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Merissa (12919 KP) rated A Curse of Forever in Books

Dec 1, 2021 (Updated Jul 9, 2023)  
A Curse of Forever
A Curse of Forever
Tessa McFionn | 2021 | Contemporary, Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy
8
8.5 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
A CURSE OF FOREVER tells you the story of a man cursed within the confines of a lighthouse until his heart returns to him. Nathaniel has paid dearly for loving the wrong woman. Will Laurel be the one to change all that?

This is a fast-paced story that gives you insight into Laurel and her delightful mother and sister. I was so pleased to find out that others in her family were not the same! She is estranged from her beloved grandfather through actions not of her own. When he dies, she is the one to organise the funeral. The paper she works for gives her the time off but asks her to write a piece about the haunted lighthouse too. When she goes there, she sees -- and can talk to -- Nathaniel.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story. The only part I couldn't quite understand was Jacob and Carrie. I didn't feel that he added much to the story or his obsession with Laurel. Yes, I know he had to be there for a certain part but that was it. As for Carrie, she was one way for the whole of the book, just changing at the end. Was it because the curse had been broken? I'm honestly not sure.

This was a steamy read, with instant attraction between our main characters. Laurel and Nathaniel were supported by great characters who helped to keep the story moving along.

Anyway, on the whole, this was a great contemporary read by an author I have come to associate with science fiction. I would say she has successfully moved to other genres. Thoroughly enjoyed and definitely recommended.

** 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
Dec 1, 2021
  
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Daniel Boyd (1066 KP) rated Sniper Elite 4 in Video Games

Oct 10, 2017 (Updated Oct 10, 2017)  
Sniper Elite 4
Sniper Elite 4
2017 | Shooter
Satisfying gameplay. (2 more)
X-Ray camera.
Neat settings.
Generic characters and plot. (1 more)
Sub par graphics.
Hits It's Target
The fourth game in the third person WW2 shooter series, this game expands on the groundwork laid by it's predecessors. If you are coming off of a story driven game and are just looking for something satisfying and fun, then this is perfect for you. The story and characters are paper thin and the voice acting is all over the place in terms of quality, but that's not why you come to Sniper Elite, you come to watch a Nazi's brains explode from the sheer impact of your well placed bullet.


This is definitely the best game in the series in terms of it's gameplay systems. The control given to the player is clear and specific and if you miss a shot, you have no one to blame but yourself. The infamous X-ray cam makes a glorious return and it is even more detailed and brutal than in previous entries. No matter how many times you make a pair of Nazi testicles go pop from across a beautiful Italian town, it never gets old.


The other great thing about this game is it's various settings. There is an array of different maps that you work your way through during the game's campaign and each is unique and well thought out enough to give you a challenge, but also make you feel like a total bad-ass when you land a near impossible shot, in equal measure.


Although the landscapes are nice to run around in and function well in terms of matching with the game's gameplay style, the quality of the graphics itself isn't going to astonish anyone. We are around halfway through the PS4's life-cycle and this looks at best, like a late generation PS3 game. Again though, it doesn't really matter here, no one is buying Sniper Elite 4 for it's graphical quality.


Overall, there is a ton of fun to be had here. Don't think too much about the story and just enjoy systematically working your way through each various map, popping Nazi skulls as you go.
  
Beating Ruby (Spotless Series Book 2)
Beating Ruby (Spotless Series Book 2)
Camilla Monk | 2016 | Crime, Romance, Thriller
10
10.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
I have been putting off this review for a long time because once I write it, I must accept that I have finished the novel and the wait for book 3 begins. If I loved Spotless, I don’t think there are words for how I feel about Beating Ruby. I don’t think I could love this series more if I tried. It is utter perfection in every way and has everything you could ever want in a novel whether that be action, romance, or humor. Monk (and her leading lady Island) has a unique voice that gives her life all her own. I didn’t think it was possible for an author to fit so much personality into a fictional character, but I feel as if Island and I are old friends, that she is flesh and blood instead of words on paper. Not to mention she is far more relatable than the plethora of heroines I read about.

I will be honest and say that Beating Ruby was a bit hard to get into. Mainly because, like Island, I was still too hung up on March to give Alex, or the plotline itself, a chance. I am so glad I hung in there though. Monk likes to torture her readers with what ifs and maybes, but at least in the instance, she wasn’t a complete sadist.

While I enjoyed Spotless, I definitely feel that Beating Ruby surpassed the bar its prequel raised. It still had the same sassy humor and brains that Spotless had. However, I feel Beating Ruby brought more emotions that Spotless just didn’t touch. Of course, there was plenty of leftover turmoil from secrets revealed in Spotless to fuel the emotional fire as well as questions that still needed answers.

Again, Monk ends her sequel with what I would consider a cliffhanger. I should be furious that I have to suffer yet again until she graces us with the third in the series. However, I think I can forgive her since Beating Ruby surpassed its predecessor. Even if the third is only half as good as the first two, I will content.
  
Wild: A Journey from Lost to Found
Wild: A Journey from Lost to Found
Cheryl Strayed | 2013 | Biography
10
8.2 (10 Ratings)
Book Rating
<i>I won this book through Goodreads First Reads</i>

Recently brought to the big screen starring Academy Award Winner Reese Witherspoon, <i>Wild</i> is a true account of Cheryl Strayed's epic hike along the Pacific Crest Trail. Over the course of three months Cheryl treks from Mojave, California, through Oregon before finishing at the Bridge of the Gods.

<i>Wild</i> is a compelling story that reveals a young woman's determination and bravery to complete her impulsive walk of eleven hundred miles. Ill-prepared and still struggling with the death of her mother a few years earlier, Cherly sets off unknowing of the strength she would need to complete her challenge.

As Cheryl writes the reader learns how she survey the severe changes in weather conditions, her lack of food and money as well as her damaged feet and missing toenails.

Cheryl Strayed's story is an inspiration to readers as she proves that a human being can go above and beyond expectation in extraordinary circumstances. Despite having the truth laid out on paper, it is impossible to imagine the emotions and physical exertion Cheryl must have gone through.

A good thing about this biographical tale is that Cheryl's narrative does not solely focus on the PCT but refers back to events of the past that have made Cheryl who she is today and influenced her decision to begin the trail. The reader begins to know the real Cheryl and understand what she is feeling and thinking at different points in the book.

Split into five parts, Cheryl has used famous quotes to reflect the content of the following chapters. This takes the book to a higher intellectual level than just having the narrative.

Even if reading about someone going for a long walk sounds unappealing, it is so beautifully written, full of raw emotion that it will be enjoyed by many different readers whether male or female, old or young.

Having not yet seen the film it is impossible to pass comment on it, however the book is definitely worth making the time to read.
  
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Olivia (102 KP) rated Girls of Paper and Fire in Books

Aug 13, 2018 (Updated Aug 13, 2018)  
Girls of Paper and Fire
Girls of Paper and Fire
Natasha Ngan | 2018 | LGBTQ+, Science Fiction/Fantasy, Young Adult (YA)
9
8.9 (9 Ratings)
Book Rating
I'm still trying to process all my feelings about his book, but right now I'm going to give it an 8.5

Girls of Paper and Fire is an incredibly addicting read. Within picking it up, I finished reading it in under 24 hours. Every minute that I wasn't reading it, I was thinking about it. It was like an impossible earworm chanting "Read me. Read me!".

Ngan's writing style and character development left me in awe at times. She somehow managed to write this imaginative tale whilst keeping it grounded, a combination that I haven't seen successfully executed very often. The romance in this book is perhaps one of my new all-time favorites. The love is believable. It wasn't a case of "Oh, I like this person a lot and so now I'm gonna make out with them for 80 pages straight and forget about everything else." there was actual chemistry between the two and it made the story all the more intense.

In the seemingly effortless way Ngan could create palpable romantic chemistry, she could also create absolute revulsion.
My problem with so many villains is that the writer will have them have done something terrible, and that's it. They don't truly explore how vile this villain is; they rely on one or two things that all of decent humanity can agree is unforgivable and let that be the reason why they're evil. Sure, anyone would be repulsed by a man who rapes and murders people; it's not like you have to convince people to hate that guy. But Ngan doesn't just throw those two things onto the character and call it a day. She made the king an absolute vile creature with words that made me physically gag, actions that made me have to put the book down and walk away.

Ngan's descriptions are extremely rich; whether that is a good or bad thing will vary from reader to reader. Personally, I found myself sometimes skimming over all the imagery; not because it wasn't good, but because I just really wanted to get back to the main plot and character interactions.

I'm not usually a huge fan of series, but this is one that I heavily look forward to continuing.