Review: Eclipse the moon by Jessie Mihalik

Narrated by: Frankie Corzo

Series: Hunt the Stars, Book 2

Length: 12 hrs and 21 mins

Release date: 07-12-22

Publisher: HarperAudio

Sci fi romance / to review

Things are heating up in space, and with that I mean a war might be coming. Again.

Kee knows her way around information, and she wants to help after how things went down in book 1. Disclaimer, sure you could jump in and struggle a bit, but it is always best to start with book 1. There you get the whole a war happened, and how things are going now.

In book 1 Kee and Varro also had a rough start, but she now fancies the pants out of him, but he is really stand offish.

Varro is from another planet. One where they gained powers through out the years living there. The powers he has is even feared among his own kind. And he also has some issues with feelings because of that. To let someone in, then he comes out .

It is a bit of will they or not. It takes time. But I liked that things takes time.

The actual story has them trying to get information, and then being on the run. Lots of action leaves no room for romance. So that fits. But there will be romance too, and danger.

I enjoyed this one and wonder what comes next. Things are left unfinished. The hunt is still on. And I wonder which couple comes next.

Good narrator. She had a good feel for the book and the characters.  Good voices that fits different people.

Kee Ildez has been many things: hacker, soldier, bounty hunter. She never expected to be a hero, but when a shadowy group of traitors starts trying to goad the galaxy’s two superpowers into instigating an interstellar war, Kee throws herself into the search to find out who is responsible—and stop them. Digging up hidden information is her job, so hunting traitors should be a piece of cake, but the primary suspect spent years in the military, and someone powerful is still covering his tracks. Disrupting their plans will require the help of her entire team, including Varro Runkow, a Valovian weapons expert who makes her pulse race.

Quiet, grumpy, and incredibly handsome, Varro watches her with hot eyes but ignores all of her flirting, so Kee silently vows to keep her feelings strictly platonic. But that vow will be put to the test when she and Varro are forced to leave the safety of their ship and venture into enemy territory alone. Cut off from the rest of their team, they must figure out how to work together—and fast—because a single misstep will cost thousands of lives.

TMST

 

 

Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly discussion post where bloggers discuss a wide range of topics from books and blogging to life in general. Weigh in and join the conversation by adding your thoughts in the comments. If you want to do your own post, grab the question and answer it on your blog. Feel free to leave your links in the comments if you are participating.

7/12/2022 Do you read graphic novels? Why or why not?

Sometimes. The simple answer being, I tried eformat, and it sucked! So my only way is to read a print and the library does not exactly have a lot to offer. And buying....ehh, nah. Too expensive here too.

Sorry graphic novels!

7/19/2022 Tell us about a book that made you cry (movie if you can't remember)

7/26/2022 Do you prefer movies or TV series?

Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly discussion post where bloggers discuss a wide range of topics from books and blogging to life in general. Weigh in and join the conversation by adding your thoughts in the comments. If you want to do your own post, grab the question and answer it on your blog. Feel free to leave your links in the comments if you are participating.

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Carole's Monday review

Author: Kate Forsyth

Title: The Crimson Thread

Genre: Historical Fiction

Format: paperback

Pages: 350

Published:  July 5th 2022

Where I Got It: My shelf (given to me by the author/publisher for my honest and unbiased opinion)

Summary: 

In Crete during World War II, Alenka, a young woman who fights with the resistance against the brutal Nazi occupation, finds herself caught between her traitor of a brother and the man she loves, an undercover agent working for the Allies.

May 1941. German paratroopers launch a blitzkrieg from the air against Crete. They are met with fierce defiance, the Greeks fighting back with daggers, pitchforks, and kitchen knives. During the bloody eleven-day battle, Alenka, a young Greek woman, saves the lives of two Australian soldiers.

Jack and Teddy are childhood friends who joined up together to see the world. Both men fall in love with Alenka. They are forced to retreat with the tattered remains of the Allied forces over the towering White Mountains. Both are among the seven thousand Allied soldiers left behind in the desperate evacuation from Crete's storm-lashed southern coast. Alenka hides Jack and Teddy at great risk to herself. Her brother Axel is a Nazi sympathiser and collaborator and spies on her movements.

As Crete suffers under the Nazi jackboot, Alenka is drawn into an intense triangle of conflicting emotions with Jack and Teddy. Their friendship suffers under the strain of months of hiding and their rivalry for her love. Together, they join the resistance and fight to free the island, but all three will find themselves tested to their limits. Alenka must choose whom to trust and whom to love and, in the end, whom to save.

Review:

Can't help myself when I see a WWII novel...especially if it has women doing their part! So yesss I was so excited to get started on this one! I've read a previous book by this author so that made me extra excited!

We follow Alenka, Jack, and Teddy. Alenka is a young Greek woman who fights with the resistance against the Nazi occupation. She finds herself dealing with not only the Nazis, but her traitor of a brother, the men she loves, and being an undercover agent working for the Allies. She has a lot on her plate. Jack and Teddy are longtime friends who joined up together to see the world and fight the Nazis. They find themselves forced to retreat with the tattered remains of the Allied forces over the White Mountains. They are left behind during the evacuation from Crete. Alenka hides both of them. As Crete suffers under the Nazi boot, Alenka finds herself drawn into a dangerous triangle of conflicting emotions with Jack and Teddy. Teddy and Jack find their friendship will suffer under the strain of months of hiding and rivalry for Alenka's love. 

I really should read more by this author! I read a previous book a while back and liked it. And then I read this one and liked it too. This author is talented and really knows how to bring the world to life and make characters that will stay with you!! 

At first, I did not like Alenka at all. I thought she was whiney and annoying. She did grow on me as we went along but it took a few chapters. And then I loved her. She is a brave woman indeed! 

I liked Teddy and Jack. Jack more than Teddy. You can't help but root for Jack! 

Honestly...I had no idea what was going to happen. I was so worried! Between the Nazi scum running around and Alenka's brother????? Ugh. I was on the edge of my seat. Her brother was scum too because he LOVED the Nazis and wanted to join them and help them. Poor Alenka. Poor thing had to grow up so quickly because of the war. 

Normally I try and stay away from love triangles but I do make exceptions from time to time. The triangle here didn't bug me at all since it didn't take over the plot. Yes, there are a lot of feelings...but they do have bigger fish to fry so we get to see other things play out. We also didn't have over-the-top dramatic scenes that make me roll my eyes. The author did a wonderful job balancing the angst of the love issues and real-life war issues. It felt real and I applaud the author for this. 

There are some dark scenes, but it is war...so you know you are going to see some bad, bad stuff. The author didn't make it overly graphic so for those with weaker stomachs, you'll be okay. But yes, fair warning this is set during one of the deadliest times in history. 

I did shed a couple of tears. I won't spoil anything, but I did have to wipe my eyes a couple times. 

In the end, I simply couldn't put this down! The author is fantastic at bringing characters to life and making them complex and fascinating. You'll get swept away and not want to stop reading. You'll love the characters. I did struggle a little bit with one of the main characters, but I soon grew to love her as much as the other two. I highly recommend this for my historical fiction lovers. 5 stars from me. 

I'm having some good books so far for July *knocks on wood so I don't jinx this good luck*! That makes me happy...I was striking out a lot earlier in the month/end of June. 

Giveaway!!

 Enter to win a copy of The Crimson Thread by Kate Forsyth! We have 10 copies up for grabs! The giveaway is open to the US only and ends on July 29th. You must be 18 or older to enter. Embed Code: The Crimson Thread Direct Link: https://gleam.io/OAUjk/the-crimson-thread

2022 #AUDIOBOOK CHALLENGE MID-YEAR CHECK-IN

I am going for Over achiever and it is looking good! :)

Newbie (I’ll give it a try) 1-5

Weekend Warrior (I’m getting the hang of this) 5-10

Stenographer (can listen while multitasking) 10-15

Socially Awkward (Don’t talk to me) 15-20

Binge Listener (Why read when someone can do it for you) 20-30

My Precious (I had my earbuds surgically implanted) 30+

Marathoner (Look Ma No Hands) 50+

Over-Achiever (Power Listener) 75+

The 100 Club (Audiobook Elite) 100+

 56. Paradise by Censabella, Laura Maria

55. In Plain Sight: A Pride & Prejudice Variation by Jacobson, Don *

54. You Were Made to Be Mine (The Palace of Rogues, #5) by Long, Julie Anne *

53. A Year to the Day by Benway, Robin *

52. Juniper & Thorn: A Novel by Reid, Ava *

51. How to Steal a Scoundrel's Heart (The Mating Habits of Scoundrels, #4) by Lorret, Vivienne

50. A Proposal They Can't Refuse by Caña, Natalie *

49. The Exile: The Countess Visits Longbourn: A Pride & Prejudice Variation (The Bennet Wardrobe Book 5) by Jacobson, Don

48. The Longbourn Quarantine by Jacobson, Don *

47. How We Ricochet by Gardner, Faith 

46. The Messy Lives of Book People by Patrick, Phaedra *

45. Threads of Magic: A Pride and Prejudice Variation (Mr. Darcy's Magic Book 2) by Fairview, Monica *

44. That Cowboy of Mine by Grant, Donna *

43. Not Just Any Earl (Games Earls Play, #1) by Bradley, Anna *

42. The Dachshund Wears Prada by London, Stefanie *

41. Lizzy Bennet Meets the Countess (Bennet Wardrobe Book 4) by Jacobson, Don *

40. All the Duke I Need (Desperately Seeking Duke, #3) by Caroline Linden *

39. The Exile: Kitty Bennet and the Belle Epoque (The Bennet Wardrobe #3) by Jacobson, Don *

38. Fool Me Once by Winstead, Ashley *

37. Where Dreams Begin: A Novel - Kleypas, Lisa *

36. Bloomsbury Girls - Jenner, Natalie *

35. The Wedding Crasher - Sosa, Mia *

34. Birds of California - Cotugno, Katie *

33. The Barbarian King's Assassin - Langlais, Eve *

32. The Keeper: Mary Bennet's Extraordinary Journey (The Bennet Wardrobe Book 1) - Jacobson, Don 

31. Henry Fitzwilliam's War (Bennet Wardrobe Book 2) - Jacobson, Don *

30. Being Mary Bennet - Peterson, J.C. *

29. Urban Witch - Langlais, Eve *

28. Faults of Understanding: A Pride and Prejudice Variation - Altman, Jennifer *

27. A Duke Worth Falling For - MacLean, Sarah *

26. How to Be a Wallflower (Would-Be Wallflowers, #1) - James, Eloisa *

25. Chase Wilde Comes Home (Wyoming Wilde, #1) - Ryan, Jennifer *

24. Dating Dr. Dil (If Shakespeare was an Auntie, #1) - Sharma, Nisha *

23. Gallant - Schwab, V.E.

22. The Hook Up (First Impressions, #3) - Fenske, Tawna *

21. A River Enchanted (Elements of Cadence, #1) - Ross, Rebecca *

20. This Woven Kingdom (This Woven Kingdom, #1)  Mafi, Tahereh

19. Crowbones (The World of the Others, #3; The Others, #8) - Bishop, Anne

18. The Good Girl's Guide to Rakes (Last Chance Scoundrels, #1)  Leigh, Eva *

17. Last Duke Standing (A Royal Match, #1) - London, Julia *

16. A Thousand Steps Into Night - Chee, Traci

15. Hook, Line, and Sinker (Bellinger Sisters, #2) - Bailey, Tessa

14. Hunt the Stars (Starlight's Shadow, #1)  Mihalik, Jessie *

13. Let It Be Me (The Blue Raven, #5) - Noble, Kate

12. Crescendo: The Story of a Musical Genius Who Forever Changed a Southern Town - Cheney, Allen 

11. Poemsia - Leav, Lang

10. Bruised - Boteju, Tanya *

9. Loveboat Reunion - Wen, Abigail Hing *

8. Daughter of the Moon Goddess  - Tan, Sue Lynn *

7. One True Loves (Happily Ever Afters, #2) - Bryant, Elise *

6. His Lessons on Love (A Logical Man's Guide to Dangerous Women, #3) - Maxwell, Cathy *

5. The Kindred - Dow, Alechia *

4. The Henna Wars - Adiba Jaigirdar *

3. The Highlander's Captive - Wine, Mary

2. Last Dragon Standing (Heartstrikers, #5) - Aaron, Rachel *

1. Five Daughters Out at Once: A Pride & Prejudice Variation - Bamber, Jayne