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Jessica Erdas (463 KP) rated Circus of the Damned (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter, #3) in Books
Sep 10, 2018
As I've said of the first two novels in this series, there are quite a few grammatical errors in these books. Not to mention, the repeated dialogue in all of them. That being said, the story is pretty solid and action packed. I like that the main character is so human for lack of a better word. She is regularly injured and carries scars from each injury instead of fully healing like in other novels. She is small but feisty and very easy to like. I do wish there were more romance or even just sex in the stories. It ramps up towards it but seems to fall short just before anything good happens. I've heard that this will change as you progress through the series but I find myself a little frustrated that I've made it through three books without much romantic progress in the storyline.
Deborah (162 KP) rated A Duke's Temptation (Boscastle #10; The Bridal Pleasures #1) in Books
Dec 21, 2018
This is the first in the new Bridal Pleasures series by Jillian Hunter, but it starts off with our heroine, Lily, who is from a junior branch of the infamous Boscastle clan!
The basic idea of this book, with the hero as a secret author of a series of gothic-fantasy novels is great and the concept does work well - the acting out of scenes is fun! However, I find that there is something missing here compared to other books I've read by Hunter. I think it's maybe that there isn't a huge feeling of jeopardy? When the villain comes in for a dramatic moment near the end it does seem to be a bit pointless and it's neither completely unexpected and therefore a dramatic shock, or really built up to with the ratcheting of the tension.
So overall it's not a bad book, but I think it could have been better. I had a few '??!?' moments in the reading.
The basic idea of this book, with the hero as a secret author of a series of gothic-fantasy novels is great and the concept does work well - the acting out of scenes is fun! However, I find that there is something missing here compared to other books I've read by Hunter. I think it's maybe that there isn't a huge feeling of jeopardy? When the villain comes in for a dramatic moment near the end it does seem to be a bit pointless and it's neither completely unexpected and therefore a dramatic shock, or really built up to with the ratcheting of the tension.
So overall it's not a bad book, but I think it could have been better. I had a few '??!?' moments in the reading.
Management: A Very Short Introduction
Book
John Hendry, a leading management scholar, looks at the nature and practice of Management in this...
Take a Bandana: 16 Beautiful Projects for Your Home
Book
This book features 16 fresh and contemporary sewing projects for the home and garden created with...
TravelersWife4Life (31 KP) rated Secret Beach Boyfriend (Merriweather Island #3) in Books
Feb 23, 2021
Secret Beach Boyfriend in the newest installment from The Independence Island Series (book 3) and it did not disappoint! It can be read as a standalone. Kari Trumbo is a new to me author and I enjoyed her writing style. She brought more of the Merriweather Islands to life with great descriptions and new friends!
I loved Annie and Rafe, their chemistry was fun, engaging, and well laid out. Kari Trumbo covered some tough topics with them and integrated them in a compelling and straightforward way. From a dysfunctional family to OCD I enjoyed the dynamics of the characters and the interesting plot. A great addition to The Independence Island Series.
I give this book 4 out of 5 stars for the creative characters, the emotional tugs, and for pointing the reader back to Christ.
*I volunteered to read this book in return for my honest feedback. The thoughts and opinions expressed within are my own.
I loved Annie and Rafe, their chemistry was fun, engaging, and well laid out. Kari Trumbo covered some tough topics with them and integrated them in a compelling and straightforward way. From a dysfunctional family to OCD I enjoyed the dynamics of the characters and the interesting plot. A great addition to The Independence Island Series.
I give this book 4 out of 5 stars for the creative characters, the emotional tugs, and for pointing the reader back to Christ.
*I volunteered to read this book in return for my honest feedback. The thoughts and opinions expressed within are my own.
David McK (3755 KP) rated Skulduggery Pleasant in Books
Jan 26, 2024
The first in Derek Landy's 'Skulduggery Pleasant' series, which I decided to borrow recently from Kindle Unlimited.
I read (or heard) somewhere that this was attempting to be the heir to the Harry potter crown, and I can definitely see the similarities: a secret world alongside our own full of magic, where a dark sorcerer wants to gain control over the mortal world, and where a young pre-teen is introduced to the world and has (to them) unknown connections to it already, and some unpleasant relatives...
However, unlike the Harry Potter series, this is primarily set in and around Dublin (rather than London) - and so, to me, is closer to home - while the home life of the protagonist is far more settled: she's not an orphan, and lives with her family.
I also found Skulduggery Pleasant to be more of an interesting character than Dumbledore, as well as playing a far larger role in the proceedings.
Finally, I may yet read more of these.
I read (or heard) somewhere that this was attempting to be the heir to the Harry potter crown, and I can definitely see the similarities: a secret world alongside our own full of magic, where a dark sorcerer wants to gain control over the mortal world, and where a young pre-teen is introduced to the world and has (to them) unknown connections to it already, and some unpleasant relatives...
However, unlike the Harry Potter series, this is primarily set in and around Dublin (rather than London) - and so, to me, is closer to home - while the home life of the protagonist is far more settled: she's not an orphan, and lives with her family.
I also found Skulduggery Pleasant to be more of an interesting character than Dumbledore, as well as playing a far larger role in the proceedings.
Finally, I may yet read more of these.
LeftSideCut (3776 KP) rated Friday the 13th Part V: A New Beginning (1985) in Movies
Nov 29, 2020
Part V of the Friday the 13th franchise is an absolute blast, and no one can tell me otherwise. Is it silly? Definitely. Does it go overboard with its goofy characters a little too often? Damn right it does (pretty sure someone gets called "a dildo" at one point) Are there better Friday films out there? Yes sir, but none of this stops the fact that Part V is a decent, entertaining, smack bang middle of the 80s slasher.
The killer this time around isn't Jason Voorhees, even if it is only by name, and this "mystery" surrounding the killers identity achieves two things - 1. It adds a whodunnit element to the series, otherwise only ever seen in the original and 2. It keeps the killer offscreen for most of the runtime, saving budget costs by not showing much in terms of kills (although that belt against the tree death is a doozy). This results in a less gory sequel, especially after the more brutal Part IV, but it's not a big issue. The whole thing almost feels like an R-Rated episode of Scooby-Doo. The reveal of the killer is definitely weak though. Not enough set up means and underwhelming payoff.
There are soooooooo many characters in this. I swear there are still new ones being introduced up until the last 20 minutes, and they're all just body count fodder for "Jason". Not necessarily a bad thing, pretty standard practice by now. I did like little Reckless Reggie. That dude is awesome. Way more awesome than Tommy Jarvis, who is just a whiny bitch for the whole runtime. Thankfully Thom Mathews is just around the corner.
It's not the best Friday movie, but far from being the worst. As far as 80s slashers go, it's damn good time.
The killer this time around isn't Jason Voorhees, even if it is only by name, and this "mystery" surrounding the killers identity achieves two things - 1. It adds a whodunnit element to the series, otherwise only ever seen in the original and 2. It keeps the killer offscreen for most of the runtime, saving budget costs by not showing much in terms of kills (although that belt against the tree death is a doozy). This results in a less gory sequel, especially after the more brutal Part IV, but it's not a big issue. The whole thing almost feels like an R-Rated episode of Scooby-Doo. The reveal of the killer is definitely weak though. Not enough set up means and underwhelming payoff.
There are soooooooo many characters in this. I swear there are still new ones being introduced up until the last 20 minutes, and they're all just body count fodder for "Jason". Not necessarily a bad thing, pretty standard practice by now. I did like little Reckless Reggie. That dude is awesome. Way more awesome than Tommy Jarvis, who is just a whiny bitch for the whole runtime. Thankfully Thom Mathews is just around the corner.
It's not the best Friday movie, but far from being the worst. As far as 80s slashers go, it's damn good time.
Merissa (13931 KP) rated Kiss of Forever (Shadow Creek #3) in Books
Aug 24, 2017
Kiss of Forever (Shadow Creek #3) by Leah Blake
The Shadow Creek series is one that I am loving. Kiss of Forever is the third book in the series, and this time we focus on the Alpha of Shadow Creek, Raul, and the enigmatic vampire, Victor. After reading Vuk and Ashly's book, you know that these two are intertwined somehow, but it's only once you start reading Raul's side of things that you learn just what he has done for the past 20 years to protect Victor. Yeesh, that man has a will of iron! Okay, so he had some magical help, but still...
Victor doesn't know why Raul has rejected him for so long, and now that Raul is sick, and getting sicker by the hour, he can't bear to see him in pain. Not once does Victor come across as a 'poor me' type of guy, desperately clinging onto someone who doesn't want. Instead, we see someone who has a will just as strong as the Alpha, who just wants the truth.
The story is more in-depth in this one, as we learn the twists and turns that have landed Raul and Victor in their positions. Pairs from previous stories also play a part in this story, although Vuk and Ashly get more of a mention simply due to who they are. This was exceedingly well-written, with no editing or grammatical errors that disrupted my reading flow. I think there is still so much more to come, and I have no hesitation in recommending this book and the series.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and my comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Victor doesn't know why Raul has rejected him for so long, and now that Raul is sick, and getting sicker by the hour, he can't bear to see him in pain. Not once does Victor come across as a 'poor me' type of guy, desperately clinging onto someone who doesn't want. Instead, we see someone who has a will just as strong as the Alpha, who just wants the truth.
The story is more in-depth in this one, as we learn the twists and turns that have landed Raul and Victor in their positions. Pairs from previous stories also play a part in this story, although Vuk and Ashly get more of a mention simply due to who they are. This was exceedingly well-written, with no editing or grammatical errors that disrupted my reading flow. I think there is still so much more to come, and I have no hesitation in recommending this book and the series.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and my comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Merissa (13931 KP) rated Over Raging Tides (Lady Pirates, #1) in Books
Jun 11, 2018
Over Raging Tides (Lady Pirates, #1) by Jennifer Ellision
Over Raging Tides is the first book in the Lady Pirates series, and going by this one, I can't wait to continue with this series. Grace has been a pirate since the age of seven, and is now Quartermaster and First Mate of Lady Luck, a pirate ship with an all-female crew. There is rivalry between her and Celia, the other woman who wanted the Quartermaster role. Grace's mother was taken from her when she was younger, by creatures of the sea that aren't friendly! Everyone presumes she is dead, including her love, the Captain of the ship. Things get interesting when Grace rescues two brothers from the Mordgris and brings them on-board. Her life changes and she sees things she never saw before.
This story was amazing and gripped me from the very start. The world building is amazing, and rich in history. The characters are well developed, although obviously some are more than others. One of my favourite characters is Sam, and I can't wait to see what she will do next. There were no editing or grammatical errors that disrupted my reading flow, and the pacing was very smooth.
One word for you though - cliffhanger! This is the first book in the series so it does end with one almighty cliffhanger that will leave you wanting book two immediately. Unfortunately for me, it's not actually released yet, so I will have to wait oh-so-patiently!
For a clean, nautical adventure, with magic, mayhem, and a good dosing of rum, then I can highly recommend this book! Another corker by Jennifer Ellision.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and my comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
This story was amazing and gripped me from the very start. The world building is amazing, and rich in history. The characters are well developed, although obviously some are more than others. One of my favourite characters is Sam, and I can't wait to see what she will do next. There were no editing or grammatical errors that disrupted my reading flow, and the pacing was very smooth.
One word for you though - cliffhanger! This is the first book in the series so it does end with one almighty cliffhanger that will leave you wanting book two immediately. Unfortunately for me, it's not actually released yet, so I will have to wait oh-so-patiently!
For a clean, nautical adventure, with magic, mayhem, and a good dosing of rum, then I can highly recommend this book! Another corker by Jennifer Ellision.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and my comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Merissa (13931 KP) rated Dexterity Check (Dungeons and Dating #5) in Books
Feb 21, 2023
Those damned Care Bears!
DEXTERITY CHECK is the fifth book in the Dungeons and Dating series, and really needs to be read in order to get the full benefit. This is a 5-star series, simple as that.
The thing I adore about this author is, no matter which book I'm reading, it's always my favourite. Does that mean I'm fickle? I'd like to think not. I'd like to think her writing is just that good! This series has been a hit with me from the beginning, and each book is on my "To Buy as Paperback/Hardback" list as I need to have the real thing.
Arjun and Eli balance each other out in so many ways but are both too stubborn to admit it. So similar in so many ways, and yet it is the differences that make them work so well together.
I will say this was a highly emotional book for me. First one strike (Arjun), then another (Eli), and then the final one (Arjun). Three strikes and I was down. Eyes leaking with no end in sight. Those damned Care Bears have done it again. I won't give any clues because you need to read it for yourself.
This has been a fantastic book and I really don't want it to be over. Only one more book to go and then it looks like re-reads are in my future. Ten out of five stars for sheer brilliance. A MUST-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. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
The thing I adore about this author is, no matter which book I'm reading, it's always my favourite. Does that mean I'm fickle? I'd like to think not. I'd like to think her writing is just that good! This series has been a hit with me from the beginning, and each book is on my "To Buy as Paperback/Hardback" list as I need to have the real thing.
Arjun and Eli balance each other out in so many ways but are both too stubborn to admit it. So similar in so many ways, and yet it is the differences that make them work so well together.
I will say this was a highly emotional book for me. First one strike (Arjun), then another (Eli), and then the final one (Arjun). Three strikes and I was down. Eyes leaking with no end in sight. Those damned Care Bears have done it again. I won't give any clues because you need to read it for yourself.
This has been a fantastic book and I really don't want it to be over. Only one more book to go and then it looks like re-reads are in my future. Ten out of five stars for sheer brilliance. A MUST-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. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!