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Face Off (Laura Blackstone, #2)
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I went back and forth on the rating for this book, but finally settled on a four. I honestly found all the conflict to be exhausting and unpleasant, but it was very realistically written and I certainly felt connected to Blackstone. I decided that if del Franco weren't such a good writer, I wouldn't be feeling everything so much.

I read [b:Face Off|7106094|Face Off (Laura Blackstone, #2)|Mark Del Franco|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1271179558s/7106094.jpg|7364695] right after finishing [b:Skin Deep|6150364|Skin Deep (Laura Blackstone, #1)|Mark Del Franco|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1312520543s/6150364.jpg|6329503], which is how I recommend that you read them. That is, after all, how the plot works. There's a lot more of Jono Sinclair in this volume than the first, which will be popular with romance fans.

During the events of [b:Skin Deep|6150364|Skin Deep (Laura Blackstone, #1)|Mark Del Franco|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1312520543s/6150364.jpg|6329503], Laura retired the Janice Crawford persona. Her life should be simpler now that she's just herself and Mariel Tate, right?

Wrong, because she and Mariel Tate are being pulled in opposing directions by powerful forces, and she has two more-than-full-time-jobs. Toss in an order to impersonate an uncooperative prisoner in order to infiltrate a terrorist group, and her life is at risk every day too.
In the midst of all this, there's a visit from royalty, and her boss assigns Mariel yet another top priority.

The only respite is her growing relationship with Jono Sinclair, who is also undercover with the terrorist group. He's the only person in the world who always knows who she is, no matter what glamour she's wearing.

Laura started wondering how much of herself was left behind all the personas in [b:Skin Deep|6150364|Skin Deep (Laura Blackstone, #1)|Mark Del Franco|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1312520543s/6150364.jpg|6329503], realizing that "Laura Blackstone" was in danger of becoming just another persona. She's even more concerned about that issue in [b:Face Off|7106094|Face Off (Laura Blackstone, #2)|Mark Del Franco|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1271179558s/7106094.jpg|7364695], but thanks to Jono she's getting back in touch with who she is behind the masks. Will she be able to hold on to her progress? Will she be able to simply survive the undercover assignment with almost no preparation? Or will it be the internal Guildhouse politics that do her in? These questions kept me reading and interested. I was thrilled with how del Franco answered them, and I'm intensely curious as to whether those answers leave any room for further adventures with Laura and Jono.
  
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Book Divas (227 KP) rated Schism in Books

Dec 12, 2017  
S
Schism
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
This book was such an adrenaline rush that I was left feeling like I wanted or better yet, needed to jump out of my skin. The story line was an intense and thrilling ride from beginning to end and the characters were unique and their individualities shined through. The world building puts you smack dab in the virus riddled world and you quickly find yourself immersed in the thick of things.
 
My heart felt for what these children and young adults have had to endure and I am anxiously awaiting the release of the next book. This read deserves more than five teacups {stars} and truly a must read. This debut novel is a HIT and a dystopian masterpiece.
 
{I received a copy when I signed up to host the book promotion and made no guarantee of a favorable review. The opinions expressed here are unbiased and my own}.
  
I kept saying I was giving up on Hamilton's books, then giving her just one more chance as each novel came out, hoping that at some point she'd give up the porn and write real novels again. With this volume, the effort is finally vindicated.

Don't get me wrong--there's definitely sex in <i>Skin Trade</i>. Sex with yet more new men, even! But it doesn't start happening 'til well into the book, and when it does occur there's a lot more justification for it than at some times in the past. It's still explicit, and there are still likely to be more than two people in any given bed at a time, but if any of that squicked you, you wouldn't be reading any of her work.

The book nearly earned four stars, but there were a few plot holes that bothered me too much to forget them.
  
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Nicole Hadley (380 KP) rated The Toad in Books

Jun 18, 2018  
TT
The Toad
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
<a href="https://awindowintobooks.wordpress.com">Full Review</a>
The Toad by Elise Gravel is part of the Disgusting Critters Series. It is a non-fiction picture book about all things toads. The book shows how toads relate to frogs, their habitat, and food. It also shows that there are different kinds of toad breeds. Beyond talking about the different kinds of toads, the readers learn about their skin and the bumps. Readers learn that the pests that toads eat help to keep the insects at a reasonable amount so we humans don't have to deal with them as much.

The text in the book is presented in an easy way to read which is both entertaining and funny. The illustrations are a great visual that accompanies the text.

I received an advanced readers copy from Penguin Random House Canada and Tundra Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
  
The Haunting of Hill House- Season 1
The Haunting of Hill House- Season 1
2018 | Horror
This had all the wondrous traits of classic, old school horror. Suspense, tension, jump out of your skin moments. This has been beautifully blended with modern technology and a very thoughtful touch. There are some really fantastic subtleties to this. (0 more)
In some parts I did find it quite predictable, however this doesn't distract from the way in which the sometimes obvious story is put across. (0 more)
Scary scary times!
This is worth watching more than once. There are some very easy to miss subtle nods to the 'twists' in the story lurking in the background of several scenes. I do find the overall story predictable but at a peice of television it is dramatic, tense, full of suspense and really harks back to classic horror, but it has the benefit of a modern eye, modern technology and an audience perhaps unfamiliar with the older horror styles, so it packs a real punch.
  
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Asiza Tait (139 KP) rated Decaying Days Evolve in Books

Feb 3, 2020 (Updated Mar 11, 2020)  
Decaying Days Evolve
Decaying Days Evolve
Rachael Boucker | 2020 | Dystopia, Fiction & Poetry, Science Fiction/Fantasy, Thriller
9
8.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
Character development (2 more)
Suspenseful story line
Compelling plot
Our survivors have fought off the dead, the wailers and there own kind to make it out to the Mallard Hill. It’s no oasis either...just more humans being beasts.

Prospect Heath virtually implodes, finding and retrieving Sadie becomes the major agenda as it doesn’t look like they are going to achieve a cure any other way.

Characters are developed at a lightening speed, their mutations are not these ‘now I’m a super hero’ but far more gritty, (gross) and so very real. Paul’s mutation makes my skin crawl!

The stakes just get higher as more people are picked off and the big TWIST, but I won’t say what that is. I will let you enjoy the ‘OMG’ moment when you find out who project Re-gen really is...and all that it implies!

Excuse me everyone, Book 3 awaits!!