Roommates Wanted by Lisa Jewell

Goodreads Summary:
1990. Please write and tell me why you should live here.

Toby Dobbs received a big Victorian house with too many bedrooms to count as a wedding present from his father, but his marriage is over within a month. Very alone, and very lonely, Toby posts an advertisement seeking the "Unexpectedly Alone" to become his roommates. Fifteen years later the wayward souls he takes in are still living with him, with no intention of leaving.

2004. Please tell me how I can convince you to move out.

Toby Dobbs has met Leah Pilgrim from across the road, and they're falling in love. But before they can begin a new life together, Toby and Leah must help Toby's house of sweet slackers and lovelorn misfits grow up, solve their problems, and set themselves free. But can their new relationship survive the test?

My thoughts:
I would like to say that I found the description above a little misleading but at the same time accurate. I went into this book thinking it was going to be a love story that would start somewhere in the beginning. The lovebirds don't get together until nearly the end of this book. I liked the slow pace of most of the book. Each character had development and I felt invested in all of them. Then the last twenty or so pages felt really rushed, as if the author suddenly realized she was already over 400 pages. I think the rushed ending did an injustice to a sweet book. I feel that in some ways the rushed ending has ruined my view of the book over all. I am hoping after a few days of thinking on it I go back to really liking this book. I loved that none of these characters were normal in anyway. I loved that each chapter unfolded a little more of the story without being overly predictable, that is until the end.

Over all I would say I liked this book but I didn't love it like I thought I would. I would recommend it to those who like Brit writers.

While writing this review I was listening to my dog run around the apartment after her bath.

Dear John by Nicolas Sparks

Goodreads Summary:
An angry rebel, John dropped out of school and enlisted in the Army, not knowing what else to do with his life--until he meets the girl of his dreams, Savannah. Their mutual attraction quickly grows into the kind of love that leaves Savannah waiting for John to finish his tour of duty, and John wanting to settle down with the woman who has captured his heart. But 9/11 changes everything. John feels it is his duty to re-enlist. And sadly, the long separation finds Savannah falling in love with someone else. "Dear John," the letter read...and with those two words, a heart was broken and two lives were changed forever. Returning home, John must come to grips with the fact that Savannah, now married, is still his true love—and face the hardest decision of his life.

My thoughts:
Wow what a terrible ending. I have never really been a fan of Nicolas Sparks but for some reason I picked up two of his books from the library recently. What sappy crap! I know that a lot of people love him. For me his writing was overly predictable and boring. I knew he was going for the most obvious emotional sucker-punches he could find whenever he could find them. I had a hard time relating to the evolution or lack there of, of his main characters. Mostly I would say that this book was crap. I hated it. I thought about not finishing it multiple times. I saw the movie prior to reading the book and thought it too was terrible. I was told by several people the book was better. I now know I shouldn't trust a few opinions as much as I previously have.

I would not recommend this book to anyone really. I am not sure why this author is so popular.

While writing this review I was listening to my dog follow my Father around his kitchen.

Heat Wave by Richard Castle

Goodreads Summary:
A New York real estate tycoon plunges to his death on a Manhattan sidewalk. A trophy wife with a past survives a narrow escape from a brazen attack. Mobsters and moguls with no shortage of reasons to kill trot out their alibis. And then, in the suffocating grip of a record heat wave, comes another shocking murder and a sharp turn in a tense journey into the dirty little secrets of the wealthy. Secrets that prove to be fatal. Secrets that lay hidden in the dark until one NYPD detective shines a light.

Mystery sensation Richard Castle, blockbuster author of the wildly best-selling Derrick Storm novels, introduces his newest character, NYPD Homicide Detective Nikki Heat. Tough, sexy, professional, Nikki Heat carries a passion for justice as she leads one of New York City's top homicide squads. She's hit with an unexpected challenge when the commissioner assigns superstar magazine journalist Jameson Rook to ride along with her to research an article on New York's Finest. Pulitzer Prize-winning Rook is as much a handful as he is handsome. His wise-cracking and meddling aren't her only problems. As she works to unravel the secrets of the murdered real estate tycoon, she must also confront the spark between them. The one called heat.

My thoughts:
This book is not my normal cup of tea. However, on the recommendation of a good friend I read it. I liked it. It didn't blow my mind or anything but it was a really good read. I enjoyed it and laughed more than once. I am a fan of the show Castle, so I likely have some pro-bias going on. I would say the characters were a little cliched and over the top but I think that worked for the story rather than against it.

I would recommend this book to fans of Castle or anyone who enjoys a little mystery light reading.

While writing this review I was listening to my heater kick on and coffee brew. Happy morning to everyone!