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Sue (5 KP) rated Violet in Books

Aug 13, 2018  
V
Violet
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Violet is a kindergarten teacher that believes one of her students is being abused by his parents. After hearing a presentation by a handsome social worker, she realizes that her student is being endangered by methamphetamines.

Can this timid teacher find a way to save this child before it is too late? With the help of her bible study group the Planted, she gets closer to understanding God’s teachings and her role, which allows her to find the strength to be bold and save a child.

This is the third book in the Christian suspense series, Planted Flowers. As with the other books in the Planted series, this is more than just a book of mystery and romance. The underlining story has to do with finding faith, strength, understanding, and support while gaining a deeper relationship with God and his teachings.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
  
Sweetener by Ariana Grande
Sweetener by Ariana Grande
2018 | Pop
Giveaway Review
I received a copy of this album via Smashbomb Giveaways to listen to and review.
I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with Ariana Grande. Some of her music I absolutely love, and some I'm not too keen on. Because of this I knew this album would be a bit hit and miss. Fortunately it was more hit than miss!
I'm obsessed with the song 'God is a Woman'. It was the only track I knew going into this album, and I absolutely love it. My other favourite tracks were 'Raindrops', 'R.E.M' and 'No Tears Left to Cry'.
The cover art is beautiful (how can it not be? Ariana is stunning!) and I really love the quirky way the the images and text are facing different ways.
Overall, not one of my favourite albums, but it was very fun and I'm looking forward to listening to it again :)
  
TS
The Sea Is Quiet Tonight: A Memoir
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
MoMo Book Diary recommends Michael Ward’s The Sea Is Quiet as a very emotional 5 star read. Michael truly honors Mark’s memory with this memoir.

“The Sea Is Quiet Tonight: A Memoir” tells a heartbreaking story that will have you hooked from the start. The author writes from the heart as he tells the wonderful yet brutally honest story of his relationship with his partner, Mark Halberstadt. Mark was the 100th person in Massachusetts to be diagnosed with AIDS. I was too young to fully understand the chatter about AIDS during the 1980s. Since then, I have read a number of articles and books on the devastation brought with an AIDS diagnosis – nothing has touched me in the way this memoir has. At times I felt that I was reading the author’s personal diary, it was so raw and honest. The characters were described perfectly and I felt that I knew them personally.

This review is also published on my blog, netgalley and amazon
  
The Wanderer
The Wanderer
Sharon Creech | 2000 | Children, Young Adult (YA)
6
5.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
Not A Lot Going On
This book is intended for middle grade readers, so I was expecting a simple story. It ended up being to simple. The author underestimates what the reader will follow and comprehen, and the story greatly suffers because of this. The characters were interesting, but I would have liked the writer to spend more time explaining the characters past and showing them develop new relationships. Cody and his dad particularly had a relationship that I would have liked to know more about.
I did enjoy the story style of change back and forth between Cody's and Sophie's journals. They both had unique views on the events happening around them, and Cody's point of view gave the reader some much needed insight on Sophie.
Overall this was a quick read, and it did have some strong points; however the story feels as if its missing something that keeps it from being anything special.
  
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Hazel (2934 KP) rated The Chosen Ones in Books

Oct 20, 2018  
The Chosen Ones
The Chosen Ones
Howard Linskey | 2018 | Crime, Thriller
8
8.0 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
I have never read anything by Howard Linskey before but if this book is anything to go by, I won't be making that mistake again ... what a great read and even though this is book number 4 in the series, I don't think it's totally necessary to have read the previous ones. Yes you may miss out on some of the back story and relationship building that has gone on before but I think there is enough provided to give you a good idea but not so much that it becomes tedious.

The writing flows well making it easy to read and with great characters, creepy and disturbing storyline and a great ending, I have no hesitation in recommending this to those who enjoy a good police procedural with a psychologically thrilling edge.

Thanks go to the publisher, Penguin UK - Michael Joseph, via NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest and unbiased review and for introducing me to another fantastic British author.
  
The Choice: Escape Your Past and Embrace the Possible
The Choice: Escape Your Past and Embrace the Possible
Edith Eger | 2017 | Health & Fitness
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
“Our painful experiences aren’t a liability—they’re a gift. They give us perspective and meaning, an opportunity to find our unique purpose and our strength.” ― Edith Eger, The Choice

Oh my goodness, I can't even begin to tell you how good this book is. It's not just another Holocaust survivors life-story, it's so much more than that ... it's extraordinary!

Dr Eger is now 90 years old and what an amazing woman she is ... this book tells the story of being a teenager and her relationship with her parents and sisters, the truly horrific time she spent being a prisoner of the Nazis, her astonishing strength and bravery before, during and after the war and of her life once freedom had been achieved.

Once again, I can't tell you how good this book is. It's beautifully written and flows exceptionally well. Highly recommended.

My thanks go to the publisher, Penguin Random House UK, Ebury Publishing via NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest review.
  
OY
Only Yours (Fool's Gold, #5)
8
8.0 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
I am not big on romance, but while I am healing from my surgery that I had on Friday, I decided to read this book and a couple of other romance books that I have gotten in the mail. Mallery's story line seemed real, more plausible and the goal of Montana was not to find herself a mate, it was to have a healthy relationship with everyone in her life, including the dogs she trains for therapy dogs. I love that part of the story, where she is using therapy dogs in the hospital to help others along in their healing journey. I have met some awesome dogs and their handlers, including my sister in law Kris who helps train the dogs and also some great therapist who use the dogs in support of their work. It is amazing how much an animal can help along with the healing process. Great story and I am glad that I read it.
  
Saving Mr. Banks (2013)
Saving Mr. Banks (2013)
2013 | Comedy, Drama
A charming compendium to Mary Poppins
Having just watched the original Mary Poppins a few weeks ago I was anxious to also watch this film which I had remembered when it was released. I am so glad I did as it was a glorious supplement to understand the history f the film, the reluctance of the original author to sell the rights to Disney and how they eventually convinced her to do it.

The bonus subplot of the author as a young child and the tumultuous relationship she had with her own father so also interesting in the parallels drawn or she must have written about which end up in the final Poppins story and film.

Strong performances by Tom Hanks and Emma Thompson and even the normally annoying Colin Farrell added to the rich story. Watching this film actually makes you want to watch Poppins again because of all the timeless songs.

I just might do that!

  
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Sarah (7800 KP) Jan 6, 2019

You really can’t go wrong with Tom Hanks and Emma Thompson

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Andy K (10823 KP) Jan 6, 2019

True dat

The Bride Test
The Bride Test
Helen Hoang | 2019 | Fiction & Poetry
10
9.3 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
As you may know, I have a child with Autism and reading books fiction or non-fiction that give me a little more insight into what is going on in his brain, always make me feel like I get to know him a little better. Stella doesn't always say and do the right things, but that is what makes her so lovable. I think everyone who reads this book will fall in love with Stella.

The Kiss Quotient had me wanting to know what was going to happen with Stella. Was she going to find the love she wanted? Was her relationship with Michael going to be just temporary? Will Michael stop helping Stella if he finds out about her labels? I laughed, and cried during while listening to this book. I was happy for Stella for going for what she wanted and making her own happiness.

I think I've found a new favorite author!! I will read everything she writes.
  
Rocky (1976)
Rocky (1976)
1976 | Drama, Romance, Sport
The Italian stallion
Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) is a small-time boxer from Philadelphia, chosen by reigning world heavyweight champion, Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers) who after losing his opponent due to injury, is looking for a challenge like no other and an opportunity to give a nobody a chance at the title. Trained by former bantamweight champion Mickey Goldmill (Burgess Meredith). Rocky enters a relationship with Adrian (Talia Shire), the wallflower sister of his problematic alcoholic work pal Paulie (Burt Young).

Rocky is a 1976 boxing based drama film directed by John G. Avildsen, written by and starring Sylvester Stallone.
Budget: $1 million
Box office: $225 million
produced by: Irwin Winkler; Robert Chartoff
Music by: Bill Conti

Fun fact: stallone pitched the idea to producer's stating he wanted to be the lead, they said no.
Producer's offered to buy the script of him so they could pick their choice of lead, he said no.