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Ed R (53 KP) rated Sky Masters in Books
Dec 16, 2020
It's the second Patrick McLanahan book and this time brings in a B2 bomber but I felt this one didn't have the edge of the seat action like Flight of the Old Dog, there were moments where it was building but it seemed never to keep going and the ending was a bit of a let down, back of the book sets it up to be big but I wasn't too impressed, I actually think what they were trying to stop would of been more exciting to let happen! (Read it and you'll see). Also weirdly I started routing for the Chinese to win by the end and as this is written by an American and focused on US supremecy I found that strange
Emma (519 KP) rated Last Bus to Coffeeville in Books
Oct 3, 2019
This book was chosen for my book club read. I tried really,really hard to get through it,and had high hopes for it,considering it was compared to the unlikely pilgrimage of Harold Fry in its blurb. However I failed to finish it,and fail to see how it is similar to Rachel Joyce's book.
Reading the blurb it had a lot of promise, but for me failed to deliver, and i didnt even manage to get to the part where the road trip begins. In my opinion getting to page 185, i had expected the story to have gone somewhere but with it not even having set off yet I decided to call it a day.
The author had some very good ideas of what he wanted to write, and some bits I did enjoy, I just felt there was too much going back and forth, and the characters had too big back stories to keep me interested. Which is a shame because i would have liked to have read more about Bob.
I wanted to give the book two out of ten, with me not finishing it. But because of the bits i did enjoy ive given it a four.
Reading the blurb it had a lot of promise, but for me failed to deliver, and i didnt even manage to get to the part where the road trip begins. In my opinion getting to page 185, i had expected the story to have gone somewhere but with it not even having set off yet I decided to call it a day.
The author had some very good ideas of what he wanted to write, and some bits I did enjoy, I just felt there was too much going back and forth, and the characters had too big back stories to keep me interested. Which is a shame because i would have liked to have read more about Bob.
I wanted to give the book two out of ten, with me not finishing it. But because of the bits i did enjoy ive given it a four.
BookwormMama14 (18 KP) rated Secrets of a Charmed Life in Books
Jan 2, 2019
As the Luftwaffe rains down terror on London, two sisters are separated and their lives changed forever.
**I have done my best to not share any spoilers. I have not shared more than you will find on the back of the cover.**
Isabel MacFarland has finally agreed to share her story and secrets that she has hidden for years. Isabel chose to pass her history to Kendra, an American student attending Oxford. Her story follows the lives of Emmy and Julia Downtree during World War II. With the war becoming more and more of a threat, the sisters are evacuated to the country along with the rest of London's children. Emmy's dreams of becoming a designer cloud her vision though. Julia, who is much younger than Emmy, needs her protection. At what cost will Emmy see her dreams become a reality?
I was extremely pleased with the incredible story Susan Meissner tells. I feel like I need a week to digest and process Secrets of a Charmed Life. I went through almost an entire bag of Starburts in one sitting when the book was getting really intense! This book was not published by a Christian publishing house, but the story is clean, which I was very thankful for. There are too many books out there (even "Christian" books) that share too much detail that I don't want to read. This story is a huge journey of forgiveness of one's self. There are decisions that we make each and every day and we must live with the consequences. How we choose to move on will shape who we are and who we become. I highly recommend this book. I encourage you to get lost in the pages and discover that no matter the circumstances, forgiveness is not out of reach.
**I have done my best to not share any spoilers. I have not shared more than you will find on the back of the cover.**
Isabel MacFarland has finally agreed to share her story and secrets that she has hidden for years. Isabel chose to pass her history to Kendra, an American student attending Oxford. Her story follows the lives of Emmy and Julia Downtree during World War II. With the war becoming more and more of a threat, the sisters are evacuated to the country along with the rest of London's children. Emmy's dreams of becoming a designer cloud her vision though. Julia, who is much younger than Emmy, needs her protection. At what cost will Emmy see her dreams become a reality?
I was extremely pleased with the incredible story Susan Meissner tells. I feel like I need a week to digest and process Secrets of a Charmed Life. I went through almost an entire bag of Starburts in one sitting when the book was getting really intense! This book was not published by a Christian publishing house, but the story is clean, which I was very thankful for. There are too many books out there (even "Christian" books) that share too much detail that I don't want to read. This story is a huge journey of forgiveness of one's self. There are decisions that we make each and every day and we must live with the consequences. How we choose to move on will shape who we are and who we become. I highly recommend this book. I encourage you to get lost in the pages and discover that no matter the circumstances, forgiveness is not out of reach.
Alison Pink (7 KP) rated Wrongful Death (David Sloane, #2) in Books
Jan 15, 2018
This was a good read for sure! I think I've found a new author worthy of my reading time thanks to this Goodreads Giveaway win.
The reviews compare Dugoni to John Grisham. When I first saw that I wasn't too thrilled. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy Grisham. He just isn't one of my favorite go-to authors, not 1 I always count on for an engrossing read. There are similarities in their styles...legal thrillers, lawyers as main characters, etc. But to me, Dugoni's action is more captivating. This book got me thinking, but it also wasn't too over my head with "legal speak." The characters are well written, believable with a mix of the incredible...just like real life.
I'm looking forward to reading more of Dugoni's work!
The reviews compare Dugoni to John Grisham. When I first saw that I wasn't too thrilled. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy Grisham. He just isn't one of my favorite go-to authors, not 1 I always count on for an engrossing read. There are similarities in their styles...legal thrillers, lawyers as main characters, etc. But to me, Dugoni's action is more captivating. This book got me thinking, but it also wasn't too over my head with "legal speak." The characters are well written, believable with a mix of the incredible...just like real life.
I'm looking forward to reading more of Dugoni's work!
Gaz Coombes recommended On The Beach by Neil Young in Music (curated)
Sarah (7800 KP) rated The Girl on the Train (2016) in Movies
Dec 20, 2017
A letdown when compared with the book
It’s no surprise really that this is such a letdown when compared with the book, as this happens with the majority of film adaptations. The problem with this film is I’m not sure if having read the book is actually putting you at a disadvantage.
I felt like there was no suspense whatsoever and that it was quite boring and lacked excitement. I just can’t put my finger on whether this is due to the film or because I know what’s going to happen. The characters too I felt were not the same as in the books and they seemed underdeveloped. And I have no idea why they decided to move the story to the US when it was set in London. Why change something unnecessarily?
Such a disappointment despite being based on a great book.
I felt like there was no suspense whatsoever and that it was quite boring and lacked excitement. I just can’t put my finger on whether this is due to the film or because I know what’s going to happen. The characters too I felt were not the same as in the books and they seemed underdeveloped. And I have no idea why they decided to move the story to the US when it was set in London. Why change something unnecessarily?
Such a disappointment despite being based on a great book.
Elizabeth (1521 KP) rated Entwined with You (Crossfire, #3) in Books
Apr 24, 2019
I'm going to assume that this series is not a trilogy because just about everything was left unresolved. The story felt rushed and all over the place, things added just to fill space or for shock value. Too often I found myself thinking how incredibly unbelievable it was and couldn't understand how they could overreact one minute and then completely underreact the next.
Maybe it was the amount of time that passed between my reading the first two books and this one, or maybe it was all of the other books I'd read during that time that had me more aware of its shortcomings. The number of times the word "deft" appeared made me never want to see or hear the word ever again. I was reminded of its overuse in "Fifty Shades" as well. I'm sure there are other ways that these authors can convey the prowess and skill these men possess.
If I could give half stars, I would have given this 2 1/2, but since I can't, I rounded up to 3.
Maybe it was the amount of time that passed between my reading the first two books and this one, or maybe it was all of the other books I'd read during that time that had me more aware of its shortcomings. The number of times the word "deft" appeared made me never want to see or hear the word ever again. I was reminded of its overuse in "Fifty Shades" as well. I'm sure there are other ways that these authors can convey the prowess and skill these men possess.
If I could give half stars, I would have given this 2 1/2, but since I can't, I rounded up to 3.
Eleanor Luhar (47 KP) rated Hurt in Books
Jun 24, 2019
I am going to try to avoid spoilers as much as I can in this book, but I'm afraid there will be some. I'd also like to say that this book includes a lot of graphic details and references to rape and suicide.
At first I felt that Mathéo was a bit too in love with Lola - he's only seventeen, and his adoration for her was bordering on sickly. But then I suppose young love does feel as all-consuming and important as Mathéo made it out to be. Lola, his girlfriend, was a beautiful young lady who moved into Mathéo's rich town. Unlike him, her house is small and cluttered and comfy - very different to his strict and orderly lifestyle.
First, Mathéo's rich-boy lifestyle is too much for him; he's not happy. But then his memory of the most awful night returns, and things get a whole lot worse. After a diving accident (Mathéo is expected to win an Olympic gold medal in a year's time) and a couple of near-death experiences while on holiday, I really thought Mathéo's life couldn't get any worse. But it did. Oh god, it did.
I will not give away the ending, but it honestly made me cry. Maybe it just hit a little too close to home, or maybe the contrast of such a lively, bright character with such a dark event was just too much for me. Either way, the ending was so unexpected and so, so sad. But I liked how the epilogue sort of tied things up, without being too sappy or "feel-good". I felt like this was a brutally honest story. Not to mention that the events/themes in this book are incredibly important to talk about - I really appreciated that this focused on a male rape victim.
Although I kind of felt like Suzuma had written the openening this book with a theosaurus on hand, seeing how many new words she could include, I got sucked in really quick. I really wanted to know more about what had happened, what was going to happen, and I really got emotional for Mathéo. His relationship with his little brother, and the development of their relationship, was really nice. And the epilogue... God, it's sad, but it's honest. Most people don't stay in touch after school. Most people do move on and forget each other.
The ending was fantastic, so I'm going to have to give this 5 stars.
At first I felt that Mathéo was a bit too in love with Lola - he's only seventeen, and his adoration for her was bordering on sickly. But then I suppose young love does feel as all-consuming and important as Mathéo made it out to be. Lola, his girlfriend, was a beautiful young lady who moved into Mathéo's rich town. Unlike him, her house is small and cluttered and comfy - very different to his strict and orderly lifestyle.
First, Mathéo's rich-boy lifestyle is too much for him; he's not happy. But then his memory of the most awful night returns, and things get a whole lot worse. After a diving accident (Mathéo is expected to win an Olympic gold medal in a year's time) and a couple of near-death experiences while on holiday, I really thought Mathéo's life couldn't get any worse. But it did. Oh god, it did.
I will not give away the ending, but it honestly made me cry. Maybe it just hit a little too close to home, or maybe the contrast of such a lively, bright character with such a dark event was just too much for me. Either way, the ending was so unexpected and so, so sad. But I liked how the epilogue sort of tied things up, without being too sappy or "feel-good". I felt like this was a brutally honest story. Not to mention that the events/themes in this book are incredibly important to talk about - I really appreciated that this focused on a male rape victim.
Although I kind of felt like Suzuma had written the openening this book with a theosaurus on hand, seeing how many new words she could include, I got sucked in really quick. I really wanted to know more about what had happened, what was going to happen, and I really got emotional for Mathéo. His relationship with his little brother, and the development of their relationship, was really nice. And the epilogue... God, it's sad, but it's honest. Most people don't stay in touch after school. Most people do move on and forget each other.
The ending was fantastic, so I'm going to have to give this 5 stars.
Heather Cranmer (2721 KP) rated The Cutting Room Floor in Books
Jun 7, 2018
(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>).
When I read the synopsis of this book, I was definitely intrigued. When the opportunity arrived to review this book, I decided I'd take a chance on it. While I wasn't overly impressed with the book, it was still an alright read.
The title suits the book well. The chapters titles are written like a script and sometimes include blocking directions. (If you're not familiar with drama terms, you may want to look that up). The main characters are drama geeks as well.
I do like the cover! It's definitely eye catching, and it made me want to pick this book up.
I didn't really have a problem with the world building. I felt like the world building was done rather well except I didn't like how Riley seemed to find every girl she came across as hot. That just doesn't happen in real life, yet it happened to Riley in this book.
I felt like the pacing was a bit slow in this book. At times I was debating with whether or not I should carry on. However, there are some parts of this book where the pacing does pick up, especially towards the end., so not all hope is lost.
I found the plot line to be interesting enough. I was a drama geek in school, so the plot suited me. There was the whole muder mystery thing with Riley's favorite teacher, Riley's confusion about her sexuality, and Dez's stalker crush on Riley going on. I definitely wanted to know how things would play out.
I thought the characters were written fairly well. As I've said before, I didn't like how the author made it seem like Riley was hot for every girl she came across. Saying that, I did like Riley though. Everything about her (minus liking every girl) felt real, and her confusion was very realistic. I didn't like Dez. I felt he was way too controlling when it came for Riley and that he was super selfish. In fact, I'd even go as far as calling him scary. He was always there for Riley but only because he was a stalker. There's not one thing I liked about Dez.
The dialogue flowed smoothly, and all interactions between characters felt realistic. There is some swearing in this book, but it's not over the top.
Overall, The Cutting Room Floor is a decent read. The pacing could do with some work as it does come across as a bit dull some of the time. However, the plot itself is interesting.
I'd recommend this book to those aged 14+ who want a book to read to help them pass the time.
<b>I'd give The Cutting Room Floor by Dawn Klehr a 3.5 out of 5.</b>
(I was provided with a free paperback of this title from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review).
When I read the synopsis of this book, I was definitely intrigued. When the opportunity arrived to review this book, I decided I'd take a chance on it. While I wasn't overly impressed with the book, it was still an alright read.
The title suits the book well. The chapters titles are written like a script and sometimes include blocking directions. (If you're not familiar with drama terms, you may want to look that up). The main characters are drama geeks as well.
I do like the cover! It's definitely eye catching, and it made me want to pick this book up.
I didn't really have a problem with the world building. I felt like the world building was done rather well except I didn't like how Riley seemed to find every girl she came across as hot. That just doesn't happen in real life, yet it happened to Riley in this book.
I felt like the pacing was a bit slow in this book. At times I was debating with whether or not I should carry on. However, there are some parts of this book where the pacing does pick up, especially towards the end., so not all hope is lost.
I found the plot line to be interesting enough. I was a drama geek in school, so the plot suited me. There was the whole muder mystery thing with Riley's favorite teacher, Riley's confusion about her sexuality, and Dez's stalker crush on Riley going on. I definitely wanted to know how things would play out.
I thought the characters were written fairly well. As I've said before, I didn't like how the author made it seem like Riley was hot for every girl she came across. Saying that, I did like Riley though. Everything about her (minus liking every girl) felt real, and her confusion was very realistic. I didn't like Dez. I felt he was way too controlling when it came for Riley and that he was super selfish. In fact, I'd even go as far as calling him scary. He was always there for Riley but only because he was a stalker. There's not one thing I liked about Dez.
The dialogue flowed smoothly, and all interactions between characters felt realistic. There is some swearing in this book, but it's not over the top.
Overall, The Cutting Room Floor is a decent read. The pacing could do with some work as it does come across as a bit dull some of the time. However, the plot itself is interesting.
I'd recommend this book to those aged 14+ who want a book to read to help them pass the time.
<b>I'd give The Cutting Room Floor by Dawn Klehr a 3.5 out of 5.</b>
(I was provided with a free paperback of this title from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review).
Dracoria Malfoy (690 KP) rated Gentleman's Guide To Vice And Virtue in Books
Apr 27, 2018
OH MY GOD THIS WAS INCREDIBLE!!!
Alright, so, I am now going to rant about my wonderful little gay babies (and one ace baby too). Keep scrolling if you're not interested.
Alright, so, first: MONTY WILL YOU PICK UP A DAMN HINT WHAT THE FUCK MONTY WHAT IS THIS SHIT. My little boi Percy is out there, trying to get you to love him, but NOOO Percy could never love the wonderfully fucked up Monty, CAN HE? My babies cannot pick up hints, at all. Like, it's not even funny. However, they have managed to pick up both girls and guys. Like, running naked in The Palace Versailles? Damn Monty, hardcore.
Now, the true hero: Felicity. What a wonderful girl, skilled in practically everything. She. Was. Incredible. I love her so much. Also, her sass in this book is just- WOW. Our homegirl is amazing.
In technical terms, I really, really like this book. I mean, gay historical romances? This is some gourmet shit! All the characters were great, and there was plenty of development, and I just- this was just so incredible. I don't think I've read anything funnier. No, this book was great and ya'll can fight me on it, mmkay? Thanks.
Alright, so, first: MONTY WILL YOU PICK UP A DAMN HINT WHAT THE FUCK MONTY WHAT IS THIS SHIT. My little boi Percy is out there, trying to get you to love him, but NOOO Percy could never love the wonderfully fucked up Monty, CAN HE? My babies cannot pick up hints, at all. Like, it's not even funny. However, they have managed to pick up both girls and guys. Like, running naked in The Palace Versailles? Damn Monty, hardcore.
Now, the true hero: Felicity. What a wonderful girl, skilled in practically everything. She. Was. Incredible. I love her so much. Also, her sass in this book is just- WOW. Our homegirl is amazing.
In technical terms, I really, really like this book. I mean, gay historical romances? This is some gourmet shit! All the characters were great, and there was plenty of development, and I just- this was just so incredible. I don't think I've read anything funnier. No, this book was great and ya'll can fight me on it, mmkay? Thanks.