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I received this novel in exchange for an honest review.

I would like to say this was a cute romance novella but the heroine was too frustrating. Actually, both leads were but male protagonist’s was more understandable. The couple fell in love but, due to their relationship, are not allowed to be together. However, they still act like they are together, e.i. jealousy, touching, etc. That was all fine and dandy, but the female lead was too childish for me. Not to mention she seemed to cry on nearly every page. I don’t mind tears, they realistic. But this novel had too much.

Also for being the first in the series, there isn’t much background information. While it’s not absolutely necessary, it would have been much appreciated.

The author created a interesting universe with realistic characters (even though they weren’t my favorites). It ends with a pretty hot scene, but is overall pretty tame.
  
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Awix (3310 KP) rated Eddie The Eagle (2016) in Movies

Feb 17, 2018 (Updated Feb 17, 2018)  
Eddie The Eagle (2016)
Eddie The Eagle (2016)
2016 | Comedy
5
7.6 (11 Ratings)
Movie Rating
Rather baffling sports comedy bio-pic from the producers of the Kingsman series; shares several key personnel and obsession with reverse snobbery. Working class lad dreams of becoming Olympian, is cruelly rejected by posh sports authorities, battles adversity to come a heroic last at the Olympics.

Theoretically based on a true story, but the actual facts of Michael Edwards' life are almost entirely discarded: the most interesting character in the film is his trainer (Jackman), who isn't even a real person. The film seems more concerned with endlessly banging on about how awful the upper classes are and presenting Edwards as a loveable clown; it's not as if this actually helps the film, because it's not really very funny. Deploys various sports movie clichés reasonably effectively; the fact that the climax is presented not as 'can he win?' but 'can he avoid killing himself?' is implicitly amusing, I suppose. Potentially an interesting topic for a film; not in this version, though.
  
HE
Hard Eight (Stephanie Plum, #8)
Janet Evanovich | 2002 | Fiction & Poetry
10
7.3 (7 Ratings)
Book Rating
After my disappointment with the last installment in the Stephanie Plum series, I was happy to see Evanovich bring it in Hard Eight. This book was much more engaging than the last. I couldn't put it down.
The sexual tension between Ranger & Stephanie finally came to a head (no pum intended). But of course there's still Morelli popping up when least expected & always managing to find his way into her heart or her pants in no particular order.
The plot of this book was fast paced. I am really enjoying that Stephanie's sister Valerie is back in Jersey & figured rather prominently into the story line. This particular plot was a bit more developed than that of the other books in the series. There were more twists & turns in this one which made it a more engaging read in my eyes. I like not being sure what's coming & Evanovich defintely didn't disappoint in that aspect!
  
BI
Brothers in Arms
Iain Gale | 2010
4
4.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Sold with the tag-line "If you like Sharpe, Jack Steel is your man", it's not hard to see the influence of Bernard Cornwell's eponymous hero on this novel: the only real difference beng that, while Sharpe is set during the Napoleonic Wars, this novel (the third in a series, apparently), is set during the Wars of Marlborough (1702 - 1713).

However, an unlike a Sharpe novel, this one never really gripped me: I never really seemed to connect with the title character at all. While it is written as one, this book could also easily be split into three main sections: the first part concentrating on the battle of Oudenarde, the middle part with Steel going undercover in Paris, and the final part with the siege of Lille: it's just a pity that none of these really grips and so, while I may read some more in the series, I won't be going out of my way to look for them.
  
SS
Shattered Spear (The Lost Stars, #4)
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Fourth entry in Jack Campbell/John Hemrys spin-off series from 'The Lost Fleet' series (and I've lost count of what entry number this is in total), this is set back in what-used-to-be Syndicate Space, with The Syndicate themselves (as always) coming across as Stalin-era Soviets.

While they do put in an appearance, they're not actually the maion threat in this entry - rather, that is provided in the form of the alien Enigmas who, previous novels have shown, are to blame for the centuries-long war between The Alliance and The Syndicate and who, in this, are pushing into/trying to gain a toe-hold on a planet that falls with Human space.

All of which is a long way of saying: more of the same; more political machinations, space battles (in 'real-time' (as it were), and more ground battles.

A bit of a guilty pleasure, in short.
  
The X-Files: Cold Cases
The X-Files: Cold Cases
Joe Harris | 2019
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
The X Files was a big part of my teenage years.

And, frankly, I don't remember it being this explicit about the alien conspiracies, cover-ups, etc, etc …

More of a radio show than an audio book, this has David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson returning to their signature roles as Mulder and Scully respectively, alongside several other characters who 'died' in the series proper. It's also very 'episodic' - so was the TV show, alongside the larger occasional mythology episodes - although there is a narrative through-line throughout it all.

To be honest, I also found myself fast forwarding (or listening at sped-up speed) to large parts of it: I'm not sure whether it was the content, or because this misses a key component of the TV series (The visuals, and the lighting), but to me this was only OK: nothing in it that would make me want to rush out and purchase the sequel. A pity.
  
Scarlet (The Lunar Chronicles, #2)
Scarlet (The Lunar Chronicles, #2)
Marissa Meyer | 2013 | Fiction & Poetry
8
8.4 (36 Ratings)
Book Rating
This was a great continuation of the story, however, I feel it suffered a bit from middle book syndrome - ie, where is purpose is to move the overall series plot forward, and so neglected to find its own internal arch. This resulted with a slightly unsatisfying feelings. This won't matter in the long run, as I'm still intrigued and captured by the series plotting, but as a stand alone it lacks a little bit of spark. Also, still no world building as to what causes Cyborgs to be reviled, though still not a deal breaker it would be nice if this was explained. Prejudices generally don't stem from pure revulsion. There's always some kind of warped logic or distortion of history. In my head canon it's that cyborg technology came about following the fourth world war, and the disgust at the horrors of that war, linked to all the now cyborg ex soldiers fueled the prejudice.
  
This series keeps getting better and better!

So many things grabbed me about this one: Sicarius and Sespian growing a little closer, that one (slightly) hot scene between Sicarius and Amaranthe, Akstyr's growth as a person: no longer the whiney young man he used to be...the group has just grown as a whole and I'm glad I followed their journey.

I'm still holding out for some more hot scenes between Sicarius and Amaranthe *fingers crossed* but after the ending of this and the journey they're going to go on to make everything right, I have a feeling there may not be any *sighs*

Nevertheless this is turning into one of my all time favourite series' ever! Lindsay Buroker you are a genius and I cant wait to read more of your work. Think I'll need a bit of a break in between though, lol, because they are emotionally tiring at times.
  
Pucked Off (Pucked #5)
Pucked Off (Pucked #5)
Helena Hunting | 2017 | Erotica, Humor & Comedy, Romance
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Pucked Off is the story of the sweet and haunted Lance and sports physio Poppy. Lance met Poppy when he was at his lowest, recovering not only from a sports injury playing ice hockey, but also when he was struggling to recover from the emotional abuse that seemed to follow him through his life.

Whilst this is predominantly part of a comical and erotic driven romance series, there is something sweet about this edition to the series. It allows this kind genuine man, surrounded by his "family" of ice hockey players and their partners,getting the girl of his dreams, a girl who will nurture and support him even on his darkest days. But will it be smooth running? Will it be a happy ending?

Helena Hunting again demonstrates her sense of humour and wickedness with Pucked Off, leaving the reader in stitches whilst their heart melts. Really enjoyed this story and couldn't think of a cuter pair!