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Janine O (2 KP) rated Fortune's Pawn in Books
Oct 18, 2017
Science Fiction meets complicated Romance
I am both a romance fanatic and a science fiction buff and one day I was just poking around looking for something that would blend these two things without being...you know...bad. I've read a lot of things about some lady in an experimental ship who accidentally ends up on a planet where a hot alien alpha dude wants to make her his interplanetary bride.
I did not want that. I wanted a complex story with romantic themes set in space...and that's exactly what this book gave me.
Fortune's Pawn rocked. Devi Morris is a badass, power armor clad mercenary with a dream to join an elite merc unit...but she has to get some expedition references first. So what does she do? Chooses the one ship with the worst track record in the hopes it with fast track her ambitions to the top. While I wont put spoilers I will say she gets her wish...kinda. She finds romance...that gets VERY complicated, mystery, and tossed into what is bound to end in an interstellar war.
9/10, highly recommend.
I did not want that. I wanted a complex story with romantic themes set in space...and that's exactly what this book gave me.
Fortune's Pawn rocked. Devi Morris is a badass, power armor clad mercenary with a dream to join an elite merc unit...but she has to get some expedition references first. So what does she do? Chooses the one ship with the worst track record in the hopes it with fast track her ambitions to the top. While I wont put spoilers I will say she gets her wish...kinda. She finds romance...that gets VERY complicated, mystery, and tossed into what is bound to end in an interstellar war.
9/10, highly recommend.
ClareR (5874 KP) rated The Wisdom Of Sally Red Shoes in Books
Apr 24, 2018
A book full of hope.
Masha has never got over the death of her infant son, who drowned at the age of two - even twelve years later she struggles daily. She finds comfort in the local victorian graveyard, and swims every day at her local lido. She has the most fascinating friends: Kitty Muriel, a woman who is so comfortable in her own skin that Masha clearly admires her greatly; Sally Red Shoes, who is portrayed as a crazy old bag lady, who feeds the crows at the cemetery, sings opera amongst the grave stones, and has great taste in shoes; Edwar, her best friend , who has seen her through so much hardship. There are others, but these characters really stood out for me.
This is a beautiful story about grief, death, and learning to live and love again. It sounds as though it will be 'cheesy', and I was apprehensive to begin with, but it is really such a lovely book. I laughed, I cried, and I enjoyed it enormously.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this book.
This is a beautiful story about grief, death, and learning to live and love again. It sounds as though it will be 'cheesy', and I was apprehensive to begin with, but it is really such a lovely book. I laughed, I cried, and I enjoyed it enormously.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this book.
Molly J (Cover To Cover Cafe) (106 KP) rated For Love and Honor (An Uncertain Choice, #3) in Books
Feb 25, 2019
I'm not always a fan of YA fiction. There is just something that doesn't always captivate with them. However, that said, I was quite surprised at the captivating story Ms. Hedlund created with this novel. From start to finish, I was hooked and in awe of the wonderful story she created.
Sabine and Bennet's characters were complex and perfect for their roles in the story. The secret being held, watching them interact, seeing the honor that is among the pages of this endearing read, made for a quick, fun read! I loved the way Lady Sabine and Sir Bennet interacted and watching their feelings for each other shine through.
I give this book no less than 4 stars. It's a quick read, and those who enjoy happy ever afters, fairy tale style settings and characters that will make their home in your heart, then you must grab Ms. Hedlund's book. It's definitely a surprising read and I am looking forward to giving her other books a try! Great job, Ms. Hedlund!
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from CelebrateLit and was under no obligation to post a review, positive or negative.*
Sabine and Bennet's characters were complex and perfect for their roles in the story. The secret being held, watching them interact, seeing the honor that is among the pages of this endearing read, made for a quick, fun read! I loved the way Lady Sabine and Sir Bennet interacted and watching their feelings for each other shine through.
I give this book no less than 4 stars. It's a quick read, and those who enjoy happy ever afters, fairy tale style settings and characters that will make their home in your heart, then you must grab Ms. Hedlund's book. It's definitely a surprising read and I am looking forward to giving her other books a try! Great job, Ms. Hedlund!
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from CelebrateLit and was under no obligation to post a review, positive or negative.*
Billie Wichkan (118 KP) rated Tom's Inheritance in Books
May 22, 2019
King Arthur is destined to return and Tom is destined to wake him.
When the Lady of the Lake summons Tom to the Other, she tells him he has to wake King Arthur from his long sleep on Avalon.
Tom starts a journey that will change his life forever.
He finds a world where magic still exists, and mythical creatures walk among fey. And he finds that the legends he thought were myth are very real.
So are ancient enemies.
If hes to survive, he must learn to fight, and find courage he never knew he had.
Hes about to become part of a legend.
If you love magic, mystery, and Arthurian legend, youll love Toms Inheritance.
I have always enjoyed Arthurian tales but this beats the lot.
The characters are delightfully complex and intriguing, and all so different.
This is such a fun and magical adventure.
So beautifully written and descriptive.
I really, really enjoyed this story.
I am looking forward to getting started on the next book in the series Twice Born, which is about Merlin.
Can't wait to see where all the series leads.
When the Lady of the Lake summons Tom to the Other, she tells him he has to wake King Arthur from his long sleep on Avalon.
Tom starts a journey that will change his life forever.
He finds a world where magic still exists, and mythical creatures walk among fey. And he finds that the legends he thought were myth are very real.
So are ancient enemies.
If hes to survive, he must learn to fight, and find courage he never knew he had.
Hes about to become part of a legend.
If you love magic, mystery, and Arthurian legend, youll love Toms Inheritance.
I have always enjoyed Arthurian tales but this beats the lot.
The characters are delightfully complex and intriguing, and all so different.
This is such a fun and magical adventure.
So beautifully written and descriptive.
I really, really enjoyed this story.
I am looking forward to getting started on the next book in the series Twice Born, which is about Merlin.
Can't wait to see where all the series leads.
Kyera (8 KP) rated Queen Song (Red Queen, #0.1) in Books
Feb 1, 2018
Queen Song is a short novella detailing Coriane's life. It begins prior to her introduction to the Prince and shows a simpler life. Her elder cousin Jessamine wants her to be a proper lady and help restore the power/glory of their failing house. Coriane Jacos just wants to tinker and build things. It was nice to see that similarity to her future son, even though they never really knew one another.
You also get a taste of a second (future) queen in the young Elara, Maven's mother. She is just as pleasant as a young adult as she is in the series, which is to say she's a terror. Elara is manipulative and her power is incredibly strong. <spoiler> We even find out that it was, in fact, Elara that drove Coriane to end her life. Coriane even suspected that Elara was in her mind, but was unable to prove it. She thought she was able to sing well enough to find out if it was true, but Elara was able to resist her. The Queen even got help from someone who could suppress powers, to no avail. Elara drove her mad. </spoiler>
You also get a taste of a second (future) queen in the young Elara, Maven's mother. She is just as pleasant as a young adult as she is in the series, which is to say she's a terror. Elara is manipulative and her power is incredibly strong. <spoiler> We even find out that it was, in fact, Elara that drove Coriane to end her life. Coriane even suspected that Elara was in her mind, but was unable to prove it. She thought she was able to sing well enough to find out if it was true, but Elara was able to resist her. The Queen even got help from someone who could suppress powers, to no avail. Elara drove her mad. </spoiler>
Awix (3310 KP) rated A View to a Kill (1985) in Movies
Mar 2, 2018 (Updated Mar 2, 2018)
Fourteenth Bond movie, known in Hong Kong as 'Indestructible Iron Man Fights the Electronic Gang'. (Which is pretty accurate, to be honest.) Rogue eugenic superman Zorin (Walken) has slightly Goldfingerish plan to artificially inflate the value of silicon chips; Bond has to stop him (obvs).
Bond gets it on with a record-breaking four different people in the course of the movie, including the villain's chief heavy, which may explain why he looks so exhausted most of the time. Or this may be due to Roger Moore's own advanced age (he was apparently dismayed to discover he was older than the parents of leading lady Tanya Roberts). Very much an example of Bond-movie-as-Bond-movie, i.e. a knockabout light-hearted action spectacular with only occasional pretensions to being a serious thriller or having anything meaningful to say about the world. Some decent chases and set pieces, helped by an occasionally effective soundtrack. Pleasantly distracting to watch but it's hardly going to rock your boat, let alone your world. It's possible that the opening sequence, in which Bond invents (gosh wow!) snowboarding , is the most glaringly dated moment of any major film in history.
Bond gets it on with a record-breaking four different people in the course of the movie, including the villain's chief heavy, which may explain why he looks so exhausted most of the time. Or this may be due to Roger Moore's own advanced age (he was apparently dismayed to discover he was older than the parents of leading lady Tanya Roberts). Very much an example of Bond-movie-as-Bond-movie, i.e. a knockabout light-hearted action spectacular with only occasional pretensions to being a serious thriller or having anything meaningful to say about the world. Some decent chases and set pieces, helped by an occasionally effective soundtrack. Pleasantly distracting to watch but it's hardly going to rock your boat, let alone your world. It's possible that the opening sequence, in which Bond invents (gosh wow!) snowboarding , is the most glaringly dated moment of any major film in history.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2340 KP) rated Crowned and Dangerous (Her Royal Spyness, #10) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Lady Georgie and Darcy’s elopement is put on hold when Darcy gets the news that his father has been arrested for murder. He races off to Ireland to see how he can help, and it isn’t long before Georgie follows him to help clear her future father-in-law. The evidence all seems to point to Darcy’s father. Can Georgie figure out anything that will help clear him?
The book gets off to a slow start as Georgie once again has to figure out where she will live. The time is put to good use since it gives us updates on many of the series regulars. Once Georgie arrives in Ireland, things really pick up, and we are treated to a fantastic puzzle with plenty of twists and surprises. Several of the series regulars get some much needed development here, and I hope it lasts. Meanwhile, there is a fantastic new character I hope we see pop up again in future books.
NOTE: I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/08/book-review-crownded-and-dangerous-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
The book gets off to a slow start as Georgie once again has to figure out where she will live. The time is put to good use since it gives us updates on many of the series regulars. Once Georgie arrives in Ireland, things really pick up, and we are treated to a fantastic puzzle with plenty of twists and surprises. Several of the series regulars get some much needed development here, and I hope it lasts. Meanwhile, there is a fantastic new character I hope we see pop up again in future books.
NOTE: I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/08/book-review-crownded-and-dangerous-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2340 KP) rated Nightfall: Keeper of the Lost Cities in Books
Mar 9, 2018
This book picks up moments after book five in the series ends as Sophie is dealing with the fact that the Neverseen have kidnapped her human parents. After getting her human sister hidden away, Sophie begins to hunt for them. The only clue is Nightfall, a clue that leads to Keefe’s mother, Lady Gisela. But can she be trusted? Or is she using Sophie and her friends for her own purpose?
I’ve been waiting a year to get the next chapter in Sophie’s story after the cliffhanger of the last book, and I wasn’t disappointed. This really is a next chapter, so if you haven’t read these books, don’t start here since you will be lost. But fans will quickly find themselves turning the 800 pages in this book. The plot really stalls only once about two thirds of the way, but it isn’t too long before we are ramping up for the climax. Meanwhile, all our favorite characters get some development and their moments to shine while we meet a fantastic new character.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/11/book-review-nightfall-by-shannon.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
I’ve been waiting a year to get the next chapter in Sophie’s story after the cliffhanger of the last book, and I wasn’t disappointed. This really is a next chapter, so if you haven’t read these books, don’t start here since you will be lost. But fans will quickly find themselves turning the 800 pages in this book. The plot really stalls only once about two thirds of the way, but it isn’t too long before we are ramping up for the climax. Meanwhile, all our favorite characters get some development and their moments to shine while we meet a fantastic new character.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/11/book-review-nightfall-by-shannon.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
LeftSideCut (3776 KP) rated X2: X-Men United (2003) in Movies
Jun 20, 2019 (Updated Jun 20, 2019)
A strong follow up
X-Men 2 builds upon the first in pretty much every way possible - were introduced to new characters (Brian Cox as William Stryker being a stand out here) and some really thrilling set pieces.
Notable amongst them - the opening scene of Nightcrawler attacking The White House (set to Mozart's Requiem in D Minor) is honestly one of my top scenes in a comic book film ever.
The scene where the mansion is attacked at night - we see Wolverine a lot more feral here than in the first film, and we're introduced to Colossus.
And the almost everything on Alkali Lake - the glimpses into the Weapon X project, the hints at Dark Phoenix - are all comic book ticks (until they were a bit shat on in future sequels)
There are still faults - the biggest one here for me is Lady Deathstroke - second X-Men movie in a row that backbenches a classic Wolverine villain in favour of a fairly useless mute version.
I remember and appreciate X-Men 2 for what it was at the time - a movie for a young franchise brimming with future possibilities. It still stands strong as far as Marvel adaptions go.
Notable amongst them - the opening scene of Nightcrawler attacking The White House (set to Mozart's Requiem in D Minor) is honestly one of my top scenes in a comic book film ever.
The scene where the mansion is attacked at night - we see Wolverine a lot more feral here than in the first film, and we're introduced to Colossus.
And the almost everything on Alkali Lake - the glimpses into the Weapon X project, the hints at Dark Phoenix - are all comic book ticks (until they were a bit shat on in future sequels)
There are still faults - the biggest one here for me is Lady Deathstroke - second X-Men movie in a row that backbenches a classic Wolverine villain in favour of a fairly useless mute version.
I remember and appreciate X-Men 2 for what it was at the time - a movie for a young franchise brimming with future possibilities. It still stands strong as far as Marvel adaptions go.
Lindsay (1760 KP) rated Claudette's Miraculous Motown Adventure in Books
Dec 6, 2019
Are you looking for a fun book about music? Well, Claudette Miraculous Motown Adventure is a good one. You will be able to read to your children. They can learn a little bit about the Miracles and their first lady of Motown.
This is about a girl who needs to help save the day. Will Claudette be able to save the town of Motown? The way this is done is sweet. The story plot is easy to understand. It shows that even when all things are dark and gloomy. There might still be hope to bring back the happiness and cheer to Motown.
The pictures are done well. Kids can look at the pictures. The pictures tell the story. There is rhyming in the book. The book can teach young readers to read. Though they may need help with some of the words depending on their reading level.
The book as music throughout the book. You will learn some things about the band and group “The Miracles.” The author wants to preserve the music history of this band or time. In doing so she decided to write this book so that it fun and enjoyable.
This is about a girl who needs to help save the day. Will Claudette be able to save the town of Motown? The way this is done is sweet. The story plot is easy to understand. It shows that even when all things are dark and gloomy. There might still be hope to bring back the happiness and cheer to Motown.
The pictures are done well. Kids can look at the pictures. The pictures tell the story. There is rhyming in the book. The book can teach young readers to read. Though they may need help with some of the words depending on their reading level.
The book as music throughout the book. You will learn some things about the band and group “The Miracles.” The author wants to preserve the music history of this band or time. In doing so she decided to write this book so that it fun and enjoyable.