Dakota Diva Book Reviews


  • RoomHate  by Penelope Ward
    FICTION , AUDIO BOOK / July 08, 2017

    I like to listen to audiobooks as I use my elliptical. It is a great way to pass the time when you are tired of reruns on TV. RoomHate by Penelope Ward was my latest choice. My library has an app called Hoopla that allows audio lending and that's where I found this. I had no idea what it was about, but the narrator's voice passed the initial "listen test" so I gave it a chance. (Yes, I have stoppe....


  • The Chosen  by J.R. Ward
    FICTION , PARANORMAL ROMANCE / July 07, 2017

    The Chosen is the latest novel in the Black Dagger Brotherhood world. The title refers to Layla, a "Chosen" and the story is mainly about her and her love interest Xcor. Ward's writing style is to weave a couple story lines into a single book, leaving most to continue into another book. In addition to the main love story, the author highlights Tohr and V, two brothers who's stories don't seem exac....


  • Won Ton and Chopstick  by Lee Wardlaw / Illustrated by Eugene Yelchin
    FICTION , CHILDRENS / July 03, 2017

    Each day I spend time in the children's picture books.  It's so fun to walk among all the bins and let my eyes wander over the artwork. Recently I picked up Won Ton and Chopstick by Lee Wardlaw/Eugene Yelchin. I was pleasantly surprised.  Not only is the artwork lovely but the book is written in a pattern called senryu. Senryu is similar to the Japanese poetry called haiku. For those who aren't fa....


  • The Woman in Cabin 10  by Ruth Ware
    FICTION , MYSTERY / June 21, 2017

    A mystery on a fancy boat. Sounds like fun? Right? Well, I thought it was fun. It seems that there is some debate as to whether or not this novel and Lo, the female protagonist of The Woman in Cabin 10,  are any good. So what if Lo is a bit unreliable? And maybe she does drink too much.... and proceed to forget things. Who's perfect anyway? It is one of the ways the author creates atmosphere in th....


  • The Best of H. P. Lovecraft : The Shadow Over Innsmouth  by H.P. Lovecraft
    FICTION / June 19, 2017

    A family member of mine recommended I read something by H. P. Lovecraft and so I finally sat down to read some of his short stories.  The one I focus on here is The Shadow Over Innsmouth. It is a creepy horror tale that has an in depth setting of a small town and a somewhat mysterious narrator as the main character. This character tells the reader of the government making a strange and secret inve....


  • The Sky Is Everywhere  by Jandy Nelson
    FICTION , ROMANCE , YOUNG ADULT / June 11, 2017

    The Sky Is Everywhere is the story of a girl named Lennie, who is grieving the tragic loss of her sister. It is sweet and sad at the same time, but also somewhat hopeful. Kind of like youth itself. The story progresses fast and is dotted with snippets of mysterious "notes" that help keep the reader engaged. Overall a satisfying read.


  • The Red: An Erotic Fantasy  by Tiffany Reisz
    FICTION , EROTICA , ADVANCE READING COPY , KINKY / June 10, 2017

    Step to the line, then cross it. The Red, a work of erotic fantasy fiction, will take you, turn you, and flip you over. It is the story of Mona Lisa St James, who wants to save The Red, an art gallery, and Malcolm, who helps her. The story moves fast as Mona and Malcolm, and the reader, explore art, kinky sex, and mystery. The author's writing gives us a likeable heroine, with natural dialogue, an....


  • A Man Called Ove  by Fredrik Backman
    FICTION , RECOMMENDED FOR BOOK CLUBS / June 10, 2017

    It can be hard to like someone who is grumpy and bossy.  But with this novel, the old man Ove is more than he seems.  It might take work to get through the beginning of the novel, but it is worth it as we learn more and more about Ove and his past. Good or bad? Blessings or tragedy? What made him the way he is, and is he worth the effort? I would recommend this for book clubs.