May 6, 2013

Bite-Size Reviews

I've read a few short stories plus a couple library books in the last few weeks. So, I thought I'd share my thoughts via mini reviews for you today! Think of them as snack-sized versions. (I saw that term at Seasons of Humility and had to borrow it. Such a great description!)  To keep with the snack theme, I'm going to rate each story based on a snack. Kind of silly, but humor me. Pretty please? :)


Truth or dare
Truth or Dare by Denise Hunter

You know how sometimes you're in the mood to read something cute, but you don't have much time available? That's where this short story comes in! It's nothing new, nothing especially spectacular, but still so much fun! Brianna and Jake have pretty good chemistry and a past encounter that didn't end well. Combine those two things, as we enter the story five years later, and you have a mix of misunderstandings, undeniable attraction, as well as irritating each other to no end while trying to deny that attraction. It'll make you smile as you close the book (or go to the home screen of your ereader) and be happy with the time spent.

Rating: Jelly Beans (small and sweet)


A Longtime (and at one point illegal) Crush
A Longtime (and at one point illegal) Crush by Janette Rallison

The one is similar to Truth or Dare in that the couple have a past that at least one of them would prefer to forget. Somehow I liked this story so much better! Kye and Elsie have known one another for years, Elsie even had a huge crush on Kye for a lot of that time. But events conspired to make her avoid him for the last three years. Now when they meet again, Kye is the one forcing Elsie to be unable to avoid him any longer. Elsie's determined to show she's moved on, but Kye isn't letting that happen and that means we get oh-so-much-fun interaction! These two are so cute and if they can get beyond their misunderstandings, they'll realize how perfect they are for each other. A little nerdy, a lot of cute, and a fabulous story that I wished could have been a full length novel! Definitely one I'll re-read.

Rating: Warm and Gooey Chocolate Chip Cookies (yummy and I'm always willing to eat one or five)


Addition
Addition by Toni Jordan

Not as clean as I hoped it would be. But I did find it interesting to delve into the mind of someone with OCD. Grace literally orders her world with numbers and counting. Everything must be counted. From how many steps from her bed to the bathroom, or her house to the grocery store or cafe she frequents, to how many bites it takes to eat her food, or how many bristles in her toothbrush. Every single person and thing has to be dealt with by numbers. Enter Seamus and suddenly having a man in her life turns it on its axis. Things change, some for the better and some not. Like I said, it was interesting. Not one I'm likely to ever want to re-read and not really one I'd recommend. But curiously thought-provoking.

Rating: Bread Pudding (interesting and kind of good but mostly not)


Shades of Earth (Across the Universe, #3)
Shades of Earth by Beth Revis

I really only read this because I wanted to finish the trilogy to find out what would happen. But I do have to give credit to Ms. Revis, she's an incredible writer! This trilogy was definitely well thought out and planned. Her writing takes you into this whole other world and keeps you hanging on to find out what's next. In other words, this world she's created feels as real as you and I! Switching between Amy and Elder's points of view was well done and easily followed. The conflicts and enemies in this book were mysterious and kept the tension on high alert. Like I said, she's an amazing writer and I'll be interested to see what she has planned for the future in writing. In short, this series is great, but it just wasn't one I really enjoyed. You're probably wondering why I read it then, but the plot was compelling enough to keep me coming back. Which just proves the writing skills of Ms. Revis! :)

Rating: Pork Rinds (curiously addicting)


On a totally unrelated note, I hope you're having a lovely Monday. As if I wasn't dreading the day anyway, I also have a dentist appointment. So your day has to be better than mine! :D



15 comments:

  1. OK, so many things to say!

    First of all, I'm honored you were inspired by the "snack size" term. ;) Juju's (from "Tales of Whimsy": http://www.talesofwhimsy.com) mini reviews inspired me. Sometimes, when a review isn't required or you don't have a whole lot to say, those mini reviews are just nice and less stressful! And fun. :)

    And that is a totally cute idea to incorporate the snacks in the rating! My rating system is based on the seasons to go with the title of my blog, so I call my snack sized review either "seasoned" or "unseasoned," depending on whether they fit with my book rating system or not. ;) But the snack tie-in made me think of the "Milk & Cookies" blog and her reviews... Have you seen it? (http://janasbooklist.blogspot.com/) So fun!

    Anyway, thanks for the great reviews! I read A Longtime (and at one point illegal) Crush, and it was indeed cute. :) I loved her book My Fair Godmother, and I can't wait to read My Unfair Godmother, as well!

    One more thing - craziness of all craziness, I, too, have a dentist appointment today! I think it will comfort me to know I'm not the only blogger suffering through that today. :) Don't get me wrong; everyone there is really nice, but I just hate the scraping and the smell and the fear of having a cavity, LOL. *sigh* Good luck with your appointment!

    ~Amber

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    1. Thanks for not minding that I borrowed your idea, Amber! And yes, mini reviews are so nice, especially for those books that I may not have enjoyed as much and therefore don't have a whole lot to say about then. :)

      I don't usually rate my reviews, but I had the idea and thought it would be cute for this particular post. Glad you liked it! I haven't visited that blog before, but I'll check it out. Sounds like a fun place! Thanks.

      Janette Rallison is such a wonderful writer! Her books always make me laugh. I enjoyed the "Godmother" stories very much. Plus several of her others!

      How funny! Great minds plan dentist visits on the same day! ;P Everyone at my dentist's is very nice as well, but as you said, the smell and the scraping and especially the sound of the polisher thing! *shudder* I do not like that sound at all. I'm grateful everything went okay and now I don't have to think about it for another 6 months. :D

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    2. Didn't end up going to the dentist after all... With my cold and a canker in my mouth (probably TMI, LOL), plus my sister staying later after school, I think (?), we just decided to reschedule. Might be a while before we have to go, actually! Oh, well. ;) Hope your appointment went well, though!

      ~Amber

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    3. LOL! We were probably writing our comments at the same time! ;)

      Yes, I thought your ratings were very fun. :) And I'm so glad to hear everything went well! That's always the best feeling - when it's over and you don't have to think about it for another half a year. :)

      ~Amber

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    4. I notice that! I was typing away and then my phone dinged with an email message and I saw it was you. Then I noticed you were on the same page I am! :D

      Oh yes, it's a wonderful feeling to have it over with!!! Hope you get to feeling better. But I won't hope for a quick reschedule of your appointment. Put it off as long as possible I say! ;P

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  2. I enjoyed these reviews and really like your rating system! Cute idea!

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    1. Thanks Karen! I was hoping people would enjoy my ratings. ;)

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  3. Thanks for the reviews.
    I got both Addition and My long time (and at one point illegal) crush and I wonder what I'll think of them. :)

    Thanks for sharing your thoughts :D

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    1. Always glad to pass stories along to you, Alex! I'll look forward to reading your thoughts on Addition. Grace is such a fascinating character. I hope you like it! :D

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  4. Aren't you the clever one, Kara!? ;)

    So many interesting, good reads you have here. We all need some new "voices" every now and again - and this system is very helpful in that way because we get multiple reviews in one post. ;)

    Aw! I sympathize with you on going to the dentist. *shudder* Hope things go smoothly. :)

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    1. Thanks, Rissi! I have my moments of cleverness every now and again. ;P

      I do like mini reviews when I'm running short on words to describe a story. (I know. Me without words? How crazy is that?! ;) And branching out and trying books that I just pick up off the library shelf can be interesting to say the least!

      I definitely appreciate the sympathy. I always dread the dentist. As nice as he is, I'm still glad I only have to visit him twice a year!

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    2. You have MANY moments of clever-ness. ;)

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    3. Oh Rissi. You always seem to have a way to make me smile. You are definitely appreciated! :D

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  5. You remind me that I NEED to be making my dentist appointment! :S

    I love the "snacks" that you compared each of the books to! Very, very cute!! :)

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    1. Thanks Bluerose! So glad you liked my idea. I was hoping people would get a kick out of it. :)

      If I didn't schedule my appointments immediately after the hygienist is finished, I'd never schedule them at all! I've found that it's way too easy for me to put off going to the dentist. Glad I don't have to think about it for another 6 months! :D

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