Search

Search only in certain items:

Ms. Marvel: Volume 2: Generation Why
Ms. Marvel: Volume 2: Generation Why
G. Willow Wilson, Adrian Alphona, Jacob Wyatt | 2015 | Comics & Graphic Novels
6
7.4 (7 Ratings)
Book Rating
Unbelievable!
So just a quick recap, this series is all about Kamala Khan, a Muslim teenager from Jersey city. She goes through everything a teenager with strict parents go through, worrying about curfew and what would happen if your parents found out you were a mask-wearing, cape-flying superhero with powers. The concept is original and I loved that there was a very unique protagonist with a relatable storyline so I was really excited to find out about the next adventure Kamala would embark on.

Unfortunately, I was not impressed.

Continue reading my review at: https://www.readsandrecipes.co.uk/2018/01/title-ms-marvel-generation-why-author-g.html
  
MM
Mr May (Calendar Men #5)
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
didnt feel this one!
Independent reviewer for Divine Magazine, I was gifted my copy of this book.

This is book 5 in the Calendar Men series, but you don't NEED to have read the other books before this one. It would HELP though, to give you a better picture of this doomed photo shoot and what these men have suffered at the hands of Evan.

Derrick plans, and plays safe. His one adventure nearly gets him killed. Meeting Niall, who is a fox shifter, and who lives life to the fulle, knocks Derrick off his axis.

Up until this book, I was really enjoying this series but my feeling on finishing this one?? I did not like it and I have no bloody idea why!

It's a fun read, though, mostly a much lighter read than the other books, with the exception of the nutty ex. I found it a little less explicit too, but that ight just be me!

I read it in one sitting. What's here is well written and well delivered.

I just . . . . . . *ARGH* . . . . . didn't feel this one! And you know how much it pains me, when I can't put my finger on what's letting it down!

Sorry this review is short, but when I cannot word what I need to say, I start to waffle, and waffling does not a good review make.

so,

3 stars

**same worded review will appear elsewhere**
  
I have read other books by Ms. Mentink and I have loved them. So, I was excited to read my second book centered around Christmas and that it was hers. Her books instantly grab you, and keep you hooked until the very last page.

Being married to my own cowboy, I tend to fall hard for the books with cowboys in them. Barrett's character was no exception. I loved every bit of his widowed self and found myself wishing I was in Shelby's shoes on more than one instant! Watching him be so protective of Shelby, even after he found the truth out, was absolutely heartwarming.

The circumstances in the book, the intense, breathtaking suspense that Ms. Mentink weaves through out this story really round out this romance novel. Ms. Mentink threads inspirational messages through out the story, showing her characters relying on God and leaving the reader thinking about the story long after the final page is read.

Ms. Mentink is well deserving of 4 stars and hats off. This book is not that long and easily read in one sitting. I definitely recommend it to all who love a twisting, turning, edge of your seat suspense novel. Well done, Ms. Mentink! Can't wait til the next one!

*Cafinated Reads received a complimentary copy of this book from Celebrate Lit Tours and the author and was under no obligation to post a review, positive or negative.*
  
Little & Lethal (Little Paws Haven #2)
Little & Lethal (Little Paws Haven #2)
JP Sayle, Layla Dorine | 2024 | LGBTQ+, Paranormal, Romance
8
8.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
Loved that Cosmo pushed, just to get punished.
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.

This is book 2 in the Little Paws Haven series. I don't think it totally necessary to have read book one, Little Treasure He Hides, before this one. I loved that book.

And while I really enjoyed this one, I found this one a bit...disconnected.

Oh don't get me wrong, I really enjoyed it, I just found some bits went off and I lost my concentration.

Nomad and Harley have been mated for 20 years. Harley, though, is certain they should have a third. Meeting Cosmo, and all three of them knew they were mates but Cosmo was not letting them have it easy. Getting up close and personal with another Dom in the club, just to rile Nomad and Harley up. But Cosmo is more than a Little. He is deadly. And not incapable of looking after himself. Nomad and Harley need to get with the programme. Cosmo also needs to get with it, but he struggles. Having only himself to rely on for so long, it takes him time to let Nomad and Harley in.

I liked that all three men have a say. I loved that Cosmo gave the other two a run for their money. I loved that Cosmo, once settled into the relationship, pushed all the boundaries and then some, JUST so he could take the punishment.

I found the issue with The Council a bit confusing as to what was really going on, so reading about those bits, I kinda switched off. It all comes clear, I just took twice as long to get it!

Gabai and Asher from book one take part, but you don't need to have read their book to follow this one. The next book is laid here, well, I mean I hope it is! Looking forward to reading about hippos!

I liked this well enough, but something didn't quite click for me.

4 very good stars

*same worded review will appear elsewhere
  
40x40

Amanda (96 KP) rated Solitaire in Books

Jun 20, 2019  
Solitaire
Solitaire
7
8.5 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
"As far as I’m concerned, I came out of the womb spouting cynicism and wishing for rain."
"As far as I’m concerned, I came out of the womb spouting cynicism and wishing for rain."

A while back, I read an online comic strip by the same author, Heartstopper Volume 1. I found it by chance and I literally flew through it. I adored it and I went ahead and TBR’d some of her other books. I found this one on Scribd and come to find this was her baby. This was her debut novel. The story was pretty good, it is NOT a love story, but I sometimes found myself getting frustrated with the main character. Reasons why are listed below.

The story is told from a teenager named Victoria ‘Tori’ Spring. She has two younger brothers and she is quite…indifferent. She has one best friend, and honestly one friend only, and she’s very much the pessimist. I can’t fully fault her for that, but some things that I just CANNOT tolerate. I found myself gasping and GLARING at the words as I read them.

She hates books. Yes, she said she hates books (-1 point). She knows the name of each book and the author who wrote them, but she won’t actually read them.

Though she loves film so I’ll give the point back to her (0).

"When you watch a film, you’re sort of an outsider looking in. With a book – you’re right there. You are inside. You are the main character."

She thinks Pride and Prejudice is ridiculous and boring…she gets positive points for that (+2) – I’m sorry I’m in the minority. I do not care for Jane Austen and find her so called romance novels dull and boring. Not sorry!

She despises Disney because the movies are total fake and unrealistic. WELL NO SHIT! It’s DISNEY! (-200) – I’m a Disney nerd and while I don’t agree with sugar coating the original fair tales, I still LOVE Disney. You can’t fault me for that!

Anyway…

Tori is highly cynical and while I can appreciate that in her, sometimes she made my favorite cartoon character, Daria, seem like a sweetheart. Two guys come into Tori’s life. One was an old childhood friend, Lucas, and the other is someone she met before, Michael. At the same time, a blog group called ‘Solitaire’ starts making trouble…almost in Tori’s honor.

I won’t go into great detail, mostly because I would definitely give more away than I want to. I breezed through this story quickly, but there are just some things in the story that just didn’t sit well with me.

This guy Lucas was so sketchy that he nearly drove Tori crazy with his change in personality.

Her parents…they literally do not seem to care. Her mother most of all. She is mostly on her computer and seems to kind of be absent, mentally, as a parental figure. That never gets resolved, and I don’t know if that’s a good thing or bad thing. In the end, it really bothered me at how disinterested her parents really were. I get that perhaps it’s something you do when you’re bringing up teenagers, but damn!!

"I swear to God I’m a freak! I mean it. One day I’m going to forget how to wake up."

You’re probably thinking that this really doesn’t seem like it would be in the mental health genre. It is. Tori goes through an awful lot in this story, not to mention the mental strain with her brother, Charlie. I will say there are some MILD trigger warnings regarding implied self harm.

I was kind of left with mixed emotions with this book. I have great respect for this author and this being her first story. I know it’s near and dear to her heart. I wouldn’t say that this was at the top of my list, but it’s not at the bottom either. I definitely appreciated it NOT BEING a love story. Although it seemed like it would, despite the subtitle of the book, but I’m glad it wasn’t.
  
40x40

Merissa (13162 KP) rated Shatter Me in Books

Dec 17, 2018 (Updated Apr 11, 2023)  
Shatter Me
Shatter Me
Alex Grayson | 2014 | Fiction & Poetry
10
10.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
I received this book from the author in return for a fair and honest review.

There is a trigger warning at the start of this book and with good reason. The images that Alex Grayson conjures within your mind are horrific and heartbreaking. They will make your heart pound faster as the adrenaline pumps through your veins, your breath hitching as you read faster and faster, praying that the main female is going to be okay, even though you 'see' most of it through flashbacks so that you know she is... sort of.

This is also a story about trust, hope and friendship and the love that can follow if someone is prepared to be patient and help someone who is suffering from trauma instead of riding roughshod over them. There is darkness, there is beauty. There is horror and humour.

Shatter Me will make you sob, not just cry. There will be big, fat, ugly tears rolling down your face but you won't want to stop reading. I read this in one sitting as there was no way I was going to bed halfway through.

This is an exceedingly well-written and well-paced story that will blow your socks off. When I found out that this was a debut novel, I was astounded! I honestly can't wait for the next but at the same time am dreading it (if that makes any sense).

If you can read 'dark' subjects then I highly recommend this. However, please heed the trigger warning!

December 18, 2018
  
40x40

Merissa (13162 KP) rated Shadow Guardian (Blood Shadows #1) in Books

Feb 4, 2022 (Updated Jul 3, 2023)  
Shadow Guardian (Blood Shadows #1)
Shadow Guardian (Blood Shadows #1)
Jennie Lynn Roberts | 2022 | Paranormal, Romance
10
10.0 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
SHADOW GUARDIAN is the first book in the Blood Shadows trilogy and I may have just found a new trilogy to crush over!!!! We have fated mates, a secret society with secrets galore, the wilds of Wales, betrayal, treachery, druids, and did I mention Wales? It's here, it's all here, and it's bloody brilliant.

I won't even bother doing a run-down of the story. I know I'd miss something out accidentally. This is a fast-paced, intricate and intriguing story that lets you absorb all the details as you go along. I never felt like I was being rushed, but I also couldn't wait to see what happened next.

The characters and world-building are of the extremely high standard I have come to associate with this author but put into a contemporary paranormal setting rather than fantasy. Kay is a strong female protagonist who, yes, has her own battles to overcome, but will fight instead of waiting for rescue. And I adored how she turned Ethan down. (Read it; you'll know the bit I mean.) She let him know exactly how she felt, and how his words had hurt her, and I loved that. Don't get me wrong, I want the HEA but, sometimes - just sometimes - the men need to work a little harder for, you know what I mean?!

All in all, it was an outstanding read that I devoured in one sitting. Sheer brilliance and I can't wait for Zach's story. Highly 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!y/i>
Feb 4, 2022
  
Don't You Cry
Don't You Cry
Mary Kubica | 2016 | Fiction & Poetry
6
7.0 (4 Ratings)
Book Rating
Quinn wakes up on Sunday morning to discover that her roommate, Esther, is gone. Quinn isn't sure what she should do. The window to the fire escape was left open, but there is no note or sign of where Esther could be. Should she go to the police or wait for Esther to return? When Quinn starts to find things that make her question the integrity of her roommate, she's not sure if she wants her to be found.

A few hours away on the shores of Lake Michigan, Alex, an 18 year old boy is on his way to work at the local diner. He's cleaning dishes, when the most beautiful girl he has ever seen walks in. It's all he can do to concentrate on his work and not watch her watching whatever it is she is looking at outside the window. Who is she and where did she come from? Alex is determined to find the answers to those questions.

This is the first book I have read by Mary Kubica. I have heard nothing but great things about all of her books. Recently, I won a copy of her most recent book, [b:Every Last Lie|32735394|Every Last Lie|Mary Kubica|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1486762991s/32735394.jpg|53325365], and wanted to read something else of hers to get a feel for her writing style. When I first started the book, I dove in head first, I was very intrigued from the start and wanted to know what was going to happen.

I will say, that I found out what was going to happen about a third of the way through the book, although I was surprised at the end that I wasn't completely right. That is why I gave the book 3 stars.

What would you do if you found your roommate missing? A girl who you thought was one of the sweetest people you had ever known. Then you found evidence that maybe she wasn't so sweet after all, and maybe it was a good thing she was now gone. Quinn enlists the help of her friend and co-worker, Ben, who also knows Esther to help her get to the bottom of the mystery. When stranger and stranger details start to emerge, Quinn has no choice, but to go to the police for help. But will they help, or will they just assume, Esther has gone of her own free will and doesn't want to be found.

For Alex his motive is quite different. His life is not filled with much excitement, so when a new face appears in town and can shake up his boring world a bit, he's all for taking a chance on getting to know this girl. She is quite a change from dealing with his alcoholic father and the agoraphobic woman, Ingrid, who he frequently brings food to from the diner. But this girl won't tell him her name(he calls her Pearl because of her bracelet) or where she came from or why she is here. So he makes assumptions and tries his best to get to know her and find out who she is.

Are Esther and Pearl the same person? That is the question that plagues us through the whole book. You will have to read it to find out!
  
The Loney
The Loney
Andrew Michael Hurley | 2015 | Fiction & Poetry
6
5.8 (6 Ratings)
Book Rating
Also find my review here: http://bit.ly/25IFVT7

<b><i>’”It’s funny, int it?” he said. “How you church people can have more faith in something that can’t be proved than something that's standing right in front of you? I suppose it comes down to seeing what you want to see, dunt it?”’</i></b>

<b>3.5 stars!</b>

I had really high hopes for this book, more because I’d been wanting to read it since before it came out than due to others reviews, so I really didn’t want it to let me down, and I can’t seem to make up my mind as to whether it did or not.

Let’s just put it this way, <b>there was a lot left unsaid.</b>

This book classes itself as a horror, but I don’t see it that way myself, though I’m not sure what genre I would place it in. There were parts of the book that did in fact freak me out and I had to stop reading it at 2am in the pitch black because I was just a tad scared but in the end there was not a lot to be scared of. Just things to be curious about.

I’ve actually found it quite difficult to write a review for this <i>(hence the very short review)</i> because I’m not sure what there is to talk about. I loved the writing of this book, the characters and the setting but I’m not sure how to feel about the plot.
  
I absolutely loved this book! Suzanne Woods Fisher is a new to me author and I was excited to read her new book. The characters were all unique and personable, I laughed and was sad with them. I felt like the characters were friends whom I knew by the end of the book. Not many authors I’ve read can do that for me. There were several different sets of characters that I got to meet in this book; after finishing I found out that several of the characters are in other books that Suzanne Woods Fisher has written, but I would definitely say you could read this one as a standalone.

Other interesting things about this book were the topics; The Amish taking in kids from foster care, struggles between newlyweds, dealing with Gods calling on your life… So many great topics and Suzanne Woods Fisher did a great job in my opinion of weaving them all together in a believable way. I loved her use of something unexpected coming up in life that you are totally unprepared for and God showing you how to use it for His good. I needed that reminder!
I give this book 4 out of 5 stars for originality, the great sets of characters, and making me interested enough to get the rest of the series! I truly enjoyed this book and look forward to the next one by Suzanne Woods Fisher.
I volunteered to read this book from Celebrate Lit it return for my honest feedback. The thoughts and opinions expressed within are my own.