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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2099 KP) rated Final Cut in Books
Nov 16, 2023
Deadly First Day on Set
Costumer Joey Jessop is happy to be working on the latest big budget superhero movie. However, the first day gets off to a rocky start with the director showing how horrible he can be, an electrical accident, and then a murder. Joey is the person to find the victim, the second assistant director, who just happens to be dating Joey’s ex. With Joey a person of interest, can she figure out what really happened?
Since I love the entertainment industry, this book immediately caught my attention. We get behind the scenes information, sometimes a bit too much, but I did love the Southern California and entertainment settings overall. The plot needed more focus, with the story being driven more by events than Joey’s investigation, which lead us to a climax that was weak on one hand and suspenseful on the other. Several aspects of the plot don’t really get resolved. There is a strong Me Too storyline, and I appreciated that it focused on Joey and her response to it all. Joey and several of main characters came to life for me, and I did like spending time with them. In the end, this one was a mixed bag for me.
Since I love the entertainment industry, this book immediately caught my attention. We get behind the scenes information, sometimes a bit too much, but I did love the Southern California and entertainment settings overall. The plot needed more focus, with the story being driven more by events than Joey’s investigation, which lead us to a climax that was weak on one hand and suspenseful on the other. Several aspects of the plot don’t really get resolved. There is a strong Me Too storyline, and I appreciated that it focused on Joey and her response to it all. Joey and several of main characters came to life for me, and I did like spending time with them. In the end, this one was a mixed bag for me.
Sue (5 KP) rated The Coroner in Books
Aug 13, 2018
Emily Hartford seems to be doing well for herself with a promising surgical career in Chicago and having been recently engaged to a third-year surgical resident. Her world is turned upside down when she receives a call telling her that her estranged medical examiner father has suffered a major heart attack and she must come home.
Upon arrival at her hometown of Freeport, which she fled over 12 years ago after the mysterious death of her mother, Emily is pulled into an investigation. With her ME father unable to assist, Sheriff Nick Larson (Em’s old high school flame) asks her help in finding out if the sudden unexplained death of a Senator’s teen daughter was an accident or murder.
This book is engaging with several different stories going on at once. The first story is the mystery of the Senator’s daughter who was an equestrian, good student, and all around loved individual. How and why was she killed? The second story is about the relationship between Emily and her father. They once were so close, but with the mysterious accident her mother suffered leaving her dead, daughter and father have a rocky relationship. The third story is of Emily and trying to find out what she really wants in life.
The is a true mystery-suspense drama with a very surprising ending.
Upon arrival at her hometown of Freeport, which she fled over 12 years ago after the mysterious death of her mother, Emily is pulled into an investigation. With her ME father unable to assist, Sheriff Nick Larson (Em’s old high school flame) asks her help in finding out if the sudden unexplained death of a Senator’s teen daughter was an accident or murder.
This book is engaging with several different stories going on at once. The first story is the mystery of the Senator’s daughter who was an equestrian, good student, and all around loved individual. How and why was she killed? The second story is about the relationship between Emily and her father. They once were so close, but with the mysterious accident her mother suffered leaving her dead, daughter and father have a rocky relationship. The third story is of Emily and trying to find out what she really wants in life.
The is a true mystery-suspense drama with a very surprising ending.
Sarah (7798 KP) rated My Dad Wrote A Porno in Podcasts
Jul 15, 2020
Absolutely hilarious
Podcasts aren't usually my thing, however working from home full time has made me go insane listening to my usual music and radio shows. A few of my friends have recommended this podcast on numerous occasions so thought I'd give something different a go... now I'm just mega peeved that I hadn't started listening to this sooner!
This is possibly the funniest thing I've ever heard. Let's be honest, this isn't for the faint hearted or those easily offended as it's pretty explicit, but boy is it laugh out loud hilarious. The funniest thing is the fact that this is actually a real book series written by Jamie Morton's dad (aka Rocky Flintstone) and that this hasn't just been written to make fun. His writing style is bonkers and the way it moves from mundane description to ridiculous and completely unappealing porn scenarios is so bizarre. And then listening to this book being narrated by Jamie just adds to the laughs. Listening to his, Alice Levine's and James Cooper's commentary feels like you're sat in a room with friends listening and chatting about it in person. They pick on every grammatical error and plot hole, and not to mention the ridiculous scenarios and inept sales work.
Can't fault this at all, it's downright hilarious and I'll be very sad if/when I get to the last episode.
This is possibly the funniest thing I've ever heard. Let's be honest, this isn't for the faint hearted or those easily offended as it's pretty explicit, but boy is it laugh out loud hilarious. The funniest thing is the fact that this is actually a real book series written by Jamie Morton's dad (aka Rocky Flintstone) and that this hasn't just been written to make fun. His writing style is bonkers and the way it moves from mundane description to ridiculous and completely unappealing porn scenarios is so bizarre. And then listening to this book being narrated by Jamie just adds to the laughs. Listening to his, Alice Levine's and James Cooper's commentary feels like you're sat in a room with friends listening and chatting about it in person. They pick on every grammatical error and plot hole, and not to mention the ridiculous scenarios and inept sales work.
Can't fault this at all, it's downright hilarious and I'll be very sad if/when I get to the last episode.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2099 KP) rated Muddled Matrimonial Murder in Books
Jun 14, 2023
Dead Stalker
Not only is Thanksgiving approaching, and with it lots of orders for cupcakes that caterer Emory Martinez must fulfill, but she’s also working on the wedding of her best friend, Brad, to Gabe. The road to the wedding is going to be rocky, however, as Gabe seems to be having the worst case of cold feet imaginable. Then Brad and Emory find the body of a woman at the wedding venue. The victim is Brad’s stalker, whom he hasn’t seen in years and didn’t even know was in the area. With the police looking at the grooms as the prime suspects, Emory must add finding a killer to her to do list.
I’d kind of forgotten about Brad’s stalker until she became the focus of this storyline. The plot was great since Emory, despite what she uncovers, keeps coming back to the grooms as the best suspects. Yet when we reach the suspenseful climax, things make perfect sense. There are some interesting developments that fans of the series will enjoy. And yes, I do recommend reading this series in order. That’s fine since the characters are so charming, and I enjoyed spending time with them again here. There are another dozen recipes, including some twists on Thanksgiving favorites and lots featuring cranberries. If you are looking for a fun cozy, you’ll be glad you picked this one up.
I’d kind of forgotten about Brad’s stalker until she became the focus of this storyline. The plot was great since Emory, despite what she uncovers, keeps coming back to the grooms as the best suspects. Yet when we reach the suspenseful climax, things make perfect sense. There are some interesting developments that fans of the series will enjoy. And yes, I do recommend reading this series in order. That’s fine since the characters are so charming, and I enjoyed spending time with them again here. There are another dozen recipes, including some twists on Thanksgiving favorites and lots featuring cranberries. If you are looking for a fun cozy, you’ll be glad you picked this one up.
Merissa (11800 KP) rated In Due Time (Time #2) in Books
Jun 19, 2023
IN DUE TIME is the second book in the Times series and we continue with Tatum as she tries to sort out the world and its problems! You probably could read this as a standalone but I think it is definitely worth reading book one first as it will give you smaller details that help make this story so good.
This book helps to bring further elements of the paranormal world into the story, including human shapeshifters, vampires, and witches. Leo acts like a jerk but claims ignorance (pfft, I sort of get it, but still…) Oliver also finds his true mate (which I loved) and James and Nat have rocky times (because James lost his path.) As much as Tatum sorts something out, something else comes along to cause her worry and stress. We also find out more about Tatum and her past, and her connection with Oliver's true mate, which was great! Can I just add, I loved the bit with Lexly!
A thoroughly enjoyable addition to the series and I look forward to reading Adina's story.
Definitely 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!
Jun 19, 2023
This book helps to bring further elements of the paranormal world into the story, including human shapeshifters, vampires, and witches. Leo acts like a jerk but claims ignorance (pfft, I sort of get it, but still…) Oliver also finds his true mate (which I loved) and James and Nat have rocky times (because James lost his path.) As much as Tatum sorts something out, something else comes along to cause her worry and stress. We also find out more about Tatum and her past, and her connection with Oliver's true mate, which was great! Can I just add, I loved the bit with Lexly!
A thoroughly enjoyable addition to the series and I look forward to reading Adina's story.
Definitely 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!
Jun 19, 2023
Storyline (1 more)
Characters
Short but Worth the Read!
Being an avid King fan, I could not wait to read his latest novel, Elevation, and was a bit dismayed by the brevity. Upon starting the first chapter, however, I quickly realized that King had once again duped me into thinking he was only capable of writing long, winding novels (I've been duped before by his short story books and by Joyland) and I was pleasantly entertained from the first word to the last.
Elevation is set in a small town, like most of King's stories, one which gives off the air of being both a town to love and one to avoid on a family trip; it has the small town charm we all look for but comes with the small town bigotry as well. Our main character is a long-time resident with an already established problem of which there seems to be no cure and a rocky relationship with his neighbors, one that has a profound effect on his future. King manages to pull his reader in from first page and attach you to his characters, and not just the protagonist but the supporting cast as well, in a way that will leave you desperately wishing there were just a few more pages.
All in all, Elevation is another Stephen King that should not be passed up, filled with a strong central message about how we view the world and the people in it.
Elevation is set in a small town, like most of King's stories, one which gives off the air of being both a town to love and one to avoid on a family trip; it has the small town charm we all look for but comes with the small town bigotry as well. Our main character is a long-time resident with an already established problem of which there seems to be no cure and a rocky relationship with his neighbors, one that has a profound effect on his future. King manages to pull his reader in from first page and attach you to his characters, and not just the protagonist but the supporting cast as well, in a way that will leave you desperately wishing there were just a few more pages.
All in all, Elevation is another Stephen King that should not be passed up, filled with a strong central message about how we view the world and the people in it.
graveyardgremlin (7194 KP) rated Red Hot Fury (Shades of Fury, #1) in Books
Feb 15, 2019
For about the first forty pages, RED HOT FURY has a rocky start, but after it gets over that hump it's a worthwhile read. The Furies are an interesting breed that brings a welcome change from all the vampires, weres, witches, et al. to the urban fantasy genre, and the author adds her own spin to the species. Marissa, or rather Riss, is a tough, sarcastic, sure-of-herself character that won't appeal to everyone, but if you like them more on the gritty side then she might be the heroine for you. The world is interesting and there are good ideas, which includes Greek, Egyptian, and European mythology, but unfortunately the execution could have been better. Sometimes I was confused by explanations of the world, organizations, magic, etc., all of which, at times, were vague and periodically the dialogue fell flat. Adding to that, there was an unnecessary number of action scenes and a few too many characters to keep completely straight. However, there were some nice twists and turns, and although I saw the big reveal coming a mile away, I enjoyed the book and will look for the second in the series. Hopefully, all the kinks will be ironed out for that one. It's not quite a 4-star book, but a little better than a 3, so I'll settle for 3.5 stars.
Provided to me free for review through Amazon Vine.
Provided to me free for review through Amazon Vine.
Isabel Smith (34 KP) rated The House Swap in Books
Jun 26, 2018
Tension, tension, so much tension!
From start to finish The House Swap is a taut and edgy examination of the rocky marriage between a young English couple, Caroline and Francis. When the opportunity arises for them to swap their city flat in Leeds with someone else’s suburban home in Chiswick they eagerly plan a week-long getaway for two so they can focus on repairing their relationship. Caroline soon starts finding signs that the owner of the suburban home she and Francis are currently occupying may very well be the person she’s tried so desperately to put behind her: her ex-lover, Carl. Francis, who knows about Caroline’s past affair, begins to notice that his wife is acting strange and inattentive; it’s putting him on edge, which is no place for a former pill-popper like himself to be. With both of their past obsessions threatening to burst back into their lives, Caroline and Francis brace themselves for the ultimate test in their marriage.
This psychological thriller definitely delivers on nail-biting suspense, calculated misdirection, and hair-raising shocks. There were more than a couple of well-placed red herrings which made the plot twists all the more juicy and exciting. Some of the content was a bit difficult to stomach, but it added to the domestic noir feel of the novel. Overall, The House Swap is a solid option for anyone looking for a fast-paced and multilayered novel that goes behind closed doors.
This psychological thriller definitely delivers on nail-biting suspense, calculated misdirection, and hair-raising shocks. There were more than a couple of well-placed red herrings which made the plot twists all the more juicy and exciting. Some of the content was a bit difficult to stomach, but it added to the domestic noir feel of the novel. Overall, The House Swap is a solid option for anyone looking for a fast-paced and multilayered novel that goes behind closed doors.
Jessica - Where the Book Ends (15 KP) rated Harp's Voice (Harp's Song, #2) in Books
Jan 30, 2019
This is the second book in the series and picks up right where the first book leaves off. Cassie Shine doesn't miss a beat on this book. She continues the story of Harp with even more emotion, and heart wrenching detail than the first book in the series.
Harp was a lot different in this book than the first book, and honestly she wasn't my favorite character. I thought she was acting like a brat, stubborn, and persnickety. If you know and understand her life up until this point I feel like she was allowed to be this way up to a certain point. I did think she had a lot of personality and she was extremely bold which made me fall back in love with the character.
I loved Anne, and the way she grows throughout the book. Her relationship with Harp is rocky, but throughout the story you can see her motherly instincts grow and a mother daughter relationship form. It was beautiful.
The only thing I would change about this would be maybe a novella to follow to show the characters in 5 years and see how their stories wrap up. I'd love to see Anne end up with Dr. Dylan, and how her family's reunion is going.
Overall I loved this story. It's very moving and heart wrenching. I can't wait to read more from this author she's absolutely wonderful and her stories are indicative of a book hangover.
Harp was a lot different in this book than the first book, and honestly she wasn't my favorite character. I thought she was acting like a brat, stubborn, and persnickety. If you know and understand her life up until this point I feel like she was allowed to be this way up to a certain point. I did think she had a lot of personality and she was extremely bold which made me fall back in love with the character.
I loved Anne, and the way she grows throughout the book. Her relationship with Harp is rocky, but throughout the story you can see her motherly instincts grow and a mother daughter relationship form. It was beautiful.
The only thing I would change about this would be maybe a novella to follow to show the characters in 5 years and see how their stories wrap up. I'd love to see Anne end up with Dr. Dylan, and how her family's reunion is going.
Overall I loved this story. It's very moving and heart wrenching. I can't wait to read more from this author she's absolutely wonderful and her stories are indicative of a book hangover.
Goddess in the Stacks (553 KP) rated Alex, Approximately in Books
Dec 25, 2018
This was a super-cute Young Adult Romance. I actually read it for free off RivetedLit - it's free to read there through the end of July. I really enjoyed the change in formatting for the online conversations between Mink and Alex, and the explanation for why Bailey hadn't shared any identifying information online at all. That was pretty well done.
The book is a Young Adult take on the enemies-to-lovers trope, but it mostly avoided the "he picks on you because he likes you" line. The initial conflict between our two characters is really just due to misunderstandings, and the boy quickly apologizes. (With cookies!) I really enjoyed both of these characters, and I was definitely cheering for them as they revealed more of their histories and insecurities to each other.
I REALLY enjoyed their date to Monterey, California - they visited the Natural History Museum and the aquarium, both of which I have been to personally! I lived in Monterey many years ago, so it was neat to see them in a place I have personal memories of.
Overall, I thought this was an excellent young adult romance. There was some mention of sex, but nothing too graphic. I loved the setting; it brought me back to the Pacific Ocean, even if it was California beaches instead of the cold, rocky Pacific Northwest.
You can find all my reviews at http://goddessinthestacks.com
The book is a Young Adult take on the enemies-to-lovers trope, but it mostly avoided the "he picks on you because he likes you" line. The initial conflict between our two characters is really just due to misunderstandings, and the boy quickly apologizes. (With cookies!) I really enjoyed both of these characters, and I was definitely cheering for them as they revealed more of their histories and insecurities to each other.
I REALLY enjoyed their date to Monterey, California - they visited the Natural History Museum and the aquarium, both of which I have been to personally! I lived in Monterey many years ago, so it was neat to see them in a place I have personal memories of.
Overall, I thought this was an excellent young adult romance. There was some mention of sex, but nothing too graphic. I loved the setting; it brought me back to the Pacific Ocean, even if it was California beaches instead of the cold, rocky Pacific Northwest.
You can find all my reviews at http://goddessinthestacks.com