Search

Search only in certain items:

Mine, Body and Soul: Trilogy (The Playroom #1-3)
Mine, Body and Soul: Trilogy (The Playroom #1-3)
JP Sayle | 2020 | Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
MINE, BODY AND SOUL is the trilogy that tells Lenny and Nathan's story. I first met them in MADE TO SUBMIT, the third book in the La Trattoria Di Amore series, and I needed more.

My heart went out to both of these down-but-not-out men, and I couldn't wait for them to fit their pieces together to form a whole. There is no rushing in this set, and I loved that! I loved the slow burn, the getting to know each other, the concerns and worries every new relationship has. And let's face it, these two have a couple more worries and concerns than a 'normal' couple would. They are both scarred, internally and externally, and are trying to find their way. And they were given the time to do so! Brilliant.

Not only do we get Lenny and Nathan's stories, but we are also tantalised with new characters, that I now need to know more about too! Isaac and Ferron, and Jake and Bailey, for example.

This was a slow-burn, gorgeous read that I devoured and loved every word. Absolutely recommended by me.

** 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!
May 10, 2021
  
40x40

Merissa (12776 KP) rated Two Souls United (Etherya's Earth #5.5) in Books

Apr 4, 2022 (Updated Jun 26, 2023)  
Two Souls United (Etherya's Earth #5.5)
Two Souls United (Etherya's Earth #5.5)
Rebecca Hefner | 2021 | Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
TWO SOULS UNITED is a short and sweet novella that fills the gap between books 5 and 6 and tells of the courtship between Glarys and Sam.

Glarys has been looking after the Royals for years but time has moved on, and they now have their own lives and families away from the Mansion. Glarys liked Sam when she first spoke to him at Latimus and Lila's bonding ceremony but she thought he was only speaking to her to be nice. Sam wanted to be more than nice but when he suggested they meet up, Glarys suggested he bring Jack. Sam took this to mean she wasn't interested and years passed.

Even during this novella, you not only catch up on the others but also see two deamon attacks by Bakari, which keeps the whole series moving along nicely. It moves along at a fast pace, giving you the story and not lingering over certain acts or thoughts for too long.

For a novella, you get a lot of story -- from romance to PTSD, from deamon attacks to a spa day. Definitely recommended by me, but PLEASE read it in order or you'll get spoilers.

** 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!
Mar 31, 2022
  
Cruella (2021)
Cruella (2021)
2021 | Comedy, Crime
8
8.0 (24 Ratings)
Movie Rating
Back in 1961; Disney adapted the 1056 Novel The Hundred and One Dalmatians and in doing so; crafted a beloved animated classic and introduced the world at large to Cruella De Vil. The film has not only endured but has spawned television series, a direct to video sequel, merchandise, and two live-action versions.

Despite being delayed due to the Pandemic; Disney has scheduled the much-anticipated “Cruella” for release and I am happy to announce that the film is a Wickedly Delicious new entry into the series.

The story follows young Estella as she and her mom plan to start a new life in London in the 1960s. When tragedy strikes, the young girl finds herself on the streets and working a life of crime and grift with fellow street kids Jasper and Horace.

Flash forward to the 1970s and Estella (Emma Stone) toils away in a store cleaning while hoping for her shot in the world of fashion. When fate arrives and places Estella in the path of vain, self-centered, and vicious fashion magnate The Baroness (Emma Thompson); who hires Estella to begin her career in fashion.

The savage way The Baroness treats those around her intimidates Estella but her friends Jasper (Joel Fry) and Horace (Paul Walter Hauser); see this as an opportunity to rob from The Baroness and this places them at odds with Estella as her designs start to gain traction.

When situations clarify and things begin to evolve into a mission of revenge; Estella transforms into Cruella which had long been the name associated with the darker side of her personality.

Cruella takes the fashion world by storm for her innovative looks, bold designs, and theatrical events which upstage the Baroness at major fashion events.

With her sales and reputation in decline, The Baroness declares war on Cruella which sets a dark and sinister series of events into motion which drives the film into darker content then one may expect from a Disney film.

The cast is very strong as Stone and Thompson are amazing as they are both wicked and captivating without ever going to far over the top or extreme with their characters. The supporting cast is great as well as Fry who was hysterical in the series Plebs brings a depth to Jasper which takes him above just being a stumbling sidekick.

Mark Strong also does great work and elevated all the scenes in which he was in with his strong presence. While at first I wondered if we really needed to have this part of Cruella’s life told; the story is engaging and the cast is fantastic which makes this movie dark and delightful.

While elements of it may not be ideal for younger viewers; the story was captivating and the performances were amazingly engaging.

The film ran about two hours and 10 minutes and seemed a bit long in one segment but the film does regroup brings the story home. There is a mid-credit scene audiences will want to stay for as it was an unexpected and very charming nod to what is to come and is not to be missed.

It will be interesting to see if the film is the hit that I expect it to be if Disney will consider more films in the series as it would be amazing to see this cast return for further wickedly dark adventures.

4 stars out of 5
  
40x40

Gareth von Kallenbach (980 KP) rated the PlayStation 4 version of Tomb Raider Definitive Edition in Video Games

Jun 19, 2019  
Tomb Raider Definitive Edition
Tomb Raider Definitive Edition
2014 | Action/Adventure
I remember the days of Tomb Raider coming out on the PC in the irregular shaped packages and the outcry some people had over the outrageously curvaceous proportions of Lara Croft. As the series has unfolded to not only include two cinematic features as well as entry into the console market the mix of action, adventure, and puzzle solving has been a staple of the series. Square Enix has released Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition for next-generation consoles and I was very happy to experience the game on our PlayStation 4 system.

The game has been given updated graphics which really show off the amazing character facial animations of the series as well as the dynamic lighting and other graphical effects that are made possible with the new consoles.

This time out Lara is stranded on an island and must fight for survival against the dangerous people that occupy the island and will stop at nothing to protect its secret.

This is very dark and gritty game as its mature rating would suggest and with the power of the graphical engine you can see Lara in stunning detail down to the beads of sweat on her face, every stranded here, and of course the dirt and damage she takes in the course of fighting for her survival.
Being able to customize her weapons is but one of the many advantages to the series and there of course is puzzle solving which the series is famous for.

One early segment of the game had me moving through a dark cave in order to try to get an injured Lara safety but some very dangerous people in hot pursuit. These are not the typical serial adventure bad guys who shoot first with bad aim and hope to take the heroine hostage, rather these are bad guys intent on killing her and anyone else who gets in the way as brutally as they can.

The collection comes with bonus outfits and DLC and seeing the game in 1080 resolution running at 60 frames per second is truly eye-popping as to a casual observer it would be difficult to see what was gameplay and what were cut scenes. Upon seeing it for the first time, my wife was highly impressed the graphical abilities of the game and became interested in storyline and events unfolding as she sat down and offered me gameplay help and advice.

That is the beauty of the series as hard-core and casual, male and female, gamers are easily drawn to the character and her adventurous.

While I have spent a lot of attention on the graphics and look at the game is important that we focus on the game itself and I’m happy to say that both the solo and multiplayer aspects of the game offer plenty of entertainment. There’s a good mix of action and story to the game and the less linear nature of the game and open environments make it very enjoyable especially to somebody who’s used to the affirmation tombs of the original games. While there is puzzle solving to the game there is also the ability said a difficulty that is best suited to your level of gaming and like any game of this type players have to accept that they are going to have failed or along with their successes as that is the nature of an action adventure game.

I did not play the earlier versions the game as my time with the PS 4 version of the game is my most recent experience with the series in a while. That being said, the graphics and gameplay easily hooked me and reminded me why I became a fan of the original games and this imaginative and immersive new installment is the perfect mix for fans new and old alike looking to experience the game.

http://sknr.net/2014/04/01/tomb-raider-the-definitive-edition/
  
Descend (Awakened Fate #2)
Descend (Awakened Fate #2)
Skye Malone | 2014 | Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy, Young Adult (YA)
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
<b><i>I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.</i></b>
So if <i><a href="http://www.bookwyrmingthoughts.com/review-awaken-by-skye-malone"; target="_blank" rel="noopener">Awaken</a> </i>reminded me of <i>The Little Mermaid </i>minus Sebastian, I’m not sure what to compare <i>Descend </i>to, honestly. (And it’s probably a good thing that I have nothing to compare it to.)

<i>Descend </i>is the second book in Skye Malone’s <i>Awakened Fate</i> series, continuing from where <i>Awaken </i>left off at after Chloe’s near-death encounter with the Sylphaen, a cult supposedly dead for a century that wants to get rid of the world of people like Chloe. Descend takes us into the world of Nyciena, a world below the ocean that is the only place safe enough for her to seek refuge from the Sylphaen. But Nyciena isn’t the place Chloe wants to remain in for long - she wants to get back to the surface, where her friends and family have no clue where she has gone.

As much as I really enjoyed the <i>Awakened Fate</i> series in general, I feel like something is missing from <i>Descend </i>that didn’t hit the mark with me (really, I need to get better at figuring out why certain books don't work for me). For the duration of the book, Chloe is basically running from the Sylphaen and trying to figure out what she really is. Noah is hoping but not hoping that Chloe will come back to shore. Meanwhile, he’s trying to protect Chloe in his own way, who will no doubt get hunted down by his cousins should they ever find her. Zeke is trying to get his father and older brother to understand that the Sylphaen has returned - they’re not as dead as hoped.

The world and culture of Nyciena are little to none in <i>Descend</i>, aside from the few moments Ina, Zeke’s sister, tries to show Chloe around the kingdom. But the few that I did get to read about Nyciena intrigue me enough to hopefully learn more about the kingdom. (They’re also party people, so I hope that’s not what they’re really all about?)

The same goes for the greliarans, which are a group of people who hunt down the dehaians, the group of mermaid people Chloe seeks refuge from the Sylphaens. From Noah’s perspective, we learn a few facts about how they operate, but it’s even less than the world and culture of Nyciena. They’re extremely strong and are humans who can turn into Hulk-like creatures with a desire to kill.

<i>Descend </i>is very plot driven - and the same can be said for the series thus far. It’s the book to go to for those who want a book that is somewhat slow in character and world development, but also those who don’t mind the slow progression throughout the series.

<a href="https://bookwyrmingthoughts.com/review-descend-by-skye-malone/"; target="_blank">This review was originally posted on Bookwyrming Thoughts</a>
  
Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster (1964)
Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster (1964)
1964 | Sci-Fi
7
6.8 (5 Ratings)
Movie Rating
Archetypal Toho monster mash with exuberant men-in-suits wrestling and an all-over-the-place plot - Flying Saucer enthusiasts predict the apocalypse, a Himalayan princess survives an assassination attempt when she is possessed by the spirit of a Venusian (or Martian, depending on which version you watch), a mysterious meteorite hatches out Ghidorah the three-headed space dragon. Earth's fate depends on the ability of a caterpillar to persuade a nuclear dinosaur and a giant pterodactyl to work together.

Lots of fun if you enjoy this sort of thing, with many incidental pleasures - not least the startling shades-and-ruff outfit adopted by the chief villain at one point. Not quite as jokey in tone as King Kong Vs Godzilla, but still notably lighter than most of the previous films in the series - the various monsters are treated more as characters than before, too (there's a fairly lengthy conversation between Mothra, Rodan and Godzilla). Calling this the mid-60s Japanese version of The Avengers is probably stretching a point, but it's certainly one of the better early Godzilla movies; hopefully the forthcoming American take on these characters will be as much fun.
  
***I was provided with a free copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review***

The Devil’s Music was a quick, easy read at only 218 pages, but also an enjoyable one. The story is sprinkled with plant lore as well as bluegrass and folk music tidbits that add interest to the story. I would suggest not reading this book on an empty stomach, however, as the descriptions of all of the delicious sounding food served at various functions are sure to leave you hungry!

The Sleuth, Emory Crawford, is a likable protagonist. Even though she aspires to be a young Miss Marple, she has her faults, and they add to her charm. Her occasional fumbling around after clues makes her seem all the more genuine. I did appreciate the fact that she wasn’t all-knowing despite the “gift” that she realizes she has part of the way through the story. She still had to rely on her wits and ability to make logical deductions, not solely on her intuition.

Overall, a nice start to a new cozy mystery series.
  
Back in the Habit
Back in the Habit
Alice Loweecey | 2012 | Mystery
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
The Return of Sister Mary Regina Coelis
The last thing former nun Giulia ever wanted to do was go back to her former life, but that’s just what she’s had to do. Her PI company has been hired to find out why a Novice committed suicide, and the best way to do that is for Giulia to become Sister Mary Regina Coelis again. Not only is she confronting her past 18 months on the outside, but she’s having to look for secrets. Was it a simple suicide? Or will Giulia uncover more?

I waited too long to get back to Giulia, but I’m pleased I got to visit her again. This book really allows her quite a bit of character growth since it is forcing her to face her past. We do not see as much of the other series regulars as a result, but when we did, we got some of the laughs I expect with the characters. The mystery does take us to some darker places, but it is good. I do feel that the character growth overshadowed the mystery at times, but overall I enjoyed this book.
  
Deception (Infidelity, #3)
Deception (Infidelity, #3)
Aleatha Romig | 2016 | Romance
10
8.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
How do I even begin to review one of Aleatha's books?! I can't wait for the next book the moment I've begun and the end always comes too soon!? Deception is book three in the five-book Infidelity series. This book, like the previous two, kept me on edge from page one. Not only do I love that she gives you a glimpse back into the prior books in the beginning (which is great for someone like me who has probably read hundreds since reading Cunning and needs the reminder of where we last left off) but she gives you just enough to hang onto before leaving your heart on the floor after a cliffhanger ending!? And I love every minute of it ;-) After where they started, Nox and Charli's relationship has grown into something more spectacular than you could imagine and I loved seeing them in this next phase. Beautiful moments, hot sex scenes and plenty of added drama and action. Her books are everything, so much more than just a love story... HIGHLY, HIGHLY recommended and as usual, I CAN NOT wait for book #4 so she can do it to me all over again!?
  
Fantastic Beasts: Crimes of Grindelwald (2018)
Fantastic Beasts: Crimes of Grindelwald (2018)
2018 | Adventure, Family, Fantasy, Mystery
NEWT!! (2 more)
Jacob
Leta Lestrange
Hogwarts charcter + objects that shouldnt be there (0 more)
Great story bar Hogwarts timeline
Contains spoilers, click to show
AS whole I really enjoyed fanstic beast crime against Grindlewald. Newt is a throughly delightful charcter and so loveable. Jacob is easy to releate to as well my problems with this film all happen in it around Hogwarts.

First of all Mcgonall isn't born till 1935 she tells Uxbridge in goblet if fire book she started teaching in Hogwarts in 1956 so what she doing alive and an adult in 1927.

The whomping Willow was suppose to be planted in Hogwarts for lupin in 1971 so how did Newt find Pickett in it during a flashback putting the tree there around 1918

Dumbledore always taught transfigruation not DADA obviously this rewrite is covered by the whole you can no longer teach DADA but as we saw in the HP series only the headmaster has that power not Aurors

Finally I know it dramatic effect make it look cooler to appeared onto to middle of the bridge but as we saw in deathly Hallows apperation line isn't middle of bridge it hogemeeade