This is not my first book by this author but it is my favorite. Her writing style and creative details make this ...
590654
Race the Darkness (Fatal Dreams Book 1) by Abbie Roads is the first book in her Fatal Dreams series.  This is a paranormal dark romance story that will keep you reading until the last page.  This is not my first book by this author but it is my favorite.  Her writing style and creative details make this story pop off the pages.  Her characters are tough, strong but not necessarily all the good in nature.  They will take you on a journey of twists and turns that you won't see coming until they happen.  Their story has a combination of suspense, action, and romance mixed all into one to create this engaging story.  This is the story of Xander Stone.  He is an investigator but not your typical investigator.  There are many things about him that make him interesting.  He can read minds so no one can lie to him, he has a way of throwing rules out the door to get what he wants.  He has this problem that has been bothering him.  There is a woman who is begging for help in his dreams.  She is haunting his nights but what will happen when she becomes real?  Isleen has been held captive and tortured, she is running out of hope that someone will save her.  Her one hope is the man that takes over her dreams.  If he is real, will he be her savor?  They are now faced with a race of time in order to save her.  Do they stand a chance against the evil that is determined to full fill a prophecy?  I loved these characters, they are strong and they are not afraid to break rules to get what they want.  Xander is the gorgeous hero that has baggage but he is strong and you can't help but love him.  Isleen has to be a strong character to go through what she has been and still have fight in her.  I loved that she never really actually gave up hope.  She does have baggage but there may be more to her then you realize.  They really do have a connection and are very lovable.  They just pull you in to their nasty, dark world.  If you want to take a journey that is creepy, hot, steamy, action packed, and dark, this book is for you.  I highly recommend this story, you don't want to miss Xander and Isleen.  You will need to know if Xander can beat the clock and save Isleen.  You won't be able to put this book down, don't miss out!
3846408
I am so glad that this book was so different from the author's usually writing style because it showcased her creativity. I loved the interactions between the friends and I liked the unexpected twists and turns in the book, especially at the end. This book dealt with friendship, forgiveness and love and it was not predictable. I really enjoyed it.
76420
I'm loving how different this book is. Anna is eccentric. She does strange things, which doesn't mean she is weird. But her actions can be a bit weird. Not even just a bit, but like weird weird. This isn't like a cute kind of weird, not like an endearing one. So many romance stories make fun of those with OCD or even romanticize it. I love how this story portrayed it. I love that this topic was a focal point to this book, shed some light. I think that this book was written beautifully and authentically. It was also a great romance story. Very interesting and unique. I voluntarily read an advance reader copy of this book.
3097959
This is not my usual reading taste but in the end I found it remarkable. My Rating 4.5.

This is a most unusual book. It starts out with a punch as Harriet announces she was born dead She then proceeds to explain. Although Harriet is the primary figure, the book weaves in and out of her life and through the lives of her stubborn and controlling daughter, Eleanor, and Eleanors two daughters, rebellious, bitter, Ruth and fragile but inquisitive Tilton. Harriet slowly shares her background as a seemingly moronic child placed at the Maryland School for Feeble-minded Children, a specialized school, in the early 1900s. After a number of years it is discovered that Harriet is actually a genius but her father views a genius female child as a waste and leaves her in the school. Harriet meets a young boy at the school and they fall in love.

Harriets mother discovers by accident that Harriet is alive and she immediately brings her home from school. Mother and daughter have several wonderful years together, while dad remains late at work and out of the way. Harriets live is set in a tail spin when her mother dies and her father returns the senior teen to another facility. Eventually Harriet moves out on her own and establishes a life that ultimately leads to writing a series of six books that reach great popularity and academic acclaim. Everyone was sure there was a seventh book but Eleanor insists she does not have it and keeps her house closed to any fans or inquiries.

The story shifts chapters between the four female characters and the reader gets to see the strengths, weaknesses and the dysfunction of each. Eleanors circumstance was impacted by events that led to her husband leaving. Eleanor adopted the attitude: Human beings are shaped by tragedy and this ones ours. Ruth blamed her mother for her father walking out and resented her mothers focus on her fragile sister. Once she left home Ruth had not expected to return, even to save Tilton as she had once promised. Tilton is a lovely character full of gentleness and joy. As the current lives of Eleanor and her girls unfold and head toward collision, Harriets tale continues to reveal the great joys and loves of her life. The story and the characters finally bloomed.

The writing is smooth with a lyrical tone and some incredible descriptions. The historical elements regarding treatment of the feeble-minded are rather fascinating. The difficult and tangled feelings between mothers and daughters is a primary focus of the book.

I am not big into drama and I almost stopped reading this at about a third in. I found it somewhat depressing as well as outright bizarre. I am glad I persevered as the ending made the entire book worthwhile for me. I am sure that readers who enjoy family drama would like the journey better than I did but I am glad that there was light and love revealed at the end. The author states a precept that I have long believed that joy needs sorrow to understand itself. And sorrow, without joy, has no bearings (location 707). She also makes a clear point that each individual has a unique life experience that results from their unique way of perceiving (location 2140). My final impression of the total work: remarkable.

I received this title through NetGalley for an honest review.
3369909
I got this book for free during an author giveaway and I am so glad I did. This book is different than the ones I normally read. I was really intrigued by the story line and decided to check it out. The story of Roselyn, Niles, and Peter was so unique and I loved the suspense the pages held. Overall this was great and I recommend giving it a try.
4296822
Jandy Nelson has this special writing style. Its kind of odd (in the best way) and beautifully poetic. Her characters are a little out there and her stories are like nothing Ive ever read before. The Sky is Everywhere is a powerful story of a young woman dealing with grief the best way she knows how.

The synopsis really tells you what this story is about- Lennie is grieving the loss of her sister. Shes a musician, a poet, and shes torn between two guys. I did not consider this a love triangle (if you read it, youll understand). I loved both the guys, Joe and Toby. I felt for Lennie and understood her. I also really loved the grandma. Best character in this book! She was so quirky and eccentric. I listened to the audio book and the narration was good. The story was interesting, well written and beautiful. This is one Id recommend.
4223879
I stumbled across this one. Not my usual genre. I am still somewhat in awe of how much I liked it.
First, it's not written in first person ( I cannot stand 1st person writing).
It's emotional, both joyous and sad parts, and emotes such deep love. Not romantic love, which is my usual fare, but just as wondrous.
It's a wonderful story, one I would definitely re read.
2198122
This is the first book that I have read by this author.  I really enjoyed this story, as it was not a typical love story.  It was creative and unique.  I plan to read more by this author.
2460748
I have read a lot from this author but this is by far her best book.  The characters were well developed and interesting.  The story was fun but not too lighthearted that you couldn't get invested in the characters.  I had read another review before I purchased this book and they said that the sex parts were good because you didn't feel like you were just reading a book about sex with some meaningless story thrown in and they were spot on.  It's interwoven into the book but by no means the story.
1946540
Really enjoyed the authors style of writing.  This type of book is not but my first choice...but I loved it.
4883276
I have read several books by this author and while I loved them this was by far my favorite. It was an easy read but but also very compelling. The format was new to me entirely but was perfect for the way this story unfolded. I recommend highly.
858260
I'm not generally a reader of the "romance" genre.  But this book is wonderfully NOT a pure genre fiction piece.  Somewhat fantasy, somewhat romance, somewhat sci-fi, some what mystery; it is simply a good read from start to finish.  The writing is exemplary, and there is not a false or thin note throughout.  The author has a sequel coming out and after the teaser for it at the end of the book, I can't wait.  Also, the book would make a good film.  It reads with a good script in mind.  She should not pigeon hole herself to the "romance" genre.  This book and her writing can go beyond the form.
121788
This book is unlike anything I have recently encountered. The author just throws you in with these characters and this situation, and it is a very enthralling read.

I especially appreciated the main character as she is so atypical from what I have been used to in the last 10-15 erotic books I have read (I would also not classify this as an "erotic" book. It is a suspense story). Senna is not a girly-girl looking for love and romance: she is a tough-as-nails woman fighting to survive. She is clever, she is a doer not a feeler, and she is wary of everyone she meets. She is not always likeable, and this is what I like about her: she is written clearly, decisively. I know that were I to meet her in real life, she would not be my friend, but I would have immense respect and admiration for her- it is rare that a character feels so real.

In regards to the plot, as I stated, it's very compelling. It's unique. The reveal at the end was a little bit of a let down (minus one star for this), but the way the characters are written and the atmosphere of dreary tension that Tarryn Fisher creates are so solid and dimensional that they make up for the pat resolution to the plot's core mystery.
1304042
This is my favorite book of the year so far.  Others reviews have already discussed the storyline, so I won't.  The writing is wonderful, the main character is highly appealing to me, poignant and wrily funny and I literally tried to read as slowly as possible to try to make the book last.
My new favorite author!  Can't wait for the 2nd in what hopefully will be a new series.
605755
So I'm a bit sad because this book wasn't my favorite and its not even for a reason you would think but its the time setting. This book's setting is going on right in Cetus's story so I felt like I read a lot of the parts. (Also I understand why it was placed where it was just felt like Beau got jipped) But I did love the story of Beau and Shelly its so unique. I love the humor and the straightforwardness of this book.

"Let her always need my love, as she does now, and let me always be capable of offering it this freely, unreservedly, and unconditionally."

"I love you Shelly.  I'll love you when you break. And I'll love you when you put yourself back together."

"Those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything."
3269172
Antoinette Houston, author of Red Summer has really worked hard to bring this story to life giving it the creativity and flare that is needed to really get the book off the ground. The story which follows four high school students as they live out their daily lives varies from other books because these students have no end because their life is currently on repeat meaning they live out their high school years over and over until something disturbs the pattern that has been set forth before them and will change things forever. The paranormal oddity that is added to the story really enlightens why things are the way they are and how it will change things for good. The main character Rita is well put together and you will soon learn of her ability and how other characters Nikki, Ingrid and Wil play their part as well. I really enjoyed reading the book and can see great things from this amazing writer. I think any readers that enjoy suspense and twists will love Red Summer.
3327137
This is a book I probably never would have picked up on my own. My book club just read it and Im so glad! The writing is absolute genius. The setting is unique  the lush, mysterious Florida swamps. Based partially on the cover picture, I expected this to be a dark fairy-tale-like story that young teens might enjoy. Ava seemed a Pipi Longstocking type of character. The Bird man I imagined as a Johnny-Depp Mad Hatter sort. I couldn't have been more wrong.
  Most of the story is told in first person, by thirteen-year-old Ava. Some chapters are told in third person from brother Kiwis point of view. We never see older sister Ossies perspective. She is viewed at a distance through the other characters. These kids have had a most unusual upbringing in a family of alligator wrestlers on a tiny private island. They are loosely home schooled. Their only exposure to mainlanders has been those who arrive by the boatloads to the familys theme park, Swamplandia! The star attraction is the mothers dive into a pit of alligators. When Mom dies of cancer their world breaks apart, piece by piece. Ossie communes with ghosts and receives messages from the spirit world through her Ouija Board. She falls in love a ghost and they become engaged. Its never clear whether there really are ghosts, or if Ossie has gone off the deep end. I suspect the latter. With their theme park failing, the father leaves to work on the mainland. Kiwi eventually leaves too, and finds a job at a competing theme park called the World of Darkness. Ossie elopes with her ghost. This leaves Ava completely alone in the deserted alligator park. She is approached by an odd character known as the Bird Man, who says Avas father owes him money. He discovers Ava is alone when she tells him how her sister has run off with a ghost. Bird Man leads Ava on a quest for the Underworld to find her Ossie, before its too late.
  Each of the three children comes of age in their own way, separated from the others. The book is filled with clever symbolism, and Im sure there are many symbols I did not catch.
  Not everyone in my book club loved this book as much as I did. We were split 50/50 among those who loved and those who disliked it. So I cant really say for sure who Id recommend it to. But I will say, dare to give this book a chance. If you love it, you have found a brilliant tale that will overwhelm your imagination and stay with you for all time.