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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2340 KP) rated For Batter or Worse in Books
May 10, 2021
A Baker’s Dozen of Delight
Mel and Joe’s wedding day is fast approaching. For their reception, they’ve picked the resort where Oz has landed the job of head pastry chef. However, things are not going well for Oz there as the head chef is proving to be an egomaniac. One day, Mel and Angie witness a very public fight between Oz and the head chef. Then, a couple of days later, Mel and Joe find Oz bending over the dead body of the chef. Mel doesn’t need anything else on her to do list, but can she figure out who the killer is before she walks down the aisle?
If you were worried that Oz was leaving the series after the events of the previous book, this proves that he will still very much be part of the series. He gets some interesting character growth, in fact. The rest of the gang is all present, and I enjoyed laughing at their antics as they worked to solve the case. The mystery is filled with plenty of suspects and red herrings, and I only began to figure things out right before Mel put it all together. I loved the final chapter. If the book makes you hungry, you’ll be happy with the four recipes at the end. Once again, fans will devour this book and be ready for Mel’s next adventure.
If you were worried that Oz was leaving the series after the events of the previous book, this proves that he will still very much be part of the series. He gets some interesting character growth, in fact. The rest of the gang is all present, and I enjoyed laughing at their antics as they worked to solve the case. The mystery is filled with plenty of suspects and red herrings, and I only began to figure things out right before Mel put it all together. I loved the final chapter. If the book makes you hungry, you’ll be happy with the four recipes at the end. Once again, fans will devour this book and be ready for Mel’s next adventure.
LoganCrews (2861 KP) rated Road Trip (2000) in Movies
Sep 21, 2020
Deplorable, only a few meager steps above the likes of shit hall-of-famer 𝘋𝘦𝘶𝘤𝘦 𝘉𝘪𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘸: 𝘔𝘢𝘭𝘦 𝘎𝘪𝘨𝘰𝘭𝘰. Bargain bin 𝘈𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘗𝘪𝘦 meets injudicious 𝘍𝘦𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘴 𝘉𝘶𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘳'𝘴 𝘋𝘢𝘺 𝘖𝘧𝘧 mixed with elements that we'd later see Phillips use to his benefit in better films like 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘏𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳 and 𝘋𝘶𝘦 𝘋𝘢𝘵𝘦 - but are 0% amusing here. I challenge you to find a more stagnant road trip movie than this, why even cast Tom Green at the peak of his fame (who, along with DJ Qualls, are the only perfect performances) if you're only going to have him do a couple outrageous things? Like yeah don't overdo it but come on you can do better than this. I mean hell even similarly awful 30 𝘔𝘪𝘯𝘶𝘵𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘳 𝘓𝘦𝘴𝘴 did at least fifty times more with Fred Ward. Also worth noting how much this films hates women. The entire plot of this movie hinges on the Meyer (who is worse than terrible in this) character rightfully being in danger of his girlfriend finding out he undisguisedly cheated on her but we're supposed to not want that to happen because him and his noxious jackass friends are funny... but they aren't? Some of the ugliest aesthetics and soundtrack offerings of the crime of good taste that was the late 90s/early 2000s style. I'm usually a Todd defender but this is just wretched. 𝘙𝘰𝘢𝘥 𝘛𝘳𝘪𝘱𝘦.
LoganCrews (2861 KP) rated Inglourious Basterds (2009) in Movies
Sep 20, 2020
At the risk of sounding cliché, this was rigorously badass. Has a couple holes but honestly this is still as tightly constructed as this story could possibly be. Just as personal preference I would have liked some more Basterd Nazi killing but there isn't a single wasted line of dialogue in all its still magnetically elongated digressions. Speaking of which, it's been nearly six years to the day that I first saw this film and I still remember so many little, seemingly insignificant lines of dialogue (for instance, how much Landa loves milk and pastries). Saying every performance is an idiosyncratic knockout would be redundant, it's Tarantino after all but it needs underlining here as well: Pitt's wondrously imitatable drawl, Waltz's schoolboy-esque glee in fucking with people, the way Laurent reacts as if she'd just imbibed a pound of broken glass after her nerve-wracking conversation with Landa, so on and so forth. The last half hour ranks among some of the finest Tarantino you'll ever see - the blistering retaliation(s) in the theater, the numerous sharp story surprises that hit like a pot of boiling water to the face, the unfiltered confrontational nature which some find to be a - er - controversial choice today? (Fuck you if you're one of them, by the way). Imagine seeing this and still thinking 𝘖𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘜𝘱𝘰𝘯 𝘢 𝘛𝘪𝘮𝘦... 𝘪𝘯 𝘏𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘺𝘸𝘰𝘰𝘥 is better.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2340 KP) rated Open for Murder in Books
Nov 27, 2020
Opening Weekend Features Murder
Zo Jones is thrilled to have her best friend Beth Everett back in her life. The two were inseparable every summer when Beth would visit her aunt in Spirit Canyon, South Dakota. Beth has inherited the lodge her aunt owned, and, after renovating, she is ready to reopen just in time for summer tourists. However, the first night the lodge is opened, one of the guests is murdered. The victim was a local competitor, and the police begin to look at Beth as their prime suspect. Zo doesn’t believe her friend would do something like this, but can she find the proof?
Zo owns a souvenir shop, and between that and the setting, I had to give this series a try. I loved the setting. The book took a couple of chapters before it introduced us to the victim and suspects, but it picked up from there. I did find some of the motives weak early on, but they got stronger the further into the book we got. Likewise, it takes a bit for the characters to be developed. There is still room for the main characters to grow as the series progresses. We get a recipe for a delicious sounding S’more brownie at the end of the book. If you are open to a new series, this is one to check out.
Zo owns a souvenir shop, and between that and the setting, I had to give this series a try. I loved the setting. The book took a couple of chapters before it introduced us to the victim and suspects, but it picked up from there. I did find some of the motives weak early on, but they got stronger the further into the book we got. Likewise, it takes a bit for the characters to be developed. There is still room for the main characters to grow as the series progresses. We get a recipe for a delicious sounding S’more brownie at the end of the book. If you are open to a new series, this is one to check out.
Kate (493 KP) rated Left For Dead (Morecambe Bay Trilogy #1) in Books
Oct 19, 2020
This was the first book in Morecambe Bay trilogy. It took me a few chapters to get into.
As the book when back from present date to the past it was easy to get the full story. Also as some chapters were written from Charlotte's perspective and some were from Will's you got to see each character and how they were feeling and how they thought. The story flowed really well. I did guess most of what happened that evening but it was good to see it all explained in full.
Throughout the book Charlotte did change and it a good way. She was slightly annoying to begin with but then she did grow on me.
The end of the book tied everything together and I thought this was from the end but there were a couple of chapters at the end of the book which were from the new book. They really intrigued me. Some mystery trilogy's have some of the same characters but it will be a different story but the second book seemed to continue the story. I enjoyed this book so much that ended up buying the second book in the trilogy straight away. Normally I would wait and go onto another book but this one I had to read the second one.
As the book when back from present date to the past it was easy to get the full story. Also as some chapters were written from Charlotte's perspective and some were from Will's you got to see each character and how they were feeling and how they thought. The story flowed really well. I did guess most of what happened that evening but it was good to see it all explained in full.
Throughout the book Charlotte did change and it a good way. She was slightly annoying to begin with but then she did grow on me.
The end of the book tied everything together and I thought this was from the end but there were a couple of chapters at the end of the book which were from the new book. They really intrigued me. Some mystery trilogy's have some of the same characters but it will be a different story but the second book seemed to continue the story. I enjoyed this book so much that ended up buying the second book in the trilogy straight away. Normally I would wait and go onto another book but this one I had to read the second one.
Leanne Crabtree (480 KP) rated Weak for Him (Weakness, #1) in Books
Jan 11, 2021
I was so undecided on how to rate this...4 star?...5 star? So I'll settle for 4.5 stars. Maybe it's the whole obsession I have with books associated with the sex industry--escorts, prostitutes, strippers, porn stars. I just like to read them finding romance with someone who can crack their cold interiors.
And that is pretty much what happened in this. You could see that there was something between Jennifer and Finnley, some spark that could become great if they both gave in. But nope. Not that simple. Finnley had the whole I-won't-(not can't)-have-you-but-no-one-else-can-either thing going on, which I must say is totally unfair to Jennifer.
That being said, the way he paraded around his conquests at times I wanted to smack him and don't blame Jennifer for trying to find love somewhere else.
The continuous back and forth between Finn and Jennifer was at times annoying and at others I melted a little towards him. This was definitely a couple I got emotionally involved with.
That epilogue was very insightful and I am so glad that the author wrote it. It added an extra element to see it all from Finn's eyes.
I am very interested in reading the rest of the series.
And that is pretty much what happened in this. You could see that there was something between Jennifer and Finnley, some spark that could become great if they both gave in. But nope. Not that simple. Finnley had the whole I-won't-(not can't)-have-you-but-no-one-else-can-either thing going on, which I must say is totally unfair to Jennifer.
That being said, the way he paraded around his conquests at times I wanted to smack him and don't blame Jennifer for trying to find love somewhere else.
The continuous back and forth between Finn and Jennifer was at times annoying and at others I melted a little towards him. This was definitely a couple I got emotionally involved with.
That epilogue was very insightful and I am so glad that the author wrote it. It added an extra element to see it all from Finn's eyes.
I am very interested in reading the rest of the series.
Merissa (12841 KP) rated Swan Girl (Rifters #2) in Books
Jun 28, 2019
Swan Girl (Rifters #2) by Isa Briarwood
Swan Girl is the second book in the Rifters series, and although this book finishes perfectly, I'm holding out hope there is still more to come!
We reunite with Cate and Angus as they arrive in Ireland in 2083. This is a world completely unknown to Cate, and her struggles are real. Once Angus' parents are in the mix, things go a bit easier. This story is about choices - Cate's, Angus', and others.
It is incredibly well-written, with only a couple of moments when I had to go back and re-read something, just to be sure. The story wraps up nicely, bringing a tear to my eye! I loved how it all came together, but one of the best parts for me was when Cate when back to her time. What I want to know is what happens in the future with the knowledge she gave the doctor? See? I told you there should be more!
Full of action and adventure, this was a rip-roaring sequel that definitely fulfilled it's promise. Absolutely 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!
We reunite with Cate and Angus as they arrive in Ireland in 2083. This is a world completely unknown to Cate, and her struggles are real. Once Angus' parents are in the mix, things go a bit easier. This story is about choices - Cate's, Angus', and others.
It is incredibly well-written, with only a couple of moments when I had to go back and re-read something, just to be sure. The story wraps up nicely, bringing a tear to my eye! I loved how it all came together, but one of the best parts for me was when Cate when back to her time. What I want to know is what happens in the future with the knowledge she gave the doctor? See? I told you there should be more!
Full of action and adventure, this was a rip-roaring sequel that definitely fulfilled it's promise. Absolutely 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!
Kate (493 KP) rated Mistress for Hire in Books
Sep 28, 2019
This book took me a couple of chapters to get into but once I did I really enjoyed it. It was not like other erotica type books I have read and it was a pleasant surprise.
The author kept me reading.
The only issues I found with this book was it was not set up well. The title kept being in the centre of the pages and the same with the author's name which made it hard to read as it didn't flow well because of this. Also the pages numbers were in the middle of lines which again were not in a line.
This book is definitely aimed at women, I'd say 20's and up.
I liked the twist on her last 'assignment' as I didn't expect it.
The blurb described the book well but it was definitely different to what I expected but in a good way. I had no idea it was going where it did when I first started reading the book. I never expected the main character's 'assignments' to be that.
I am really hoping there is a sequel to this book and if so I can't wait to read it.
Please note I received a complimentary copy of the book from the author via Voracious Readers Only.
The author kept me reading.
The only issues I found with this book was it was not set up well. The title kept being in the centre of the pages and the same with the author's name which made it hard to read as it didn't flow well because of this. Also the pages numbers were in the middle of lines which again were not in a line.
This book is definitely aimed at women, I'd say 20's and up.
I liked the twist on her last 'assignment' as I didn't expect it.
The blurb described the book well but it was definitely different to what I expected but in a good way. I had no idea it was going where it did when I first started reading the book. I never expected the main character's 'assignments' to be that.
I am really hoping there is a sequel to this book and if so I can't wait to read it.
Please note I received a complimentary copy of the book from the author via Voracious Readers Only.
Leanne Crabtree (480 KP) rated Darling, All at Once in Books
Sep 3, 2019
I loved how Cohen was a candy floss vendor at Juliet's sisters wedding. That just screams fun to me so I was enjoying this from early on. And then there's the slightly drunken sex after said wedding ends and I was drawn into this.
Cohen's boyish charms really won me over, as did his constant hoping for more with Juliet. Juliet, on the other hand, could deny her attraction and want for something more with him until she was blue in the face but it was pretty obvious after a while so about half way through when they gave in and became a couple I was really happy for them.
Of course nothing ever goes as planned and their relationship goes through a few rough patches but the baby brought them together for a lot of it. It was really cute. I seem to have a soft spot for babies and toddlers in my romances. They just add a touch of...tenderness to the characters. I melt a little when a big tough guy goes all gentle and sweet with a cute little kid--or even his pregnant girlfriend.
I really liked this, it was pretty high on cuteness in my opinion. I'm intrigued about who's going to star in the rest of this series so I will be keeping my eye out for other books in the series.
Cohen's boyish charms really won me over, as did his constant hoping for more with Juliet. Juliet, on the other hand, could deny her attraction and want for something more with him until she was blue in the face but it was pretty obvious after a while so about half way through when they gave in and became a couple I was really happy for them.
Of course nothing ever goes as planned and their relationship goes through a few rough patches but the baby brought them together for a lot of it. It was really cute. I seem to have a soft spot for babies and toddlers in my romances. They just add a touch of...tenderness to the characters. I melt a little when a big tough guy goes all gentle and sweet with a cute little kid--or even his pregnant girlfriend.
I really liked this, it was pretty high on cuteness in my opinion. I'm intrigued about who's going to star in the rest of this series so I will be keeping my eye out for other books in the series.
Leanne Crabtree (480 KP) rated Dex in Blue (Johnnies, #2) in Books
Sep 6, 2019
When I got this as a freebie from All Romance Ebooks back in December 2012, I had no idea it was the second book in a series or that it was even in a series. It was only later when I joined Goodreads that I realised.
Well the first 40% or so when we were seeing scenes from the first book, Chase in Shadows, I realised how much of a heart-breaking story it was--and that wasn't even reading it first hand. I may have to read it, and have a box of tissues at the ready.
But back to Dex in Blue...can I say how much I liked both Dex and Kane AKA David and Carlos! Both are really great guys who've had tough lives, dealing with family issues and relationships. Both look out for their friends and are a really great couple. They compliment each other nicely.
I liked their relationship progression but I have to admit I wanted to smack Kane a few times. He said some stupid things which pained Dex (and me!) and though he is a really sweet guy, at the beginning, he had no idea! Ugh!
I'm looking forward to reading more books by Amy Lane.
Well the first 40% or so when we were seeing scenes from the first book, Chase in Shadows, I realised how much of a heart-breaking story it was--and that wasn't even reading it first hand. I may have to read it, and have a box of tissues at the ready.
But back to Dex in Blue...can I say how much I liked both Dex and Kane AKA David and Carlos! Both are really great guys who've had tough lives, dealing with family issues and relationships. Both look out for their friends and are a really great couple. They compliment each other nicely.
I liked their relationship progression but I have to admit I wanted to smack Kane a few times. He said some stupid things which pained Dex (and me!) and though he is a really sweet guy, at the beginning, he had no idea! Ugh!
I'm looking forward to reading more books by Amy Lane.