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Merissa (14116 KP) rated Bear Creek Christmas (Holiday Mates #1) in Books

Dec 3, 2021 (Updated Jul 9, 2023)  
Bear Creek Christmas (Holiday Mates #1)
Bear Creek Christmas (Holiday Mates #1)
Alexander Elliott | 2021 | LGBTQ+, Paranormal, Romance
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
BEAR CREEK CHRISTMAS is the first book in a new series, Holiday Mates. If you are looking for a slightly humorous, warm and fuzzy, low-angst bear shifter book, then you've come to the right place.

Levi has left his ex-boyfriend and family behind as he moves to Bear Creek to start again. His boyfriend was only interested in Levi's looks, and Levi wants to be more than just eye candy on someone's arm. Knox is the local bear shifter handyman who has just about given up on meeting his mate. When Knox first scents Levi, his bear roars to the front, determined to claim his mate. This scares Levi back and he has to seek the advice of a good friend before he decides what to do next.

If you like books where the main characters fall for each other, instead of insta-lust, then this is just the thing. Levi wants to take it slow, and Knox will fight his bear to give Levi that time. Knox worships Levi and will do all he can to give him what he needs, even if it's not what Knox wants.

The ex turning up wasn't a surprise, him dropping out of the story the way he did, was. I kept expecting him to return and cause more trouble, but then, that may be against the warm and fuzzy Christmas story we've got going on.

One thing to be warned about - there are comments about a lot of exclamation marks! 😉 Personally, I didn't notice that many and so didn't affect my enjoyment of the story. If you read this book with the expectation of a gentle, holiday-themed, slow-burn love story then you won't be disappointed. 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, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Dec 2, 2021
  
The Jewel of the Nile (1985)
The Jewel of the Nile (1985)
1985 | Action, Adventure, Comedy
To find the Jewel
Joan Wilder (turner) is on holiday with her boy friend Jack Colton (Douglas) when Omar comes along and wants Joan to write a piece all about him and she refuses so he kidnaps her and brings her back to his country and try's and force her to write how great of a guy he and his country is. Jack and his pal Ralph (Devito) go the country to rescue her to find out the country has a long lost "jewel" to be found. Jack is interested in finding Joan where as Ralph eyes become to big for his stomach wants to find this fabled jewel. During their adventure to find this "jewel" they come to realize they are now in a country that has two sides. The side that Omar wants it to be and the side it's beloved people want. Will Jack rescue Joan or will Ralph find this Jewel first.

Remember a Jewel doesn't always mean fame and fortune.
  
A collection of three Christmas novellas set in Maine and starring the series sleuths by the authors. We get two murder by eggnog, and one missing moving truck and winds up with a dead body. Will these mysteries be solved by Christmas?

All three of these stories will get you in the Christmas spirit with a dead body along the way. We do get some time enjoying holiday traditions (recipes included with all three stories), some of them unique to Maine, which is a lot of fun. The mysteries are all good, although the first seems to wander quite a bit before it gets fully engaging. If you are a fan of one of these authors, here is a good way or sample some others while catching up with your favorite sleuth at Christmas time.

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.

Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/10/book-review-eggnog-murder-by-leslie.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
  
The town of Frog’s Ledge, Connecticut, is celebrating the start of the holiday season with their big tree lighting, and Stan is doubly excited since her new pet patisserie is opening the next day. However, things take an unexpected turn when Santa dies on his way to light the tree. Meanwhile, two other men are missing. Is there a connection?

I was hooked from the start with this book. Even though I figured out one thread early on, I still wanted to know how it was all going to play out. I did feel the climax was rushed, but that is my only complaint about this book. I love these characters and the relationships that have grown over the course of the series, and getting to spend time with them helped add to the Christmas spirit in this book for me.

Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/12/book-review-purring-around-christmas.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
  
Divergent
Divergent
Veronica Roth | 2012 | Science Fiction/Fantasy, Young Adult (YA)
10
8.1 (140 Ratings)
Book Rating
This was a great novel. I really enjoyed the characters and I found that I could relate to many of them. For those of you who are worried that it's going to be "Hunger Games," it's not. It's the same genre but it is definitely different.

I am a little upset that it took me this long to read this novel. I read too many reviews stating that it was Hunger Games 2.0 but it isn't. I'm a fan of dystopian lit. This is definitely dyshtopian. It will have the same feel as Hunger Games but it is different.

I really liked this book. It was fast paced, well written for a young adult novel, and truly entertaining. I wish I had more time over the Christmas holiday to read more. This is easily a novel I could have finished within a day where I didn't have familial obligations.

If you're hesitant to read this novel, I suggest that you pick it up.
  
Donkey Punch (2008)
Donkey Punch (2008)
2008 | Mystery
7
7.0 (2 Ratings)
Movie Rating
Severely underrated low budget English horror/thriller! Taking a very modern turn on the horror theme and tackling some very taboo ideas as a group of youngsters decide to live it up on holiday losing all their inhibitions as they drink, take drugs and have sex. During which a sex myth tried out leads to one of them dying. As the others battle their own conscience and morals as well as each other to get out of the mess they are in, only ending up in more extreme violence. A good idea for a film that dares to be different. Some may be put off by the sex scene which borders on porn and by the violence. However it does raise some good issues to make a graphic film. Another good entry in recent English horror films. The DVD has quite a few interviews with the cast, director both after and during the making of. Along with some deleted scenes and commentaries.
  
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David McK (3857 KP) rated Origin in Books

Jan 28, 2019  
Origin
Origin
Dan Brown | 2017 | Fiction & Poetry
6
7.3 (21 Ratings)
Book Rating
[a:Dan Brown|630|Dan Brown|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1399396714p2/630.jpg]'s fifth Robert Langdon book, largely set in and around Barcelona, Spain, and which I read while on holiday to that location.

If you've read any of Brown's previous Robert Langdon - a role which, now, I assocaite firmly with Tom Hanks - books, then you'd know pretty much what to expect: a mad dash around the various locations within, a bit of science (some of which I'd already heard, other of which I hadn't relaised before) thrown in, some plot elelments that would make you roll your eyes if you stopped and thought about them, but actually, all-in-all, a pretty fun read.

In other words, a case where (like in most of his books) the sum is greater than the parts.

Even if, in this case, I found the supposed 'twist' (the identity of Kirsch's killer) to be as plain as the nose on your face.