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Merissa (14214 KP) rated Lucky (Inked Menace MC #1) in Books
Apr 12, 2023
This book is like an onion, it has layers! It is a fast-paced, witty and gritty tale about the Vice-President of a Motorcycle Club and a woman with a deadly secret. Cecilia starts off as nothing more than a woman in Witness Protection, trying to live her life as best she can. There is an instant attraction between her and Luke but she only kisses him when she thinks that she's going to be leaving town. This sets in motion a series of events that will change her life forever, along with Luke's.
I loved how strong Cecilia is and how her mouth runs away with her at times. She isn't afraid to stand her ground but also knows when to back down. She is full of surprises and I loved her!
If you like Shifter stories, if you like MC stories, and if you can cope with a reference made to Ghostbusters then I can definitely recommend this book to you. I thoroughly enjoyed it and am looking forward to the next in this series!
(ps - sorry for the Shrek reference đ)
* 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!
September 7, 2016
I loved how strong Cecilia is and how her mouth runs away with her at times. She isn't afraid to stand her ground but also knows when to back down. She is full of surprises and I loved her!
If you like Shifter stories, if you like MC stories, and if you can cope with a reference made to Ghostbusters then I can definitely recommend this book to you. I thoroughly enjoyed it and am looking forward to the next in this series!
(ps - sorry for the Shrek reference đ)
* 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!
September 7, 2016
Louise (64 KP) rated Flight of a Starling in Books
Jul 2, 2018
* I received a copy of this book from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*
After reading Paper Butterflies by Lisa Heathfield last year I knew that I needed to read her latest book out. Lisa is UKYA author and I donât think she gets enough credit for her work. This is another book that delivers a believable story with such rawness and emotion.
<img src="https://media.giphy.com/media/6DfkKrGznukr6/giphy.gif"; width="200"height="200"alt="description"/>
Our story follows Rita and Lo, two sisters that are travelers and the trapeze act in their circus that moves around England on a regular basis. Life is how it has always been for the girls, set up their tent, do a few shows and move on to the next village â they havenât known any other life and donât really question it. They travel with another family and itâs presumed the girls will marry the boys of the other family and carry on the legacy of the circus. One evening when they explore the local area they start talking to some of the locals and sparks start to ignite between Lo and âa flattie'(a term for non traveler folk). With Lo slowly falling in love she starts to question her life,her role and existence in the circus â with wanting her freedom she finds cracks starting to appear and her life crumbling around her.
âFlight of a Starlingâ didnât fail to deliver, I knew from past works that this was going to be an emotional, gritty and raw read. Heathfield has a great writing style that manages to evoke emotions â even from me who has a heart of stone. The story is told in dual perspective, swapping from Rita to Lo with just the right sized chapters. The first half of this book is rather slow what with it building a picture of what it was like to be in a travelling community and their traditions and beliefs. I loved learning about the performances that the girls were involved in such as the trapeze and their big costumes.
I must admit that I wasnât too keen on the romance side of the book, It was lacking emotion and connection between the characters, I wanted the warm fuzziness that you get from reading about a couple that first meet, the excitement of itâŚwhich didnât happen and itâs sad as it has such a big part of the story.
The second half of the book takes a change in pace, it was amazing and what really made the story for me. My heart was in my mouth and I could feel the blood pulsing around my body with anxiety. I was scared for the characters,I was hoping for a silver lining but Heathfield never shies away from her writing and sucker punches you in the gut.
I recommend if you want something gritty yet believable.
I rated this book 4 out of 5 stars
After reading Paper Butterflies by Lisa Heathfield last year I knew that I needed to read her latest book out. Lisa is UKYA author and I donât think she gets enough credit for her work. This is another book that delivers a believable story with such rawness and emotion.
<img src="https://media.giphy.com/media/6DfkKrGznukr6/giphy.gif"; width="200"height="200"alt="description"/>
Our story follows Rita and Lo, two sisters that are travelers and the trapeze act in their circus that moves around England on a regular basis. Life is how it has always been for the girls, set up their tent, do a few shows and move on to the next village â they havenât known any other life and donât really question it. They travel with another family and itâs presumed the girls will marry the boys of the other family and carry on the legacy of the circus. One evening when they explore the local area they start talking to some of the locals and sparks start to ignite between Lo and âa flattie'(a term for non traveler folk). With Lo slowly falling in love she starts to question her life,her role and existence in the circus â with wanting her freedom she finds cracks starting to appear and her life crumbling around her.
âFlight of a Starlingâ didnât fail to deliver, I knew from past works that this was going to be an emotional, gritty and raw read. Heathfield has a great writing style that manages to evoke emotions â even from me who has a heart of stone. The story is told in dual perspective, swapping from Rita to Lo with just the right sized chapters. The first half of this book is rather slow what with it building a picture of what it was like to be in a travelling community and their traditions and beliefs. I loved learning about the performances that the girls were involved in such as the trapeze and their big costumes.
I must admit that I wasnât too keen on the romance side of the book, It was lacking emotion and connection between the characters, I wanted the warm fuzziness that you get from reading about a couple that first meet, the excitement of itâŚwhich didnât happen and itâs sad as it has such a big part of the story.
The second half of the book takes a change in pace, it was amazing and what really made the story for me. My heart was in my mouth and I could feel the blood pulsing around my body with anxiety. I was scared for the characters,I was hoping for a silver lining but Heathfield never shies away from her writing and sucker punches you in the gut.
I recommend if you want something gritty yet believable.
I rated this book 4 out of 5 stars
graveyardgremlin (7194 KP) rated Red Hot Fury (Shades of Fury, #1) in Books
Feb 15, 2019
For about the first forty pages, RED HOT FURY has a rocky start, but after it gets over that hump it's a worthwhile read. The Furies are an interesting breed that brings a welcome change from all the vampires, weres, witches, et al. to the urban fantasy genre, and the author adds her own spin to the species. Marissa, or rather Riss, is a tough, sarcastic, sure-of-herself character that won't appeal to everyone, but if you like them more on the gritty side then she might be the heroine for you. The world is interesting and there are good ideas, which includes Greek, Egyptian, and European mythology, but unfortunately the execution could have been better. Sometimes I was confused by explanations of the world, organizations, magic, etc., all of which, at times, were vague and periodically the dialogue fell flat. Adding to that, there was an unnecessary number of action scenes and a few too many characters to keep completely straight. However, there were some nice twists and turns, and although I saw the big reveal coming a mile away, I enjoyed the book and will look for the second in the series. Hopefully, all the kinks will be ironed out for that one. It's not quite a 4-star book, but a little better than a 3, so I'll settle for 3.5 stars.
Provided to me free for review through Amazon Vine.
Provided to me free for review through Amazon Vine.
RÉX Regent (349 KP) rated Jaws (1975) in Movies
Feb 19, 2019
The movie which heralded the summer blockbuster has never looked so good. At 44, this is a well but gently paced slow-burn thriller, with a mix of easy on eye thrills and gritty human discourse. Robert Shaw may well have made this his film, but he was far from alone. Almost all the lead cast were more than worthy, and it was Spielbergâs young direction along with John Williamâs iconic score which propelled this from just another thriller into a timeless tale.
Though in many ways it looks dated, it doesnât feel it. It has a very general sense of a seaside resort, without the gratuitous Baywatch glamour, nor the dinge of the horror genre. The people and locations feel very real and even though the shark itself is a bit of a let down, it is not a total loss and has taken nothing away from the film.
But for my money, the defining moment is the âIndianapolisâ anecdote as told be Shaw. The entire scene is played and shot so well and its placement within the film is perfect. This was a real story about an almost fantastical threat, but like he would go onto do later with Jurassic Park, taking you out of every day life without taking you into space is what Spielberg does best.
This is a must see and always will be. This is one of the best films of the 70âs and beyondâŚ
Though in many ways it looks dated, it doesnât feel it. It has a very general sense of a seaside resort, without the gratuitous Baywatch glamour, nor the dinge of the horror genre. The people and locations feel very real and even though the shark itself is a bit of a let down, it is not a total loss and has taken nothing away from the film.
But for my money, the defining moment is the âIndianapolisâ anecdote as told be Shaw. The entire scene is played and shot so well and its placement within the film is perfect. This was a real story about an almost fantastical threat, but like he would go onto do later with Jurassic Park, taking you out of every day life without taking you into space is what Spielberg does best.
This is a must see and always will be. This is one of the best films of the 70âs and beyondâŚ
Awix (3310 KP) rated The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms (1953) in Movies
May 31, 2018 (Updated May 31, 2018)
American A-bomb test has unexpected consequences when the blast defrosts a frozen, wholly fictional dinosaur; the creature swims off to devastate the nearest city for no particularly well-explained reason. A decent monster movie with a surprisingly gritty tone (by the standards of the genre, anyway); in terms of cultural impact, utterly eclipsed by an unofficial Japanese remake which came out the following year and has had 31 sequels to date.
There are various quirky and tropey bits that will raise a smile for the seasoned viewer of this sort of thing (e.g. the moment when the sweet old supporting character postpones their first holiday in thirty years in order to look for the monster: they might as well have him followed around by a robed man with a scythe), but on the whole it passes the time well enough. There is a sense in which most of the film is just filling time until the climax, when the Rhedosaurus runs amok in the streets of New York, but it does so fairly engagingly; also manages to find a half-decent explanation as to why they don't just bomb the monster to death (Devlin and Emmerich, please take note). Wheeled on for monster-extermination duties is a young Lee van Cleef, who seems slightly annoyed to be appearing in this kind of film. Great fun to watch when you're about seven; stands up pretty well for older viewers, too.
There are various quirky and tropey bits that will raise a smile for the seasoned viewer of this sort of thing (e.g. the moment when the sweet old supporting character postpones their first holiday in thirty years in order to look for the monster: they might as well have him followed around by a robed man with a scythe), but on the whole it passes the time well enough. There is a sense in which most of the film is just filling time until the climax, when the Rhedosaurus runs amok in the streets of New York, but it does so fairly engagingly; also manages to find a half-decent explanation as to why they don't just bomb the monster to death (Devlin and Emmerich, please take note). Wheeled on for monster-extermination duties is a young Lee van Cleef, who seems slightly annoyed to be appearing in this kind of film. Great fun to watch when you're about seven; stands up pretty well for older viewers, too.
Sarah (7800 KP) rated Fahrenheit 451 (2018) in Movies
Aug 15, 2018
Too much of a slow burner...
Itâs been a long time since I read (and hugely enjoyed) the book, however Iâm afraid the same canât be said for this. Although I donât remember too much about the book, Iâm sure I recall it being a fairly dark and gritty dystopian future quite like the one in 1984, but this depiction makes it out to be a little too slick and advanced, and not quite dark enough. I appreciate that the book was written some years ago, but I feel like this version has taken in too much of our idea of future technology instead of sticking closer to the source material. Iâm known for not liking films that donât stick close enough to the books, so maybe thatâs affecting my judgement.
Michael B Jordan does okay although I feel heâs a little young for how I imagined Montag to be. Michael Shannon is good as the Captain but i think his character motivations are very well defined and they come across as a bit confused. The plot itself is well explained but the problem is itâs quite slow paced and seems to come across as dull and drags at times. Yet Montagâs motivations seem to too quickly change from devoted Fireman to deviant.
Whilst I donât think this is a terrible adaptation, itâs not one Iâd recommend unless youâve read the book. The only thing this has done is prompted me to read the book again!
Michael B Jordan does okay although I feel heâs a little young for how I imagined Montag to be. Michael Shannon is good as the Captain but i think his character motivations are very well defined and they come across as a bit confused. The plot itself is well explained but the problem is itâs quite slow paced and seems to come across as dull and drags at times. Yet Montagâs motivations seem to too quickly change from devoted Fireman to deviant.
Whilst I donât think this is a terrible adaptation, itâs not one Iâd recommend unless youâve read the book. The only thing this has done is prompted me to read the book again!
Hazel (2934 KP) rated All The Rage (DI Adam Fawley #4) in Books
Dec 30, 2019
Highly entertaining
I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed this book and ate it up in super quick time. I read Close to Home, book 1 in the series, immediately before this one and I think this enhanced my enjoyment of this story as it gave a bit more meat to the characters but having said that, I think it would work as a standalone.
A young woman is attacked but doesn't want the police involved and then it happens again; both cases bearing a striking resemblance to an old case Fawley was involved in where the perpetrator was imprisoned ... could this be a copy-cat or has an innocent man been in jail for many years?
Once again, we are treated by Ms Hunter with her excellent characters, dark and gritty story line, intrigue and suspense all wrapped up in this fast paced, page-turning thriller with twists and surprises along the way. All this and the use of social media excerpts, court and interview transcripts woven, throughout make this feel current and relevant.
This will not be my last of reading Ms Hunter's books and I highly recommend to those who enjoy police procedural/thrillers with complex story lines which are easy to follow and that are highly entertaining ... can't wait for book 5!
Thank you to Penguin Books (UK) and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest and unbiased review.
A young woman is attacked but doesn't want the police involved and then it happens again; both cases bearing a striking resemblance to an old case Fawley was involved in where the perpetrator was imprisoned ... could this be a copy-cat or has an innocent man been in jail for many years?
Once again, we are treated by Ms Hunter with her excellent characters, dark and gritty story line, intrigue and suspense all wrapped up in this fast paced, page-turning thriller with twists and surprises along the way. All this and the use of social media excerpts, court and interview transcripts woven, throughout make this feel current and relevant.
This will not be my last of reading Ms Hunter's books and I highly recommend to those who enjoy police procedural/thrillers with complex story lines which are easy to follow and that are highly entertaining ... can't wait for book 5!
Thank you to Penguin Books (UK) and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest and unbiased review.
Bob Mann (459 KP) rated Destroyer (2018) in Movies
Jul 23, 2019
Nicole Kidman: a career best performance (2 more)
Slow burn build of characters, through flashback
Brilliant twist in the third act I didn't see coming
Gritty but unpredictable version of an oft-told tale
The plot is both familiar (think âThe Departedâ mixed with âHell or High Waterâ) but at the same time intricate. Nicole Kidman plays police detective Erin Bell whoâs in a bad place. She looks to be on her last legs through drink and drugs, but she is being propped up in her post by an understanding boss and a tolerant partner (who spends most of his time leaving âWhere the hell are you?â voicemails).
Erin is in pursuit of a truly evil man â Silas (Toby Kebbell) â who is back after a long absence. Erin and Silas have a past that is only unfolded as the film evolves. (To say more would ruin what is an outstandingly well-constructed screenplay). Aside from the âday jobâ, what Erin also has to contend with her truly wayward 16 year old daughter Shelby (Jade Pettyjohn).
âDestroyerâ seems to have had mixed reviews, but it is really one of the most gripping watches Iâve seen in 2019. A career best from Kidman (imho) and an intelligent, slow and thoughtful motion picture.
For the full graphical review please go to One Mann's Movies here - https://bob-the-movie-man.com/2019/07/20/one-manns-movies-dvd-review-destroyer-2019/
Erin is in pursuit of a truly evil man â Silas (Toby Kebbell) â who is back after a long absence. Erin and Silas have a past that is only unfolded as the film evolves. (To say more would ruin what is an outstandingly well-constructed screenplay). Aside from the âday jobâ, what Erin also has to contend with her truly wayward 16 year old daughter Shelby (Jade Pettyjohn).
âDestroyerâ seems to have had mixed reviews, but it is really one of the most gripping watches Iâve seen in 2019. A career best from Kidman (imho) and an intelligent, slow and thoughtful motion picture.
For the full graphical review please go to One Mann's Movies here - https://bob-the-movie-man.com/2019/07/20/one-manns-movies-dvd-review-destroyer-2019/
Merissa (14214 KP) rated A Vixen in Venice in Books
Dec 17, 2018
I received this book from Totally Bound Publishing in return for a fair and honest review.
This book is part of the Totally 5 Star series which has the focus on a different city in each book. Although, to be fair, the focus of this book definitely wasn't on Venice but rather the goings on in Venice.
I enjoyed reading this book - it is a hot, steamy but also fun read. A couple of things didn't sit right with me which I'll go into shortly. If, however, you're looking for a book to read for pure pleasure and not to worry about the nitty gritty then I can definitely recommend this one. On the whole though, this was thoroughly enjoyable and a raunchy, fast-paced story.
The things that didn't seem to work (for me) was what Alessandro actually did. There is an explanation in the book but by the time I reached that point, I think my mind had gotten too confused with it. It's also not clear why he was brought in to supervise Monique although she does need it. She comes across as very flighty which is not something that you would expect from someone who needs this job and income.
On the whole, the characters are good, the story is well-written and the sex scenes are smoking. An escape from reality? Yes! Definitely recommended.
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
This book is part of the Totally 5 Star series which has the focus on a different city in each book. Although, to be fair, the focus of this book definitely wasn't on Venice but rather the goings on in Venice.
I enjoyed reading this book - it is a hot, steamy but also fun read. A couple of things didn't sit right with me which I'll go into shortly. If, however, you're looking for a book to read for pure pleasure and not to worry about the nitty gritty then I can definitely recommend this one. On the whole though, this was thoroughly enjoyable and a raunchy, fast-paced story.
The things that didn't seem to work (for me) was what Alessandro actually did. There is an explanation in the book but by the time I reached that point, I think my mind had gotten too confused with it. It's also not clear why he was brought in to supervise Monique although she does need it. She comes across as very flighty which is not something that you would expect from someone who needs this job and income.
On the whole, the characters are good, the story is well-written and the sex scenes are smoking. An escape from reality? Yes! Definitely recommended.
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Merissa (14214 KP) rated A Life, Forward: A Rowan Slone Novel in Books
Dec 17, 2018
I received this book from YA Reads as part of the blog tour in return for a fair and honest review.
The second in the series sees Mike off at university and Rowan trying to finish her last year of school. She is still living with the Andersons and is trying to ignore her family as best she can. She is doing a pretty good job of it too until she hears her father is back in town and then it all goes belly up. Trina reappears and makes herself a nuisance as usual, and as usual, it appears that only Rowan and her friend Jess, can see what she's up to. Everyone else is taken in and fooled by her deceptions.
This book is just as raw as the first one although the circumstances are now slightly different. You will still feel for Rowan as she tries to do the right thing and make her house of cards as stable as possible. I was very pleased with the outcome of her relationship with Mike although I won't say more than that to ensure I don't spoil it for anyone one. Rowan certainly grows in this book and I was pleased to see her making plans for herself and looking to the future.
This series is one that is raw, gritty and full of pain. It is also an exceedingly good read that will draw you in and make you feel the main female's emotions.
The second in the series sees Mike off at university and Rowan trying to finish her last year of school. She is still living with the Andersons and is trying to ignore her family as best she can. She is doing a pretty good job of it too until she hears her father is back in town and then it all goes belly up. Trina reappears and makes herself a nuisance as usual, and as usual, it appears that only Rowan and her friend Jess, can see what she's up to. Everyone else is taken in and fooled by her deceptions.
This book is just as raw as the first one although the circumstances are now slightly different. You will still feel for Rowan as she tries to do the right thing and make her house of cards as stable as possible. I was very pleased with the outcome of her relationship with Mike although I won't say more than that to ensure I don't spoil it for anyone one. Rowan certainly grows in this book and I was pleased to see her making plans for herself and looking to the future.
This series is one that is raw, gritty and full of pain. It is also an exceedingly good read that will draw you in and make you feel the main female's emotions.