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Leanne Crabtree (480 KP) rated The Witness in Books
Jan 6, 2021
4.5 stars.
This is my first Nora Roberts book that wasn't part of a series or paranormal and I have to say I
really enjoyed it!
I was drawn in very quickly to the story with young Elizabeth and her rebellion against her rather clinical mother and her rules. I know it's called The Witness but I didn't think we'd actually see her witness the crime--which sounds stupid, considering, but oh well. She did. She saw the crime and did the right thing.
It quickly moved on and we met Brooks. I have to tell you now that I really liked him from his first page. He's a good cop with an awesome family behind him.
It's twelve years later (though on the back cover of my paperback it says fifteen?) and Elizabeth is now Abigail and a loner. She isn't good around people and finds it hard to trust people. She has a way about her that is so odd but at the same time you can't help but like her.
Enter Brooks and the fun starts.
I really loved their relationship! They make a great couple and I loved reading it happening.
I'm not sure how I feel about the ending. Everything worked out great in the end but I think I'd have liked it to have been fleshed out a little more, considering it had been building since around 100 pages in, but it was still pretty good.
I look forward to reading my other Nora Roberts and J.D.Robb paperback books now :)
This is my first Nora Roberts book that wasn't part of a series or paranormal and I have to say I
really enjoyed it!
I was drawn in very quickly to the story with young Elizabeth and her rebellion against her rather clinical mother and her rules. I know it's called The Witness but I didn't think we'd actually see her witness the crime--which sounds stupid, considering, but oh well. She did. She saw the crime and did the right thing.
It quickly moved on and we met Brooks. I have to tell you now that I really liked him from his first page. He's a good cop with an awesome family behind him.
It's twelve years later (though on the back cover of my paperback it says fifteen?) and Elizabeth is now Abigail and a loner. She isn't good around people and finds it hard to trust people. She has a way about her that is so odd but at the same time you can't help but like her.
Enter Brooks and the fun starts.
I really loved their relationship! They make a great couple and I loved reading it happening.
I'm not sure how I feel about the ending. Everything worked out great in the end but I think I'd have liked it to have been fleshed out a little more, considering it had been building since around 100 pages in, but it was still pretty good.
I look forward to reading my other Nora Roberts and J.D.Robb paperback books now :)
Merissa (11774 KP) rated The Blood King (Inferno Rising #2) in Books
Aug 11, 2020
The Blood King is the second book in the Inferno Rising series and we continue with Skylar and Ladon's story. I would definitely suggest you read this as a series as parts of this story pertain to book one. Also, you would miss out on Brand and Kasia's brilliant story if you didn't read book one!
Abigail Owen has managed to write a story that focuses on the main characters whilst also giving you updates on those you already know, plus giving new information on characters yet to share their story. This is, without any doubt, Skylar and Ladon's book and yet we're kept up to date with Kasia and move forward with Angelika and Meira - whose books I CANNOT WAIT FOR!!!
The settings and individual characters remain absolutely brilliant. I loved how this story wove together Sky and Ladon, highlighting how good they are for each other even though neither of them expected it. The story moves along at a fair pace and the overall story arc is just getting more interesting!
A fun, hot, and gripping book that I have no hesitation in recommending.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Abigail Owen has managed to write a story that focuses on the main characters whilst also giving you updates on those you already know, plus giving new information on characters yet to share their story. This is, without any doubt, Skylar and Ladon's book and yet we're kept up to date with Kasia and move forward with Angelika and Meira - whose books I CANNOT WAIT FOR!!!
The settings and individual characters remain absolutely brilliant. I loved how this story wove together Sky and Ladon, highlighting how good they are for each other even though neither of them expected it. The story moves along at a fair pace and the overall story arc is just getting more interesting!
A fun, hot, and gripping book that I have no hesitation in recommending.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated Vampire CEO (New Orleans After Dark #1) in Books
May 21, 2020
87 of 200
Book
Vampire CEO ( New Orleans after dark book 1)
By Erin Bedford
Wait until he gets a taste of her.
Tossed out by her coven, Abigail has to brave the human world and get a real job. With no skills outside of potions and spells, she magics her way out of unemployment and into the executive suite of Midnight Pharmaceutical.
But something strange is going on at Midnight. While her boss is the very definition of dark and mysterious, he makes her witchy sense tingle with his odd hours and the string of women leaving his office every day...
She'll find out what's happening at Midnight; if her boss doesn't take a bite out of her first.
This is my first time reading Erin Bedford and I quite enjoyed it. The story flowed well and the characters were likeable it’s exactly what you would expect from this type of book. I think if you enjoy this genre then this book is definitely a good one to read!
Book
Vampire CEO ( New Orleans after dark book 1)
By Erin Bedford
Wait until he gets a taste of her.
Tossed out by her coven, Abigail has to brave the human world and get a real job. With no skills outside of potions and spells, she magics her way out of unemployment and into the executive suite of Midnight Pharmaceutical.
But something strange is going on at Midnight. While her boss is the very definition of dark and mysterious, he makes her witchy sense tingle with his odd hours and the string of women leaving his office every day...
She'll find out what's happening at Midnight; if her boss doesn't take a bite out of her first.
This is my first time reading Erin Bedford and I quite enjoyed it. The story flowed well and the characters were likeable it’s exactly what you would expect from this type of book. I think if you enjoy this genre then this book is definitely a good one to read!
The Madness of Crowds
10.0
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Book
The incredible new book in Louise Penny's #1 bestselling Chief Inspector Gamache series. When...
Founding Friendships: Friendships Between Men and Women in the Early American Republic
Book
"When Harry Met Sally" is only the most iconic of popular American movies, books, and articles that...
ClareR (5589 KP) rated The Confessions of Frannie Langton in Books
May 3, 2019 (Updated May 3, 2019)
Frannie has grown up on a Jamaican sugar plantation as a house girl. She is a mulatto slave, and when her master, Mr Langton, is forced to return to England, she accompanies him. Although she is considered free as soon as she enters England in the 1820s, Mr Langton ‘gives’ her to a colleague and friend, Mr Benham. She becomes Mrs Benham’s abigail (companion), friend and lover. However, we first meet Frannie as she sits in Newgate prison, writing the story of her life for her solicitor, and how she came to murder Mr and Mrs Benham. Something that she can’t at all remember doing. She has a lot going against her: she’s working class, a woman, and most importantly, she’s black.
This was a captivating story. I learnt a lot about how black Jamaicans were regarded by Londoners (it’s not good), how laudanum was the ‘mother’s little helper’ of its time (although I think it was pretty much taken by anyone, male or female, who could afford it), and how black people were regarded as little more than animals.
The whodunnit element was really puzzling for me, I honestly couldn’t figure it out. I couldn’t think of Frannie as being a murderer and killing the woman she loved.
This is a really good read, and I would highly recommend it.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this wonderful book.
This was a captivating story. I learnt a lot about how black Jamaicans were regarded by Londoners (it’s not good), how laudanum was the ‘mother’s little helper’ of its time (although I think it was pretty much taken by anyone, male or female, who could afford it), and how black people were regarded as little more than animals.
The whodunnit element was really puzzling for me, I honestly couldn’t figure it out. I couldn’t think of Frannie as being a murderer and killing the woman she loved.
This is a really good read, and I would highly recommend it.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this wonderful book.
The Detective and the Devil
Book
'What impresses me most is Lloyd's ability to bring big themes into the weave of the story and yet...
Merissa (11774 KP) rated The Rogue King (Inferno Rising #1) in Books
Jul 30, 2019
The Rogue King by Abigail Owen
The Rogue King is the first book in the Inferno Rising series, and has firmly placed this author on my favourites list, even though this is the first book of hers I have read!
It has quite a sad beginning, which sets the story for the rest of it. You immediately get a feel of who is 'good' and who is 'bad', even if the characters themselves are unsure just where they belong. Speaking of the characters, I loved Brand and Kasia. They are the perfect match, and I loved Kasia's stubborn, feisty, yet at times oh-so-logical attitude. Brand is the possessive alpha who has no idea he's met the woman who is his perfect match.
The story is intriguing from start to finish, and I really want to continue with this series. I need to know more about each of the sisters, and just what their stories will be. The epilogue is intriguing and I can't wait to see the sparks between Skylar and Ladon.
It's not very often I will give out a five-star review for the first of a series, but this one just ticked all of my boxes, and I thoroughly enjoyed it from start to finish. Absolutely recommended by me.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
It has quite a sad beginning, which sets the story for the rest of it. You immediately get a feel of who is 'good' and who is 'bad', even if the characters themselves are unsure just where they belong. Speaking of the characters, I loved Brand and Kasia. They are the perfect match, and I loved Kasia's stubborn, feisty, yet at times oh-so-logical attitude. Brand is the possessive alpha who has no idea he's met the woman who is his perfect match.
The story is intriguing from start to finish, and I really want to continue with this series. I need to know more about each of the sisters, and just what their stories will be. The epilogue is intriguing and I can't wait to see the sparks between Skylar and Ladon.
It's not very often I will give out a five-star review for the first of a series, but this one just ticked all of my boxes, and I thoroughly enjoyed it from start to finish. Absolutely recommended by me.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Gareth von Kallenbach (971 KP) rated New Year's Eve (2011) in Movies
Aug 7, 2019
If you ask me, holiday movies have lost their way over the past few years. Not that there haven’t been any good holiday movies recently, but let’s face it… “A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas” is no “It’s a Wonderful Life.” I think that New Year’s Eve brings us back to the feel good holiday movies that the film industry has been missing.
The cast in this is huge. Michelle Pfeiffer, Zac Efron, Robert De Niro, Halle Berry, Jessica Biel, Seth Meyers, Carla Gugino, Katherine Heigl, Jon Bon Jovi, Sofia Vergara, Ashton Kutcher, Lea Michele, Sarah Jessica Parker, Abigail Breslin, Hilary Swank and Josh Duhamel are all players in this film. This is only the tip of the ice berg too as there are many smaller roles with cameos from big names.
New Year’s Eve follows several different story lines that are all connected in some way, whether small or big, the stories do intertwine. Michelle Pfieffer plays a meek, timid office worker who finally has had it with her miserable job. She enlists the help of bike messenger Zac Efron to help her complete all the tasks on her “bucket list” type resolution list. Robert De Niro plays a dying cancer patient whose wish is to see the ball drop one last time, and Halle Berry is the nurse that is attending him. Seth Meyers and Jessica Biel play an expectant couple who are in a race with another couple to have the first baby of the New Year in order to win the Hospital’s contest and receive $25,000.
Katherine Heigl plays a chef for a catering company that has landed a huge gig at one of the largest parties in New York. Sofia Vergara is her sous chef who is humorously fanatic over Jon Bon Jovi. Jon Bon Jovi plays a version of himself (a musician) who happens to be Katherine Heigl’s ex-boyfriend. Ashton Kutcher is very anti-New Year’s and during his protest of the holiday ends up becoming stuck in an elevator with Lea Michele, a new tenant in his building who is on her way to a new job as a backup singer.
Sarah Jessica Parker is a single mother who gets to spend the New Year with her daughter, played by Abigail Breslin. But Abigail has her sights set on spending New Year’s Eve in Times Square. Hilary Swank plays the newly appointed Vice President of the Times Square Alliance, which for the intents of this movie means that she’s in charge of the Times Square ball dropping and runs into a few problems along the way. Josh Duhamel is desperately trying to make it from his cousin’s wedding to New York City in time to give an important speech at his company’s party, as well as make another very important meeting.
I found this movie to be a great date movie. It’s cute and funny, but without being overly obnoxious as some holiday movies try to be. It is very clever in its story telling, and makes great use of the stellar cast. Though I personally could have done without the Robert De Niro story line, I really enjoyed the film overall. It is great to see a wholesome Holiday movie that does not have to rely on gags and clichés (not too much anyway).
The cast in this is huge. Michelle Pfeiffer, Zac Efron, Robert De Niro, Halle Berry, Jessica Biel, Seth Meyers, Carla Gugino, Katherine Heigl, Jon Bon Jovi, Sofia Vergara, Ashton Kutcher, Lea Michele, Sarah Jessica Parker, Abigail Breslin, Hilary Swank and Josh Duhamel are all players in this film. This is only the tip of the ice berg too as there are many smaller roles with cameos from big names.
New Year’s Eve follows several different story lines that are all connected in some way, whether small or big, the stories do intertwine. Michelle Pfieffer plays a meek, timid office worker who finally has had it with her miserable job. She enlists the help of bike messenger Zac Efron to help her complete all the tasks on her “bucket list” type resolution list. Robert De Niro plays a dying cancer patient whose wish is to see the ball drop one last time, and Halle Berry is the nurse that is attending him. Seth Meyers and Jessica Biel play an expectant couple who are in a race with another couple to have the first baby of the New Year in order to win the Hospital’s contest and receive $25,000.
Katherine Heigl plays a chef for a catering company that has landed a huge gig at one of the largest parties in New York. Sofia Vergara is her sous chef who is humorously fanatic over Jon Bon Jovi. Jon Bon Jovi plays a version of himself (a musician) who happens to be Katherine Heigl’s ex-boyfriend. Ashton Kutcher is very anti-New Year’s and during his protest of the holiday ends up becoming stuck in an elevator with Lea Michele, a new tenant in his building who is on her way to a new job as a backup singer.
Sarah Jessica Parker is a single mother who gets to spend the New Year with her daughter, played by Abigail Breslin. But Abigail has her sights set on spending New Year’s Eve in Times Square. Hilary Swank plays the newly appointed Vice President of the Times Square Alliance, which for the intents of this movie means that she’s in charge of the Times Square ball dropping and runs into a few problems along the way. Josh Duhamel is desperately trying to make it from his cousin’s wedding to New York City in time to give an important speech at his company’s party, as well as make another very important meeting.
I found this movie to be a great date movie. It’s cute and funny, but without being overly obnoxious as some holiday movies try to be. It is very clever in its story telling, and makes great use of the stellar cast. Though I personally could have done without the Robert De Niro story line, I really enjoyed the film overall. It is great to see a wholesome Holiday movie that does not have to rely on gags and clichés (not too much anyway).
Charlie Cobra Reviews (1840 KP) rated Maggie (2015) in Movies
Nov 1, 2020
Maggie: More Drama Then Zombies In This Zombie Film (4/10)
Contains spoilers, click to show
Maggie is a 2015 Horror/Drama film directed by Henry Hobson and written by John Scott 3. It was produced by Grindstone Entertainment Group, Gold Star Films, Lotus Entertainment, Silver Reel, Matt Baer Films and Sly Predator and distributed by Lionsgate Films and Roadside Attractions. The movie stars Arnold Schwarzenegger, Abigail Breslin, and Joely Richardson.
Society struggles to function in the aftermath of a zombie pandemic (Necroambulism) barely under control in the present-day Midwestern United States. Maggie's father Wade (Arnold Schwarzenegger) has searched two weeks for her, finally finding her in a hospital for the infected. Maggie Vogel (Abigail Breslin) had left a voicemail urging that he not seek her and that she loved him. Her arm was bitten and knowing she has only weeks before the "Necroambulist virus" turns her cannibalistic, she left home to protect her family. He brings Maggie home to care for her until she must eventually be quarantined.
As far as zombie movies go, this was a big let down. At first I thought the title was a red flag because what zombie movie would be called "Maggie" right? Well, I was right, not much of a zombie movie. And I was excited going into it too because Arnold was the most serious I've seen him in a role, like possibly ever. He did a great job and actually all the actors did a decent job, it's just the movie turned into a complete drama film and not a zombie movie at all. It was more of a coming to terms of the death of a person then about survival horror or anything close to it. If your looking for a really tame zombie movie then this is your jam. For me I was so disappointed because it's an ok movie on it's own and pretty emotional but just not for me. I give it a 4/10. And suggest if your are looking for a good zombie movie to watch, you skip this one.
Spoiler Section Review:
Man, I was so hyped for this movie. Arnold Schwarzenegger in a zombie movie, hell yeah. And that other girl Abigail Breslin from Zombieland, I was like this is going to be cool. From the trailer, I already knew that this looked like it was going to be a more serious tone kind of movie and very emotional but what a let down. I mean I was so disappointed in this movie. I was hoping it would be an "Arnold" kind of movie but it was more of an "indie" film. It was very emotional as it would be because the character's are dealing with death in a very surreal way and having a long time to contemplate everything about it. Very different from most zombie movies and really somber. Not a bad movie but not what I look for in a good zombie movie. That first zombie scene with Arnold and the zombie in the restroom was probably the best part of the movie and it sucked. Arnold kills the zombie by choking it or breaking it's neck from choking it. I mean c'mon, you can't kill zombies that way. Anyways I gave this movie a 4/10 and suggest watching a different zombie movie if you want to see something entertaining.
Society struggles to function in the aftermath of a zombie pandemic (Necroambulism) barely under control in the present-day Midwestern United States. Maggie's father Wade (Arnold Schwarzenegger) has searched two weeks for her, finally finding her in a hospital for the infected. Maggie Vogel (Abigail Breslin) had left a voicemail urging that he not seek her and that she loved him. Her arm was bitten and knowing she has only weeks before the "Necroambulist virus" turns her cannibalistic, she left home to protect her family. He brings Maggie home to care for her until she must eventually be quarantined.
As far as zombie movies go, this was a big let down. At first I thought the title was a red flag because what zombie movie would be called "Maggie" right? Well, I was right, not much of a zombie movie. And I was excited going into it too because Arnold was the most serious I've seen him in a role, like possibly ever. He did a great job and actually all the actors did a decent job, it's just the movie turned into a complete drama film and not a zombie movie at all. It was more of a coming to terms of the death of a person then about survival horror or anything close to it. If your looking for a really tame zombie movie then this is your jam. For me I was so disappointed because it's an ok movie on it's own and pretty emotional but just not for me. I give it a 4/10. And suggest if your are looking for a good zombie movie to watch, you skip this one.
Spoiler Section Review:
Man, I was so hyped for this movie. Arnold Schwarzenegger in a zombie movie, hell yeah. And that other girl Abigail Breslin from Zombieland, I was like this is going to be cool. From the trailer, I already knew that this looked like it was going to be a more serious tone kind of movie and very emotional but what a let down. I mean I was so disappointed in this movie. I was hoping it would be an "Arnold" kind of movie but it was more of an "indie" film. It was very emotional as it would be because the character's are dealing with death in a very surreal way and having a long time to contemplate everything about it. Very different from most zombie movies and really somber. Not a bad movie but not what I look for in a good zombie movie. That first zombie scene with Arnold and the zombie in the restroom was probably the best part of the movie and it sucked. Arnold kills the zombie by choking it or breaking it's neck from choking it. I mean c'mon, you can't kill zombies that way. Anyways I gave this movie a 4/10 and suggest watching a different zombie movie if you want to see something entertaining.