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3 STAR RATING

I have been very interested in reading as many anxiety/depression self help books as I possibly can as I believe it's something that I need to overcome. Depression is a really awful thing to suffer from and so I am willing to do whatever it takes to cure it, improve it or even to just learn to live with it.

After reading the back of the book when I came across it at the library I thought it sounded like a fantastic idea and perhaps something that could really improve my outlook on life. I was, however, a bit disappointed with this one as in my opinion it is a very good idea which has been very poorly executed. The sections within the book became very very repetitive, I couldn't stay interested and once I had finished it it left me with a 'meh' feeling...I was definitely hoping for more.

The language in some places was a bit technical and therefore cold and uncaring, however, I did enjoy the illustrations even though they were very child-like. There are definitely better self help books out there, on the other hand, I still recommend reading this one as the idea is very interesting and the way the 'conditions' are approached is somewhat unique yet not very broad. Read this if you are willing to try anything in order to understand depression and anxiety more but I must say this one isn't at the top of my list.
  
Carcassonne
Carcassonne
2000 | City Building, Medieval, Territory Building
Quick, classic game, great to play with people who are more casual boardgamers (0 more)
Not going to satisfy someone looking for a deep strategic challenge (0 more)
Carcassone is one of the classics of board gaming and great for moving people away from the likes of Monopoly into proper board games.

The basic rules, pick a tile at random, place in a legal position and choose to place a needle, is simple enough that people who do not board game regularly are able to get comfortable quickly with the game. Its simplicity also means that a younger audience is able to readily partake in the game, making decisions on their own, and still have a chance of doing reasonably well.

There is little in the way of language in the game, other than being able to read the score chart everything is pictorial, so this also opens it to playing with people who are too young to read, or speak other languages without buying another copy.

If you're looking for an in depth Euro game however this will not help. There is little in the way of long term strategy, and the tile you pick is random - as a major factor of what you do with your turn this constricts long term planning.

To sum up this is a great game if you are putting it in front of the right audience, or want a simple game to chill out with a beer with, but don't expect such a positive reaction from everyone.
  
In an age where chivalry thrives, danger abounds also. Follow six stories of love and honor that will warm your heart during these cold winter months.

With settings ranging from the years 1367 to 1815, there is a wide variety of stories in this collection. Each author brings to life the mystery and romance of the time in their own unique ways. The beauty of the language and the oddity of the customs is always a pleasure to learn more about. The Middle Ages has always held a fascination for me. Times were so different then that it is sometimes hard for me to understand why things happened the way they did. But this collection was eye opening to the culture of the time and inspired me to look up different aspects of the era. This is a nice collection and the stories are short and easy to read. My personal favorite was A Stranger's Kiss by Yvonne Lehman. Even though most of the time I was frustrated with the main character for not speaking out what was on her heart. I realised however, that in the real world, we could save so much stress and confusion if we would only speak out. Unfortunately, this doesn't always happen right away. Fear and doubt riddle us until we no longer know what to do. But in the end the truth will win out and justice will reign.

I received a free digital copy of The Knight's Bride from Barbour Publishing Inc. through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
  
Eragon (2006)
Eragon (2006)
2006 | Action, Drama, Sci-Fi
1
5.5 (15 Ratings)
Movie Rating
Nothing (0 more)
Everything (0 more)
Pile of Dragon Dropings
Where do I start? I read the Inheretance series and fell madly in love. When they announced a film I was so excited. Realy have I been more disappointing.
The design is apauling, did anyone read the descriptions in the book? Sapphire "Brightscales" with feathers, the Urgls. Nuff said.
The script, apauling.
Why do they hate montages? I mean, Saphera needs to grow, okay, great, I get you don't have time to show all the months this took, but what the hell!? She flies into the air, and when she lands she is massive??? No explanation. You know what would have worked... her flying up, the when she comes back down, there is snow, showing the passage of time!!! Even a dam "3 months later" would have been better!
Sorry, moving on.
I know adapting a story from one medium to another is not easy, but this was a shocking way of doing things.
It was like no one read the actual book. One of the main themes running through the books is the power of language, how knowing something's true name gives followed over it. So when you give a dragon called "brightscales" feathers, and have the Gedwe Insignia ( meaning "shiny plam) as a crappy scar, you are missing the dam point!
Even if it had been popular enough for a sequel, it would not realy have worked, given all the changes they made.
To sum up... READ. THE. DAM BOOK!
  
Something Rotten (Thursday Next, #4)
Something Rotten (Thursday Next, #4)
Jasper Fforde | 2004 | Crime, Fiction & Poetry, Humor & Comedy, Science Fiction/Fantasy, Thriller
7
8.5 (4 Ratings)
Book Rating
In his previous Thursday Next books Fforde has explored the world inside books and how Thursday - literary detective from an alternate reality from our own - interacts with its denizens. Now he turns that on its head.

Thursday, along with her young child Friday, decides it is time to leave the Bookworld behind and return to the real world, despite the danger this poses from the all powerful Goliath corporation. They have already erased her husband from existence and wanted to do the same to her. But Goliath are now benign and repentant. But that doesn't mean that Thursday can have a happy ending. Not only does she need to get her husband back, but unless Swindon can win the Superhoop croquet world cup there will be an unstoppable chain of events leading to the end of the world.

As usual with Fforde the plot is complex, convoluted and wildly improbable but that doesn't stop him pulling the reader into the slightly off-kilter world of the Nexts. As could be expected the humour is packed in tight. Literary jokes, in world jokes, real world jokes. Playing with language and words in every inventive way possible. All of these are his stock in trade and he uses them to great effect here.

This was for me a little weaker than the first three books, possibly because now back in Thursday's world is a little more mundane than seeing works of literature from the inside but there are still plenty of laughs to be had and the various plot strands will keep you guessing
  
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The Everlasting Circle (Everlast #3)
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
<b><i>I received this book for free from Author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.</i></b>
Well, it’s about bleeping time – okay, that probably sounds a tad bit rude (my language was totally in check).

Anyways, it’s been two – two! – years since the second book came out, and I’m kind of over the top excited to return to the world Juliana Haygert built several years ago.

The greatest thing Haygert provides at the very beginning of bringing us back to the world of Everlast is a recap of the first two books up to the point of preparing for war with Imha and Omi (among others). There’s also a lot of tension between Micah and Nadine from the second book carrying over to the final book, and I have to say… I don’t really mind the tension. After Micah got his own novella back in the Cup of Life, I kind of have a fondness for him and it was an absolute delight to take some peeks into Micah’s mind in The Everlasting Circle.

The last book in the Everlast trilogy brings a nice close to the entire series with a HEA and many, if not all, questions from the prior books answered.

<a href="https://bookwyrmingthoughts.com/mini-reviews-part-1-emily-skrutskie-marie-lu-and-others/"; target="_blank">This review was originally posted on Bookwyrming Thoughts</a>
  
Infernally Mine (The Infernal Blades #1)
Infernally Mine (The Infernal Blades #1)
Jewels Arthur | 2020 | Paranormal, Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy
7
7.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I'm a killer and I'm good at it.

It's not something you can put on a resume or bring up during a date -- but we all have our secrets.

The visions I see at night are part of mine.

The Elders send me visions of my new targets -- chosen by them -- for me to kill. I don't determine if they are good or bad -- just that their fate is to die by my hand.

Questioning the Elders is suicide. I am just a monster for them to direct.

One night my vision features four sinfully yummy men. They seem to find me delicious as well.

When my life gets thrown into chaos, these men are the only ones I can trust.

What happens when I am not the monster I've always believed myself to be?

I went from being the killer to the target.

One thing is for sure, I don't plan on remaining anyone's prey.

Infernally Mine is the first book in a paranormal RH/#whychoose romance series with assassins, shifters, and a succubus. Intended for mature audiences (18+). Contains MM, foul language, and violence.

This started of brilliant it was aggressive and had some attitude I loved Mara and her attitude! Then the men entered and it all became a bit meh! Then everything was so rushed all ect the sex scenes, now don't get me wrong I love a good sex scene I just think in my opinion this book lost its way a little!
  
Second to Nun
Second to Nun
Alice Loweecey | 2015 | Mystery
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Mystery of the Haunted Bed and Breakfast
Former nun turned PI Giulia Driscoll’s newest client is MacAllister Stone, aka Mac. Mac runs a bed and breakfast in her family’s old non-working lighthouse. Lately, something sinister seems to be at work at the bed and breakfast with possible ties to the legend of a family ghost. Giulia and her husband, Frank, go undercover as guests. But this job is turning out to be rougher than it sounds as the strange events seem to be increasing in frequency. Before Giulia finds the culprit, she will have to determine if she is looking for a ghost or a flesh and blood villain.

Giulia spends the first few chapters wrapping up her current cases before heading to the bed and breakfast, so the main mystery gets off to a slow start. Once it does begin, we are treated to plenty of mysterious events until Giulia brings it to a logical and satisfying conclusion. The characters are wonderful. The new cast grow as the book progresses, but I love spending time with the regulars. They’re one reason why the opening chapters were still so much fun. These characters have such great chemistry with each other, including teasing each other, and that humor kept me smiling if not laughing throughout the book. The book does have a smattering of foul language, certainly more than the cozies I normally read, but that is worth noting only in passing. If you are looking for a delightful getaway, this is the book to pick up.
  
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