Kate Reads

  Rating: 4/5 ⭐️. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.  While the concept of an unreliable narrator is not new, the sleep-deprivation reason for being unreliable was new (at least to me).  I found the main character to be fascinating.  Overall, it was a pageturner that kept me intrigued from start to finish! 

  Rating: 4/5 ⭐️.  This one took me a bit to process.  It was beautifully written and it was a truely heart wrenching story; one that will stay with me for years, I’m sure.  It wasn’t, however, even the slightest bit happy or uplifting.  While I appreciate the author’s ability to weave an incredibly moving story with outstanding characters which evokes all.the.feels (except happy ones), I didn’t fall in love with this book like so many others.  I tend not to LOVE books that leave me feeling slightly depressed.  

Rating: 4.5/5 ⭐️ Starting this book, I wasn’t expecting to like it, much less love it.  I didn’t read the synopsis and I skipped over “Forever Wild” (the novella - #2.5) because my library didn’t offer it on Libby.  I was caught off guard that this book was not a continuation of Calla and Jonah’s story.  I was even more shocked that this story was told from Marie’s point of view.  I, like probably most readers, was not a fan of Marie’s after The Simple Wild and Wild at Heart.  Well, I love Marie.  If you know me, you know I’m basically obsessed with dogs so the connection to Marie’s veterinary practice and Alaska’s mushing community immediately drew me.  My favorite of the series! 

  Rating: 4/5 ⭐ Happy New Year!  This sequel did not disappoint!  I was hesitant as I enjoyed the first in the series and it seems sequels are rarely quite as good as the first.  Well, while I of course missed Wren Fletcher, as intended and expected, the relationship between Calla and Jonah continued to grow in the realest of ways (trials and tribulations included).  I found the romance aspect of this installment to be more believable (and therefore more satisfying).  Once again, more than the romantic relationship, the other relationships made almost more of an impact.  From the crotchety man next door to the sweet bartender and his force-of-nature mother, Calla's new town shapes her own character development and makes this book a success.  

  Rating: 4.25/5⭐ This book was just what I needed.  It was a cozy, sweet, warm book that felt perfect for the season.  It was a "romance," yes but it was so much more than that.  I adored the budding relationship between Calla and Jonah as it was your typical enemies to lovers trope with some added forced proximity.  I think more than the romance aspect, I really enjoyed reading the relationship building between Calla and her father.  I fell in love with every character just as Calla did.  And I fell in love with Alaska just as Calla did.  The atmospheric way in which the author described the scenery, hardships and way of life makes the reader really appreciate the setting.  I can't wait to read the rest of this series! 

  Rating: 3/5 ⭐. I am a huge John Marrs fan.  I started with The One and have recommended it to just about everyone.  Since then I've read just about everything else he's come out with.  And liked just about everything he's come out with.  This one fell just a little short for me.  I don't know if it's being a mom and the ***possible spoiler alert*** child murder thing but it left me feeling ickier than most serial killer/murder mystery/thriller novels do.   I'm not usually squeamish or put off by such things.  And I won't necessarily say I felt that way with this book either, but it didn't sit quite well with me.  I guess such topics really shouldn't sit well with the reader, should they?  Ha.  It was an interesting take on the nurture side of "nature vs. nurture" and it's affect on what could be taken away from childhood (violence, neglect, etc).