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Learn To Love Me
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Disclaimer: I was given an e-copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.

This is an exciting mystery/crime thriller/suspense/sort-of-romance all wrapped together with a tight little bow. Emily is a journalist trying to break into the exciting world of news instead of just writing a column. She gets her wish, but only after a girl she interviewed for her column goes missing. While trying to cope with the tragedy, her marriage is starting to falter, she's not so sure her husband is still the man she fell in love with, and to beat it all, she's getting harassing phone calls at work and home. When the detective assigned to her case turns out to be an old flame, things get really interesting, and Emily's whole life seems to spiral out of control.

This story has everything: journalists, cops, quarreling spouses, old boyfriends, haunted pasts, kidnapping, etc. etc. Once I started reading, I only put it down because my husband yelled at me to go to bed. I kept trying to guess who the bad guy was throughout the story, and I just couldn't settle on one person for too long. The author definitely keeps you guessing until the reveal at the end, and then the explanation is just as crazy as those we hear on the news. I can say, I totally didn't see the Epilogue coming, but it's just fantastic!!

I would definitely recommend this to fans of mysteries, suspense thrillers, crime thrillers, and anybody who just wants to read an awesome story that'll keep you guessing. =)

5 stars (wish I could give more)
  
Crown of Midnight
Crown of Midnight
Sarah J. Maas | 2013 | Science Fiction/Fantasy, Young Adult (YA)
10
9.1 (48 Ratings)
Book Rating
So the book picks up a little while after the end of the first book. Celaena assassin, Chaol is still training with Celaena everyday when she is at the castle and not off on business for the king and Dorian is trying to get over Celaena. Lots of action, which is incredibly well written. Lots of intrigue and plot twists and the level of fantasy world building is on point.

I must say I am proper fan-girling over Chaol. I am so invested in this coupling that I can barely focus on anything else. I like that he is far from perfect. His flaws make him more real, more believable and a lot more interesting. This internal fight he has with himself to realise what it is he really wants.

Honestly this book did me in. I’ve not been able to start the next one properly as I am too devastated by the sheer amazingness of it. It’s everything the first book should have been. The difference in complexity of the story and how well the characters have been development is phenomenal. I have not enjoyed a book this much in a long time.

I wouldn’t change this book. I wouldn’t add anything. Just well done, Sarah J. Maas, new fan here, and that means you will have me for life. Totally invested in all the characters and this new world that has been created. Just so enjoyable.

If you read the first book and weren’t too impressed…. This book is a whole other level! Please give this book a chance, otherwise you will miss out on something truly special.
  
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Chloe (778 KP) Mar 21, 2021

This is exactly how I felt, so glad I bought 2 & 3 to force myself to read them

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365Flicks (235 KP) rated I Love My Mum (2018) in Movies

Oct 31, 2019 (Updated Oct 31, 2019)  
I Love My Mum (2018)
I Love My Mum (2018)
2018 | Comedy
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Movie Rating
I feel this could be an instant cult favourite.
Prepare yourself Film Fans, for what could be the best British road trip comedy you will have seen in a long time. A bold statement I know however this Low budget Brit comedy punches way above its weight in almost every aspect and lands an absolute knockout for its viewers.

Often movies like this can just seem like a series of randomly put together scenarios and yes this movie could easily run the risk of being overly silly but I felt like through some spot-on casting, a great script and masterful directing on the part of Alberto Sciamma this movie expertly avoids becoming one of those movies.

Tommy French as Ron is somewhat of a revelation, I will hold my hands up and say that I personally don't think I have seen this actor before and didn't really expect too much but boy did he impress me, the comedic delivery of a lot of his dialogue is superb and I found him completely believable as a sort of fish out of water put upon son who has just about had enough but would still do just about anything for his mum... Including an epic Karaoke jam. Of course French does have a superb Co-star to bounce off in Kierston Wareing who just nails this role, absolutely nails it. At first I was a little put off by the character but 8-10 minutes into the movie I fell in love with Olga and that love only grew. French and Wareing are a match made in heaven.
  
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Colin Newman recommended Harvest by Neil Young in Music (curated)

 
Harvest by Neil Young
Harvest by Neil Young
1972 | Country
8.8 (6 Ratings)
Album Favorite

"There are quite a few Neil Young albums I could have chosen, but Harvest I like because it's that combination of acoustic guitar and dry, heavy drums. That's a certain kind of special thing that he invented, and they're quite slow. 'Out On The Weekend' is a prime example of that kind of slow, purposeful rhythm with heavy acoustic guitars. My best friend from school, Desmond, who unfortunately is not with us anymore- there's a piece I wrote about him on the Quietus actually - he was a huge Neil Young fan, and he had all of the Neil Young records. We were so close that we never bought any record that the other had. I spent so much time around his place anyway, so if Desmond owned it, it was like me owning it. Again, what can you say about Neil Young? He's a classic artist. He flew in the face of quite a lot of things. I liked Crosby, Stills & Nash; I liked Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. There was a point when Crosby, Stills & Nash were uncool but Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young were more cool, and Young was the most cool. There was a rumour that he'd left Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young because he'd figured out that he could make more money on his own. I actually think that's probably not true because I've read a little bit of stuff around that period. But Neil Young has remained singular. In theory I like everything he's ever done, although I haven't heard everything he's ever done. But certainly I've heard later work and really liked it as well. He's the important figure, as a contrary kind of figure."

Source
  
C(
Catch (Angler, #2)
10
9.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
*Copy provided via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

I read the first book, Bait, back in February 2012 and loved it. I still remember a lot of what happened and with how many books I read, that's a miracle! I think it was the whole using humans as bait to catch evil vampires that drew me in and hooked me.

This carries on from the last with just a few months passing and Connie and Rurik are in Rio. I will say that you don't necessarily need to read the first book for this to make sense but it does help to understand the connection between Rurik, Connie and Tane.

The author has this way of writing that draws you in and makes you want to get lost in the world she weaves. I will quite happily get lost in it. (Bring on book 3!)

Tane was an odd one for me, through both books, but he evolved a lot in this and we got to know him a lot more and it's obvious he isn't as bad as previously thought. Rurik is still the protective, nice, sexy vampire from the first and Connie still likes to kick arse when she can.

Though there are a few sex scenes throughout the story, there is also a good, strong plot to get lost in. I guess I should mention that it has a ménage scene in it near the end (M/M/F) that had been brewing for a long time and it was quite hot.

I cant wait to read the third book in the series to find out what's going to happen next.
  
Hooked On You (EMS Station 1 #1)
Hooked On You (EMS Station 1 #1)
K. Evan Coles | 2025 | Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
HOOKED ON YOU is the first book in the EMS Station 1 series and we begin with Connor, a paramedic, and Judah, the owner of a yarn shop. Connor suffers from GAD (General Anxiety Disorder) and his co-worker has suggested he learns to knit in order to help with that. Being as she's pregnant, he decides he will knit her a baby blanket. This brings him into contact with Judah and the attraction is there immediately, although Connor thinks he is straight, so there's that.

Both Connor and Judah were brilliant characters and I loved how their personalities complemented each other. I can say I didn't like Seb much though. Yes, he's supposed to be this happy-go-lucky kinda guy but he was also completely clueless and sometimes caused hurt where he didn't mean to but just didn't think.

I really enjoyed this story! It was so well written and I loved how although they both were attracted to each other, their friendship grew first. It felt very natural in the build-up to more, and both of their reactions afterwards made perfect sense. I think 'natural' would be my word for this book because not everything was easy but it wasn't with unnecessary angst either.

A great read by a new-to-me author. I give this book 4.5 stars and definitely recommend 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; the comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Feb 24, 2025
  
Staying Wet: A Southern Tale Told One Sip at a Time
Staying Wet: A Southern Tale Told One Sip at a Time
Jacqueline Schnitzer | 2014 | Contemporary, Fiction & Poetry
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Staying Wet is written from the perspective of her bedroom companion, her best friend who has always been there for her, but you never get a name. It continues through the book as Caddy talks out her memories of her life to her friend.

This is not a cheery-everything-is-fine book. Caddy has dealt with some serious issues in her life, including the disappearance of her father and brother at a very young age, drinking to excess, and drugs. What this book is though is completely enthralling, a definite page-turner.

Instead of the timing remaining constant throughout, sometimes Caddy will follow that particular thread through to the conclusion. For example, she might be nineteen when the story starts, but in her forties when it concludes. You stay with the story until its conclusion, and then you go back to Caddy at nineteen where she recommences with the rest of her story. It can be off-putting to start with but stick with it, and I promise you'll be glad that you did.

The ending is perfect for the book. I can't say I liked it, but I understood it and thought it was exceedingly well-written. I loved the companion as it all made sense. This book was a complete surprise to me, not what I expected at all, but I loved it! Highly recommended by me.

* 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!
Mar 15, 2016
  
The Once and Future King (The Once and Future King #1-4)
The Once and Future King (The Once and Future King #1-4)
T.H. White | 1987 | Fiction & Poetry
8
7.7 (6 Ratings)
Book Rating
One of the classics of English literature, and so can be (at times) a heavy read. That's not to say that it isn't enjoyable: it is.

The novel follows the life of King Arthur and is split into four distinct 'books', from his early upbringing through to his ascension to the throne in "The Sword in the Stone" (the Disney version of which is surprisingly accurate), to the early days of his reign and his unknowingly incestuous relationship with half-sister in "The Queen of Air and Darkness", through the Arthur/Lancelot/Guinivere love triangle and the Quest for the Holy Grail in "The Ill Made Knight" and finally ending with the latter days of his reign and the war against Mordred in "The Candle in the Wind".

I have to say as well that as the stroy progresses, the novel also gets steadily more and more serious, actually starting out quite amusing before becoming darker and darker: as such, it's no surprise Disney only adopted the first part of the book for the silver screen!
  
Saved (Breaking Free #1)
Saved (Breaking Free #1)
A.M. Arthur | 2017 | Contemporary, LGBTQ+
10
9.0 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
totally blew me away!
I was shared this book, via Amazon's family and friends thingie.

I will be honest here, cos that's what reviewing is all about. I only picked this book to read as a "palette cleanser" an easy read, just for fun, between two heavier books. It sounded just what I needed so I jumped in, expecting a light fluffy read, that wasn't very long.

How wrong I was, because I started this book at 10.15pm and did not stop til I ran out of at 130 am and I had to be up for work at 6am!

I freaking LOVED this book! It totally came out of left field and blew me away! I mean, so much so, I made sure I had book two, which was also shared with me, and I purchased books three and four, so I was ready to go! I haven't come across this author before, but by God they are on my hit list now!

This book is set in the Omegaverse, there are no females and only certain pairings can produce children: alphas and omegas. But omegas are treated badly, as second class citizens, and Braun and his brother Kell suffer. First at the hands of their father, and later, Kell at the hands of his husband.

So it's understandable that Braun be scared of Tarek and what he represents: a lot of suffering for Braun. But Tarek is of a growing breed of Alpha, those who believe omegas should be treasured, not trod down. After all, their race would die out in two generations without any omegas. And Tarek LISTENS to Braun, wants to know if he can help when his heat hits. And Braun tells him: come ONLY when called for, NO knotting and condoms every time. And when Tarek abides by Braun's wishes, Braun knows he can be a trusted ally. The omegas rescued from the group home need one. Braun's brother needs one, and the newborn, but missing nephew of Braun needs one too.

Like I said WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY outta left field and totally blew me away!

It's dark: carries a strong abuse line, both from a parent and a spouse. The abuse Kell suffers goes far beyond the beatings Braun knows about (the full story doesn't come clear til Kell's book, I've already read that one on writing this review, and it is horrific) But so well told, sensitively. Tarek knows this happens, what happens to omegas at the hands of their spouses but he hates that it does. He knows he needs to help, starting with Braun.

It's emotional: the abuse line not withstanding, what Braun starts to feel very early for Tarek, as the bonds develop between them, hits him hard and he fights! He fights it so bloody hard! To be fair, they both do, and it's quite hard reading, what they go through before they get there.

It's sexy: I mean two guys? Always gonna float my boat! But refer to above: just because it's hot and heavy, doesn't mean it doesn't have the emotions along with it. Once Braun and Tarek give in to the bonds, they are IN, totally, emotionally and physically.

Both Braun and Tarek have a say, and their voices are strong and clear and so very well written.

I'm starting to gush and I don't want to, but just know this:

I FREAKING LOVED THIS BOOK! I am not ashamed to admit I was wrong, what I expected from this book was so very NOT what I got out of it, and I mean that in a very positive way!

But it's not an easy read, at all, and you need to be prepared for what is here. Some readers might have triggers, I don't, but some points made for difficult reading. Not the writing, just the level of abuse that is systematic for the omegas in this world. But with Tarek and his friends, maybe, just maybe, they can start to change things.

I gotta stop, I'll be writing all day!

5 very unexpected, but bloody amazing stars!

**same worded review will appear elsewhere**