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David McK (3695 KP) rated The Rebel Killer in Books
Mar 21, 2019
The latest (at the time of reviewing) of Paul Fraser Collard's Jack Lark series, which I see is still being advertised as 'Sharpe meets The Talented Mt Ripley': while that may have been true of the early novels, I feel - now - that Jack Lark has more of his own identity.
Which is, perhaps, ironic in a series where the central conceit is the main character is an imposter.
In this one Jack is not the only imposter: without giving away too much, he sets himself on a trail of revenge whilst wearing the uniform of a Confederate Officer (as opposed to that of a Union officer he wore in the last novel) during the American Civil War. I say wearing, as that is all it really is to him: simply a means towards an end.
Culminating in the battle of Shiloh, Jack definitely seems to have a knack for finding himself caught up in all the great military happenings of his time!
Which is, perhaps, ironic in a series where the central conceit is the main character is an imposter.
In this one Jack is not the only imposter: without giving away too much, he sets himself on a trail of revenge whilst wearing the uniform of a Confederate Officer (as opposed to that of a Union officer he wore in the last novel) during the American Civil War. I say wearing, as that is all it really is to him: simply a means towards an end.
Culminating in the battle of Shiloh, Jack definitely seems to have a knack for finding himself caught up in all the great military happenings of his time!
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2478 KP) rated The Mystery of the Antique Doll (Trixie Belden, #36) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
A new antique shop has opened in Sleepyside, and when Trixie and Honey visit the shop, they find Carl, the owner, rude. But Trixie really gets suspicious when he asks them to do him a favor on a weekend trip to Paris, and they find themselves being followed after doing it. What have they stumbled into?
While not among my least favorites in the series, I certainly do see the flaws. The plot drives the book more than logic and the author has to twist things around in pretty painful ways to get to the climax. Having said that, I do enjoy the climax, and I think the idea behind the mystery was good. Some of the series regulars are reduced to cameos, and this is the infamous books where Trixie knits.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/07/book-review-mystery-of-antique-doll-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
While not among my least favorites in the series, I certainly do see the flaws. The plot drives the book more than logic and the author has to twist things around in pretty painful ways to get to the climax. Having said that, I do enjoy the climax, and I think the idea behind the mystery was good. Some of the series regulars are reduced to cameos, and this is the infamous books where Trixie knits.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/07/book-review-mystery-of-antique-doll-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Pilgrim's Rome: A Blue Guide Travel Monograph
6.0
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Book
A guide to Rome's Christian monuments, explained and put into context by an examination of the...
George Clarke's More Amazing Spaces
Jane Field-Lewis and George Clarke
Book
Published in October to coincide with the launch of the fourth Amazing Spaces series, this second...
Terrible Old Games You've Probably Never Heard of
Book
Terrible Old Games You've Probably Never Heard Of is a full-colour illustrated compendium of the...
Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated Siren's Surrender (Dark Tides #2) in Books
Jan 6, 2021
of 250
Kindle
Siren’s Surrender ( Dark Tides book 2)
By Devyn Quinn
Once read a review will be written via Smashbomb and link posted in comments
Never embracing her mermaid heritage, Gwen Lonike lives in the human world as the owner of a Maine B&B. But when the gateway to a lost mermaid kingdom is opened, freeing its dangerous queen, Gwen can no longer hide, nor keep her secret from covert agent Blake Whittaker, who's assigned to trail a strange thread of paranormal activity.
How long can Gwen and her sisters remain safe from a destructive queen, and from Blake's superiors, whose ultimate mission could prove the greatest threat of all?
This is the second in the series and I did enjoy it but not as much as the first! The end felt a bit rushed and the stay in federal custody seemed to go on about things we really didn’t care about! But we got to see Gwen find her love! An enjoyable series!
Kindle
Siren’s Surrender ( Dark Tides book 2)
By Devyn Quinn
Once read a review will be written via Smashbomb and link posted in comments
Never embracing her mermaid heritage, Gwen Lonike lives in the human world as the owner of a Maine B&B. But when the gateway to a lost mermaid kingdom is opened, freeing its dangerous queen, Gwen can no longer hide, nor keep her secret from covert agent Blake Whittaker, who's assigned to trail a strange thread of paranormal activity.
How long can Gwen and her sisters remain safe from a destructive queen, and from Blake's superiors, whose ultimate mission could prove the greatest threat of all?
This is the second in the series and I did enjoy it but not as much as the first! The end felt a bit rushed and the stay in federal custody seemed to go on about things we really didn’t care about! But we got to see Gwen find her love! An enjoyable series!
Rituals (Cainsville, #5)
9.5
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The fifth book and the exciting conclusion to bestselling author Kelley Armstrong's...
The Anomaly
7.7
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Book
Not all secrets are meant to be found. If Indiana Jones lived in the X-Files era, he might bear...
Debbiereadsbook (1650 KP) rated Tor (The Hawks #4) in Books
Dec 3, 2021
this series gets better and better!!
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.
This is book 4 in the hawks Series and you really SHOULD read Tristan, Val and Mathos before this one. There is an ongoing story arc through these books and much is not fully recapped.
Tor took a shine to Keeley when he rescued her from Ballinor's grip. They have chemistry but it takes time for them to give in to that. Tor, the big Apollyon that he is, messes up BIGTIME and more than once. Keeley takes everything he says direct to her heart, but it's only later she realises that she has taken things all out of context and now what is she supposed to do?!
It was clear, from the moment we met Keeley in book 2, I think she pops up in, that she and Tor were made for each other. Having the story from THEIR points of view, makes you see things so much clearer.
It took me a while to piece together what Keeley was trying to say, I was so engrossed in the story I think I forgot to read, if that makes sense! *note to self, pay attention!
Keeley is hurting for much of the book, in one way or another, and not always due to Tor and his way with words. You feel for her, deeply. you don't know it all at once and I do love waiting for things to become clear. Tor's pain is different but his is pretty much laid out for you, right from the start. The beginning few chapters of this book run alongside the other three books. Indeed, in book3, Mathos, we know Tor did something bad. Now we know what!
We meet the next leading lady here. I'm not 100% certain about her yet, and what she has to say will be interesting, given who she is, and how Tor and Keeley came upto her. There is much she has to say. And Reece! Who still thinks everything is his fault and is currently drinking his beast into silence. He also has a lot to say, and I can't wait to hear him.
But what's keeping me the most gripped with this series is this: I cannot see where it's all going! Things are changing so fast from book to book, and I really can't see an end in sight and I love that!
How many are there? I've no idea! A couple of the guys have been lurking in the background, doing what needs to be done and popping up along the way. I want them ALL to be happy, and it will be interesting how they get there.
I stress again, write quicker Ms Roberts. Write. Quicker!
5 full and shiny stars
This is book 4 in the hawks Series and you really SHOULD read Tristan, Val and Mathos before this one. There is an ongoing story arc through these books and much is not fully recapped.
Tor took a shine to Keeley when he rescued her from Ballinor's grip. They have chemistry but it takes time for them to give in to that. Tor, the big Apollyon that he is, messes up BIGTIME and more than once. Keeley takes everything he says direct to her heart, but it's only later she realises that she has taken things all out of context and now what is she supposed to do?!
It was clear, from the moment we met Keeley in book 2, I think she pops up in, that she and Tor were made for each other. Having the story from THEIR points of view, makes you see things so much clearer.
It took me a while to piece together what Keeley was trying to say, I was so engrossed in the story I think I forgot to read, if that makes sense! *note to self, pay attention!
Keeley is hurting for much of the book, in one way or another, and not always due to Tor and his way with words. You feel for her, deeply. you don't know it all at once and I do love waiting for things to become clear. Tor's pain is different but his is pretty much laid out for you, right from the start. The beginning few chapters of this book run alongside the other three books. Indeed, in book3, Mathos, we know Tor did something bad. Now we know what!
We meet the next leading lady here. I'm not 100% certain about her yet, and what she has to say will be interesting, given who she is, and how Tor and Keeley came upto her. There is much she has to say. And Reece! Who still thinks everything is his fault and is currently drinking his beast into silence. He also has a lot to say, and I can't wait to hear him.
But what's keeping me the most gripped with this series is this: I cannot see where it's all going! Things are changing so fast from book to book, and I really can't see an end in sight and I love that!
How many are there? I've no idea! A couple of the guys have been lurking in the background, doing what needs to be done and popping up along the way. I want them ALL to be happy, and it will be interesting how they get there.
I stress again, write quicker Ms Roberts. Write. Quicker!
5 full and shiny stars
Saffy Alexandra (89 KP) rated Chilling Adventures of Sabrina - Part One in TV
Jun 8, 2019
As someone who grew up with the old Sabrina TV Show back as a teenager I didn't exactly have high hopes for this show.
However, I was pleasantly surprised by how different and good this new adaptation is! It still keeps the small amount of humour with now more horror and sometimes gruesome imagery.
I am terrified of horror, but even I can cope with this amount of gore and horror without fleeing the room.
I particularly like with this version the different versions of Aunt Hilda and Aunt Zelda, the way they portray the differences in Witches from the dark and broody to the light and humorous. How you can be good but still grumpy. I love the introduction of Ambrose who keeps the series updated with humour and sass, he is probably one of my favourite characters in this show.
To have Salem as a certain type of familiar (no spoilers i swear) is an interesting touch and brings a new element to the show that the former was lacking. But it does also touch on Witch lore which keeps you interested and motivated into watching this series as it carries on.
The only bad (and not even that bad) thing I could mention is the fact sometimes Sabrina literally goes looking for trouble where she needn't. But that is a character flaw which makes her all the more human/Witch to the viewers. Even though it can be annoying, perhaps it's my age that is making me cynical, I can't dispute it's results in keeping the viewer engaged and interested.
However, I was pleasantly surprised by how different and good this new adaptation is! It still keeps the small amount of humour with now more horror and sometimes gruesome imagery.
I am terrified of horror, but even I can cope with this amount of gore and horror without fleeing the room.
I particularly like with this version the different versions of Aunt Hilda and Aunt Zelda, the way they portray the differences in Witches from the dark and broody to the light and humorous. How you can be good but still grumpy. I love the introduction of Ambrose who keeps the series updated with humour and sass, he is probably one of my favourite characters in this show.
To have Salem as a certain type of familiar (no spoilers i swear) is an interesting touch and brings a new element to the show that the former was lacking. But it does also touch on Witch lore which keeps you interested and motivated into watching this series as it carries on.
The only bad (and not even that bad) thing I could mention is the fact sometimes Sabrina literally goes looking for trouble where she needn't. But that is a character flaw which makes her all the more human/Witch to the viewers. Even though it can be annoying, perhaps it's my age that is making me cynical, I can't dispute it's results in keeping the viewer engaged and interested.