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Michelle Smith (41 KP) rated Blood Fury: Black Dagger Legacy in Books
Jan 26, 2018
Contains spoilers, click to show
I really enjoyed Blood Fury and I didn't expect to. Mainly, because I didn't care much for Saxton in the past and I didn't really have much of an opinion on Peyton and Novo. Having now read it, I can honestly say that I loved the romance between Saxton and Ruhn. I did not see that coming! And their involvement with the human developers was a great story.
My heart broke for Novo. With her past and her awful family, it's not surprising she's as tough as she is, and I'm glad that someone was able to make her love again and help her move on and I'm glad that that someone was Peyton- if only because it meant that he'd stop obsessing over the rather dull Paradise.
My heart broke for Novo. With her past and her awful family, it's not surprising she's as tough as she is, and I'm glad that someone was able to make her love again and help her move on and I'm glad that that someone was Peyton- if only because it meant that he'd stop obsessing over the rather dull Paradise.
Suswatibasu (1703 KP) rated Bring Me Back in Books
Mar 2, 2018
Unnerving with lots of twists
B. A. Paris returns once again with a deeply troubling psychological thriller following a couple and a woman, who disappeared 12 years ago.
Finn and his girlfriend Layla are in France before she mysteriously vanishes, leaving him to answer police questions over her disappearance. Fast forward 12 years, and Finn has settled down, about to marry Layla's older, much more mature sister, but suddenly bizarre events begin to occur, and they wonder - has she returned?
The entire book is unnerving, moving between several narratives and voices, first establishing Finn's version of the past and the present. And then soon after, another voice emerges, and you're left to question whether it really is Layla.
While you do get an inkling with 30 minutes left of the book about what could be possible - it is written so that the final reveal is still harrowing and shocking. Another gripping thriller from Paris.
Finn and his girlfriend Layla are in France before she mysteriously vanishes, leaving him to answer police questions over her disappearance. Fast forward 12 years, and Finn has settled down, about to marry Layla's older, much more mature sister, but suddenly bizarre events begin to occur, and they wonder - has she returned?
The entire book is unnerving, moving between several narratives and voices, first establishing Finn's version of the past and the present. And then soon after, another voice emerges, and you're left to question whether it really is Layla.
While you do get an inkling with 30 minutes left of the book about what could be possible - it is written so that the final reveal is still harrowing and shocking. Another gripping thriller from Paris.
Phillip McSween (751 KP) rated Popstar Never Stop Never Stopping (2016) in Movies
Mar 7, 2018
Donkey Roll All Day
Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping is a mockumentary following the life and times of hit maker Connor4Real (Andy Samberg). If you can manage to give in to its absolute absurdity, you are in for a major treat. Despite its short lull where a couple punchlines fall flat, Popstar has quickly risen to become one of my favorite comedies.
Not only is it funny, it's consistently funny. One minute you're laughing at something then something else ridiculously stupid happens and you're cracking up all over again. The hilarity ensues from the jump as you learn Connor4Real's history and the breakup of his former group The Style Boyz. Two words: Limo Scene. Just plain classic.
The cameos are countless and absurdly funny. The music is classic, the kind that gets stuck in your head, but in a good way. Saying too much else will ruin the experience. Just watch it. I give it a solid 98.
Not only is it funny, it's consistently funny. One minute you're laughing at something then something else ridiculously stupid happens and you're cracking up all over again. The hilarity ensues from the jump as you learn Connor4Real's history and the breakup of his former group The Style Boyz. Two words: Limo Scene. Just plain classic.
The cameos are countless and absurdly funny. The music is classic, the kind that gets stuck in your head, but in a good way. Saying too much else will ruin the experience. Just watch it. I give it a solid 98.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2346 KP) rated Iced Under in Books
Mar 9, 2018
It’s a cold, quiet February in Busman’s Harbor until Julia’s mom gets a mysterious package in the mail. Inside is a necklace, a family heirloom worth seven figures, that disappeared in the 1920’s. What happened to it all those years ago? And who sent it today?
This is definitely a different plot for a cozy, but I really loved it. Yes, there is a murder, but it comes in later and the mystery of tracking down family and the story behind the necklace takes center stage. Honestly, I like the break from the familiar formula. The characters are fun as always, especially the new ones. And I might have cried (in a good way) through the last couple of chapters. Fans of the series will appreciate this one best, but they will love it.
Note: I received an ARC of this book.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/12/book-review-iced-under-by-barbara-ross.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
This is definitely a different plot for a cozy, but I really loved it. Yes, there is a murder, but it comes in later and the mystery of tracking down family and the story behind the necklace takes center stage. Honestly, I like the break from the familiar formula. The characters are fun as always, especially the new ones. And I might have cried (in a good way) through the last couple of chapters. Fans of the series will appreciate this one best, but they will love it.
Note: I received an ARC of this book.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/12/book-review-iced-under-by-barbara-ross.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2346 KP) rated Rest in Peach (Georgia Peach Mystery #2) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
While Nola Mae Harper is intent on finishing up the store front for her new peach business, the rest of Cays Mill is talking about the cotillion, the age old presentation of the young women in town into society. But when a fight over a dress leads to murder, Nola finds herself caught up in helping her friend Ginny prove she is innocent.
I had a lot of fun on this return visit to Cays Mill. Nola is a good main character, and I liked watching her grow here. The rest of the cast is fun as well. I did figure out the mystery early, but there were still a couple of twists I didn’t see coming, and I was having fun along the way, so I really didn’t mind.
NOTE: I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/04/book-review-rest-in-peach-by-susan.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
I had a lot of fun on this return visit to Cays Mill. Nola is a good main character, and I liked watching her grow here. The rest of the cast is fun as well. I did figure out the mystery early, but there were still a couple of twists I didn’t see coming, and I was having fun along the way, so I really didn’t mind.
NOTE: I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/04/book-review-rest-in-peach-by-susan.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Inspired by the 25th anniversary of The Princess Bride, Cary Elwes, better known as Westley, sat down to share his memories of making the film. He goes from being cast at the age of 23 to meeting his cast mates and stories from filming on sound stages and on location. Helping him out, we get sidebars from his co-stars, the director, and the writer.
And any fan of the movie will love the stories told here. It is obvious that everyone has fond memories of their time on set, are proud of the results, and thrilled that so many people love the movie as much as they do. Even the stories that aren’t completely positive are amusing. I know I’ll watch a couple scenes differently as a result of the stories shared here.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2018/02/book-review-as-you-wish-by-cary-elwes.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
And any fan of the movie will love the stories told here. It is obvious that everyone has fond memories of their time on set, are proud of the results, and thrilled that so many people love the movie as much as they do. Even the stories that aren’t completely positive are amusing. I know I’ll watch a couple scenes differently as a result of the stories shared here.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2018/02/book-review-as-you-wish-by-cary-elwes.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Lila Maclean is excited to be teaching her first semester as a professor. She’s not so happy with her department chair, however, especially after he shoots down her idea for a course on mysteries and basically tells her to sit down and observe. Walking into a department meeting a couple of hours later, she finds him stabbed to death on a table. With rumors that she knows more than she is saying, she decides to find the killer herself.
This is a fun debut. The college came alive for me, and I really enjoyed the setting. Now that Lila’s co-workers won’t be suspects, I’m looking forward to seeing them grow more as well since I liked most of them. While the book starts out quickly, I did feel the pace lagged a little in the middle before things came together for a logical end.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/03/book-review-semester-of-our-discontent.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
This is a fun debut. The college came alive for me, and I really enjoyed the setting. Now that Lila’s co-workers won’t be suspects, I’m looking forward to seeing them grow more as well since I liked most of them. While the book starts out quickly, I did feel the pace lagged a little in the middle before things came together for a logical end.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/03/book-review-semester-of-our-discontent.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2346 KP) rated Mrs. Pollifax Unveiled (Mrs Pollifax #14) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Mrs. Pollifax and her friend Farrell are off to Syria to try to find out what happened to Amanda Pym, who vanished after stopping the hijackers of a plane diverted from Egypt. They are constantly being watched and much evade their followers before they can even make contact. With the thinnest of leads, can they find the missing young woman?
This is Mrs. Pollifax, so that means we are off on another wild and fun adventure. Set in the world of 2000, it’s interesting to read this take on the politics of the Middle East back then. The plot features a couple of familiar plot points, but I didn’t care since it was so fantastic to be enjoying another adventure with Mrs. Pollifax. Sadly, this is her last adventure, but I like to imagine she is still out there saving the day against overwhelming odds.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/11/book-review-mrs-pollifax-unveiled-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
This is Mrs. Pollifax, so that means we are off on another wild and fun adventure. Set in the world of 2000, it’s interesting to read this take on the politics of the Middle East back then. The plot features a couple of familiar plot points, but I didn’t care since it was so fantastic to be enjoying another adventure with Mrs. Pollifax. Sadly, this is her last adventure, but I like to imagine she is still out there saving the day against overwhelming odds.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/11/book-review-mrs-pollifax-unveiled-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2346 KP) rated Cinderella Six Feet Under (Fairy Tale Fatal Mystery, #2) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Ophelia and Prue have traveled to Paris where they hope to reunite Prue with her mother. Instead, they find that Prue’s mother is missing and there is a dead body in Prue’s step-family’s home – a body wearing a ball gown and only one slipper. Then Gabriel shows up and insists that’s not the only tie in to Cinderella.
The combination of fairy tale with cozy mystery is successful once again. There are a couple of plot points that seem a bit rough, but for the most part the story is a fun, fast paces romp. I love the trio at the heart of the series, and the rest of the cast is just as sharp and fun. I already can’t wait to see where they go next.
NOTE: I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2015/09/book-review-cinderella-six-feet-under.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
The combination of fairy tale with cozy mystery is successful once again. There are a couple of plot points that seem a bit rough, but for the most part the story is a fun, fast paces romp. I love the trio at the heart of the series, and the rest of the cast is just as sharp and fun. I already can’t wait to see where they go next.
NOTE: I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2015/09/book-review-cinderella-six-feet-under.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2346 KP) rated Death al Fresco in Books
Mar 14, 2018
Corpse in the Kelp
Sally and her friend Eric are taking an outdoor painting class around Santa Cruz. During class one Saturday, Sally’s dog finds a dead body in the kelp. The man was a regular at Sally’s family’s restaurant, and his last few days seem to be connected to his time there. Can Sally figure out what happened before the restaurant’s reputation is ruined?
This book has a good mystery with viable suspects and a couple of good twists to it. It also has some strong sub-plot, which are a double-edged sword. On the one hand, they take the focus off the mystery a bit too much at times. On the other hand, they are the perfect showcases for some of the recurring characters, and I enjoyed seeing them again and how they are growing. Overall, I found this a satisfying read.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.
This book has a good mystery with viable suspects and a couple of good twists to it. It also has some strong sub-plot, which are a double-edged sword. On the one hand, they take the focus off the mystery a bit too much at times. On the other hand, they are the perfect showcases for some of the recurring characters, and I enjoyed seeing them again and how they are growing. Overall, I found this a satisfying read.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.