Friday, June 6, 2014

Mixed Bag Adult Mini-Reviews: Urban Fantasy, Romance & Historical Fiction


Title: Silver Mirrors (Apparatus Infernum, #2) 
Author: A. A. Aguirre
Rating: 4 Stars

Silver Mirrors drops you back into this world with no warning, which made for a jarring start to this tale. Nevertheless, once I found my bearings, I couldn't put this down. Plenty of more action than its predecessor, a continuation of the slow-burn romance I've come to love, an unpredictable plot line, and even more depth to these already well-rounded characters...in other words, perfection. Very highly recommended.
Title: It Happened One Wedding (FBI/US Attorney, #5)
Author: Julie James
Rating: 4 Stars

It's been awhile since I've found myself enjoying a Julie James novel this much. While I anticipate her every release, the past few editions to this series have been missing a little...something. It Happened One Wedding breaks no new ground in the romance genre, but it's wickedly entertaining in a way only Julie James can manage to write and, what's more, the slowly developing romance within these pages stole my heart. I'm a sucker for hate-to-love relationships where two individuals are forced to throw out their prior misconceptions, forge friendships, and fall in love. Moreover, James does it in a surprisingly drama-free way, creating characters whose lives outside of their relationships are just as poignant and compelling as inside. With Julie James, each novel is either a pleasant pass-time or a true keeper--and that changes depending on the reader--but in my book, this easily ties for my second-favorite James romance yet. I only wish the wait till the next one wasn't so long...

Title: Tempting the Bodyguard (Gamble Brothers, #3)
Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout
Rating: 3.5 Stars

I mentally have a far more favorable opinion of JLA's novels than I emotionally do. For some reason, I am unable to resist her novels, despite knowing I'll likely not love them, but I manage to convince my mind otherwise. After having finished a book of hers, though, it's my heart that remains ever-so-slightly disappointed. Tempting the Bodyguard is, in many ways, a worthwhile read though. While its mystery element is far too obvious and I could have easily used a smidge more of depth to both these characters, Chandler is definitely the type of hero I love -- not quite that alpha male stereotype I've grown to despise -- and if there is anything this book definitely is, it's HOT. For a quick, breezy pass-time, JLA works beautifully every time, even when my hearts gives a bleak complaint

Title: Burial Rites
Author: Hannah Kent
Rating: 3.5 Stars

While I enjoyed this one and found myself surprisingly riveted to its pages, particularly during the second-half, I fear I set my expectations a little too high for this novel. Kent's research is commendable, especially as the tale behind Burial Rites is a true story, and the moral ambiguity presented throughout this novel is nothing short of thought-provoking. Yet, that being said, I cannot claim to have been floored or truly emotionally impacted the presentation of this brutal murder. Agnes's tale did, certainly, shock me to the core but the multiple perspective shifts did little for me, unfortunately. Definitely recommended for fans of historical fiction, though.

14 comments:

  1. I have the first Aguirre but I really need to try it one day! I haven't read all the last Armintrout, only one years before but one day I'll have to do that. thanks for all your reviews.

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  2. Great little reviews! I am so intrigued by Burial Rites. It helps that the cover is beautiful and creepy.

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  3. Burial Rites is something I've been meaning to read for a long time. Although it has mixed reviews, I would like to get my hands on the book, since I love historical fiction and all the more it involves murder. I haven't read anything by Julie James, thanks for putting that on my radar. Lovely Mini-reviews, Keertana!!

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  4. Ooh, I do love a good quickie! The Julie James was adorable, wasn't it? And I'm a huge Ann Aguirre fan, no matter what she writes. The others I'll have to check out!

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  5. Just how many series does Jennifer Armentrout write? I thought I knew them all but I've never read any of the Gamble Brothers books! She's unbelievable with the amount of work she puts out:) So glad you loved It Happened One Wedding Keertana! I really enjoyed that one as well:):)

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  6. I have yet to read one of Armentrout's adult books and I have no idea why. I really should just to see what all the fuss is about.
    Aguirre is another author I need to make time for, all her books sound fabulous.

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  7. I still need to read Ann Aguirre. Maybe I'll try this series. I really enjoyed It Happened One Wedding, and I agree it contained something the other books didn't have. It's a tie as my favorite with the first book in the series. I quit the Gamble Bros. JLA series after the first book because it wasn't really anything special to me. So many others in the same genre that are better. Lovely minis, Keertana! :)

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  8. I really want to read Silver Mirrors. I'm glad that overall it really works. I know what you mean about JLA. I usually fall for the hero. I like the way she writes them, so I will eventually get to that one as well. :) Great minis!

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  9. I think I've seen Burial Rites before--shame that there were too many perspectives in your opinion.

    Lovely reviews, Keeertana! <33

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  10. Apparatus Infernum is one of these series I need to start with. I'm so glad you enjoyed it and that it was so good and unpredictable plot line is always a bonus! :)
    Burial Rites sounds really interesting as it's based on a true story. Still I'm sorry it wasn't as good as you hoped. Maybe I'll go for it now when I have not so high expectations.
    Great review, Keertana :)

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  11. I don't read adult books, but these sound really great regardless! I've heard a lot about these, but you're the first person who's really convinced me to possibly step out of my comfort zone and give them a try. Thanks for sharing, and great mini reviews! <3

    ~ Zoe @ The Infinite To-Read Shelf

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  12. I feel like I say this a lot, but I reaaally need to try adult Aguirre and Julie James both. I know Rachel at The Reader's Den loves JJ, too!

    I'm actually really interested in the Hannah Kent as well. I love good thrillers, and your review makes it sound like one that's definitely not a cookie cutter, shallow one. Thanks for the mini reactions!

    Wendy @ The Midnight Garden

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  13. Wow what an eclectic mix of reviews you have here, K! I know exactly what you mean by your assessment of JLA books and that's why I've given her up for a while. I have heard great things about Burial Rights, and I'm sad your expectations weren't meant with that. I haven't read a Julie James but your opinion that something was missing from this particular book I've heard from another person, so I will be sure to start with something else by her. I have an email from you where you recommended some of your favorite James, and I will go from there…when I get to her. And I don't know anything about that Aguirre series but "slow burn romance" always grabs me.

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