Seven Days - Alex Lake

 WoW! That was quite the story. It had everything a good thriller is supposed to have. It was chilling, disturbing, and creepy all rolled into one. I loved the twists and turns and right when you thought it was over, it wasn't. So well written. It flowed well with never a dull moment.

The plot is what sold me on reading the book in the first place. I mean a girl who is abducted at 15 and left to survive in a basement for 12 years, baring 3 children from the monster who had abducted her. Leaving her entire family and then left to fight for her life and the lives of her kids. Yea it sucked me in rather quickly.

The characters were fantastic. I loved everyone of them, even the bad guy in which you find out who it is from the very beginning. Definitely a character that you will love to hate. He was super delusional, wicked, disturbing and out and out menacing. I thought every one of the characters were very realistic, relatable, and definitely flawed. I loved seeing so many sides of them, dealing with loss, and recovery.

I look forward to all of the author's books. Well done Mr. Lake!

Ask the Passengers - 4 stars

 

This book was so much better than I thought it would be. I was not sure what I would be reading. There were so many thought provoking pages written in this book, about love, equality, understanding, and empathy. So much of what the world lacks today as a whole. People need to realize that they can not control everything, nothing in this life is perfect, no human being is perfect. Let people love who they want to love, especially when it does not affect the people who try to control it because it does not fit into their own brain.

My favorite part of this book was really the little interludes between the pages of the story right after Astrid would send the love up through the clouds to the airplanes and the passengers on board. So very touching the thoughts she had, all the questions she posed to them, and in some weird way they heard her and it would change each life for the better.

As far as characters went, I loved Astrid the most. She seemed to have the most to lose in this story and also the most to gain. She finally laid it all out on the table while the whole time in the midst of her own turmoil she still sent love into the universe, never expecting anything back.

Be kind to others and also be more accepting of others, stop trying to makes changes that benefit nothing or that does not fit into your world.

A Great January in reading

 Wow I had a great reading month in January. I ended the month with 16 books. Now Lucky for me, those 16 books were very satisfying reads for the most part. I feel like I chose them carefully with my A-Z challenge in mind. I am looking forward to a great February as well. I have my January wrap up here, if you would like to see that.

I have also subbed to several more channels on Book tube. Wow it is good to be back. Everyone is so welcoming!

The Great Alone

 I am so glad I picked up this book. I love Kristin Hannah so much, this is probably my favorite of her books now, and I have read so many of them. I can't get enough of her stuff. Her writing is breath taking. Had to take a couple of pauses due to intensity of the story. Anyway here is my review of the book.--

I mean what can I say really? I never worry when I read a Kristin Hannah book. I am always completely in awe of her writing. This one is no different. Such a poignant, colorful, painful, sad and happy story. A book that I will not soon forget if ever. Kristin Hannah has a gift of making readers feel every word printed within the pages of every book she writes. She takes my breath away very single time, and I could not ask for more.

She paints a beautiful picture with this story, the imagery so breath taking and so inviting, right from the first page. I was there in Alaska with all of them. The plot is so thought provoking and realistic. The characters are so very relatable in this story, they are so realistic, as if I have known them all of my life. I do have to put the warning in here. There are triggers in this book for anyone dealing with loss or dealing with abuse. In both cases it is pretty traumatic, so please keep that in mind.

If you love the works of Kristin Hannah and you have not yet read this one, please do pick it up, you will not be sorry. Get ready to be swept away.

Keep Quiet

 Well I never planned on reading this in one sitting, but it happened anyway. This is a great story even though it was a tad bit predictable, but the author follows up with a different mystery. I knew from the synopsis what was going to happen, however, the twist, I did not expect. I also enjoyed the characters and the story line, both were done superbly. 

This is also a very thought provoking story. How far would you go to protect your children? I could never in a million years live with what this family lived with.

The Institute, by Stephen King

 So this is definitely another favorite on the year, but of course I would not expect anything less from King. Again his characters, full of flaws, are written with realism and relate ability. This a true coming of age story, a tale of inhumanity, that matches the world today. It is also very thought provoking. I enjoyed every minute of reading this one. WTG King on another job well done.

Reading Habits are back!

 Well, since retiring, my reading habits are back to normal! I am on my 4th book for this month. Fortunately for me they have all been good so far, great as a matter of fact. I am currently reading The Institute by Stephen King, one of which I thought I already read but did not. It is rocking along ok, just a little bit slow for me, but Stephen King books can be like that. Just glad that I have the time to read again.