Search
Search results
Merissa (13765 KP) rated Landscape of a Marriage in Books
Aug 2, 2021 (Updated Jul 17, 2023)
LANDSCAPE OF A MARRIAGE is a historical fiction story based on true events and people. In fact, the author is distantly related to one of the main characters by marriage.
Instead of focusing on the man himself, we follow his wife, Mary, and see their life through her eyes. They had good times and, undeniably, bad times too. Mary fell in love with her husband of convenience, and he, with her. That led them to a life of adventure and hardship, love and loss.
This was a great read, full of freeze-frame moments, stuck in time. The emotions come across clearly and help move this character-driven story forward. Some of the real-life events were glossed over slightly and I would have liked to have known more, but then, was Mary involved in them anyway?
I will admit to getting lost in the times given. I relied on Mary to tell me that Marion had grown, or that John was now forty-one, as there was no way I would remember from just seeing dates at the beginning of each chapter.
This was a historical fiction novel that I enjoyed and have no hesitation in recommending.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* 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!
Aug 2, 2021
Instead of focusing on the man himself, we follow his wife, Mary, and see their life through her eyes. They had good times and, undeniably, bad times too. Mary fell in love with her husband of convenience, and he, with her. That led them to a life of adventure and hardship, love and loss.
This was a great read, full of freeze-frame moments, stuck in time. The emotions come across clearly and help move this character-driven story forward. Some of the real-life events were glossed over slightly and I would have liked to have known more, but then, was Mary involved in them anyway?
I will admit to getting lost in the times given. I relied on Mary to tell me that Marion had grown, or that John was now forty-one, as there was no way I would remember from just seeing dates at the beginning of each chapter.
This was a historical fiction novel that I enjoyed and have no hesitation in recommending.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* 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!
Aug 2, 2021
Merissa (13765 KP) rated Breathe (Breakers Hockey #7) in Books
Jul 17, 2023
BREATHE is the seventh book in the Breakers Hockey series and this time it's Theo's turn. He's the playboy of the team, never wanting to settle down. And he has had some major issues with Eva from the very beginning. We now find out why.
Eva and Theo are similar in many ways, and both of them hide their hurt behind walls a mile high. It's only after they've sniped and snarled at each for a while that they begin to realise there might be more between them than just snark. This was a great story showing just how badly family can hurt and also heal.
I thoroughly enjoyed the story and its arc, as it moved from enemies, to friends, and then to lovers. Eva and Theo are protective of each other, which I loved. Walker and Dommie have a bit of a sneak story in here. I'm hoping they get to tell their story in full. The pacing is perfect and the little signs of affection - Theo and Eva's love language - is dotted throughout, making this a wonderful read with plenty of emotions.
A great addition to the series and definitely recommended by me.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Jul 14, 2023
Eva and Theo are similar in many ways, and both of them hide their hurt behind walls a mile high. It's only after they've sniped and snarled at each for a while that they begin to realise there might be more between them than just snark. This was a great story showing just how badly family can hurt and also heal.
I thoroughly enjoyed the story and its arc, as it moved from enemies, to friends, and then to lovers. Eva and Theo are protective of each other, which I loved. Walker and Dommie have a bit of a sneak story in here. I'm hoping they get to tell their story in full. The pacing is perfect and the little signs of affection - Theo and Eva's love language - is dotted throughout, making this a wonderful read with plenty of emotions.
A great addition to the series and definitely recommended by me.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Jul 14, 2023
Merissa (13765 KP) rated Letters to Laura in Books
Jun 8, 2023
Letters to Laura is a set of letters, told from the heart with atypical honesty and bluntness, as recommended by a counsellor. They detail the feelings of a woman on the receiving end of a breakup and everything that entails. They are raw, angry, loving, and kind, basically all of the emotions that you will feel if you allow yourself.
There are so many points to this book that I could agree with, indeed some of the comments made, I've actually made myself. Some of them, I still feel to this day. There is no right or wrong way to work through a breakup, but the worst thing you can do is ignore it. The author of these letters puts it so much more distinctly than I ever could. There is a part where she talks about 'shrapnel' which is totally mind-blowing. I adored that part!
'This book' is not of the norm that is out there.
'This book' is different, in such a good way.
'This book' should make you think.
'This book' should make you look in your own mirror and see yourself honestly.
'This book' is one that you should keep and re-read! Highly recommended.
* 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!
May 22, 2016
There are so many points to this book that I could agree with, indeed some of the comments made, I've actually made myself. Some of them, I still feel to this day. There is no right or wrong way to work through a breakup, but the worst thing you can do is ignore it. The author of these letters puts it so much more distinctly than I ever could. There is a part where she talks about 'shrapnel' which is totally mind-blowing. I adored that part!
'This book' is not of the norm that is out there.
'This book' is different, in such a good way.
'This book' should make you think.
'This book' should make you look in your own mirror and see yourself honestly.
'This book' is one that you should keep and re-read! Highly recommended.
* 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!
May 22, 2016
Candle Love (New California Monster Romance #3)
7.0
Rate It
Book
Moving out is never easy, but throw in two attractive roommates and it’s nearly impossible! ...
Monster Romance Menage Forced Proximity Roommates to Lovers
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2480 KP) rated A Spy in Saigon in Books
Jan 9, 2026
A Simple Assignment Gone Wrong
It’s August of 2000, and Kat is heading to Vietnam. Given her age and the time, this is filled with mixed emotions for her since the Vietnam War impacted her personal life. But now, the country is once again opening up to foreigners, and Kat is there to cover what the country is like now. At least that’s the cover. She’s actually there to make a drop off and pick up with a jeweler in Ho Chi Minh City. However, while she’s in the store, the contact is murdered in front of her. Now, Kat has no idea what to do. In a country where she is constantly watched, can she still get the information she came for?
This series has always been a cross between a traditional mystery and a light spy story. This entry really leans into the spy part of the series, and it is wonderful. We jumped into the story very quickly, and I always had a hard time putting the book down until I reached the satisfying ending. While this is the fourth in the series, it reads like a standalone. Still, we get some nice character development for Kat, and the rest of the characters come to life wonderfully. The book is definitely of the specific time and place as Kat deals with the results of the Vietnam War and what that means to her 25 years later. This is a fantastic entry in this series.
This series has always been a cross between a traditional mystery and a light spy story. This entry really leans into the spy part of the series, and it is wonderful. We jumped into the story very quickly, and I always had a hard time putting the book down until I reached the satisfying ending. While this is the fourth in the series, it reads like a standalone. Still, we get some nice character development for Kat, and the rest of the characters come to life wonderfully. The book is definitely of the specific time and place as Kat deals with the results of the Vietnam War and what that means to her 25 years later. This is a fantastic entry in this series.
LilyLovesIndie (123 KP) rated Star of Bethlehem (Flowering, #1.6) in Books
Nov 5, 2018
I remember when I was first given this book, and I was very excited to get my hands on it. Then, when I actually started reading it, I relived that excitement as it really is wonderful. A tale of that fateful evening when you introduce your new partner to your parents for the first time. Always scary, always charged with lots of different emotions, and Daltry manages this brilliantly, hence the four star review!
I thoroughly enjoyed so many parts of this book. Perhaps the first thing I feel needs pointing out is how easy it is to read. I was given the earlier books in the series by the author (reviews will follow when I get a spare few moments!) but I went into this book ÔcoldÕ as it were, but I honestly couldnÕt have known there were earlier books. Daltry gives enough information about her characters to keep you involved if you are new to the series, but not too much to overwhelm you if you have already read them. Add to that a smooth pace and impeccable flow and you have, in a kindle sized nutshell, the perfect easy read for after a tough day in the classroom. I could dip in and out of this book to suit my schedule (a godsend Ð thankyou!) all without ever losing my thread of the characters or events.
Something else I really enjoyed was the relationship between Jack and Lily. TheyÕre both great characters, and their passion and love is so wonderful to read. ItÕs full of the trials and difficulties that you could expect in a real relationship, even down to the last tiny detail of the annoying ÔexÕ in the background. The sex scenes are well written and not too Ôin your faceÕ, taking a back seat (quite literally at times!) in the story telling which suits me perfectly. In addition, the emotions between them was all incredibly well written and very tangible throughout. This adds a lovely believability to the story and makes it that much more enjoyable and easy to read.
In addition, the family dynamic in LilyÕs life, contrasted with that of JackÕs is also fantastic. Although itÕs never made fully clear what has happened in JackÕs past, Daltry weaves the contrast between their families very carefully and without over-exaggerating it. LilyÕs family are a mad bunch, but they remind me of so many of my own family that I found it really easy to invest emotionally in the characters. To me, this is an important part of a story as, if done properly, it makes it a joy to read, and IÕm pleased to say that is exactly what Daltry managed.
In conclusion, although this story may be slightly on the shorter side, it had a lot of fantastic plot and plenty of great characters. The two viewpoints of Lily and Jack are woven with skill and detail throughout and the entire story was an absolute pleasure to read. Daltry is most definitely a talented author and one I am looking forward to reading more of in the near future!
Review first posted to Lily Loves Indie (ARC received with thanks) - http://lilylovesindie.co.uk/?p=272
I thoroughly enjoyed so many parts of this book. Perhaps the first thing I feel needs pointing out is how easy it is to read. I was given the earlier books in the series by the author (reviews will follow when I get a spare few moments!) but I went into this book ÔcoldÕ as it were, but I honestly couldnÕt have known there were earlier books. Daltry gives enough information about her characters to keep you involved if you are new to the series, but not too much to overwhelm you if you have already read them. Add to that a smooth pace and impeccable flow and you have, in a kindle sized nutshell, the perfect easy read for after a tough day in the classroom. I could dip in and out of this book to suit my schedule (a godsend Ð thankyou!) all without ever losing my thread of the characters or events.
Something else I really enjoyed was the relationship between Jack and Lily. TheyÕre both great characters, and their passion and love is so wonderful to read. ItÕs full of the trials and difficulties that you could expect in a real relationship, even down to the last tiny detail of the annoying ÔexÕ in the background. The sex scenes are well written and not too Ôin your faceÕ, taking a back seat (quite literally at times!) in the story telling which suits me perfectly. In addition, the emotions between them was all incredibly well written and very tangible throughout. This adds a lovely believability to the story and makes it that much more enjoyable and easy to read.
In addition, the family dynamic in LilyÕs life, contrasted with that of JackÕs is also fantastic. Although itÕs never made fully clear what has happened in JackÕs past, Daltry weaves the contrast between their families very carefully and without over-exaggerating it. LilyÕs family are a mad bunch, but they remind me of so many of my own family that I found it really easy to invest emotionally in the characters. To me, this is an important part of a story as, if done properly, it makes it a joy to read, and IÕm pleased to say that is exactly what Daltry managed.
In conclusion, although this story may be slightly on the shorter side, it had a lot of fantastic plot and plenty of great characters. The two viewpoints of Lily and Jack are woven with skill and detail throughout and the entire story was an absolute pleasure to read. Daltry is most definitely a talented author and one I am looking forward to reading more of in the near future!
Review first posted to Lily Loves Indie (ARC received with thanks) - http://lilylovesindie.co.uk/?p=272
Natalia (73 KP) rated Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018) in Movies
Dec 19, 2018
Character Development (5 more)
Story
Art Direction
Soundtrack + Effects
Comedy, Action and Emotions
True to the Source
I've just recently come home from the cinema, and I can gladly say this was an amazing film. I may be looking at it through rose-coloured glasses, with how excited I was when we got the first trailer, but I can say with all sincerity that this film made me laugh, cry and blew away my expectations.
The film crosses over some iconic and some more obscure Spider-Man universes and manages to do it in a unique and palatable way. Each iteration of Spider-Man has a specific animation/art style, along with a specific soundtrack and extremely talented voice actors (or at least actors whose voices were made for the role: this meaning John Mulaney). Seeing all of this creative work come together in one film truly is an experience that I don't want people to miss out on.
A key part I really want to go into more is the use of colour and focus. It visuals of the film are vivid and attune to the tone of what scene is playing out. You can see how saturation and the palettes themselves are used the highlight characters or actions and are especially useful with emotional scenes. These emotions though are presented more with the composition which is consistently used to call back previous scenes in a subtle way that I absolutely adore.
The characters are very much real, most specifically in Miles and his family relationships. We see a real family dynamic that works - if I could point out a scene from a few trailers as an example, when Miles' father takes him to school and asks for him to say 'I love you' back really shows this realistic family that you could picture actually existing in the real world. The lack of a really existing romantic subplot is also something I love - the focus is on coming to terms with the fact that Miles isn't alone, that no one is. Without this romance, the film is just as good as any other, possibly even better with the fact that our potential romantic interest actually doesn't turn out to be.
The next thing that is certainly huge for any die-hard Marvel fans is the fact that it's very much true to the comic books. In the way its told, the way it's presented, and the actual story, the characters are all recognizable both by appearance and by their personalities/behaviours.
The only negative I can find for the film isn't even part of the film itself: Though the cinema gave warning for epilepsy, the film itself does not. While I'm sure theatres are required to give warning, it may be a good idea to give an on-screen warning, especially when the opening logo itself could easily trigger epilepsy.
Overall, I wish I could go back and watch it over and over, so I think most people will enjoy this film, no matter what their knowledge of the MCU is. An engaging story told in a creative way and with an incredibly hilarious after credits scene - worth a watch from everyone.
The film crosses over some iconic and some more obscure Spider-Man universes and manages to do it in a unique and palatable way. Each iteration of Spider-Man has a specific animation/art style, along with a specific soundtrack and extremely talented voice actors (or at least actors whose voices were made for the role: this meaning John Mulaney). Seeing all of this creative work come together in one film truly is an experience that I don't want people to miss out on.
A key part I really want to go into more is the use of colour and focus. It visuals of the film are vivid and attune to the tone of what scene is playing out. You can see how saturation and the palettes themselves are used the highlight characters or actions and are especially useful with emotional scenes. These emotions though are presented more with the composition which is consistently used to call back previous scenes in a subtle way that I absolutely adore.
The characters are very much real, most specifically in Miles and his family relationships. We see a real family dynamic that works - if I could point out a scene from a few trailers as an example, when Miles' father takes him to school and asks for him to say 'I love you' back really shows this realistic family that you could picture actually existing in the real world. The lack of a really existing romantic subplot is also something I love - the focus is on coming to terms with the fact that Miles isn't alone, that no one is. Without this romance, the film is just as good as any other, possibly even better with the fact that our potential romantic interest actually doesn't turn out to be.
The next thing that is certainly huge for any die-hard Marvel fans is the fact that it's very much true to the comic books. In the way its told, the way it's presented, and the actual story, the characters are all recognizable both by appearance and by their personalities/behaviours.
The only negative I can find for the film isn't even part of the film itself: Though the cinema gave warning for epilepsy, the film itself does not. While I'm sure theatres are required to give warning, it may be a good idea to give an on-screen warning, especially when the opening logo itself could easily trigger epilepsy.
Overall, I wish I could go back and watch it over and over, so I think most people will enjoy this film, no matter what their knowledge of the MCU is. An engaging story told in a creative way and with an incredibly hilarious after credits scene - worth a watch from everyone.
kiddZtube | Safe YouTube Kids
Entertainment and Education
App
kiddZtube is a safe YouTube kids ’ player with curated videos and learning quizzes made by...
My Talking Tom
Games and Entertainment
App
Discover the #1 games app in 135 countries! Adopt your very own baby kitten and help him grow into a...
Ivana A. | Diary of Difference (1171 KP) rated Mayhem in Books
Oct 2, 2020
I am so happy to have the opportunity to be part of the blog tour for Mayhem by Estelle Laure. Thank you to the team at Wednesday Books, for sending me an e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
Estelle Laure, the author of This Raging Light and But Then I Came Back believes in love, magic, and the power of facing hard truths. She has a BA in Theatre Arts and an MFA from Vermont College of Fine Arts in Writing for Children and Young Adults, and she lives in Taos, New Mexico, with her family. Her work is translated widely around the world.
It's 1987 and Mayhem Brayburn has always known something's off about her and her mum, Roxy. Roxy is in constant physical pain, and Mayhem has an irresistible pull to water. She knows they aren't like the other people.
When one day, Mayhem's stepfather goes one step too far, her and Roxy escape to Santa Maria, California, the beach town that holds the answers to all of Mayhem's questions about who her mother is. There, she meets the kids who live with her aunt, and she opens the door to the magic that runs through the female lineage of the Brayburn family. The very magic Mayhem is next in line to inherit and which will change her life for good.
But when she is on a mission to search for a man that has been kidnapping girls from the beach, her life takes another dangerous turn and she needs to pay the price of vigilante justice and to ask herself whether revenge is worth the cost.
My Thoughts:
Mayhem by Estelle Laure is one of a kind. Entwined with mystery, magic with family heritage and revenge, this book is full of emotions.
The beginning of the book, although powerful, is very slow. It took me a little while to get into it, but as soon as I was hooked, it stayed amazing.
Mayhem is an interesting character. She holds a lot of emotions inside of her, all from past experiences that have shaped her character. Sad to say that most of her experiences were not good, and she holds the burden for it all. I can imagine how hard it must be to write a character as complicated as Mayhem, and I think Estelle Laure did and amazing job doing it.
I loved the kids as well - each of them different in their own way, battling their own demons and living through their bad experiences in the past. Some of these characters drastically change over the course of the book, which was unbelievable to me.
The magic aspect of this book was interesting, and for me, original. I have seen many reviews mentioning that this might not be true, and it is a very similar story to The Lost Boys. Since I haven't watched The Lost Boys, I am unable to comment on this part. Personally, I really enjoyed the magic concept with the water, the dependency on it and the family heritage part too.
If you are searching for a YA fantasy thriller, with rich characters and mysterious adventures, I think you will definitely enjoy this book.
Estelle Laure, the author of This Raging Light and But Then I Came Back believes in love, magic, and the power of facing hard truths. She has a BA in Theatre Arts and an MFA from Vermont College of Fine Arts in Writing for Children and Young Adults, and she lives in Taos, New Mexico, with her family. Her work is translated widely around the world.
It's 1987 and Mayhem Brayburn has always known something's off about her and her mum, Roxy. Roxy is in constant physical pain, and Mayhem has an irresistible pull to water. She knows they aren't like the other people.
When one day, Mayhem's stepfather goes one step too far, her and Roxy escape to Santa Maria, California, the beach town that holds the answers to all of Mayhem's questions about who her mother is. There, she meets the kids who live with her aunt, and she opens the door to the magic that runs through the female lineage of the Brayburn family. The very magic Mayhem is next in line to inherit and which will change her life for good.
But when she is on a mission to search for a man that has been kidnapping girls from the beach, her life takes another dangerous turn and she needs to pay the price of vigilante justice and to ask herself whether revenge is worth the cost.
My Thoughts:
Mayhem by Estelle Laure is one of a kind. Entwined with mystery, magic with family heritage and revenge, this book is full of emotions.
The beginning of the book, although powerful, is very slow. It took me a little while to get into it, but as soon as I was hooked, it stayed amazing.
Mayhem is an interesting character. She holds a lot of emotions inside of her, all from past experiences that have shaped her character. Sad to say that most of her experiences were not good, and she holds the burden for it all. I can imagine how hard it must be to write a character as complicated as Mayhem, and I think Estelle Laure did and amazing job doing it.
I loved the kids as well - each of them different in their own way, battling their own demons and living through their bad experiences in the past. Some of these characters drastically change over the course of the book, which was unbelievable to me.
The magic aspect of this book was interesting, and for me, original. I have seen many reviews mentioning that this might not be true, and it is a very similar story to The Lost Boys. Since I haven't watched The Lost Boys, I am unable to comment on this part. Personally, I really enjoyed the magic concept with the water, the dependency on it and the family heritage part too.
If you are searching for a YA fantasy thriller, with rich characters and mysterious adventures, I think you will definitely enjoy this book.