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Kevin Phillipson (10072 KP) rated Buffy The Vampire Slayer in TV
Jun 2, 2020
Sarah Michelle Gellar (2 more)
The vampire makeup
Theme tune
Rewatching on E4 never gets old one of my favourite shows of the 20 years doesn't matter how many times I've watched the show never gets dull and have met many cast members over the years so there will always be an excuse to watch this no matter what
Heather Cranmer (2721 KP) rated The Secret Diary of Sarah Chamberlain in Books
Jun 7, 2018
(This review can be found on my blog <a href="http://themisadventuresofatwentysomething.blogspot.com/">The (Mis)Adventures of a Twenty-Something Year Old Girl</a>).
When I read the blurb, I knew this was a book I wanted to read and review. I thought it'd be a YA (young adult) book since the main character is 15, but it read more like a MG (middle grade) book. Because it reminded me more of a MG read, I will be reviewing it as such. However, this was still a great read!
The title didn't catch my attention, but I think to a middle grade student, the title would be very catchy.
The cover is alright. It's nothing special, but I do feel it would appeal to a younger age group.
The world building was fantastic! Sarah Norkus does an awesome job at making the world building very believable. I'm no history buff, but Miss Norkus brings the Civil War era come alive. I enjoyed reading about life during the Civil War. It's obvious that Miss Norkus has done some research on this time period.
The pacing was slow at the very beginning. I really wanted to like this book, so I hung in there, and I was greatly rewarded. The pacing picks up when Em gets transported to Sarah Chamberlain's time, and after that, I was hooked on this book!
I loved the plot! Em finds a diary belonging to Sarah Chamberlain in an old house. When Em starts blaming God for everything, she is transported to the Civil War era. However, she ends up losing her memory and can't remember where she came from or anything from her modern life. Being Christian, I loved how the plot of this book had Christian themes.
I thought the characters were written fairly well. Em is supposed to be 15 years old, but I felt she acted and spoke like she was around 12 years old. I had to constantly remind myself that she was a 15 year old girl. Eventually, I just stopped reminding myself of her age and just thought of her as being 12. Em is a very likable girl even if she does act young. Sarah Chamberlain and Abby were both likable characters as well. I found them to both be very sweet natured. I loved how Moses was so protective of Sarah and her family and friends. My favorite character was Rachael. I loved how caring she was and how she would do anything for Sarah or for anyone for that matter. I constantly wanted to just hug her.
As I've said before, the dialogue suits a middle grade book more than it does a young adult book. I did find the way Em speaks, as in the words she uses, sometimes to be a little on the strange side. Other then that, the dialogue is good, and it does flow smoothly. It's just written a little young. There's no swearing and only some violence.
Overall, The Secret Diary of Sarah Chamberlain is a very enjoyable read. It could've been a bit better had the main character's age been lowered or if the writing had been more young adultish. It's a great story with a good message and interesting characters. Plus, there's a history lesson in it!
I'd recommend this book those aged between 10 - 14 although any age would enjoy it. Those who are interested in history and mysteries would enjoy this book the most.
I'd give The Secret Diary of Sarah Chamberlain by Sarah Norkus a 4.25 out of 5.
(I was provided with a free paperback copy of this title from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review).
When I read the blurb, I knew this was a book I wanted to read and review. I thought it'd be a YA (young adult) book since the main character is 15, but it read more like a MG (middle grade) book. Because it reminded me more of a MG read, I will be reviewing it as such. However, this was still a great read!
The title didn't catch my attention, but I think to a middle grade student, the title would be very catchy.
The cover is alright. It's nothing special, but I do feel it would appeal to a younger age group.
The world building was fantastic! Sarah Norkus does an awesome job at making the world building very believable. I'm no history buff, but Miss Norkus brings the Civil War era come alive. I enjoyed reading about life during the Civil War. It's obvious that Miss Norkus has done some research on this time period.
The pacing was slow at the very beginning. I really wanted to like this book, so I hung in there, and I was greatly rewarded. The pacing picks up when Em gets transported to Sarah Chamberlain's time, and after that, I was hooked on this book!
I loved the plot! Em finds a diary belonging to Sarah Chamberlain in an old house. When Em starts blaming God for everything, she is transported to the Civil War era. However, she ends up losing her memory and can't remember where she came from or anything from her modern life. Being Christian, I loved how the plot of this book had Christian themes.
I thought the characters were written fairly well. Em is supposed to be 15 years old, but I felt she acted and spoke like she was around 12 years old. I had to constantly remind myself that she was a 15 year old girl. Eventually, I just stopped reminding myself of her age and just thought of her as being 12. Em is a very likable girl even if she does act young. Sarah Chamberlain and Abby were both likable characters as well. I found them to both be very sweet natured. I loved how Moses was so protective of Sarah and her family and friends. My favorite character was Rachael. I loved how caring she was and how she would do anything for Sarah or for anyone for that matter. I constantly wanted to just hug her.
As I've said before, the dialogue suits a middle grade book more than it does a young adult book. I did find the way Em speaks, as in the words she uses, sometimes to be a little on the strange side. Other then that, the dialogue is good, and it does flow smoothly. It's just written a little young. There's no swearing and only some violence.
Overall, The Secret Diary of Sarah Chamberlain is a very enjoyable read. It could've been a bit better had the main character's age been lowered or if the writing had been more young adultish. It's a great story with a good message and interesting characters. Plus, there's a history lesson in it!
I'd recommend this book those aged between 10 - 14 although any age would enjoy it. Those who are interested in history and mysteries would enjoy this book the most.
I'd give The Secret Diary of Sarah Chamberlain by Sarah Norkus a 4.25 out of 5.
(I was provided with a free paperback copy of this title from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review).
Midge (525 KP) rated The Couple in Books
Feb 12, 2019 (Updated Feb 14, 2019)
Brilliant And Dark
THE COUPLE is a debut psychological thriller by Sarah Mitchell and I absolutely loved it! I adore novels that are written in two time periods, namely the past and present, like this one.
The characters were very difficult to warm to, especially the main character Claire, who became rather irritating, annoying and dis-likeable during the story.
Claire, who works for the Immigration Service is newly engaged after a whirlwind romance. Her fiance, Angus, is a hotel entrepreneur and they are looking to buy their perfect home together. When Claire views a house and meets Mark, the fellow who is selling the house, she finds that he resembles a former lover, a man for whom she still has feelings. Claire is drawn to him and Angus starts to behave very suspiciously, but can Claire trust either of them or herself?
For me, Sarah Mitchell’s writing is captivating and extremely well structured. This book is full of twists and turns and I really enjoyed it. The novel moved along at an intense speed and I loved how dark and twisted it was. The character development was brilliant and apart from most of the characters themselves, I liked everything about this book. THE COUPLE held my interest from start to finish and the way in which Sarah Mitchell brought everything to a conclusion was just fabulous. I loved it and it has left me eager to read more from this author.
I would recommend THE COUPLE to anyone who likes this genre.
Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and Sarah Mitchell for a free ARC of this book in exchange for a voluntary, honest review.
The characters were very difficult to warm to, especially the main character Claire, who became rather irritating, annoying and dis-likeable during the story.
Claire, who works for the Immigration Service is newly engaged after a whirlwind romance. Her fiance, Angus, is a hotel entrepreneur and they are looking to buy their perfect home together. When Claire views a house and meets Mark, the fellow who is selling the house, she finds that he resembles a former lover, a man for whom she still has feelings. Claire is drawn to him and Angus starts to behave very suspiciously, but can Claire trust either of them or herself?
For me, Sarah Mitchell’s writing is captivating and extremely well structured. This book is full of twists and turns and I really enjoyed it. The novel moved along at an intense speed and I loved how dark and twisted it was. The character development was brilliant and apart from most of the characters themselves, I liked everything about this book. THE COUPLE held my interest from start to finish and the way in which Sarah Mitchell brought everything to a conclusion was just fabulous. I loved it and it has left me eager to read more from this author.
I would recommend THE COUPLE to anyone who likes this genre.
Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and Sarah Mitchell for a free ARC of this book in exchange for a voluntary, honest review.
Hazel (2934 KP) rated Nanny Needed in Books
Apr 28, 2022
This is a gripping story that had me eagerly listening at every opportunity.
Sarah is up to her eyes in debt and when she comes across an advert for a job as a nanny which could be the answer to her troubles, she jumps at the chance but if something sounds too good to be true, it usually is!!!!
Sarah quickly discovers that the people she is working for a little bit odd and as secrets are revealed, she is in too deep to get out.
A very entertaining and engrossing story with a twist that I didn't see coming and with a narrator who does a great job.
Many thanks to HarperCollins UK Audio and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest, unbiased and unedited review.
Sarah is up to her eyes in debt and when she comes across an advert for a job as a nanny which could be the answer to her troubles, she jumps at the chance but if something sounds too good to be true, it usually is!!!!
Sarah quickly discovers that the people she is working for a little bit odd and as secrets are revealed, she is in too deep to get out.
A very entertaining and engrossing story with a twist that I didn't see coming and with a narrator who does a great job.
Many thanks to HarperCollins UK Audio and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest, unbiased and unedited review.
Sophia (Bookwyrming Thoughts) (530 KP) rated Secrets of a Fangirl in Books
Jan 23, 2020
<b><i>I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.</i></b>
Hello, my name is Sophia, and I am a fangirl of many forms. A book with the word "fangirl" on it? YES PLEASE. You know you have my attention.
<h2><em><strong>Secrets of a Fangirl </strong></em><strong>is a book about a fangirl.</strong></h2>
AKA ME! And you, because you've got to be obsessed with something here. Maybe it's over a book or a show or even a movie.
(Are there secrets? Yes, but not deep, dark secrets.)
But namely, <em>Secrets of a Fangirl</em> is about Sarah Anne and her obsession with the MK Nightshade fandom, something she's been a fan of since she first discovered it. While her best friend Roxy has grown out of the series, Sarah Anne remains a fan secretly. She keeps her identity under wraps with a set of rules and continues to do so as she wins a place on a panel for a contest. But during the panel, she finds out her competition disregards her completely, and she wants to prove them wrong by winning the next part of the contest.
<h3><strong>Sarah Anne's parents are with her and I am all for it.</strong></h3>
I love how Sarah Anne's parents are with her the entire time. They show their support and they help her navigate the digital world as she makes her way through the contest. It's something that's important in a world of media, and I'm happy Dionne includes this in the novel.
<h2><strong>Dionne's latest novel is full of moods.</strong></h2>
I opened <em>Secrets of a Fangirl</em> and got swallowed up by the book (maybe it's the other way around). Dionne creates a protagonist all of us can relate to in some way. Throughout the book, Sarah Anne struggles with who she is and who she wants to be: does she embrace her inner nerd or continue stifling it? How can she continue to be who she is while not hiding a vital part of herself?
<em><strong>Secrets of a Fangirl</strong></em><strong> is a fun and quick read from Erin Dionne, with a protagonist that I cheered from the beginning of the novel to the end.</strong>
<a href="http://bookwyrmingthoughts.com/secrets-of-a-fangirl-by-erin-dionne-were-all-sarah-anne/"; target="_blank">This review was originally posted on Bookwyrming Thoughts</a>
Hello, my name is Sophia, and I am a fangirl of many forms. A book with the word "fangirl" on it? YES PLEASE. You know you have my attention.
<h2><em><strong>Secrets of a Fangirl </strong></em><strong>is a book about a fangirl.</strong></h2>
AKA ME! And you, because you've got to be obsessed with something here. Maybe it's over a book or a show or even a movie.
(Are there secrets? Yes, but not deep, dark secrets.)
But namely, <em>Secrets of a Fangirl</em> is about Sarah Anne and her obsession with the MK Nightshade fandom, something she's been a fan of since she first discovered it. While her best friend Roxy has grown out of the series, Sarah Anne remains a fan secretly. She keeps her identity under wraps with a set of rules and continues to do so as she wins a place on a panel for a contest. But during the panel, she finds out her competition disregards her completely, and she wants to prove them wrong by winning the next part of the contest.
<h3><strong>Sarah Anne's parents are with her and I am all for it.</strong></h3>
I love how Sarah Anne's parents are with her the entire time. They show their support and they help her navigate the digital world as she makes her way through the contest. It's something that's important in a world of media, and I'm happy Dionne includes this in the novel.
<h2><strong>Dionne's latest novel is full of moods.</strong></h2>
I opened <em>Secrets of a Fangirl</em> and got swallowed up by the book (maybe it's the other way around). Dionne creates a protagonist all of us can relate to in some way. Throughout the book, Sarah Anne struggles with who she is and who she wants to be: does she embrace her inner nerd or continue stifling it? How can she continue to be who she is while not hiding a vital part of herself?
<em><strong>Secrets of a Fangirl</strong></em><strong> is a fun and quick read from Erin Dionne, with a protagonist that I cheered from the beginning of the novel to the end.</strong>
<a href="http://bookwyrmingthoughts.com/secrets-of-a-fangirl-by-erin-dionne-were-all-sarah-anne/"; target="_blank">This review was originally posted on Bookwyrming Thoughts</a>
Becs (244 KP) rated One Day in December: A Christmas Love Story in Books
Oct 2, 2019
One Day in December follows Laurie’s journey of finding the boy she saw and fell in love with at the bus stop on December 21, 2008. But when Sarah gets a new boyfriend, things take a turn for the worst for Laurie.
Sarah decides to throw a party for her friends and to introduce her new BF to Laurie. When he shows up, Laurie instantly recognizes him as the bus boy. But she doesn’t say anything to Sarah because she doesn’t want to ruin something good for her best friend. Over the years, Sarah and Jack start drifting apart and it eventually leads to their separation. But Laurie and Jack couldn’t get together because Laurie was married to Oscar.
The story then follows Laurie while she struggles with her marriage with Oscar and Jack who struggles with trying to love anybody else but Laurie. Until the ending where finally Jack and Laurie get their chance.
Characters:
Laurie – the main character. She’s quiet and a lovely friend and she didn’t deserve all the pain that she went through
Jack – HE’S THE BUS BOY. Has his moments where he’s kind of a butt nugget, but it’s understandable in the moments that he acts like that.
Sarah – BFF to Laurie but the two of them act more like sisters. I didn’t agree with how she acted towards Laurie in the middle of the book. But I do understand why she did it.
Oscar – Laurie’s husband (later on). A complete and utter douche – but what do you expect from someone who come’s from wealth
Lucille – Oscar’s mom
Cressida – ex of Oscar
Luke – husband to Sarah (later on)
Reasons why I rated it 5 stars:
1. As far as I could tell, there wasn’t any grammar or spelling errors that needed to be fixed. Everything seemed very well written and was very informative.
2. Josie Silver does a great job about giving a ton of background on not only the story and plot, but also each of the characters.
3. Speaking of the plot, it was absolutely amazing!
4. I would definitely reread One Day in December because I truly enjoyed this little story so much.
5. The overall story was very well-written and contained enough background to keep the reader going. I rather enjoyed this little novel!
“That is the thing about flowers, isn’t it? They’re lush and extravagant and demand your attention, and you think they’re the most exquisite thing, but then in the shortest time they’re not very lovely at all. They wilt and they turn the water brown, and soon you can’t hold onto them any longer.”
Sarah decides to throw a party for her friends and to introduce her new BF to Laurie. When he shows up, Laurie instantly recognizes him as the bus boy. But she doesn’t say anything to Sarah because she doesn’t want to ruin something good for her best friend. Over the years, Sarah and Jack start drifting apart and it eventually leads to their separation. But Laurie and Jack couldn’t get together because Laurie was married to Oscar.
The story then follows Laurie while she struggles with her marriage with Oscar and Jack who struggles with trying to love anybody else but Laurie. Until the ending where finally Jack and Laurie get their chance.
Characters:
Laurie – the main character. She’s quiet and a lovely friend and she didn’t deserve all the pain that she went through
Jack – HE’S THE BUS BOY. Has his moments where he’s kind of a butt nugget, but it’s understandable in the moments that he acts like that.
Sarah – BFF to Laurie but the two of them act more like sisters. I didn’t agree with how she acted towards Laurie in the middle of the book. But I do understand why she did it.
Oscar – Laurie’s husband (later on). A complete and utter douche – but what do you expect from someone who come’s from wealth
Lucille – Oscar’s mom
Cressida – ex of Oscar
Luke – husband to Sarah (later on)
Reasons why I rated it 5 stars:
1. As far as I could tell, there wasn’t any grammar or spelling errors that needed to be fixed. Everything seemed very well written and was very informative.
2. Josie Silver does a great job about giving a ton of background on not only the story and plot, but also each of the characters.
3. Speaking of the plot, it was absolutely amazing!
4. I would definitely reread One Day in December because I truly enjoyed this little story so much.
5. The overall story was very well-written and contained enough background to keep the reader going. I rather enjoyed this little novel!
“That is the thing about flowers, isn’t it? They’re lush and extravagant and demand your attention, and you think they’re the most exquisite thing, but then in the shortest time they’re not very lovely at all. They wilt and they turn the water brown, and soon you can’t hold onto them any longer.”
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2355 KP) rated Good Day to Buy in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Sarah is helping the Spencers downsize their possession before a planned move, but things take a tragic turn when Sarah finds them lying on the garage floor in the middle of the sale. Then, that afternoon, Sarah’s estranged brother Luke shows up asking for help is hiding out for a couple of days. Luke disappears just as the police being looking for him on connection with what happened at the Spencer’s. Can Sarah figure out what Luke is doing and clear his name?
Luke adds an interesting element to this addition to the series. The plot is fast paced and kept me so engaged I had a hard time putting the book down. I did have a couple of niggle with the ending, but they are very minor. I love the characters in this series, and it was fantastic to see all of them again. While the love triangle may be over, we did see both of the men in Sarah’s life in this book. Fans will delight in this book and it will hook new readers on the series.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/04/book-review-good-day-to-buy-by-sherry.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Luke adds an interesting element to this addition to the series. The plot is fast paced and kept me so engaged I had a hard time putting the book down. I did have a couple of niggle with the ending, but they are very minor. I love the characters in this series, and it was fantastic to see all of them again. While the love triangle may be over, we did see both of the men in Sarah’s life in this book. Fans will delight in this book and it will hook new readers on the series.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/04/book-review-good-day-to-buy-by-sherry.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Merissa (12929 KP) rated Rough Water (Songbird #7) in Books
Jun 8, 2023
We have briefly met Justin during Marcus and Kelly's book. We know he's married to Sarah and 'might' be having difficulties, but that's about it. When the book starts, Justin and Sarah are just about to get married. Time flows fairly quickly at the start of the book as you get up-to-date with what is going on for them. Before you know it, you are in the main part of the story and all the emotions that go along with it.
Sarah and Justin both lose themselves and have to try and find their way back, but whether that is together or separately is yet to be seen. Outside circumstances and internal feelings and emotions stand in their way, together with the normal 'pressure' from family. Being young, married and having to live up to expectations is always a hard thing, especially when you are drowning in sorrow.
A wonderful story told with feeling and sensitivity, and a great addition to the Songbird novel. I really hope that Jane finds her own happiness soon. Definitely recommended.
* 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!
May 25, 2016
Sarah and Justin both lose themselves and have to try and find their way back, but whether that is together or separately is yet to be seen. Outside circumstances and internal feelings and emotions stand in their way, together with the normal 'pressure' from family. Being young, married and having to live up to expectations is always a hard thing, especially when you are drowning in sorrow.
A wonderful story told with feeling and sensitivity, and a great addition to the Songbird novel. I really hope that Jane finds her own happiness soon. Definitely recommended.
* 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!
May 25, 2016
BookCritics (259 KP) rated Tower Of Dawn in Books
Sep 11, 2017
Maas takes the time to put into her stories because everything becomes 1000x more realistic and emotional. The story does take a bit to get moving, though, and I wasn’t totally into it until about 1/4 of the way through. So hang in there
Critic- APageWithAView
Original Score: 4.5 out of 5
Read Review : http://apagewithaview.com/review-tower-dawn-sarah-j-maas/
Original Score: 4.5 out of 5
Read Review : http://apagewithaview.com/review-tower-dawn-sarah-j-maas/
