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Bong Mines Entertainment (15 KP) rated Holiday - Single by Dana Williams in Music
Jul 10, 2019
Dana Williams is a singer-songwriter based in Los Angeles, California. Not too long ago, she released a lovely music video for her “Holiday” single.
“My, how time, how it flies away. ‘Cause I used to dream of you, but now I wish you’d go away. It’s only a holiday when you’re away. It’s only a holiday when you’re not here. ‘Cause that’s when I have my space when you’re away. It’s only a holiday when you’re gone. And now the only difference is that I’ve come too far to care. But now the only difference is that you’re not there.” – lyrics
‘Holiday’ tells a bittersweet tale of a young woman who needs a break from her significant other and their problematic relationship.
Oftentimes, she thinks about leaving when he’s away but is too afraid to do so because she fears the loneliness of being single.
Even though they fuss and fight, she admits that she finds comfort in his companionship and that’s why she keeps him around.
‘Holiday’ contains a relatable storyline and ear-welcoming vocals. Also, the likable tune possesses hard-hitting instrumentation embedded with thudding drums and dreamy strings.
“‘Holiday’ is an expression of self-love and realizing that it is better to be alone than in the company of a turbulent relationship.” – Dana Williams
Dana Williams was raised on legendary singers such as Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday.
Not too long ago, her “Honey” single landed on Spotify’s Fresh Finds playlist. So far, the likable tune has amassed over 3M streams online.
Also, Alex Da Kid, a multi-Grammy Award-winner producer (Skylar Grey, Rihanna), will be producing Williams’ upcoming project featuring her “Holiday” single.
“My, how time, how it flies away. ‘Cause I used to dream of you, but now I wish you’d go away. It’s only a holiday when you’re away. It’s only a holiday when you’re not here. ‘Cause that’s when I have my space when you’re away. It’s only a holiday when you’re gone. And now the only difference is that I’ve come too far to care. But now the only difference is that you’re not there.” – lyrics
‘Holiday’ tells a bittersweet tale of a young woman who needs a break from her significant other and their problematic relationship.
Oftentimes, she thinks about leaving when he’s away but is too afraid to do so because she fears the loneliness of being single.
Even though they fuss and fight, she admits that she finds comfort in his companionship and that’s why she keeps him around.
‘Holiday’ contains a relatable storyline and ear-welcoming vocals. Also, the likable tune possesses hard-hitting instrumentation embedded with thudding drums and dreamy strings.
“‘Holiday’ is an expression of self-love and realizing that it is better to be alone than in the company of a turbulent relationship.” – Dana Williams
Dana Williams was raised on legendary singers such as Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday.
Not too long ago, her “Honey” single landed on Spotify’s Fresh Finds playlist. So far, the likable tune has amassed over 3M streams online.
Also, Alex Da Kid, a multi-Grammy Award-winner producer (Skylar Grey, Rihanna), will be producing Williams’ upcoming project featuring her “Holiday” single.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2103 KP) rated Sprinkles of Suspicion in Books
Jun 4, 2020
Emory Finds Herself Caught up in a Murder
When Emory discovers that her husband, Philip, is having an affair with her best friend, Tori, Emory naturally gets very angry and gets into a very public fight with Tori. That creates a problem, however, when Emory finds Tori’s very dead body just a few hours later. Naturally, the police consider Emory their best suspect, so Emory sets out to give them other suspects. As she tries to clear her name, is she prepared for the secrets she will uncover?
Between the Orange County, California, setting and the culinary cozy hook, I couldn’t pass this book up. As always, I enjoyed seeing the action taking place in areas I recognized even if I don’t know them super well. This book works in many ways like a TV pilot, readjusting Emory’s life as well as giving us a murder to solve. The murder got overshadowed a bit at times, but I always found the book compelling to read. There are several good surprises and twists to the mystery. The ending was a little weak, but it does answer all of our questions. I certainly sympathized with Emory since she comes across as very trusting, something that creates problems when your life becomes a mystery. I did feel her family was a little too self-absorbed. I’m sure it was supposed to be funny, but I found it more annoying. The 11 recipes at the end include some Western themed dishes as well as a couple of delicious sounding cupcakes. All told, this is a fun series debut that will leave you wondering just where cupcakes and murder will take Emory next.
Between the Orange County, California, setting and the culinary cozy hook, I couldn’t pass this book up. As always, I enjoyed seeing the action taking place in areas I recognized even if I don’t know them super well. This book works in many ways like a TV pilot, readjusting Emory’s life as well as giving us a murder to solve. The murder got overshadowed a bit at times, but I always found the book compelling to read. There are several good surprises and twists to the mystery. The ending was a little weak, but it does answer all of our questions. I certainly sympathized with Emory since she comes across as very trusting, something that creates problems when your life becomes a mystery. I did feel her family was a little too self-absorbed. I’m sure it was supposed to be funny, but I found it more annoying. The 11 recipes at the end include some Western themed dishes as well as a couple of delicious sounding cupcakes. All told, this is a fun series debut that will leave you wondering just where cupcakes and murder will take Emory next.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2103 KP) rated Whale Done in Books
Apr 3, 2023
Message Drowns Out Plot
Teddy Fitzroy is on vacation again, this time in Malibu with his girlfriend, Summer McCracken, and Summer’s mother. They are visiting a friend of Mrs. McCracken who lives right on the beach in Southern California. Unfortunately, the beach stinks right now since a whale has beached itself and died. The head veterinarian from FunJungle is there as well, as he is planning to assist his friend who works for NOAA on the autopsy to find out exactly what happened to the whale, but before they can do that, the whale explodes. Obviously, someone is trying to hide something. Can Teddy figure out what is really happening?
Since the last book was also set away from FunJungle, I was disappointed we didn’t get to spend much time at the park again here. I did enjoy the LA setting since I live here, but it didn’t completely make up for missing the park and regular characters. The plot spends time speculating on why the whale died and why someone who want to hide their involvement, which turns into several lectures on how humans are destroying oceans. Yes, this is an important topic, but it took over and slowed down the story at times. On the other hand, Teddy once again makes some logical connections with great clues that figure things out in the end. The characters we meet along the way are fun, and I liked the development we got for Teddy and Summer. If you are new to the series, I suggest you start with an earlier book. Fans will still enjoy this one.
Since the last book was also set away from FunJungle, I was disappointed we didn’t get to spend much time at the park again here. I did enjoy the LA setting since I live here, but it didn’t completely make up for missing the park and regular characters. The plot spends time speculating on why the whale died and why someone who want to hide their involvement, which turns into several lectures on how humans are destroying oceans. Yes, this is an important topic, but it took over and slowed down the story at times. On the other hand, Teddy once again makes some logical connections with great clues that figure things out in the end. The characters we meet along the way are fun, and I liked the development we got for Teddy and Summer. If you are new to the series, I suggest you start with an earlier book. Fans will still enjoy this one.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2103 KP) rated Buttercream Betrayal in Books
Sep 16, 2022
Murder Goes to the Dogs
In an attempt to train her woefully misbehaving dogs, Emory Martinez has signed them up for a dog obedience class run by Shawn Parker. The class has gotten rave reviews online, but Emory finds that it has done little for her two dogs, as evidenced by their misbehavior at the graduation potluck. It’s also at this potluck that Emory begins to hear gripes and grumblings not only about Shawn but his mother, Eloise, who is President of the condo association where most of Emory’s fellow students live. A few hours later, Emory stumbles over the dead body of Eloise in the condo’s community center. With the rumors that Emory has heard, can she sort out who killed Eloise?
I enjoy this series, so it was wonderful to see what Emory and the rest of the cast is up to. Once again, they were a delight to spend time with. The suspects could have been a little stronger, but they worked for their role in the story. The pacing of the plot could have been a little better as well, but it did keep me engaged as I was reading. I also enjoy the Southern California setting of the stories. The book uses its September setting to introduce lots of apple themed treats, and the recipes at the end made me drool. By necessity, this book spoils some past events, so if you want to read them unspoiled, I recommend you go back to the beginning. As a fan of the series, that would be my recommendation anyway. Fans will be anxious to dive into this book, and they’ll be well rewarded.
I enjoy this series, so it was wonderful to see what Emory and the rest of the cast is up to. Once again, they were a delight to spend time with. The suspects could have been a little stronger, but they worked for their role in the story. The pacing of the plot could have been a little better as well, but it did keep me engaged as I was reading. I also enjoy the Southern California setting of the stories. The book uses its September setting to introduce lots of apple themed treats, and the recipes at the end made me drool. By necessity, this book spoils some past events, so if you want to read them unspoiled, I recommend you go back to the beginning. As a fan of the series, that would be my recommendation anyway. Fans will be anxious to dive into this book, and they’ll be well rewarded.
MelanieTheresa (997 KP) rated I Know You in Books
Mar 11, 2019
Contains spoilers, click to show
*I received a digital ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*
If you're one of those people who's paranoid about every little thing they post on social media.....maybe don't read this one.
I was hooked from the very beginning. We jump back and forth between the main story, told by pregnant Taylor who has just moved to London from California with her formerly cheating husband, and the thoughts of a social media stalker. It's not immediately clear whether the stalker is male or female, which adds to the mystery. What is clear is that this stalker is very angry, and very skilled in the art of stalking via social media.
I found it interesting that the author throws us such an obvious red herring in Simon. Ok yeah, he was a little creepy, but I think he was just lonely and weird. Similarly, Caroline was far too obvious a choice for the stalker, as she knew "Jake the Rake" back in primary school and seemed standoffish and full of herself to begin with. These things are explained in the story, at which point I thought "oh, so THAT'S why he/she is like that."
About 80% through, I had convinced myself that it was most likely the woman who Jake previously cheated with, who is now obsessed with him and wants him all to herself. I was wrong, but honestly, NOT THAT WRONG. His ex-wife? What?? At no point in the story do we ever hear about Jake having been married, and it's clear after the reveal that Taylor also had no idea.
While I thoroughly enjoyed this story, I felt the ending was a bit abrupt and could've given us a bit more.
If you're one of those people who's paranoid about every little thing they post on social media.....maybe don't read this one.
I was hooked from the very beginning. We jump back and forth between the main story, told by pregnant Taylor who has just moved to London from California with her formerly cheating husband, and the thoughts of a social media stalker. It's not immediately clear whether the stalker is male or female, which adds to the mystery. What is clear is that this stalker is very angry, and very skilled in the art of stalking via social media.
I found it interesting that the author throws us such an obvious red herring in Simon. Ok yeah, he was a little creepy, but I think he was just lonely and weird. Similarly, Caroline was far too obvious a choice for the stalker, as she knew "Jake the Rake" back in primary school and seemed standoffish and full of herself to begin with. These things are explained in the story, at which point I thought "oh, so THAT'S why he/she is like that."
About 80% through, I had convinced myself that it was most likely the woman who Jake previously cheated with, who is now obsessed with him and wants him all to herself. I was wrong, but honestly, NOT THAT WRONG. His ex-wife? What?? At no point in the story do we ever hear about Jake having been married, and it's clear after the reveal that Taylor also had no idea.
While I thoroughly enjoyed this story, I felt the ending was a bit abrupt and could've given us a bit more.
Whatchareadin (174 KP) rated Elixir in Books
Apr 3, 2019
What is 5+2? How about 5x2? Those are easy right? What about 456328x22? Not so easy without a pen and paper or a calculator. For Sean Malone, these answers come to him very easily. At age 11 he was a Jeopardy champion. Now at age 14 he's a sophomore at Southern California Technical University and working on a project that no one has been able to figure out. The problem of the traveling salesman. When Sean does solve the problem, not only is his professor impressed. So are the head of the NSA, Secretary of Defense and the FBI. Sean didn't know that by solving this simple problem he also found a way into everything.
This debut novel from Ted Galdi is an exciting look into the mind of geniuses. Sometimes being the smartest one in the room isn't always the greatest thing. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. I couldn't wait to pick it up everyday and find out what was going to happen next. There are a few thrilling moments in the book where you are on the edge of your seat. You are always rooting for Sean though throughout it's entirety. This book spans Sean's life from age 14 on with glimpses into his life before. You meet his friends and family and he becomes someone you want to know. Are there people like Sean in the world today who can come up with fascinating ideas that can change the world?
I'm afraid if I speak on this book too much I will give away the whole thing. All I can say is that you have to pick it up and give it a try for yourself.
This debut novel from Ted Galdi is an exciting look into the mind of geniuses. Sometimes being the smartest one in the room isn't always the greatest thing. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. I couldn't wait to pick it up everyday and find out what was going to happen next. There are a few thrilling moments in the book where you are on the edge of your seat. You are always rooting for Sean though throughout it's entirety. This book spans Sean's life from age 14 on with glimpses into his life before. You meet his friends and family and he becomes someone you want to know. Are there people like Sean in the world today who can come up with fascinating ideas that can change the world?
I'm afraid if I speak on this book too much I will give away the whole thing. All I can say is that you have to pick it up and give it a try for yourself.
Whatchareadin (174 KP) rated Hunted in Books
Apr 9, 2019
Thank you to the author for a copy of this book in exchange for my review.
Detective Scarlett Fry is taking a much needed vacation with her husband in Spain, but she just can't seem to escape work. When two dead bodies are discovered in the room across from hers, she has to find out what happened. But this isn't her jurisdiction, so she continues her vacation, but it's hard to get it out of her mind. Upon returning home, she gets a case of a murdered man and a missing family. Ironically her case at home and the murders in Spain are connected. Will she be able to find the killer or killers and will she be able to find the missing family?
This is the first book I have read by Dominique L. Watson, but I will definitely read more. I'm really looking forward to reading Murder for Justice, which is the first Scarlett Fry book. I devoured this book in a few days.
Detective Scarlett Fry can't seem to get a break. Even on vacation, as a homicide detective, work seem to fall at her feet. Or right across the hall from her hotel room in Spain. She could never imagine that thousands of miles away in her jurisdiction, a murder was taking place there as well. And a kidnapping. I was on the edge of my seat as Fry traveled the southwest part of the country from San Diego, California to small town Arizona hunting the killer. Twists and turns all along the way make this book very hard to put down. I highly recommend this book for anyone looking for a great fast paced thriller.
Detective Scarlett Fry is taking a much needed vacation with her husband in Spain, but she just can't seem to escape work. When two dead bodies are discovered in the room across from hers, she has to find out what happened. But this isn't her jurisdiction, so she continues her vacation, but it's hard to get it out of her mind. Upon returning home, she gets a case of a murdered man and a missing family. Ironically her case at home and the murders in Spain are connected. Will she be able to find the killer or killers and will she be able to find the missing family?
This is the first book I have read by Dominique L. Watson, but I will definitely read more. I'm really looking forward to reading Murder for Justice, which is the first Scarlett Fry book. I devoured this book in a few days.
Detective Scarlett Fry can't seem to get a break. Even on vacation, as a homicide detective, work seem to fall at her feet. Or right across the hall from her hotel room in Spain. She could never imagine that thousands of miles away in her jurisdiction, a murder was taking place there as well. And a kidnapping. I was on the edge of my seat as Fry traveled the southwest part of the country from San Diego, California to small town Arizona hunting the killer. Twists and turns all along the way make this book very hard to put down. I highly recommend this book for anyone looking for a great fast paced thriller.
Whatchareadin (174 KP) rated This Is Me: Loving the Person You Are Today in Books
Apr 9, 2019
Chrissy Metz stars on the NBC hit show, This is US as Kate Pearson, one of the triplets. If you have never seen this show, you don't need to have, to read this book, but I think you might afterwards. This book chronicles her life from when she was a young child to her life today after making it on such a great show. It goes through her struggles with her weight and being accepted by family as well as outsiders. And her main focus is being happy with the person she is no matter her size or job.
I would categorize this book as a Self-Help Memoir. Chrissy gives explains how she overcame many obstacles in her life and shares these lessons with her readers. She is a strong independent woman, moving her whole life from Gainsville, Florida to Los Angeles, California to pursue her acting career. This was not something that came easy for her and she spent 9 years as a agent helping others with their acting careers before she was able to really start her own.
I could relate to Chrissy in a lot of aspects in this book, her advice is stuff we've all heard before, but her examples of how she applied it to her own circumstances, made the book more relateable to me.
Chrissy Metz is Kate Pearson. She explains this in her book of how the struggles Kate goes through are exactly the issues she had, as if the role was written specifically for her. Chrissy seems very down to earth and a person who you would want to be friends with. I look forward to following her journey on This is US and any other projects she may be involved in.
I would categorize this book as a Self-Help Memoir. Chrissy gives explains how she overcame many obstacles in her life and shares these lessons with her readers. She is a strong independent woman, moving her whole life from Gainsville, Florida to Los Angeles, California to pursue her acting career. This was not something that came easy for her and she spent 9 years as a agent helping others with their acting careers before she was able to really start her own.
I could relate to Chrissy in a lot of aspects in this book, her advice is stuff we've all heard before, but her examples of how she applied it to her own circumstances, made the book more relateable to me.
Chrissy Metz is Kate Pearson. She explains this in her book of how the struggles Kate goes through are exactly the issues she had, as if the role was written specifically for her. Chrissy seems very down to earth and a person who you would want to be friends with. I look forward to following her journey on This is US and any other projects she may be involved in.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2103 KP) rated Dyeing Season in Books
Apr 12, 2019 (Updated Apr 12, 2019)
Spring Tornado Leaves Behind a Murder Victim
A sudden spring tornado finds Lucy scrambling to protect her property. When she goes to her elderly neighbor’s place, she finds Dottie alone with no idea where her home health aid is. This isn’t like Eva, so the women are worried. It’s only after the storm has passed that they get an answer when Lucy finds Eva’s body. Even with the tornado having just passed, it is very clear that Eva was murdered. The tornado left behind destruction to Lucy’s crops, so she needs to replant, but she can’t help begin to investigate what happened to Eva. Will she uncover the truth?
Being a wind hating California native, this book hooked me from the opening tornado. That didn’t diminish a bit when the storm ended and Lucy found the body. The plot is strong and, while not a typical cozy formula, held my attention the entire time as I waited to see how Lucy could prove what she was pretty sure was happening and who the killer would turn out to be. It’s wonderful to spend time with these characters again, and I enjoyed getting to know some new ones, too. I suspect we’ll see more of some of them in future books; at least I hope so. I did catch a few annoying editing issues, but they can be easily fixed and don’t impact the story at all; in fact, they vanish as we get further into the book. There are seven recipes at the end, including natural dyes for eggs, perfect for Easter. This is a fast, fun read that will leave cozy fans anxious for their next trip to visit Lucy.
Being a wind hating California native, this book hooked me from the opening tornado. That didn’t diminish a bit when the storm ended and Lucy found the body. The plot is strong and, while not a typical cozy formula, held my attention the entire time as I waited to see how Lucy could prove what she was pretty sure was happening and who the killer would turn out to be. It’s wonderful to spend time with these characters again, and I enjoyed getting to know some new ones, too. I suspect we’ll see more of some of them in future books; at least I hope so. I did catch a few annoying editing issues, but they can be easily fixed and don’t impact the story at all; in fact, they vanish as we get further into the book. There are seven recipes at the end, including natural dyes for eggs, perfect for Easter. This is a fast, fun read that will leave cozy fans anxious for their next trip to visit Lucy.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2103 KP) rated Taken in Books
Jun 5, 2019
Elvis Cole and Joe Pike Track the Taken
Los Angeles PI Elvis Cole is hired by Nita Morales to find her daughter Krista. Krista and her boyfriend, Jack, disappeared several days ago. Nita has received a ransom call, but she was only asked for $500. Surely, this is just Krista and Jack trying to get some money from Nita so they can elope, right? However, Elvis quickly begins to determine that Krista and Jack are in serious danger; they’ve been kidnapped by a group that captures illegal immigrants trying to get into California. But knowing what happened to them only increases the stakes. Can Elvis and his partner, Joe Pike, find the two young adults and rescue them before it is too late?
This book is an amazing thrill ride. The story starts off fast, and it never really lets go until we reach the end. However, it is too much like a movie thriller, which means it has some serious weaknesses. The characters, even series leads Elvis Cole and Joe Pike, are shallow. This doesn’t help since there are a lot of players we have to try to keep straight. Author Robert Crais uses shifting timelines to help increase the tension, which works as intended, but he notes the time in a way that grows confusing as the book progresses; he even spoils a major plot point early on as a result. The book is brutal and filled with foul language. While I expect that when reading one of Robert Crais’s books, this one seemed excessive, even by his standards. Despite all these negatives, I still found the book extremely addicting and impossible to stop thinking about. It’s worth reading as long as you keep your expectations appropriate going into the book.
This book is an amazing thrill ride. The story starts off fast, and it never really lets go until we reach the end. However, it is too much like a movie thriller, which means it has some serious weaknesses. The characters, even series leads Elvis Cole and Joe Pike, are shallow. This doesn’t help since there are a lot of players we have to try to keep straight. Author Robert Crais uses shifting timelines to help increase the tension, which works as intended, but he notes the time in a way that grows confusing as the book progresses; he even spoils a major plot point early on as a result. The book is brutal and filled with foul language. While I expect that when reading one of Robert Crais’s books, this one seemed excessive, even by his standards. Despite all these negatives, I still found the book extremely addicting and impossible to stop thinking about. It’s worth reading as long as you keep your expectations appropriate going into the book.