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So a couple of months back I read Fallen and was decidedly unimpressed with the whole story in general. I still can’t explain why I decided to read to follow up book Torment. But I’m glad I did. Once again, it could have been better, I’m not saying it was as good as some of the books I have read lately, but it was much better than the first book.
This book sees Luce sent off to a posh school on the west coast (there happens to be special classes about angels and demons, which made me pull many faces when reading it). Daniel, the uber love interest of the first book, Luce’s ‘one true love’ send her here after the events at the end of fallen with the premise of keeping her safe. Rebellious teenage acts ensue, and as you can guess, Luce ends up not being very safe. I still have real issues with Daniel as the love interest. We know nothing about him, he hasn’t done a single thing to endear me to him, and I kind of route for Luce to screw him over a little bit and date someone who doesn’t control her every move without giving her even a glimpse of understanding as to why these things keep happening to her.
Other than that actually the general way the story is going was much more interesting to read, Luce had more backbone and the new characters that were introduced as her friends were well rounded and well written into the story. I can see where the story may head now, which is saying a lot as I didn’t get the first book at all. I can honestly say I will now read the rest, I just hope that the author carries on developing the story and possible try to include a few less cliché type scenarios.
This book sees Luce sent off to a posh school on the west coast (there happens to be special classes about angels and demons, which made me pull many faces when reading it). Daniel, the uber love interest of the first book, Luce’s ‘one true love’ send her here after the events at the end of fallen with the premise of keeping her safe. Rebellious teenage acts ensue, and as you can guess, Luce ends up not being very safe. I still have real issues with Daniel as the love interest. We know nothing about him, he hasn’t done a single thing to endear me to him, and I kind of route for Luce to screw him over a little bit and date someone who doesn’t control her every move without giving her even a glimpse of understanding as to why these things keep happening to her.
Other than that actually the general way the story is going was much more interesting to read, Luce had more backbone and the new characters that were introduced as her friends were well rounded and well written into the story. I can see where the story may head now, which is saying a lot as I didn’t get the first book at all. I can honestly say I will now read the rest, I just hope that the author carries on developing the story and possible try to include a few less cliché type scenarios.
Phil Leader (619 KP) rated Stop the World in Books
Nov 26, 2019
17 year old Jody appears to have everything. She is popular in school, a beauty queen, engaged to the most eligable boy in town and living in a close family unit with her parents. But after she is paralysed in a car crash, and the finger of blame is pointed at her, she loses everything.
This book then is her story from that fateful moment and how she rebuilds her life, not as it was before but into something new and better. On the way she must fight through every emotional and physical low and push herself further than she thought possible in both mind and body. A modern allegory, this shows that no matter what set backs life throws at you, there is always a light if you know where to look.
Jody as the narrator of her own tale is a great character, her thoughts even at the bleakest moments are always worth attention and Sherry Mayes does an excellent job of portraying her struggle. Jody comes to recognise her own flaws as well as those of the people around her and learns to cope with them. The result is an extremely positive and uplifting novel.
The other characters are also terrific - her parents are well drawn, with their own demons that she has been blind to for 17 years. Particularly strong and amusing is her physiotherapist who is extremely blunt and no-nonsense and never fails to provoke a smile in both Jody and the reader.
The story ticks along at a great pace but always taking the time to focus on how Jody's actions affect those around her (and vice versa) and her thoughts as she struggles with events.
This book is for anyone who wants to read something that is in turns inspiring, emotional, gritty, heartwarming and funny. This is quite simply one of the best books I have ever read
This book then is her story from that fateful moment and how she rebuilds her life, not as it was before but into something new and better. On the way she must fight through every emotional and physical low and push herself further than she thought possible in both mind and body. A modern allegory, this shows that no matter what set backs life throws at you, there is always a light if you know where to look.
Jody as the narrator of her own tale is a great character, her thoughts even at the bleakest moments are always worth attention and Sherry Mayes does an excellent job of portraying her struggle. Jody comes to recognise her own flaws as well as those of the people around her and learns to cope with them. The result is an extremely positive and uplifting novel.
The other characters are also terrific - her parents are well drawn, with their own demons that she has been blind to for 17 years. Particularly strong and amusing is her physiotherapist who is extremely blunt and no-nonsense and never fails to provoke a smile in both Jody and the reader.
The story ticks along at a great pace but always taking the time to focus on how Jody's actions affect those around her (and vice versa) and her thoughts as she struggles with events.
This book is for anyone who wants to read something that is in turns inspiring, emotional, gritty, heartwarming and funny. This is quite simply one of the best books I have ever read
J Elizabeth Klug (21 KP) rated Misadventures of a Virgin (Misadventures, #4) in Books
Dec 14, 2019
***MISADVENTURES ARE A SERIES OF STANDALONE ROMANCES THAT CAN BE READ IN ANY ORDER***
“And now I have to worry I may have given him more than my body. I may have just given up my heart.”
June Bell and Kase McCasker grew up as neighbors in Falls Edge. Kase was June’s girlhood crush with whom she shared a memorable kiss before he disappeared off to college and out of her life.
Four years ago, Kase received unexpected news that shook his world and drove him away. Now he’s back, a degree in hand, ready to face his demons. He’s determined to save the struggling farm that’s been in his family for generations.
The time and distance have done nothing to tame Kase’s desire for June, who is the daughter of the man trying to buy his family’s land. Just one look at her, even after all this time, has him ready to risk his future and his heart.
For years, June’s father has been trying to buy the McCasker land. Now, Kase agrees to the sale with one stipulation. June must spend 2 weeks with him on the property.
June agrees, finding out that Kase has been forgotten about her and is intent on finishing what they started all those years ago at the farm. Kase is upfront with his feelings and very possessive of June. As they spend time together and their feelings for each grow into something deeper, June begins to question whether she really wants the sale of the property to go through.
In learning more about Kase, June also learns some startling truths about her own mother’s death and the ongoing feud be their two families. Will this startling revelation destroy any chance of a happily ever after?
This was a great, well-written story. The characters were well developed. I found myself able to really empathize with characters emotions. Meredith Wild is rapidly becoming my favorite romance author.
“And now I have to worry I may have given him more than my body. I may have just given up my heart.”
June Bell and Kase McCasker grew up as neighbors in Falls Edge. Kase was June’s girlhood crush with whom she shared a memorable kiss before he disappeared off to college and out of her life.
Four years ago, Kase received unexpected news that shook his world and drove him away. Now he’s back, a degree in hand, ready to face his demons. He’s determined to save the struggling farm that’s been in his family for generations.
The time and distance have done nothing to tame Kase’s desire for June, who is the daughter of the man trying to buy his family’s land. Just one look at her, even after all this time, has him ready to risk his future and his heart.
For years, June’s father has been trying to buy the McCasker land. Now, Kase agrees to the sale with one stipulation. June must spend 2 weeks with him on the property.
June agrees, finding out that Kase has been forgotten about her and is intent on finishing what they started all those years ago at the farm. Kase is upfront with his feelings and very possessive of June. As they spend time together and their feelings for each grow into something deeper, June begins to question whether she really wants the sale of the property to go through.
In learning more about Kase, June also learns some startling truths about her own mother’s death and the ongoing feud be their two families. Will this startling revelation destroy any chance of a happily ever after?
This was a great, well-written story. The characters were well developed. I found myself able to really empathize with characters emotions. Meredith Wild is rapidly becoming my favorite romance author.
Sophia (Bookwyrming Thoughts) (530 KP) rated Shadow of the Fox (Shadow of the Fox, #1) in Books
Jan 23, 2020
<b><i>I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.</i></b>
Shadow of the Fox by Julie Kagawa brings Japanese mythology and folklore to life, taking readers on an exciting journey through feudal Japan, Kagawa weaves together three characters from different backgrounds all while introducing readers to a wide variety of demons the characters come across. The novel follows these characters as a new age approaches and the Kami Dragon is summoned, granting a wish to the one who holds the pieces of the Dragon Scroll.
Shadow of the Fox is primarily told in the two perspectives of Yumeko and Tatsumi, with the occasional addition of a third. Yumeko is a half-kitsune, half-human raised at the Silent Winds temple to hide her true kitsune nature, though she is forced to flee after everyone is slaughtered by a demon who wants to retrieve a part of the scroll. Readers interested in seeing kitsune magic coming to life on the page may find themselves disappointed as Yumeko shows little of her magic and hides her true nature from her companions.
One of those companions includes Tatsumi, a samurai from the Shadow Clan ordered to bring the Dragon Scroll regardless of the cost. Raised as a weapon, Tatsumi is taught from a young age to hide all of his emotions and thoughts from those around him as doing so would pose a danger. Not able to accomplish his mission right away, he finds himself in an unlikely alliance with Yumeko and begins to question his upbringing.
The first novel in a stunning new series, Shadow of the Fox is a magical adventure with an ominous feel throughout and will have readers wanting the sequel to the story.
<a href="https://60secondsmag.com/review-shadow-of-the-fox/">This review was originally posted on 60 Seconds Online Magazine</a>.
Shadow of the Fox by Julie Kagawa brings Japanese mythology and folklore to life, taking readers on an exciting journey through feudal Japan, Kagawa weaves together three characters from different backgrounds all while introducing readers to a wide variety of demons the characters come across. The novel follows these characters as a new age approaches and the Kami Dragon is summoned, granting a wish to the one who holds the pieces of the Dragon Scroll.
Shadow of the Fox is primarily told in the two perspectives of Yumeko and Tatsumi, with the occasional addition of a third. Yumeko is a half-kitsune, half-human raised at the Silent Winds temple to hide her true kitsune nature, though she is forced to flee after everyone is slaughtered by a demon who wants to retrieve a part of the scroll. Readers interested in seeing kitsune magic coming to life on the page may find themselves disappointed as Yumeko shows little of her magic and hides her true nature from her companions.
One of those companions includes Tatsumi, a samurai from the Shadow Clan ordered to bring the Dragon Scroll regardless of the cost. Raised as a weapon, Tatsumi is taught from a young age to hide all of his emotions and thoughts from those around him as doing so would pose a danger. Not able to accomplish his mission right away, he finds himself in an unlikely alliance with Yumeko and begins to question his upbringing.
The first novel in a stunning new series, Shadow of the Fox is a magical adventure with an ominous feel throughout and will have readers wanting the sequel to the story.
<a href="https://60secondsmag.com/review-shadow-of-the-fox/">This review was originally posted on 60 Seconds Online Magazine</a>.
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The Master and Margarita
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Mikhail Bulgakov's The Master and Margarita is a fiercely satirical fantasy that remained...
Gareth von Kallenbach (980 KP) rated The Way Back (2020) in Movies
Nov 23, 2020
Jack Cunningham (Ben Affleck) is a man whose life has not unfolded as it should have. A former start Basketball players for a Catholic High School; Jack had an offer to play College ball for Kansas as a highly regarded recruit.
Things unfolded badly for Jack as a personal tragedy and his demons cost him his marriage and now see Jack toiling away in construction when he is not abusing alcohol.
Jack is offered a chance to coach the losing team at his old school and despite every inclination he has to refuse the job; he eventually takes the job and works to mold an undersized and under-skilled team into a competitive unit.
Jack’s abrupt style and frequent profanity do not sit well with his employers who urge him to tone things down with his courtside behavior and verbal admonishments of the officials and his team during games.
Undaunted Jack presses on and the team starts to turn themselves around but Jack’s deep turmoil threatens to undo everything that has happened.
“The Way Back” is an enjoyable film that features a very strong performance from Affleck as well as the supporting cast. This is not some formulaic sports film where everything is all nice and tidy at the end. The film is about redemption but also accepting what has come before and finding a new way forward no matter how difficult.
What really made the film stand out aside from the performances were the relatable stories as they were ones that were easy to relate to. Many town have stories of star athletes who never achieved their stardom for whatever reason and whose lives have become ordinary to mundane as opposed to the stardom and riches envisioned for them.
In many ways “The Way Back” flew under the radar this year but is one of the best films of the year and one not to miss.
4 stars out of 5
Things unfolded badly for Jack as a personal tragedy and his demons cost him his marriage and now see Jack toiling away in construction when he is not abusing alcohol.
Jack is offered a chance to coach the losing team at his old school and despite every inclination he has to refuse the job; he eventually takes the job and works to mold an undersized and under-skilled team into a competitive unit.
Jack’s abrupt style and frequent profanity do not sit well with his employers who urge him to tone things down with his courtside behavior and verbal admonishments of the officials and his team during games.
Undaunted Jack presses on and the team starts to turn themselves around but Jack’s deep turmoil threatens to undo everything that has happened.
“The Way Back” is an enjoyable film that features a very strong performance from Affleck as well as the supporting cast. This is not some formulaic sports film where everything is all nice and tidy at the end. The film is about redemption but also accepting what has come before and finding a new way forward no matter how difficult.
What really made the film stand out aside from the performances were the relatable stories as they were ones that were easy to relate to. Many town have stories of star athletes who never achieved their stardom for whatever reason and whose lives have become ordinary to mundane as opposed to the stardom and riches envisioned for them.
In many ways “The Way Back” flew under the radar this year but is one of the best films of the year and one not to miss.
4 stars out of 5
Eleanor Luhar (47 KP) rated Homunculus and the Cat in Books
Jun 24, 2019
First of all, I'd like to say thanks to Netgalley for allowing me to read and review this book. I've got tons of books from the site, ready to review. Can't wait!
So I've been reading this book for quite some time now, and honestly I nearly gave up on it a few times. But for the sake of the review, I managed to keep on at it until the end.
What I managed to gather from this book is that it takes place in a whole different universe, where myths and gods are real. Winged cats with nine lives, flying carpets, even homunculi. The main characters include the Ennedi Ankh' Si, a flying cat, Tyro, a simple human, and homunculi such as Mina and Herakles. A homunculus sanctuary, fighting for equal rights for their kind, is caught in a fire. In desperate need of help, the crew end up travelling all over the place - including to an underwater palace of a goddess, where they participate in a huge battle.
If I'm really honest, I can't tell you much more than that. There's some suspicious dude called Manga, and Tyro tries to rescue his friend Herakles - requiring a trip back to good ol' America. But other than that, I'm not quite sure what happened.
The writing itself is actually pretty good. The descriptions and metaphors are great, and there's a good deal of underlying humour in places. And the whole idea of this universe full of gods and demons and creatures both beautiful and terrible is wonderful. It's just a shame that I couldn't get into it. I felt like I was reading most of it through a daze, just trying to get it over with.
I will give this the benefit of the doubt - maybe I wasn't in the right frame of mind for it, or I just wasn't paying enough attention. Others may enjoy this a lot more than I did. But I'm going to give it just two stars, which honestly feels like I'm pushing the bar a little already.
So I've been reading this book for quite some time now, and honestly I nearly gave up on it a few times. But for the sake of the review, I managed to keep on at it until the end.
What I managed to gather from this book is that it takes place in a whole different universe, where myths and gods are real. Winged cats with nine lives, flying carpets, even homunculi. The main characters include the Ennedi Ankh' Si, a flying cat, Tyro, a simple human, and homunculi such as Mina and Herakles. A homunculus sanctuary, fighting for equal rights for their kind, is caught in a fire. In desperate need of help, the crew end up travelling all over the place - including to an underwater palace of a goddess, where they participate in a huge battle.
If I'm really honest, I can't tell you much more than that. There's some suspicious dude called Manga, and Tyro tries to rescue his friend Herakles - requiring a trip back to good ol' America. But other than that, I'm not quite sure what happened.
The writing itself is actually pretty good. The descriptions and metaphors are great, and there's a good deal of underlying humour in places. And the whole idea of this universe full of gods and demons and creatures both beautiful and terrible is wonderful. It's just a shame that I couldn't get into it. I felt like I was reading most of it through a daze, just trying to get it over with.
I will give this the benefit of the doubt - maybe I wasn't in the right frame of mind for it, or I just wasn't paying enough attention. Others may enjoy this a lot more than I did. But I'm going to give it just two stars, which honestly feels like I'm pushing the bar a little already.
Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated Dream Warrior (Dark Warrior Alliance #1) in Books
May 15, 2020
80 of 200
Kindle
Dream warrior ( Dark warrior alliance book1)
By Brenda Trim and Tami Julka
Along the edges of darkness, a war of attrition rages between the demon plane and the Tehrex Realm. Dark Warriors alone stand between humans and the evil that seeks to destroy them. Zander Tarakesh, the sexy as sin vampire king, leads the battle.
Zander is battle-hardened and accustomed to command, yet wrestles to regain control when his Fated Mate is propelled into his world, bombarding him with unfamiliar emotions. His life depends on him uniting with Elsie, the slip of a mortal, who unknowingly protects a vital piece of his soul. Eradicating the demons will be an easier task than combating her sense of guilt and betrayal to gain her acceptance, loyalty, and, ultimately, her love. And, he must do this before she plunges a stake in his heart. One thing is certain: The flames of passion ignite a fire in their shared souls....
Elsie Hayes' life is shattered after the vicious murder of her husband. Intent on revenge, she spends her evenings killing creatures others only see in nightmares. A supernatural event teleports Elsie into a world filled with violence, magic, and unexpected lust and love when she is thrust from widow to Fated Mate of the enigmatic vampire king. Can she lower the protective shield around her heart, giving herself to a vampire whose power is the very reason her life was changed forever?
I found it an easy enjoyable read! If you have read BDB and sherrilyn Kenton books you will love this! It has a structure similar and it works for most! I went between 3 and 4 stars as I enjoy JR Ward but felt I could enjoy this book a lot more than the BDB series! I loved the characters and the supernaturals that are in the book and looking forward to reading about more of them! Hot men , strong females, supernaturals , romance sex and action what more could you want?
Kindle
Dream warrior ( Dark warrior alliance book1)
By Brenda Trim and Tami Julka
Along the edges of darkness, a war of attrition rages between the demon plane and the Tehrex Realm. Dark Warriors alone stand between humans and the evil that seeks to destroy them. Zander Tarakesh, the sexy as sin vampire king, leads the battle.
Zander is battle-hardened and accustomed to command, yet wrestles to regain control when his Fated Mate is propelled into his world, bombarding him with unfamiliar emotions. His life depends on him uniting with Elsie, the slip of a mortal, who unknowingly protects a vital piece of his soul. Eradicating the demons will be an easier task than combating her sense of guilt and betrayal to gain her acceptance, loyalty, and, ultimately, her love. And, he must do this before she plunges a stake in his heart. One thing is certain: The flames of passion ignite a fire in their shared souls....
Elsie Hayes' life is shattered after the vicious murder of her husband. Intent on revenge, she spends her evenings killing creatures others only see in nightmares. A supernatural event teleports Elsie into a world filled with violence, magic, and unexpected lust and love when she is thrust from widow to Fated Mate of the enigmatic vampire king. Can she lower the protective shield around her heart, giving herself to a vampire whose power is the very reason her life was changed forever?
I found it an easy enjoyable read! If you have read BDB and sherrilyn Kenton books you will love this! It has a structure similar and it works for most! I went between 3 and 4 stars as I enjoy JR Ward but felt I could enjoy this book a lot more than the BDB series! I loved the characters and the supernaturals that are in the book and looking forward to reading about more of them! Hot men , strong females, supernaturals , romance sex and action what more could you want?