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Erika (17788 KP) rated The Huntress in Books
May 4, 2019
To start out with, I wish I could give this a perfect 10, but one of the main characters, Nina, was completely insufferable and easily, her chapters could have been cut out.
Alright, so, I don't consider books post WWI to be historical fiction, and I normally steer clear of WWII/aftermath fiction because bookstores and goodreads are inundated with hundreds of novels. But, I decided to pick up this book anyway.
Essentially, it's a Nazi hunt. There are three viewpoints from three different characters. As I mentioned, Nina was insufferable. Most of the reviews I read talked about their love of this character and the origin of the Night Witches (AKA female, Russian pilots). Ian was one of the other main characters, a former war correspondent who's a Nazi hunter, trying to find 'The Huntress', who murdered his brother. Then, there's Jordan, an American teenager whose father marries a mysterious German woman with a daughter.
I won't spoil the plot, but basically, you can work out the entire plot within the first few chapters. What kept me reading was the writing style, and every other character but Nina.
Alright, so, I don't consider books post WWI to be historical fiction, and I normally steer clear of WWII/aftermath fiction because bookstores and goodreads are inundated with hundreds of novels. But, I decided to pick up this book anyway.
Essentially, it's a Nazi hunt. There are three viewpoints from three different characters. As I mentioned, Nina was insufferable. Most of the reviews I read talked about their love of this character and the origin of the Night Witches (AKA female, Russian pilots). Ian was one of the other main characters, a former war correspondent who's a Nazi hunter, trying to find 'The Huntress', who murdered his brother. Then, there's Jordan, an American teenager whose father marries a mysterious German woman with a daughter.
I won't spoil the plot, but basically, you can work out the entire plot within the first few chapters. What kept me reading was the writing style, and every other character but Nina.
Lenard (726 KP) rated Shazam! (2019) in Movies
May 8, 2019 (Updated Jun 15, 2019)
Did you ever dream of becoming a superhero? Thaddeus Sivana does. Bullied by his father and older brother because they think he is weak, Thaddeus dreams of becoming the most powerful being in the world. However, Wizard, the last remaining guardian of the secrets of the universe, doesn't think he is pure of heart and worthy of being a superhero. Thaddeus decides to become a supervillain and waits for a champion of the downtrodden, Captain Marvel (I refuse to call him Shazam since he IS Captain Marvel unlike Carol Danvers who got a promotion to Captain after being Ms Marvel for decades). A couple decades later, Billy Batson who was abandoned by his mother at a state fair spends his day researching and looking for the woman who abandoned him while running away from various foster homes. That is, until he is placed in a foster home full of damaged children. He learns the value of family while learning how to be a hero. I watched the TV series every Saturday growing up and while the movie is good, the show remains a pivotal time in my life.
saheffernan (157 KP) rated The First Mistake in Books
May 22, 2019
The publisher has sent me this ARC in exchange for an honest review
Betrayed by a husband, ever learned something about a loved one who's gone and felt betrayed? How about a best friend, brother in law, co-worker? This book has it all. We learn about Alice and Beth two best friends in current day. Then we go back and learn about their lives in the 9 or so years before they meet and how intertwined we can be with someone and not even know. We learn how deceptive even those who are closest to us can be if they feel like they've been wronged or cheated by us.
I feel like in the end the last 100 pages or so this book redeemed itself. In saying that the book was enjoyable to read but I felt like the last 100 pages is where the action and the story was really coming together was. If you like suspense this book is definitely worth the read I have to say I kept trying to fit all the pieces together and just couldn't get it quite right.
Betrayed by a husband, ever learned something about a loved one who's gone and felt betrayed? How about a best friend, brother in law, co-worker? This book has it all. We learn about Alice and Beth two best friends in current day. Then we go back and learn about their lives in the 9 or so years before they meet and how intertwined we can be with someone and not even know. We learn how deceptive even those who are closest to us can be if they feel like they've been wronged or cheated by us.
I feel like in the end the last 100 pages or so this book redeemed itself. In saying that the book was enjoyable to read but I felt like the last 100 pages is where the action and the story was really coming together was. If you like suspense this book is definitely worth the read I have to say I kept trying to fit all the pieces together and just couldn't get it quite right.
Mark Halpern (153 KP) rated The Hangover (2009) in Movies
Jan 19, 2018 (Updated Jan 19, 2018)
Wolf Pack
Four guys embark to Las Vegas for their friends bachelor party. The four friends could not be better opposites of each other. Doug the groom is the normal one, Alan the brother in-law is kind of mentally unbalanced, Phil who is a good friend is the wild one and Stu the other friend is the safe and cautious one. Well one thing leads to another and we see them wake up all deranged and Doug is missing. They have to retrace their steps in trying to find them which leads them into crazy findings such as a baby, a stolen police car, a tiger, "iron" Mike Tyson, A kidnapped Chinese man and a marriage. Do they find Doug or don't they.
For what it was it was the the hardest I have laughed in a theater ever at that time. I don't think there was a moment where my gut did not hurt. If you watch make sure you watch the credits how ever we do see one of the cast getting a hummer which i could have done with out.
For what it was it was the the hardest I have laughed in a theater ever at that time. I don't think there was a moment where my gut did not hurt. If you watch make sure you watch the credits how ever we do see one of the cast getting a hummer which i could have done with out.
Merissa (12069 KP) rated No Fear (No Shame #3) in Books
Feb 27, 2018
No Fear (No Shame #3) by Nora Phoenix
In No Fear, we meet Aaron, Josh's brother. He gave Josh a hard time when Josh came out, so you can understand where Josh's feelings towards him come from. However, he stays at Blake's house, and gradually learns just who he is and where he wants to be.
This is probably the hardest book so far for me to read, simply because it talked about 'puppy play' which I've heard about, but never read about until now. The thing I love about Nora Phoenix's writing is that none of it is written for shock value. It all plays a part in the whole story, and nicely rounds out the story arcs that continue through this book.
All of the characters are different, so you won't get confused between the differing voices. This IS part of a series though, and definitely can't be read as a standalone. As with the previous two books, it was excellently written, with no editing or grammatical errors that disrupted my reading. I am absolute loving this series, and the way the characters and their lives intertwine. Highly recommended by me.
This is probably the hardest book so far for me to read, simply because it talked about 'puppy play' which I've heard about, but never read about until now. The thing I love about Nora Phoenix's writing is that none of it is written for shock value. It all plays a part in the whole story, and nicely rounds out the story arcs that continue through this book.
All of the characters are different, so you won't get confused between the differing voices. This IS part of a series though, and definitely can't be read as a standalone. As with the previous two books, it was excellently written, with no editing or grammatical errors that disrupted my reading. I am absolute loving this series, and the way the characters and their lives intertwine. Highly recommended by me.
ClareR (5726 KP) rated Future Home of the Living God in Books
Aug 2, 2018
It’s all been done before...
Cedar Hawk Songmaker is pregnant. Unfortunately, evolution seems to be going backwards at an alarming rate in all things: animals, crops, babies....
Society goes mad, the giver collapses, and a religious government takes over. Another story where a woman is just a womb and the baby is the only important thing. This frustrates me: there’s only a finite number of women, and surely only a small number who are able to give birth to babies who haven’t ‘devolved’? Why risk them dying? Why force them to ‘breed’? I just don’t get these stories. I liked the first person, diary entry approach to the novel, by the way. It works really well.
This is very similar to A Handmaids Tale: men and religion controls the state, a declining birth rate, Big Brother is watching (thanks to George Orwell for that little sort device). Nice touch with the Native American Indians, by the way.
I have an idea - how about a (good, well-written) story where there’s a declining birth rate, men are to blame and WOMEN are in charge?! Has anyone written that yet? I’d buy it! Any suggestions will probably be read!
Society goes mad, the giver collapses, and a religious government takes over. Another story where a woman is just a womb and the baby is the only important thing. This frustrates me: there’s only a finite number of women, and surely only a small number who are able to give birth to babies who haven’t ‘devolved’? Why risk them dying? Why force them to ‘breed’? I just don’t get these stories. I liked the first person, diary entry approach to the novel, by the way. It works really well.
This is very similar to A Handmaids Tale: men and religion controls the state, a declining birth rate, Big Brother is watching (thanks to George Orwell for that little sort device). Nice touch with the Native American Indians, by the way.
I have an idea - how about a (good, well-written) story where there’s a declining birth rate, men are to blame and WOMEN are in charge?! Has anyone written that yet? I’d buy it! Any suggestions will probably be read!
David McK (3425 KP) rated The King's Assassin (The Outlaw Chronicles, #7) in Books
Jan 30, 2019
This, I believe, is the penultimate entry in [a: Angus Donald|584064|Angus Donald|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png]'s 'Outlaw' series of novels dealing with the legend of Robin Hood.
If I'm honest, I also have to say that I read the title as meaning 'an assassin belonging to a King' rather than what proves to be the actual meaning: a (failed) attempt to assassinate the King (who, at this stage, is John).
As before, this is presented as the elderly Alan a Dale (now in a monastery as he has been since the opening of [b: Outlaw|17333533|Outlaw|Ted Dekker|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1364009572s/17333533.jpg|24064806], and by this stage dictating rather than writing himself) recalling his earlier life in the company of Robin and his men.
The main 'hook' of this particular entry in the series is the events leading up to the signing of Magna Carta, with King John proving to be an unpopular and failing ruler, especially compared to his older brother Richard ('the Lionheart'), and with Robin instrumental in bringing about the famous document.
If I'm honest, I also have to say that I read the title as meaning 'an assassin belonging to a King' rather than what proves to be the actual meaning: a (failed) attempt to assassinate the King (who, at this stage, is John).
As before, this is presented as the elderly Alan a Dale (now in a monastery as he has been since the opening of [b: Outlaw|17333533|Outlaw|Ted Dekker|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1364009572s/17333533.jpg|24064806], and by this stage dictating rather than writing himself) recalling his earlier life in the company of Robin and his men.
The main 'hook' of this particular entry in the series is the events leading up to the signing of Magna Carta, with King John proving to be an unpopular and failing ruler, especially compared to his older brother Richard ('the Lionheart'), and with Robin instrumental in bringing about the famous document.
Deborah (162 KP) rated The Tudor Wife in Books
Dec 21, 2018
This was not bad for an 'on holiday, don't think too much about it' sort of read. I still can't say I'd go out of my way to recommend it though!
I thought the writing style was OK, but in places got a bit repetitive - towards the end I lost count of the number of times we heard "she who sows the whirlwind reaps the storm".... I never think books written in the first person work quite so well as those written in the third person anyway. This one was written from the point of view of Jane Boleyn (nee Parker), wife to George Boleyn, Anne's brother. It could have been a more interesting psychological study of this woman, but she ends up looking voyeristic and petty! The sex scenes in this book are one of the worst parts to be honest, let alone the fact that we have Jane sleeping with Cromwell and Katherine Howard and Anna of Cleves involved in a very interesting situation with a pot of honey.... it seems to be salacious just for the sake of it as it doesn't add anything!
I thought the writing style was OK, but in places got a bit repetitive - towards the end I lost count of the number of times we heard "she who sows the whirlwind reaps the storm".... I never think books written in the first person work quite so well as those written in the third person anyway. This one was written from the point of view of Jane Boleyn (nee Parker), wife to George Boleyn, Anne's brother. It could have been a more interesting psychological study of this woman, but she ends up looking voyeristic and petty! The sex scenes in this book are one of the worst parts to be honest, let alone the fact that we have Jane sleeping with Cromwell and Katherine Howard and Anna of Cleves involved in a very interesting situation with a pot of honey.... it seems to be salacious just for the sake of it as it doesn't add anything!
ClareR (5726 KP) rated The End of Magic in Books
Jan 7, 2020
I thoroughly enjoyed this fantasy novel from Mark Stay. It’s exciting, fast paced and jam packed with magic. Until there isn’t any magic, that is.
The Lapis Moon which orbits the planet, is hit by a comet and destroyed, making all the mages and magical creatures powerless. Sander Bree, the mage to a powerful man, is just on his way to find a cure for his employers daughter when he’s rendered powerless. Nevertheless, he’s determined to keep his word.
Rosheen Katell is more of a freelance mage, and is blackmailed into working for a very bad man in order to save her younger brother. Rosheen and Sander find themselves working against one another. With the destruction of the Lapis Moon however, comes the rise of another power.
This was such a good story, and the ending was totally unexpected. I liked that the end seemed to be finished in a very definite way - although it could easily be turned into a series (but I rather like it as it is. The book world seems far to keen on never ending series just lately).
Many thanks to The Pigeonhole and Mark Stay for reading along!
The Lapis Moon which orbits the planet, is hit by a comet and destroyed, making all the mages and magical creatures powerless. Sander Bree, the mage to a powerful man, is just on his way to find a cure for his employers daughter when he’s rendered powerless. Nevertheless, he’s determined to keep his word.
Rosheen Katell is more of a freelance mage, and is blackmailed into working for a very bad man in order to save her younger brother. Rosheen and Sander find themselves working against one another. With the destruction of the Lapis Moon however, comes the rise of another power.
This was such a good story, and the ending was totally unexpected. I liked that the end seemed to be finished in a very definite way - although it could easily be turned into a series (but I rather like it as it is. The book world seems far to keen on never ending series just lately).
Many thanks to The Pigeonhole and Mark Stay for reading along!
David McK (3425 KP) rated Blood's Revolution in Books
Feb 8, 2020
Second entry in Angus Donald's Holcroft Blood series (that started with Blood's Game) and, in many respects, you could be forgiven for thinking that this had a different central character.
Since the events covered in that novel, the young Holcroft Blood has grown up, and is no longer quite as naïve, perhaps, as he was before. The 'Merry Monarch' (Charles II) has also passed on, with his crown passing to his Catholic brother James II, as his Holcroft's father Colonel Thomas Blood (who attempted to steal the Crown Jewels in the previous novel).
The majority of this novel thus concerns itself with Holcroft being caught up in the events surrounding James II increasing alienation of Britain's Protestant political elite, while being hunted by a brutal French spy for his time doing the similar for Charles II in France.
I'm interested in seeing where this goes, and how Holcroft gets caught up in the later events, especially since The Battle of the Boyne (in which William, the Prince of Orange, defeats King James II) is still remembered every July 12th here in my homeland of Northern Ireland!
Since the events covered in that novel, the young Holcroft Blood has grown up, and is no longer quite as naïve, perhaps, as he was before. The 'Merry Monarch' (Charles II) has also passed on, with his crown passing to his Catholic brother James II, as his Holcroft's father Colonel Thomas Blood (who attempted to steal the Crown Jewels in the previous novel).
The majority of this novel thus concerns itself with Holcroft being caught up in the events surrounding James II increasing alienation of Britain's Protestant political elite, while being hunted by a brutal French spy for his time doing the similar for Charles II in France.
I'm interested in seeing where this goes, and how Holcroft gets caught up in the later events, especially since The Battle of the Boyne (in which William, the Prince of Orange, defeats King James II) is still remembered every July 12th here in my homeland of Northern Ireland!