4 stars
This is a gritty book with gritty, often unlikable characters and violent scenarios. Freedom Oliver lives in Oregon under the Witness Protection Program. She drinks to forget the children that she has left behind. When news reaches her that the man she put in prison is now out and the daughter she gave up has disappeared, she starts a cross-country journey to Kentucky. Freedom is a crass character... so crass that she almost becomes a caricaturization instead of a realistic character. That is beside the point because this is a book about redemption and about overcoming the past and pushing forward. I still liked Freedom and liked how tough she had to become. The story is intriguing and moves quickly. The bad guys are really bad and the good guys aren't perfect which makes this an entertaining book to read. I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
You Don't Have to Like Me by Alida Nugent
Pub. Date - October 20, 2015
3.5 stars
While I enjoyed this book of feminist writing, I am still trying to figure out its purpose. I agreed with most everything the author stated, yet it wasn't exactly new information and even though it was humorous at points, it wasn't quite laugh-out-loud funny enough to be categorized as humor writing. I am almost a decade older than the author so it could just be that while this is all old hat to me, it is fresher with a younger audience. That said, this is written well and clearly with conviction and a lot of common sense. I think in the right hands, this could be an important book to certain readers. I received this from Penguin's First to Read program in exchange for an honest review.
The Distance From Me to You by Marina Gerstner
Pub. Date - October 20, 2015
4.5 stars
So I started this book late last night with the intention of getting a small start on it and then ended up finishing it in under a day. McKenna is all prepared to spend the next several month of her life hiking the Appalachian Trail when her best friend bales and she is confronted with the possibility of hiking it alone. She does so, without telling her parents, and is forced to discover her own bravery and strength. Serendipitously, I just finished rereading Bill Bryson's A Walk In the Woods so I was definitely in the mood to revisit the infamous trail. I honestly think the fictional McKenna was much more prepared with the right gear, knowledge and fitness to complete this trip. She is smart and organized with a good head. There is a love story here and some powerful life lessons about making mistakes and learning not to follow blindly when you know it is wrong. This is definitely Young Adult literature and the characters are in their late teens but it is one of the better in the genre that I have read lately. I received this from Penguin's First to Read Program in exchange for an honest review.
Every Word by Ellie Marney
4.5 stars
I enjoy this series in the same way that I devour episodes of "Veronica Mars."... with an appreciation for smart and quirky teenage characters and a healthy suspension of belief. I really enjoy this series and I liked that Rachel grew a lot more in this book. The characters are really well developed in these books and very smart, even when they get themselves in ridiculous situations. I'm not sure that I will say much more about this book since it is the second in a series but I did enjoy this one even more than the first and I am dying to get my hands on the third. I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
If You Dare by Jessica Lemmon
3 stars
Lily and Marcus have worked together for a while and even though Marcus has harbored a crush for the entire duration, Lily has been burned before and knows to keep work relationship professional. Until one night Marcus dares Lily to stay for one night in a notoriously haunted house and the ridiculous situation forces them to confront their growing attraction. This contemporary romance is pure light fluff. It started out as a novella and was recently expanded which might be why it had a lot of repetitive statements. Regardless, it was fun to read and I liked the characters and their relationship. I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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