Location: United States
Member Since:
Feb. 13, 2013
Kasey Parrish
Books
Smashwords book reviews by Kasey Parrish
-
The Athena Effect
on Feb. 14, 2013
(no rating)
Wow so this book took me by surprise. I wasn't expecting much from it considering the last few books that I read that had aura's were really half done and the characters weren't really endearing. That was not the case with this book. It was absolutely amazing. I loved Cali and I felt so bad for her throughout the entire book. To have to lose her parents, move to be with an aunt who really didn't care about her and then to have to deal with her aunt's creepy boyfriend. Thank god she ended up having Cal to be able to support her. I couldn't help but love Cal and his entire family. At first it was difficult because they seemed like such low lifes but they had such good hearts. I loved Jarod and Crystal and all that they did for Cali. I couldn't help but feel terrible for them after Cali and Cal had to leave. It was heartbreaking. Moving to after Cali was captured I felt so bad for Layla and Michael to be brainwashed by such an evil man. Professor Reed was like the worst person ever and I won't lie I was happy at the end when his entire life's purpose was taken from him. He ruined so many lives that it seems deserved. However, thank goodness they helped her escape it was definitely a reedeming part of the book. Overall I really enjoyed this and when the sequel comes out I will definitely pick it up since this book really surprised me.
-
The Athena Effect
on Feb. 14, 2013
***I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review*** Wow so this book took me by surprise. I wasn't expecting much from it considering the last few books that I read that had aura's were really half done and the characters weren't really endearing. That was not the case with this book. It was absolutely amazing. I loved Cali and I felt so bad for her throughout the entire book. To have to lose her parents, move to be with an aunt who really didn't care about her and then to have to deal with her aunt's creepy boyfriend. Thank god she ended up having Cal to be able to support her. I couldn't help but love Cal and his entire family. At first it was difficult because they seemed like such low lifes but they had such good hearts. I loved Jarod and Crystal and all that they did for Cali. I couldn't help but feel terrible for them after Cali and Cal had to leave. It was heartbreaking. Moving to after Cali was captured I felt so bad for Layla and Michael to be brainwashed by such an evil man. Professor Reed was like the worst person ever and I won't lie I was happy at the end when his entire life's purpose was taken from him. He ruined so many lives that it seems deserved. However, thank goodness they helped her escape it was definitely a reedeming part of the book. Overall I really enjoyed this and when the sequel comes out I will definitely pick it up since this book really surprised me.
-
Into the Night
on April 01, 2013
So I was kind of expecting more from this book but in the end it was just okay. There wasn't anything wrong with this book it just didn't connect with me. Logan was nice, Penny was nice, and that was kind of the problem everyone had their roles but there just wasn't anything surprising in the story. As soon as the story got started and Logan got to the house it followed a fairly predictable plot line. What could've been surprising is when Penny died but because for like the last 4 chapters she'd been telling Zane was going to kill her it didn't end up being that surprising at all. Also I kind of figured she'd come back to life the plot was just I liked the book but that's it I just didn't get sucked in like I hoped I would. I don't even have any desire to read the next one which is why this gets 2 stars instead of 3.
-
Bone Dressing
on April 04, 2013
So I really wanted to like this book and the end was just enough of a redemption for me to be able to give it 2 stars instead of one. Let me start off with what I didn't like. Sydney, I just really didn't like Sydney for most of the book. I didn't feel a connection with her at all, I thought she was a spoiled selfish brat with anger management issues. I understand that Syd has had a hard life but her behavior was so over the top I didn't identify with her at all. Also, I can tell the author worked really hard to be descriptive and for the most part that was fine. It got to a point though that there was too much description and internal processing and not enough of what was going on around her. It really confused me because one moment she's in one place thinking and moaning and griping about everything and then the next she's somewhere differently. I didn't feel like I was journeying with Syd. Also, everything happened too fast. She meets Beau and 5 seconds later is professing her undying love. I don't mind the instant connection but I do mind the pouring out of heart and soul 2 seconds after meeting someone. For a character who was apparently all about self-preservation she did a really bad job of it. Plus, I HATE INTERRUPTERS and Syd is one big long interruption. She interrupts everyone, I wanted to smack her like 12 times and be like could you let other people talk please? I'm in your head, I get what you're thinking let the other person just talk! Plus the whole Rachel and Jesse, Jesse is dead, but then not dead. I was literally so confused. The end is what redeemed this book for me though. The end cleared up, I don't know if something started to click but the end started to suck me in. Sydney got nicer, and more protective and wasn't constantly yelling at people. She did take care of Henry and that was really nice because I spent the first part of the book wondering why I should like this girl. I don't know that I'd recommend this book but I would be willing to read the second to see if the improvements at the end continue on. I really wanted to like this book and so I'm sad I didn't enjoy it more
-
To Stand Beside Her
on May 29, 2013
To Stand Beside Her is quite unique, I don’t think I’ve ever read a novel that’s close to similar. Leila’s personality is not uncommon in today’s novels but what she goes through during her life is. I truly enjoyed the spunkiness that Leila displayed at every turn, and nothing could keep her down for long. Nalick starts out as the villain, and I wasn’t sure that I would like him, especially since he was trying to force Leila to stay with him. However, it soon became obvious that all he wanted was a chance for her to know him. The relationship between Nalick and Leila grew at the perfect pace, it didn’t feel contrived at all. It took a few steps forward, and a few steps backward and then settled down into contentment. That was the part I most enjoyed about the book, when they finally both admitted they loved each other and accepted it. I think my favorite scene with them was after she broke her leg. Roger was on his way to visit and check on Leila, and she was doing a terrible job of keeping still, but somehow Nalick was keeping her contained and mostly happy. I also have to mention Philip, Tim, and Ruth. These children stole my heart from the moment they appeared, until the very end. Leila had a very caring heart and it made it easy for me to identify with her, because I would have wanted to take these kids as my own too. Anatolio simply captivated me with his shadowing of Leila. He truly cared about her, and I loved being able to see her through his eyes. The only thing that prevents me from giving this book 5 stars, is the ending. I don’t mind that Nalick and Leila didn’t end up living happily ever after. They had a beautiful 10 years and a happy family. I even loved Anatolio as much as I loved Nalick, and I’m so happy that Leila would never be left alone. What I missed and wanted was more of Anatolio. I want to see Leila and Anatolio grow together, especially because his concern that she couldn’t grow to love him was big in the latter half of the novel. I just wanted to see a little more of Anatolio and Leila. Plus, I would really like to get to know the other kids as well as Philip, Tim and Ruth! If a sequel were to come out showing their growth together I would absolutely revise my review to being a full 5 stars.