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Death Road to Canada
Games and Entertainment
App
Big new update, featuring a lot of new content! Includes new music, weapons, locations, characters,...
Borzoi (Comprehensive Owner's Guide)
Book
This Comprehensive Owner's Guide to the Borzoi serves as a complete introduction to beautiful,...
Cat Sense: The Feline Enigma Revealed
Book
From John Bradshaw, one of the world's leading experts on animal behaviour, and the author of the...
Havanese
Book
Of Cuban origin, the Havanese is a rare blend of personality, smarts, and good looks--the epitome of...
C'est trois Dragon passe
Games
App
Tips on installing package capacity: The size of the current Appstore display is the actual...
Phoenix Rising
8.0
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Book
Phoenix Aalto had everything he wanted in life. His own bakery, close friends, and his plants.There...
Contemporary MMM Romance Best Friends to Lovers Bisexual Awakening
A School of Daughters
Book
It’s funny how things sneak up on you… Kate Willoughby is a champion for...
Literary Fiction Women's Fiction
Debbiereadsbook (1811 KP) rated The Hidden (The Secret Tales #4) in Books
Sep 23, 2026
loved how the relationship built.
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.
This is book 4 in The Secret Tales series, but it can be read as a stand alone to the other three. I really enjoyed them all, though, so from a personal point of view, I do recommend them all. Books 1and 2 got 5 stars and book 3 dipped to 4.
But book 4 jumps straight back up to 5 stars. I loved this book!
I'm big enough and ugly enough to admit this: I love that these books are clean! I will always read a steamy book, and be happy about it, but I'm finding THESE books do not need it. The point is delivered beautifully!
I will admit, I knew something was off when Alex returned, as soon as he did. I did not see that playing out how it did, so well played there, Ms Brand. I do like being kept on my toes.
I loved how the relationship between Amalie and Richard grew naturally. After that first shocking encounter, they both found themselves pulled to the other and I loved that there was some pushing against the rules of the time.
I loved the animals in this book! The descriptions of the dogs and the ferret were fabulous and I could see those animals doing what was said on the page.
I loved the supporting cast: Jenny and George are Richard's siblings and they are an absolute cracker of a pair.
Both Amalie and Richard get a say, and a single chapter for a third person. Not saying who, though. But their book is next and I can't wait to read it, especially after reading the short snippet at the end of this one!
I can honestly say, I loved this book and if you like clean, historical romances, these books are for you.
5 full and shiny stars
*same worded review will appear elsewhere
This is book 4 in The Secret Tales series, but it can be read as a stand alone to the other three. I really enjoyed them all, though, so from a personal point of view, I do recommend them all. Books 1and 2 got 5 stars and book 3 dipped to 4.
But book 4 jumps straight back up to 5 stars. I loved this book!
I'm big enough and ugly enough to admit this: I love that these books are clean! I will always read a steamy book, and be happy about it, but I'm finding THESE books do not need it. The point is delivered beautifully!
I will admit, I knew something was off when Alex returned, as soon as he did. I did not see that playing out how it did, so well played there, Ms Brand. I do like being kept on my toes.
I loved how the relationship between Amalie and Richard grew naturally. After that first shocking encounter, they both found themselves pulled to the other and I loved that there was some pushing against the rules of the time.
I loved the animals in this book! The descriptions of the dogs and the ferret were fabulous and I could see those animals doing what was said on the page.
I loved the supporting cast: Jenny and George are Richard's siblings and they are an absolute cracker of a pair.
Both Amalie and Richard get a say, and a single chapter for a third person. Not saying who, though. But their book is next and I can't wait to read it, especially after reading the short snippet at the end of this one!
I can honestly say, I loved this book and if you like clean, historical romances, these books are for you.
5 full and shiny stars
*same worded review will appear elsewhere
Haley Mathiot (9 KP) rated My One and Only in Books
Apr 27, 2018
I loved Kristin Higgins' last release, All I Ever Wanted. I loved that it was a good romance with good characters and no explicit sex scenes. I loved the dogs. I loved the quirks. I loved the family, I loved everything about it. I was psyched to get her new release.
Sadly, it was a huge disappointment.
There were a few things that stacked against her in the beginning and I figured they would be made up for later, but it didn't improve. First, the characters.
I didn't like the main character, Harper. She was pessimistic, nosey, had no filter from her brain to her mouth, and her view of marriage was slightly offensive to me (only because I'm a Christian and a romantic. Don't mess with me.). I figured by halfway through the story maybe she'd see things the way they were, or that at least someone would hit her over the head and tell her to get a grip, but nobody did. I didn't like her interior monologue either. She didn't swear, but she had a few expletives that were... raunchy. I don't mind the "d" word too much. But supplementing the word "Crotch" or other phrases of similar nature just doesn't sit well with me.
And her boyfriend had the mentality of a sixth grader. Not joking. We'll leave it at that. Moving on!
Then there was her Ex. He was hot stuff, and I could see how the two of them could make it work (their personalities played off each other) but I just didn't like him. He was totally ignorant of the mistakes he'd made, at the halfway through point where we finally learn the back-story of her and him I seriously wanted to beat him over the head with a baseball bat--or a Bible--and give him a lecture about what marriage meant because the guy didn't get it. I didn't want the two to get back together, because it would be a recipe for disaster all over again. By the looks of it, neither of them had learned from their mistakes!
Second, I knew what was going to happen. She broke up with her boyfriend, she was going to fall for Nick again, and they were going to get married. Again. And because I didn't give a rat's poo about the characters, I didn't really care what happened to them.
Third, there were editorial mistakes. Now I know it's rude to point those out because when you read something dozens of times, you miss stuff like that. I understand that. I'm a writer. But I'm also a Professional Writing major and an editor, and I proofread stuff and I write promotional material and I edit things. It's what I do. It's my job. When I read a published book and I find things like "/= in the middle of the paragraph, or a grammatical error that is definitely not dialect or part of the character's personality, it makes me angry.
Fourth: I don't remember Kristin Higgins being a poor writer, but this book was poorly written and full of fragments. Sentences go like this: Subject, Verb, Direct Object. Or, Actor, Action, Description. Rearranging this causes passive voice, which is never fun to read, even though it does raise the word count. Ellipses should be used sparingly. Two or three per book: not per page or per paragraph.
And, no offense, but the dog was retarded. I know I shouldn't complain about the dog because now I'm just being whiney. But really? Maybe I'm biased about dogs, but I can't stand anything that bounces when it barks, even when it is in a book.
So those are five reasons why I stopped halfway through the book. This one is going to PBS. Don't get me wrong, I will continue to read Kristin's books. I've got a few more of hers that I hope will be as great as All I Ever Wanted, but this book was not her best work.
Recommended: Ages 18+ (Please note I don't know what sort of content was in the second half of the book.)
Sadly, it was a huge disappointment.
There were a few things that stacked against her in the beginning and I figured they would be made up for later, but it didn't improve. First, the characters.
I didn't like the main character, Harper. She was pessimistic, nosey, had no filter from her brain to her mouth, and her view of marriage was slightly offensive to me (only because I'm a Christian and a romantic. Don't mess with me.). I figured by halfway through the story maybe she'd see things the way they were, or that at least someone would hit her over the head and tell her to get a grip, but nobody did. I didn't like her interior monologue either. She didn't swear, but she had a few expletives that were... raunchy. I don't mind the "d" word too much. But supplementing the word "Crotch" or other phrases of similar nature just doesn't sit well with me.
And her boyfriend had the mentality of a sixth grader. Not joking. We'll leave it at that. Moving on!
Then there was her Ex. He was hot stuff, and I could see how the two of them could make it work (their personalities played off each other) but I just didn't like him. He was totally ignorant of the mistakes he'd made, at the halfway through point where we finally learn the back-story of her and him I seriously wanted to beat him over the head with a baseball bat--or a Bible--and give him a lecture about what marriage meant because the guy didn't get it. I didn't want the two to get back together, because it would be a recipe for disaster all over again. By the looks of it, neither of them had learned from their mistakes!
Second, I knew what was going to happen. She broke up with her boyfriend, she was going to fall for Nick again, and they were going to get married. Again. And because I didn't give a rat's poo about the characters, I didn't really care what happened to them.
Third, there were editorial mistakes. Now I know it's rude to point those out because when you read something dozens of times, you miss stuff like that. I understand that. I'm a writer. But I'm also a Professional Writing major and an editor, and I proofread stuff and I write promotional material and I edit things. It's what I do. It's my job. When I read a published book and I find things like "/= in the middle of the paragraph, or a grammatical error that is definitely not dialect or part of the character's personality, it makes me angry.
Fourth: I don't remember Kristin Higgins being a poor writer, but this book was poorly written and full of fragments. Sentences go like this: Subject, Verb, Direct Object. Or, Actor, Action, Description. Rearranging this causes passive voice, which is never fun to read, even though it does raise the word count. Ellipses should be used sparingly. Two or three per book: not per page or per paragraph.
And, no offense, but the dog was retarded. I know I shouldn't complain about the dog because now I'm just being whiney. But really? Maybe I'm biased about dogs, but I can't stand anything that bounces when it barks, even when it is in a book.
So those are five reasons why I stopped halfway through the book. This one is going to PBS. Don't get me wrong, I will continue to read Kristin's books. I've got a few more of hers that I hope will be as great as All I Ever Wanted, but this book was not her best work.
Recommended: Ages 18+ (Please note I don't know what sort of content was in the second half of the book.)
Neon's Nerd Nexus (360 KP) rated John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum (2019) in Movies
May 17, 2019
Dantes Inferno
#johnwick3 is an adrenalin shot to the #heart, delivering on almost all of its promises to be bigger, better & smarter than its previous instalments. #johnwick films have always risen above the generic & mundane action films we get bombarded with nowadays as they seem to understand what makes action thrilling as well as learning from the best action #classics of the past & #johnwick3parabellum is no exception to this either. JW3 (like John Wick the character himself) shows just how much its evolved, learnt new skills & matured as a film realising that action its self is too an art form just as graceful, elegant & smooth flowing as a #ballet. In fact the comparison to ballet, #dance & #theatre is present during most #action scenes making them a beautifully choreographed, atmospheric & visually stunning display of bullet barrages & swooping movement. Comparisons dont end there either i was thrilled to see John compared to #Dante (from #DantesInferno) & there are countless scenes inspired by or paying homage to old #westerns, #90s action films, #Korean #revenge films & old #kungfu/#Japanese mob films which was #respectful & added to the films #charm too. World building is expanded on more in this one also as are some characters stories & I absolutely #loved seeing John evolve & learn from each fight to help him progress/gain an edge over his opponents. #Fights are thrilling, wincingly #violent & so exhilarating that I once again found my #heart racing with highlights being a #knife in an old shop & gunfight involving attack #dogs which was incredibly fresh & intense. Cinematography is ravishing always especially when smoke, #neon & rain is being pumped out all across the screen with #electrifying & mood drenching effect. Sadly I do have some negatives, I found the last act shoddy compared to the intelligence, thrill & beauty of the first two. In this act an odd #humour creeps in that felt a bit off, #action feels subpar compared to what we've just already seen, the ending a little silly & i also found the main #villain under used & under developed. That being said its still a fantastically made, must see showstopper thats learnt from the best. #keanureeves #matrix