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Merissa (13866 KP) rated Shattered (Dark Reflections #4) in Books
Apr 11, 2023
WOW! Dean Murray did warn me on my blog review of Ambushed that this one might blow my mind. He knew what he was talking about as it did! At the beginning, Alec and Adri still aren't speaking following their separation at the end of the last book. Carson is training Alec and Adri is still trying to help Taggart in every way she can apart from killing.
We spend time with different characters in this book as it moves forward. Addison, James' mum, makes a discovery which may just put our Sanctuary pack in danger but she is one of theirs - will they go ahead anyway? You know the answer is yes but how it is written will keep you on edge for every moment. There is a lot of action in this book, as well as long-awaited outcomes and new revelations. I won't give anything away by mentioning specifics but suffice it to say, if you have read the first three Dark Reflections books then I honestly can't see how you won't love this instalment.
This book had me reading faster and faster the closer to the end it got while at the same time, I was desperately hoping that it would never end. Unfortunately for me, it did end and what an ending it was. Now I just need to (im)patiently wait for the next one.
Good one, Dean, brilliant once again.
* 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!
July 20, 2016
We spend time with different characters in this book as it moves forward. Addison, James' mum, makes a discovery which may just put our Sanctuary pack in danger but she is one of theirs - will they go ahead anyway? You know the answer is yes but how it is written will keep you on edge for every moment. There is a lot of action in this book, as well as long-awaited outcomes and new revelations. I won't give anything away by mentioning specifics but suffice it to say, if you have read the first three Dark Reflections books then I honestly can't see how you won't love this instalment.
This book had me reading faster and faster the closer to the end it got while at the same time, I was desperately hoping that it would never end. Unfortunately for me, it did end and what an ending it was. Now I just need to (im)patiently wait for the next one.
Good one, Dean, brilliant once again.
* 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!
July 20, 2016
Merissa (13866 KP) rated Bad Boys After Dark: Brett (Bad Billionaires After Dark #4) in Books
Nov 21, 2023
Brett is the fourth book in the Bad Boys After Dark series, but you can read it as a standalone (as I did), and you won't get lost. The other brothers play a big part in Brett's story, but not enough that you are lost with who is with whom. Brett and Sophie have known each other for a while, as Sophie works for Brett's brother. Since a wedding they both attended, Brett can't get her out of his mind. He is worried though, as he knows Sophie is not looking for just one night, but a long-term relationship. Due to circumstances in his past, Brett is slightly phobic about commitment but decides he needs to take a chance with Sophie.
This is a sweet and yet hot story, with Brett and Sophie actually getting together quite quickly as their shared attraction is off the charts. There is some angst in the book, but refreshingly enough it is not between Brett and Sophie, but Brett and someone else (who I won't say as I don't want to spoil the book).
There is an excellent array of characters, each with their own individual quirks, and loads of them needing their own stories. This was a well-written contemporary romance, with no editing or grammatical errors that disrupted my reading flow. A long book with more than enough to sink your teeth into, I definitely recommend this book.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and my comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Mar 26, 2018
This is a sweet and yet hot story, with Brett and Sophie actually getting together quite quickly as their shared attraction is off the charts. There is some angst in the book, but refreshingly enough it is not between Brett and Sophie, but Brett and someone else (who I won't say as I don't want to spoil the book).
There is an excellent array of characters, each with their own individual quirks, and loads of them needing their own stories. This was a well-written contemporary romance, with no editing or grammatical errors that disrupted my reading flow. A long book with more than enough to sink your teeth into, I definitely recommend this book.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and my comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Mar 26, 2018
Suswatibasu (1703 KP) rated The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy in Books
Oct 24, 2017 (Updated Oct 24, 2017)
Ridiculously amusing
This has been part of my to-read list since forever. And I can now assuredly say that the meaning of life is 42. It's hilariously silly and outright bonkers.
It begins with the end of the earth (sadly), with a sole survivor Arthur Dent, or that's what we think, until he discovers Trillion, the other survivor. Whisked away on the Heart of Gold ship with his friend Ford Prefect (an alien) and his cousin, they gallivant across the universe attempting to find answers. And thus begins an epic adventure.
So it's not as sophisticated as Arthur C. Clarke's status of science fiction, or Andy Weir's level of technical details, and its not supposed to be. It's light hearted, and fun, as Douglas Adams creates a detailed and splendid look at our insignificant existence in the most humorous way possible.
It begins with the end of the earth (sadly), with a sole survivor Arthur Dent, or that's what we think, until he discovers Trillion, the other survivor. Whisked away on the Heart of Gold ship with his friend Ford Prefect (an alien) and his cousin, they gallivant across the universe attempting to find answers. And thus begins an epic adventure.
So it's not as sophisticated as Arthur C. Clarke's status of science fiction, or Andy Weir's level of technical details, and its not supposed to be. It's light hearted, and fun, as Douglas Adams creates a detailed and splendid look at our insignificant existence in the most humorous way possible.
Jared Harper (8 KP) rated Super Smash Bros. Ultimate in Video Games
Mar 14, 2019
I've been playing super smash since the very first one on the Nintendo 64. This game is amazing. Competitively, the game is constantly adapting to new metas and players are constantly grinding and dedicating themselves to this game to find new techniques to help them get ahead.
Non competitively the game is just a blast for all your friends to play. Throw on items and go have fun as complete chaos takes over! Pick on character from a screen of 74ish unique characters and have fun!
I have almost nothing bad to say about this game, it truly is ultimate.
Non competitively the game is just a blast for all your friends to play. Throw on items and go have fun as complete chaos takes over! Pick on character from a screen of 74ish unique characters and have fun!
I have almost nothing bad to say about this game, it truly is ultimate.
Andy K (10823 KP) rated The Island (2005) in Movies
May 26, 2018
If Logan's Run and The Hunger Games had a baby...
From Michael Bay, the director of every crappy movie over the last 10 years, comes a really good one!
Ewan McGregor and Scarlett Johansson have surprising chemistry as they try and figure out what's going on in their "perfect" society which ends of having a few surprises. When he begins to question his sterile existance and the "Kool-Aid" they have all been told, he begins to figure out what is actually going on behind the scenes.
A surprising good action movie develops with some interesting twists and turns. Say what you want about Bay. He can certainly orchestrate a good action sequence when he wants to and doesn't have 27 robots fighting each other at the same time.
I highly recommend checking this one out.
Ewan McGregor and Scarlett Johansson have surprising chemistry as they try and figure out what's going on in their "perfect" society which ends of having a few surprises. When he begins to question his sterile existance and the "Kool-Aid" they have all been told, he begins to figure out what is actually going on behind the scenes.
A surprising good action movie develops with some interesting twists and turns. Say what you want about Bay. He can certainly orchestrate a good action sequence when he wants to and doesn't have 27 robots fighting each other at the same time.
I highly recommend checking this one out.
Awix (3310 KP) rated Tell It to the Bees (2019) in Movies
Jul 24, 2019 (Updated Jul 25, 2019)
Well-staged hats-and-ciggies period drama struggles to find anything new to say, or indeed to surprise or engage in any way. Much-put-upon single mum (Grainger) meets newly-arrived town doctor (Paquin) in a laborious cute-meet; what follows you can probably write for yourself, with the exception of a really weird climax involving bees (the bees are a sort of motif throughout, but it's still weird).
Reasonably good acting, although Paquin's attempt at a Scottish accent is not particularly easy on the ear. The problem is that the film is deeply predictable and not especially subtle (the girl-on-girl stuff is classily handled, though). I found it quite heavy going; the bit with the magic bees is a genuine 'You WHAT?' moment bafflingly at odds with the dour realism of much of the rest of the film.
Reasonably good acting, although Paquin's attempt at a Scottish accent is not particularly easy on the ear. The problem is that the film is deeply predictable and not especially subtle (the girl-on-girl stuff is classily handled, though). I found it quite heavy going; the bit with the magic bees is a genuine 'You WHAT?' moment bafflingly at odds with the dour realism of much of the rest of the film.
The Wacky Man
Book
My new shrink asks me, 'What things do you remember about being very young?' It's like looking into...
David McK (3731 KP) rated A Quiet Place (2018) in Movies
Aug 23, 2020 (Updated Jan 10, 2023)
I'd heard good stuff about this film.
They lied.
Slow, plodding, and lacking any sense of peril or tension, this is set in a post-apocalyptic world where seemingly invulnerable blind monsters (which we're never told where they come from) hunt by sound, and sound alone - which explains why there's not even any bird song. This then follows a tight-knit family trying to survive in this new reality, complete with a deaf kid and a mother about to give birth.
Yes, all the cliches are here: creaking floorboards, jagged nails sticking up from the wood, a kid who blames herself for the loss of her younger sibling early on in the film ...
About the only good thing I can say is that this is short, with a running time of just over 1.5 hours.
They lied.
Slow, plodding, and lacking any sense of peril or tension, this is set in a post-apocalyptic world where seemingly invulnerable blind monsters (which we're never told where they come from) hunt by sound, and sound alone - which explains why there's not even any bird song. This then follows a tight-knit family trying to survive in this new reality, complete with a deaf kid and a mother about to give birth.
Yes, all the cliches are here: creaking floorboards, jagged nails sticking up from the wood, a kid who blames herself for the loss of her younger sibling early on in the film ...
About the only good thing I can say is that this is short, with a running time of just over 1.5 hours.
Dana (24 KP) rated Fairest - Levana's Story in Books
Mar 23, 2018
As always, there are going to be spoilers in this review, so be warned.
As much as I love the Lunar Chronicles series, I did not enjoy reading this book. Yes, we got backstory into Levana's life and (finally) are told what she actually looks like, but she is not a likable character in the slightest. I was expecting some sort of redeemable quality for the character and got nothing. It is hard for me to believe that any villain has absolutely zero things that can be said are good, but Levana is one of them.
She is painted as this self involved, self-loathing, overly power hungry character who has no feelings except what she thinks is love. This, again, is hard to imagine. I mean, I understand (but do not condone) her lack of feelings toward her parents. They were not there for her at all as a child and basically let Channary get away with physically maiming her little sister. But still, she didn't feel anything toward them when they were brutally murdered and actually fantasized about doing it herself? Like, what the hell?
And then there comes her very abusive relationship with her "husband." First off, disguising yourself as his wife, that's weird, but then doing it after that wife dies, only weeks after she died, that's messed up. Then taking away his agency, his ability to say no, by manipulating him mentally, come on! Really? And getting jealous that he actually loves his daughter and wanting her to suffer for it. This girl has issues!
And to top it all off, trying to get Selene murdered by "accident" only to take her throne and have the gall to stand up at the podium at both Selene's and Channary's funeral smug as hell because she gets to be queen now? I can't believe that someone would be that heartless.
Channary, for all of her messed up qualities, is even given some amount of redemption in her love for Selene. It was only really revealed eight years after she was murdered, but still, it is something that shows she is at least part human in her emotions. Even though she is a pretty bad character, I kind of like Channary?!? Out of the two sisters, she is the most "real" in her ability to act like a person.
I also like getting the backstory of Winter so I can know what to expect and understand why she acts as she does before I start reading her book. It is interesting to know that she, Selene, and Jacin were really close as children and that Selene's death hit her so hard. I also like that we got to meet her mother, Solstice, because she was a freaking angel and should not have died. Ugh. But then, Selene wouldn't have had any friends growing up because Levana would have shut that down so fast.
Overall, I was disappointed with this book. Especially since all of the other ones have been so great. It is hard to see characters who are just so bad with no redeeming qualities. It makes me think less of the story, in a way, because it is not making that character as deep as they can be. I am going to read the rest of the series, because I love the other characters, but this one was kind of a let down.
As much as I love the Lunar Chronicles series, I did not enjoy reading this book. Yes, we got backstory into Levana's life and (finally) are told what she actually looks like, but she is not a likable character in the slightest. I was expecting some sort of redeemable quality for the character and got nothing. It is hard for me to believe that any villain has absolutely zero things that can be said are good, but Levana is one of them.
She is painted as this self involved, self-loathing, overly power hungry character who has no feelings except what she thinks is love. This, again, is hard to imagine. I mean, I understand (but do not condone) her lack of feelings toward her parents. They were not there for her at all as a child and basically let Channary get away with physically maiming her little sister. But still, she didn't feel anything toward them when they were brutally murdered and actually fantasized about doing it herself? Like, what the hell?
And then there comes her very abusive relationship with her "husband." First off, disguising yourself as his wife, that's weird, but then doing it after that wife dies, only weeks after she died, that's messed up. Then taking away his agency, his ability to say no, by manipulating him mentally, come on! Really? And getting jealous that he actually loves his daughter and wanting her to suffer for it. This girl has issues!
And to top it all off, trying to get Selene murdered by "accident" only to take her throne and have the gall to stand up at the podium at both Selene's and Channary's funeral smug as hell because she gets to be queen now? I can't believe that someone would be that heartless.
Channary, for all of her messed up qualities, is even given some amount of redemption in her love for Selene. It was only really revealed eight years after she was murdered, but still, it is something that shows she is at least part human in her emotions. Even though she is a pretty bad character, I kind of like Channary?!? Out of the two sisters, she is the most "real" in her ability to act like a person.
I also like getting the backstory of Winter so I can know what to expect and understand why she acts as she does before I start reading her book. It is interesting to know that she, Selene, and Jacin were really close as children and that Selene's death hit her so hard. I also like that we got to meet her mother, Solstice, because she was a freaking angel and should not have died. Ugh. But then, Selene wouldn't have had any friends growing up because Levana would have shut that down so fast.
Overall, I was disappointed with this book. Especially since all of the other ones have been so great. It is hard to see characters who are just so bad with no redeeming qualities. It makes me think less of the story, in a way, because it is not making that character as deep as they can be. I am going to read the rest of the series, because I love the other characters, but this one was kind of a let down.
Zuky the BookBum (15 KP) rated The Girl Before in Books
Mar 15, 2018
Read my review here: https://bookbumzuky.wordpress.com/2017/02/04/review-the-girl-before-by-j-p-delaney/
<b><i>Please make a list of every possession you consider essential to your life.</b></i>
One Folgate Street is a minimalist house built by the mysterious, controlling and handsome Edward Monkford. To be granted lease, you must fill in a laborious questionnaire and attend a face-to-face meeting with Edward himself, and even then, you’re unlikely to be approved. There are a large number of rules you have to abide by when you live in the house, such as, no books (?!?!?!), no rugs, no curtains, and no leaving things out, such as clothes, toiletries etc, to name a few. You must also open your home for tours every so often and complete various questionnaires/assessments throughout your stay.
So, I know what you’re thinking, you’re thinking “who the hell would agree to that?” but as it happens, two women choose to live at One Folgate Street. Thanks to its low rent and dishy architect, both Jane and Emma are happy putting up with all the rules. Jane is the girl from now, and Emma is the girl before. Both women are troubled and both begin a relationship with architect Edward.
What follows is a novel full of mystery and sex. If you’re also not into the whole “daddy” thing then this won’t be for you.
Starting off this book, I was very worried I was going to hate it, because I’d seen a lot of people say the focus on kinky sex as a bit left field and overpowering to the plot. But, I managed to get over that when it started to appear in the story. In my opinion, it wasn’t as bad as many people had made it out to be and in any case, you can always skip over it. I thought it was going to go full 50 Shades at some moments, but it managed to avoid any of the scenes becoming too tactless.
The mystery of “the girl before” is certainly intriguing and kept me hooked (for the first half, at least). I liked the way this was set out as Emma (before) and Jane (now) and how the chapters often mirrored each other so we could see the similarities in each of the tenants lives and relationships with Edward.
What I didn’t like about this book was the characters, which I’m kind of assuming was the goal by Delaney? If not, then he/she (does anyone know and can inform me on their gender?) is pretty terrible at creating characters. Although Edward is set up to be our “villain”, I found Emma to be the most dislikable character, even after all was said and done. She was manipulative, unnecessarily forward, obnoxious and total putty in Edward’s hands. Women who can’t act on their own accord because of a man infuriate me, which is probably why I didn’t get on with this novel that well, as it’s kind of what the whole plot is about. I like my women strong and independent!
The ending of this novel, no word of a lie, infuriated me. What a total cop out. People are comparing this to <i>Gone Girl</i>, LOL. The conclusion to this novel is the most overused and uninspired “twist” you can ever imagine. What a way to ruin a perfectly OK novel.
Thanks to Netgalley and Quercus Books for giving me the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review.
<b><i>Please make a list of every possession you consider essential to your life.</b></i>
One Folgate Street is a minimalist house built by the mysterious, controlling and handsome Edward Monkford. To be granted lease, you must fill in a laborious questionnaire and attend a face-to-face meeting with Edward himself, and even then, you’re unlikely to be approved. There are a large number of rules you have to abide by when you live in the house, such as, no books (?!?!?!), no rugs, no curtains, and no leaving things out, such as clothes, toiletries etc, to name a few. You must also open your home for tours every so often and complete various questionnaires/assessments throughout your stay.
So, I know what you’re thinking, you’re thinking “who the hell would agree to that?” but as it happens, two women choose to live at One Folgate Street. Thanks to its low rent and dishy architect, both Jane and Emma are happy putting up with all the rules. Jane is the girl from now, and Emma is the girl before. Both women are troubled and both begin a relationship with architect Edward.
What follows is a novel full of mystery and sex. If you’re also not into the whole “daddy” thing then this won’t be for you.
Starting off this book, I was very worried I was going to hate it, because I’d seen a lot of people say the focus on kinky sex as a bit left field and overpowering to the plot. But, I managed to get over that when it started to appear in the story. In my opinion, it wasn’t as bad as many people had made it out to be and in any case, you can always skip over it. I thought it was going to go full 50 Shades at some moments, but it managed to avoid any of the scenes becoming too tactless.
The mystery of “the girl before” is certainly intriguing and kept me hooked (for the first half, at least). I liked the way this was set out as Emma (before) and Jane (now) and how the chapters often mirrored each other so we could see the similarities in each of the tenants lives and relationships with Edward.
What I didn’t like about this book was the characters, which I’m kind of assuming was the goal by Delaney? If not, then he/she (does anyone know and can inform me on their gender?) is pretty terrible at creating characters. Although Edward is set up to be our “villain”, I found Emma to be the most dislikable character, even after all was said and done. She was manipulative, unnecessarily forward, obnoxious and total putty in Edward’s hands. Women who can’t act on their own accord because of a man infuriate me, which is probably why I didn’t get on with this novel that well, as it’s kind of what the whole plot is about. I like my women strong and independent!
The ending of this novel, no word of a lie, infuriated me. What a total cop out. People are comparing this to <i>Gone Girl</i>, LOL. The conclusion to this novel is the most overused and uninspired “twist” you can ever imagine. What a way to ruin a perfectly OK novel.
Thanks to Netgalley and Quercus Books for giving me the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review.