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Gold Manor Ghost House
8
8.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
(This review can be found on my blog <a href="http://themisadventuresofatwentysomething.blogspot.com/">The (Mis)Adventures of a Twenty-Something Year Old Girl</a>).


I have to admit that the blurb is what drew me in to this book. While it wasn't really that ghostly, it was still a good book.

Usually any title with the word "ghost" in it captures my attention, and it was no different for this book. The title references the name of the tv show the characters are in. It also reflects real life for them.

I don't like the cover at all. It's not very captivating nor does it tell us anything about the book besides one of the characters is a girl. There's so many different covers this book could've had, so why settle on a boring photo of some girl. I just hope the cover doesn't put others off because this is a good read.

The world building, while believable, was confusing at some points in the book. I don't know if it's because a lot of questions will be revealed in the next book (if there is one) or what. There were times when I had no idea what was going on. I even would go back a few pages and reread them in case I had missed something, but I hadn't. I don't really know how to describe it other than to say the world building was choppy at times. Besides being confused, I found myself drawn to the world which the author created for this book. There were times when I felt like I was even one of the characters.

I enjoyed the pacing. Once you get past the confusing bits of the story, the pacing is done rather well. I was totally immersed in this book, and I could've wait to read the next chapter to find out what the characters would experience next.

The plot was interesting albeit confusing since we don't really know where and what Anna is yet. It's the typical good versus evil story, but written in a very interesting way. We're not sure who to trust yet, and we're left wondering with whether Anna is good or evil. The plot thickens...in the next book. (At least, I hope there's a next boo since so many questions are left unanswered).

I liked the character of Anna. She's been through a traumatizing experience, yet she's a strong person. I felt bad for her with what she was going through, and I loved her feelings for Adam! I enjoyed Adam. He's still a very mysterious character, not because he wasn't written well, but because I think the author wants to save what he's really about for another book (hopefully) and because she wants her audience to make up their own mind about him. I love how protective he is and how sexy he sounds! He's British (like my husband) so he instantly scored points with that one! I felt bad for Corey when it came to his unrequited love from Anna. He's her best friend, yet he yearns for more. I was Team Corey all the way even though I liked Adam. I wanted Anna and Corey to become a couple all throughout the book! He comes across as being a tad more sweet than Adam, and I don't know what it is about Corey, but I just loved him a lot. To me, he was better boyfriend material.

The dialogue didn't really sound like it was teenage like. It sounded more like the way adults would talk, not a bunch of teenagers. However, I did enjoy the dialogue but kept forgetting that Anna was meant to be only sixteen. It annoyed me how Adam kept saying "love" though. I found it to be too stereotypical. Yes, some British people do say "love," but Adam seemed to say it an awful lot. Having lived in England for 6 years, I can tell you that British people do not say "love" all the time. However that's just a me thing and shouldn't affect the book for others. I enjoyed the scenes Corey was in the most though as his dialogue was the most enjoyable in my opinion. I didn't notice any swearing in this book.

Overall, Gold Manor Ghost House by Merry Brown is an enjoyable book despite some of its confusing scenes and minor faults. I really hope there's a second book in the works because I enjoyed the first one and am wanting my questions to be answered. The way the first book is written, it seems like there will be a second book which I will most definitely read!

I'd recommend this book for those aged 14+ who are fans of the paranormal that are also looking for a bit of romance.

I'd give Gold Manor Ghost House by Merry Brown a 3.75 out of 5.

(I received a free ecopy of this book from the tour host in exchange for a fair and honest review).
  
The Umbrella Academy
The Umbrella Academy
2018 | Action, Fantasy
Deserving of the hype
I have to admit, I was pretty impressed with this show. It's not every day when you watch something that meets all of the hype surrounding it, and I was quite sceptical to begin with.

The show manages to brilliantly blend action, the supernatural and dark humour to form an intriguing and interesting adult plot, with just enough twists to keep you hooked without going too OTT (Lost style). It also has some brilliant fight scenes (with a decent amount of blood and gore) that are paired with a truly killer soundtrack. And it has fortunately gone down the adult route rather than making this suitable for kids like some of the Marvel type shows/films.

The characters too for the most part are witty, deep and well thought out, from the family members to the villains Hazel and Cha-Cha. My favourites are by far Five and Klaus. Robert Sheehan is a great actor, I've loved him since Misfits and he's really perfect for Klaus. And Aidan Gallagher is brilliant as the old man in a child's body Five, there's something very humorous seeing a thirteen year old outsmarting and killing people. He's a true delight whenever he's on screen. My only real issue with the characters is with Vanya. For me I found her very dull to begin with and I thought her entire storyline was a teeny bit predictable. She does pick up and get more interesting towards the end, it's just a shame she puts a downer on the earlier episodes. Luckily the rest of the show more than makes up for it.

I can't begin to say how devastated I was at the end of the final episode. I could've quite happily watched more, so I really hope they renew this for another season.
  
A Delicate Truth
A Delicate Truth
John Le Carre | 2014 | Fiction & Poetry
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I have received this book through the Goodreads First Read Giveaway and I am have very much enjoyed reading it!

It follows the mysterious 'Operation Wildlife', a catastrophe from start to finish, and something that ekes out a wave of human destruction with everyone who finds out any piece of information about it. Toby, Kit, 'Suki' and Emily are all dragged into the lives of others, the lives of those trying to cover and smother an operation that should never of happened, and when it did, went totally pear shaped.

I have to be honest, I really didn't like this book to begin with. It was really tough at first to get into, as the mystery is so deeply entwined and you have no idea where it's going. Reach the halfway point and it's like a totally different book. The second half immensely fast paced, incredibly difficult to put down and a fantastic read!

The characters are well written, and in the second half they are incredibly engaging. I have to say, I found this got better with each page, and by the cliff hanger at the end, I was heart in mouth wanting to know what was happening next and was very annoyed that it had finished!

A bit of a bitty review, but in all honesty, that reflects the book. It is bitty, it doesn't seem to flow well, but there's just something about it. The last half saves it, and that's about all I have to say. I'd recommend, but only if this was your cup of tea, it's not a book that's going to get you hooked on this genre if I'm honest, but the foundations are there, and this is the sort of book that I feel would play out better on the big screen.
  
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Kelly (279 KP) rated Clash of Clans in Apps

Nov 22, 2018  
Clash of Clans
Clash of Clans
Entertainment, Games
Regular updates, social interaction, a strive to develop and improve your base. (0 more)
I am a little addicted
I have been playing Clash of Clans for over five years now, and the game still interests me and keeps me playing. When it comes to app based games, they tend to have a self life of around three to six months for me, so Supercell have done well to keep me hooked.

The game allows you to connect with other players from around the world (or a more localised setting if you choose), by joining clans or through global. I personally find global chat a little frustrating, as the talk is immature and does not really aid game play. Through joining a clan, I have been able to connect with players from around the world (and in one case just up the road), and have now joined with them in other strategy games as well as on social networking. The social element of the game keeps us playing almost as much as the game play itself.


I admit in the early days of playing the game, I purchased gem packs to speed up my progress, but since the makers of clash freely give out gems (through clan games and removal of stones and bushes, as well as completed challenges through your profile), I have found that I can maintain a healthy amount of gems for purchasing spells without having to spend money.

Over the years, there have been changes to the game, however Supercell are constantly thinking forward into how to improve the quality of the game for their players. Just as clan wars started to get tiresome, clan games and shortly after clan leagues has brought back a renewed enthusiasm for the game. I am looking forward to seeing what comes in the future for the game.
  
Journey (The Chosen One Trilogy #2)
Journey (The Chosen One Trilogy #2)
Mireille Chester | 2015 | Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
This is the second in The Chosen One trilogy and picks up where Crossover finished. You are straight back in the action with Hayden and Jasper as they fight for what they believe in and against being used by someone else. The choices that Hayden has to make never become easier but as a person, she grows and becomes more comfortable with the decisions she has to make. Jasper is by her side, supporting her in everything she does and I pity the person who tries to come between them.

This is very well-written although the perspective changes from Hayden to Jasper without warning which I personally found a bit jarring. However, saying that, it was good to get Jasper's perspective on things so I liked it, but a title or note at the beginning of each chapter would have made it smoother in my opinion.

The plot advances swiftly and time skips over 'dead time' occasionally as the plot moves forward. the character development is good and I am looking forward to learning more about the bond between Hayden and Alex, the bond between the Queen and the cats etc. So much information is given to you in this book and yet I am still left wanting more. I need the third book in this fabulous series!

In short, this is a brilliant book that shows the depth and sacrifice entailed with deep and enduring love. I love the world-building and the characters and can't wait to reimmerse myself in Hayden's world. Highly recommended.

* 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!
Sep 9, 2015
  
100 Fathoms Below
100 Fathoms Below
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Contains spoilers, click to show
I love books that take place under the sea–particularly horror books. If you’ve read my review on Something’s Alive on the Titanic, you probably already know that. (It’s a great book by the way, and its author is Robert Serling–brother to Rod Serling.) It’s only natural that I selected 100 Fathoms Below when I read its nautical, and eerie, description.

And here’s where my spoiler comes in, because I’m about to go on a mini-rant. The synopsis hints at a mysterious, evil monster hunting the crew of the ship, but it does not say what that creature is. Therefore, I feel that revealing this is a book about vampires is, in fact, a spoiler–contrary to popular belief of other reviewers. It’s pretty obvious early on, with the first hint coming in at 8%, however if I’d known this was a vampire book before I chose it, I wouldn’t have taken the time to read it. The key word there is BEFORE. Because I had it spoiled by a straight up summary of the prologue on Goodreads, coupled with a pretty hearty description about the… well, vampires. So, now that you know that overly used trope is here, let’s take a moment to discuss what Kent and Kaufmann do right, shall we?

The vampires in 100 Fathoms Below are good ol’ classic boys, in the sense that they’re bloodthirsty and want nothing more than to maim and breed more of their kind. They aren’t romanticized, either–and that’s a great thing. In fact, they’re written well enough that, despite having been spoiled by a fellow reviewer, I enjoyed the book enough to finish it. Mostly because I wanted to see how things ended.

Something else Kent and Kaufmann excel at is creating a connection between the readers and characters. I found myself sharing the hopes and dreams of many of the figures we meet. That made some of the deaths a lot more difficult on me.

The plot is quick, making it an easy read; however, the sense of intrigue isn’t really there. The whole discovering a prototype Soviet submarine takes the back burner with an occasional mention and even when it does come back into play toward the end of the book, there’s not exactly any excitement or fear of them being caught. I found that to be a bit disappointing.

Overall, it’s an entertaining read, but I probably wouldn’t take the time to re-read it. I’d like to thank NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
  
Weir again goes from traditionalist historian to historical novelist, but she can't seem to leave the historian bit behind. Much as I dislike wholesale abandonment of historical accuracy and the flagrant sensationalism of Phillipa Gregory and her Ilk, I really found this book over long and tedious - I could quite cheerfully have done some poisoning myself just to get the book over and done with! It feels like Weir has looked up every single historical quote she could find from people in the period and tried to squeeze them into the book. I had read biographies of the period that are more enlightening that this and do more to bring the people and period to life.

During the third quarter of the book, we get a lot of Henry coming in to visit Katherine, giving us a bit of plot exposition and then having a strop and stomping out like a child having a tantrum. After about the tenth occurrence this gets rather tedious and doesn't feel altogether likely.

I was slightly weirded by the implication that Katherine on arrival quite fancied the ten year old Henry and the bit in the Tower with the 'ghost lady' and the shivers down the spine in Peterborough cathedral seemed out of place and both only really play off if you have a knowledge of the period already, in which case you really don't need to be reading this.

Finally, for all the historical stuff Weir has stuffed in there, she really does need to pay better attention to her geography. I know Ampthill isn't that far from Dunstable, but I think I little effort would inform her that it's more like 14 miles and not the 4 she has in the book!

While the writing isn't awful, it's just not engaging and the book is far too long and becomes tedious. Does Weir really believe that Katherine believed that, after everything that he had done, Henry would meekly accept the Pope's vastly overdue ruling, put Anne and Elizabeth and the change of a male heir aside along with his leadership of the Church of England? hindsight is a wonderful thing, but I find it hard to beleive that Katherine was as stupid and naive as she comes across here. She says she still loves Henry and wouldn't do anything against him, yet writes to the Pope and the Emperor with a clear intention of inciting war! I think Weir means to make her sympathetic, but I just found her exasperating. I would recommend some good non-fiction book on the period ahead of this.
  
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ArecRain (8 KP) rated Bad Romance in Books

Jan 18, 2018  
BR
Bad Romance
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Well rounded and in-depth, Bad Romance feels like a true novel and not just an excuse to write a stepbrother romance. That is a trope that can go wrong very quickly but that author managed to juggle it well along with the rest of the novel’s drama.

It is easy to get caught up in the passion and emotions of Bad Romance. I found myself burning with rage at the useless parents, especially since they felt realistic. At first, the lead couple’s personalities annoyed me, but it was rewarding to watch their story unfold.

If you are looking for a romance filled with passion, both in and out of the bedroom, Bad Romance is definitely for you. If the stepbrother trope puts you off, don’t be. Their parents were barely married before he left so there was no creepy of gross factor attached.
  
Evil Intent (DCI Helen Lavery #4)
Evil Intent (DCI Helen Lavery #4)
Jane Isaac | 2022 | Crime, Thriller
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
If you read this book, you are in for a treat as, once again, Jane Isaac brings us a doozy of a story and although this is the fourth in the series, don't let that put you off as it can easily be read as a standalone.

DCI Helen Lavery and her team are hunting a serial killer who is becoming more brazen as each victim is found. Evil Intent follows their difficult investigation where there are few suspects and even less clues.

With fantastic characters, an excellent story and written at a good pace, Evil Intent is a book full of tension and suspense from start to finish and I have no hesitation in recommending this to others who enjoy this genre.

My thanks must go to Legend Press and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest, unbiased and unedited review.