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Merissa (14112 KP) rated Hostile Takeover (Hostile Takeover #1) in Books
Oct 28, 2021 (Updated Jul 12, 2023)
Oh, here we go again - another Lucy Lennox book that I want to rave about but can never find the right words! Okay, let me start at the beginning...
HOSTILE TAKEOVER is the warm, funny, steamy, sometimes heartbreaking story of Grey and Ellison. Both of these 'knew' each other when they were younger, although they were from very different walks of life. Appearances aren't everything though, as Grey will discover. When Grey takes over Ellison's father's company, their past comes back to play.
Okay, so it's a given I loved it. But what was it that I loved? Well, for a start, it was Ellison's attitude. Grey pushed him and tried to make his life difficult, but Ellison, he thought he owed Grey so took it, and even managed to turn it around. Brilliant. I adored how both of them just wanted to help people, although Ellison didn't do it by monetary means as he didn't have any! The world needs more of that, especially from billionaires who can afford it!
Their road to happiness is full of stumbling blocks, most of them put there by Grey himself. Oh, Grey, my darling, when will you stop running? This part about killed me, and I found myself reading faster to get past it and to my happy conclusion!
A fantastic start to a series that I will be one-clicking, just like everything else by this amazing author. Read it!!!!
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* 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!
Oct 28, 2021
HOSTILE TAKEOVER is the warm, funny, steamy, sometimes heartbreaking story of Grey and Ellison. Both of these 'knew' each other when they were younger, although they were from very different walks of life. Appearances aren't everything though, as Grey will discover. When Grey takes over Ellison's father's company, their past comes back to play.
Okay, so it's a given I loved it. But what was it that I loved? Well, for a start, it was Ellison's attitude. Grey pushed him and tried to make his life difficult, but Ellison, he thought he owed Grey so took it, and even managed to turn it around. Brilliant. I adored how both of them just wanted to help people, although Ellison didn't do it by monetary means as he didn't have any! The world needs more of that, especially from billionaires who can afford it!
Their road to happiness is full of stumbling blocks, most of them put there by Grey himself. Oh, Grey, my darling, when will you stop running? This part about killed me, and I found myself reading faster to get past it and to my happy conclusion!
A fantastic start to a series that I will be one-clicking, just like everything else by this amazing author. Read it!!!!
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* 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!
Oct 28, 2021
Self Help Classics : personal growth & success
Book, Productivity and Lifestyle
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Always at hand on the go: 60 life changing masterpieces from Napoleon Hill, Dale Carnegie, Ralph...
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Once Upon a Time in Russia: The Rise of the Oligarchs and the Greatest Wealth in History
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This is a gripping and shocking insight into the lives of Russia's most famous oligarchs from New...
Merissa (14112 KP) rated Resolute (Kinsmen Billionaires #3) in Books
Mar 10, 2025
RESOLUTE is the third book in the Kinsmen Billionaires series but can be read as a standalone.
Vicente is the oldest brother, the one who will take over the family vineyard in Chile, and the only one still single. So his parents add a proviso to him taking over - he must be married too. Vicente's executive assistant has just retired although she has found a replacement in Camila. How they know each other becomes clear as you read on.
Now, the three characters - Vicente, Camila, and Ava - are all brilliant and I enjoyed each of them in my own way. Vicente was the grumpy-pants big-time CEO who just needed someone to be his partner in every sense of the word. Camila was the sunshine who needed someone to stand by her when things got tough. And Ava was just a cutie who sometimes spoke more wisely than any five-year-old I've ever heard. BUT...
I was only 18% in, and the term 'Let's Boogie' was annoying me so much. I know this is a romance between Camila and her boss, but it is so unprofessional, it's crazy. Also, two other things bothered me as I read. The first one was Owen. That massive turnaround and for what? I'm sorry but, for me, that just didn't work. And the second involved Ava. There is a big scene where she isn't sure if Vicente likes her and gives her reasons. He apologises and asks to call her a special name which is then NEVER mentioned again. I will also admit to being baffled by the term 'Wife' being used all the time!
A story of growth, of families, and of choices, this was a quick, short read that I did enjoy and would recommend. 3.5 rounded up.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Mar 8, 2025
Vicente is the oldest brother, the one who will take over the family vineyard in Chile, and the only one still single. So his parents add a proviso to him taking over - he must be married too. Vicente's executive assistant has just retired although she has found a replacement in Camila. How they know each other becomes clear as you read on.
Now, the three characters - Vicente, Camila, and Ava - are all brilliant and I enjoyed each of them in my own way. Vicente was the grumpy-pants big-time CEO who just needed someone to be his partner in every sense of the word. Camila was the sunshine who needed someone to stand by her when things got tough. And Ava was just a cutie who sometimes spoke more wisely than any five-year-old I've ever heard. BUT...
I was only 18% in, and the term 'Let's Boogie' was annoying me so much. I know this is a romance between Camila and her boss, but it is so unprofessional, it's crazy. Also, two other things bothered me as I read. The first one was Owen. That massive turnaround and for what? I'm sorry but, for me, that just didn't work. And the second involved Ava. There is a big scene where she isn't sure if Vicente likes her and gives her reasons. He apologises and asks to call her a special name which is then NEVER mentioned again. I will also admit to being baffled by the term 'Wife' being used all the time!
A story of growth, of families, and of choices, this was a quick, short read that I did enjoy and would recommend. 3.5 rounded up.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Mar 8, 2025
Merissa (14112 KP) rated Sweat Connection (Hot Under the Collar #1) in Books
Aug 2, 2023
SWEAT CONNECTION is the first book in the Hot Under the Collar series, and I am already loving this series! Nope, there are no billionaires, no shifters, no vampires. What you have is low-angst 'normal' people with found families joining their lives together.
Katherine McIntyre is simply exceptional at character-led stories featuring found families. There's just no two ways about it! And in this one, there are so many characters that need stories! But for now, I'll stick with Rhys and Cole because, man oh man, are they worth talking about!
Rhys is one of those that has a nervous energy about it, all the time. Cole is one of those that puts people at ease, all the time. Together, when opposites attract, sparks fly! Cole provides the stability and grounding that Rhys needs, whilst Rhys gives Cole the enthusiasm and energy he might otherwise be lacking. I loved how their relationship was so loving and tender in ways an outsider might miss. That's the good part of having a story from the first perspective! We get to see both Cole and Rhys' worries and apprehensions and also see what the other person is thinking.
The connections are not just between Rhys and Cole though. Oh, no! Those tendrils spin out and connect Rhys' friends to Cole's dad and best friend. And let's not forget Sammy who made me laugh so many times. Luckily for me, my two have outgrown those years but I can look back now and laugh.
This was is 5-stars all the way. It simply couldn't be anything less. And from just two sentences in the epilogue, I am looking forward to Lex and Theo's story! Absolutely brilliant and HIGHLY RECOMMENDED by me.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* 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!
Jun 21, 2023
Katherine McIntyre is simply exceptional at character-led stories featuring found families. There's just no two ways about it! And in this one, there are so many characters that need stories! But for now, I'll stick with Rhys and Cole because, man oh man, are they worth talking about!
Rhys is one of those that has a nervous energy about it, all the time. Cole is one of those that puts people at ease, all the time. Together, when opposites attract, sparks fly! Cole provides the stability and grounding that Rhys needs, whilst Rhys gives Cole the enthusiasm and energy he might otherwise be lacking. I loved how their relationship was so loving and tender in ways an outsider might miss. That's the good part of having a story from the first perspective! We get to see both Cole and Rhys' worries and apprehensions and also see what the other person is thinking.
The connections are not just between Rhys and Cole though. Oh, no! Those tendrils spin out and connect Rhys' friends to Cole's dad and best friend. And let's not forget Sammy who made me laugh so many times. Luckily for me, my two have outgrown those years but I can look back now and laugh.
This was is 5-stars all the way. It simply couldn't be anything less. And from just two sentences in the epilogue, I am looking forward to Lex and Theo's story! Absolutely brilliant and HIGHLY RECOMMENDED by me.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* 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!
Jun 21, 2023
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Gareth von Kallenbach (980 KP) rated The Social Network (2010) in Movies
Aug 8, 2019
It’s hard to find anyone who doesn’t know about Facebook. On any given day, at least 250 million active users log on to Facebook and spend over 700 billion minutes per month updating their status, posting pictures or playing casual games. So dominant is this social network, the name itself is both a brand and a verb. Who would have thought that sharing inanities about what we’re currently thinking, eating, reading, watching with our friends would garner such interest? In the new movie The Social Network, director David Fincher sets out to show how, from the very humblest beginnings, Facebook became the juggernaut that it is today.
In 2003, after a debate and breakup with his girlfriend, fueled by his frustration at his exclusion from the social elite, Harvard undergrad and computer programming genius, Mark Zuckerberg, sits at his computer one night and changes the face of the internet. In just a few hours Zuckerberg, deftly played by Jesse Eisenberg, circumvents the firewalls and security of Harvard and creates a website that allows visitors to rate the ladies of the campus. Within a few hours, the thousands of hits crash the vaunted computer network of the university.
While Harvard staff was not impressed with his efforts, it certainly caught the attention of his fellow students, most notably the Winklevoss brothers, who seek out Zuckerberg with the intention of creating an exclusive website for Harvard students. While seemingly mulling over the proposal of the new site, Zuckerberg rapidly, and obsessively, develops his own. The early version of what would eventually become Facebook soon becomes a campus sensation, much to the dismay of the Winklevoss brothers.
Andrew Garfield plays Zuckerberg’s friend Eduardo Severin who funds Zuckerberg’s efforts. Facebook rapidly became the height of social hipness as its exclusivity widened to more colleges and universities. College students across the country created profiles and quickly spread news of the site simply by word of mouth. Or rather word of email. The success of Facebook soon gains the attention of Sean Parker, played by Justin Timberlake. Parker had risen to prominence as the creator of the popular file sharing site Napster and was eager to become involved with the growing success of Facebook. While Mark is fascinated and inspired by Sean’s slick style, Eduardo isn’t impressed and is highly suspicious of Sean’s motives as well as his shady reputation. As the trailers and posters have touted, you can’t get to 500 million friends without making a few enemies. Jealousy feeds insecurities that feed accusations that eventually lead to lawsuits.
Eisenberg is fantastic as the egotistical, neurotic, and highly intelligent Mark Zuckerberg, but the true breakout performance of the film has to be that of Andrew Garfield, who has been cast to play Spiderman in the next trilogy of the very popular film series. The British actor who was born and raised in Los Angeles has an understated charisma and appears very capable of becoming a leading man. He infuses Eduardo with class and humanism as he tries to be the friend Zuckerberg doesn’t think he needs.
The film is told largely through flashbacks during a deposition hearing between the parties involved in the lawsuits. Director Fincher skillfully allows his characters to drive the film, letting the story unfold in telling scenes, giving the characters ample room to shine without becoming preachy or resorting to grandstanding.
The characters, despite their flaws, do come across as very believable and sympathetic, even though it’s difficult to imagine going from students to inventors of a pop culture phenomenon, to billionaires in just a few short years. Very few corporations that become dominant in their industry do so without critics, challengers, and those that claim they were responsible for whatever success a company gained.
While The Social Network does not overtly place blame, the light it shines on Zuckerberg isn’t altogether flattering. Surprisingly, the film does not go to the extreme with tech talk. It instead focuses on the relationship between the characters and how they handled the drastic and sudden changes in their lives brought on by a simple program called Face Mash, which became the basis for Facebook.
Strong supporting work in the film combined with the great performances of the lead characters makes The Social Network”a very solid and entertaining film that, for my money, is one of the better films of the year.
While it would be easy to jump to judgment and brand many in the film as egotistical rich people who should be grateful for what they have, I remembered that absolute power corrupts absolutely and I wondered just how well any of us in the audience would react if we were ever faced with a similar situation.
In 2003, after a debate and breakup with his girlfriend, fueled by his frustration at his exclusion from the social elite, Harvard undergrad and computer programming genius, Mark Zuckerberg, sits at his computer one night and changes the face of the internet. In just a few hours Zuckerberg, deftly played by Jesse Eisenberg, circumvents the firewalls and security of Harvard and creates a website that allows visitors to rate the ladies of the campus. Within a few hours, the thousands of hits crash the vaunted computer network of the university.
While Harvard staff was not impressed with his efforts, it certainly caught the attention of his fellow students, most notably the Winklevoss brothers, who seek out Zuckerberg with the intention of creating an exclusive website for Harvard students. While seemingly mulling over the proposal of the new site, Zuckerberg rapidly, and obsessively, develops his own. The early version of what would eventually become Facebook soon becomes a campus sensation, much to the dismay of the Winklevoss brothers.
Andrew Garfield plays Zuckerberg’s friend Eduardo Severin who funds Zuckerberg’s efforts. Facebook rapidly became the height of social hipness as its exclusivity widened to more colleges and universities. College students across the country created profiles and quickly spread news of the site simply by word of mouth. Or rather word of email. The success of Facebook soon gains the attention of Sean Parker, played by Justin Timberlake. Parker had risen to prominence as the creator of the popular file sharing site Napster and was eager to become involved with the growing success of Facebook. While Mark is fascinated and inspired by Sean’s slick style, Eduardo isn’t impressed and is highly suspicious of Sean’s motives as well as his shady reputation. As the trailers and posters have touted, you can’t get to 500 million friends without making a few enemies. Jealousy feeds insecurities that feed accusations that eventually lead to lawsuits.
Eisenberg is fantastic as the egotistical, neurotic, and highly intelligent Mark Zuckerberg, but the true breakout performance of the film has to be that of Andrew Garfield, who has been cast to play Spiderman in the next trilogy of the very popular film series. The British actor who was born and raised in Los Angeles has an understated charisma and appears very capable of becoming a leading man. He infuses Eduardo with class and humanism as he tries to be the friend Zuckerberg doesn’t think he needs.
The film is told largely through flashbacks during a deposition hearing between the parties involved in the lawsuits. Director Fincher skillfully allows his characters to drive the film, letting the story unfold in telling scenes, giving the characters ample room to shine without becoming preachy or resorting to grandstanding.
The characters, despite their flaws, do come across as very believable and sympathetic, even though it’s difficult to imagine going from students to inventors of a pop culture phenomenon, to billionaires in just a few short years. Very few corporations that become dominant in their industry do so without critics, challengers, and those that claim they were responsible for whatever success a company gained.
While The Social Network does not overtly place blame, the light it shines on Zuckerberg isn’t altogether flattering. Surprisingly, the film does not go to the extreme with tech talk. It instead focuses on the relationship between the characters and how they handled the drastic and sudden changes in their lives brought on by a simple program called Face Mash, which became the basis for Facebook.
Strong supporting work in the film combined with the great performances of the lead characters makes The Social Network”a very solid and entertaining film that, for my money, is one of the better films of the year.
While it would be easy to jump to judgment and brand many in the film as egotistical rich people who should be grateful for what they have, I remembered that absolute power corrupts absolutely and I wondered just how well any of us in the audience would react if we were ever faced with a similar situation.