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Merissa (12911 KP) rated The Long Way Home (Coming Home #1) in Books
Feb 28, 2025
THE LONG WAY HOME is the first book in the Coming Home series and begins with Marcus and Cory, both broken characters in different ways.
Marcus was a troubled teen/trust fund child who got together with Declan, someone out of the same group of people who actually wanted to spend time with him. Unfortunately, Declan became seriously ill and made Marcus continue on with his life without Declan being in it. Cory became a dad at 19 and a single dad six months later. His whole life revolves around his daughter and his family. The sparks fly when these two meet, but not for the reasons Marcus thinks.
I will say, most of this book is angst between the two, with lots of misconstrued signals and attempts to speak. Considering they're both adults, this became frustrating very quickly. You could cut out half of this and still have a decent-sized novel, as this was a LONG read.
I found both characters to be slightly inconsistent in how they thought and behaved, especially Cory. Considering how he'd been earlier in the book, there was a bit of whiplash involved when he and Marcus actually had their first date.
On the whole, this was a good read that I would give 3.5 stars to (rounded up). It is a debut novel and there is plenty of potential for future stories.
** 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; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Feb 28, 2025
Marcus was a troubled teen/trust fund child who got together with Declan, someone out of the same group of people who actually wanted to spend time with him. Unfortunately, Declan became seriously ill and made Marcus continue on with his life without Declan being in it. Cory became a dad at 19 and a single dad six months later. His whole life revolves around his daughter and his family. The sparks fly when these two meet, but not for the reasons Marcus thinks.
I will say, most of this book is angst between the two, with lots of misconstrued signals and attempts to speak. Considering they're both adults, this became frustrating very quickly. You could cut out half of this and still have a decent-sized novel, as this was a LONG read.
I found both characters to be slightly inconsistent in how they thought and behaved, especially Cory. Considering how he'd been earlier in the book, there was a bit of whiplash involved when he and Marcus actually had their first date.
On the whole, this was a good read that I would give 3.5 stars to (rounded up). It is a debut novel and there is plenty of potential for future stories.
** 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; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Feb 28, 2025
Eleanor (1463 KP) rated The Witch Elm: A Novel in Books
Jan 12, 2020
I listened to the audiobook of this narrated by Gerry O’Brian and would recommend increasing the speed it plays at. I didn’t until quite far in and regretted not speeding it up sooner.
Following on from a brutal attack Toby goes to stay in his old family home. When a skull is discovered in Wych Elm in the garden Toby has to question everything he thought he knew about his family.
Despite the skull discovery being on the blurb it actually is a long way into the book before we get that revelation. There is a lot of build-up to it and while I like a good bit of character building I did wish it had just got on with the main story sooner. Told from Toby’s POV who I didn’t find to be a particularly interesting or likable character there seemed to be way too much navel-gazing. I was also a bit disappointed by the main mystery; with so much build-up it just felt anticlimactic and again the whole investigation was overly drawn out. Just when I thought it had finally ended it managed to keep going for even longer.
Overall too much of a slow burner for me.
Following on from a brutal attack Toby goes to stay in his old family home. When a skull is discovered in Wych Elm in the garden Toby has to question everything he thought he knew about his family.
Despite the skull discovery being on the blurb it actually is a long way into the book before we get that revelation. There is a lot of build-up to it and while I like a good bit of character building I did wish it had just got on with the main story sooner. Told from Toby’s POV who I didn’t find to be a particularly interesting or likable character there seemed to be way too much navel-gazing. I was also a bit disappointed by the main mystery; with so much build-up it just felt anticlimactic and again the whole investigation was overly drawn out. Just when I thought it had finally ended it managed to keep going for even longer.
Overall too much of a slow burner for me.
Debbiereadsbook (1444 KP) rated Sweetwater (The Kihn #1) in Books
Apr 9, 2018
kinda creeps up on ya!
Verified purchase December 2013
Now, I will be honest here, right up front, I only bought this book, because the author was giving away two additional books (from other authors) and it was a good deal.
Sofie returns to her childhood home, after the death of her parents. Parents who made it clear she was never wanted. Things are afoot in Sweetwater, and no one is quite sure what.
Lucas and his Hunters arrive to explain what is going on and how they are going to deal with it.
IT are the Kihn. while it isn't explained fully WHAT they are, they do get up to no good, what with a Gateway opening soon, near to Sweetwater. Sofie has knowledge of the Kihn, she has been seeing them in her dreams for years.
Enter a HUGE cast of supporting actors, witches, Wiccan, werewolves, guardian angels that only the Wiccan can see, various aunts, uncles, cousins and friends!!
The tale took a while to get going, Lucas and Sofie don't meet till almost half way through, and the blur comes with and explicit warning, which again, doesn't arrive til past half way, BUT its a good tale. Lots of interaction between all the characters, with more and MORE added along the way (this huge cast was one of the reasons it got 4 stars instead of 5, the other, the long warm up) Its a different tale and I enjoyed it. There is another planned and it will be purchased when its released, as this one ends on a bit of a cliff hanger!
I particularly liked the way Jacks throws things at you, just like that, "its the only way I know to keep them away, you know" made me go OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH what are "they"??? and how little hints get dropped along they way as to WHAT the supernatural people are. While its fairly obvious (after a time) what Lucas is, Sofie clicks in the last 3 lines of the book!
A different read, a good read, and I would recommend it!
And! It's present tense!
4 solid stars
Now, I will be honest here, right up front, I only bought this book, because the author was giving away two additional books (from other authors) and it was a good deal.
Sofie returns to her childhood home, after the death of her parents. Parents who made it clear she was never wanted. Things are afoot in Sweetwater, and no one is quite sure what.
Lucas and his Hunters arrive to explain what is going on and how they are going to deal with it.
IT are the Kihn. while it isn't explained fully WHAT they are, they do get up to no good, what with a Gateway opening soon, near to Sweetwater. Sofie has knowledge of the Kihn, she has been seeing them in her dreams for years.
Enter a HUGE cast of supporting actors, witches, Wiccan, werewolves, guardian angels that only the Wiccan can see, various aunts, uncles, cousins and friends!!
The tale took a while to get going, Lucas and Sofie don't meet till almost half way through, and the blur comes with and explicit warning, which again, doesn't arrive til past half way, BUT its a good tale. Lots of interaction between all the characters, with more and MORE added along the way (this huge cast was one of the reasons it got 4 stars instead of 5, the other, the long warm up) Its a different tale and I enjoyed it. There is another planned and it will be purchased when its released, as this one ends on a bit of a cliff hanger!
I particularly liked the way Jacks throws things at you, just like that, "its the only way I know to keep them away, you know" made me go OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH what are "they"??? and how little hints get dropped along they way as to WHAT the supernatural people are. While its fairly obvious (after a time) what Lucas is, Sofie clicks in the last 3 lines of the book!
A different read, a good read, and I would recommend it!
And! It's present tense!
4 solid stars
Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated Get Even in Books
Dec 10, 2023
192 of 235
Book
Get Even
By Martina Cole
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
They got her man. Now she's going to get even...
Sharon Conway and Lenny Scott are childhood sweethearts. Everyone says they are too young, but nothing can keep them apart. Sharon doesn't question Lenny's business dealings and it isn't long before his reputation as a hard man destined for the top means they are living the good life with their sons.
But one night Lenny doesn't come home. It isn't the first time he has gone AWOL. But it is his last. He is found murdered - beaten to death in an act of brutality that shocks even the police. And Sharon never knows why.
Now, twenty years later, Sharon is about to find out the truth. Such a crime cannot go unpunished. Revenge is long overdue. The time has come to... GET EVEN.
Holy cow this was brutal! I don’t know why I’m so shocked I say the same after every Martina Cole. This was such a sad read in so many ways. I can’t imagine having to hide my life the way Lenny had to but then I’m conflicted at the pain he caused while doing it! Also so glad she finally got some peace even if it cost her. There are always cautions when reading these books as I said they can be so brutal.
Book
Get Even
By Martina Cole
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
They got her man. Now she's going to get even...
Sharon Conway and Lenny Scott are childhood sweethearts. Everyone says they are too young, but nothing can keep them apart. Sharon doesn't question Lenny's business dealings and it isn't long before his reputation as a hard man destined for the top means they are living the good life with their sons.
But one night Lenny doesn't come home. It isn't the first time he has gone AWOL. But it is his last. He is found murdered - beaten to death in an act of brutality that shocks even the police. And Sharon never knows why.
Now, twenty years later, Sharon is about to find out the truth. Such a crime cannot go unpunished. Revenge is long overdue. The time has come to... GET EVEN.
Holy cow this was brutal! I don’t know why I’m so shocked I say the same after every Martina Cole. This was such a sad read in so many ways. I can’t imagine having to hide my life the way Lenny had to but then I’m conflicted at the pain he caused while doing it! Also so glad she finally got some peace even if it cost her. There are always cautions when reading these books as I said they can be so brutal.
Heart of Ice
9.0
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Gareth von Kallenbach (980 KP) rated Dear John (2010) in Movies
Aug 8, 2019
John is a soldier in the US Army on leave at a beach in South Carolina when he meets and instantly bonds with a local girl named Savannah. The two quickly develop a connection and fall in love, yet John, stationed overseas, must return to his post. The new lovebirds continue their relationship through letters, eagerly waiting for the day that John will come home and they can be together again.
For a film that exposes some of the challenges faced by love and military life, “Dear John” is truly telling. However, the lack of plot points has a slowing effect on the pace of the film. At times I felt that “Dear John” was trying to maintain the same tone as Spark’s other films, purposely slowing down and drawing out the emotional moments, even when it seemed to harm the film’s overall pacing.
However, “Dear John” was less of a tearjerker than past films based on Nicholas Spark’s novels. Maybe it is this lack of strong emotional response that also left “Dear John” less than engrossing especially when considering Spark’s other and better-done adaptations like “A Walk to Remember” or “Nights in Rodanthe”. This film seemed less like a journey or story and more like an advertisement for the oiled abdominal muscles of leading male, John (Channing Tatum).
If you do manage to sit through the entire film, the story is quite good. And for anyone who is not a book reader this is one way to learn that tale and to better understand some of the challenges faced by long term, long distance relationships. For those who do avidly read, I am sure the book is the best way to experience this particular story although it won’t provide the muscled men.
For a film that exposes some of the challenges faced by love and military life, “Dear John” is truly telling. However, the lack of plot points has a slowing effect on the pace of the film. At times I felt that “Dear John” was trying to maintain the same tone as Spark’s other films, purposely slowing down and drawing out the emotional moments, even when it seemed to harm the film’s overall pacing.
However, “Dear John” was less of a tearjerker than past films based on Nicholas Spark’s novels. Maybe it is this lack of strong emotional response that also left “Dear John” less than engrossing especially when considering Spark’s other and better-done adaptations like “A Walk to Remember” or “Nights in Rodanthe”. This film seemed less like a journey or story and more like an advertisement for the oiled abdominal muscles of leading male, John (Channing Tatum).
If you do manage to sit through the entire film, the story is quite good. And for anyone who is not a book reader this is one way to learn that tale and to better understand some of the challenges faced by long term, long distance relationships. For those who do avidly read, I am sure the book is the best way to experience this particular story although it won’t provide the muscled men.