Two Dogs and a Book

The Glass Ocean by Lori Baker My rating: 1 of 5 stars Last year, I received a copy of The Glass Ocean from Penguin Canada in exchange for an honest review. I am a bit late to write it since the book was published on August 1st 2013. This was a very hard read... slow and painfully repetitive. The entire story can be contained in about 20 pages, but was stretched to breaking point by constant repetitions. The repetitive writing style dragged the story and besought me to quit reading that book over and over. I persisted because of my stubbornness and finally saw the end of it; however I don't have much to say about it. All the characters had major flaws and none stood out as likable. Some scenes in the book were interesting (i.e. the green cloud storm, the mechanical woman looking like Clotilde), but were so few and far between. I hate giving such a low rating to any books, but this book did not have the substance for giving it more than one star. ...

The Keeper of Dawn by J.B. Hickman My rating: 4 of 5 stars I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. That was almost a year ago. I loved this book! I loved how the author addressed the struggles that come with being a teenager. The emotions that feel more like a roller coaster than a pleasant stroll in the country side. The friendship between four teenage boys that starts while in boarding school and which lasts past the life of the school itself was very touching. The author did a fabulous job at describing the complex family matters that haunted Chris, Rolland, Derek and Jacob. He also provided vivid descriptions of Raker Island which made you feel like you were there. The story is strong and well structured. A fantastic read. View all my reviews

The Inventor's Secret by Andrea Cremer My rating: 4 of 5 stars I received a copy of this book from Penguin Canada in exchange for an honest review. This is the first steampunk book I have the opportunity of reading. I enjoyed the alternate reality story line and the eclectic characters. This book is written for a TA audience. As an adult, the story came through as immature at times; especially when it addressed Charlotte's infatuated feelings. I addressed those with a few rolls of the eyes. Sometimes it was also difficult to believe that a young girl who was not raised in the ways of society, found it so easy to play the part of a debutante. I was expecting more conflicting emotions and feats. I enjoyed reading about the different classes and how they intertwined. Although there were several main personas in the story, they each were unique in their own way. They contributed to the tale as needed without bringing confusion as to who is who. The d...

Out of The Easy by Ruta Sepetys My rating: 4 of 5 stars Last year I received a copy of Out of the Easy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Last year was a busy year and I did not get to read all the books that were sent to me. I am desperately trying to make up for the lost time. So here is my review for this book. This story is about decisions and their impact on someone's life. I was taken right from the beginning. I am a sucker for stories from the 50's filled with mobsters and hope for better days. I was not disappointed. Josie Moraine is a young lady who is trying to find her place in the sun despite all what life has thrown at her. We follow her story in 1950 and her desperate attempts to get out of the Big Easy (The Big Easy is a nickname for New Orleans, if you did not know that). The story is rich with facts about New Orleans and how the people lived in the 50's. The author did not hide the ugliness and beauty of this ci...

Dreams of Gods & Monsters by Laini Taylor My rating: 5 of 5 stars This book was a wonderful read! I could not put it down and was sitting at the edge of my seat right to the end. I remember when I read the first book of this series and felt that the next book would not come out quick enough. I was right! I was eagerly waiting for each book to be published and was never disappointed. I am not sure if this is the last book since the author finished with an opened ending, but I won't be disappointed if I hear that another book is added to the series. I love all the characters, even the evil ones. I think it is a art for an author to make you hate a fictive character. Laini's writing is so good! I wonder how she was able to make each character so unique and perfect for the story. There is no boring moments and surprises are waiting for you at each turn of a page. I recommend that you read the books in order to get the full experience. Each book ha...