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Humbug: Scrooge Before the Ghosts
Humbug: Scrooge Before the Ghosts
Sarah Whelan | 2023 | LGBTQ+
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
wouldn't have enjoyed as much, had I read it.
Indpendent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted the AUDIO version of this book.

Ok, 2 things: First I've read of this author, and first I've listened to of this narrator. These two things are intertwined.

I really enjoyed this reworking of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. It takes us on a more indepth and more deliciously different path that follows Scrooge from the very beginning. I'm not going to go into the storyline too much, but for spoilers, but suffices to say, I really enjoyed the path this took.

The way Whelan builds the world around Scrooge, and gets over the descriptions of the places and the peoples he comes across, is astounding and I could see myself sitting there with Scrooge. Loved the descriptions of everything.

Charles Robert Fox narrates.

Now, for the most part, narrators have American accents, and there is nothing wrong with that but I am so very glad that this narrator was used for this book. His accent is very VERY English and fits in the Victorian England setting so beautifully! He uses a much OLDER voice for Scrooge, when talkignt ot he ghosts, than he does when he is telling his story, and I love that the voice ages as the story goes on.

It goes without saying, that my enjoyment of this book would be very different had I read it, or had a different narrator been used.

I'd like to read more of this author and listen to more of this narrator's work.

4 stars for the book
4 stars for the narration

*same worded review will appear elsewhere
  
To Tempt A Troubled Earl (Regency Rossingley #1)
To Tempt A Troubled Earl (Regency Rossingley #1)
Fearne Hill | 2025 | LGBTQ+, Romance
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
loved the interactions between Kit and Lando!
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.

Lando has been grieving his dead lover for 3 years. When Kit and Anne, nephew and niece of Charles, turn up on his doorstep in the middle of the night, his hackles are raised. Especially when he hears WHY they are there. But not all is as it first seems, and there is a duke to ruin.

I thoroughly enjoyed this visit to Rossingley!

Lando is grieving, but for the most part, in secret. His staff are wonderful! But Kit throws him for a loop, not least because he is Charles' nephew (sort of) Once reasons are explained, things become clearer. Then there is the neighbour duke, who needs bringing down a peg or three.

I loved the interactions between Lando and Kit, both at the beginning and right through the book. They are well suited to each other! Not especially heavy on the steam, but just the right amount for this book and this time.

I loved the way the duke was brought down. I wasn't fully in on the plan, as to how it was going to work, but that was just my brain not really putting it altogether! I understood why Lando does what he does, I think it was needed to make Kit see just what he means to Lando.

I'm intrigued by Lando's men, his butler and valet. I need their stories now!

I'm looking forward to returning to Rossingley at some point!

4 very good stars

*same worded review will appear elsewhere
  
X-Men: Dark Phoenix (2019)
X-Men: Dark Phoenix (2019)
2019 | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
Wow
Contains spoilers, click to show
This movie wasn't given enough credit. From start to finish I was pulled in and was on the edge of my seat.
When raven died I was in shock. But I'm the first X-Men movies she is alive and well in the future so this confused me and also what happened to jean at the end. Obviously, she was taken over by the Phoenix force and became a powerful cosmic being. Another thing was that Charles no longer is the head teacher of the Academy and again, in the future, still is. But I'm not complaining cause it was amazing anyway.

I will probably go to see it again soon because once won't be enough for me.
  
Show all 3 comments.
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BackToTheMovies (56 KP) Jun 13, 2019

Much better than I thought it would be despite critics panning it!

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Victoria Green (34 KP) Jun 13, 2019

I know.