Priest- A Review

Here we go again. Please don't kill me for yet another review. Now that I'm not conquering 900+ page books (for now), I'm going through new stories rather readily, so hopefully the reviews will come to you a bit quicker. I hope you stick with me through the books coming your way. Fingers crossed I stay on track.

Tonight's book is one that has been on my iBooks since June. It's Priest by Sierra Simone. I've been waiting to read this book since it came out, but I was so stuck in Outlander mode that I've just now gotten around to it. Warning: DO NOT READ if you are easily offended by descriptive sex scenes or fetish/taboo concepts. Priest is one of those stories that just goes there. You either have to be prepared for the ride, or just skip it to move on to something else. If you're willing to walk into a story with an open mind and take an adventure, do yourselves a favor and give this a go. Yes, it's pretty gritty and dirty, but there is more to the story. I promise you.

Taboo, erotic, spiritual, holy, sexy, controversial. These are just a few thoughts I had going through my head as I flipped through the pages. Needless to say, I could not put this book down. My eyes are burning a bit, but this was so worth it. Priest may very well be the sexiest book I've ever read. Father Bell wins the prize for filthiest mouth.

Poppy Danforth, the wasp-y daughter of privilege is in a new town and starting over after some unfortunate events came her way. In an attempt to re-gain some control of her life, she finds confession, a new religion, and a very handsome (and sympathetic) priest. Father Bell has been dealing with his own demons for years, and while a very generous and giving soul who cares immensely about his parishioners, he is beyond temped by Poppy.

As someone who was raised Catholic, this was not a story I was fully prepared to read. I saw the spoilers on social media and knew I was beyond excited to have this book arrive on my ibooks app. The church proceedings and the priesthood has always been boring to me, and I'm not a Catholic who attends mass regularly. It's not something I personally put all of my faith into anymore, but Father Bell did make me see things with fresh eyes.

Don't get me wrong, there is a LOT of sexy scenes in this book (shocker: the priest gives in to his temptress.. that's the point of the story for most of it), but there was also more. Bell, and even Danforth, believe in their God. They believe there's more to life than money and materialism. They both want to find purpose in giving to others, in helping for a greater good. They give into their baser animal instincts while Bell is still with the priesthood (enter the "taboo), but more comes of it. Poppy and Tyler learn from each other on life and love. They both enjoy languages, academics, literature, missionary work, travel, and the spirituality they seem to be teaching each other as the days go by.

There's conflict and confrontation. Poppy's past comes back to haunt her, and Father Bell is consumed constantly with his guilt for breaking his vows and wondering what God's greater plan is for his mortal soul.

I loved seeing Bell as a normal person. Yes, he did his priestly duties, but I liked reading about him sitting home alone eating his Cup of Noodles and watching Netflix while trolling The Walking Dead forums. I've never thought of priests as your average Joe, so reading about one dealing with the every day aspect of life was refreshing and reminded me of how human he was and why he struggled so much with his affections for Poppy.

It was heart-wrenching, but the climactic events of the book made the journey very real. Love doesn't come without struggle, and these two prove it time and again. I really respected them for the emotional and spiritual journey they went on, together and apart. They piqued my interest in religion again, so, bravo, Simone.

My Final Rating: five of five stars

Do Not Disturb (Deanna Madden #2)- A Review

Hello, all!! I know, I know. Another review in roughly a twenty-four hour period. What can I say? Today was a slow day at the office so I was able to binge read. The book stepping up to the plate this evening? Do Not Disturb by A. R. Torre. I'm not even going to waste time with some random jibber-jabber, but instead, get right into process and review. 

I was worried that just coming off of the Outlander series, I wouldn't be interested in something new, something less powerful in a story. I figured the escapades of Claire and Jamie Fraser would be too tough of an act to follow. After spending months with an extremely involved series, and then immediately jumping into something new could cause a lack of commitment or enthusiasm for the current text, and I really didn't want that experience. Needless to say, I'm glad I chose this book. I was a massive fan of 6E so I just had an underlying feeling that its sequel wouldn't disappoint either regardless of my previous reading situation/book depression. 

The sequel to The Girl in 6E has been sitting on my shelf for months, so I'm thrilled I finally got to it. I was a fan of Torre's Innocence trilogy back in the day, so I'm enjoying a new, edgier side of her work. 

Deanna Madden is a complex creature, but she reminds me very much of a female Dexter. Twisted emotions, but at her core, a good person with an understanding of right and wrong. She may have yet to realize that, but in two books now, she has killed, but with more than enough justified reason. Despite her tragic past, her flaws, and the blinders blocking her from what she's capable of feeling within, she doesn't deserve to be locked away in her 900 square foot apartment and shut up from the joys of the outside world. Understandably, she's treading carefully, but is finally letting some walls come down. 

Despite the overall ominous and macabre feel, I'm ecstatic that there was her own version of a happy (and sexy might I add) ending to this installment. Enjoy Jeremy, girl! You deserve him... plus, he's a good egg! 

Needless to say, I can't wait for book three to come out. I'll be chomping at the bit until November!!

That's all for now. Until next time, fellow bibliophiles! 


My Final Rating: five out of five stars

Written In My Own Heart's Blood (Outlander #8)- A Review

Good morning, all! Well, it's that time. At 1am, I finally finished the latest book in my incredible journey with the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon. I have no words. Let's just say I fell asleep with tears in my eyes.

Until book nine is released (which is awhile off yet, I'm sure), I have to part with these characters, and it's absolutely bittersweet. I adored my journey with Claire and Jamie and I can't even begin to explain how much Diana's work has impacted my life. I'm so thankful that an ancient episode of Doctor Who inspired her to write a novel. Although she saw it as practice to learn how to write, what she created was something astounding. Twenty plus years after the release of book one, it has grown into such a phenomenon and it knocks me off my feet to know how many people have been touched by this series.

In the beginning, I was wary of taking these books on. They were daunting to tackle, (the shortest being the first book at about 600ish pages) and not every review I read before I picked up a copy was one of praise. People talked of cheesy love-making, poor one-liners, and an abusive husband, blah blah. With all do respect, what book were you reading? Were you paying attention to the plot and the story on a larger scale? The love scenes were gorgeous and the relationship Claire and Jamie have is one of the greatest love stories I've ever read (and I've read a LOT of them). There is one scene alllllllllll the way back in book one that people saw as controversial between the couple (a spanking punishment.. or "tan the hide" as they'd say) after Jamie rescues Claire from the claws of the relentless Black Jack Randall. For the time, and for the situation they were in, what Jamie did was absolutely acceptable. That was the norm for the time, and, let's keep in mind that he's 23 at the time, and a newlywed. He's not the most keen when it comes to handling a female. Her actions put her life as well as Jamie and the rest of the Mackenzie clan at great risk. He had no choice but to discipline her in the only way he knew how.

I digress.. and will end my mini-rant there. Outlander haters don't know what they're missing. Let's move on and discuss book eight. Written In My Own Heart's Blood finds us back in America in the middle of a Revolution. Jamie is gone, drowned in a shipwreck, and Claire is grief-stricken and finding herself suddenly married to one of Jamie's most trusted friends. When Jamie returns from the grave, will things be the same? Do he and Claire have obstacles to overcome? Of course they do, and that's what makes this book so real. Their lives and their story doesn't consist of constant fluff and perfection. It's raw, gritty, and immensely powerful. I can't properly put into words what it has meant to me to meet these two. Claire in 1945, then again in 1743 where her and Jamie meet for the first time. They were only in their twenties when I began with them,  so to then follow them through 1778/9 and beyond into the golden years makes me quite emotional. They've become aunt and uncle, grandmere and grandpere, da, grannie Claire, etc. Witnessing them with an expanding extended family is a moving thing. I honestly did feel like a member of the family, silently witnessing everything from close by.

War brings on its share of issues. The family is constantly on the move and have their eyes wide open at all times. Claire is caught in a crossfire during battle, Fergus and his family have to escape a fire in their print shop that will forever altar them, Ian has to protect his aging companion, Rollo, and his new wife, Rachel, and Brianna and Roger have to navigate Jem and Mandy between the 1700s and 1980 with threats on their family's future.

It astounds me the places this book has brought me. I learned more about world and American history than I thought I would, I took lessons from Jamie and Claire about life and love, I got a taste of battle, and the thrill of parallel universes and time-travel. It truly is a symphony of events that wind up making this story utter magic. Hats off to Mrs. Gabaldon for her thorough and extensive research in order to bring this world to life. I am forever grateful.

I'm devastated that my time with this amazing family is done (for a little while). I'm almost scared to move onto another book or series because Outlander has become such a part of my day-to-day life, and they made my life just a bit more thrilling. I think at some point, I'll be visiting the Lord John Grey spin-off series in order to cure my Droughtlander. I'm sure I'll be in a mild state of depression until season two picks up on Starz and book nine is released.

Please do yourselves a favor, and do not let this series slip through the cracks of your ever-expanding TBR. Go as soon as you can to your local bookshop and pick up this whole series. If you have tried to read this series and couldn't get through it, give it another chance. You will not regret it, I promise you.

My Final Rating: Five of Five Stars

 

An Echo In The Bone (Outlander #7)- A Review

Good evening, all and happy Labor Day to those who are celebrating! 

Like any hardcore bibliophile, I spent the holiday and day off of work buckling down to finish book seven in the Outlander series. I closed the book a couple of hours ago and had to let you all know what I thought! 

This series has just fully engulfed me. Sometimes I wonder how this story can continue on after so long, but it's going strong and I'm not bored at all! Without further ado, let's discuss An Echo In The Bone by Diana Gabaldon! 

Now, don't get me wrong, there are lulls in the book as you explore the story, but there has to be and here's why. There can't be action and romance filling the pages to the brim. There has to be an element of the mundane and everyday routine as well, otherwise it seems like the author is trying too hard to create something out-of-this-world. Having periods of normalcy folded within the pages makes it much more realistic and relatable when something big does happen.. and boy, does it! 

At first, I wasn't particularly fond of the sudden changes in perspective that came with this story, but I knew Diana had a purpose in doing so. By including the POV chapters from John Grey and his stepson, William, as well as Claire with Jamie, and Brianna with Roger, it all tied the piece together nicely the further I went into the story. There is a method to the madness. 

When we meet the characters in this story, we see that the American Revolution is bringing most of the them close... almost too close, and it leaves your heart in your throat to discover if their eventual paths crossing will be a good or a bad thing. 

Brianna and Roger are back in the 20th century with their children and are staying close to Bri's parents through letters that were left to them in their inherited home. Claire and Jamie are trying to leave the war-torn colonies to be bound back to Scotland with Jamie's nephew Ian, but they keep having encounters with troops and also Lord John Grey, a part of Jamie's past that has very much become their present. With Grey comes William, the estranged and illegitimate son of Colonel Fraser. 

It's quite hard to review these books without giving away too many spoilers. I know they've been available publicly for years, but for the sake of my friends who are reading this as I do, (and are in various stages of the process) I'm going to keep this short and sweet rather than take all the excitement out of your experience and relationship with these characters. All I will say, if you've been debating on picking up this series for any reason, hesitate no more and go grab them as soon as you can! They're phenomenal! 

Tomorrow morning, I head into book eight, the final book in the series, (at least until book nine is released.. which, I'm sure, is a long way off still) and I do so with a mixture of pride and sadness. I'm proud I got through these monster installments while also having the sense of dread that all this time spent with with the Frasers and friends is coming to a close after we've spent the last few months together. I'll have to move on to a new book and new characters to meet. I haven't had a series quite take over my life the way this one has, but I'm glad it did. I can't wait to see what book eight has in store!

My Final Rating: five of five stars

A Breath of Snow and Ashes (Outlander #6) - A Review

Good evening, all! I found myself having a quiet Sunday and in the company of my latest read. I didn't have a lot left to finish, so I decided to shut out the world (and ignore a god awful headache) and get serious about the home-stretch of book six in the Outlander series. My apologies if this review doesn't make 100% sense, but I'm going to place the blame on the dull ache of migraine. Here we go...

It's of no surprise that tonight's review focuses on A Breath of Snow and Ashes by Diana Gabaldon. As I've stated previously, these books (and the show) have consumed me mind, body, and soul. I'm head-over-heels for all things Outlander! 

I did ponder taking breaks in between each installment in order to reel in some of my emotions and also tackle something simpler for a little while, but I couldn't bring myself to leave my favorite Scot and his Sassenach. 

As usual, five stars for this phenomenal series to date! These books are quite an investment to  commit to delve into, but once you do, it's like you're the time-traveler and you're consumed by another world. 

Within six books and thirty plus years gone by, I've traveled the world with Jamie, Claire, and have watched them establish their family (which has become quite extended). From battle of Culloden in the Highlands of bonny (bonnie?) Scotland to the royal French court at Versailles, sailing on ships to the Indies, and landing on the shores of the early American colonies on the eve of a Revolution. 

It can't be said that Diana hasn't done her research. From the herbs and medicines Claire uses in her surgery, to the Gaelic that Jamie speaks to Brianna and his kinsmen, the events of the period, and more, not a detail is spared between the pages. Kudos to her for being so utterly thorough! 

This book, as with the previous, is crammed to the gills full of love, romance, battle, murder, pirates, politics, family, and both physical and emotional adventures for the reader. It's bittersweet for me to be approaching the end of this series (for now.. I know at least one more book is coming at some point). I feel like a well-established member of the Fraser family and I don't want to part with them to go back to my own time and another literary world. This family will be with me for quite awhile and it's going to be a hard adjustment to returning to life after them. Only two books left to go... so, forward, march! As my laird would say, Tulach Ard! 


My Final Rating: Five of Five Stars

The Fiery Cross (Outlander #5)- A Review

Good morning! I feel like I just gave an update, while at the same time, feel like I've been absent a bit. Life and work continues to interrupt my reading, but what can I do? I just make the best of it and enjoy my time with my characters when and as much as I can. So, without further ado, let's get on with the review. Are we really shocked that I'm discussing The Fiery Cross by Diana Gabaldon? I didn't think so. It's the fifth in her Outlander series, and I'm in for the long haul.

As I'm sure I'll state every time, I adore this series. Even though this particular installment moved slower for me than the others, (hey, it had to happen sometime), it was not without its own thrills.
Keep in mind, when you read Diana's books, they are extremely detailed (seriously, she's even published companion books to serve as aides if needed while reading the series). Every word and punctuation mark is thoroughly researched and thought out, so when you fall into this world, you are thoroughly invested. That being said, heading into book six, these books have consumed me mind, body, and soul.

The birth of talk and ideas that led to the American Revolution are stirring, and Claire and Jamie find themselves in the middle of it along with their children and grandchildren. There's also a thieving, murdering pirate on the loose, an aunt with secrets from the past, murder, the return of beloved characters that were thought gone, and much more. When you open a novel of Mrs. Gabaldon's, you get your money's worth with romance, bloodshed, conflict, adventure, history, family, friends... you name it, it's in there for you to enjoy (I've even learned a bit of Gaelic and dabbled in colonial remedies).

I adore seeing Claire and Jamie as grandparents just as much as I love Brianna and Roger as parents. These characters I met in books one and two have grown like family to me and I've enjoyed the journey they've taken. They've all come such a long way, and while I still have three books left to enjoy them, (plus the series on STARZ.. who's complaining about some Sam Heughan action?) I will be thoroughly devastated when my time comes to part from their company. Considering Diana is still writing, my fingers are crossed I'll be with the Frasers and Mackenzies for a long time yet.

Aside from my above blurb of a paragraph, I've decided to keep this post rather short. Even though the books are so involved, and they've been out since the early 90s, I'm going to refrain from throwing in too many spoilers. I know more and more people are discovering these books now that the show is on television, so I don't want to ruin your own journey with the Fraser and MacKenzie clans.

Though most of this book discusses the day-to-day of life on Fraser's Ridge, there is plenty more to be offered. Several people have stated that this book drags on and is quite mundane. I can see their points, but for me, it just made it more real. Diana tells a fantastic story that includes the extraordinary, but also dabbles in everyday living. Not all eight books are going to be packed to the gills with non-stop drama, and I'm fine with that. I do enjoy the down time I get with Brianna and Roger or Claire and Jamie when they get to just be together at the end of the day and discuss their lives. That's where I really get to see what makes their characters and what keeps them together through the hard times and the good. There are no outside distractions during their quiet moments, so when I come across them in the story, I fully embrace that time as I play silent witness. That's what keeps me coming back to these stories and so eager to begin the next.

If you have not read this series yet, what are you waiting for? I'm not even done with all eight novels yet, but I can already say, it has skyrocketed up to my top five favorite book series. Don't hesitate! Go to your closest book shop and pick these up! Jamie and Claire are waiting to meet you!

My Final Rating: five out of five stars

 

Drums of Autumn (Outlander #4)- A Review

Hi all! I know I recently posted, but like I said, in getting back from my excursion overseas, I really wanted to catch up on my reading, and I couldn't seem to put my latest installment down. Therefore, I have another review to get to, which I'm really excited about. Ta da! Drums of Autumn by Diana Gabaldon has stepped up to the plate, and it's a home run for sure! 

In reading other reviews for this, it seems that as people move on with the tale of Jamie and Claire Fraser, they're getting bored and find a lot of these massive books to be filler and insignificant to the plot. Luckily, I'm not having this issue, and I hope it never comes to me. This story just went places I never thought it would go. I've spanned foreign lands and oceans with Jamie and Claire only so we could settle in America, far away from our stunning Scotland Highlands and see how they're eclectic band of characters mesh with their only daughter, Brianna.

That's right! Their lone child from back in book two, Dragonfly In Amber is all grown up and looking harder than ever into the history of her real father, Jamie Fraser. With the help of family friend-turned-lover, Roger Wakefield, they uncover some startling truths and (long-story-short) find it necessary to try to pass through the stones at Craigh Na Dun as Claire had done in order to save Brianna's parents from a doomed fate.

As usual, there's tons of conflict, romance, faces old and new, and amazing amounts of history. I do miss the rolling greens and magic held among Lallybroch and Inverness, but I'm interested to see where the rough terrain of the founding colonies takes this family and their friends. What I have to say I enjoyed most in this book, was feeling Jamie meet his daughter for the first time and how their relationship blooms. It's the one good thing he thought he'd never get out of his life, and all he wished was that she was safe and happy, so knowing he becomes a significant role to her was really moving and emotional to experience.

Life has interfered slightly once again, so book five is progressing slowly for me. However, as I do read, I have to hope the focus stays primarily on Jamie and Claire. These books tend to have a lot going on, so while they're fantastic, I miss the intimacies the Fraser's marriage offered to us in the beginning. I adore them so much that I never want to leave them as background players to a monster of a story. I will let you guys know as soon as I'm finished! 

My Final Rating: five out of five stars