bchristian541's reviews
198 reviews

Wolves of the Calla by Stephen King

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adventurous dark emotional hopeful medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Roland, Jake, Eddie, Oy, and Susannah continue on their journey to the Dark Tower when they are followed by a group from the town Calla Bryn Sturgis. A town where singletons are rare. Every few decades, "wolves" come to the callas and kidnap a twin. The twin is returned "roont" (their term for mentally handicapped). They turn to Roland and his ka-tet in hopes that they can save them from the wolves once and for all. While all of this is occurring, Susannah is going through her own struggles. More mysteries arise as others are solved. Can Roland save the people of Calla Bryn Sturgis? 
This is full of twists and turns and loveable people. The detail is grand and Stephen King proves once again how masterful of a storyteller he is. The books make references to Harry Potter, Wizard of Oz, and Star Wars, among others which I found amusing. I can't wait to continue the series.
A Long Time Dead by T.L. Bequette

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emotional hopeful mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Owen Prescott is accused of murdering his professor. The professor that is suing Owen for stealing credit from him for Owen's book. His dad, not wanting to have a bad reputation on the family, tells Owen to go out of country and stay hidden, so Owen does. Owen thinks everything is going good, he even has a girlfriend. Then, truths start to come to the surface. Each truth becomes crazier than another. Is Owen truly innocent, or did he murder his professor? Find out in "A Long Time Dead".
This installment of the Joe Turner series follows Joe's friend, Owen, instead of Joe himself. The feelings and actions were realistic. 
I really liked the changed view point. I loved the twists and turns. It made me never want to put the book down. If you like legal thrillers, don't miss out on the Joe Turner series.
Blood Perfect by T.L. Bequette

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adventurous hopeful medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Attorney Joe Turner dropped all other cases when a long-time crush reached out to him, asking him if he would take up a case. Tough-looking Allston Walker is accused of attempted murder. All signs point to Allston being guilty, but Joe believes him when he says that he is innocent. As the trial occurs, Joe's long-time crush starts to act as though she has feelings for him. As truths come to light, not everything is as it seems. Did Allston really do it, or was it someone else? Find out in Blood Perfect.
All of the feelings each character has are relatable. The story is believable and the reader feels as though they are sitting through the trial with them. This is a nail-biting thriller that you'll never want to put down. 
Vale by Tess Bentley

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emotional tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

 Vale was unhappy in a toxic marriage when one day, while visiting the neighborhood cemetary, she was visited by a strange man by the name of John Emberley. John grabbed Vale's hand and the next thing she knew, she was in England during the 1800's. Completely terrified, Vale ran and tried to hide in a tree. The master of the manor where the orchard is located found her and coaxed her down. The master, Edward Emberley, took Vale in and cared for her. Vale is stricken with grief when she realizes that she is stuck in that time period and cannot return home, fearing she will never see her two small children again. One night, Edward awakes her to see the witch family of the ton. There, Gildi, tells Vale of a vision that she saw. One were Vale has her children with none other than Edward himself. Gildi warns Vale that the only person stopping her from ensuring that this happens is Vale herself. Can Vale overcome her depression and some obstacles that try to get in her way or does Gildi's vision come true? Find out in 'Vale'.
All of the feelings in this book are realistic and many of the characters are lovable. Some you will learn to love as the story progresses. Twists and turns occur towards the end of the book. The beginning of the book focues on the trials that Vale endures while being in a different time period and while grieving her children. I do feel like there was too much focus on Vale's depression, even though it was understandable, and less on the other characters and their stories. The very beginning drew me in and then I did not get fully interested in it again until about halfway through. "Dear reader" was used a good bit as well and it threw me off. I like to feel as though I am a part of the story myself, but the use of that phrase took that aspect away.
Overall, I enjoyed "Vale". It was my first time-travel romance and I am glad that I read it. It is a slow burn with some suspense as well. 
It Ends with Knight by Yasmin Angoe

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adventurous dark tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Nena is still coming to terms with Witt's "retirement". Noble has put Nena in Witt's position and she is facing backlash, even though the only ones that know about what really happened to Witt are Nena, Noble, Delphine, and Elin. The Tanzanian government is trying to make a deal with miners, but a couple of adversaries are making it hard. With Elin being a new mother, Noble tasks Nena with ensuring that the miners get a fair deal. Tragedy makes the easy political job turn into something much more sinister. Not to mention, someone from Nena's past has decided to show their face again. Does Nena prevail, even with everything pointing against her, or is this the end of Nena Knight? Find out in "It Ends with Knight".
Even though you can tell who the bad people are from the get-go, twists and turns made the ending entirely unexpected. I did not want to put the book down. As always, the main characters are loveable and the story is written in such a way that the reader feels like they are with Nena the entire time. If you haven't read the Nena Knight series yet, you're missing out.
Because of Her by Devon May

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emotional hopeful fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

 Cassidy is healing from a tough breakup, followed by bad date after bad date. Her and her roommate, Amira, reside in Melbourne on the third floor of an apartment complex. Callum is healing from a divorce and separation from his 5-year-old daughter, Maisie. Callum and Cassidy used to be co-workers and best friends, until one day they shared a kiss and their relationship turned awkward. So awkward they didn't see each other for 10 years, until Cassidy gets a new neighbor across the hall. Looking at the man from her balcony, she thinks she recognizes him but is unsure as to how. Unsure until she realizes that her new neighbor is Callum. Is it fate or is it coincidence? Find out in 'Because of Her'.
'Because of Her' is a slow-burn, friends-to-lovers romance that has some spiciness mixed within. The spiciness increases as the novel goes on. Callum and Cassidy go through relatable emotions and issues, some that can be triggering, such as infertility and anxiety/ panic attacks. There are even glimpses into Madison's life from 'Because of Us'.
If you are looking for a slow-burn, roller-coaster of a romance, with some spiciness and surprises, look no further. You can't go wrong with 'Because of Her'. 
The Wind Through the Keyhole by Stephen King

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adventurous dark emotional medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

An enchanting story written by a master storyteller. The Wind Through the Keyhole gives the reader a look into Roland's past after his mother was killed. Follow Roland through an adventure in his younger years while he tells a story his mother used to tell him as a child. The Wind Through the Keyhole is a story within a story within a story.
I did not want to put it down. I enjoyed every moment of it and wanted to read on to see where Roland's adventures took him next. I enjoyed getting another little peak into his childhood and learned more about the stories behind the Dark Tower. I look forward to reading more. 
The Second Sun: Volumes I & II by Kristof Morrow

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adventurous emotional medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

 Beautifully written. Follow the paths of four main characters as they embark on different journeys. Follow them through adventures, catastrophes, love, and more. Kristof Morrow introduces the multiple characters in such a way that the reader is able to keep track of them all. The world he has created is unique and full of loveable, and not so loveable, characters. The story is a roller coaster of emotions, but it is worth every bit of hurt and love that you feel along with the characters. If you like Fantasy, you'll love The Second Sun. Get lost in this amazing world. 
Elevate: Push Beyond Your Limits and Unlock Success in Yourself and Others by Robert Glazer

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informative inspiring fast-paced

5.0

 Exceptional advice for people who feel like they have hit a plateau, or even for those who have not hit a plateau yet and want to prevent it from happening. This book contains ways of how to make small changes your life to elevate your potential. It has heartwarming and informative passages followed by a break down of "action steps" to help you implement the passage into your own life. It was a quick read, but packed full of useful information. 
Wizard and Glass by Stephen King

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dark informative mysterious slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

 Roland, Jake, Susannah, Eddie, and Oy continue their journey to the Dark Tower. Follow them as Roland retells his tale as a teenager, when he first becomes a gunslinger. Go with Roland through love, terror, bravery, and pain.
I really enjoyed this installment. It have me such insight into Roland and why he is how he is. I liked getting to know Susan, Cuthbert, and Alain after all of the stories Roland has told about them. I read this book slowly so I could fully absorb what was going on. Each book ties into another and even the slightest detail could be important to understand another book. I cannot wait to see what happens next