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Anne of Green Gables: A Graphic Novel
Anne of Green Gables: A Graphic Novel
10
9.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
I received this Graphic Novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I have been meaning to read Anne of Green Gables for years upon years. About a month ago I picked up the audiobook and decided to listen/read it. I really enjoyed the story. It was so beautiful in it's simplicity. When I saw there was a graphic novel on netgalley, I immediately had to download it and read it.

The artwork in this book is spectacular. It's beautifully done and just transports you to the lake of shining waters and makes you feel almost as if you're there with Anne enjoying the day. I loved how simplistic the story was and how placing into a graphic novel just seemed to work. The artwork is simplistic yet complex in its variety of colors and beauty.

With reading the book just a few weeks ago, I did notice a bit of the story missing or redone which is completely understandable. You can't fit everything in all the time. I mention this solely for those kids who might decide to read this instead of the book for school.

All in all, this graphic novel expertly shows you the simplicity of the story and enhances it with the beautiful artwork. If you love Anne of Green Gables, I highly recommend taking a look at this. It's spectacular!
  
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Ross (3284 KP) rated Perfect Silence in Books

Oct 9, 2018 (Updated Oct 9, 2018)  
Perfect Silence
Perfect Silence
Helen Fields | 2018 | Crime
9
8.3 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
Gripping and thrilling detective story
*** Disclosure - I received a free copy of this book from the publishers and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review ***


This, the fourth DI Luc Callanach book, follows a familiar pattern - two crimes committed early on and parallel investigations into those cause conflict and tension, one being a more typical serial killer hunt, the other a more politically charged investigation.
Over the previous books it feels like Fields has grown bored of her French detective and has put a lot more focus into DCI Ava Turner. This is in no way a bad thing as she feels more real and likeable (less clichéd), but an odd progression for "The DI Callanach" series to have.
The action and cases in this book are quite compelling - young women being kidnapped and their mutilated bodies dumped a week later and a gruesome memento left in the locale of the next victim, with religious overtones; and a spate of drugged homeless people being branded in public places. As usual the killer leaves virtually no trace behind and it is quite some time before the detectives have any idea of who they are looking for.
I still have a few issues with the dialogue in these books, but the plot was solid here, with twists and turns along the way, with a very gripping, proper unputdownable final few chapters.
  
The Time Chamber: A Magical Story and Colouring Book
The Time Chamber: A Magical Story and Colouring Book
Daria Song | 2015 | Gifts & Stationery
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Take a break from the chaos of life and spend hours immersed in the intricacies and the magic of The Time Chamber, a coloring book for adults.

The red haired fairy leaves her time garden to visit our world. She brings with her, a few magical items, which you must find hidden in the pages. Everything she touches is a magical new adventure for her. She explores our world as the little girl sleeps. When the girl awakens, the fairy retreats back to her own world.

I have always enjoyed art. Whether it's painting an original piece, coloring a fuzzy poster, doing a paint-by-number or doodling in my son's coloring book, I find relaxation in expressing myself through my artwork. So when I discovered coloring books for adults, I did a happy dance. I have spent hours coloring in The Time Chamber. The detail is incredible and the artwork intricate. I also found the story line enchanting. Although, I did find a few inconsistencies with the patterns that my O.C.D. did not like, I was able to overlook them and enjoy my time. Overall, this is a very charming book and I absolutely love taking time out of the day to relax and color.

I received a free copy of The Time Chamber from Penguin Random House Publishing through Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest review.
  
C(
Courageous (Valiant Hearts, #3)
4
4.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I loved the first two books in the Valiant Hearts Series. Exciting and engaging. However, the final book in the series fell very short of my expectations. It was fun to revisit characters from the first two books, I love how the storylines cross over. The epilogue provided a satisfying conclusion to the series. But Courageous just could not hold my attention. The first half of the book is very slow and lacking in action. There was some discrepancy regarding dates in the beginning of the book, it may just have been a typo, but it made things very confusing for a bit. I enjoyed Randel and Rosalind's characters and their journey of growth, healing and courage. I highly recommend the first two books in the series: Dauntless and Chivalrous. You may enjoy Courageous more than I did, it just wasn't for me. Keep in mind that it has a very different feel and approach. I recommend reading this series in order. There are characters and circumstances that I don't believe can be fully appreciated unless you read the first books first.
I received a free copy of Courageous from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

My Rating
★★☆☆☆ - She is tolerable I suppose, but not handsome enough to tempt me.
  
AQ
Amish Quilts Coloring Book
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I had so much fun creating my own Amish "quilt" through coloring. I think this is as close to making a real quilt as I will ever get. Sewing and I don't get along so well. Which is why this book is perfect for me! The patterns and details satisfy my OCD side, while my imagination with color satisfies the creativity. Some of the spaces are quite tiny, but it worked well for me. I use colored pencils and have a great sharpener on hand at all times. Coloring is such a great outlet for relaxing. I like to put music on (usually Lindsey Stirling) and let my inner artist emerge and let my personality bleed onto the page. At the top of each page is an Amish Proverb. The one on the page I colored has been so good for me this week. We have had a rough week here, but miracles have been in the making nonetheless!
"Difficulty is the first stage of a miracle."
~Amish Proverb

Overall, this book is a great idea! A wonderful way to bring to life a piece of the culture that we love to read about.

I received two pages from this coloring book to color for free through Celebrate Lit for this Blog Tour in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.
  
Good Girl, Bad Girl
Good Girl, Bad Girl
Michael Robotham | 2019 | Crime, Mystery, Thriller
8
9.3 (4 Ratings)
Book Rating
Introducing some thrilling charachters....
Oh I need this to be a series or at least a trilogy; I need more Evie Cormac!!! The characters in this book are great, if you missed my subtle hint I love Evie. As a young girl Evie is found alone and in a terrible condition, with nothing known of her past. She is kept in care where her path eventually crosses our other main protagonist the psychologist Cyrus Haven. Cyrus also has a dark past and the mystery surrounding their histories is really gripping.

Evie has a Girl with the Dragon Tattoo feel to her, and like Lisbeth in the Stieg Larsson books, Evie has a special talent in this case the ability to know when people are lying. A thoroughly broken but endearing character, I really wanted to see Evie succeed despite herself, and she loves dogs which is always going to get me on side.

The main story itself wasn’t nearly as interesting as the characters. The death of school girl and star figure skater Jodie is a fairly straightforward mystery without much in the way of surprises. However taking the journey with Evie and Cyrus is well worth picking this book up for.


My thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
  
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Eleanor (1463 KP) Jul 23, 2019

Avalible now 23/7/19

Flawed
Flawed
Cecelia Ahern | 2016 | Children
1
8.5 (11 Ratings)
Book Rating
*I received a copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

I'm sorry but I can't do it. I can't carry on reading this strange book. DNF @ 22%.

When I saw Cecelia on Lorraine Kelly talking about this the other day I decided to give it a go after humming and hawing about it for a long time. I've only ever attempted to read one book by the author before and the way it was written put me off.

I think the same happened for me with this. It wasn't smooth and was often repetitive, which annoyed me a little. The info overload and lots of inner turmoil over her sudden realisation that the flawed were not being treated right also pushed me to my limit.

If I'd had enough time to get to know the characters I might have cared a little more about what was going on but we didn't so I...didn't. The situation Celestine found herself in didn't bring me any feelings at all. There was one small bright spark on the horizon (the guy in the cell next door--bear in mind I'm a sucker for the slightest hint of romance) and even THAT couldn't persuade me to keep reading.

It seems me and this author are just not destined to get along.
  
A Terrible Love (A Terrible Love, #1)
A Terrible Love (A Terrible Love, #1)
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I received this copy in exchange for an honest review.

I was quickly captivated by this story and the characters and quickly devoured this book.

The story has some dark aspects but they are to be expected in most New Adult books. This one is slightly darker than others and focuses on abuse and violence.

I’ll start by mentioning Devin Castile, I think I fell for him pretty early on or he at least got me a little hot and bothered. Wowzer! Well done for creating such a hot character :D

Mitch on the other hand seemed sweet and kind but their wasn’t really a spark there. He seemed too much of a gentleman (but some women like that).

I also really liked Brad and Carlie, they were fun characters and I enjoyed the banter they shared with Jess

Although dark, this is a well written book and having looked on GoodReads I’ve seen their is going to be a second book, A Brutal Tenderness, which sounds like it will tell the story from Devin’s POV. I’ll tell you now I will definitely be interested in seeing things from his view and I’ve marked it as “to-read”

I really enjoyed it and recommend it to those who like New Adult books and those who like their books a little grittier.
  
This Raging Light
This Raging Light
Estelle Laure | 2016 | Children
4
6.8 (4 Ratings)
Book Rating
*I received a copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

This wasn't my usual book despite me reading most things romance. It didn't focus mainly on the romance, which may have been my issue with it.

But it also felt a little messed up. It didn't read that smoothly for me--this could be down to it being from Netgalley and not a final version of the book--and struggled to get into it until a good quarter of the way into it.

I may need to sleep on it until I can get my thoughts in better order.

So I slept on it and I'm still unsure of how I feel about it. I didn't gel with it much but I had to keep reading just to see how it was all going to play out. Would her mum come back? Would they be found out about living alone? Who was the person/people who were helping Lucille and Wren with the food and stuff? Would she end up in a relationship with Digby?

All of these questions get answered but afterwards I was just wondering what the message is in the story and I still haven't managed to work it out. Is there a message to be learned in it? I'm not sure.