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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2163 KP) rated Apprehend Me No Flowers in Books

Mar 22, 2023

Flowers for the Murdered

It’s May 2019, and Madison is dealing with a lot. Not only has her idol, Doris Day, recently died, but her business is closed while she deals with a lawsuit. However, a picnic dinner with her boyfriend, police captain Tex Allen, provides distraction, and not in a good way. Madison finds a dead body stuffed in a trash can; meanwhile, hikers find another on the other side of the park. Can Madison figure out what is going on? Or will she cause more harm than good?

Since Doris Day has been such a large part of the DNA of the series (in a completely fictional sense), I appreciated that this book took the time to address how her death was impacting Madison. It’s part of her growth in this book, which I enjoyed. I also appreciated the plot, which includes several different things and kept me entertained until the logical climax. Unfortunately, I did feel there were a couple of editing snafus, but they were minor overall. There is a recurring character who continues to surprise me, and that happened here again as well. I very much want to see where that relationship is going. All told, this is another winner that will please series fans.

Kudos

Liar Liar [Audiobook]

L.G. Davis

8.5 (2 Ratings) Rate It

Book

He swore he would always protect me, that he would take my darkest secret to the grave. But I’m...

Wedding Planner Game

Games and Entertainment

(0 Ratings) Rate It

App

~~> Become the best Wedding Planner around, and plan dream weddings! ~~> From designing beautiful...

Debbiereadsbook (1166 KP) rated Rowan & Aldred (Ambrosia #2) in Books

Aug 17, 2024

Rowan & Aldred (Ambrosia #2)

Lucie Fleury | 2024 | LGBTQ+, Science Fiction/Fantasy

10.0

(1 Ratings)

Book Rating

HEED the triggers, I have none but this really pushed my boundaries!

Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.

This is book 2in the Ambrosia series, and I have not read book one. I want to, though. Oh how I WANT!

I wasn't sure how this was gonna go, since it came with a stern, VERY STERN warning to note the triggers. I, after reading, STRESS that point.

Rowan is a bully and Aldred the God of Justice and Retribution. Who better to meek out the punishment the boy deserves. But something is off with Rowan and it takes a bit of time for Aldred to get deep into Rowan's reasons for being a bully. What he discovers shocks him, and makes him oddly protective of the boy. There is also the issue of the god going around, giving ambrosia out to humans, which is deadly if not managed correctly.

So, triggers:

Explicit smex: Oh yes, once Aldred decides he's keeping Rowan, the God loves his boy, and he loves him HARD.

Torture: Aldred, in the beginning, is brutal to Rowan. It was painful, reading about it, and it goes way darker than anything I've read before. I will admit, I came close to stopping, but something begged me to continue and I am so glad I did.

Mention of past abuse: Rowan's reasons for being a bully aren't immediately clear, and it does take some time for Aldred to get to the bottom of them.

Sexual assault: If it's the scen I'm thinking of, it's not a full on page assault, just the threat is there, and but for a kitty cat, there would have been.

It's a very different read than my usual fare, and I'm not tagging it as romance, because, let's be honest, I'm not sure Aldred could love in the hearts and flowers sense, but he cares, DEEPLY for Rowan, and I think, in time, his hearts and flowers will come.

Told from both Rowan and Aldred's point of view, this book is powerful in it's intensity; dark in it's violence; and in the end, the reason's for Rowan being a bully is paid back a hundred fold.

I've had a look, and can only see two books by this author name, and I question that! Why?? Cos if this is book 2 by this author, what is Lucie Fleury gonna be like at book 4, 6 or ten?? Sign me up, mate, I'm-a following this author!

Again though, HEED the triggers, I have none but this really pushed my boundaries!

But dear lord I cannot give it anything other than. . . .

5 full and shiny stars! (but more if I could!)

*same worded review will appear elsewhere

Kudos

Andy K (10821 KP) rated Charly (1968) in Movies

Aug 3, 2019

Charly (1968)

1968 | Classics, Drama, Sci-Fi

9.0

(1 Ratings)

Movie Rating

Touching, sad and moving

Cliff Robertson won a Best Actor actor in 1968 fr his portrayal of a simple minded man who undergoes an experimental surgery first performed on mice to supposedly increase his intelligence.

Charly is a man who wants better for himself and for his simple life. He tries to do better by constantly challenging himself, but it is no use. He is the butt of jokes at his job at a bakery and he doesn't even know it. He can't even beat a mouse at a maze game given out by his physician friends. When a wild chance arises that could resolve all of Charly's woes, he jumps at the chance.

The operation does seem to be a slow success. His intelligence grows as well as his zest for life, his noticing the little things in live and also an interest in the opposite sex. Will his happiness be temporary or permanent?

The acting and screenplay in this film are superb as well as some interesting split screen camera work. Charly's growth and development are in stark contrast from the beginning of the film through his discovery of knowledge.

I had seen this film in middle school I think after we had read the source material "Flowers for Algernon" so I was anxious to revisit.

So glad I did.