it was surprisingly good. less predictable than i was expecting
933452
it was surprisingly good.  less predictable than i was expecting.  once i got into it, i couldn't put it down.
2124958
I was underwhelmed with Leblanc's 'A House Divided' and didn't have very high hopes going into 'Water Witch.' I was surprised and actually glad to have underestimated the experience I would have with this book. I picked it up yesterday and just a few short hours later, I was closing the back cover and recommending it to my husband. It had an interesting premise with unique elements that aren't overdone and haven't been seen a dozen times before. There are certain core concepts and elements of alchemy, dowsing, magic, and energy that are repeated from one story to another, but the author found a way to incorporate a few small details that changed the story enough to hold my interest and wonder how the ending would unfold. The characters were developed to an above average level, and I could picture the characters easily. This is a good, quick read for anyone looking for a short escape, lovers of magic, suspense, and those with an appreciation for character development.
2705692
I have to say I liked this book more than I thought I would. Many others in this genre are too predictable and downright unrealistic in the romance aspect. This book wasn't very surprising in regards to the love interests but for my expectations it was surprising enough. That alone granted this book a pass from me.

The story's development was steady enough for me and I found the world building to be more than adequate for the plot. All in all, a good book and I'm looking forward to the next one.
2778349
Unexpectedly good!  I liked a few songs but did not know the whole album would be good.
2118470
Really, I was surprised, it was pretty good. Acting, visuals, drama
4096201
It held my interest and was different than I expected.
4947808
really wasn't expecting much.  I put it on as I was actually working on the laptop.  I just needed background noise basically, but it did catch my attention.  It's fast paced and witty.  I like it.  I had to switch to some other show because this one was distracting me, so it's pretty good.
2696052
I enjoyed it.  It had twists and turns I didn't expect.
I found it to hold my interest very well.
4012948
Honestly I wasn't expecting much from this, thought they couldn't do that much with this concept but I was wrong and it was great!
2349153
I went into this expecting something more like the fantasy I'm used to. Although it wasn't what I was expecting I enjoyed it a lot. I will be getting book two soon.
1784636
But much better than I expected, honestly.  I'll be checking out the novels now for sure.
4607609
I didn't know what to expect with this film but I enjoyed it. NOT BAD!
1782828
When I received this from the publisher I was kinda iffy about reading it. I was thinking it would be filled with cliches or over done troupes, (I mean hello, its about someone's "dream guy") but it actually turned out to be so much better than what I thought it would.
  In this book Max and Alice have known each other their entire lives. Without even meeting. Then one day, she walks into a new school and sees the boy from her dreams sitting there. But he's nothing like she knows him to be. Does she convince him that she knows him or does she just leave him alone and pray she keeps her sanity?
  I thought this was going to be filled with cliches and troupes, but it wasn't really that bad. It had its moments, but it wasn't over the top. I liked that Keating was able to balance it out as a debut author. It really showed her talent as an author that she could make something so cliche her own.
  I also really liked the characters. Although they weren't all fleshed out, that's what I liked about them. They always seemed to have a mystery surrounding them, but for a book like this it worked for it. I also really liked Alice. She was really weird, but after living her entire life like she had, I wrote it off. I felt like she had every right to be as weird as she was.
  As for the plot, I don't really feel like there was one. But the thing is, it didn't make it bad. I was more worried about the rest of the cutesy stuff that was going on versus what the end game was. The swoons are there and that made all the difference for me. This contemp is really light and fluffy and it was just what I was in the mood for at the time.
  This wasn't what I was expecting, but it wasn't in a bad way. It actually taught me alot about dreams and other random things and that's what I liked most about it. This may not have been what I expected it to be, but it was certainly what I needed it to be.

Real rating 3.5 so I rounded up.
1635015
Surprisingly satisfactory. I didn't know what to expect when I started reading this and after a couple minutes, I wasn't exactly impressed but couldn't put it down either. The writing is...not exactly my style and the main character, Kala, was a bit of a letdown. I simply couldn't understand her mood swings. Tough military woman one moment. Emotionally damaged orphan the next. Even manipulative sex kitten when Asmodeus was around. It got old pretty fast. The concept was good though. Greek mythology is always welcome. I had some mixed feelings about the angels and demons but it blended well enough and I ended up enjoying it. 3.5
2856197
The ending caught me by surprise. I was expecting something totally different. I can usually tell what's going to happen in the end.
4693758
I didn't expect to enjoy this book as much as I did. I'd read previous reviews of the author's work that didn't have such kind words for it, so I didn't go in expecting much. But honestly? Even if it is cliche and formulaic it was still good. Sometimes you just want to read something sugary and unrealistic for the sake of it.

And even so, the characters didn't feel entirely like cardboard cutouts. Sure, Laura was the standard pretty heroine who thinks she's not good enough and Isaiah was the perfect hunk in shining armor, but they were cute and likeable and I was rooting for them to get together the whole way through. The Coulter family was a lot of fun, too, even though Tucker grated on my nerves now and then, and the Thanksgiving chapter made me smile. Happy family scenarios are a big weakness of mine. And I liked how their first time together wasn't perfect, too, and that they weren't both virgins. Laura had it right when she said it was good one of them knew what to do.

Of course, it has its flaws, two of them which almost made me stop reading. As I mentioned before, Tucker grated on my nerves at times, especially near the end where he told Isaiah all the reasons he shouldn't marry Laura-even AFTER he forgave her and accepted that the incidents around the kennel weren't her fault! Of course, I also didn't care for the way Laura just happened to overhear only that part of the conversation and ran away from the relationship in tears. I know poor communication can happen to any couple, but you'd think Laura would have more confidence in herself and Isaiah's love for her after he's proven time and time again how much she means to him.

And of course, the Other Woman with a crush on the hero was the villain all along and a crazy psycho to boot. I'm not sure whether we were supposed to be surprised given how sympathetically she was portrayed all along, or to think "I knew it" thanks to her insisting the Rainbow Bridge was a crock. Either way, the transformation from helpful friend to man-stealing vamp was clumsy and irritating, and that's not even getting into the sexist implications behind it.

But overall this was a good read. Predictable? Yes. Shmaltzy? Of course, it's a romance novel. But there's something to be said for guilty pleasures and good old-fashioned fluff entertainment. The main characters are likeable, the supporting players are colorful, the romance is wonderfully paced and the ending is lovely.

Oh, and there's puppies in this book. Lots of puppies. I'm a cat person, but I can't say no to cute dogs.
816060
I wasn't expecting very much from this movie, in fact I thought it would be pretty bad.  Instead it was average, not great but at least enjoyable.  Its a moody thriller that keeps up a good atmosphere throughout and executes well on the ending. Its a slow watch that requires some attention to enjoy but it doesn't grab that attention like the best of the genre.