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Star Trek: Insurrection (1998)
Star Trek: Insurrection (1998)
1998 | Action, Family, Sci-Fi
This is the Trek movie that I’ve probably seen least often. It’s one that is very “planet-bound” ones (another of those is still to come in the series), and as such it has never grabbed my interest in the same way as many of the others. Having watched it again, it’s actually better than I remember it. The rejuvenating capabilities of the planet on Geordi LeForge’s eyes leads to a genuinely moving sunset scene. And love is in the air too. Firstly, between Picard (Patrick Stewart) and the ‘older woman’ Anij (Donna Murphy): very tastefully and nicely done. And secondly, the relationship is also rekindled between Troi (Marina Sirtis) and Riker (Jonathan Frakes), though you have to wonder if Frakes pulled ‘director’s privilege’ in getting the naked bath scene with Sirtis – lucky dog!

That being said, and despite the heavyweight involvement of F. Murray Abraham and Anthony Zerbe. the “First Contact” magic is rather missing here. There’s a sense of desperation when a previously unknown ‘Captain’s Yacht’ hoves into view (as if!) and when the Enterprise’s “manual steering column” (a PS/2 joystick!) pops up!

So, will the TNG era end with a bang or a whimper?
  
HF
Hornet Flight
7
7.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
51 of 220
Book
Hornet Flight
By Ken Follet
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

On the rocky coast of Denmark, two brothers, Harald and Arne Olufsen are straining against the rigid confines imposed by their elderly parents. Meanwhile, a network of MI6 spies is attempting to decipher an encrypted Luftwaffe radio signal which mentions the new Freya-Gerat - a rudimentary form of German radar equipment. Arne's relationship with Hermia Mount, an MI6 analyst draws him into underground politics, putting him under surveillance by the Danish security forces - and by one man in particular who has a personal motive to see Arne fall. It is only a matter of time before the brothers' paths converge in a united effort to overcome the Nazis. A disused Hornet Moth biplane is their only means of getting a vital message to the British...

Another enjoyable book from Ken Follet. This is set during World War Two a story of spies trying to tip the scales in a war that Germany are winning. I love this era in history it was a really good read. You will love this if you love Ken Follet , war time and espionage.
  
The Glass Bottom Hoax
The Glass Bottom Hoax
Diane Vallere | 2024 | Mystery
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Undercover on the High Seas
Madison Night is going undercover on a cruise ship. She’s pretending to be a Doris Day impersonator, and her boyfriend, police captain Tex Allen, is going along as her manager. In reality, the two are supposed to be looking into some recent burglaries on board the ship. But they’ve hardly left on the trip before Madison finds a dead body. Have the stakes just been raised?

It was fun to go on this cruise with Madison and Tex. Naturally, we didn’t see as much of the regular characters, but the new characters did help fill in the gaps. Plus, we got to see some growth in Madison and Tex and their relationship. The plot starts strongly. I felt like part of it was a bit of a stretch, but it still mostly worked for me. Likewise, one of the Easter eggs for Doris Day fans was a stretch, but there are some other fun ones. Really, fun is the overall word for this entry in the series. If you are already a fan, you’ll want to book passage on this entry soon.
  
You Otter Know (Part of: Double-Booked for the Holidays)
You Otter Know (Part of: Double-Booked for the Holidays)
Minerva Howe | 2025 | LGBTQ+, Paranormal, Romance
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
YOU OTTER KNOW is part of the Double-Booked for the Holidays series, and it is a cabin by a river that is double-booked in this story. Both Bodhi and River were looking forward to a quiet Christmas, away from well-meaning but repetitive mothers and loud family time. Instead, they have a Christmas that is both sweet and steamy, with a missing desk clerk and surprise gift baskets left on the porch.

You may want to hold onto your hat for this one, as the pacing is FAST. In twelve or thirteen chapters, you get an entire year, a pregnancy, and a relationship from meeting to marriage; all at breakneck speed.

I would have preferred a little more show and less tell, but it's a cute, easy read that begins and ends at Christmas. If you're not looking for anything more than that, then this is the one for you.

** 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!
Nov 24, 2025
  
40x40

Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2672 KP) rated At Death’s Dough in Books

Dec 18, 2025 (Updated Dec 18, 2025)  
At Death’s Dough
At Death’s Dough
Mindy Quigley | 2025 | Mystery
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
A Frozen Valentine’s Day
It’s the beginning of February, and Delilah O’Leary is finding the quiet season is quieter than she planned on. She’s hoping for a full restaurant on Valentine’s Day to help carry her through to tourist season again. On one of the restaurant’s days closed, Delilah and her great aunt go out ice fishing, and they make an unexpected discovery - a dead body under the ice. The victim was dressed for scuba diving, but who would dive in the lake in the middle of the winter?

The premise definitely caught my attention, although I found the pacing was uneven. Yes, I could tell the story was being set up, but it felt a bit random to me for a while. Once things really got going, I was hooked, with plenty of excitement, especially in the final quarter. And we did reach a logical conclusion. The characters continue to shine, and I especially appreciated seeing Delilah growing while building her relationship with her boyfriend. And we get another four recipes to enjoy at the end. If you enjoy culinary cozies, you’ll find yourself grabbing all the slices in this series.