern day L.A. Ethan, a 14 year old boy, has an over protective mother, girl troubles and a bully problem. Ethan also has a big secret that further complicates his life; he can see and communicate with ghosts. When he slips away from his mother to walk to school for the first time ever, he is suddenly attacked by a flock of ravens. A mysterious man named Bartlett helps him escape but when Ethan returns home, he finds his home ransacked and his mother gone. Continue reading “Game of Shadows by Erika Lewis” →

4 Stars

This is a beautifully written book. The author effortlessly tells her story and the reader need only curl up and let it flow over them. The story is set shortly after the end of the Civil War in Texas. Captain Kidd is a widower that was a printer before the Civil War. He now makes his living travelling throughout Texas reading the news to people in small towns. He leads a solitary life, although he hopes to convince his daughters to return to Texas with their families to fight for the return of their former home that was lost during the war. Continue reading “News of the World by Paulette Jiles” →