Search

Search only in certain items:

40x40

Heather Cranmer (2721 KP) created a post

Aug 6, 2021  
Sneak a peek at the poetry book THE FORGOTTEN WORLD by Nick Courtright on my blog. This looks like an interesting read for sure!

https://alltheupsandowns.blogspot.com/2021/08/book-blitz-forgotten-world-by-nick.html

**BOOK SYNOPSIS**
In his third collection, poet Nick Courtright explores the world at large in an effort to reconcile selfhood as an American in the international community, while also seeking anchors for remembering a wider world often lost to view in our shared though increasingly isolated experience of reality.

Beginning in Africa with investigations of religion and love, The Forgotten World then moves to Latin America to tackle colonialism and whiteness. From there it travels to Asia to discuss economic stratification and Europe to explore art and mental health, culminating in a stirring homecoming to troubled America, where family, the future, and what matters most rise to the forefront of consideration.

Through all of it, Courtright displays a deft hand, at once pained, at once bright, to discover that although the wider world seems farther away than before, the lessons it offers are more needed than ever.
     
40x40

Bethr1986 (305 KP) rated Never Let Go in Books

Mar 22, 2023  
Never Let Go
Never Let Go
Lori Duffy Foster | 2022 | Thriller
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Independent Reviewer for Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!


Nick is living his perfect life with his wife Carla and baby Christopher, nothing could be better. He really is contented and, as far as he's concerned, so is his wife. Then she disappears with their son, telling him she doesn't love him anymore but something doesn't sit right with Nick. Nothing is as it seems.


What a brilliantly written book. I seriously didn't want it to end. It had me hooked it was thrilling and suspenseful. I enjoyed the storyline and that it seemed to be more than one story. It didn't get confusing which I find is rare when you do something like that they were all connected in some way. I did find myself, when I got to the end, wanting more pages, I enjoyed it that much.


A recommended read


** 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, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
  
BC
Blue Christmas Balls
7
7.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
6 of 230
Kindle
Blue Christmas Balls
By Nick Spalding

A laugh out loud seasonal novella from Nick Spalding, the bestselling author of the smash hit comedies Fat Chance & Love... From Both Sides.

One man. Three women. Twelve days to achieve Yuletide sexual glory!

Christmas is coming and Matt Bunion is on a mission. Somehow, he's made the huge mistake of remaining a virgin well into his twenties - a grievous error he fully intends to rectify before the Queen's speech starts.

But it's not going to be easy...

What with strange requests to molest living room furniture, painfully inserted action figures, and an extremely festive lady of the night, Matt will be lucky to reach Boxing Day with his pride and manhood still intact.

Ok so it was a little funny but in some parts trying to be too funny! For a novella it wasn’t bad at all I would definitely read more of his work! Don’t think I’ll look at an Ewok without thinking of this book though 😂!
  
AD
A Daring Venture (Empire State, #2)
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
When I read my first Elizabeth Camden book, I had no idea what to expect. Now...Five books later...I can say that the characters and the stories you will find on these pages are like nothing you have read before. Unique characters, settings, and plot...You will want to read all day long. And with A Daring Venture...that's exactly what I did. I listened to the audiobook while cleaning my house for 2 days straight...till I finished it. And I am only sad that I didn't get to spend more time with Rosalind and Nick.

Tensions are high when this story begins. Water purification is something that even to this day people argue and fight about. I love, Love, LOVE, all the sciencey* things that are talked about. There is SO.MUCH.HISTORY. and even a few REAL people that show up on the page. Rosalind is a woman "ahead of her time" as a biochemist in the early 1900s. THIS is the kind of history that draws me in and grabs my attention.

I adore watching the romance unfold. They have a bumpy road, but it wouldn't be realistic if it was all sunshine and roses for Rosalind and Nick. Family drama, unforgiveness, revenge, fear, scandal, secrets...Oh.yes...This is a book you must get into your hands with all urgency!

I received a complimentary copy of A Daring Venture from the publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.
  
40x40

Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2063 KP) rated Much Ado About Nauticaling in Books

Jul 30, 2021 (Updated Jul 30, 2021)  
Much Ado About Nauticaling
Much Ado About Nauticaling
Gabby Allan | 2021 | Mystery
5
5.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I Really Was Hoping to Like This Debut
Whitney “Whit” Dagner and her brother Nick have relocated to Catalina Island. They visited their grandparents out there every summer, and now they are taking over their grandparents’ glass bottom boat business. Additionally, Whit is opening a souvenir shop in the harbor. She is enjoying her new life until she finds the body of Jules Tisdale, the recently named Person of the Year on Catalina. When the police decide that Nick is the killer, Whit jumps in to prove her brother’s innocence. Can she do it?

As soon as I heard about this book, I knew I had to read it. I always love Southern California settings, although it’s been years since I visited Catalina. I certainly did enjoy the setting. Overall, the book was too frenetic, however. It was trying to be funny, but much of the humor didn’t work for me. I did laugh a few times, but overall, it was too much. This effected some of the characters, too, although I did enjoy others. Despite finding the body early on, the pace was uneven, getting better the further we got into the book. While I followed the killer and motive, the ending was rushed and left some questions about earlier twists in the book. I was hoping to love this debut, but it turned out to be average.
  
Warrior (2011)
Warrior (2011)
2011 | Action, Drama
8
8.3 (11 Ratings)
Movie Rating
Tom Hardy (2 more)
Joel Edgerton
Nick Nolte
Let's go to war!
I'm always weary of sporting films especially a new boxing or in this case MMA film but Warrior is a cut above the rest. As stated above, the best part of the film is Hardy, Edgerton and Nolte, their characters have such depth and all have a personal and tragic obstacle to tackle. I found the filming and the setting of the Burgh (Pittsburgh) to be a perfect touch. The films is emotional in multiple places and this is heightened by a excellently selected soundtrack from The National. One to watch again and again. Love it.
  
Soul of Discretion
Soul of Discretion
Susan Mac Nicol, M. Tasia | 2018 | Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance
8
8.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
great collaboration!
I was gifted my copy of this book, direct from the author, that I write a review was not required.

You know how you love a particular author, all their books are mostly 5 stars reviews, and then one comes along that throws you for a loop, and you did not love it, but you cannot figure out why?? This one, right here.

Simon is in Canada to see just what has happened to his money, and more importantly, his friend. His hook-up provides him with some much needed relief. When said hook-up turns out to be the police officer dealing with his friend, both Simon and Nick realise they have to stay apart. But neither man can do that, because each man feels more for the other than just a hook-up. But how can things work, with them living on opposite sides of the world??

I LIKED this, I really did, I just didn't love, and it pains me deeply to say that, and I really don't know why!

I loved Simon, being an Earl, but he doesn't lord it over others. He works hard, makes his millions by working hard and pushing others to work hard for him. Loved Nick, who is, up to now, quite happy in his job as a Mountie. Loved the supporting cast of characters that take part in this story. Loved how they came together, and that they both thought, quite quickly, that there could be more between them.

I just didn't love the story! I did love how Jack, Simon's friend, redeemed himself, and the bad guys got their comeuppence, though.

This is a collaboration between Susan Mac Nicol, and M.Tasia. I LOVE Ms Mac Nicol, but have only read one short by Ms Tasia. I tried really hard to pick out where each author had their say, as it were, but I couldn't find any seams. The changes between each author are smooth and painless and unless you KNOW where they are, you might never be able to pick those seams apart. So, very well done for that!

So, as much as I enjoyed the story, I just didn't love it and for that I'm deeply sorry!

4 stars

**same worded review will appear elsewhere**
  
Heartstopper Volume One
Heartstopper Volume One
Alice Oseman | 2018 | Young Adult (YA)
8
9.2 (5 Ratings)
Book Rating
This review and more can be found at my blog https://aromancereadersreviews.blogspot.com/

A Romance Reader's Reviews

This was a recommendation on Goodreads after finishing Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda so when I saw it on Amazon today as a 99p deal, I just went and bought it. As a graphic novel, it's a quick read and I did find it very cute.

So Charlie is an openly gay young man in an English all-boys school. He's a really good runner and is invited by his form group seating partner, Nick, to join the rugby team as they are needing new players. The pair grow close as they spend time practising the game and talking in their form group and spend time around at each others houses. Charlie quickly falls for Nick but Nick's straight, right?

I did really like this. The storyline was engaging and I really felt for these two characters.

The artwork was a little strange at times but really detailed at others. I loved head on shots, the dog ♡, the trainers/converse near the end.

I would love to continue this at some point since it ended on a bit of a cliffhanger.
  
Crazy Rich Asians (2018)
Crazy Rich Asians (2018)
2018 | Comedy
Gemma Chan (1 more)
Constance Wu
OK. I don't do books, so I wouldn't have been aware of the best selling book that Crazy Rich Asians is based on. I don't usually do rom coms either, but that only tends to be the ones where they're the typical boy and girl hate each other and are thrown together until they love each other type movies. But, I do love a movie that's done well, regardless of genre. And as Crazy Rich Asians continues to receive much hype and success in the US (I'm in the UK), I thought I'd better go and see what all the fuss is about. So, as part of date night with the wife, we decided to go check it out!

Now, for this movie I think the trailer nailed it in terms of what you see is what you're going to get. And in my opinion, I'd say how you feel after seeing the trailer for this movie is a pretty good gauge for how you'll feel about the movie as a whole. Personally, I watched the trailer and I didn't think it looked that great. The story looked mildly interesting, there were some funny characters and some potentially great performances, but there was nothing in the trailer that grabbed me and stuck with me. And that's exactly how I felt about the movie after I'd seen it.

The story centres around Rachel and Nick, both living in New York and having been dating for a while. Nick is due to head home to Singapore for his best friends wedding and has asked Rachel to join him. The opening scene of the movie, featuring Nick as a young child, gives us some insight into how much wealth and power his family possess. We also see how an innocent photo of Nick and Rachel talking in a bar quickly hits Singapore social media, setting thousands of tongues wagging and giving us a pretty good idea just how big a deal Nick and his family are over there. And how much of a talking point it is that Nick is dating a girl raised in America, rather than Asia. It's only when they land in Singapore that Rachel realises the full extent of what she's let herself in for.

Nick is part of a big, rich family, with each family member having their own set of problems and insecurities to deal with. I actually had trouble keeping track of who's who for a while, but one thing this movie does do is allow sufficient time for all family members to be explored and for some particularly strong performances to blossom. Nicks mother Eleanor (Michelle Yeoh) is the one that Rachel is out to impress though, and although she remains polite at all times, it's clear that she doesn't approve. I thought this was going to be a variation of the boy and girl hate each other at first theme that I spoke about earlier, and while it kind of is in a way, it doesn't make for such a fun, easy ride like standard rom coms do.

For me, those strong performances I spoke about came from Gemma Chan as a millionaire cousin with an insecure cheating husband, and Constance Wu as Rachel. Michelle Yeoh is somebody we're probably a bit more familiar with, and she was also outstanding as Nicks mother Eleanor. There are plenty of characters providing comedy relief and bringing the 'crazy' to the films title. Most notably Awkwafina as Rachel’s best friend and Ken Jeong, who seemed slightly subdued for once.

Overall I didn't not enjoy this movie, but then I didn't enjoy it as much as I'd hoped I would either. I laughed, I was entertained, but I felt the movie dragged and stumbled at times, and didn't really elevate itself above just a standard rom com for me.
  
Benjamin's Parasite
Benjamin's Parasite
Jeff Strand | 2015 | Horror, Humor & Comedy
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Black comedy wrapped in body horror
I love body horror. I always have. And I like Jeff Strand. He's funny and articulate, and his stories pack a hell of a punch. Benjamin's Parasite is no different. Benjamin, an unassuming English teacher, is infected by a parasite that both ravages his body and makes him want to do Bad Things. He's kidnapped by Julie, a beautiful but inept bounty hunter, as they're tracked across the country by people who want the specimen back.

Imagine Nick Cutter's "The Troop" if it was written by Simon Pegg. This is a really fun read, and I recommend it to anyone who isn't too squeamish and loves a good horror comedy.