Review: Disaster at Roosevelt Ranch

The Details

Title: Disaster at Roosevelt Ranch

Author: Elise Faber

Genre: Romance

Length: 211 pages

Release Date: December 13, 2016

Medium: E-book

Rating: 3.5/5

Pace: Fast

Stand-alone or Series: Book 1 in Roosevelt Ranch series

“I had never thought of a plus sign as a bad thing. Of course, I’d never had on show up on a sick I’d peed on. Kudos to me, that changed today.”

The Goodreads Synopsis

I slept with the wrong twin.

And all I got for it in return was a broken heart.

Oh yeah, and a baby on the way—there’s that too.

But I’m determined to make it on my own. I don’t need a man, thank you very much. Not rich, charismatic, and decidedly flighty Rex Roosevelt, and especially not his twin brother, Justin.

No matter that the gorgeous former military doctor makes my heart beat a little faster . . . and all spots lower pay careful, careful attention.

None of that matters. The Roosevelt men are dangerous and I’m steering clear.

The trouble is, Justin refuses to leave me be.

And deep down, I don’t want to avoid him.

Deep down, I want to be even closer.

The Review

I was provided this e-book from the author and publisher on NetGalley for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book from the first page. It was light hearted and a very quick read (one sitting to be exact). This isn’t the traditional romance where two fall in love, then one runs away, and they fall back in love. It was fast paced, but almost too fast for me. The beginning had great story line and build up, but the middle and end felt so rushed. I wanted to linger in the romance a little longer before the drastic change in events.

The Characters

Kelly was so relatable. Instead of being the traditional, “I wish my life would end up like that”, I felt like so many people can relate to her circumstances.

Justin, stole the show from the first mention of him. He is the well-known hero that everyone loves. I enjoyed his background story and his characteristics.

Rex, made me mad, enough said about him.

The Style

This is a very fast paced book. There are some adult sexual scenes, as there are in most romance novels.

The Recommendation

I recommend this to anyone who loves reading romance. It was a light and fun read on a cold winter day for me. This was my first book from this author. I look forward to the second installment from Roosevelt Ranch. 

Review: The Mistletoe Promise

The Details

Title: The Mistletoe Promise

Author: Richard Paul Evans

Genre: Romance

Length: 251 pages

Release Date: November 18, 2014

Medium: E-book

Rating: 3.5/5

Pace: Fast

Stand-alone or Series: Mistletoe Collection (Stand-alone)

"What I do know is that everyone makes mistakes. That's why forgiveness is so important. Unfortunately, so many of us are bad at it."

The Goodreads Synopsis

Elise Dutton dreads the arrival of another holiday season. Three years earlier, her husband cheated on her with her best friend, resulting in a bitter divorce that left her alone, broken, and distrustful.

Then, one November day, a stranger approaches Elise in the mall food court. Though she recognizes the man from her building, Elise has never formally met him. Tired of spending the holidays alone, the man offers her a proposition. For the next eight weeks—until the evening of December 24—he suggests that they pretend to be a couple. He draws up a contract with four rules:

1. No deep, probing personal questions

2. No drama

3. No telling anyone the truth about the relationship

4. The contract is void on Christmas Day

The lonely Elise surprises herself by agreeing to the idea. As the charade progresses, the safety of her fake relationship begins to mend her badly broken heart. But just as she begins to find joy again, her long-held secret threatens to unravel the emerging relationship. But she might not be the only one with secrets.

The Review

My first thoughts, this is a cliché Christmas novel. Pretending to be in a relationship for the holidays instantly made me think of a Hallmark T.V. movie. Not that this is a bad thing, but I wanted more from it. I appreciated the different take on how it became a relationship with the Mistletoe Promise (contract).

Many readers and reviewers stopped reading this novel due to the flashbacks to the history of the main characters’ lives. Both extremely tragic and heart wrenching, it might not be suitable for all readers.

The Characters

The two main characters within this novel have incredible back stories. They are very real and I could see them as actual people versus fictional characters. I wish we could have seen more into the stranger’s life (name withheld to avoid spoiler).

The Style

This was a simple and easy read. I read it in one sitting. It was fast and didn’t drag out parts that didn’t need to be.

The Recommendation
I do recommend this book, but I don’t plan to read it again. It was a cozy Christmas read, but nothing more than that for me. 

T5W: Books You Want to Finally Read in 2017 (12/07/2016)

This weeks #T5W topic is Books You Want to Finally Read in 2017. These are those books you meant to read in 2016 or 2015 or 2014 and never got around to. Those books that have been sitting on your TBR for a while, and you really want to get to. These aren't upcoming 2017 releases; these are older books that need your love too!

1. City of Bones – Cassandra ClareI am way behind the times on Cassandra Clare as I haven’t read any of her books yet. I have started this book more times than I am willing to admit. I just need to be in the right state of mind to read this book. Hopefully, 2017 is the year to finally read this highly recommended book.
2. Me Before You – JoJo MoyesHere is another, get on the bandwagon book for me. I mean come on, it’s already a movie and I haven’t read the book! I own it, I really have no excuses.
3. Throne of Glass – Sarah J. MaasAlright another well-known book. It’s been on my list for years now, but I just haven’t gotten around to picking it up. I am not 100% sure it’s going to be my style of read. To be honest, I am worried it won’t live up to the hype and I will hate it. Basically, for this reason, I haven’t read it.
4. Miss Peregrine’s Homefor Peculiar Children – Ransom RiggsFunny story on why I haven’t gotten around to this one… I thought it was a horror novel! I mean some 1,100 users have flagged it as horror on Goodreads. Horror and I just don’t mix. I like to read at night and can’t read something that will keep me up. We finally discussed this book at book club one night because Barnes and Noble had a free pack of “photos” from the orphanage. I have the paper copy and look forward to reading it soon!
5. B is for Burglar – Sue GraftonI read the first installment, A is for Alibi in 2014, and have been meaning to continue ever since. It keeps getting put on my TBR for the month, but then I don’t get to it or I am not in the mood for a mystery. I really hope to get to this one and might have to re-read the first. 

For more information on #T5W check out my Introduction to Top5 Wednesday post.

Read On, Kank

Review: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child - Parts One and Two

The Details

Title: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child – Parts One and Two

Author: J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne, and John Tiffany

Genre: Fantasy

Length: 343 pages

Release Date: July 31, 2016

Medium: Hard Cover Play

Rating: 4/5

Pace: Fast

Stand Alone or Series: Book 8 in Harry Potter Series (Play)

“Those we love never truly leave us, Harry. There are things that death cannot touch.”

The Goodreads Synopsis

Based on an original new story by J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne and John Tiffany, a new play by Jack Thorne, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is the eighth story in the Harry Potter series and the first official Harry Potter story to be presented on stage. The play will receive its world premiere in London’s West End on July 30, 2016.

It was always difficult being Harry Potter and it isn’t much easier now that he is an overworked employee of the Ministry of Magic, a husband and father of three school-age children.

While Harry grapples with a past that refuses to stay where it belongs, his youngest son Albus must struggle with the weight of a family legacy he never wanted. As past and present fuse ominously, both father and son learn the uncomfortable truth: sometimes, darkness comes from unexpected places.

The Review

First, if you’re reading this before you read the play, please don’t go into it as the eighth installment of the Harry Potter series. It’s more like a fan fiction spin off.

Now, onto the review. The play write itself was very entertaining. I enjoyed the small glimpses into the past Harry Potter novels. Although, I felt as though some of the script discredited the original stories.

The take on the original Harry Potter character’s kids was very entertaining. I enjoy time travel using the time turner, so I enjoyed the major plots of the play. If you don’t enjoy or believe that the time turner should be used, this play write isn’t for you.

The Characters

The original Harry Potter characters are only briefly seen throughout the play write.

Harry’s son, Albus, and Draco’s son, Scorpius, are the main characters in this play write. I enjoyed both characters and loved the unexpected relationships between characters.

The Style

First and foremost, this is a play script. It’s not a novel. It was fun to read as a script versus a novel and it made me want to see the play in person. The scenes went quicker than I wanted, as most plays do. I wanted to savor some of the interactions. It was a very fast read for me and is relatively short considering the format of the writing.

The Recommendation

I recommend this to all lovers of Harry Potter and the wizarding world, keeping in mind it’s not the 8^th installment. Even if, as a reader, you don’t like reading plays, it’s worth the time if you love the wizarding world that J.K. Rowling created.

I don’t recommend this to anyone new to the wizarding world and Harry Potter. Some references won’t be understood if you haven’t read or seen the movies of the seven Harry Potter novels.