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Room For Recovery (Hearts and Health #4)
Room For Recovery (Hearts and Health #4)
D.J. Jamison | 2018 | LGBTQ+, Romance
10
9.0 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
excellent addition to the series
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.

This is book 4 in the Hearts and Health series, but you don't need to have read the others first, they are all stand alones.

I don't usually much care for younger main characters; end of high school, beginning of college age; probably because I'm far older than that, but while I KNEW Beau and Wade were that age, it never really sunk in, you know?? I KNEW they were 18 and 19, but they did not SEEM that age.

Wade and Beau have crushed on each other for as long as they can remember, but Wade's coming out led to disastrous consequences, and he doesn't want to admit that he's gay, not to himself, nor to anyone else. Beau, while not fully OUT, certainly aware of what and who he wants. When Beau is attacked, Wade goes all protective and the two get to really know each other.

I can't quite file this book on the warm and fuzzies shelf, like Bedside Manner, because Wade carries a lot of guilt about one thing and another BUT it is a fantastic read. Watching Wade and Beau getting to know each other properly, after being around each other for years, watching Wade deal with his demons, and watching them both fall, and fall far is excellent reading.

 Wade pops up in Urgent Care, he is Trent's nephew and Wade is ANGRY at everything and everyone. We get just WHY he is so angry here and its painful reading, listening to Wade deal internally with everything, it really is.

An excellent addition to this series, and it introduces us to Dr Casper Rollins, who has his story next. I look forward to reading it.

5 not quite warm and fuzzie stars, but very nearly.

**same worded review will appear elsewhere**
  
Starship Troopers (1997)
Starship Troopers (1997)
1997 | Action, Sci-Fi
It is a great film and in the category of action Sci-Fi one of the best.
Contains spoilers, click to show
Starship Troopers is a great Science Fiction movie. It is based on a book by Robert A. Heinlein. In the future, mankind is exploring the universe and encroach upon the territory of alien bugs and war begins. The insects are only responding to a threat of their territory and are trying to fight off the invaders. The clever use of insects as the aliens makes this film stand apart from other space movies.

The cast is great. It is made up of great actors, many of who at the time were relatively unknown including Casper Van Dien, Dina Meyer, Jake Busey and Denise Richards, mixed with established stars like Clancy Brown, Neil Patrick Harris and Michael Ironside, taking minor roles. The star of the movie is hard to choose between Dina Meyer, Casper Van Dien (both of who suffered injuries while making this, Casper broke a rib and Dina suffered a concussion) and the bugs! However I am going to have to say the bugs are the stars. The use of real and CGI in this film is great. The bugs are a formidable foe and a very creative one. They are numerous and relentless. Cleverly the use of different species of bugs makes for some great surprises.

The battles are epic and bloody. This is not a film for the squeamish, every battle is like a futuristic opening scene to Saving Private Ryan. People die in horrific ways, bodies and limbs are ripped apart and even main characters don't always survive, something I always appreciate in a film as it keeps the viewer guessing.

But it is not all about war, there is a good amount of comedy and even romance in this movie. It is a great film and in the category of action Sci-Fi one of the best.
  
Dares, Lies & Gemini's
Dares, Lies & Gemini's
Kat Alexander | 2018 | Romance
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Unpredictable twist (0 more)
This book was incredible
Tristana and Peter live as roommates in a boarding house in Virginia. When they first meet, there is an instant connection between the two. Tristana, though, is too involved in her work and Peter is still working out issues of his own after the death of his brother.

Seraphina is a club girl who likes going out and finding the bad boys. Men that are willing to cheat to have a piece of her. Nathan stand on the sideline and watches her, trying to figure out why she is doing this to herself. But he is always there to step in in case there is a problem.

Will these couples ever get their lives together in order to be much happier as partners instead of singles? Will Tristana be able to break out of her shell around Peter? Will Nathan ever reveal himself to Seraphina and tell her his true feelings?

Thank you to Kat Alexander for the opportunity to read and review this book. She is now on my list of authors whose books I'm going to get without reading the description.

I was hooked on this story from the start. The characters are intriguing and I could totally identify with Seraphina. I was very anxious to find out what was going to happen with these characters. Then about half way through the book BOOM!!! The atomic bomb was dropped on the whole story. Usually when reading book, you know a twist is going to come or you can guess what is going to happen next. I didn't see this coming at all!! From that point on, nothing in life mattered except finding out what was going to happen next.

I can't say much more without giving away spoilers, but if you like a romantic novel with a huge twist, pick up this book today.
  
The Real Deal: A Novel
The Real Deal: A Novel
Lauren Blakely | 2018 | Romance
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Lauren Blakely has done it again!
Lauren Blakely has done it again! What an incredibly sweet and charming love story about two people who find that pretending can sometimes be just as exciting as the real thing! Imagine a reversed Pretty Woman story...

In preparation of going home to see the family in Connecticut, April has decided that hiring a pretend boyfriend to keep the family off her back is the next best thing after her bestie stand-in has to bail for a job. Tired of being set-up with every guy her family comes across, all in hopes of leading her back to her hometown and everything she is not interested in... she heads to the family reunion with her Craigslist hired boyfriend on her arm and a great backstory.

Turns out, Theo is perfection from the moment they meet. Ready to create any story she requires, it's obvious the sparks fly immediately with these two. Creating fun backstories that feel all too real for a couple that met only a few days ago.

Can't forget the family aspect here... some people have family and never see how wonderful they are and never know how good they have it. Some have no family and only dream of being "harassed" by those who love you and it was beyond heartwarming to watch such a loving group of people together. April clearly has a wonderful family and they so lovingly welcome Theo and his family into theirs.

So heartwarming, this book brought a smile to my face over and over. Didn't want to put it down yet I didn't want it to end!? Such wonderful characters, I loved April's strength, and determination and listening to the two of them together was beyond adorable. Loved that she was so quick, funny and smart and he was just a sweetheart, afraid of his past, afraid of letting her down, afraid this would never be more than a fake weekend... boy was he wrong!? ;-) Highly recommended read and author!!
  
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Gareth von Kallenbach (977 KP) rated the Xbox One version of Team Sonic Racing in Video Games

Jun 19, 2019  
Team Sonic Racing
Team Sonic Racing
2019 | Racing
Fans of Sonic the Hedgehog will enjoy the newest entry in the long running series; Team Sonic Racing. The game takes the standard racing game model and infuses it with fun characters, tracks, and plenty of Sonic nostalgia.

Players can opt to play solo in a series of Cup Challenges or go online and play in various modes for even more challenge. The game offers players the choice of numerous characters from the Sonic series and players will be able to customize their vehicle as well as increase their score and speed by collecting the gold rings which are a staple of the series.

If you have ever played a Kart Racing game you know what to expect as players will speed around colorful and elaborate courses as they attempt to speed past other races to the Checkered Flag.

Of course there are various power ups along the way which can do various things from giving you an amazing but temporary boost of speed to various weapons which can slow down and take out other racers. The winner is not always the fastest but often the one who is the most cunning and knows when the best time to use a power up is and which part of the track to deploy it.

The game has solid graphics and is fun to play. The biggest issue players may have is a sense of Déjà vu as the gameplay is in keeping with other Kart Racing games so there is not really anything that makes it stand out from other games in the genre. Rather than trying to reinvent the wheel; the developers have focused on making the game as fun and accessible as possible and as such it is ideal for gamers of all ages and abilities who want some back to basics fun.

http://sknr.net/2019/06/05/team-sonic-racing/
  
The Unexpected Santa (The Sin Bin #5)
The Unexpected Santa (The Sin Bin #5)
Dahlia Donovan | 2017 | Romance
8
8.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
The Unexpected Santa is the fifth book in The Sin Bin series, and this story focuses on a particular holiday, which you can guess by the title. Scottie is one of the Sin Bin members that I have always had trouble warming up. He is brash, obnoxious, and is more than happy to throw his own pity party - drink included. With stalker tendencies, and an amazing ability to sulk when things don't go his way, I wasn't 100% sure about reading this book. However, after seeing how Gray dealt with him in Akash's book, I was willing to give him a go.

I'm glad I did!

Now, don't get me wrong - Scottie is still a big pain in the posterior! He has a lot of learning to do, and I think that Gray is just the one to help him. In the meantime, Gray has promised that he will look out for the twins, and will protect them from everyone and everything - even Scottie. In turn, the twins help tone down some of Scottie's rough edges, as even he can't be awful all the time. With the twins and Gray on his case, Scottie doesn't stand a chance. He just doesn't realise it yet. He is just what Gray has been looking for, and in return, Gray will give Scottie everything he needs. In turn, I'm hoping that Scottie will become a character I can read about without giving myself eye-strain as they involuntarily roll so much.

With seasonal cheer from two Christmas grumps, this book is an unexpected delight, and a wonderful addition to The Sin Bin series. No editing or grammatical errors disrupted my reading flow, and the pacing was smooth throughout. With enough to satisfy and yet still keep you wanting more, I have no hesitation in recommending this book or the series.

* 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!
  
The Trouble with Goodbye (Fairhope, #1)
The Trouble with Goodbye (Fairhope, #1)
Sarra Cannon | 2013 | Contemporary, Fiction & Poetry, Romance
8
7.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
This book caught me by surprise. I didn't really know what to expect when I started reading it and I fell in love quickly. I couldn't put this book down. It is the first book I've ever read by Sarra Cannon, and I will definitely be reading more of her books!
Leigh Anne was a character I could relate to. She was a character that was easy to like and easy to sympathize with. There were decisions that she made throughout the book and I found myself sitting there nodding in agreement and literally cheering out loud for her. I couldn't stand her parents as characters, but clearly Cannon wrote them so you wouldn't like them. In fact, the way Leigh Anne's parents behaved reminded me something my parents would do; which brought the story home even more for me.

Knox is an amazing character! He is probably my book boyfriend for the time being. He's a mans man but he's also a big teddy bear at the same time! He loves Leigh Anne, but he's willing to take their relationship on at her pace. He doesn't push or pressure her, and you can really see how much he cares about her by the way he acts towards and around her.

I was very pleased with the books ending, I absolutely love that Leigh Anne finally started to think for herself and do the right thing for her for once in her life. I understand why she didn't before, but it was time for her to grow up and think of others. I think that Cannon did a really good job taking the reader and Leigh Anne by the hand and showing them the right path to take.

The Trouble with Goodbye dealt with some pretty hard topics and I think that Sarra Cannon handled them beautifully! This is a fabulous book! I can't wait to read Cannon's other books! She definitely found a new fan in me!
  
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Leigh J (71 KP) rated Salò, or the 120 Days of Sodom (1975) in Movies

Nov 10, 2019 (Updated Nov 10, 2019)  
Salò, or the 120 Days of Sodom (1975)
Salò, or the 120 Days of Sodom (1975)
1975 | Drama, Horror, War
Does Salo stand for Boring?!
Contains spoilers, click to show
Salo, based on the book called "100 Days of Sodom" by Marquis de Sade, is about 4 men in positions of power (The Duke, The Bishop, The Masgistrate and The President) who kidnap a large group of girls and boys and subject them to severe abuse, torture and even murder; just to, well, get their deviant rocks off basically. The cruel and sadistic abuse soon builds to a cresendo of sickening torture and murder.
I went into Salo VERY nervous; I'd read the Book so had a good idea of what was coming, and especially so as this Movie is always on those "sickest Movies ever" lists, and is almost always very near the #1 spot. Rarely does it ever take the crown though, and after seeing Salo, I understand why. It's so boring!! It's very diagloue heavy, which if done right makes a Movie engaging and compelling. If done wrong, as is the case with Salo, it becomes a tedious chore. Unfortunately for Salo, I was so bored with the pointless drivel that when it eventually did get to the shocking parts, I was over it and not as shocked as I really should have been. I mean, it was bad (two words: poop banquet) but I was left thinking "all that hype and waffle... for this?!" Definitely overrated. The small saving grace of this Movie was a bunch of Prostitutes, ironically. They were telling stories of their own deviancies; I found their stories shocking and they made me sit up and pay attention, some stories being more shocking than what we were seeing. I found those Women disgustingly wonderful and able to actually make something out of the literal crap-show that was Salo. I would only recommend Salo to the die hard "Sick Movie" fans (and that's for the sole purpose of ticking it off your list) and Cinema buffs because the Cinematography is quite nice. Other than that, it would make a fantastic sleep aid!
  
Rabid  (2019)
Rabid (2019)
2019 | Horror
The Antithesis of Horror
I just got done watching a trailer for A Quiet Place Part II and I couldn’t help but think, “Now this is what horror is all about!” It’s gripping and terrifying, keeping your attention the whole way through, even in the quiet moments. Rabid fails at this miserably. Rabid is the story of Sarah (Laura Vandervoort) and complications she experiences post-surgery following her getting hit by a car. Not only does she find herself the victim of a disease that causes her to desire raw flesh, but she also quickly discovers that she is the source of the disease spreading.

Acting: 10

Beginning: 5
Rabid could have gotten to the point a lot faster and didn’t. I was waiting for the kicker that would get my attention. When it finally hit, it was a bit of a shoulder shrug for me. I had to force myself to get into it, telling myself that things would eventually get better.

Characters: 5
Not only were the characters one-dimensional and flat, but they left me with little to no interest in the story at all. I didn’t much care what happened to the protagonist or anyone. Having seen this movie a few weeks ago, I can’t think of any characters that really stood out for me.

Cinematography/Visuals: 3

Conflict: 3

Entertainment Value: 3

Memorability: 7

Pace: 5

Plot: 3
I thought the story had potential to be intriguing, but it ended up feeling more bland than anything else. Too much of nothing, too much waiting for things to happen. There were no moments or pieces of anything to really connect me to the characters which checked me out of the story as a whole.

Resolution: 5

Overall: 49
There are some indy movies that blow me away and stand out above even the larger in-theatre titles. Rabid falls short for me due to weak story progression and weak characters. I don’t recommend.
  
The Time Traveler's Wife (2009)
The Time Traveler's Wife (2009)
2009 | Drama, Romance, Sci-Fi
It’s hard to do something different with romance these days. Girl meets boy or vice versa. Boy falls in love with girl or vice versa. So every now and then it needs to do something a little different in order to give it a unique twist.

Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore had Ghost, Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves, The Lake House so The Time Traveller’s Wife had to go one step further. Special collections librarian Henry DeTamble (Eric Bana) has a genetic anomaly that allows him to time travel; however, he is not able to control the moment or the destiny of his voyages.

The film is based on the novel by Audrey Niffenegger and not having read the book it’s hard to say whether or not the film did it justice? That said, it’s elegantly shot and Bana and fellow on screen love interest Clare (Rachel McAdams) seem perfectly suited to their roles.

Bana is a likeable actor and has been portrayed in some pretty powerful films including Chopper, Black Hawk Down and Munich

A man who only has the love for one woman but is unable to control his ability in disappearing, he is desperate to find a cure and won’t let anything stand in his way. The time travelling plot is a little stupid. Henry is unable to control when he goes but always seems to pop up in similar places both in the past and the future, and always naked?

In the beginning he visits his wife Clare on more than one occasion as a child and as she grows older. Certainly it’s a better directed film than the Butterfly Effect in which Ashton Kutcher time travelled more often than a gas meter reader pops into your house.

The Time Traveller’s Wife is a film with nagging questions and at times head scratching conclusions but this is a love story of beauty, and for that it’s worth a watch.