Search
Search results
KatieLouCreate (162 KP) rated Empire of the Vampire in Books
Jul 10, 2023
Empire of the Vampire
This book is not for the feint hearted. Not only is it decidedly grotesque and gruesome, but its also a monster of a book, coming in at 725 pages with another book on the way.
It has been twenty-seven long years since the last sunrise. For nearly three decades, vampires have waged war against humanity; building their eternal empire even as they tear down our own.
Gabriel de León is a silversaint: a member of a holy brotherhood dedicated to defending realm and church from the creatures of the night. But even the Silver Order couldn’t stem the tide once daylight failed us, and now, only Gabriel remains.
Imprisoned by the very monsters he vowed to destroy, the last silversaint is forced to tell his story. A story of legendary battles and forbidden love, of faith lost and friendships won, of the Wars of the Blood and the Forever King and the quest for humanity’s last remaining hope:
The Holy Grail.
The book is dark and gruesome, but also delightfully entertaining. Kristoff puts an original spin on the vampire world and created a deep, well-rounded character with the biggest chip on his shoulder. All the characters are well-developed, to be honest.
The humour, as expected, is dark. Which is what makes it so great. I found myself laughing out loud in parts. I loved the witty banter and insults from the characters.
My woe with this book was, though I enjoyed it, it did feel like I was reading a 725 page book. Sometimes the time flew, and others I found myself counting the pages wondering how much longer this was going to go on for. I think the story could have been shorter without losing anything vital.
Read if you like:
Adult fantasy
Legendary battles
Blood and gore/violence
Religious occult
Dark humour
Don't read if:
You are a child
And dont like:
Prolific swearing
Sexual Content
Violence
Religious Themes
Trigger warnings:
Anything mentioned above
Drug addiction
Child abuse
Homophobia
It reminds me of Interview With a Vampire meets Van Helsing...
It has been twenty-seven long years since the last sunrise. For nearly three decades, vampires have waged war against humanity; building their eternal empire even as they tear down our own.
Gabriel de León is a silversaint: a member of a holy brotherhood dedicated to defending realm and church from the creatures of the night. But even the Silver Order couldn’t stem the tide once daylight failed us, and now, only Gabriel remains.
Imprisoned by the very monsters he vowed to destroy, the last silversaint is forced to tell his story. A story of legendary battles and forbidden love, of faith lost and friendships won, of the Wars of the Blood and the Forever King and the quest for humanity’s last remaining hope:
The Holy Grail.
The book is dark and gruesome, but also delightfully entertaining. Kristoff puts an original spin on the vampire world and created a deep, well-rounded character with the biggest chip on his shoulder. All the characters are well-developed, to be honest.
The humour, as expected, is dark. Which is what makes it so great. I found myself laughing out loud in parts. I loved the witty banter and insults from the characters.
My woe with this book was, though I enjoyed it, it did feel like I was reading a 725 page book. Sometimes the time flew, and others I found myself counting the pages wondering how much longer this was going to go on for. I think the story could have been shorter without losing anything vital.
Read if you like:
Adult fantasy
Legendary battles
Blood and gore/violence
Religious occult
Dark humour
Don't read if:
You are a child
And dont like:
Prolific swearing
Sexual Content
Violence
Religious Themes
Trigger warnings:
Anything mentioned above
Drug addiction
Child abuse
Homophobia
It reminds me of Interview With a Vampire meets Van Helsing...
Acanthea Grimscythe (300 KP) rated The Cutaway in Books
May 16, 2018
I seem to be of a minority when it comes to those that have read Christina Kovac's debut novel The Cutaway. Tagged as a mystery, suspense, and thriller novel, it really doesn't feel like one to me. While there are elements of a typical thriller, the crime at hand and the persons of interest take a back seat to the main character's love life for nearly three-fourths of the novel. In fact, the missing woman is practically non-existent for much of the story. To me, that's a pretty big turn off. I nearly dropped it, actually.
The Cutaway is supposed to focus on Virginia Knightly's efforts of getting the scoop on a missing person. En route to tracking down the perpetrator, readers encounter the typical sort of motives: affairs, money, political intrigue. It's a pretty standard plot when it comes to suspense novels. The twists are predictable and the story remains dreadfully slow until the final twenty to thirty percent.
For the most part, the characters of The Cutaway are painfully flat. Most of the male characters, with the exception of the News Director, are handsome with exceptionally whiny personalities. The News Director, Mellay, is a stereotypical angry boss sort who only cares about his own pockets. Even worse, the female characters are all Mary Sues. Sure, they have their own troubling pasts, but for as much suffering as they went through in their childhoods, the effect it has had on their adulthood is fairly minor. All of the women are drop dead gorgeous, not counting one of the witnesses. Ugh - that's all I can really say about that.
It's also clear from reading the novel that Kovac's most familiar with the reporting side of an investigation, which is to be expected from someone who has spent much of their time in the same career as the main character. Unfortunately, it also lends a bit of blandness to the story telling.
Overall, The Cutaway was an extremely painful read. Many times I considered dropping it: I could not get into the characters and I feel that the novel is more suited to the romance genre. There are several questions left unanswered and parts of it feel either rushed or as if Kovac is simply grasping at straws.
I would like to thank Atria Publishing, the author, and NetGalley for providing me with a copy for review.
The Cutaway is supposed to focus on Virginia Knightly's efforts of getting the scoop on a missing person. En route to tracking down the perpetrator, readers encounter the typical sort of motives: affairs, money, political intrigue. It's a pretty standard plot when it comes to suspense novels. The twists are predictable and the story remains dreadfully slow until the final twenty to thirty percent.
For the most part, the characters of The Cutaway are painfully flat. Most of the male characters, with the exception of the News Director, are handsome with exceptionally whiny personalities. The News Director, Mellay, is a stereotypical angry boss sort who only cares about his own pockets. Even worse, the female characters are all Mary Sues. Sure, they have their own troubling pasts, but for as much suffering as they went through in their childhoods, the effect it has had on their adulthood is fairly minor. All of the women are drop dead gorgeous, not counting one of the witnesses. Ugh - that's all I can really say about that.
It's also clear from reading the novel that Kovac's most familiar with the reporting side of an investigation, which is to be expected from someone who has spent much of their time in the same career as the main character. Unfortunately, it also lends a bit of blandness to the story telling.
Overall, The Cutaway was an extremely painful read. Many times I considered dropping it: I could not get into the characters and I feel that the novel is more suited to the romance genre. There are several questions left unanswered and parts of it feel either rushed or as if Kovac is simply grasping at straws.
I would like to thank Atria Publishing, the author, and NetGalley for providing me with a copy for review.
Phillip McSween (751 KP) rated Bread & Tulips (2001) in Movies
Nov 17, 2021
Pacing not quite enough to save this movie
When a woman is left behind at a rest stop during a family vacation, she uses the opportunity to settle into the town a become a local.
Acting: 10
Licia Maglietta is magnificent as main star Rosalba. She holds her own in a number of different scenes throughout and really is the standout of the movie. I was impressed with a number of the other performances as well, but Bread and Tulips wouldn’t have had nearly the same amount of quality without her.
Beginning: 10
Characters: 1
Cinematography/Visuals: 1
One of the areas in which the film grossly suffers. There isn’t much that stands out in my memory about how this film was shot other than it being just plain…meh. It shoots like a monotonous mess making it hard for you to really want to commit your attention and time. Scenes are extremely basic with no real pop.
Conflict: 4
Entertainment Value: 5
While Bread and Tulips has its moments, it really was more of a background movie for me. The effort is solid in a few spots, but the movie ultimately just dragged and had me counting down to the resolution. Ultimately it never really succeeded in holding my attention.
Memorability: 6
With a handful of solid moments, nothing really jumped out here as overly memorable for me. It is memorable in the sense of having a unique concept, but it never fringes on impactful. I was hoping for more meat and I got scraps instead.
Pace: 7
The film does drag in spots where it should be moving a bit more quickly. However, it moves pretty evenly through the story for the most part. Could there have been a handful of parts that were cut out? Sure. Overall, though, the pace is pretty fluid.
Plot: 5
Resolution: 4
After all was said and done, the ending was just ok. I was hoping for some kind of surprise to redeem the movie, but it went pretty much how I expected it to go. Not impressed.
Overall: 53
A lot of people enjoyed Bread and Tulips if we go by what Rotten Tomatoes is saying. Unfortunately, I was not one of those people. The story overall is very underwhelming. I am absolutely ok with never seeing this one again.
Acting: 10
Licia Maglietta is magnificent as main star Rosalba. She holds her own in a number of different scenes throughout and really is the standout of the movie. I was impressed with a number of the other performances as well, but Bread and Tulips wouldn’t have had nearly the same amount of quality without her.
Beginning: 10
Characters: 1
Cinematography/Visuals: 1
One of the areas in which the film grossly suffers. There isn’t much that stands out in my memory about how this film was shot other than it being just plain…meh. It shoots like a monotonous mess making it hard for you to really want to commit your attention and time. Scenes are extremely basic with no real pop.
Conflict: 4
Entertainment Value: 5
While Bread and Tulips has its moments, it really was more of a background movie for me. The effort is solid in a few spots, but the movie ultimately just dragged and had me counting down to the resolution. Ultimately it never really succeeded in holding my attention.
Memorability: 6
With a handful of solid moments, nothing really jumped out here as overly memorable for me. It is memorable in the sense of having a unique concept, but it never fringes on impactful. I was hoping for more meat and I got scraps instead.
Pace: 7
The film does drag in spots where it should be moving a bit more quickly. However, it moves pretty evenly through the story for the most part. Could there have been a handful of parts that were cut out? Sure. Overall, though, the pace is pretty fluid.
Plot: 5
Resolution: 4
After all was said and done, the ending was just ok. I was hoping for some kind of surprise to redeem the movie, but it went pretty much how I expected it to go. Not impressed.
Overall: 53
A lot of people enjoyed Bread and Tulips if we go by what Rotten Tomatoes is saying. Unfortunately, I was not one of those people. The story overall is very underwhelming. I am absolutely ok with never seeing this one again.
Lee (2222 KP) rated A Bad Moms Christmas (2017) in Movies
Nov 5, 2017
A disappointing sequel
I always start my reviews of movie comedies by complaining how most of them just aren't that funny. Usually having a raucous trailer which combines every single one of the movies mildly funny moments into two or three minutes of high energy in an attempt to con you into buying a ticket. And I usually make a comparison to Bad Moms when I'm complaining about them too, probably the funniest comedy I've seen in a couple of years now. My enjoyment of Bad Moms was probably helped by the fact that I was watching it while say next to a busy, overworked mom in the shape of my wife, but it was still very enjoyable all the same. A lot of other people must have thought so too, as they managed to quickly rush out this inferior sequel in order to cash in.
Bad Moms Christmas kicks off on Christmas day, with Amy (Mila Kunis) sitting on the stairs of her home, Christmas tree toppled over, and other Christmas mess all around her. She looks beat, and a real life camel calmly walks past her. This must have been some big crazy party that we're going to rewind and watch unfold in full horrific detail. Spoiler: we do get to see the party, and it's definitely not crazy.
We do go back a few days though and the movie starts counting down each day in the run up to Christmas. All the original cast are back, but this time, in an attempt to double up on the number of Bad Moms (it's a sequel after all), all the moms of our three leads show up to make their lives that much worse. With another upcoming sequel, Daddys Home 2, set to do exactly the same thing, this must just be the thing these days.
With the older moms looking to dictate and ruin the holiday season, their daughters vow to take back Christmas. Unfortunately though, this just involves a bit of drunken bad behaviour in a shopping mall and some grinding/gyrating around an elderly Santa Claus. All a bit disappointing really.
While it's heart is in the right place and everyone is friends again by the time the end of the movie and Christmas day dinner rolls round, overall this is a much less enjoyable movie than the first. While there are some funny moments, the laugh rate is way, way down on the last movie too and a rethink of further 'holiday moms' planned movies is seriously needed.
Bad Moms Christmas kicks off on Christmas day, with Amy (Mila Kunis) sitting on the stairs of her home, Christmas tree toppled over, and other Christmas mess all around her. She looks beat, and a real life camel calmly walks past her. This must have been some big crazy party that we're going to rewind and watch unfold in full horrific detail. Spoiler: we do get to see the party, and it's definitely not crazy.
We do go back a few days though and the movie starts counting down each day in the run up to Christmas. All the original cast are back, but this time, in an attempt to double up on the number of Bad Moms (it's a sequel after all), all the moms of our three leads show up to make their lives that much worse. With another upcoming sequel, Daddys Home 2, set to do exactly the same thing, this must just be the thing these days.
With the older moms looking to dictate and ruin the holiday season, their daughters vow to take back Christmas. Unfortunately though, this just involves a bit of drunken bad behaviour in a shopping mall and some grinding/gyrating around an elderly Santa Claus. All a bit disappointing really.
While it's heart is in the right place and everyone is friends again by the time the end of the movie and Christmas day dinner rolls round, overall this is a much less enjoyable movie than the first. While there are some funny moments, the laugh rate is way, way down on the last movie too and a rethink of further 'holiday moms' planned movies is seriously needed.
Ellie seems to have the picture perfect life - and now, the picture perfect wedding. She's finally marrying Rob, seemingly the man of her dreams. But at her wedding, Ellie's world collapses, as she finds out Rob is not what he seems. She is quickly swept up into his world of lies and yes, murder. Rob is counting on Ellie to free them from the constrictive life he's been leading, but that may mean she has to kill someone. Is Ellie prepared to do this? Is Rob what he seems? What has happened to Ellie's perfect life?
This was an interesting thriller, to say the least. It starts out a little slow (seems like a conventional he said/she said back and forth point-of-view tale) but quickly turned into an actual, compelling mystery. The book is told in a "Then" and "Now" format, but with a couple of twists: first, you hear not only from Ellie and Rob, but also a detective, Lucien, who is investigating several cases that have ensnared the pair, and second, the "Then" portions aren't chronological, so you are really skipping around in time. It is confusing at times, but certainly adds to the page-turning aspect. A good 3/4 of the book passes by in a flash.
I was wary most of the book - who is telling the truth? Rob? Ellie? No one? This one reminded me a bit of another excellent book I read recently - J.T. Ellison's "No One Knows" (which I preferred), where you just don't know which spouse to trust, or if you even like either of them! They are both flawed, but not really in a way you could sympathize with. Lucien was certainly the only character who seemed to have any redemptive qualities to him at times, and his inclusion was intriguing and enjoyable.
Overall, this book left me feeling confused and a little wanting. It seemed to fall apart a little with the ending - I was almost not quite sure exactly what transpired. It left me a little wanting. Still, as I write my review 24 hours later, the book is still haunting me, and I imagine it will for quite some time-- which is certainly a feat in itself. I'm glad I read it; it was a strange and interesting experience to say the least.
I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley (thank you!); it is available for publication on 3/22. You can check out a review of this novel and many others on my <a href="http://justacatandabookatherside.blogspot.com/">blog</a>;.
This was an interesting thriller, to say the least. It starts out a little slow (seems like a conventional he said/she said back and forth point-of-view tale) but quickly turned into an actual, compelling mystery. The book is told in a "Then" and "Now" format, but with a couple of twists: first, you hear not only from Ellie and Rob, but also a detective, Lucien, who is investigating several cases that have ensnared the pair, and second, the "Then" portions aren't chronological, so you are really skipping around in time. It is confusing at times, but certainly adds to the page-turning aspect. A good 3/4 of the book passes by in a flash.
I was wary most of the book - who is telling the truth? Rob? Ellie? No one? This one reminded me a bit of another excellent book I read recently - J.T. Ellison's "No One Knows" (which I preferred), where you just don't know which spouse to trust, or if you even like either of them! They are both flawed, but not really in a way you could sympathize with. Lucien was certainly the only character who seemed to have any redemptive qualities to him at times, and his inclusion was intriguing and enjoyable.
Overall, this book left me feeling confused and a little wanting. It seemed to fall apart a little with the ending - I was almost not quite sure exactly what transpired. It left me a little wanting. Still, as I write my review 24 hours later, the book is still haunting me, and I imagine it will for quite some time-- which is certainly a feat in itself. I'm glad I read it; it was a strange and interesting experience to say the least.
I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley (thank you!); it is available for publication on 3/22. You can check out a review of this novel and many others on my <a href="http://justacatandabookatherside.blogspot.com/">blog</a>;.
Softer Than You Think
Utterly bonkers attempt at combining an apocalyptic thriller with gritty police procedural; the preposterousness of the plot combined with the fact that it always takes itself Very, Very Seriously results in what's essentially a hilarious unintentional comedy.
So, what's it about? Well, a pair of London coppers (cockney geezer and troubled waif) stumble upon a USB stick containing the government's advance planning for the end of the world, which is due in about five years. Quite what form this planning takes is a little unclear, as it neglects to mention just what form the apocalypse is going to take (which if nothing else allows the show a nice big revelation at the end of the season). Geezer and Waif must try to get the truth out there while fending off government agents who want them dead!
Except, it's not really about that: news of the impending catastrophe, whatever it is, lures various nutters out of the woodwork to start committing grisly murders, and - wouldn't you know it - whenever Geezer and Waif get a spare moment from being hunted by the government, they have to go around catching them By Any Means Necessary! (At one point Geezer contemplates waterboarding an innocent man who's not being cooperative enough.)
Except, it's not just about that, either, for Geezer and Waif have the most implausibly complicated back-stories known to man, involving an extramarital fling, a secure unit, an internal affairs investigation, the murder of Geezer's old partner, a secret deal, and Waif's homicidal grown-up son (who seems to be nearly as old as she is).
All of this stuff bangs together in the most grisly and unlikely fashion, with a general tone of overwrought existential misery (every one of the duo's cases either features a moment where they literally start beating each other up with collapsible truncheons, or one where they sit down together and wail 'What's the point of any of this? We're all going to be dead in five years anyway!').
The sheer ridiculousness of Hard Sun makes it quite watchable in a stick-it-on-in-the-background-while-you're-doing-something else kind of way; every time you find yourself saying 'This can't possibly get any sillier' the show comes right back and proves you wrong. The makers of the show are clearly hoping for a full five year run, counting down to the actual apocalypse itself, although clearly the format is in for a big retool somewhere along the line. Fingers crossed this finds the devoted global audience such a potential cult camp classic deserves.
So, what's it about? Well, a pair of London coppers (cockney geezer and troubled waif) stumble upon a USB stick containing the government's advance planning for the end of the world, which is due in about five years. Quite what form this planning takes is a little unclear, as it neglects to mention just what form the apocalypse is going to take (which if nothing else allows the show a nice big revelation at the end of the season). Geezer and Waif must try to get the truth out there while fending off government agents who want them dead!
Except, it's not really about that: news of the impending catastrophe, whatever it is, lures various nutters out of the woodwork to start committing grisly murders, and - wouldn't you know it - whenever Geezer and Waif get a spare moment from being hunted by the government, they have to go around catching them By Any Means Necessary! (At one point Geezer contemplates waterboarding an innocent man who's not being cooperative enough.)
Except, it's not just about that, either, for Geezer and Waif have the most implausibly complicated back-stories known to man, involving an extramarital fling, a secure unit, an internal affairs investigation, the murder of Geezer's old partner, a secret deal, and Waif's homicidal grown-up son (who seems to be nearly as old as she is).
All of this stuff bangs together in the most grisly and unlikely fashion, with a general tone of overwrought existential misery (every one of the duo's cases either features a moment where they literally start beating each other up with collapsible truncheons, or one where they sit down together and wail 'What's the point of any of this? We're all going to be dead in five years anyway!').
The sheer ridiculousness of Hard Sun makes it quite watchable in a stick-it-on-in-the-background-while-you're-doing-something else kind of way; every time you find yourself saying 'This can't possibly get any sillier' the show comes right back and proves you wrong. The makers of the show are clearly hoping for a full five year run, counting down to the actual apocalypse itself, although clearly the format is in for a big retool somewhere along the line. Fingers crossed this finds the devoted global audience such a potential cult camp classic deserves.
Carma (21 KP) rated Up by Five (Just Everyday Heroes: Night Shift, #5) in Books
Jun 17, 2019
The only person that would be capable of taming the wild Connor Dixon is Gabby Evans. Up by Five is the final story in the Just Everyday Heroes: Night Shift (previously Counting on Love series). In this final story Connor, who has been a part of the series from back in the Day Shift books (previously Bradford series), gets his moment in the spotlight. Once again Erin Nicholas hits it out of the park with Connors story. 5 stars from this Dixon fan!!
Connor is a man people love, to hate. He is cocky, annoying, brash, bossy, arrogant, dickish and totally runs his sisters lives. He is the only boy to his brood of sisters and he like being in charge of their lives, or so he thinks. He believes he walks on water at the very least. His sisters love him but think he needs to get his own life. He doesnt think he needs to change at all, who doesnt love him? Hes got girls falling all over him, his own bachelor pad, what more does a guy need? One apartment fire answers that question for him very quickly.
Gabrielle Gabby Evans doesnt need anyone to help her do anything. Her brothers constantly underestimate her and she is tired of it. When her apartment burns down she has little options of what to next. Connor Dixon steps up and offers to share his apartment while she gets back on her feet. She doesnt think she can do that, since she is wildly attracted to him, has been for a while now. But it would be safe, since he doesnt seem the least bit attracted to her. Working together for so long, they have a familiarity, a friendship that has seen its fair share of drama, she knows this can work. Right?
Both Connor and Gabby have met their match in each other and right from the start anyone can see they were made for each other. Furniture testing aside, they play off each others strengths and weaknesses with ease. Sure there are some bumps in the road but hello thats how relationships work.
The continuation of relationships from the previous novels, both day and night shift help add to the hysterical interactions splattered throughout the book. Connor and Mac could have their own stand up tour. I also loved the Candy Land (Medical version) in the book, which just shows again the camaraderie they all feel with each other. Connor is a man you love to hate but just love at the end of the day.
Connor is a man people love, to hate. He is cocky, annoying, brash, bossy, arrogant, dickish and totally runs his sisters lives. He is the only boy to his brood of sisters and he like being in charge of their lives, or so he thinks. He believes he walks on water at the very least. His sisters love him but think he needs to get his own life. He doesnt think he needs to change at all, who doesnt love him? Hes got girls falling all over him, his own bachelor pad, what more does a guy need? One apartment fire answers that question for him very quickly.
Gabrielle Gabby Evans doesnt need anyone to help her do anything. Her brothers constantly underestimate her and she is tired of it. When her apartment burns down she has little options of what to next. Connor Dixon steps up and offers to share his apartment while she gets back on her feet. She doesnt think she can do that, since she is wildly attracted to him, has been for a while now. But it would be safe, since he doesnt seem the least bit attracted to her. Working together for so long, they have a familiarity, a friendship that has seen its fair share of drama, she knows this can work. Right?
Both Connor and Gabby have met their match in each other and right from the start anyone can see they were made for each other. Furniture testing aside, they play off each others strengths and weaknesses with ease. Sure there are some bumps in the road but hello thats how relationships work.
The continuation of relationships from the previous novels, both day and night shift help add to the hysterical interactions splattered throughout the book. Connor and Mac could have their own stand up tour. I also loved the Candy Land (Medical version) in the book, which just shows again the camaraderie they all feel with each other. Connor is a man you love to hate but just love at the end of the day.
Carma (21 KP) rated Just Right (Just Everyday Heroes: Day Shift, #1) in Books
Jun 17, 2019
Just Right is the first book in the Bradford series by Erin Nicholas. Nurse Jessica Bradford has loved looking at Dr Ben Torres these past 6 months in the ER Department. Tonights tragedy has them all on edge, when Ben enters the ER and strikes a patient, Jessica doesnt know how to help him. It becomes her duty to keep an eye on him during his suspension and keep him on the straight and narrow to be able to return to the ER Department. She doesnt count on falling for him quite so easily and quickly.
Dr Ben Torres is having a hell of a night in the ER. Hes lost 2 young patients and their mother is looking to be next all because a guy he put back together on the operating table a few months back decided to drink and drive. He cant stand by anymore while people take advantage of each other anymore. Why doesnt anyone appreciate the life they are living any longer? When he sees that patient put his hands on Jessica he loses control. He has kept his distance from Jessica for 6 months, he has to keep his eyes off the prize, but he wont stand by while someone hurts her. He has tossed around the idea of quitting for a while and this tips the scale big time.
When both Jessicas brother Sam and boss Russ ask her to keep an eye on Ben until he can return to the ER she does so eagerly. She grows closer to him while he tags along with her in everyday life. He helps her at her familys youth center, she helps him at his new barrista job. Their adventures together have quite a few funny situations and of course the secondary characters help the humor move along.
Ben and Jessica both have tragedy in their pasts, both have a self doubt they are working to erase from their beings. Even though they think theyve taken different roads to end up where they are now, they are actually quite similar.
I read this authors Counting on Love series first, which is a spin off of this series, so I was already pretty familiar with all the main and secondary characters in this book. Erin Nicholas is a wonderful writer with a style I love to follow along with. I have no idea how I ended up reading her first to me novel but I am so glad I did. Now on to the next Bradford book ..
Dr Ben Torres is having a hell of a night in the ER. Hes lost 2 young patients and their mother is looking to be next all because a guy he put back together on the operating table a few months back decided to drink and drive. He cant stand by anymore while people take advantage of each other anymore. Why doesnt anyone appreciate the life they are living any longer? When he sees that patient put his hands on Jessica he loses control. He has kept his distance from Jessica for 6 months, he has to keep his eyes off the prize, but he wont stand by while someone hurts her. He has tossed around the idea of quitting for a while and this tips the scale big time.
When both Jessicas brother Sam and boss Russ ask her to keep an eye on Ben until he can return to the ER she does so eagerly. She grows closer to him while he tags along with her in everyday life. He helps her at her familys youth center, she helps him at his new barrista job. Their adventures together have quite a few funny situations and of course the secondary characters help the humor move along.
Ben and Jessica both have tragedy in their pasts, both have a self doubt they are working to erase from their beings. Even though they think theyve taken different roads to end up where they are now, they are actually quite similar.
I read this authors Counting on Love series first, which is a spin off of this series, so I was already pretty familiar with all the main and secondary characters in this book. Erin Nicholas is a wonderful writer with a style I love to follow along with. I have no idea how I ended up reading her first to me novel but I am so glad I did. Now on to the next Bradford book ..
Debbiereadsbook (1102 KP) rated Todd (Tangled Tentacles #3) by JP Sayle & Lisa Oliver in Books
Jun 29, 2022
doesn't quite hit the spot the other two do!
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.
This is book 3 in the Tangled Tentacles series, and you really SHOULD read books one, Alexi and two, Victor, before this one. There is stuff that happens in those books that is referenced here, but not fully explained. And, cos, you know, I said so!
I loved, I mean LOVED Alexi and Victor, and was looking forward to Todd, especially once I knew he gets 2 mates, dragons no less. But while I rally really REALLY liked this one, it doesn't quite hit the spot the other two do.
AND I can say, with fair certainty, why too. Which for me and a Sayle book?? Unheard of! The woman messes with my book head, and leaves me with so many freaking questions!
This book revolves around Todd, who is the youngest of 5, and an Omega. For the most part, being Omega means you are smaller, and weaker. Todd hates being Omega. So I was expecting a huge battle with Todd, finding his place with 2 mates, any mates really. But Todd, apart from the meeting and it's aftermath, just kinda goes with it, you know? Once Todd got the full story of Lucas and Ki, it was like "oh, ok then!)
AND
The search for the missing shifters is hardly mentioned here. The story focuses on the missing dragon EGGS and where they went, and who has been taking for so very long. The missing eggs mystery was all wrapped up with a big fat bow FAR too easily for my liking, I'm afraid!
THAT said, however, the way things develop between Todd, Lucas and Ki is sweet and smexy and hella hot! And the baby thing surprised me! Dragon eggs AND baby kracken?? So cute.
And we get the insight into the final two brothers and their stories. Markov, who is currently missing, and that darn commander. And then there is Kelvin and the F-B-freaking-I-guy who has got him all a-fluster.
I will read them, because I feel (book feelings, people, are very important!) there are some things we don't know about these boys yet, and what happened to their parents and whether they really ARE the final kracken alive on the planet (NOT counting babies, of course!)
I gave this 4.5 stars, but can't log that in some places so I'm rounding it . . . .
up to 5 full stars, cos I did love Todd, Lucas and Ki together.
*same worded review will appear elsewhere
This is book 3 in the Tangled Tentacles series, and you really SHOULD read books one, Alexi and two, Victor, before this one. There is stuff that happens in those books that is referenced here, but not fully explained. And, cos, you know, I said so!
I loved, I mean LOVED Alexi and Victor, and was looking forward to Todd, especially once I knew he gets 2 mates, dragons no less. But while I rally really REALLY liked this one, it doesn't quite hit the spot the other two do.
AND I can say, with fair certainty, why too. Which for me and a Sayle book?? Unheard of! The woman messes with my book head, and leaves me with so many freaking questions!
This book revolves around Todd, who is the youngest of 5, and an Omega. For the most part, being Omega means you are smaller, and weaker. Todd hates being Omega. So I was expecting a huge battle with Todd, finding his place with 2 mates, any mates really. But Todd, apart from the meeting and it's aftermath, just kinda goes with it, you know? Once Todd got the full story of Lucas and Ki, it was like "oh, ok then!)
AND
The search for the missing shifters is hardly mentioned here. The story focuses on the missing dragon EGGS and where they went, and who has been taking for so very long. The missing eggs mystery was all wrapped up with a big fat bow FAR too easily for my liking, I'm afraid!
THAT said, however, the way things develop between Todd, Lucas and Ki is sweet and smexy and hella hot! And the baby thing surprised me! Dragon eggs AND baby kracken?? So cute.
And we get the insight into the final two brothers and their stories. Markov, who is currently missing, and that darn commander. And then there is Kelvin and the F-B-freaking-I-guy who has got him all a-fluster.
I will read them, because I feel (book feelings, people, are very important!) there are some things we don't know about these boys yet, and what happened to their parents and whether they really ARE the final kracken alive on the planet (NOT counting babies, of course!)
I gave this 4.5 stars, but can't log that in some places so I'm rounding it . . . .
up to 5 full stars, cos I did love Todd, Lucas and Ki together.
*same worded review will appear elsewhere
Sharpie0499 (114 KP) rated Avengers: Infinity War (2018) in Movies
Jul 9, 2018 (Updated Jul 9, 2018)
Best Marvel film yet (2 more)
Thanos and Black Order were the most terrifying villains yet
Ended on cliffhanger so am excited for Part 2
Best Marvel Film Yet!!!
Contains spoilers, click to show
Overall, Infinity War was the most powerful Marvel film to date; not just because of the powerful superheroes, but because it was able to fill you with adrenaline during fight scenes, fill you with hope when seeing lovers reunited, and wrench at your heartstrings during those difficult to watch, depressing scenes all in one movie. The casting was brilliantly done: Ebony Maw had me internally reeling just at the sight of him, and don't even get me started on Thanos. When seeing Thanos in previous Marvel films, it was obvious he was a threat to humanity but I never really felt afraid of him. But in the first scene when Hulk is beating up Thanos, you think, 'Yes, Hulk! Smash!' But then Thanos decides to turn it around, causing Hulk to be so afraid of Thanos throughout the entire film that he won't let Bruce turn into him. This is because Hulk knows Thanos can beat him, possibly even kill him. When I was sitting in the cinema, watching Scarlet Witch see Thanos for the first time at the end of the film and seeing her genuine terror just at the sight of him (though she could probably sense his powers with her magic) it got me thinking of what I would do in their situation. And I know humanity would have no chance against him, even without the infinity stones, and that he would just destroy us. Anyway, on a happier note, I was thrilled to see Scarlet Witch and Vision together when they were in Scotland. But then Marvel had to go and crush our hearts by having Thanos kill Vision. What really broke my heart was how Vision told Scarlet Witch, 'I love you,' just before he died and then Scarlet Witch's face when she turned into dust or sand or whatever the hell that was. It looked like she was almost relieved to become nothing after Vision's death (I'm probably just reading into that). What also nearly killed me was Rocket's reaction to Groot turning into dust/sand; and the scene on Titan when Spiderman turns into dust/sand. Anyway, this Marvel film beats all others out of the park with the more intense fight choreography, the terrifying villains, and the superheroes banding together and joining forces to beat a common enemy. I'm excited to see a certain new superhero join the team (Captain Marvel) and am counting down the days till May 2019 so I can see the conclusion to Infinity War!