A truly pleasant surprise!
934461
I am continually trolling Amazon for books & stories that appeal to me.  You know the drill - you churn thru a couple dozen book descriptions to get one that looks like you might like it and so you download the sample.  Then you read thru a dozen samples to find the single book that you think is worth buying and reading.  And then about one in five of the books you read ends up being truly surprising; it's the book you can't stop reading till you've reached then end, and even then you're left wishing for more.  This was such a book.  A fun story that's new and different, and keeps twisting and turning along the way.  I'm anxious to read the next in the series - which hopefully won't be too long a wait.
841806
When I looked at this book, it didn't seem much anything, just a little-above-average fantasy book, but I'm happy to say, this is way more than little-above-average book. The characters were fun and quite true, and the plot was absolutely amazing! The twists and turns, the action, the clever plans and thoughts... they were all truly breath-taking. And this book is only the start for a whole new series. I love this book and this series!
4444210
This is not the type of book that I usually read, but it sounded interesting, so I thought I'd give it a try. I was pleasantly surprised to find that I truly and completely enjoyed the entire book. I am going to buy the second book in this series and I am sure it will be only the beginning.
319058
What a wonderful surprise this book was!  A Box Story sounds like it will be plain and dull but this book is fun, whimsical and entertaining!  The story is enlightening and follows a logical pattern that is complimented by the drawings.  A Box Story is the type of book that appears to be a simple yet fun children's book... but underneath it all there is a message.  There is a deep thought provoking story here that you have to read to get the full feel of.

I don't think a review of A Box Story could be complete without taking a minute to remark on the quality of the illustrations.  Rabble Boy is an extremely talented artist and I simply cannot wait to get my hands on more of his work!
4675477
I downloaded this to my Kindle when I read an enthusiastic recommendation for it on an Amazon discussion forum.  I needed a good laugh, but I was skeptical about the quality of an inexpensive download from an unknown (to me) author.  What a wonderful surprise!

This is a laugh-out-loud story with riotously funny characters, situations, and plot developments.  Are they a bit caricaturish?  Yes.  But this is consistent with the whole tone of the book, and it works well, although it gets a bit ridiculous about three-quarters of the way through.

It has a slapstick quality about it, and I could just imagine it on stage, although many of the scenes could probably not be reproduced live.  But there was a play in my head that ran along with the book -- assisted by the cartoons inserted throughout the volume -- and it was immensely enjoyable!

I'm not sure how you could go wrong on this one, especially for the price!
4936887
I didn't expect much from this book and boy was I completely blown away.  The book ran the gauntlet of plot and I was thrown into the mix.  Who knew so much went on...on one tiny street.  I loved the characters and especially how they easily accepted everything that came along.  The love between the two seniors was so sweet and they waited so long.  The daughter made me laugh out loud...what a character.

You will enjoy this fast paced mystery novel that will keep you turning the pages and wondering what will happen next.  This is not your typical mystery...it has a bit of added something!  Give this book a try and you will be pleasantly surprised.
1763696
Pleasantly surprised by this book. The characters had several moral decisions to make  that don't fit into a type-cast mold. The opposition had qualities that made me very surprised to be  cheering for all sides. I have  been looking for a good series, and  I found one! Very excited to read the next book and I will be watching for other books from this author!
1466747
I found this disc to be a delightful surprise. I had listened to some of their earlier work and I did not take to it. However with this latest release I find myself really enjoying what the band is capable of. Ms. Krauss, is a very lovely creature to behold (imagine having to look at her for a whole tour,sheez!),I say this not to reduce her to a mere cover model. That would be both stupid and unfortunate. But the fact of her beauty is unavoidable, her presence on the front of the liner notes is quite a composition in itself. Upon listening to this disc, one discovers that the artist in question possesses a very warm and very natural voice. One which is very pleasant to listen to, The playing on this disc is nothing groundbreaking, but is however very good, the two combined make for a simply honest and enjoyable offering. One which I have found my self listening to quite often. All in all I am very pleased to have this disc in my collection. Who knows maybe the time is right for me to review those earlier releases.

Peace:

*The*Hot*wax*Kid

GSC
737602
More than what you were expecting! I really wasn't expecting all that much for a 3 buck book. The summary seemed interesting so I bought it. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It was so hard to put down for any reason.

I was very pleased that the military actions and traditions were not tossed out in favor of some crazy unworkable ideology.

My only question is if there is a state religion. While some people may run away screaming at the mention of God. I don't do that. But I did get to where I was asking myself if everyone went to one church, or what? The closer to the end, the more focused the book got. So even for me it was distracting. Made more so because no one ever seemed to actually go to church. I think because this was not a May the Force Be With You sort of thing, but more an anonymous ecumenical organized modern religion, that it did not come off as well.

That said, I look forward to book #2. I might even pay more if I have to.
2336444
Well, this is a surprise! I had pretty much concluded that I would not write any more reviews of Kindle books, because frankly, most of them I've read are pretty bad. And unlike a defective or poorly made product, the value of intellectual property is in the eye of the beholder. I'll admit, as an occasional author and sometime editor I am probably more sensitive than average to misuse of the English language; grammar, spelling, punctuation, etc., and sometimes I just can't get beyond those issues to appreciate the story. It seems editing is nil on books written for Kindle.

But this story blew me away! By the time I had read 28% of it my curiosity about the reviews for this book overcame me and I went back to Amazon, expecting to find they were all five stars. I'm surprised they are not. A particular objection seems to be that there are some fairly explicit sexual encounters, but it seems to me that is typical of an erotic romance these days, which this certainly is. Perhaps that could have been clearer in the "purchase page" description. But being a freebie, I doubt most people bother to read much of that anyway, or the reviews.

This should NOT be a "free" book, or even a 99 center. And I purchased the sequel immediately, even though I'm not sure I'll be quite so happy with it based on the description. Frankly I felt I owed it to the author.

It's not the greatest plot; I suspect most readers will guess the twist to the ending long before it happens, but it is excellently written and just the rich descriptions of the setting and the people were enough to keep me involved in the story. Can anyone who reads this say they did not have a yearning for an extended trip to Newfoundland? Of all places. (It's even better if you're a bird watcher). It is also, after all is said and done, heartwarming! (I'm a fan of happy endings).

This author has a facility with language and description that makes me jealous, just a "way with words", if you will. The ablity to describe the Newfoundland countryside is breathtaking, and the easy and I assume, accurate use of the local dialect, idioms, etc. makes me believe that the author has been a long time resident of the area and involved in the daily lives of the local people.

In fact, I strongly suspect that this writer is not "new" as a "first" book would suggest, but rather, a seasoned author, perhaps writing under a nom de plume to venture into a new genre or style. Or perhaps to fulfull a yearning to reveal the details of the land and the lives of the people on the Newfoundland coast in an endearing way, based on a lifetime of memories. I suspect there may even be some autobiographical details hidden here somewhere. A very rewarding read, and for me, hard to get out of my head even when finished.
465852
I didn't think that I would like this book that much. What a pleasant surprise! My expectations weren't that high, which always helps, since Id read Me Before You a year or so ago, and thought it was just okay. The story  two stories actually, alternating between 1917 and 2007  is a beautiful one. I didn't want to put it down at all and was annoyed anytime that I wasn't able to read. Those are always good signs!
186689
Fantastic! This was a sweet surprise!
"From the Start" tells the story of Kate Walker and Colton Greene, both who are trying to find themselves after a season of heartbreak and lost dreams. Because sometimes life can take a turn we do not expect.
This is what we see in this book: many characters facing the unexpected and finding community to face the challenges that appear each day.
This community is depicted in the form of a city that sticks together, Maple Valley, but also in the form a specific individual blessing another by being present to the other when they most need it.
I expected Kate to be a strong and mature character. However what caught me by surprise was how graceful she was. With a tender heart that has been hurt but is learning to heal and open up again.
And so Melissa Tagg pleasantly and with care takes us through these characters journey, making us starve to be a part of rebuilding a community and participating in special events that can seem silly but are so particular to a place that they resemble the meaning of HOME all over.
And because of this Colton Greene is finally able to feel what it is like to have a normal life and live fully.

I cannot wait for the next books of this dear family that won a place in my heart.
4003904
This book pleasantly surprised me. The intriguing cover caught my attention, seeing one of the names on the cover glowing and two marked out in what I'm guessing is blood.  In the past, I've downloaded books that had a great cover, but a lousy story and books with an unattractive cover, but a really beautiful story inside.

I wasn't expecting a lot from this book, after all, it isn't expensive and currently doesn't have a hardcover or even a paperback version in print.  Again, I didn't think I was going to get much out of this book, but when I finished chapter 3 and met Faith and her mother, I was hooked and stayed hooked until the very end. I cannot recommend this book enough, Ive downloaded e-books that cost $9.99 and up, and wasn't half as enjoyable as this book.  I am telling all my friends and family that if they looking for something good to read during this cold winter, there is no other book hotter right now than "The Quest for the List of the Gifted.
2082725
This book was surprisingly fantastic. I bought it on a whim and wound up completely engrossed and very pleasantly surprised!
2576785
As a lover of St. Germain and West African music, this album is pure bliss to me.... What a great surprise!
1622182
When I purchased this book (shortly on the heels of reading Twilight) I wasn't sure what to expect.  I didn't particularly want to read "another vampire story", but I read Neil Gaiman's blurb and figured I would give it a try.

I was pleasantly surprised.  This story seems so effortlessly paced and truely gives the impression that the plot is plausible (even though it is very much a fictional book with fictional creatures.)  However, the characters are developed as real people with real flaws.  The writing was above my expectations, and I enjoyed reading a fun book that was written for adults.  I would recommend this book to anyone (even those who would not typically read Urban Fantasty).

Stacy (34 yrs old)
3824492
I had no idea what to expect when first choosing this book. I was happily surprised.