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Kim Pook (101 KP) rated Love, Guaranteed (2020) in Movies
Jan 28, 2021 (Updated Jan 28, 2021)
Loved it
Susan is a young single lawyer with a very busy life, she lives on leftover takeaways and her car is falling apart. On her way to work she bumps into an obnoxious guy who turns out to be a potential client in a very bizarre case. This guy wants to sue an online dating site called 'love, guaranteed' because he hasn't been able to find love. Susan takes the case and agrees to be signed up to the site herself for research, as well as interviewing Nicks past dates.
After a few bad dates, Susan decides to go out for a meal by herself only to find Nick on yet another disaster of a date, one thing leads to another and Nick and Susan end up eating together and have a lovely night, both agreeing it was their best meal out yet and of course anyone who has ever watched a romance move, knows where this goes.
To be honest I half expected this movie to be boring, but I enjoyed it from the start. It did take me a while to realise the main character was Rachel Leigh Cook as she looks so different, it's great to see her acting again though. I also though Heather gray am was very good in her role, she made her character seem real and who'd have thought a wayans brother would fit in to this kind of movie, it's like he was made for the part. I loved this feel good movie, but it did make me sick to death of Tiffany.
After a few bad dates, Susan decides to go out for a meal by herself only to find Nick on yet another disaster of a date, one thing leads to another and Nick and Susan end up eating together and have a lovely night, both agreeing it was their best meal out yet and of course anyone who has ever watched a romance move, knows where this goes.
To be honest I half expected this movie to be boring, but I enjoyed it from the start. It did take me a while to realise the main character was Rachel Leigh Cook as she looks so different, it's great to see her acting again though. I also though Heather gray am was very good in her role, she made her character seem real and who'd have thought a wayans brother would fit in to this kind of movie, it's like he was made for the part. I loved this feel good movie, but it did make me sick to death of Tiffany.

Kristina (502 KP) rated With Visions of Red, Book One in Books
Dec 7, 2020
I don't even know what to say. I love watching Law & Order: SVU, more so than any of the other Law & Orders (if that tells you how messed up I am), so reading With Visions of Red felt like an episode wrapped up into a book. I kind of love that fact - I have yet to experience L&O through my favorite form of consumption: literature. I chose to download the free version offered through Amazon because I assumed it had to do with BDSM, which can be just as good a romance story as any other. Obviously I was way, way wrong. I don't feel a need to complain though. Despite this book being so different from what I usually read, I really enjoyed it... I guess that's sick and twisted, but whatever. I have, thankfully, never experienced the horrors and terrors that Sadie has. I couldn't even begin to imagine the darkness that tries to claw its way to the surface, considering her line of work. It's interesting to see how she thinks and feels, how she deals with her past and reigns it in before it can obscure her present. For me, like I said before, a book of this nature is a first, so it was refreshing in a dark and twisted way. Honestly, I look forward to reading the whole series to discover not only who the unsub is or what happened to Colton in the past, but to see if two broken and destroyed souls can come together and become whole.

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Kristy H (1252 KP) rated The Unhoneymooners in Books
Jun 21, 2019
Ami and Olive Torres are twins, but they couldn't be more different. Ami is known for her good luck. She wins everything (seriously, everything--her entire wedding is basically free thanks to her winnings) and is known for her charmed life. Olive, on the other hand, has chronic bad luck. Olive is known for getting stuck in a toy claw machine at the age of six (people still google the YouTube video). As of late, her roommate moved out, forcing Olive to find a new, more expensive place, and she lost her job and hasn't found a new one. Now Ami's getting married to Dane, and therefore Olive must face her worst nemesis: Dane's older brother, Ethan, aka the best man. For some reason, Ethan seems to hate Olive, and the feeling is mutual. But then everyone at Ami's wedding gets sick--really sick--after eating the buffet, except for Olive and Ethan. So Ami encourages Olive--and Dane, Ethan--to take the couple's free honeymoon to Maui. The two reluctantly agree, and Olive's luck seems to be turning. She's even offered a new job while waiting at the airport. But at the resort, she and Ethan run into Olive's new boss, forcing them to continue the lie of being a happy newly married couple. But Olive finds she doesn't really mind pretending to be married to Ethan. Maybe this trip won't be so bad after all, right?
"You know what they say about self-fulfilling prophecies, I'm sure. Winning makes you feel like a winner, and then somehow... you keep winning. It has to be true, because Ami wins everything."
This was such an enjoyable romance. For me, I have to take to the couple from the start, and it was so easy to fall for Olive, who is such a sweet and easy protagonist to root for. The witty banter between her and Ethan begins at Ami's wedding and never stops. There's immediate sexual tension and chemistry between these two, and you can't help but want them to get together and totally love this adorable couple. It's even easier to love them when poor Olive feels as if she's been plagued by bad luck her entire life--she's labeled by most as a cynic and pessimist. But I found myself cheering her on, inspired by her bravery and ability to face any situation thrown at her.
"Whereas Ami is a four-leaf-clover, I have always been unlucky."
There are definitely some crazy situations in this book, but it still felt very real and true. There are real heartfelt moments, and Olive and Ami's twin relationship is an anchoring piece of the entire novel. So is their crazy extended family of the twins' (dysfunctional) parents, cousins, aunts, and uncles, which provide great comic relief, but also love and tender pieces.
"It wasn't until I was in the fifth grade that I realized not everyone has nineteen first cousins."
This is a delicious, sexy romance and also a lovely coming-of-age story for Olive. I loved both sides of the book. It's downright hilarious in parts, and it's impossible not to love Olive. Even better, Olive and Ethan are a great, memorable couple. The ending is also amazing, and I found myself literally cheering at parts of it. This would make a great movie, truly. Honestly, there was really nothing I didn't love about this one. Highly recommend. 4.5+ stars.
"You know what they say about self-fulfilling prophecies, I'm sure. Winning makes you feel like a winner, and then somehow... you keep winning. It has to be true, because Ami wins everything."
This was such an enjoyable romance. For me, I have to take to the couple from the start, and it was so easy to fall for Olive, who is such a sweet and easy protagonist to root for. The witty banter between her and Ethan begins at Ami's wedding and never stops. There's immediate sexual tension and chemistry between these two, and you can't help but want them to get together and totally love this adorable couple. It's even easier to love them when poor Olive feels as if she's been plagued by bad luck her entire life--she's labeled by most as a cynic and pessimist. But I found myself cheering her on, inspired by her bravery and ability to face any situation thrown at her.
"Whereas Ami is a four-leaf-clover, I have always been unlucky."
There are definitely some crazy situations in this book, but it still felt very real and true. There are real heartfelt moments, and Olive and Ami's twin relationship is an anchoring piece of the entire novel. So is their crazy extended family of the twins' (dysfunctional) parents, cousins, aunts, and uncles, which provide great comic relief, but also love and tender pieces.
"It wasn't until I was in the fifth grade that I realized not everyone has nineteen first cousins."
This is a delicious, sexy romance and also a lovely coming-of-age story for Olive. I loved both sides of the book. It's downright hilarious in parts, and it's impossible not to love Olive. Even better, Olive and Ethan are a great, memorable couple. The ending is also amazing, and I found myself literally cheering at parts of it. This would make a great movie, truly. Honestly, there was really nothing I didn't love about this one. Highly recommend. 4.5+ stars.

Kristy H (1252 KP) rated Trouble Girls in Books
Jun 3, 2021
A queer Thelma & Louise that doesn't live up to its potential
High school best friends Trixie and Lux are headed for a much-needed weekend getaway. Trixie needs to forget about her depressing waitress job, where all the men are "hogs" and her sick mom, and Lux needs to escape her overbearing dad. But a horrific night of violence changes everything and Trixie and Lux find themselves fugitives, running away from their tiny West Virginia town and everything they've ever known. Before they know it, they are wanted by the police, their faces splashed across social media. The girls are scared and horrified--on an unplanned road trip where the only thing they can count on is each other.
The premise of this book sounded amazing -- a queer "Thelma & Louise." Unfortunately, it all fell apart for me. Rather than being a #MeToo rallying cry, this was a depressing and stressful read, featuring two teens who make a bunch of stupid and ill-fated decisions.
I definitely understand the overall idea for TROUBLE GIRLS and even why Trixie and Lux run, afraid that no one will believe their story. But the choices they make along the way--spending their money on junk, not trusting each other, stealing and lying... and everything else. It's maddening. They do not act like two smart girls on the run, but two idiots who do not believe in one another. Trixie's infatuation with Lux clouds everything, and Lux comes across as this adored princess with no real personality of her own.
We're (eventually) told a bit of Trixie's backstory, including why we have to read the word "hog" in what feels like every other darn sentence, but the character development here is severely lacking. Trixie has a sick mom and a dark secret. Lux... likes makeup and her camera? I think this story would have would worked so much more if we knew how and why these two teens ticked. Why, exactly, was Trixie so in love with Lux? How exactly did Lux feel back? There's a weird switch that turns at some point in the book, and it made no sense to me. If you're going to give me a queer story, give me queer characters who truly feel for one another and whose love is based in reality.
Trixie and Lux's story is supposed to have a #MeToo angle to it, and it does, in some ways, but this was not a #MeToo anthem to me. It's two girls running away, trying to figure out maps on the back roads, and making poor decisions as they flee what they've done. While, again, I understand why they run, the story I wanted to read was Trixie and Lux returning to Blue Bottle and fighting along side the Intersectional Feminist Union and the other women they supposedly "rally" with a few misplaced social media posts. It was these women and Judy, Trixie's co-worker back home, whose life I wanted to know about--I would have enjoyed that book much more!
Overall, this book can tug at your heart strings, but also frustrate you to no end. There was much to its overall premise, but most of it did not work for me. 2.5 stars (Trigger warning: sexual assault, rape)
The premise of this book sounded amazing -- a queer "Thelma & Louise." Unfortunately, it all fell apart for me. Rather than being a #MeToo rallying cry, this was a depressing and stressful read, featuring two teens who make a bunch of stupid and ill-fated decisions.
I definitely understand the overall idea for TROUBLE GIRLS and even why Trixie and Lux run, afraid that no one will believe their story. But the choices they make along the way--spending their money on junk, not trusting each other, stealing and lying... and everything else. It's maddening. They do not act like two smart girls on the run, but two idiots who do not believe in one another. Trixie's infatuation with Lux clouds everything, and Lux comes across as this adored princess with no real personality of her own.
We're (eventually) told a bit of Trixie's backstory, including why we have to read the word "hog" in what feels like every other darn sentence, but the character development here is severely lacking. Trixie has a sick mom and a dark secret. Lux... likes makeup and her camera? I think this story would have would worked so much more if we knew how and why these two teens ticked. Why, exactly, was Trixie so in love with Lux? How exactly did Lux feel back? There's a weird switch that turns at some point in the book, and it made no sense to me. If you're going to give me a queer story, give me queer characters who truly feel for one another and whose love is based in reality.
Trixie and Lux's story is supposed to have a #MeToo angle to it, and it does, in some ways, but this was not a #MeToo anthem to me. It's two girls running away, trying to figure out maps on the back roads, and making poor decisions as they flee what they've done. While, again, I understand why they run, the story I wanted to read was Trixie and Lux returning to Blue Bottle and fighting along side the Intersectional Feminist Union and the other women they supposedly "rally" with a few misplaced social media posts. It was these women and Judy, Trixie's co-worker back home, whose life I wanted to know about--I would have enjoyed that book much more!
Overall, this book can tug at your heart strings, but also frustrate you to no end. There was much to its overall premise, but most of it did not work for me. 2.5 stars (Trigger warning: sexual assault, rape)

Merissa (12720 KP) rated The Crystal Flame in Books
Sep 11, 2017
The Crystal Flame by Shirley Ponthieu McCoy
The Crystal Flame starts off as a tale about two opposites - fire and ice, or Finn and Lyssa as they are known in this book. For reasons unknown (at the time), Finn has travelled to find Lyssa. It turns out that he thinks that she could be his wife and partner. The one person who can help him control his flame, the same as he helps her control her ice. Working together, they both gain control over their powers, as well as fall in love. However, and it's quite a big however, Finn has left his own kingdom behind, in the care of his best friend and advisor, and his sick mother. And just what are they supposed to do when a coup takes place? Fight back of course, in any way they can!
This book held my interest from the very beginning, but it quickly became apparent that it wasn't 'just' a romance, but had action, adventure, subterfuge, betrayal, and all other wonderful things going on. There were no editing or grammatical errors that disrupted my reading flow. The story itself flowed, with a smooth pace from one setting and situation to the next. All of the characters, whether you liked or loathed them, were well-rounded and fully believable.
This story was a delight to read, and I absolutely recommend it for all #Fantasy fans out there.
* 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 book held my interest from the very beginning, but it quickly became apparent that it wasn't 'just' a romance, but had action, adventure, subterfuge, betrayal, and all other wonderful things going on. There were no editing or grammatical errors that disrupted my reading flow. The story itself flowed, with a smooth pace from one setting and situation to the next. All of the characters, whether you liked or loathed them, were well-rounded and fully believable.
This story was a delight to read, and I absolutely recommend it for all #Fantasy fans out there.
* 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!

Whatchareadin (174 KP) rated The Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America's Shining Women in Books
Apr 9, 2019
Kate Moore writes a compelling and heart wrenching story about a group of women from New Jersey and Illinois whose job it was to use radium paint to paint watch dials so they would illuminate at night. Little did they know, that every time they would put their brush in their mouth to get the point just right to paint the dial precisely, they were killing themselves. They were told that the paint was perfectly safe and there was no way that the paint could be causing all of their medical problems. But the companies knew that the radium was dangerous. Scientists and others in the radium plant used gloves and had lead aprons on, but the dial painters were not given that luxury.
Slowly the effects of the paint began to show on their bodies. Women who were in the prime of their life were losing their teeth, their jaw bones were falling out, it was difficult for them to walk, and no one could explain it. They went to several doctors and no one could find the reason they were getting sick. The radium companies refused to admit that they were at fault. For years and years, they fought for justice. Justice for women who were dying in their 20s. This book made your heart ache for these women.
While I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it was quite a slow read for me. I wanted to know if justice was going to be served, but it took a while to get to that point. This is quite an interesting story and this was the first that I had ever heard of it.
Slowly the effects of the paint began to show on their bodies. Women who were in the prime of their life were losing their teeth, their jaw bones were falling out, it was difficult for them to walk, and no one could explain it. They went to several doctors and no one could find the reason they were getting sick. The radium companies refused to admit that they were at fault. For years and years, they fought for justice. Justice for women who were dying in their 20s. This book made your heart ache for these women.
While I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it was quite a slow read for me. I wanted to know if justice was going to be served, but it took a while to get to that point. This is quite an interesting story and this was the first that I had ever heard of it.