The Final Straw by Ted Tayler
Is the story plot or character driven? Plot driven because Colin’s actions fuelled the story more than the other characters. At times, it also felt as if the other characters could have been replaced or substituted with similar people but Colin was one of a kind. Is the plot well-developed? When I started reading this book, the plot although well-developed seemed outlandish to me. Then I watched The Iceman which is the semi-fictional life story of Richard Kuklinski who was a professional hit man and The Final Straw made more sense than I thought. Who in this book would you most like to meet? Karen because I want to know how she has moved on and the depths of how Colin has affected her. I did feel that this relationship could have been explored a little bit more as there was a sense of desperation about the two of them when they were together. Disclosure - As a Quality Reads Book Club member, I received a free copy of this book from the author via Orangeberry Book Tours in exchange for my honest review.
Source: http://www.book-connoisseur.com
Finding Claire Fletcher
What I liked - I liked everything about this book. Without too much technical detail the writer maps out a horrific plot. Readers then see all the different angles of the story - the missing Claire, her family, the police and her captor. What I didn't like – I hated that Raynard's family paid his way out of everything. For a few minutes, I wondered why the writer would make things so easy for him and then I realised this is probably what happens in real life. A fictional story doesn't make the situation any less real.
Did you find that the cover and title represented what the story was really about? Yes, the cover fit the book and title. The entire book was based on Claire's abduction and how she is found years later.
Disclosure - As a Quality Reads Book Club member, I received a free copy of this book from the author via Orangeberry Book Tours in exchange for my honest review.
Guinevere: On the Eve of Legend
What did you like most about the book? The writing. I liked that the chapter titles were simple and to the point of what the chapter was acutally going to talk about. I also liked the good balance between conversation and explanation. Neither overpowered the other. What did you think about the dialogue? Each character's dialogue suited him / her and the dialogue matched each scene. The dialogue bits were not lengthy and these did not move the reader from the original path of the story which was good.
Did you like the way the book ended? Without giving too much away, I can say that the ending had a tinge of sadness although it does appear the Guinevere has grown up mentally and emotionally. I also liked that the author included background information on legend of King Arthur and extra reading material.
Disclosure - As a Quality Reads Book Club member, I received a free copy of this book from the author via Orangeberry Book Tours in exchange for my honest review.
The Way Home
What are some of the book's themes? Death plays a big role in this story. One is dying, the other is already dead. One lives in the present, another is from the past. The key questions are then how are they connected and what is their future together, if there is one? Compelling and touching story. Did the book end the way you expected? The ending switches in tone and I wasn't expecting this. One more reason to like the book. Some might argue that the ending was too fictional but it worked for the story and I also liked that there were no unanswered questions in the end.
What I liked about the whole book. The writing style is different from Glover's previous books. This story flowed much better and the characters were more developed. I loved that the characters were so exposed to readers, you understood them so much better.
Disclosure - As a Quality Reads Book Club member, I received a free copy of this book from the author via Orangeberry Book Tours in exchange for my honest review.
muted: a short story in verse
Were there any other especially interesting characters? The queen, who is actually a man. He had so much power but felt so threatened and insecure he had to stomp on everyone else's talents and lives. This appearance of a multiple personality makes me think of many politicians these days where they say one thing about themselves but actually mean another thing. What is the protagonist's conflict? The main character faces both external and internal conflicts. The queen has banned anything that seems to make people happy. Concetta breaks this rule and is punished harshly. This is where her internal conflicts start to twist and turn the reader's minds. This is a short but complex read. Unless you're going to give yourself time to mull over it, you may not be able to appreciate this book.
Were the characters and their problems believable? Whether you take the book for what it is or look for an underlying meaning, the problems of every character is believable. Even the queen has problems of her own and at the end of the day is afraid of showing the world who he / she really is and is masked with one lie on top of another.
Disclosure - As a Quality Reads Book Club member, I received a free copy of this book from the author via Orangeberry Book Tours in exchange for my honest review.
In A Small Town
Do any characters grow or change during the course of the novel? Detective Longo learns that he is only human and he does not have to push himself as much as he does. He also sharpens his skills as a police officer when trying to uncover the person who shot him. What motivates a given character’s actions? The search for truth. I honestly didn't expect the beginning to be the core of the story. Detective Longo gets shot and the rest of the book answers the monumental question of who the mystery shooter was and why.
Which characters do you particularly admire or dislike? Not too sure if I am fond of Danny Mello. I really wanted to like this character but most times he seemed flat and disconnected from what was actually happening.
Disclosure - As a Quality Reads Book Club member, I received a free copy of this book from the author via Orangeberry Book Tours in exchange for my honest review.
A Beautiful Glittering Lie: A Novel of the Civil War
Formatting / Appearance - We received a mobi version of the book and there were no formatting or editing errors. Content (overall theme, idea and setting) - This was truly a unique read which I will recommend to anyone who likes to read American history. The writer depicts detailed war scenes, passion and coming of age which she intertwines with actual historical facts. Definitely a must read.
What I liked - I liked the family element she used. Nothing breaks a family more than forced separation or making the wrong choices. This book looks at this from all angles and you see the adults revisit their sensibility while the children can't wait to grow up.
Disclosure - As a Quality Reads Book Club member, I received a free copy of this book from the author via Orangeberry Book Tours in exchange for my honest review.
What were the main relationships explored in this book? The relationships between Captain Vidor and his team. Captain Vidor is a strong leader and is respected but whether he will be successfully lead his team out of their current troubles remains to be seen until the end. He has many personal issues that seem to be clouding his judgment. 3 things I liked about the book … Unlike some fantasy books, it wasn't a heavy read and it's a book that parent and child can enjoy together. There's a tinge of romance which made me like this book even more. The fight scenes were realistic.
Favourite character(s) … I liked Captain Vidor and Kie the best among all the characters. The two of them were the developed in every sense and as they explore their relationship, readers find themselves entertained with more than the daily adventures of the elite fighting team.
Disclosure - As a Quality Reads Book Club member, I received a free copy of this book from the author via Orangeberry Book Tours in exchange for my honest review.
Five Times More Jesus: Why Christians Should Decanonize the Old Testament
How controversial are the issues raised in the book? If the author was expecting fame through controversy as some celebrities do, I don't think that will happen. The book appears unfinished or as if he rushed to put it together. It needs a good polish. Talk about specific passages that struck you as significant. Each of the bible verses meant something to me and I think the time and effort he took to do this deserves some recognition. However, most of the book club members stepped away from this book with little change in heart or opinion than when we started so his arguments did not seem to have strong points.
What have you learned after reading this book? Authors need to polish their work. Is this a Christian book? Is not a Christian book? We got to the end, and we're still tryinig to figure it out. I don't think the author knows either.
Disclosure - As a Quality Reads Book Club member, I received a free copy of this book from the author via Orangeberry Book Tours in exchange for my honest review.
Formatting / Appearance - There were no issues at all. Thoughts were in italics and paragraph breaks were clean with clear indicators when you are at the beginning of a new chapter.Content (overall theme, idea and setting). This is a unique author and I definitely want to read other books by her. Some book club members have read other books by her and they all agree that like this book, her ideas are different and well-presented.
What I liked. Can I say everything? Okay, that's too general. Let's start with hell. The author paints a true picture that draws you into each setting and you feel as if you are in that very moment and place witnessing the characters plot their next move.
Disclosure - As a Quality Reads Book Club member, I received a free copy of this book from the author via Orangeberry Book Tours in exchange for my honest review.
Night Chill
Do you find the characters convincing? Very much so. Character development is superb and they are all placed in realistic situations. When his daughter is almost kidnapped, the book screams every fear a parent has and at this point only pulls the reader in a lot more. How would the book have been different if it had taken place in a different time or place? I don't think the strangeness would have stopped and they would have probably met a different string of characters.
Would you recommend this book? In a heartbeat. This is one author whose books I will collect and read for a long time to come. Because I have read his other book, I know he is capable of different styles, plus as I found out from the cover of this book, he also has more than one non fiction title.
Disclosure - As a Quality Reads Book Club member, I received a free copy of this book from the author via Orangeberry Book Tours in exchange for my honest review.
Women's Obsession with Shoes
What was the purpose of this book. The author's intention is clear. She wanted to create a fun book that talked about types of shoes and to share her vast history and geography on the same topic. While her intentions are admirable, the final product needs work.If this book was intended to teach the reader something, did it succeed? Many book club members liked the topic, it was the book we had problems with. It is written in the very way someone would write an email or have an informal conversation. Every chapter overflows with adjectives. Given a good editor, this book may actually reach its target audience.
Was there a specific passage that had left an impression, good or bad? The Manolo Blahnik chapter was tedious. Yes, she was excited about buying such a precious pair of shoes. But every other sentence was a repetition of the one before.
Disclosure - As a Quality Reads Book Club member, I received a free copy of this book from the author via Orangeberry Book Tours in exchange for my honest review.
The Hunter's Son (JC Mather, #1)
Did you find that the cover and title represented what the story was really about? The cover did seem a little strange to me at first but overall, the title and cover fit the story.What did you think of the story structure? It sometimes felt like the author was witholding details from his readers but in the end, I think this is what held my interest .
Which secondary character resonated most with you and why? JC's mom, she was dead from the start, but she played a important part in the story and if she wasn't mentioned at all, this would have had impact on the story.
Disclosure - As a Quality Reads Book Club member, I received a free copy of this book from the author via Orangeberry Book Tours in exchange for my honest review.
Children of the Fog
What were the main relationships explored in this book? Marriage and parenting. Most times when a couple lose a child, the marriage suffers. But what if the marriage already had problems to start with? This was a crucial element in this story. Sadie tries to hide from the present but whether she is running from the loss of her child or the fact that her marriage was over before she realised it, that remains a question for the reader to come to terms with.3 things I liked about the book … The paranormal element. Sadie loses Sam and then finds that the children in the fog need her as a mother. In some ways, this was like the movie Dark Water or Don't Be Afraid of the Dark, where maternal instints rule. Second, I loved the writing. The author has a natural flair and it often feels like you are watching the story unfold in front of you. Lastly, I loved her character development. Each character is introduced to the reader in ways they can make an easy connection.
Favourite character(s) … I'm going to pick Sadie. She had a lot coming towards her and it was difficult to stay sane. On the one hand, you think she's lost her marbles and then on the other, you want to anything you can to make her feel better.
Disclosure - As a Quality Reads Book Club member, I received a free copy of this book from the author via Orangeberry Book Tours in exchange for my honest review.
Neverlove: Shadow Jumpers series (Volume 1)
What are your concerns about this book? It's not actually a 'concern' but it was strange to see how well-detailed the author described hell. It's definitely one place I don't want to be seeing anytime soon and I wonder what her motivations were in providing these descriptions to her audience?How did you feel about the main character? Abigail is like any other teenager you and I know. Her home life is in shambles. She is lonely, misguided and abused in more ways than one. How do you escape? She commits suicide but is then given a second chance at life. This second chance comes with conditions and soon prove to test her in new ways.
What are the most important themes in the book? Parenting, love and relationships. Abigail has a brief idea about what a mother should be like. She knows her mother is nothing like this and so sets out to create a new life for herself, even if it means ending her own life. It is through this action that she learns the true meaning of love.
Disclosure - As a Quality Reads Book Club member, I received a free copy of this book from the author via Orangeberry Book Tours in exchange for my honest review.
The Tortoise Shell Code
What were the main relationships explored in this book? Anthony - Cheryl / Anthony - Laura / Anthony - Andrea / Anthony -Joe. Anthony is hard-working lawyer who ends up getting framed and he then sets out to find out who has framed him. 3 things I liked about the book … It was a quick read and there were lots of twists and turns. Kept me glued to the pages.
Favourite character(s) … Anthony, obviously. He ends up in a very sticky situation with almost no way out and has to get creative about proving his innocence.
Disclosure - As a Quality Reads Book Club member, I received a free copy of this book from the author via Orangeberry Book Tours in exchange for my honest review.