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JT (287 KP) rated Halloween (1978) in Movies
Mar 10, 2020
Without a doubt Halloween was one of the finest horror films ever made, John Carpenter was spot on with his portrayal of a serial killer descending on a small American town.
Michael Myers was to become a horror icon and even though it spanned seven sequels, the original will always be the best in many people’s eyes. It is certainly my all time favourite horror film. Carpenter’s cinematic vision of Halloween was brilliant right from the opening credits. The long and short camera angles coupled with the “was he there or wasn’t he” shots of Myers were sublime.
The sinister musical score as well is paramount in making this film a household name in its genre. Jamie Lee Curtis was a scream queen for the 70s and although the acting talents were not up to scratch, it made no difference to the overall outcome of the film. Michael Myers was a disturbed child and after committing a horrific murder when he was just six years old he was committed to a mental institution where he escaped to stalk Laurie Strode, his long lost sister.
His the perfect boogeyman, and during the first part of the film he stalks Laurie sometimes just appearing out of shot as a blur between trees of a faceless driver passing by in his car. Laurie of course has no idea who he is but starts to feel like she is being watched, and her fears are finally realised one night descends and Carpenter ramps up the tension to breaking point.
What I love about this film is the pure simplicity of it, with a budget of just $320,000 it grossed $60m world world and was a massive hit with horror fans the world over. It didn’t want for fancy special effects, and the musical score was hardly a masterpiece but it did the job and it did it well. It is the model slasher flick and most of what has preceded it (maybe with the exception of the first Scream) have not been able to stand up in competition.
We’ve had Freddy and Jason, and we’re still having to sit and watch teenagers heading to remote and desolate locations to be butchered in a variety of unique ways while pints of blood are splashed across the screen. Halloween doesn’t require that, it will have you jumping out of your seat at least more than once and it just goes to prove that simple scares are the most effective.
Michael Myers was to become a horror icon and even though it spanned seven sequels, the original will always be the best in many people’s eyes. It is certainly my all time favourite horror film. Carpenter’s cinematic vision of Halloween was brilliant right from the opening credits. The long and short camera angles coupled with the “was he there or wasn’t he” shots of Myers were sublime.
The sinister musical score as well is paramount in making this film a household name in its genre. Jamie Lee Curtis was a scream queen for the 70s and although the acting talents were not up to scratch, it made no difference to the overall outcome of the film. Michael Myers was a disturbed child and after committing a horrific murder when he was just six years old he was committed to a mental institution where he escaped to stalk Laurie Strode, his long lost sister.
His the perfect boogeyman, and during the first part of the film he stalks Laurie sometimes just appearing out of shot as a blur between trees of a faceless driver passing by in his car. Laurie of course has no idea who he is but starts to feel like she is being watched, and her fears are finally realised one night descends and Carpenter ramps up the tension to breaking point.
What I love about this film is the pure simplicity of it, with a budget of just $320,000 it grossed $60m world world and was a massive hit with horror fans the world over. It didn’t want for fancy special effects, and the musical score was hardly a masterpiece but it did the job and it did it well. It is the model slasher flick and most of what has preceded it (maybe with the exception of the first Scream) have not been able to stand up in competition.
We’ve had Freddy and Jason, and we’re still having to sit and watch teenagers heading to remote and desolate locations to be butchered in a variety of unique ways while pints of blood are splashed across the screen. Halloween doesn’t require that, it will have you jumping out of your seat at least more than once and it just goes to prove that simple scares are the most effective.
Whatchareadin (174 KP) rated The Litigators in Books
May 10, 2018
When I first started reading this book, I was disappointed that there wasn't a gripping story in the first chapter. I'm used to that with Grisham novels.
David Zinc a thirty something attorney at a big law firm in Chicago has just lost it. He has thrown away a secure job at a lucrative firm. After a day of drinking, he finds himself at the law firm of Finley & Figg. A firm with two lawyers, Oscar Finley and Wally Figg, who are ambulance chasers. When David jumps into action during an accident in front of the firm, he makes a decision he probably should have made when he was sober. The next morning he becomes the third associate at Finley & Figg and the only one never to be in a court room. David had spent much of his time shuffling papers at his other firm and was anxious to get in on the action.
David comes to the firm just as Wally stumbles upon a tort case involving a drug company. According to Wally, they are all going to get rich and Finley and Figg will become a respectable law firm. Much to the chagrin of Oscar andd David, this drug case seems to be more than they can handle. David is trying to make a name for himself as well, by helping out a friend and her housekeeper. Her grandson had been hospitalized for months for what the doctors assumed was lead poisoning.
Which case will help the firm? Which attorney will bring it down? How will David hold up in court?
The book overall was good. The ending is pretty predictable with a couple of surprise twists in the middle. If you are a John Grisham fan, you will enjoy this book. It's not one of my favorite's of his, but still enjoyable.
David Zinc a thirty something attorney at a big law firm in Chicago has just lost it. He has thrown away a secure job at a lucrative firm. After a day of drinking, he finds himself at the law firm of Finley & Figg. A firm with two lawyers, Oscar Finley and Wally Figg, who are ambulance chasers. When David jumps into action during an accident in front of the firm, he makes a decision he probably should have made when he was sober. The next morning he becomes the third associate at Finley & Figg and the only one never to be in a court room. David had spent much of his time shuffling papers at his other firm and was anxious to get in on the action.
David comes to the firm just as Wally stumbles upon a tort case involving a drug company. According to Wally, they are all going to get rich and Finley and Figg will become a respectable law firm. Much to the chagrin of Oscar andd David, this drug case seems to be more than they can handle. David is trying to make a name for himself as well, by helping out a friend and her housekeeper. Her grandson had been hospitalized for months for what the doctors assumed was lead poisoning.
Which case will help the firm? Which attorney will bring it down? How will David hold up in court?
The book overall was good. The ending is pretty predictable with a couple of surprise twists in the middle. If you are a John Grisham fan, you will enjoy this book. It's not one of my favorite's of his, but still enjoyable.
Merissa (13100 KP) rated Lower World (Infernal Regions for the Unprepared #2) in Books
Apr 15, 2021 (Updated Jul 27, 2023)
LOWER WORLD is the second book in the Infernal Regions for the Unprepared series and remember how I said the first one wasn't too fast-paced? Yeah, well, we're back to the crazy and frantic pace Maya Daniels is known for!
Don't get me wrong, it is still smoking-hot, and I love how Ms Daniels drags you along into her story, but for me, it just lost a bit of 'something' in the pace. Brooklyn and Dominic are heating up and the trust is building, but with all the action going on, I felt like I missed part of that. Alice is a cracker, as always, and I am loving her role in this.
Now, I was warned about the ending of this book, so I was expecting something. Usually, I end up throwing my Kindle away in disgust at the typical cliffhanger endings, but this time, this time I was okay with it. Maybe it's because I was warned, or maybe it's because although I know Brooklyn is in danger, she is too tough to go down easy, PLUS she has her crew coming for her. And then there is the whole question mark about her mum. So, yeah, cliffhanger but one I'm happy with.
I am still loving this series, and can't wait to see where it goes next. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to go and lie down, get my heart rate down, and be ready to start the world at a normal pace, not superspeed!
* 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!
Apr 15, 2021
Don't get me wrong, it is still smoking-hot, and I love how Ms Daniels drags you along into her story, but for me, it just lost a bit of 'something' in the pace. Brooklyn and Dominic are heating up and the trust is building, but with all the action going on, I felt like I missed part of that. Alice is a cracker, as always, and I am loving her role in this.
Now, I was warned about the ending of this book, so I was expecting something. Usually, I end up throwing my Kindle away in disgust at the typical cliffhanger endings, but this time, this time I was okay with it. Maybe it's because I was warned, or maybe it's because although I know Brooklyn is in danger, she is too tough to go down easy, PLUS she has her crew coming for her. And then there is the whole question mark about her mum. So, yeah, cliffhanger but one I'm happy with.
I am still loving this series, and can't wait to see where it goes next. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to go and lie down, get my heart rate down, and be ready to start the world at a normal pace, not superspeed!
* 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!
Apr 15, 2021
BookwormLea (3034 KP) rated Greenland (2020) in Movies
Apr 14, 2021
Predictable but entertaining.
Contains spoilers, click to show
I love disaster films. 2012, Day After Tomorrow, San Andreas, I can't get enough. So of course I had to watch this film. Gérard Butler? Yes please!
The thing I liked about this one in particular was how believable it was. Of course in a global disaster, governments weren't going to save everyone. Of course they are going to pick the strongest most useful bunch. And obviously they would turn away the sick because why save someone who could die in a week when you could save a healthy teen that was probably going to solve world hunger? I also liked that they added the kidnapping. Not going to lie, if it was my one shot at survival, I would probably try too.
Now what I didnt love. If you know your husband has gone to the car, and would more than likely go back to the car if he found out you had left. Stay at the car!!! If you also know you are very likely to end up at the same destination, does it really matter that he's not on your plane? Its all her fault they got kicked out the facility. Its also his fault the plane got blew up and everyone had lost their chance. Also if one random guy knew there was a plane in Canada going to the bunker, how did nobody else know? And also, everyone knew if you had a wristband, you had a code. Of course you couldn't steal someone elses...
And then towards the end when they had wormed their way to the safety of the Canadian plane, I said to my sister 'I bet they get there, and even though they shouldn't they are let in, and in probably 6 weeks or soemthing, they will open the doors and a bird will fly past or soemthing and everything is happy.' Low and behold, I was right about everything except the time. They spent 9 month in a bunker they didn't think they would use? Yeah right.
But overall, an okay film. I am just really good at guessing movie twists and endings!
The thing I liked about this one in particular was how believable it was. Of course in a global disaster, governments weren't going to save everyone. Of course they are going to pick the strongest most useful bunch. And obviously they would turn away the sick because why save someone who could die in a week when you could save a healthy teen that was probably going to solve world hunger? I also liked that they added the kidnapping. Not going to lie, if it was my one shot at survival, I would probably try too.
Now what I didnt love. If you know your husband has gone to the car, and would more than likely go back to the car if he found out you had left. Stay at the car!!! If you also know you are very likely to end up at the same destination, does it really matter that he's not on your plane? Its all her fault they got kicked out the facility. Its also his fault the plane got blew up and everyone had lost their chance. Also if one random guy knew there was a plane in Canada going to the bunker, how did nobody else know? And also, everyone knew if you had a wristband, you had a code. Of course you couldn't steal someone elses...
And then towards the end when they had wormed their way to the safety of the Canadian plane, I said to my sister 'I bet they get there, and even though they shouldn't they are let in, and in probably 6 weeks or soemthing, they will open the doors and a bird will fly past or soemthing and everything is happy.' Low and behold, I was right about everything except the time. They spent 9 month in a bunker they didn't think they would use? Yeah right.
But overall, an okay film. I am just really good at guessing movie twists and endings!
Beckie Shelton (40 KP) rated The Art of Hiding in Books
Oct 6, 2017
Right, I'm going, to be honest here and say that I really struggled with this book and it was only the last few chapters that bumped this up to a three star for me.
Until then It was a two all the way, so sorry.
I'm obviously in a minority here in regards to how The art Of Hiding was perceived by myself as I've seen many positive reviews singing its praises and this is a well-written story it just personally wasn't really my cup of tea.
So I'm going to try and pinpoint what wasn't working for me as there was never one major thing that stood out specifically and also what was actually floating my boat.
So first things first I've never read anything by Amanda Prowse before, so was going in blind here.
Well, my initial impression was that The Art Of Hiding was really well written, the words flowed easily and the writing style was one that was easy to get lost in.
But here comes my main problem, the actual story itself, I found it a bit boring and somewhat one-dimensional.
I also wondered whether the author herself has ever lived on the breadline or was this her portrayal of what she thinks it would be like to be in that scenario.
I thought to myself why wasn't Nina McCarrick with no income not down the job centre and putting in an application, dare I say it for housing benefit.
She was meant to be on her arse after all.
It also annoyed me how living on the breadline was initially portrayed all doom and gloom and shitty childhoods, I didn't find it a realistic portrayal of how the other half lives it was very stereotypical in the way it depicted the rich and the poor.
I found it so hard to connect with the characters especially Nina who I found very whiny and almost childlike in some of her reactions.
Thank god for Tiggy, she was a breath of fresh air and also very forgiving considering the way she has been treated by her sister over the past few years.
I was so glad we had tiggy to add a bit of realism to this tale, I needed her as She was the one character I actually liked completely.
So a brief description of The Art Of Hiding is Nina McCarrick has the perfect life.
Until that is her husband Finn dies in a car crash leaving Nina and their Two sons in a mountain of debt and their whole lives unravelling.
Nina moves her boys back to the streets of Southampton where she grew up and The Art Of Hiding is really the story of how Nina and her children cope and grow as individuals as their world implodes.
As I said earlier I couldn't initially connect, but then a bit before the end I felt it and this is mainly what made me bump this up a star, I had a lump in my throat as Nina and her kids visit their former home with Tiggy, it was very poignant and sentimental and after pages of just reading, I actually started to feel the words written.
Overall though this book didn't make me feel good, On finishing, I felt rather sad and deflated and I like my fiction to leave me feeling rejuvenated, an emotional wreck, happy even sad, but not deflated and down that's a no-no.
I really do think I would enjoy other works of Amanda Prowse's as I really did like the writing style It was just the Art Of Hiding just didn't quite hit the mark for me.
So, In conclusion, this is a well-written story hence the three stars, It just personally wasn't quite for me, yourself well we are all diverse in our likes and dislikes so give it a go, I would so love to hear your take on this.
I would like to thank Netgalley, the publisher and the author for providing me with an arc of The Art Of Hiding By Amanda Prowse, this is my own voluntary, honest opinion.
Arc Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm
https://www.beckiebookworm.com/
https://www.facebook.com/beckiebookworm/
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/9460945-bex-beckie-bookworm
Until then It was a two all the way, so sorry.
I'm obviously in a minority here in regards to how The art Of Hiding was perceived by myself as I've seen many positive reviews singing its praises and this is a well-written story it just personally wasn't really my cup of tea.
So I'm going to try and pinpoint what wasn't working for me as there was never one major thing that stood out specifically and also what was actually floating my boat.
So first things first I've never read anything by Amanda Prowse before, so was going in blind here.
Well, my initial impression was that The Art Of Hiding was really well written, the words flowed easily and the writing style was one that was easy to get lost in.
But here comes my main problem, the actual story itself, I found it a bit boring and somewhat one-dimensional.
I also wondered whether the author herself has ever lived on the breadline or was this her portrayal of what she thinks it would be like to be in that scenario.
I thought to myself why wasn't Nina McCarrick with no income not down the job centre and putting in an application, dare I say it for housing benefit.
She was meant to be on her arse after all.
It also annoyed me how living on the breadline was initially portrayed all doom and gloom and shitty childhoods, I didn't find it a realistic portrayal of how the other half lives it was very stereotypical in the way it depicted the rich and the poor.
I found it so hard to connect with the characters especially Nina who I found very whiny and almost childlike in some of her reactions.
Thank god for Tiggy, she was a breath of fresh air and also very forgiving considering the way she has been treated by her sister over the past few years.
I was so glad we had tiggy to add a bit of realism to this tale, I needed her as She was the one character I actually liked completely.
So a brief description of The Art Of Hiding is Nina McCarrick has the perfect life.
Until that is her husband Finn dies in a car crash leaving Nina and their Two sons in a mountain of debt and their whole lives unravelling.
Nina moves her boys back to the streets of Southampton where she grew up and The Art Of Hiding is really the story of how Nina and her children cope and grow as individuals as their world implodes.
As I said earlier I couldn't initially connect, but then a bit before the end I felt it and this is mainly what made me bump this up a star, I had a lump in my throat as Nina and her kids visit their former home with Tiggy, it was very poignant and sentimental and after pages of just reading, I actually started to feel the words written.
Overall though this book didn't make me feel good, On finishing, I felt rather sad and deflated and I like my fiction to leave me feeling rejuvenated, an emotional wreck, happy even sad, but not deflated and down that's a no-no.
I really do think I would enjoy other works of Amanda Prowse's as I really did like the writing style It was just the Art Of Hiding just didn't quite hit the mark for me.
So, In conclusion, this is a well-written story hence the three stars, It just personally wasn't quite for me, yourself well we are all diverse in our likes and dislikes so give it a go, I would so love to hear your take on this.
I would like to thank Netgalley, the publisher and the author for providing me with an arc of The Art Of Hiding By Amanda Prowse, this is my own voluntary, honest opinion.
Arc Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm
https://www.beckiebookworm.com/
https://www.facebook.com/beckiebookworm/
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/9460945-bex-beckie-bookworm
Merissa (13100 KP) rated Will (The Books of the Five #2) in Books
Apr 12, 2023
You know when you read the first book in a series, fall in love with it, and presume that the next book won't be anywhere near as good... just because?! That's how I felt when I started Will. I had loved Eleanor and devoured every word. There was no way that Will could be that good, could it? OMG, yes it could be that good and even better. This book completely surpassed my expectations and took me on a poignant, raw and intense journey alongside the main character.
This lady is simply amazing as an author because she will make you dislike a character intensely and yet, within a few phrases, you will feel sorry for or like the same character. There is so much detail in her writing that you are left in no doubt as to the surroundings, expressions or feelings.
Now, it was a while ago that I read Eleanor so a few things were lost to me when I started but I quickly picked up again and proceeded to thoroughly enjoy this story. Because of the time delay though, it was unclear to me just what the problem was with Will. I was almost hoping that it wasn't simply his age because every time he said about being old, I winced as I am older than he is! This story actually hit me hard when all the secrets are revealed and I was sobbing big, ugly tears. I just can't tell you how good this story is, to have it affect me in that way.
One thing I will add though is that if you visit the author's website - http://www.mydren.com/ - you will find information about Eleanor and Will plus loads of other interesting snippets so you quickly come up to speed.
S.F. Burgess has put the Epic back into Fantasy. This book is worth every moment of your time and I can't imagine it being any shorter. Every word is needed and used with great effect.
One warning I will give and it's the same reason I have put Dark down as one of the genres - this book deals with some dark subjects, torture being one of them, and there is violence. None of this is gratuitous though and is definitely needed to make the story a better one.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for all Epic Fantasy fans out there who like a darker tale. If you want all glitter and rainbows then maybe you should try something else. For me personally, I will be waiting with bated breath for the release of Amelia, book 3. I really can't wait!!
* 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!
August 30, 2016
This lady is simply amazing as an author because she will make you dislike a character intensely and yet, within a few phrases, you will feel sorry for or like the same character. There is so much detail in her writing that you are left in no doubt as to the surroundings, expressions or feelings.
Now, it was a while ago that I read Eleanor so a few things were lost to me when I started but I quickly picked up again and proceeded to thoroughly enjoy this story. Because of the time delay though, it was unclear to me just what the problem was with Will. I was almost hoping that it wasn't simply his age because every time he said about being old, I winced as I am older than he is! This story actually hit me hard when all the secrets are revealed and I was sobbing big, ugly tears. I just can't tell you how good this story is, to have it affect me in that way.
One thing I will add though is that if you visit the author's website - http://www.mydren.com/ - you will find information about Eleanor and Will plus loads of other interesting snippets so you quickly come up to speed.
S.F. Burgess has put the Epic back into Fantasy. This book is worth every moment of your time and I can't imagine it being any shorter. Every word is needed and used with great effect.
One warning I will give and it's the same reason I have put Dark down as one of the genres - this book deals with some dark subjects, torture being one of them, and there is violence. None of this is gratuitous though and is definitely needed to make the story a better one.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for all Epic Fantasy fans out there who like a darker tale. If you want all glitter and rainbows then maybe you should try something else. For me personally, I will be waiting with bated breath for the release of Amelia, book 3. I really can't wait!!
* 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!
August 30, 2016
Sophia (Bookwyrming Thoughts) (530 KP) rated Before I Let Go in Books
Jan 23, 2020
<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>
<strong>Sometimes when I read a book, I forget why I wanted to read the book in the first place.</strong> <em>Before I Let Go</em> is, unfortunately, one of those books I forgot <em>why</em> I even bothered. It seemed interesting? Maybe last semester I read a different synopsis (probably not)?
Was I asleep? (It's possible - I'm a tired college kid who appears to have enough sleep.)
<em>Before I Let Go</em> is set in the present with Corey returning home to Lost Creek, only to find out her best friend Kyra is dead and the town that once ostracized Kyra is suddenly mourning her. And for some reason whatsoever, the role is reversed and Corey is looked upon as an outsider who moved into the wrong city.
<strong>I was expecting a lot more suspense and build up but I got none of it.</strong> Nada. Zip. I got a lot of this:
<blockquote>Lost doesn't take well to change, but we learned to understand her. She was <em>happy</em>.</blockquote>
And this.
<blockquote>She spread happiness. Kyra finding a place here was a sign to all of us that Lost can change - and change for the better. After all those years, she'd finally come home to us, and we to her. She was at peace.</blockquote>
And this.
<blockquote>With her art, she showed us the future. And once you understand that, you'll find Kyra's truth.</blockquote>
Same message, all a different variation.<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-4490" src="https://bookwyrmingthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/317/2015/11/Rapunzel-Sad-Sigh-Reaction-Gif.gif"; alt="" width="320" height="180" />
No suspense whatsoever aside from a mild curiosity. 🤷
<strong>Eventually, all of it felt repetitive </strong>and there didn't seem to be any progress aside from finding out what kind of person Kyra was before she died (even that felt a little confusing sometimes).
<strong>The writing is readable though.</strong> I went through <em>Before I Let Go</em> relatively quickly, at least the small progress that I chose to go through before my attention got taken away by <em>The Heart Forger</em>.
<strong>I still don't know why I wanted to read this book.</strong> I expected more, I got virtually nothing but an early DNF in the year. 😪
<a href="https://bookwyrmingthoughts.com/before-i-let-go-by-marieke-nijkamp-review/"; target="_blank">This review was originally posted on Bookwyrming Thoughts</a>
<strong>Sometimes when I read a book, I forget why I wanted to read the book in the first place.</strong> <em>Before I Let Go</em> is, unfortunately, one of those books I forgot <em>why</em> I even bothered. It seemed interesting? Maybe last semester I read a different synopsis (probably not)?
Was I asleep? (It's possible - I'm a tired college kid who appears to have enough sleep.)
<em>Before I Let Go</em> is set in the present with Corey returning home to Lost Creek, only to find out her best friend Kyra is dead and the town that once ostracized Kyra is suddenly mourning her. And for some reason whatsoever, the role is reversed and Corey is looked upon as an outsider who moved into the wrong city.
<strong>I was expecting a lot more suspense and build up but I got none of it.</strong> Nada. Zip. I got a lot of this:
<blockquote>Lost doesn't take well to change, but we learned to understand her. She was <em>happy</em>.</blockquote>
And this.
<blockquote>She spread happiness. Kyra finding a place here was a sign to all of us that Lost can change - and change for the better. After all those years, she'd finally come home to us, and we to her. She was at peace.</blockquote>
And this.
<blockquote>With her art, she showed us the future. And once you understand that, you'll find Kyra's truth.</blockquote>
Same message, all a different variation.<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-4490" src="https://bookwyrmingthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/317/2015/11/Rapunzel-Sad-Sigh-Reaction-Gif.gif"; alt="" width="320" height="180" />
No suspense whatsoever aside from a mild curiosity. 🤷
<strong>Eventually, all of it felt repetitive </strong>and there didn't seem to be any progress aside from finding out what kind of person Kyra was before she died (even that felt a little confusing sometimes).
<strong>The writing is readable though.</strong> I went through <em>Before I Let Go</em> relatively quickly, at least the small progress that I chose to go through before my attention got taken away by <em>The Heart Forger</em>.
<strong>I still don't know why I wanted to read this book.</strong> I expected more, I got virtually nothing but an early DNF in the year. 😪
<a href="https://bookwyrmingthoughts.com/before-i-let-go-by-marieke-nijkamp-review/"; target="_blank">This review was originally posted on Bookwyrming Thoughts</a>
Kristin (149 KP) rated Awaken Me (Connected, #1) in Books
Dec 7, 2018
“Awaken Me” is the story of Aimee, a young woman about to get married to Derek. She was told that six years ago, when she first met Derek and his mother, Elizabeth, she was recovering from an accident, during which she lost her mother, as well as her memory. However, she suddenly finds that all is not what it seems in her little world, and everything she thought she knew about herself gets thrown out the window in a hurry.
I really enjoyed this story, and it definitely held my interest from start to finish. Learning along with Aimee, about her past, who she actually is, about Derek and his family, was like a roller-coaster ride, and I couldn’t wait to see what happened on the next page. The supporting characters of Alec, Iva, and Marcus are all very fun to read about, as well, and I really like their interactions with one another, as well as with Aimee.
However, there were a couple times that I thought the story was rather repetitive, especially when Aimee talks about who she is, once she learns the facts. It seemed like every couple of chapters towards the end there was a “refresher course,” which would be good if you had set the book down for a while, but as I was reading it pretty much straight through, it did get slightly annoying to read the same thing over and over. It didn’t drag me down from enjoying the story, though, and I don’t think it was worth dropping a star from my rating.
All-in-all, I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes paranormal reads with a little revenge and romance thrown in the mix, and if you like a heroine who can kick butt, this one’s for you!
5 stars =)
I really enjoyed this story, and it definitely held my interest from start to finish. Learning along with Aimee, about her past, who she actually is, about Derek and his family, was like a roller-coaster ride, and I couldn’t wait to see what happened on the next page. The supporting characters of Alec, Iva, and Marcus are all very fun to read about, as well, and I really like their interactions with one another, as well as with Aimee.
However, there were a couple times that I thought the story was rather repetitive, especially when Aimee talks about who she is, once she learns the facts. It seemed like every couple of chapters towards the end there was a “refresher course,” which would be good if you had set the book down for a while, but as I was reading it pretty much straight through, it did get slightly annoying to read the same thing over and over. It didn’t drag me down from enjoying the story, though, and I don’t think it was worth dropping a star from my rating.
All-in-all, I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes paranormal reads with a little revenge and romance thrown in the mix, and if you like a heroine who can kick butt, this one’s for you!
5 stars =)
Alex Kapranos recommended Hunky Dory by David Bowie in Music (curated)
Merissa (13100 KP) rated Golden Bond (Pleasure Palace #1) in Books
Jul 9, 2025
GOLDEN BOND is the first book in the Pleasure Palace series, and it is a series I will be continuing as I loved this one!
Callis was summoned to Eletheria to pay his family's debt. Just by being there, his debt is paid. What he doesn't know is if he will be chosen for a bond. He is lost within the palace, not knowing what is going on or what to do. He is not used to being seen and doesn't know what to do with it. Auren has had three failed bonds before. He chooses Callis because he finds him intriguing, but what he gets is so much more.
This was a wonderful story that, no, isn't perfect. What story is? Did I want more world-building? Yes, I did. Do I want to know more about the bonds, what they mean, and how they help the outside world? Of course. And what about the supporting characters that seemed to disappear?
But what I got from this low-angst story was a connection between the two main characters that was everything I wanted and more. It was pure and innocent, while being deep and permanent. I loved how they were, both separate and together. I loved how they worked through the bond, figuring out what it meant, and what they meant to each other. I loved how I wasn't distracted by side stories that I didn't really need, so I could focus on theirs.
All in all, I was captivated by Callis and Auren and hope to return to the Pleasure Palace soon. 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!
Jul 9, 2025
Callis was summoned to Eletheria to pay his family's debt. Just by being there, his debt is paid. What he doesn't know is if he will be chosen for a bond. He is lost within the palace, not knowing what is going on or what to do. He is not used to being seen and doesn't know what to do with it. Auren has had three failed bonds before. He chooses Callis because he finds him intriguing, but what he gets is so much more.
This was a wonderful story that, no, isn't perfect. What story is? Did I want more world-building? Yes, I did. Do I want to know more about the bonds, what they mean, and how they help the outside world? Of course. And what about the supporting characters that seemed to disappear?
But what I got from this low-angst story was a connection between the two main characters that was everything I wanted and more. It was pure and innocent, while being deep and permanent. I loved how they were, both separate and together. I loved how they worked through the bond, figuring out what it meant, and what they meant to each other. I loved how I wasn't distracted by side stories that I didn't really need, so I could focus on theirs.
All in all, I was captivated by Callis and Auren and hope to return to the Pleasure Palace soon. 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!
Jul 9, 2025