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Beneath the Stars ( Sugarlake book 1)
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Contains spoilers, click to show
109 of 230
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Beneath the Stars ( Sugarlake book 1)
By Emily McIntire
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶🌶

Alina
I was eleven when I met Chase Adams. I loved him before I knew what lovin' was.
I pulled, he pushed.
I gave, he took.
I loved... I lost.
Now he's back. All grown up and sexy as sin.
But things changed while he was gone.
So, he can show those dimples and flex those muscles all he wants.
It won't change a thing.
Chase Adams is nothin' but a lost memory. I'll do everything I can to keep him that way.

Chase
Growing up, there were only two women I ever loved.
Neither one of them ever really loved me back.
Until her. Alina. My Goldi.
She was everything that's good. I was the bad.
She was the brightest goddamn star. I was the black hole shredding her to pieces.
I loved her wrong, losing her to my demons.
But now I'm back. A better man.
I'll do everything I can to make her remember us, even if all she wants is to forget.

I’m not usually a big romance fan I like some but it’s not my go to, but this was so good I really enjoyed it the start was a bit ropey but I really couldn’t put it down once it got going.
It was a lighthearted read with a happy ending!
  
Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (2022)
Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (2022)
2022 | Action, Adventure, Comedy
I was pleasantly surprised but just how damn delightful the first Sonic the Hedgehog movie was, and with this sequel, Jeff Fowler has wisely stuck with the formula, added more to it, and the results are just as enjoyable.
Jim Carrey once again steals the show, as a more unhinged Robotnik, closer to his game counterpart than he was the first time around. When coupled with the inclusion of fan favourite characters Tails and Knuckles, alongside series mainstays like the Chaos Emeralds, Sonic 2 runs headfirst into its source material whilst still feeling at home in the real world. It's a good balance.
A lot of the comedy fell flat for me however. A lot of jokes didn't land properly, but it's important to remember that this is a movie geared towards kids, and as such, it's not a huge issue. There's also a kind of discount Meet the Parents side plot that feels wholly unnecessary and drags the mid point, but this is completely made up for by one of the most entertaining final acts in recent blockbuster memory. The final showdown is an unencumbered blast. As someone who grew up playing the Sonic games, it's a joy to behold and is a testament to how fucking fun video game adaptions can be when handled well.
Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is just a damn good time, and I say that confidently as a grown ass man. Make the trip to the cinema and treat yo self.
  
My Sweetheart Surprise
My Sweetheart Surprise
Jacey Davis | 2023 | Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
MY SWEETHEART SURPRISE is part of the Sweetheart Escapes series. I've not read any of the others, but I sure want to now!

Parker is a guy with ADHD. He has learnt to deal with it, but sometimes, it makes him a bit scattered. Erratic, if you will. He feels down on his luck as his partner of 5 years has walked out, and then the guy he was supposed to be meeting doesn't show, but Parker has already arrived. Should he stay, or should he leave? Teo is instantly attracted to the younger man, and something about him makes Teo want to know him better. What follows is a loving story with a great connection between the two MCs.

I read this book in one sitting! I thoroughly enjoyed every word and loved watching the connection grow between these two. They are ably supported by the rest of the characters, and I would love a story for Pierce and Bailey! It never felt rushed, even though most of the events take place in just over a week. The epilogue was perfect and gave me the ending I wanted.

A brilliant addition to the series and HIGHLY 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; the comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Aug 16, 2023
  
Christmas Mafia Prince (The Naughty List)
Christmas Mafia Prince (The Naughty List)
K.A. Merikan | 2025 | Contemporary, Crime, LGBTQ+, Romance
10
10.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
dark, nutty and so flipping cute!
Independent reviewer for GRR, I was gifted my copy of this book.

This is part of The Naughty List series, the first one published. If they are all as good as this, I'm ALL in!

This book, right? It's freaking nuts and sexy and dark and deadly, and yes, I tagged it too stinking cute, because it is!

Damen wants to join the annual Christmas family hunt. he can't, because he isn't married. Well, he'll show his father, right? And the perfect opportunity lands, quite literally, in his lap, in the space of Killian. Killian really has no idea what just happened, but now he's on a luxury jet, fake married to the sexiest man he ever saw and heading for something he isn't quite sure he will fit into.

This book is dark and deadly. The Hunt they are doing? Enemies kept alive for this sole purpose. But Killian doesn't know that, at first. When he finds out, he's shocked, yes but it then explains a lot. Damen is assassin for his family.

It's smexy, oh so VERY smexy! The chemistry between these two is scorching hawt and burns strong and high, right through the book.

It's cute, because Damen is smitten with his husband, almost from the very first meeting and more so, when Killian stands up to Damen's father. And when Killian does what he does before The Hunt?? Oooofff that man is turned the fluff on! But it's not just the smexy bits with Damen. He really does thing Killian is The One,even if it started as a fake thing.

But the best bit?? I couldn't see where this was going for a long time! And I loved that. Obviously I knew it would go belly up at some point, but I couldn't see it coming and I did NOT see what the rather jealous brother was doing!!

AND!!!!!!!!!!!! First person, present tense, mulit point of view! Didn't even notice til I was writing this up!

I have listened to some KA Merikan, I love the Wrong Side of the Tracks series and this book has all those hallmarks of starting an amazing series with some very interesting characters, Corvus and Aspen especially!

5 full and slightly deranged but so bloody good, stars!

*same worded review will appear elsewhere
  
tick, tick...Boom! (2021)
tick, tick...Boom! (2021)
2021 | Drama, Musical
8
8.8 (5 Ratings)
Movie Rating
A Love Letter
If you ever worked on a live theater performance, whether as a performer, tech crew, make-up, costumes, box office, etc…the Netflix Original film tick, tick…BOOM is for you.

If you are a theater lover, the Netflix Original film tick, tick…BOOM is for you.

If you are not interested in live theater at all..then, perhaps, tick, tick…BOOM might be a little too “inside baseball” for you.

Based on the one man concert/show/performance by the late Jonathan Larson, the writer of the the Pulitzer Prize winning musical RENT, tick, tick…BOOM expands this performance piece and turns it into a biopic of the artist who passed as his hit musical was just about ready to debut.

As written by Steven Levenson and Directed by Lin-Manuel Miranda, tick, tick…BOOM is a love letter to Broadway, to artists struggling to make it in the Great White Way, to the community of disaffected peoples in 1990 and, mostly, to Jonathan Larson himself.

Andrew Garfield is transcendent in his portrayal of Larson. He embodies this character with love, ambition, focus, flaws and a surprisingly strong singing voice. It is an Oscar-nomination worthy performance.

He is joined, lovingly, by a strong supporting cast starting with Alexandra Shipp (as Larson’s girlfriend), Robin de Jesus (as his best friend) and Vanessa Hudgens (as a performer in the show, called Superbia, that he is trying to get up on the boards). These young performers are joined by a couple of wily veterans including Judith Light (as his Agent) and Bradley Whitford (as the late Stephen Sondheim). They bring energy, star power and…yes…love…to the screen.

And that is what this film ultimately is, a love letter to all of the artists (both on-stage and off) that try, despite immeasurable odds, to get a show on it’s feet. Director Miranda infuses this film with homages to theater - and theater people - and sprinkles in some very good songs that drives this point home.

None of the numbers hit home as hard as the “Diner” song - a song that features many, many Broadway performers, both new and old, that were either inspirations to Larson - or were inspired by him (including Miranda himself).

Come for the musical, stay for the outstanding performance of Garfield, and immerse yourself into the world of struggling artists in NYC in the 1990’s. You’ll be glad you did.

Letter Grade: A-

8 stars (out of 10) and you can take that to the Bank(ofMarquis)