Search

Search only in certain items:

How Hard Can It Be?
How Hard Can It Be?
Allison Pearson | 2018 | Fiction & Poetry
6
7.0 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
Kate Reddy is about to be 50 years old. She has been out of work for a few years, but now its time to get back out there. Her husband, Rich, has started training to be a counselor and they are trying to renovate the house they have just bought. When Kate learns that a job has opened up at her old company, she jumps on the opportunity. Kate knows she is perfect for the job, but will her age hinder her from getting back in the workforce.

Thank you to St. Martins Press for an Advanced Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I read I Don't Know How She Does It last month in order to prepare myself for this book. I had seen the movie prior to reading the book an enjoyed it, but the book was just okay for me. I felt the same way about this sequel. You definitely want to read the first book in the series as there is a lot of continuation from that story.

Kate Reddy is a character I thought I would be able to relate to, but such is not the case. I'm not sure if it was the setting o the book or what that made me not as compelled to want to read the book. It took me 12 days to read, which is very rare for me. I will say that I enjoyed this book better than the first, but not by much. If there is a movie for this book, though, I will be happy to see it.
  
Hot Conduit (Hot Under the Collar #2)
Hot Conduit (Hot Under the Collar #2)
Katherine McIntyre | 2024 | Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance
10
10.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
so steamy once they decide to act on their attraction!
I was gifted my copy of this book, direct from the author.

This is book 2 in the Hot Under the Collar series, and it can totally be read as a stand alone. HOWEVER, I loved book 1, Sweat Connection, like LOVED IT, so I strongly recommend you read that book as well. Not necessary, but my personal opinion.

Taken from the review I wrote for book one:

I'm not rehashing the blurb, and I'm not telling you the story, I'ma just gonna jump straight in!

READ THIS FREAKING BOOK, PEOPLE!

Again, I'm jumping straight in, cos I bloody loved this book!

Theo and Lex have chemistry, right from the start, but the major dislike for each other takes centre stage for a time. Once they click on the app, all bets are off.

I loved that Lex, once he knew about them, made an effort to ease Theo's issues with germs. Like he took wet wipes for Theo to clean the table at the diner. I loved those little things he did.

There is steam here, so much steam. Once they decide to act of the attraction, it flies hawt off the charts! But emotional too. Theo is dealing with his past exes, and Lex had his heart broken. But they get there, they really do.

I loved the goat yoga! I could see that happening, it was so much fun!

I loved book one, and I loved this one too. I can't wait for book 3!

5 full and shiny stars

*same worded review will appear elsewhere
  
Shadow and Bone - Season 1
Shadow and Bone - Season 1
2021 | Fantasy
Shadow and Bone is based upon the popular Young Adult series, The Grisha Trilogy, which takes place in a steampunk-ish, Russian fantasy world at war. The story’s main character is Alina Starkov (Jessie Mei Li), an orphan who discovers she has some magical powers when she journeys into something called the Fold with her childhood friend Malyen, “Mal” (Archie Renaux), for short. The witches in this fantasy world are called Grisha and are trained to help with military operations for some king. The General of this witch army is Kirigan, played by Ben Barnes. There are also two other storylines, this group of kidnappers, and a Grisha that’s enslaved.
This series wasn’t really made for a general audience, it was made for the fans of the book trilogy. The series starts, and the watcher is immediately thrust into this fantasy world that doesn’t really make much sense with no prior knowledge. If you couldn’t tell from the series description, I wasn’t really into it. It took me two months to watch all eight of the episodes. I almost didn’t keep watching after the first two episodes, but my boss encouraged me to keep going.
The storyline is your standard YA novel, a girl who didn’t know her powers, some lame love triangle, and for some reason, the girl is the only one that can save the world. Nothing new to see here. My interest was only piqued by Barnes’ character Kirigan, and Barnes was the main reason I actually kept watching the show. The seventh episode, which features Kirigan’s backstory, was the most interesting.
The whole kidnapping crew storyline wasn’t really all that interesting. The leader, Kaz (Freddy Carter) is a kingpin-type character with an unexplained limp, or I missed the explanation. The crew also had an assassin-type character, Inej (Amita Suman), who might not really have been an assassin, again, missed that explanation. The best member of this crew was Jesper (Kit Young), who was the charmer, expert trick shooter, and the second most interesting character in the series.
The subplot with the whole kidnapping Alina thing was neither here nor there, I don’t even remember the characters’ names that were involved in this subplot. Maybe it meant something to the readers of the novels, or it’ll make sense in the next season, but it certainly didn’t mean anything to me. I think I fast-forwarded through those portions in the last episode.
I think I started liking it after the seventh episode, but two interesting episodes does not make an interesting series. It’s been about a week since I finished it, and I honestly had to look up all the characters’ names. I probably seem flippant about explaining the different plots, but it’s legitimately all I remember. This series also didn’t leave me with a hankering to read the book series, nor would I care to watch any further seasons. I’m sure if you’re a fan of the book series, you’d probably love this, but it was not for me.
  
Locke & Key, Vol. 1: Welcome to Lovecraft
Locke & Key, Vol. 1: Welcome to Lovecraft
Joe Hill | 2013 | Comics & Graphic Novels
8
9.1 (10 Ratings)
Book Rating
I keep telling myself not to get involved with another comic series. This book (and the next in the series) is the result of taking my children to the library to while away a wet day during the Easter holiday. I thoroughly enjoyed it, too. It dives straight in to the action from page one. Bits are rather blood thirsty, and it does bend reality (he's his fathers son, and probably fed up with being compared to him as well, but there it is!). It's all about keys and somebody, who isn't particularly nice, wanting to get their hands on them. I don't want to say anything else! All I will say, is that it's well worth giving it a chance.
  
The Lightning Thief
The Lightning Thief
Rick Riordan | 2005 | Children, Fiction & Poetry
9
8.6 (100 Ratings)
Book Rating
Greek Mythology, Swords, and Sorcery, Summer Camp (0 more)
Percy is a bit whiny at times. (0 more)
If you are looking for something Harry Potter like but more swords and fighting the Percy Jackson series is for you. Percy is a 12 year old who discovers his true lineage as the son of a Greek god. He is then thrust into the world of heroes and monsters. Percy can be very whiny at times but fellow heroes Annabeth and Grover balance him out with wit and humor. Although it is a YA title there is violence that includes death so if you might not want to read it to small children. All in all, it is a great book and better series give it go.
  
PI
Puzzled Indemnity (Puzzle Lady #16)
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Becky’s latest client is worried that her husband is having an affair and plotting to kill her, so Becky hires Cora to learn if the client has reason to be worried. When Cora confirms the affair, the client hesitates long enough for things to really explode.

Series fans will love this latest case for Cora and company. The banter and word play is present, but it advances a story that has some nice twists and surprises. The characters could be better developed, but that’s long been an issue with the series. It’s a fun fast read, and that’s exactly what it sets out to be.

Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2015/03/book-review-puzzled-indemnity-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
  
I didn't enjoy this novel as much as some of the others in the Deborah Knott series... not sure if it's because I didn't sit down and just read it in one or two sittings as I do with most of Maron's novels, or what. Perhaps, as a result, the plot seemed a bit convoluted at times. Overall, though, it was still a fun read and I did wind up reading the last half or so of the book in one sitting. I thought I had it all figured out, but wound up fairly pleasantly surprised. I'm enjoying this series and will continue to pace myself so I don't read all 14 or so novels in "one fell swoop" (to sound quite Deborah-like).
  
Siege and Storm
Siege and Storm
Leigh Bardugo | 2013 | Young Adult (YA)
This continuation of the story started in Shadow and Bone has Alina running from the Darkling, the Apparat, and at times even trying to run from her own power and the person she is becoming. I thought the author did a good job keeping the dynamics between the characters from getting stale while still keeping them believable. Whenever there is a romance (especially, it seems, in YA), there has to be some type of conflict to keep it interesting if it is going to span a series. Here there is conflict both within Alina’s inner circle and from without, which keeps it interesting and keeps the story flying along at a fast pace. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series!
  
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007)
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007)
2007 | Action, Drama, Family
We lose a good character but the plot rockets forward.
Order of the Phoenix is almost the Empire Strikes Back of the Harry Potter series. You don't end with a whole lot of good feels at the end of this movie. The lot does really take off and you stay on the edge of your seat for the better part of the film.

This might have the best pacing of the entire series. The ups and downs the good vibes and the bad fall at just the right time. To me this is the movie that had to be made because it is the "book" but there is not a whole lot of upside in this one - except for some tremendous acting all the way around.
  
I(
Inferno (The Campbells #1)
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I received this graphic novel in exchange for an honest review.

I was scrolling through NetGalley looking for something quick and easy to read which brought me to Inferno. The cover is really well done and the rest of the artwork is just as good. The storyline was cute and kept my attention as well. Parts of the story even tugged on my heart strings.

I wish there was more to this book though. The ending left me wanting more and more so I really hope that there is a next in the series.

All in all, this was a cute graphic novel that was able to tug on my heart strings. I will definitely continue on in this series when available.