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Broken Heart Questioned (Bella and the Beast Master #5)
Broken Heart Questioned (Bella and the Beast Master #5)
Sarah Westill | 2025 | Mystery, Paranormal, Romance
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
BROKEN HEART QUESTIONED is the fifth novella in the Bella and the Beast Master series. You will need to read the others in this series to get the full enjoyment, but if it's just the mystery part you're after, then you 'could' read it as a standalone, but seriously - Why?

Markus returns to Bella after being called away for a few months. He has missed her desperately. Bella has also missed him just as much, but she's also had other things on her mind. Such as trying to keep the contents of her stomach from making a reappearance. Not only that, but those d@mned hormones are making life difficult. So maybe it's not the best time to investigate on behalf of someone who has been accused of murdering five women.

Do you know my favourite part of this book? Well, all of it, obviously, but THE favouritest part? Those hormones! Do you have any idea how wonderful it is to read about a pregnancy where everything isn't all sunshine and roses? For some, it is, yes, but not for everyone. So reading about how difficult it can make just day-to-day living was fantastic and something completely relatable.

I can't wait to read whatever comes next from this amazing author, and HIGHLY RECOMMEND both this series and the Gen-Heirs: The Guardians of Sziveria series. Simply superb!

** 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!
Jul 1, 2025
  
The Sixth Man (King & Maxwell, #5)
The Sixth Man (King & Maxwell, #5)
David Baldacci | 2011 | Fiction & Poetry
8
8.7 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
This is the first of the Michelle Maxwell & Sean King series that I have read. I'm not normally someone who picks up a book from the middle of series...I like to read all the way through starting at book 1. However, not knowing any of the "back story" didn't harm my enjoyment of this book at all.
The premise of the book is very cloak & dagger stuff...Dept of Homeland Security, Cabinet memebers, federal prisoners, etc. There were a few places in the book that dragged a bit, but all in all it was a page turner from the outset. Maxwell & King are dynamic lead characters with more twists & turns than you can imagine. There is also a strong chemistry/attraction between them. Baldacci does a great job of putting that aspect out there without making it too sappy, something I hate in spy/action novels.
All told I really look forward to reading more books in this series, even if it means I have to read them out of order!
  
Game Of Thrones - Season 8
Game Of Thrones - Season 8
2019 | Action, Drama, Fantasy
Amazing battle scenes (0 more)
The writing (1 more)
The conclusion for many characters
Not the ending we hoped for
It's been a long time coming and expectations were very high for this final series to one of the best TV shows ever made. It really shows that this series goes past where the books ended I believe. It's only 6 episodes long despite some being over an hour long. Yet it feels rushed and short of content. When you have had 7 series to build up so many story and characters arcs, it feels rushed bringing it all to an end so quickly. Some storylines just don't pan out as expected. Some of them just don't seem to fit at all, others were far too short. Despite all of this it still has some amazing scenes and action, great SFX and still manages to surprise you with what happens as it always has done. Such a shame it has come to an end. So it's not the ending many hoped for but it has been an epic ride along the way.
  
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The Marinated Meeple (1853 KP) May 21, 2019

Well Put

My Masked Shield (Beautiful Stalkers #4)
My Masked Shield (Beautiful Stalkers #4)
Arden Hart | 2026 | Contemporary, Erotica, Romance
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
MY MASKED SHIELD is the fourth book in the Beautiful Stalkers series, finishing with Basia, whom we've met in previous books. She's got a stalker, and not the good kind, but more the sending body parts through the post kind. Along comes Caleb, ex Green Beret, here to save the day. It's not the daytime when you need to keep an eye on him, though...

There's something here for everyone, if BDSM and somno is your cup of tea! Caleb didn't stalk Basia, as the others did their women, but I guess that's because she already had one. Instead, they both get their rocks off in a different way.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story, especially the way it brought all four men together. It leaves a new series wide open, while finishing this one off nicely. It wasn't my favourite of the series, but I still definitely recommend it.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Jan 15, 2026
  
A Good Day To Die Hard (2013)
A Good Day To Die Hard (2013)
2013 | Action
To me, the original Die Hard (1988) was the birth of the modern action movie that we now take for granted. We have a seeming normal everyman in Bruce Willis, playing a likable but tough as nails NYPD cop John McClane, who just happens to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. (Yes, Story if his life.) The street smart hero uses whatever resources he could muster to become a thorn in the side of an intelligent and sophisticated villain, while dropping a few comedy one-liners along the way. This being the 5th installment of the Die Hard series the formula seems to be working, only not as well as past films in the series.

As a fan of the series there are many things this film does well. The soon to be 58 Willis is still as likeable as ever as John McClane. The film does a good job of making fun of his age just enough to make you feel that he is old, but not TOO old. The improbable action is as big as ever which leads to mass destruction in typical John McClane fashion. This action helps the 97min runtime feel fast paced and fun. Also Jai Courtney (Jack Reacher) plays John’s son CIA agent Jack McClane and actually plays strong against Willis. The whole father-son dynamic is interesting and gives some new depth to this familiar character. This dynamic leads up to a redeeming moment for John McClane that makes you wonder if this is Willis’s swan song in the series and if the reins are being passed to Courtney?

As a fan of the series there are many things this film does not do well. Perhaps the most notable are the lack luster one-liner jokes that always seem to stand out in the previous films. They exist, however they are not really that funny. Also the same joke was recycled over and over that by the end I do not recall laughing about anything in the final 40 mins of the film. Perhaps my biggest complaint is that the villain in this film is vanilla. So plain that I do not care to even look up his name. Just know that if you are a fan of the film he is nowhere near the Brilliance of the characters Hans Gruber or even Simon Gruber in previous films. And for this series that is a big problem. We know John McClane is a bad ass, but what is the point of all his destruction if he is not using it to stomp someone who is equally menacing.

In the end I can say that this film is a guilty pleasure that I enjoyed. It is far from a good movie but fans of the series and anyone just looking to watch a run of the mill action flick will be entertained. Leading up to this film I watch the previous four films and I have to say that this film is better than Die Hard 2: Die Harder and Live Free and Die Hard but behind the Die Hard With A Vengeance and far behind the original Die Hard. If you have never seen a Die Hard film, do yourself a favor and use the price of admission to rent the original.
  
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Awix (3310 KP) rated X-Men: Dark Phoenix (2019) in Movies

Jun 6, 2019 (Updated Jun 6, 2019)  
X-Men: Dark Phoenix (2019)
X-Men: Dark Phoenix (2019)
2019 | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
Final main-sequence entry in a film series that made a lot of noise about celebrating difference is likely to be met with indifference (at best). The sense that the X-Men franchise has finally run out of steam is only emphasised by the fact that this is another swing at the Dark Phoenix storyline, which somehow manages to be even less satisfying than the first time they did it.

A thin script and lacklustre direction are mainly to blame; there is the odd decent moment but they are not strung together effectively. Most of the X-Men feel like cardboard cut-outs this time. The usual charisma and acting skill is also largely absent, with only Michael Fassbender making much of an impression. I think it's fair to say that without the X-Men series there would not have been the MCU movies, so this franchise's place in history is assured - but the superhero movie has, ironically, evolved, and this film feels very tired and irrelevant.
  
The Blood King (Inferno Rising #2)
The Blood King (Inferno Rising #2)
Abigail Owen | 2020 | Paranormal, Romance
7
8.5 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
Characters (2 more)
The flying & use of powers
Sky fights
I predicted things (1 more)
Too stubborn on the wrong things
This is the second book of the series. I have not read the first, but was able to follow along fairly well while realizing that this wasn't the first part if the story. I didn't get lost and was able to piece together most of the missing information. The few gaps I still had that book one probably filled didn't detract me from enjoying the story.
Stubborn characters are great, mostly.
The characters where fun and there are a lot of humorous bits, as well as, steamy ones.
 I won't be buying this series (unless I get it secondhand cheap) but I would check it out at the library. And can see how others would love it.
It has a bit more romance than I usually like and I did know this so I didn't (tried not to) over bias myself.
  
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Stacy (3 KP) rated The Black Witch in Books

Jun 17, 2018  
The Black Witch
The Black Witch
Laurie Forest | 2017 | Science Fiction/Fantasy, Young Adult (YA)
10
9.6 (7 Ratings)
Book Rating
Very well written and will leave you begging for the sequel!!
This is an amazing book...the first series I have been super excited about in a long time. The characters are very multi-dimensional with good and bad traits. You take a journey with the main character, Elloren, and see the world and other characters the way she does. The author is phenomenal at showing versus telling so you see the world that she has created and feel the history behind all of the cultures.

I have not been this excited about a series since Harry Potter. I have read this book 3 times and cannot wait until The Light Mage and The Iron Flower are available!!!
  
The Assassin's Blade: The Throne of Glass Novellas
The Assassin's Blade: The Throne of Glass Novellas
Sarah J. Maas | 2014 | Children
10
8.6 (21 Ratings)
Book Rating
Everything! Story plot is top notch, characters background is great, couldn't have written it better myself. (0 more)
Emotional yet exciting read.
Okay, why did I wait to pick this series up. Seriously. It's just so good! Sarah J. Maas just knows how to pull at your heart strings and every emotion known to man (and woman). I cried, I cursed at the characters, I was happy. I was not expecting this serious to be held dearly to my heart so soon. But only being a book in, this is a series that I will read over and over again. Well-written, great plot, a great background of the characters. I can't wait to see where Celaena's adventure takes her!
  
A Court of Thorns and Roses
A Court of Thorns and Roses
Sarah J. Maas | 2015 | Young Adult (YA)
9
8.7 (108 Ratings)
Book Rating
4.5 stars

I wasnt sure about this for a long time. I started book three in the authors Throne of Glass series and had to put it on hold because I wasn't in the mood and that has to be about a year ago now and I still haven't picked it back up.

But this, though the start dragged so little, quickly pulled me in. Once she got taken by the fae--not my favourite creature to read about at all--I was quickly engrossed in it. The storyline was weaved together brilliantly and I was hooked.

I'm looking forward to reading more of this series but it'll have to wait till it gets cheaper in price, I think.