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Tangled Threads (Elemental Assassin, #4)
Tangled Threads (Elemental Assassin, #4)
Jennifer Estep | 2011 | Science Fiction/Fantasy
8
9.5 (4 Ratings)
Book Rating
I didn't enjoy this as much as the last though I'm not too sure why. Maybe I was expecting more kick arse-ness in relation to LaFleur. I guess after the last one and Elliot...it was still good but I didn't find her as evil as him so I guess her getting her comeuppance didn't excite me as much.

As for the rest of the plot. The blossoming romance between Gin and Owen is making me all warm and fuzzy. It's too cute!

Bria finally learns the truth in this and unlike Donovan Caine, who's still being mentioned two books after he vanished, I'm hoping that she'll accept Gin and help in bringing down Mab Monroe.

Onto book 5!
  
Shift (Shifters, #5)
Shift (Shifters, #5)
9
8.2 (5 Ratings)
Book Rating
Contains spoilers, click to show
66 of 250
Book
Shift ( Werecats book 5)
By Rachel Vincent

Once read a review will be written via Smashbomb and link posted in comments

Being the first female werecat enforcer isn't easy. Scars accumulate, but I'm stronger in so many ways.

As for my personal life? It's complicated. Choices worth making always are. Ever since my brother's death and my father's impeachment, it's all I can do to prevent more blood from spilling. Now our Pride is under attack by a flight of vicious thunderbirds. And making peace with our new enemies may be the only way to get the best of our old foe.

With the body count rising and treachery everywhere, my instincts tell me to look before I leap. But sometimes a leap of faith is the only real option..

It’s been a long time since I started and finished a book in 1 day! This has to be my favourite so far I love her writing style and how I just fall back into the world with a few months break between the books. I’m still not over Ethans death just like most of the characters and can’t wait for that vengeance. This book introduces Thunderbirds and omg they are amazing and so much fun! I’m worried for Faythe in so many ways especially when Dean catches up with her!!
And for the record I’m team Jase always have been!!!
Looking forward to Alpha although I’ll be gutted it being the last book.
  
The Shepherd's Crown
The Shepherd's Crown
Terry Pratchett, Paul Kidby | 2016 | Children
8
9.0 (5 Ratings)
Book Rating
THE FINAL DISCWORLD BOOK

Those four words were always going to make a long-time Discworld reader feel quite emotional, making it hard to objectively review the novel itself: are you reviewing this last peek into Pratchett's mirror reality, or are you reviewing the entire 41-book series? I'm going to try both:

THE SERIES

The first Disworld book I read (I'm pretty sure it was [b: Pyramids|64217|Pyramids (Discworld, #7)|Terry Pratchett|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1439098306s/64217.jpg|968512]) wasn't actually the first in the series (that would be [b: The Colour of Magic|833512|The Colour of Magic The Illustrated Screenplay|Vadim Jean|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1347346368s/833512.jpg|17589693]), although I did later go back and read the earlier works. Reading them in order released (as opposed to one of the numerous Discworld Reading Order Guides: I'm quite partial to the 'Unofficial Discworld Reading Order Guide'), you can see how Terry Pratchett's writing style evolved, how he moved from outright satire to a more subtle comedy fantasy that holds a mirror up to real-world issues. Personally, I feel he was at his best at around the mid-way point of the series (say, [b: Maskerade|64305|Maskerade The Play|Terry Pratchett|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1170622047s/64305.jpg|62427] or [b: Men at Arms|7557548|Men at Arms The Play|Terry Pratchett|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1353573652s/7557548.jpg|9910828], after he'd found his feet (so-to-speak), but before the 'embuggerance' of his posterior cortical atrophy set in and the novels - perhaps understandably - started becoming almost too serious.

Throughout the series, there was a rich tapestry of characters introduced, from CMOT Dibbler through to the Patrician of Ankh-Morpork, with certain groups of characters (e.g. The City Watch) effectively becoming a sub-series in their own right. One of those groups - Granny Weatherwax (first introduced in [b: Equal Rites|34507|Equal Rites (Discworld, #3; Witches, #1)|Terry Pratchett|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1407706800s/34507.jpg|583611] and The Witches of Lancre (first introduced in [b: Wyrd Sisters|233664|Wyrd Sisters The Play|Terry Pratchett|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1388363090s/233664.jpg|17589683] - would later themselves have 'guest spots' in another group of such characters, ostensibly written for Young Adult Readers but still very enjoyable for older; the Nac Mac Feegles (Crivens!) and Tiffany Aching, both of who first appeared in [b: The Wee Free Men|7881001|The Wee Free Men The Beginning (Discworld, #30 & #32)|Terry Pratchett|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1388181365s/7881001.jpg|22017239]. Which nicely brings me to:

THE NOVEL ITSELF

'The Shepherd's Crown' sees a return of both Tiffany Aching, now a young Witch setting out on her career path, and those Nac Mac Feegles. There's a strong sense of change throughout, kicked off by the surprising early exit of a previous major character in the entire series, leading to old foes - the Elves - to try to make their way back into the world. These Elves, remember, are *not* the dainty do-gooders of Tolkien: these are nasty, malicious, self-serving creatures who last attempted to invade in [b: Lords and Ladies|34529|Lords and Ladies (Discworld, #14; Witches #4)|Terry Pratchett|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1469186110s/34529.jpg|1185086], before eventually being defeated by Granny Weatherwax, Nanny Ogg and Magrat Garlik. Those three characters make a return in this, as well as bit-parts for the Arch-Chancellor of Unseen University, Ponder Stibbons (and HEX) alongside King Verence and the Patrician. Despite all these, the novel, however, is really Tiffany's story, and of how she finds her feet in the circumstances into which she is rather abruptly thrown. There's also a plot element that recalls [b: Equal Rites|34507|Equal Rites (Discworld, #3; Witches, #1)|Terry Pratchett|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1407706800s/34507.jpg|583611]: that of a person wanting to do a role that is generally considered to be that for a member of the opposite sex.

As always, footnotes are present and correct, with the novel even raising a few laugh-out-loud moments. While the story does finish with the words 'THE END', the world itself will continue on: all that has come to an end is our ability to peek into it.

In the words of the Nac Mac Feegle: "Waily waily waily ..."

Rating for the series: 5*
Rating for the novel: 4*
  
Super Sales on Super Heros
Super Sales on Super Heros
William D Arand | 2017 | Science Fiction/Fantasy
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
The Super villains have taken over the city Felix lives in and are, in their own way doing a good job of running it.
Felix has his own super power, the ability to modify/repair/upgrade anything he owns, the only problem is it takes points for him to do anything and, even though they reset every midnight he never has enough points to anything major. This changes when Felix accidentally buys an almost dead super hero. As slavery is now legal the super hero is now his and Felix is surprised at how many points she gives him. Now Felix sets out to improve his life, but, can he do it with out being noticed. Or making enemy's.

Super Sales on Super Hero's was my first taste of litrpg and soon became one of my favourite books. Felix starts off as quite an understandable underdog and, even as he rises to become an overpowered hero, he find himself in situations where he can't do anything.
Being a 'LitRpg' book there are tables of stats, Felix can change anything or anyone he owns and these changes are represented by the characters stat sheets but these fit well into the narrative so don't pull you out of the story.
There is violence in this book and, although a lot of it is fantasy/superhero style fighting there is also gun battles and fist fights. It also touches on subjects such as slavery and harems.

Super Sales on Super Hero's is the first book of a trilogy and after that the story does continue (kind of) in two more books
  
NR
NYPD Red (NYPD Red, #1)
James Patterson | 2012 | Fiction & Poetry
6
8.0 (4 Ratings)
Book Rating
Detective Zach Jordan works for NYPD Red. A distinct branch of the NYPD that is in charge of cases involving the rich and famous He's about to het a new partner and a new case all in the same day. The new partner, Detective Kylie MacDonald is an old lover The new case comes at the start of Hollywood on the Hudson, where the L.A. elite come to examine movie making in New York City. So people in the T.V./movie business will be everywhere.
The Good News: NYPD Red will be busy.
The Bad News: They have a serial killer on their hands.

The first murder is at the Regency Hotel. A movie producer takes a nose dive into his breakfast plate. Not long after arriving on the scene, do they get a call for a murder at Silvercup Studios....and the day begins.

Will they find the killer before half of Hollywood is dead in NYC?

I'm a big James Patterson fan, and this book didn't have as much Umph to it that the Cross or Women's Murder Club books do.
  
BT
Between Two Shores
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
It's been some time since I read a Jocelyn Green novel, and let me tell you this....it was so refreshing to get back to her books. This book, filled with beautiful historical detail, took me on a journey to Montreal, and kept me hooked until the last page was reached. 

Catherine, Samuel, Bright Star, and the amazing characters truly became a part of my soul. I loved following them on their journey. The rich detail of the French and Indian War was depicted beautifully. It came to life for me, making me feel a part of Catherine and Samuel's lives. 

If you love history, hope, longing and mercy, then grab this book up. It's tenderly written, and will wrap you up as you read through these pages. As a reader, the emotions will flow through you the further into the story that you get. I highly recommend this with 4 stars and two thumbs up. 

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers and was under no obligation to post a review, positive or negative.
  
The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
1994 | Drama
The story is amazing showing how prison life is for some of the inmates from Shawshank and Andy dealing with it. (3 more)
The characters like Andy, Red, Samuel, and Byron are memorable. Andy is a character we want to see succeed as well as Red with his charm. While Samuel the warden and Byron the guard are ruthless.
The acting from Tim Robbins, Morgan Freeman, Bob Gunton, Clancy Brown, and James Whitmore do an amazing job with their acting and making the characters memorable
The production design from the Shawshank Prison is rally great and the music is amazing.
Nothing I can think of. (0 more)
Shawshank Redemption
The film has a great story, memorable characters, incredible acting, and impressive production design as well as amazing music. This is one of the best films I have ever seen and I watch it whenever it comes on and I also have the DVD. If you’re a fan of Stephen King this movie will make you satisfied as well as non Stephen King fans who never read his books like me.
  
One with You
One with You
Sylvia Day | 2016 | Contemporary
8
7.5 (8 Ratings)
Book Rating
Unfortunately, this is where the journey of Gideon and Eva Cross ends. For the past few years we have read about their short relationship. In this "episode"Eva and Gideon have finally worked out the kinks in their relationship. They have secretly gotten married without their family's knowledge and are in the process of planning a public ceremony and making sue that their marriage is as strong as it can be.

I have thoroughly enjoyed reading the Crossfire series and I'm very sad to see it come to an end. I was so invested in the characters that after I was finished reading the book, I even dreamed about what would happen next. I want to thank Sylvia Day for allowing me the opportunity to catch a quick glimpse into the lives of Eva and Gideon. And it certainly was a quick glimpse, with the five differnt books spanning just a few months.

I look forward to the next book series that starts with the book So Close and this series will take place over a few years instead of months.
  
IG
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Ivy takes on an undercover job at Gold Bug Gulch, where one of the gun fighters has just been shot and killed. As she gets to know the employees at the tourist trap ghost town, she finds plenty of suspects, but was it an accident or murder? Meanwhile, she also trying to land a part in Annie Get Your Gun for a theater company that might really boost her career and keep her relationship with her new boyfriend on track.

Since I’ve loved the first three books in this series, I was expecting to love this one, and I wasn’t disappointed at all. The story moves forward quickly, and the characters are strong. The author finds that perfect balance of comedy without making anything or anyone not feel real. In fact, there’s some real depth to these characters by the end. Throw in the acting, and I completely enjoyed it.

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.

Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/05/book-review-ivy-get-your-gun-by-cindy.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
  
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Sarah (7798 KP) rated Life After Life in Books

Sep 25, 2018  
Life After Life
Life After Life
Kate Atkinson | 2014 | Fiction & Poetry
8
7.2 (13 Ratings)
Book Rating
Great idea but needs more of a central plot
This story is fairly similar to other books like The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August, however it has its own unique spin on reincarnation/Groundhog day type experiences.

This is a very intriguing story about how the choices you may in life affect everything,but with Ursula being able to relive her life over and over again, constantly making different choices to change how her life plays out. For me it was interesting to pick up on some of the smaller details that change through each reincarnation. Ursula is a well written and in-depth character, although the same cant always be said for the rest of her family and other minor characters. My only problem with this is that other than Ursula reliving her life repeatedly, there's no central plot or grounding. Its just the same life over and over again with slightly different circumstances. There's nothing else to hold it all together and it can become a little repetitive (unsurprisingly).