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Great British Parks: A Celebration
Book
Our great British parks are one of the finest legacies of the Victorian age. Many of our high...
TravelersWife4Life (31 KP) rated Freedom in the Mountain Wind (Call of the Rockies, #1) in Books
Feb 23, 2021
Where do I start with this book?
Misty M. Beller wrote a beautiful story of adventure, love and exploring the great frontier. I believe that this is the first book in a series and let me tell you I will be reading the rest of the books in this series (Can I pre-pre- order it somewhere I wonder?). This book was so good, it is one of those books that feels like you are right there with the characters. Probably something to do with the psychology of the characters that touches something inside of you, and wow did this one work that for me.
The characters in this book were very well developed and had a clear sense of purpose right from the beginning. Misty M. Beller gives us some great father-daughter interactions as well as giving us French, Spanish, Southern and Native Americans all together to make some great moments around the campfire. The main characters in this book have things to work through, some together and separately and Misty M. Beller makes them do it quite believably. One of my favorite things about the book is the way Misty M. Beller shares the gospel throughout this book. She even worked in underlying themes of grace, forgiveness, grief over loss, and perseverance.
I give this book 5 out of 5 stars for the plotline, the cool adventures the characters go on (I mean who hasn’t imagine going along Lewis & Clark’s trip up the Mississippi river?), and for grabbing hold of my emotions right from the start.
Misty M. Beller wrote a beautiful story of adventure, love and exploring the great frontier. I believe that this is the first book in a series and let me tell you I will be reading the rest of the books in this series (Can I pre-pre- order it somewhere I wonder?). This book was so good, it is one of those books that feels like you are right there with the characters. Probably something to do with the psychology of the characters that touches something inside of you, and wow did this one work that for me.
The characters in this book were very well developed and had a clear sense of purpose right from the beginning. Misty M. Beller gives us some great father-daughter interactions as well as giving us French, Spanish, Southern and Native Americans all together to make some great moments around the campfire. The main characters in this book have things to work through, some together and separately and Misty M. Beller makes them do it quite believably. One of my favorite things about the book is the way Misty M. Beller shares the gospel throughout this book. She even worked in underlying themes of grace, forgiveness, grief over loss, and perseverance.
I give this book 5 out of 5 stars for the plotline, the cool adventures the characters go on (I mean who hasn’t imagine going along Lewis & Clark’s trip up the Mississippi river?), and for grabbing hold of my emotions right from the start.
Leanne Crabtree (480 KP) rated Sin & Spirit (Demigods of San Francisco, #4) in Books
Jan 8, 2021
This review and more can be found at my blog https://aromancereadersreviews.blogspot.com
A Romance Reader's Reviews
This has been borrowed from the Kindle Unlimited Library.
Firstly I'll admit that it's been a while since I read the first three books in this series - and I believed that it was only going to be a trilogy, for some reason, so I had forgotten some of the details of this book but things were rehashed a little.
With Alexis and her small group now known by all the other Demigods in the world, they are thrown into a steep learning curve of dealing with politics and trying to learn how to use her powers for other things. There's also the fact that a Hades Demigod is trying to get their hands on Alexis, any means necessary.
A lot happened in this and, as mentioned above, I hadn't retained a lot of information about this series, so I was a little overwhelmed by all the characters. I quickly picked up who the Six were and Daisy and Mordecai.
I did enjoy this and should hopefully now remember enough for future books - book 5 is coming soon! - so I'm looking forward to reading them and seeing the results of that last chapter. I can see it's not going to go well and this group of amazing guys may end up fighting for their lives. Again.
This review is rather lacking but I have no way of saying more without giving away important plot points and that's just not fair.
A Romance Reader's Reviews
This has been borrowed from the Kindle Unlimited Library.
Firstly I'll admit that it's been a while since I read the first three books in this series - and I believed that it was only going to be a trilogy, for some reason, so I had forgotten some of the details of this book but things were rehashed a little.
With Alexis and her small group now known by all the other Demigods in the world, they are thrown into a steep learning curve of dealing with politics and trying to learn how to use her powers for other things. There's also the fact that a Hades Demigod is trying to get their hands on Alexis, any means necessary.
A lot happened in this and, as mentioned above, I hadn't retained a lot of information about this series, so I was a little overwhelmed by all the characters. I quickly picked up who the Six were and Daisy and Mordecai.
I did enjoy this and should hopefully now remember enough for future books - book 5 is coming soon! - so I'm looking forward to reading them and seeing the results of that last chapter. I can see it's not going to go well and this group of amazing guys may end up fighting for their lives. Again.
This review is rather lacking but I have no way of saying more without giving away important plot points and that's just not fair.
ClareR (5879 KP) rated What Beauty There Is in Books
Apr 12, 2021
What Beauty There Is has to be my most surprising read of the year so far. What I wasn’t expecting was the beautiful, lyrical, desolate story of two brothers struggling to survive together against the odds. Everything is so well expressed in this novel: two boys left alone with nothing.
The older brother, 17 year old Jack, is determined not to lose his younger brother to the foster care system. When they find themselves alone with no chance of help, Jack decides that he needs to find the drug money that his father hid before his arrest. The thing is, he’s not the only one looking for the money. The man who is also looking for it, Bardem, will do anything to get what he believes is his. Jack and Matty’s lives are in danger. And not just from Bardem. The local drug dealers also want payback for what Jack and Matty’s father did, and they’re happy for the boys to pay for it - with their lives.
I spent most of this book with my heart in my mouth. These boys, even with the help of Ava, are in so much danger. The fact that Ava is Bardem’s daughter (an I’m giving nothing away here)did nothing to calm my fears for them.
I won’t sugar coat this - it’s not a happy book, and another clear example of the term “Young Adult” being completely arbitrary. The fact that it is under the YA heading really shouldn’t put anyone off reading it. It is so well written, stunningly so, and I’d highly recommend it.
The older brother, 17 year old Jack, is determined not to lose his younger brother to the foster care system. When they find themselves alone with no chance of help, Jack decides that he needs to find the drug money that his father hid before his arrest. The thing is, he’s not the only one looking for the money. The man who is also looking for it, Bardem, will do anything to get what he believes is his. Jack and Matty’s lives are in danger. And not just from Bardem. The local drug dealers also want payback for what Jack and Matty’s father did, and they’re happy for the boys to pay for it - with their lives.
I spent most of this book with my heart in my mouth. These boys, even with the help of Ava, are in so much danger. The fact that Ava is Bardem’s daughter (an I’m giving nothing away here)did nothing to calm my fears for them.
I won’t sugar coat this - it’s not a happy book, and another clear example of the term “Young Adult” being completely arbitrary. The fact that it is under the YA heading really shouldn’t put anyone off reading it. It is so well written, stunningly so, and I’d highly recommend it.
Merissa (12911 KP) rated Expectant Moon (Gladstone Shifters #1) in Books
Jun 8, 2021
Expectant Moon is the first book in the Gladstone Shifters series and it takes you to a current world where things are changing. Here we find Evan, a Delta, and Ben, an Alpha. Their two lives are separate at the start but once they meet, fireworks explode!
I found the beginning of this book to be slightly discombobulated, simply because we shift from one time to another, with different characters being introduced each time. HOWEVER, stick with it because each of those characters and situations is incredibly important to the overall story arc.
Once this story progressed, I was completely hooked. I loved this history of how times and attitudes had changed, how ways of life were forgotten and how they really needed to be remembered. Luckily for everyone, Jack is on hand to help and Evan will make sure it continues.
There was enough steam to melt my Kindle - which I loved! You really get a two-for-one deal with this book as Jack and William are magnificently interwoven with Evan and Ben - only in the literary sense! There is also pain, hate, tenderness, love, and hope.
Really, this was an amazing read that I thoroughly enjoyed. An amazing start to a new series with intricate details and new situations giving a brilliant twist to the 'standard' MM Paranormal Romance genre.
Absolutely recommended by me.
* 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!
I found the beginning of this book to be slightly discombobulated, simply because we shift from one time to another, with different characters being introduced each time. HOWEVER, stick with it because each of those characters and situations is incredibly important to the overall story arc.
Once this story progressed, I was completely hooked. I loved this history of how times and attitudes had changed, how ways of life were forgotten and how they really needed to be remembered. Luckily for everyone, Jack is on hand to help and Evan will make sure it continues.
There was enough steam to melt my Kindle - which I loved! You really get a two-for-one deal with this book as Jack and William are magnificently interwoven with Evan and Ben - only in the literary sense! There is also pain, hate, tenderness, love, and hope.
Really, this was an amazing read that I thoroughly enjoyed. An amazing start to a new series with intricate details and new situations giving a brilliant twist to the 'standard' MM Paranormal Romance genre.
Absolutely recommended by me.
* 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!
Entry number 9 in Paul Fraser Collard's Jack Lark series, this is an entry which - speaking personally - I very much found could be split into two main parts: the first part of the novel primarily concerns itself with the Victorian pursuit of 'slumming' (where rich toffs paid good money to see how their poorer counterparts lived in the slums and tenements of London), and the second with the Abyssinian campaign against the mad 'Gorilla King' (in modern day Ethiopia, I believe)
I'd heard, and even knew a bit, about the former. The latter? Sad to say, not so much.
So, for my part, a little new knowledge is a good thing!
As the novel begins, Jack Lark is back in England after his exploits in America (during the Civil War) and Mexico of the previous entries; back where - I feel - he belongs (ummm, speaking internationally, that is, rather than his precise circumstances!) and running Victorian slumming 'tours' (for want of a better word) for the rich who have more money than sense!
I don't *think* I'm giving anything away when I say that one such tour inevitably goes wrong, leading Jack - and a few companions - to flee the country, travelling to Ethiopia to join the expedition against the Emperor Tewodros II of Ethiopia, more concerned with what they can purloin along the way than the rights and wrongs of the situation that led to the campaign in the first place!
All in all, another solid entry in the series: I'm looking forward to where Jack ends up next!
I'd heard, and even knew a bit, about the former. The latter? Sad to say, not so much.
So, for my part, a little new knowledge is a good thing!
As the novel begins, Jack Lark is back in England after his exploits in America (during the Civil War) and Mexico of the previous entries; back where - I feel - he belongs (ummm, speaking internationally, that is, rather than his precise circumstances!) and running Victorian slumming 'tours' (for want of a better word) for the rich who have more money than sense!
I don't *think* I'm giving anything away when I say that one such tour inevitably goes wrong, leading Jack - and a few companions - to flee the country, travelling to Ethiopia to join the expedition against the Emperor Tewodros II of Ethiopia, more concerned with what they can purloin along the way than the rights and wrongs of the situation that led to the campaign in the first place!
All in all, another solid entry in the series: I'm looking forward to where Jack ends up next!
Laura Doe (1350 KP) rated Mother Knows Best: A Tale of the Old Witch (Villains #5) in Books
Jul 21, 2021
I love these takes on the Disney villains back stories, and this one didn’t disappoint me at all.
We follow Gothel, of Tangled fame, a lifetime before she becomes Rapunzel’s guardian and mother. We learn about her life and what drove her to kidnap the princess when she was a baby.
We learn that Gothel had two sisters, sisters that she would do anything for as they were triplets. But their mother doesn’t seem keen to teach Gothel and her sisters her magic, which frustrates Gothel more than her sisters. Their mother dies one night, leaving Gothel to take on her duties as Queen of the Dead and rule over their “kingdom” otherwise known as the Dead Woods. Gothel thrives, while her sister do not and she becomes concerned for them, attracting the attention of the three Odd Sisters.
We follow them as they try to help Gothel help her sisters and learn her magic, whilst trying to get their hands on her mother’s spell books.
In the last part of the book, we discover why she kidnapped Rapunzel and what happens before she ends up in the tower and then follow her quickly (through the use of mirrors) through what happens in the film.
I really do love these different views on the Disney villains and the thought that goes into giving them a back story, so that they aren’t just “evil”. I can’t wait to continue on with the series and hope there are many more to come.
We follow Gothel, of Tangled fame, a lifetime before she becomes Rapunzel’s guardian and mother. We learn about her life and what drove her to kidnap the princess when she was a baby.
We learn that Gothel had two sisters, sisters that she would do anything for as they were triplets. But their mother doesn’t seem keen to teach Gothel and her sisters her magic, which frustrates Gothel more than her sisters. Their mother dies one night, leaving Gothel to take on her duties as Queen of the Dead and rule over their “kingdom” otherwise known as the Dead Woods. Gothel thrives, while her sister do not and she becomes concerned for them, attracting the attention of the three Odd Sisters.
We follow them as they try to help Gothel help her sisters and learn her magic, whilst trying to get their hands on her mother’s spell books.
In the last part of the book, we discover why she kidnapped Rapunzel and what happens before she ends up in the tower and then follow her quickly (through the use of mirrors) through what happens in the film.
I really do love these different views on the Disney villains and the thought that goes into giving them a back story, so that they aren’t just “evil”. I can’t wait to continue on with the series and hope there are many more to come.
Leanne Crabtree (480 KP) rated Toxic (Ruin, #2) in Books
Jan 11, 2021
If I'm honest, I can't remember much about the first one apart from the fact that i truly fell for Wes and it made me cry like a baby when i realised he was sick. And that i wanted to read Gabe's story.
This one also made me cry a lot. It just seemed very unfair that Gabe had been going through all this crap emotionally for the past four years. I wanted him to be happy but he seemed determined to live with the guilt and in a way that annoyed me because I'm pretty sure that Kimmy would have wanted you to be happy.
Then we met Saylor. She initially semed like some sort of band geek but she gave as good as she got--and good for her! I'll admit i got the initial attraction but then when they confessed their falling for each other i was a little sceptical because they'd hardly spent that much time together and were always arguing in that time, apart from once, i think.
It put me through the emotional wringer and last night i had to put it down as all the crying was giving me a headache. Saylor was being amazing when she found out the truth and was trying to be there for him but i still didnt really get it.
And then that end bit. Really? I think that's his MO.
I loved the first one but i was a tad disappointed by this one. Maybe Lisa's story will be somewhere in the middle.
This one also made me cry a lot. It just seemed very unfair that Gabe had been going through all this crap emotionally for the past four years. I wanted him to be happy but he seemed determined to live with the guilt and in a way that annoyed me because I'm pretty sure that Kimmy would have wanted you to be happy.
Then we met Saylor. She initially semed like some sort of band geek but she gave as good as she got--and good for her! I'll admit i got the initial attraction but then when they confessed their falling for each other i was a little sceptical because they'd hardly spent that much time together and were always arguing in that time, apart from once, i think.
It put me through the emotional wringer and last night i had to put it down as all the crying was giving me a headache. Saylor was being amazing when she found out the truth and was trying to be there for him but i still didnt really get it.
And then that end bit. Really? I think that's his MO.
I loved the first one but i was a tad disappointed by this one. Maybe Lisa's story will be somewhere in the middle.
Leanne Crabtree (480 KP) rated Chaos (Guards of the Shadowlands, #3) in Books
Jan 11, 2021
This one carries on exactly where book 2 left off. Lela is now jumping off a cliff in the hopes of having an audience with The Judge so she can go and rescue her friends from the Mazikin realm. The Judge grants her request but only if they do something else while they're there: Kill the Queen and destroy the portal. Teaming up with old friend and fellow Guard, Ana, they journey into the domed city of the Mazikin to free Malachi and those they love.
Every book has had a different setting - Book 1: Shadowlands, Book 2: Rhode Island, Book 3: The Mazikin City. Being in the Mazikin city was different. I wasn't sure what to expect but it had its own industries. They could make their own glass and burn coal for power but still relied on human blacksmith's and tanners for clothing and weapons. It was an unusual environment.
This one seemed to have non stop action from the start. There was always something going on, no lulls or unneeded information. It was one hell of a journey from the Sanctum to the Mazikin City back to Rhode Island.
I felt this was a rather good ending to the series. Everything was wrapped up, everyone had their happy ending, though I was sad at times. It's really hard to express my feelings without giving too much of this story away but if you've started the series then I recommend you continue it and if you haven't started it yet, than I think you should give this a try.
Every book has had a different setting - Book 1: Shadowlands, Book 2: Rhode Island, Book 3: The Mazikin City. Being in the Mazikin city was different. I wasn't sure what to expect but it had its own industries. They could make their own glass and burn coal for power but still relied on human blacksmith's and tanners for clothing and weapons. It was an unusual environment.
This one seemed to have non stop action from the start. There was always something going on, no lulls or unneeded information. It was one hell of a journey from the Sanctum to the Mazikin City back to Rhode Island.
I felt this was a rather good ending to the series. Everything was wrapped up, everyone had their happy ending, though I was sad at times. It's really hard to express my feelings without giving too much of this story away but if you've started the series then I recommend you continue it and if you haven't started it yet, than I think you should give this a try.
LoganCrews (2861 KP) rated Sonic the Hedgehog (2020) in Movies
Dec 16, 2020
Kind of shit, but a total blast where it counts. I have so many grievances, firstly - did this honestly have to take the form of one of those trite, throwaway kids' films from the 90s/2000s where some obnoxious animal/alien has to team up with a bland cardboard cutout fuck and they learn to love alone the way? Gag, I feel deep shame that my peer group has such devout nostalgia for such a bastardized, lazy corporate gash-grab of a film era - which is of course is only exacerbated more so here by Fowler shooting this thing about as blandly as can be. Not to mention Marden absolutely sucks in it doing - what I can only assume is - some sort of scuffed, bored Ryan Reynolds impersonation. But it's easy to forgive a film that gives such ample time to Jim Carrey (in like his... third or fourth "return to form" now?) giving the single greatest performance of 2020 in a loving homage to the OG elastic, hyperactive roles of which he built his career upon. The action is fair, and for all its deafening faults the final showdown between Sonic and Eggman is exhilarating (even if I find Ben Schwartz's Sonic voice to be mostly a non-presence). Cute and fun enough to suffice - frequently hilarious too - but not really the resuscitator of video game movies when we got the sumptuous and similarly nonsensical 𝘈𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘯'𝘴 𝘊𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘥 just over three years before it. Truthfully I think this would have been better if they kept that monstrous abomination Sonic from the first trailer.