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BookwormMama14 (18 KP) rated Behind the Scenes (Apart from the Crowd, #1) in Books
Jan 2, 2019
Undoubtedly Jen Turano's BEST book yet! A healthy dose of mystery, the suspense of the romance, the antics of Permilia...And Asher...*SWOON*
"Turn your troubles over to God, and...accept what He may have in store for you." - Behind the Scenes
It is a well established fact that Jen Turano is a TOP favorite author of mine. And Behind the Scenes has surpassed all the others to take its place at the top of her books. Very well written with a lot to keep the reader engaged it was HARD to put this one down! The opening scene with Alva Vanderbilt's ball swept me into the era and had me swooning and giggling and gasping and holding my breath. Permilia and Asher danced, argued, and perhaps encounter a dastardly plot...As the story unfolds, more pieces to the puzzle are laid, but you also find out that the puzzle is much larger than originally anticipated. All the while Asher and Permilia are learning to trust that maybe God's plan for their lives can be something AMAZING!!!
Behind the Scenes wouldn't be complete without Jen's unique style and sense of humour that she weaves into her storylines. Never fear dear reader! Jen does not disappoint. This book is full of new predicaments, comedic escapades, and dramatic rescues. I simply can not wait to continue this series with Gertrude's story in Out of the Ordinary releasing this fall!
I received a complimentary copy of Behind the Scenes from Bethany House Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.
"Turn your troubles over to God, and...accept what He may have in store for you." - Behind the Scenes
It is a well established fact that Jen Turano is a TOP favorite author of mine. And Behind the Scenes has surpassed all the others to take its place at the top of her books. Very well written with a lot to keep the reader engaged it was HARD to put this one down! The opening scene with Alva Vanderbilt's ball swept me into the era and had me swooning and giggling and gasping and holding my breath. Permilia and Asher danced, argued, and perhaps encounter a dastardly plot...As the story unfolds, more pieces to the puzzle are laid, but you also find out that the puzzle is much larger than originally anticipated. All the while Asher and Permilia are learning to trust that maybe God's plan for their lives can be something AMAZING!!!
Behind the Scenes wouldn't be complete without Jen's unique style and sense of humour that she weaves into her storylines. Never fear dear reader! Jen does not disappoint. This book is full of new predicaments, comedic escapades, and dramatic rescues. I simply can not wait to continue this series with Gertrude's story in Out of the Ordinary releasing this fall!
I received a complimentary copy of Behind the Scenes from Bethany House Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.
BookwormMama14 (18 KP) rated Caught by Surprise (Apart From the Crowd, #3) in Books
Jan 2, 2019
This story may very well be my favorite of Jen Turano's to date. Temperance is my favorite wallflower. Her artistic abilities endear her to me in a special way. But beyond that, this story is so full of plot twists you will want to read this in one sitting. (Which is easier to do on audio for me.)
Gilbert Cavendish likes order and organization. He lives by his lists and well thought out plans. So when Temperance Flowerdew comes barreling back into his life, he is shaken to his core. Temperance Flowerdew is just the slightest bit stubborn. Which I, of course, can't relate to in the slightest...*cough*cough*...😏 She has survived so much heartache. By God's grace, she is finding life and purpose again. And oh! What a life it is! Full of color, love, spirit, and confidence.
There were numerous times while reading I was found laughing out loud and then gasping in shock then next minute, it's a wonder my husband doesn't think I'm crazy (well...we won't get into that). Jen Turano is by far one of the most talented authors that I know. To weave humor, romance, subterfuge, and danger so seamlessly is brilliant! Not to mention several twists that will catch you by surprise.
If you are looking for a good story that will give you laughs while giving you a grand adventure, you won't want to miss this book.
I received a complimentary copy of Caught by Surprise from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.
Gilbert Cavendish likes order and organization. He lives by his lists and well thought out plans. So when Temperance Flowerdew comes barreling back into his life, he is shaken to his core. Temperance Flowerdew is just the slightest bit stubborn. Which I, of course, can't relate to in the slightest...*cough*cough*...😏 She has survived so much heartache. By God's grace, she is finding life and purpose again. And oh! What a life it is! Full of color, love, spirit, and confidence.
There were numerous times while reading I was found laughing out loud and then gasping in shock then next minute, it's a wonder my husband doesn't think I'm crazy (well...we won't get into that). Jen Turano is by far one of the most talented authors that I know. To weave humor, romance, subterfuge, and danger so seamlessly is brilliant! Not to mention several twists that will catch you by surprise.
If you are looking for a good story that will give you laughs while giving you a grand adventure, you won't want to miss this book.
I received a complimentary copy of Caught by Surprise from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.
BookwormMama14 (18 KP) rated Together Forever (Orphan Train, #2) in Books
Jan 2, 2019
Any time I pick up a Jody Hedlund book, I wish I could just cancel the day and binge read. Alas, life happens and children must be fed...However, there is a point in each of her books that demands that you read past your bedtime in order to finish (and that happened to me last night).
Filled with rich detail and engaging history, Together Forever will whisk you away to another era. A heartbreaking time in our history, I have learned a lot about The Children's Aid Society and the orphan trains through this series.
Marianne Neumann is a young woman riddled with guilt from past decisions. She is in a place that I am sure many of us have been. Thinking that God no longer cares, or would even bother with the likes of her. Her journey of acceptance, truth, and love is one to cherish. I LOVE the tender, fun, and passionate Andrew Brady. He too battles with forgiving himself for past mistakes...but his faith and character make him stand out among heroes.
Jody Hedlund never ceases to capture my heart and soul with her stories and Together Forever, is no exception. Faith, family, and romance are at the heart of this story. Let it sweep you away and get lost in a good book today! Together Forever is Book TWO in the Orphan Train Series, make sure to check out the prequel (An Awakened Heart) and Book One (With You Always) first.
I received a complimentary copy of Together Forever from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.
Filled with rich detail and engaging history, Together Forever will whisk you away to another era. A heartbreaking time in our history, I have learned a lot about The Children's Aid Society and the orphan trains through this series.
Marianne Neumann is a young woman riddled with guilt from past decisions. She is in a place that I am sure many of us have been. Thinking that God no longer cares, or would even bother with the likes of her. Her journey of acceptance, truth, and love is one to cherish. I LOVE the tender, fun, and passionate Andrew Brady. He too battles with forgiving himself for past mistakes...but his faith and character make him stand out among heroes.
Jody Hedlund never ceases to capture my heart and soul with her stories and Together Forever, is no exception. Faith, family, and romance are at the heart of this story. Let it sweep you away and get lost in a good book today! Together Forever is Book TWO in the Orphan Train Series, make sure to check out the prequel (An Awakened Heart) and Book One (With You Always) first.
I received a complimentary copy of Together Forever from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.
BookwormMama14 (18 KP) rated A Lesson in Love and Murder (Herringford and Watts Mysteries, #2) in Books
Jan 2, 2019
From the iconic cover through to the Epilogue, Rachel McMillan has delivered another thrilling Herringford & Watts adventure. Filled with love and mystery, sorrow and murder, trust and anarchy...You will be drawn into the story and fight alongside Merinda and Jem for justice and freedom. Can I just say..."Mounties"...Even this redneck American girl can appreciate the Royal North-West Mounted Police. And I was giddy with delight that Rachel incorporated them into this story. I loved this book so much (more than the first one I think). There was so much going on in history at this time. It was interesting to watch those with the desire to bring change, they had the passion and drive to see things through to the end...But they had a warped view of how to go about it. Unfortunately, it reminds me of society today. It breaks my heart knowing that not much has changed in that aspect. Protests, bombings, violence and murder...These are not the answers. That is all I will say about that...Back to the book...Full of the same witty dialogue and precarious circumstances that I have come to expect (and adore) from Herringford & Watts. The footnotes also make their appearance in this story, which I still think is BRILLIANT! If you are interested in mystery, humour, and romance, these are the books for you. You will want to start with the first book, A Bachelor Girl's Guide to Murder. Trust me, you don't want to miss out on this adventure. I received a free copy of A Lesson in Love & Murder in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.
Micky Barnard (542 KP) rated The Kiss Quotient in Books
Dec 13, 2018
Romance perfection
The enthusiasm and feelings are just rolling off me on finishing this book. It has given me such ‘smushy’ feelings at various junctures through the book and I am all toothy smiles and vacant stares now. THE KISS QUOTIENT is one of those truly memorable romances that are both real and perfect.
You’d have to be under a rock to not already have heard of this book and whilst I’ve heard lots of buzz from friends and my feed, I haven’t read one review. Therefore, knowing very little about the content, these characters were an immediate sneak attack of grabby hands to my brain. I felt complete absorption over Stella’s situation and plan to improve her social skills and sexual abilities with the aim to become girlfriend material. Stella knew herself through and through and the Stella I got to know was just total, lovable quirkiness.
Michael conjured all sorts of visuals in my head, each one rather delectable because that’s exactly what Michael is. I enjoyed the slow unpeeling of his character, meeting his family and getting to see the stand-up guy that he was. Michael with Stella was perfection, he saw, he understood, he valued...and I swooned, again and again.
The chemistry was mighty fine and each scene so wonderfully written. I lived in their moments and enjoyed being a fly on the wall.
Helen Hoang has invaded my world and I’m not letting her go. She wrote beautifully, from the heart with a tangibility that is unusual. I cannot wait to devour more from her and I’ve already planned a re-read for this book on my summer vacation.
You’d have to be under a rock to not already have heard of this book and whilst I’ve heard lots of buzz from friends and my feed, I haven’t read one review. Therefore, knowing very little about the content, these characters were an immediate sneak attack of grabby hands to my brain. I felt complete absorption over Stella’s situation and plan to improve her social skills and sexual abilities with the aim to become girlfriend material. Stella knew herself through and through and the Stella I got to know was just total, lovable quirkiness.
Michael conjured all sorts of visuals in my head, each one rather delectable because that’s exactly what Michael is. I enjoyed the slow unpeeling of his character, meeting his family and getting to see the stand-up guy that he was. Michael with Stella was perfection, he saw, he understood, he valued...and I swooned, again and again.
The chemistry was mighty fine and each scene so wonderfully written. I lived in their moments and enjoyed being a fly on the wall.
Helen Hoang has invaded my world and I’m not letting her go. She wrote beautifully, from the heart with a tangibility that is unusual. I cannot wait to devour more from her and I’ve already planned a re-read for this book on my summer vacation.
Heather Cranmer (2721 KP) rated The Witcher in TV
Dec 30, 2019
I learned of The Witcher through the video games. When I heard Netflix was making a series about it, I was ecstatic. I will say the series doesn't disappoint!
The plot and other story lines in this are solid. There is plenty of action with a tiny bit of romance thrown in. This series follows the books very closely. The sword fighting scenes are epic and are choreographed brilliantly! One of the things that I found very confusing though was the timelines taking place. It's all over the place, and you don't really know whether you're watching something in the present or something that happened previously in each scene. It would have been nice to have something on the bottom of the screen saying "10 year earlier" or something similar.
The acting is spot on in The Witcher. Henry Cavill plays Geralt perfectly. While the actress who plays Yennefer is a great actress, I don't think she's a great fit for Yennefer. Yennefer is supposed to be very beautiful, but Anya Chalotra is a bit too plain. There are so many actresses they could have had to play Yennefer, yet they go with the one who's not very striking. The man who plays Jaskier was also a good fit, and Freya Allen (Ciri) was also perfect. I also thought Triss was also perfectly casted. (In the books, Triss' hair is a chestnut/auburn color. It's only in the games where she has red hair.)
I hate waiting over a year for the next season, but it is what it is. I will definitely be watching though!
The plot and other story lines in this are solid. There is plenty of action with a tiny bit of romance thrown in. This series follows the books very closely. The sword fighting scenes are epic and are choreographed brilliantly! One of the things that I found very confusing though was the timelines taking place. It's all over the place, and you don't really know whether you're watching something in the present or something that happened previously in each scene. It would have been nice to have something on the bottom of the screen saying "10 year earlier" or something similar.
The acting is spot on in The Witcher. Henry Cavill plays Geralt perfectly. While the actress who plays Yennefer is a great actress, I don't think she's a great fit for Yennefer. Yennefer is supposed to be very beautiful, but Anya Chalotra is a bit too plain. There are so many actresses they could have had to play Yennefer, yet they go with the one who's not very striking. The man who plays Jaskier was also a good fit, and Freya Allen (Ciri) was also perfect. I also thought Triss was also perfectly casted. (In the books, Triss' hair is a chestnut/auburn color. It's only in the games where she has red hair.)
I hate waiting over a year for the next season, but it is what it is. I will definitely be watching though!
Natari (73 KP) rated Hunt the Moon (Cassandra Palmer, #5) in Books
Jul 19, 2019
Hunt the Moon is a great addition to the series because it takes us Deeper than ever before. Prepare to light up the dark side of the moon, because this book is a super-bright flashlight on the mysteries and mythologies that fuel the Cassandra Palmer world and the overall plot of the series. But be ready for some shadows and more questions to be thrown in as unexpected twists and turns take us on a whole new, thrilling angle.
I really enjoyed Hunt the Moon. Karen Chance onces again nails the pace of action, romance and deepening our understanding of the loveable characters she has created. In Hunt the Moon we learn a lot about the big three, Cassie, Pritkin and Mircea which puts their behaviour and way of reacting to life in a whole new light. It's a work of art.
In Hunt the Moon, Cassie finds herself a brand new enemy, because rogue vampires, black wizards and gods were't enough. Now she gets to throw in the fae and demi-gods too. Who bring with them a whole new bag of tricks. And while you shouldn't laugh at someone who always seems to find herself and her bodyguards in the midst of explosions, but, well, it's damn funny when a stoned pythia is glaring at a possessed fridge. Karen is able to be serious and cover some unsettling topics like war, politics and childhood trauma (of all varieties) and balance it with pleasant prose and just straight-up fun. That's the best word for the Cassie Palmer series, it is fun to read.
I really enjoyed Hunt the Moon. Karen Chance onces again nails the pace of action, romance and deepening our understanding of the loveable characters she has created. In Hunt the Moon we learn a lot about the big three, Cassie, Pritkin and Mircea which puts their behaviour and way of reacting to life in a whole new light. It's a work of art.
In Hunt the Moon, Cassie finds herself a brand new enemy, because rogue vampires, black wizards and gods were't enough. Now she gets to throw in the fae and demi-gods too. Who bring with them a whole new bag of tricks. And while you shouldn't laugh at someone who always seems to find herself and her bodyguards in the midst of explosions, but, well, it's damn funny when a stoned pythia is glaring at a possessed fridge. Karen is able to be serious and cover some unsettling topics like war, politics and childhood trauma (of all varieties) and balance it with pleasant prose and just straight-up fun. That's the best word for the Cassie Palmer series, it is fun to read.
Merissa (12934 KP) rated See No Evil (Brotherhood, #1) in Books
Jan 17, 2019
See No Evil (Brotherhood #1) by Jordan Ford
I will admit, when I started reading See No Evil I rolled my eyes a couple of times. A young girl, innocent of all knowledge of what her family is actually like. Oh please! However, within the first chapter, that swiftly became unimportant as I was entwined in Chris' life, and her struggles to fit in at a boy's school. Enter Trey, Riley, and Kade - the Wolf Pack, or Brotherhood, that proves that family is what you make it, not what you are born with. Chris' struggles are real, and it broke my heart. Showing an inner core of strength, yet bowing under the pressure of what she is doing, Chris manages to find a way to cope at the school. Things take a turn for the better though, when Trey takes her under his wing and she becomes enfolded into their lives.
This is incredibly well written, with plenty of layers to every character and situation. Heart stopping romance, with 'normal' boy reactions, as well as situations pertinent to this story alone. I don't think there were any editing or grammatical errors, none disrupted me anyway. Although I will say that I was that engrossed in the story, I may not have realised anyway!
The start of another exceptional series from Jordan Ford, and highly recommended by me. Absolutely loved this story, and can't wait for Kade's.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book and my comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
This is incredibly well written, with plenty of layers to every character and situation. Heart stopping romance, with 'normal' boy reactions, as well as situations pertinent to this story alone. I don't think there were any editing or grammatical errors, none disrupted me anyway. Although I will say that I was that engrossed in the story, I may not have realised anyway!
The start of another exceptional series from Jordan Ford, and highly recommended by me. Absolutely loved this story, and can't wait for Kade's.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book and my comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Merissa (12934 KP) rated The Undercover Pet (Alien Slave Masters, #6) in Books
Dec 17, 2018
The Undercover Pet brings us up to date with where the Rebellion is at, as Ben tries to uncover specific information to help the Travians. He knows what he has signed up for, but is surprised when he is treated (on the whole) more gently than he expected. There is also Kath, a Travian f**k boy who also tries to help him. However, Ben and Kath don't actually know that they are both on the same side, and more to the point, that Dane is too. This leads to a whole cavalcade of scenes that could have been alleviated if they had trusted each other, but then the story wouldn't have been half as interesting! I loved how Dane showed differences in his behaviour once he knew that he could trust them.
This is brilliantly written, as they all have been, but a nice touch is the conclusion that you get with some of the other characters. I don't know if this is the final book in the series, although it does feel like it. There were no editing or grammatical errors to disrupt the reading flow, and this story flowed just as smoothly as the others, although I would say with less 'romance', as they all try to keep their secrets. This book, and series, isn't for everyone, but I have thoroughly enjoyed every moment of my time with the Humans and Travians. Definitely recommended by me.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and my comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
This is brilliantly written, as they all have been, but a nice touch is the conclusion that you get with some of the other characters. I don't know if this is the final book in the series, although it does feel like it. There were no editing or grammatical errors to disrupt the reading flow, and this story flowed just as smoothly as the others, although I would say with less 'romance', as they all try to keep their secrets. This book, and series, isn't for everyone, but I have thoroughly enjoyed every moment of my time with the Humans and Travians. Definitely recommended by me.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and my comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Sarah (7800 KP) rated Mortal Engines (2018) in Movies
Dec 17, 2018
Pretty good, but with a few issues
I've been wanting to see this since the first trailer was released, and I'm pleased to say it's actually quite good.
The visuals and CGI are very good, the traction cities and towns look fantastic and they're impressively done. Shouldn't be a surprise considering these have been done by Weta. The plot itself is intriguing and fairly unique as far as apocalyptic futures go, although there are a few plot points that are a bit cliched and reminiscent of other sci-fi/fantasy films - the whole final act/ending being the main example.
Hester Shaw is a very strong heroine and a good lead character, although i think she suffers from some bad scripting. Hugo Weaving is doing his Agent Smith best as the villainous Thaddeus Valentine, he really does know how to play a good bad guy. I'm most impressed however with Robert Sheehan. He's a very underrated actor yet seems to have such range and versatility, from his start in the series Misfits to the creepy Vladek in Fortitude, and then his turn as the dashing hero in this, he really made this film worth watching even if the script wasn't always in his favour. The romance aspect of this film too is also a little too forced and not very subtle, and a little bit predictable.
In short this is an interesting story with a great cast and special effects, that is let down by a patchy script and a few cliches. The next book I have to read is this one, so I'm interested to see how the two compare.
The visuals and CGI are very good, the traction cities and towns look fantastic and they're impressively done. Shouldn't be a surprise considering these have been done by Weta. The plot itself is intriguing and fairly unique as far as apocalyptic futures go, although there are a few plot points that are a bit cliched and reminiscent of other sci-fi/fantasy films - the whole final act/ending being the main example.
Hester Shaw is a very strong heroine and a good lead character, although i think she suffers from some bad scripting. Hugo Weaving is doing his Agent Smith best as the villainous Thaddeus Valentine, he really does know how to play a good bad guy. I'm most impressed however with Robert Sheehan. He's a very underrated actor yet seems to have such range and versatility, from his start in the series Misfits to the creepy Vladek in Fortitude, and then his turn as the dashing hero in this, he really made this film worth watching even if the script wasn't always in his favour. The romance aspect of this film too is also a little too forced and not very subtle, and a little bit predictable.
In short this is an interesting story with a great cast and special effects, that is let down by a patchy script and a few cliches. The next book I have to read is this one, so I'm interested to see how the two compare.