My Book Reviews - 2020
Here is a list of books that I have read since January 2020. And No, you are not going crazy. There is no 2017 page of book reviews because I had a baby and honestly didn't have time to read, take care of a newborn and a toddler at the same time.
But I AM BACK!
They will be listen by their name, amount of stars (out of 5) and a little description of what I thought of them.
If you have any questions, don't be afraid to ask me.
Virgins - Book 0.5
Diana Gabaldon
To-Read
Outlander - Book 1
Diana Gabaldon
5 Stars - 24 Days to read
I gave this book 5 stars not because of the book itself, but because of the TV series that accompanies it. They were both so marvelous and I have fallen head first into this world of theirs.
This book begins with Claire Randall on her second honeymoon with her husband after the war was over. They were apart for five years and want to rekindle their relationship. They travel to Scotland to do so. Claire's husband, Frank, was obsessed with finding out his lineage and family tree. They end up at Craigh na Dun and before Claire knows it, her palms are touching the stone and her world is ripped right out from under her and she travels back in time 200 years. She comes face to face with a soldier who is her husband's ancestor - almost believing it to be Frank - only to realize how utterly wrong she was. She ends up being saved from this soldier by a Highlander. A lot of events happen to save her life. Her husbands ancestor, whose name is Jack Randall is out to get her from the moment he laid eyes on her. He is obsessed with learning who she is and where she came from. And she also realizes he is obsessed with another man named James Fraser that is part of the MacKenzie clan which saved her from Jack Randall. All Claire wants to do is go back to Craigh na Dun and touch those rocks to go home, but emotions for James Fraser get in the way.
I could go on and on and on about this story. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND this book. IF you don't want to read the book - fine. BUT PLEASE WATCH THE NETFLIX SERIES. I am utterly obsessed!
Dragonfly in Amber - Book 2
Diana Gabaldon
5 Stars - 49 Days to read
I don’t even know where to begin with these books. They have taken over my life. These books have pulled me so deep into their world that I don’t think I will be able to escape. I am watching the TV series on Netflix as well. I am reading a little and then watching a little and so on.
This book begins with Claire and her daughter Brianna whom we have never met before. Brianna I believe is around 20 years old. Both of them return to Scotland after the death of Frank Randall. Claire has some unfinished business that she wants to take care of. She meets up with Roger Wakefield. He is the adopted son of the reverend that Frank met with to do some digging into his history all those years ago in the beginning of the first book. The reverend passed away as well and Roger had the task of cleaning up all of his fathers belongings. Claire asks him to find out what happens to the soldiers from Lallybroch. She needs to learn what happened to Jamie and his men. She couldn’t do this while Frank was alive. She takes a walk through a graveyard with Brianna and Roger and stumbles upon Jack Randall’s gravestone. She then stumbles upon Jamie’s gravestone as well. So distraught she blurts out right then and there that Brianna’s father was Jamie. They go back to the Late Reverend’s house and Claire begins her story. She tells them everything that happened in the first book and then dives deep into her story of this novel.
Claire and Jamie in France trying to stop the Jacobite army from succeeding. They tried everything from persuasion to cutting off funds. But nothing worked. So much happens, I can’t even begin to describe all the events. There is an event in this book though – which I wont mention – where I cried the most I have ever cried in my life over a book. After their failed attempts at trying to stop the Jacobite army, Jamie gets captured and put in jail. Claire ends up getting him out and they go back to Lallybroch. Prince Charles forges Jamie’s signature and he is forever deemed a traitor to the crown. He must go to war now. So they do. The first battle was won but the battle of Culloden was coming up quickly. When it does, Claire has to flee. She goes back through the stones (I cried). We are taken back to Roger and Brianna. Roger believes Claire but Brianna doesn’t. Roger’s confession at the end of the book to Claire stopped my heart. I have to stop reading this review, watch the rest of Season 2 on Netflix and Start Book 3!!!! BYE!
Voyager - Book 3
Diana Gabaldon
5 Stars - 30 Days to read
I know these books are hella long, but I don’t care. I love the length of them. I love how they pull you in. I love how you get lost in the world of Claire and Jamie.
This book is basically about the adventure Claire and Jamie go on to find young Ian after he is kidnapped by a band of pirates. They end up on the waters. Claire gets taken hostage on a ship full of sick people, but she is promised to be returned in good health. She escapes and finds herself on a remove island. She finds Jamie and they make their way to Jamaica!
So. Much. Happens. There is no way I could sum up this book in one review. BUT, I can sum it up in one word – AMAZING.
I am reading these books and watching the Netflix series as well. The first two seasons were really good. This season kind of strayed away from the book plot, but it was still enthralling regardless. Read the book or watch the show – you will not be disappointed.
Drums of Autumn - Book 4
Diana Gabaldon
4 Stars - 4 Months to read
This book took me forever and a day to read. But I loved every second of it. I absolutely love this world. I love Chaire, and I love Jamie, and I love them together. As much as I wished I was the one with Jamie. Haha.
This book takes us back in time. Jamie and Claire are together and are looking to continue their journey. They need to put down roots. Jamie finds a long lost aunt -Jocasta. He wants nothing in the world but to give all he can to Claire, but she doesn't ask or need much to be happy. She just wants Jamie at her side and she knows all will be well. She knows Jamie will take care of her no matter what. Jocasta wants to name Jamie her heir and leave River Run (her lavish home and estate) to him. He would take it but he can't live with himself knowing that River Run is run by slaves. Jamie and Claire cannot bare the thought of owning slaves, so they turned down her offer and took up the governors offer of land and settlers. They wanted to turn nothing into something - which is exactly what they did when they chose the location for Fraser's Ridge.
Meanwhile back in the present time, Brianna finds a newspaper article depicting her parents death. Roger finds the same article, but chooses to keep this information from Brianna. Brianna goes back in time to save her parents. Roger, after finding out, goes right after her. After many weeks working and sailing on a crammed boat and almost dying, he makes his way to the new world and evidently finds Brianna at a tavern. They hand fast and become married. She was upset Roger came back because then she has no one she loves to think of so she could go back home. They get into an argument over the news article that they both found because Roger didn't tell her about it. Roger leaves her to find jewels to get them back home. On her way back to the tavern, Brianna finds Steven Bonnet and she sees her mothers ring from Frank. She offers to buy it back, but Steven had other intentions. The next day Brianna finds Jamie first. I was so happy when she finally did. And then they meet up with Claire. They go back to Fraiser's ridge and wait for Roger. He takes a while coming back. Brianna finds out she is pregnant. Jamie and Ian beat up Roger thinking that he was the one who rapped her. I was so eager to find out what happened. After finding out that Jamie and Ian beat up and sold the wrong person, they embark on a journey to get Roger back from the Indian's.
I was watching the show on Netflex and reading at the same time. They changed some things, but it's ok. The only thing I didn't like that they changed was in the show, they made Brianna look weak when she goes back in time, but in the book she was so bad-ass!
This book takes us back in time. Jamie and Claire are together and are looking to continue their journey. They need to put down roots. Jamie finds a long lost aunt -Jocasta. He wants nothing in the world but to give all he can to Claire, but she doesn't ask or need much to be happy. She just wants Jamie at her side and she knows all will be well. She knows Jamie will take care of her no matter what. Jocasta wants to name Jamie her heir and leave River Run (her lavish home and estate) to him. He would take it but he can't live with himself knowing that River Run is run by slaves. Jamie and Claire cannot bare the thought of owning slaves, so they turned down her offer and took up the governors offer of land and settlers. They wanted to turn nothing into something - which is exactly what they did when they chose the location for Fraser's Ridge.
Meanwhile back in the present time, Brianna finds a newspaper article depicting her parents death. Roger finds the same article, but chooses to keep this information from Brianna. Brianna goes back in time to save her parents. Roger, after finding out, goes right after her. After many weeks working and sailing on a crammed boat and almost dying, he makes his way to the new world and evidently finds Brianna at a tavern. They hand fast and become married. She was upset Roger came back because then she has no one she loves to think of so she could go back home. They get into an argument over the news article that they both found because Roger didn't tell her about it. Roger leaves her to find jewels to get them back home. On her way back to the tavern, Brianna finds Steven Bonnet and she sees her mothers ring from Frank. She offers to buy it back, but Steven had other intentions. The next day Brianna finds Jamie first. I was so happy when she finally did. And then they meet up with Claire. They go back to Fraiser's ridge and wait for Roger. He takes a while coming back. Brianna finds out she is pregnant. Jamie and Ian beat up Roger thinking that he was the one who rapped her. I was so eager to find out what happened. After finding out that Jamie and Ian beat up and sold the wrong person, they embark on a journey to get Roger back from the Indian's.
I was watching the show on Netflex and reading at the same time. They changed some things, but it's ok. The only thing I didn't like that they changed was in the show, they made Brianna look weak when she goes back in time, but in the book she was so bad-ass!
I can't wait to read the next one!!!
The Fiery Cross - Book 5
Diana Gabaldon
To-Read
A Breath of Snow and Ashes - Book 6
Diana Gabaldon
To-Read
An Echo in the Bone - Book 7
Diana Gabaldon
To-Read
The Space Between - Book 7.5
Diana Gabaldon
To-Read
Written in My Own Heart's Blood - Book 8
Diana Gabaldon
To-Read
A Leaf on the Wind of All Hallows - Book 8.5
Diana Gabaldon
To-Read
Go Tell The Bees That I Am Gone - Book 9
Diana Gabaldon
To-Be-Released