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Laura Doe (1350 KP) rated The Hating Game in Books
Apr 22, 2022
I wasn’t sure what to expect of this book as I had seen some reviews where people had loved it and some where people had hated it. I went into it with an open mind and within 18 pages I was laughing at some of the comments Lucy made about Josh.
The typical chick-lit with a touch of humour, it wasn’t hard to guess the outcome of the book, but it was a joyful and funny ride to get there. There were so many moments where I either laughed out loud or snorted because of a comment, making it a good read in my eyes!
I enjoyed the hatred between Lucy and Josh and all of the little “games” that they played in the office to see who could annoy each other first. I did guess where the story was going to end with them quite early on in the book, but I still needed to find out what some of the things meant (like the marks in Josh’s planner) and the journey was fun to undertake with Lucy and Josh.
At first I found Josh extremely unlikeable, but after the paint balling team building day, I grew to like him more and more with his actions. Although I definitely wouldn’t have come to the conclusion that he was shy and that was the reason for his behaviour like Lucy did.
Sally Thorne’s writing was so easy to get lost in, and I found myself having to make myself put the book down to get some sleep but not being able to wait to be able to pick it back up again. I think this might be a go to book to read again and again. I will have to see if Sally Thorne’s other books are just as good!
The typical chick-lit with a touch of humour, it wasn’t hard to guess the outcome of the book, but it was a joyful and funny ride to get there. There were so many moments where I either laughed out loud or snorted because of a comment, making it a good read in my eyes!
I enjoyed the hatred between Lucy and Josh and all of the little “games” that they played in the office to see who could annoy each other first. I did guess where the story was going to end with them quite early on in the book, but I still needed to find out what some of the things meant (like the marks in Josh’s planner) and the journey was fun to undertake with Lucy and Josh.
At first I found Josh extremely unlikeable, but after the paint balling team building day, I grew to like him more and more with his actions. Although I definitely wouldn’t have come to the conclusion that he was shy and that was the reason for his behaviour like Lucy did.
Sally Thorne’s writing was so easy to get lost in, and I found myself having to make myself put the book down to get some sleep but not being able to wait to be able to pick it back up again. I think this might be a go to book to read again and again. I will have to see if Sally Thorne’s other books are just as good!
David McK (3649 KP) rated The Horse and His Boy (Chronicles of Narnia, #5) in Books
Jan 28, 2019
Firstly, is this the third Narnia book, or is it the fifth?
The answer to that is whether you go by chronological setting (in which case it's the third), or by publication date (it's the fifth).
This is also a story that I didn't remember reading as a child; however, when I was recently re-reading it I was finding plot elements to be a little-bit-more-familiar than I was otherwise expecting: perhaps I did, and had just forgotten.
Unlike [b: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe|100915|The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (Chronicles of Narnia, #1)|C.S. Lewis|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1353029077s/100915.jpg|4790821], this does not follow the Pevensie children, but rather the journey of a young boy named Shasta who discovers he was adopted and is running away to Narnia when his adoptive father is about to sell him into slavery; running away alongside/with the help of the talking horse Bree. Along the way they fall in with a girl named Aravis and her talking horse Hwin, who are also making the same escape.
While I've heard arguments recently that, in this book, CS Lewis is displaying his own racist xenophobia ('fair and white ... accursed but beautiful Barbarians'), personally I think that is reading too much into what is simply intended to be a children's Arabian Nights esque fairytale
The answer to that is whether you go by chronological setting (in which case it's the third), or by publication date (it's the fifth).
This is also a story that I didn't remember reading as a child; however, when I was recently re-reading it I was finding plot elements to be a little-bit-more-familiar than I was otherwise expecting: perhaps I did, and had just forgotten.
Unlike [b: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe|100915|The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (Chronicles of Narnia, #1)|C.S. Lewis|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1353029077s/100915.jpg|4790821], this does not follow the Pevensie children, but rather the journey of a young boy named Shasta who discovers he was adopted and is running away to Narnia when his adoptive father is about to sell him into slavery; running away alongside/with the help of the talking horse Bree. Along the way they fall in with a girl named Aravis and her talking horse Hwin, who are also making the same escape.
While I've heard arguments recently that, in this book, CS Lewis is displaying his own racist xenophobia ('fair and white ... accursed but beautiful Barbarians'), personally I think that is reading too much into what is simply intended to be a children's Arabian Nights esque fairytale
Merissa (13575 KP) rated Hunter (The Silver #6) in Books
Mar 13, 2020
Hunter is the sixth book in the Silver series and this time, we head out of town, to a small farming community where Dray lives. He is slightly frustrated as he is 'one-of-a-kind' as far as he knows and there are somethings he just can't do if he wants to keep his secret - playing football being one example. That all changes when Gem and her parents move to town.
Yey!!! Gem gets her Happy Ever After! And she really couldn't have chosen a nicer guy. I love Dray, I really do. His commitment to his town, his friends, and his family are wonderful to read about. I love how his relationship with Gem moves quickly and yet also seems perfectly natural.
Things are hotting up for Jaze too though, which is making me long for the last book. I love how Ms. Alsop is able to tie all the different characters and locations together in such a seamless manner.
Although Jet will always be my favourite, there is something about this farm boy that has made him come a close second. Fantastic writing, smooth pacing, perfect characters - so, yep, I highly recommend this book!
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Yey!!! Gem gets her Happy Ever After! And she really couldn't have chosen a nicer guy. I love Dray, I really do. His commitment to his town, his friends, and his family are wonderful to read about. I love how his relationship with Gem moves quickly and yet also seems perfectly natural.
Things are hotting up for Jaze too though, which is making me long for the last book. I love how Ms. Alsop is able to tie all the different characters and locations together in such a seamless manner.
Although Jet will always be my favourite, there is something about this farm boy that has made him come a close second. Fantastic writing, smooth pacing, perfect characters - so, yep, I highly recommend this book!
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Introduction to Multicopter Design and Control
Book
This book is the first textbook specially on multicopter systems in the world. It provides a...
Creative Cakes: World-Renowned Cake Designer Rosalind Chan Presents 14 Cakes Inspired by Her Journeys Around the Globe
Book
Rosalind Chan is a world-renowned cake decorator who has traveled the globe to bring these 14 cakes...
Make Your Own Zoo: 35 Projects for Kids Using Everyday Cardboard Packaging. Turn Your Recycling into a Zoo!
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Read about Tracey's inspiration for the book and her passion for turning recycling into craft...
Merissa (13575 KP) rated Pieces of Me (Missing Pieces #2) in Books
Jun 26, 2020
Pieces of Me is the second book in the Missing Pieces series and you need to read book one before you start on this one. It starts where book one finished and is a continuation of Justin's recovery and how Dallas is coping with everything and everyone.
Although this has the same characters and situations in it, the story is different enough to keep my attention. Finding out more about what Dallas has to cope with on the business side, plus what Justin deals with, made this all the more real for me. Life is tough without any 'easy answers' magically appearing. Dallas has to rob Peter to pay Paul and juggle his credit cards too. I loved that part, like I said, making it real.
This was a brilliant addition to the series and I thoroughly enjoyed how Dallas and Justin's story moved along at a steady pace. There is a bit more steam in this one as Justin's body and mind start to remember Dallas.
A fantastic story that has me gripped. Can't wait to continue. Absolutely recommended by me.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Although this has the same characters and situations in it, the story is different enough to keep my attention. Finding out more about what Dallas has to cope with on the business side, plus what Justin deals with, made this all the more real for me. Life is tough without any 'easy answers' magically appearing. Dallas has to rob Peter to pay Paul and juggle his credit cards too. I loved that part, like I said, making it real.
This was a brilliant addition to the series and I thoroughly enjoyed how Dallas and Justin's story moved along at a steady pace. There is a bit more steam in this one as Justin's body and mind start to remember Dallas.
A fantastic story that has me gripped. Can't wait to continue. Absolutely recommended by me.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Sarah (7800 KP) rated The Midnight Library in Books
Jan 2, 2021
Thought-provoking but predictable
I really enjoy Matt Haig's writing, both his fiction and his non-fiction, and I couldn't wait to read The Midnight Library - a sci-fi-esque, life affirming story about books is right up my street. And overall, this was worth the wait.
Nora is an endearing and relatable protagonist whose life hasn't turned out the way she wanted, and her list of regrets could fill a whole book (literally as we find out). She decides to end her life and winds up in the Midnight Library, a place that allows her to visit an unending number of alternative lives that resulted from her making different decisions. Now who hasn't wished they could change their past, make a different decision and wonder where they would've ended up? This book is definitely for those that have ever wished this and it's a dream I enjoyed reading.
The problem is that it's very predictable. I knew exactly how this was going to end from the very beginning and whilst the ending is heartwarming and very life affirming, it's a tiny bit of a let down. Which is a shame as the journey through Nora's lives is actually quite interesting.
There's a good message in this about living and appreciating your own life, but I just wish this wasn't so predictable.
Nora is an endearing and relatable protagonist whose life hasn't turned out the way she wanted, and her list of regrets could fill a whole book (literally as we find out). She decides to end her life and winds up in the Midnight Library, a place that allows her to visit an unending number of alternative lives that resulted from her making different decisions. Now who hasn't wished they could change their past, make a different decision and wonder where they would've ended up? This book is definitely for those that have ever wished this and it's a dream I enjoyed reading.
The problem is that it's very predictable. I knew exactly how this was going to end from the very beginning and whilst the ending is heartwarming and very life affirming, it's a tiny bit of a let down. Which is a shame as the journey through Nora's lives is actually quite interesting.
There's a good message in this about living and appreciating your own life, but I just wish this wasn't so predictable.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2456 KP) rated A Chorus Lineup in Books
Jul 31, 2020
Competitions Are Murder
The high school show choir Paige Marshall has been coaching has been invited to the national finals in Nashville. She expects that only complication will be the career making audition back home in Chicago she’s been invited to in the middle of the competition. But that’s before someone sabotages all the team’s costumes and band instruments. Then a murder takes place. Can Paige figure out what is going on?
It's been years since I read the first two books in this series, but I was soon back in Paige’s world thanks to reminders in the text about what had happened before. Some of them do get spoilery, so keep that in mind if you are interested in the series. Thanks to the references, I was able to fully appreciate the character growth in the regulars we saw here. The new characters were just as strong. The plot was good and kept me guessing. I was surprised by a sub-plot that took over in the final quarter, completely slowing down the momentum. But we are then flung back into the mystery for a climax that had me turning pages while it successfully wrapped everything up. It also wrapped up these characters’ arcs, so fans of this series will be able to walk away satisfied with the time we’ve spent with them.
It's been years since I read the first two books in this series, but I was soon back in Paige’s world thanks to reminders in the text about what had happened before. Some of them do get spoilery, so keep that in mind if you are interested in the series. Thanks to the references, I was able to fully appreciate the character growth in the regulars we saw here. The new characters were just as strong. The plot was good and kept me guessing. I was surprised by a sub-plot that took over in the final quarter, completely slowing down the momentum. But we are then flung back into the mystery for a climax that had me turning pages while it successfully wrapped everything up. It also wrapped up these characters’ arcs, so fans of this series will be able to walk away satisfied with the time we’ve spent with them.
Merissa (13575 KP) rated Music & Dreams (The Road to Rocktoberfest 2023) in Books
Oct 30, 2023
MUSIC & DREAMS is part of The Road to Rocktoberfest 2023, a multi-author series. We meet Lorcan and Rogan, the lead singer of a famous band, and the teacher/nanny he hired to look after his daughter. Rogan is attracted to his boss but won't act upon it. Lorcan has feelings for Rogan he is desperately trying to ignore. Until something goes wrong and Lorcan looks after Rogan, unlocking his feelings and making them obvious to everyone, including Amy, his daughter.
Oh, these two. Well, three if I include Amy, which I absolutely have to. So cute. Rogan's insecurities are completely understandable, whilst Lorcan is so very down to earth. Amy is a child who has her eyes wide open and sees everything.
I loved this story. It was everything I needed, from low angst to high steam. I just hope that we get to see the other two find their HEA too! With a smooth pace and no editing errors I noticed, this was a delightful read that kept me turning the pages. Loved every word and HIGHLY recommended by me.
** 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!
Oct 28, 2023
Oh, these two. Well, three if I include Amy, which I absolutely have to. So cute. Rogan's insecurities are completely understandable, whilst Lorcan is so very down to earth. Amy is a child who has her eyes wide open and sees everything.
I loved this story. It was everything I needed, from low angst to high steam. I just hope that we get to see the other two find their HEA too! With a smooth pace and no editing errors I noticed, this was a delightful read that kept me turning the pages. Loved every word and HIGHLY recommended by me.
** 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!
Oct 28, 2023