The Swan Thieves by Elizabeth Kostova

This was a very intriguing novel. For the first 200 pages or so, I couldn’t figure out where the story was going, but when I finally paused and took a moment to think things through, I was able to make a few predictions. I’m happy to admit, none of my predictions were correct; that always makes for a wonderful book, in my opinion. I especially enjoyed the way Kostova wrote the story: switching back and forth between perspectives and time-periods so that each person (except Robert, of course) could tell his or her own story. I was able to follow along with Kate as she gave her account of life with Robert, I could understand Mary as she gave her version, I could pity Beatrice as she told her story through letters (which I particularly loved), and best of all, I could fall in love with Andrew as he went on a complicated journey to solve the mystery of a patient who wouldn’t tell his own story. Robert was a character I both loved and hated at the same time. It seemed he had everything anyone could want in life, and he threw it away to love a woman gone for over 100 years. I loved him because he threw everything away to give honor and redeem this woman who lost the things she truly loved 100 years before. The romance in this novel was completely unexpected. I thought Kate and Andrew would be together, and I was wrong (which I am totally okay with because I don’t like being right in my predictions; I always welcome a surprise or a twist in the end). I’m so happy with the development between Mary and Andrew in the end, because Andrew, I believe, is a most wonderful man: passionate, smart, true, noble, and he fights for those who are unable or unwilling to fight for themselves. He really, truly is a wonderful character, and this story is a wonderful story of heartbreak, passion, loss, and love. 

Hot Property by Susanne O'Leary

O'Leary did a really good job keeping me off track of what would happen in the end: until the last quarter of the book. I was completely convinced that Dan was the guy, and I absolutely hated it. I didn't like him one bit from the first page of the book, but he stuck around, so I though he'd go through some magic change and become the hero every reader wants in a romance novel. But as I kept reading, I kept hating him, more and more. Padie was the guy I wanted from the very start, but there were always new obstacles that after a while, I gave up hope on him and tried to convince myself Dan was the better choice, but I just couldn't see it. I almost quit reading because I just didn't care about Dan; I'm glad I kept reading. Every time I read about Ireland makes me want to travel there even more. It was a lovely story after Dan left the picture. The restoring and rebuilding of an old house makes for a charming addition, because it sounds so magical and beautiful.

Sarah's Sins by Tami Hoag

I loved this cute story! Sarah was such a lovable character and she handles her problems very strongly which made me admire her as a character. Matt was a perfect match for Sarah's personality and the two worked so well together. Although this was romance book and not a thriller, I was still captivated and holding on until the very end because I couldn't tell whether the two would end up together and if so how that would happen: would he become Amish for her or would she leave her family and her life behind to join with him in love? I was very happy with the ending Hoag came up with because I love a very happy ending. I do wish that Sarah would have been able to find resolution with her father, and maybe a slight idea of whether Sarah would ever get to see her family again, but I also appreciate Hoag giving her readers the ability to decide that. 

Tenth of December by George Saunders

Although I enjoyed the variety of stories in this novel, I was very confused by the setting. I couldn't tell if it took place in the present, 50 years from now or 200 years from now. Saunders introduced so many new things and ideas but didn't explain them, so I honestly had no idea what he was talking about in a majority of the stories. This made it hard to connect the different stories and relate to the characters. I did enjoy the creativity in which Saunders clearly write with, but I just couldn't fully enjoy the stories not knowing exactly what was going on.

The Perfect Stranger by Megan Miranda

Wow, wow, wow! I won this book in a giveaway, which I'm usually skeptical about, but this one was an exception. This book was so amazing! I could not put it down, and I'm pretty sure I chewed a hole in my lip because of the thrill. Miranda sets up the stage so perfectly for the crime and mishaps throughout the novel, and drags readers in by the lovable and relatable characters. I was completely pulled in until I finished the book, and this was one of the books that I had to wait a while before I could move on. It was so real to me because of the narration in the novel and the complexity of the characters. I found it amazing how Miranda detailed the life of a person who disappears and ends up having no life. Seriously a page turner. I'm going to have to read it again to see if I can pick up the subtle clues Miranda weaves in throughout the story. I gave this story five out of five stars without any doubt in my mind. It was so great!

The Uninvited Guests by Sadie Jones

I thought this book would be a bit more captivating, but I really struggled to finish the book. It left more questions unanswered, and nothing really seemed to be resolved except the children finding suitable partners (which for some books is wonderful, but for this one, I expected and hoped for a lot more than what I got. The characters are all too "mysterious" to empathize with; they don't allow the reader in and tended to just leave me confused and alone all through the book. When they bring in survivors from a train wreck, I thought for sure the story would start to get more interesting, but I was wrong, so wrong. The family was too selfish to help the survivors because the mother was too uptight and worried about class and her image to lower herself to feed the poor people. Maybe the point of this book was class and the struggles between the classes, but if so, that theme was poorly portrayed and didn't seem to say anything about it by the end. The survivors didn't really survive, as we see in the end, and I'm not sure what role they played in the story at all. They could have been completely left out, and the story would have remained the same. The youngest child goes through the Great Undertaking, which again, I thought would be super exciting and bring some thrill to the book, and again, I was wrong. It made me laugh a bit, but it did not drive the plot at all. Overall I was fully unsatisfied with the story and did not find any reason to finish it although I did. I wouldn't recommend it, unless you want a dry tale of nothing. 

Heart of Dixie by Tami Hoag

This was my first Hoag romance book. I have only ever read her thrillers, and I enjoyed the romance aspects of those books so I decided to read one of her solely romance books. It was a good, cute story, but when I was reading it, I was missing the thriller "who's going to die next" kind of rush I got from her other novels. 

I loved the characters in this novel, and I did feel sorry for Dixie, giving up everything she had to start over and be herself (I thought that whole theme was a good one, just be yourself no matter the cost, which we can tell through Dixie that it is never that easy). 

I also loved Jake, for all the flaws he had. Who really actually eats like that? He seems like the kind of guy any girl would be happy to have: loving Dixie for everything she was without asking her to change anything. 

I kind of hoped Dixie would let him write his book in the end for a real happy ending. Dixie never fully faces her issues and the problems of her past, and Jake gives up on the one thing that's been driving him for months. I get that people in love sacrifice things, but this novel didn't have any character development. The only development was in Dixie's cousin and her boyfriend (at least, I think they made up; now that I actually think about it, I can't remember if their reunion was even mentioned.). I acknowledge this is a purely romance book, so characters don't need to develop as long as they fall in love in the end, which Hoag gave us, so I shouldn't complain about people not changing or growing up or facing their problems. I'm just a sucker for character development.