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Fierce Kingdom
Fierce Kingdom
Gin Phillips | 2017 | Fiction & Poetry
8
7.3 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
Have you ever read a book that’s brought out emotions in you that you weren’t even aware of? Because that is what happened to me when reading this book. I had no idea that I had innate maternal feelings, I’ve never felt broody or motherly at any point in my life, but something about the writing in this book pulled all the right strings, and I suddenly had “motherly emotions”. Phillip’s writing is superb and if you’re lucky enough to have a day off to read this, you will certainly get through it within a few hours.

This book is definitely a thriller, but because of the topics in it, all the “would I have done that?” questions running through your head, you can get completely lost in the moment of this story, only remembering Joan & Lincoln are hiding from gunmen when it’s mentioned in Joan’s narrative.

The characterisation in this is so good it’s hard to explain how good it is. Phillips is a mother herself so she is clearly writing from her own heart here. Joan is exactly the way I imagine being a mother feels, Lincoln is a little bundle of joy throughout the darkness of the book, and Robby is a tragic and sociopathic killer.

I can’t tell you that this book is perfect, because it’s not. The writing, for me, pretty much was perfect, but the plot lacked a little, especially at the end when I was left wanting more. More explanation, or a more rounded conclusion.

Overall, this was a seriously emotive and beautiful novel. It will bring out some seriously strong emotions in you and it will thrill you. This gets a very strong 4/4.5 stars from me.

<i>Thanks to Random House UK, Transworld Publishers for sending me an ARC copy of this book. And also to Netgalley for my eARC copy. (I was sent the physical ARC after the Netgalley approval, I wasn’t being greedy!)</i>
  
TC
True Colors (The Masks, #1)
10
8.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
Disclaimer: I was given an ARC e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

True Colors follows Caitlyn "Caity" Davis, a high school senior just trying to make her way through her final year alongside all her friends. Little does must she know that one night out will change her life forever. A mysterious stranger bestows an even stranger gift on her, and she must try and deal with the fallout. Can she find a way to cope with her new-found ability with the help of her cute neighbor, or will it be the end of her friendship and life as she knows it?

This book, like all of Melissa's books, pulled me in right from the start. The story is such a new and different one, and I absolutely loved her way of putting it into words. The characters are all entertaining, and they certainly evoke strong emotions: envy, anger, empathy, sorrow, etc. For Caitlyn, she can see all those emotions rolling across the faces of those around her, and I felt like I would have been an open book to her while reading her story. I cannot wait for the next book to come out, as this plot is so intriguing. And the nod to the "Betwixt" series was a great crossover!!

5 stars (because that's as high as Goodreads will let me go!)
  
No Turning Back
No Turning Back
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
AMAZING
This is the debut novel by Katie Vorreiter and wow. This book grabbed me from the literal first page. Quite a few authors first books are not always their best work as they are still learning. This book however, did not read like a first book! It had a great story build up with lots of twists that were fun and surprising. The character development was spot on and I really felt a connection to the characters. Livvy and Tobin had great play off each other and interacted well with the sub characters.
This story deals with a wide range of emotions and struggles, and does not get overly dramatic with them. It kept the emotions to a believable level. I so enjoyed this book from beginning to end and I cannot wait to read more from Katie Vorreiter. So many unexpected twists! I literally can not stop replaying the story in my head. I don't often reread books, but I will definitely will be rereading this one. I give this book a 5 out of 5 stars for the creativity of intertwining God in every aspect of the characters’ lives, having a well-developed plot, and for making me smile. If her next book is anything like this one she will be an autobuy author for me.
  
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Benny Sadfie recommended Nashville (1975) in Movies (curated)

 
Nashville (1975)
Nashville (1975)
1975 | Classics, Drama, Musical
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Movie Favorite

"Just a preface: All of these are movies that I can’t escape. You know, there’s ones that you’re interested in, in the moment, because they’re inspiring you in certain ways. But these are ones that I’ve always kind of revisited and can always get something out of it. So Nashville is one of them. It’s such a world that I didn’t know about, and you have all of these insane concerts in real time with all of these people. All of these emotions and ideas all happening within the performances, and everything is happening almost at the same time. And I just kept sitting there, like, how did he do this? And it just kept happening, scene after scene. There’s this one scene that’s unbelievable, when Keith Carradine’s singing the “I’m Easy” song, and you literally see the same song affecting three different people in the audience, totally differently, at the same time. It’s literally one of the most incredible experiences I’ve had. And just going in to listen to these performances and then to recall these emotions that I never had before, but I feel like they’re mine, is incredible. And the sound in that movie is an achievement that I don’t even understand how they did it with the actual performances, the audience, whatever. Incredible."

Source
  
    By Degrees

    By Degrees

    JB McDonald

    (0 Ratings) Rate It

    Book

    Con’s a firefighter; he knows a burning flame when he sees one. But as things heat up between him...

A Sucker For Christmas
A Sucker For Christmas
JP Sayle | 2023 | LGBTQ+, Paranormal, Romance
6
8.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
its about the emotions between these two.
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.

I love JP Sayle, you know I do, and I LOVED the Tangled Tentacles series, with the kraken and their arms, so I was expecting to love this book too, even if Fitch is an octopus, rather than a kraken.

But for me, I found it a little . . .flat . . maybe?? I dunno WHY I didn't love it, and I can't get my bloody book brain to spill its secrets, so I can't explain what was up with it! I'll just write what I did like and be done, ok??

I liked that Fitch, at 4 years old, knew that Shaun would be his. I liked that Fitch waited for Shaun to get with the feelings programme. I liked that they both have a say.

I did love Shaun's sister, Mandy, and what she did. She loves her brothers, plural, for she included Fitch in the number, and she wanted them both to be happy. Sneaky!

It has some steam, but I didn't think it was as smexy as some other Sayle books. It was more about the emotions between these two, and finally admitting who you wanted to be with!

3 good stars, and I'm so sorry I didn't love it!

*same worded review will appear elsewhere
  
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Merissa (14184 KP) rated Grayality in Books

Oct 4, 2022  
Grayality
Grayality
Carey PW | 2022 | Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
A story full of emotions, both good and bad
GRAYALITY is a book full of emotions, both good and bad. Pate is a trans-man who likes the on-and-off again girlfriend of the local bully, and Oakley, his best friend, thinks he is straight until he meets Sadie at a drag-queen show. Their new start in a small country town just got more complicated.

There are words of wisdom in here, spoken between the two best friends, or their new friends. However, there is also a lot of country stereotypical behaviour that may or may not be exaggerated.

I loved seeing Pate and Oak go through their relationships, although I can honestly say I couldn't stand Maybelle from the beginning. Oak is the one who had to change his thinking the most and is also the one who suffered the most, I would say. Pate is the one who physically paid for being who he is.

This was a great story that I thoroughly enjoyed. It is emotional and almost tangible in what our young friends go through. A brilliant read that I highly recommend.

** 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!
  
Then She Was Gone
Then She Was Gone
Lisa Jewell | 2017 | Thriller
10
8.1 (21 Ratings)
Book Rating
Wow. Just wow. What a story. This reminded me heavily of The Lovely Bones. The stories bore some similarities. I liked how the book was referenced in the story (pay attention or you’ll miss it).

The story moved along well. I personally had the plot figured out mid book but then again I watch hours and hours of criminal programs so I’m kind of an armchair expert haha.

I enjoyed the fact it jumped from perspective. It gave personality to the story.

The loss of a child. Unanswered questions. A runaway? Murder? Kidnapping? Hope. Heartbreak. Betrayal. Guilt. This story has a plethora of emotions. Definitely a must read.
  
LS
Love Songs & Other Lies
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Vee and Cam have a love story that takes the long way round. High school sweethearts until it all goes wrong. Years later they find themselves trapped on a tour bus together. Forced to confront the past and their feelings all while trying to be civil.
I adored this book and the raw emotions it brought out. It wasn't just your typical love story where everything goes right the first time. This took time, guts, and a bit of heartbreak to get to the end. The songs and lyrics fit and made you a part of their world.
Perfect for fans of music, romance, and alternating view points.