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BookwormMama14 (18 KP) rated Long Time Gone (The Cimarron Legacy, #2) in Books
Jan 2, 2019
Fast paced and filled with all the adventure, suspense, comedy, and romance that I have come to expect from Mary Connealy.
The Boden clan is a family that I am sad to say, I only JUST met in Long Time Gone. Even though I was able to pick up the gist of the story pretty quickly, I would suggest that you begin with book 1, No Way Up before diving into this one.
Angie and Justin are two peas in a pod. They really were made for each other and I just loved watching them bicker, tease, and fall in love. And they are both stubborn as mules. Justin, inexperienced when it comes to females, is adorable as he tries to sort out his feelings for Angie. Wanting to protect her, but trying not to come across as a dictator. Angie, still healing from the wounds of the past, is learning how to be her own woman, standing up for herself, defending herself. But we weren't made to do everything alone. That is why God sends us a partner to stand beside us, to fight with us. And above all we must never forget to lean on God for protection and strength. To trust that He is leading us down the right road. That no matter where life leads us, He will be by our side.
Mary's books have the great ability to make you laugh out loud, hold your breath in anticipation, shake your head in frustration, and curl your toes with the sweet romance.
Set in New Mexico Territory in 1880, we get to meet both outlaws and cowboys. Full of adventure and some hair raising escapades, Long Time Gone is sure to capture your attention, and the characters, your heart.
I received a complimentary copy of Long Time Gone from the publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.
The Boden clan is a family that I am sad to say, I only JUST met in Long Time Gone. Even though I was able to pick up the gist of the story pretty quickly, I would suggest that you begin with book 1, No Way Up before diving into this one.
Angie and Justin are two peas in a pod. They really were made for each other and I just loved watching them bicker, tease, and fall in love. And they are both stubborn as mules. Justin, inexperienced when it comes to females, is adorable as he tries to sort out his feelings for Angie. Wanting to protect her, but trying not to come across as a dictator. Angie, still healing from the wounds of the past, is learning how to be her own woman, standing up for herself, defending herself. But we weren't made to do everything alone. That is why God sends us a partner to stand beside us, to fight with us. And above all we must never forget to lean on God for protection and strength. To trust that He is leading us down the right road. That no matter where life leads us, He will be by our side.
Mary's books have the great ability to make you laugh out loud, hold your breath in anticipation, shake your head in frustration, and curl your toes with the sweet romance.
Set in New Mexico Territory in 1880, we get to meet both outlaws and cowboys. Full of adventure and some hair raising escapades, Long Time Gone is sure to capture your attention, and the characters, your heart.
I received a complimentary copy of Long Time Gone from the publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

Hazel (1853 KP) rated Havana Sleeping in Books
Dec 17, 2018
<i>I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.</i>
<i>Havana Sleeping</i> is a historical mystery novel by British author Martin Davies, which is based on real events that occurred in Cuba during the 1850s. Although the Slave Trade had been abolished in England, there were still people in America and Cuba who would be happy for slavery to remain legal. George Backhouse was posted to Havana, Cuba as a British Judge to take a stand against the illegal slave trading.
Backhouse ends up getting involved in a lot of complicated situations that could potentially spark a devastating war. His path also becomes tied up with the other main character, Leandra Leigh. Whilst most of the characters are real historical figures, Leandra appears to be fictional. A dear friend of hers, a watchman, was murdered during a supposed robbery and although the matter has been closed for a couple of years Leandra is determined to find out the truth – something of limited value in Havana. To begin with Backhouse and Leandra’s investigations seem unrelated, but a connection begins to build up as the story goes on.
In all honesty, the novel was very difficult to get into. There is nothing wrong with the actual writing as such, it is in fact written well and grammatically correct, however there was a lack of excitement in the narrative. It was also difficult to keep track of the characters – admittedly that may have been the point in the case of a couple of people, but as a result it was impossible to connect story. There were a few attempts of showing emotion, mostly surrounding Leandra’s character, yet this failed to arouse much interest.
From a historical point of view, those interested in Cuban and British history of this time period may be interested in reading <i>Havana Sleeping</i> and the author also includes some factual notes at the end of the book, but anyone hoping to get a story of some kind is bound to be disappointed.
<i>Havana Sleeping</i> is a historical mystery novel by British author Martin Davies, which is based on real events that occurred in Cuba during the 1850s. Although the Slave Trade had been abolished in England, there were still people in America and Cuba who would be happy for slavery to remain legal. George Backhouse was posted to Havana, Cuba as a British Judge to take a stand against the illegal slave trading.
Backhouse ends up getting involved in a lot of complicated situations that could potentially spark a devastating war. His path also becomes tied up with the other main character, Leandra Leigh. Whilst most of the characters are real historical figures, Leandra appears to be fictional. A dear friend of hers, a watchman, was murdered during a supposed robbery and although the matter has been closed for a couple of years Leandra is determined to find out the truth – something of limited value in Havana. To begin with Backhouse and Leandra’s investigations seem unrelated, but a connection begins to build up as the story goes on.
In all honesty, the novel was very difficult to get into. There is nothing wrong with the actual writing as such, it is in fact written well and grammatically correct, however there was a lack of excitement in the narrative. It was also difficult to keep track of the characters – admittedly that may have been the point in the case of a couple of people, but as a result it was impossible to connect story. There were a few attempts of showing emotion, mostly surrounding Leandra’s character, yet this failed to arouse much interest.
From a historical point of view, those interested in Cuban and British history of this time period may be interested in reading <i>Havana Sleeping</i> and the author also includes some factual notes at the end of the book, but anyone hoping to get a story of some kind is bound to be disappointed.

Girls on Fire: A Girl's Guide to the Braai
Camilla Comins and Russel Wasserfall
Book
If you are heartily sick of going to braais where the guys stand around the fire drinking and...

The Oberon Book of Comic Monologues for Women
Book
'So Katy Wix has written this book of comic monologues and I may have to steal some of them....

Colin Newman recommended The Amateur View by To Rococo Rot in Music (curated)

TravelersWife4Life (31 KP) rated Lethal Intent in Books
Feb 24, 2021
8 Awesome Lethally Good things about Cara Putman's new book!
• Cara Putman opens your eyes to just how far some people will go to find a cure
• From the first page, Cara Putman focuses on the details, explaining things (like medical terminology) through Caroline and her new job at a medical research company
• The legal and medical terminology added a great layer to this story and really made the whole thing totally realistic in its intensity
• Cara Putman wrote this story as if You were there with Caroline learning all this information for the first time and figuring out exactly what was going on, which I believe made it that much more compelling and it hooked me from the first page
• The characters are spot on, both Caroline and Brandon play off each other and show the intricacies of a couple learning how the other thinks and processes information
• I LOVED how Caroline was strong in her convictions or wrong and right; and how she was willing to stand up for what she believed in, no matter the personal costs
• Brandon... What a soft teddy bear with the heart of a lion for the kids in his care. I truly loved his patient nature and how he was so concerned with the kid’s welfare. Cara Putman did a great job drawing out his character and giving little mysterious hints about his background throughout the whole story
• The combination of suspense, mystery, thrill, and the medical end to this story was such a good combination that kept me up way past bedtime
Cara Putman weaved a wonderfully dramatic story set amid an up and coming cure being found! It was fun to learn from the characters the processes involved as well as learning what can hypothetically be done to medically treat people. I really enjoyed this experience with Cara Putman, and I am already looking forward to my next book from her. 4 out of 5 stars.
• Cara Putman opens your eyes to just how far some people will go to find a cure
• From the first page, Cara Putman focuses on the details, explaining things (like medical terminology) through Caroline and her new job at a medical research company
• The legal and medical terminology added a great layer to this story and really made the whole thing totally realistic in its intensity
• Cara Putman wrote this story as if You were there with Caroline learning all this information for the first time and figuring out exactly what was going on, which I believe made it that much more compelling and it hooked me from the first page
• The characters are spot on, both Caroline and Brandon play off each other and show the intricacies of a couple learning how the other thinks and processes information
• I LOVED how Caroline was strong in her convictions or wrong and right; and how she was willing to stand up for what she believed in, no matter the personal costs
• Brandon... What a soft teddy bear with the heart of a lion for the kids in his care. I truly loved his patient nature and how he was so concerned with the kid’s welfare. Cara Putman did a great job drawing out his character and giving little mysterious hints about his background throughout the whole story
• The combination of suspense, mystery, thrill, and the medical end to this story was such a good combination that kept me up way past bedtime
Cara Putman weaved a wonderfully dramatic story set amid an up and coming cure being found! It was fun to learn from the characters the processes involved as well as learning what can hypothetically be done to medically treat people. I really enjoyed this experience with Cara Putman, and I am already looking forward to my next book from her. 4 out of 5 stars.

LeftSideCut (3776 KP) rated Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019) in Movies
Aug 28, 2019 (Updated Oct 25, 2019)
Another fantastic entry into Tarantino's legacy
If there's one thing that springs to mind after watching Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, is that's it's not particularly user friendly, it's not easily consumed.
It's a loooong film (perhaps a little too long), and I feel that even some proper Tarantino fans may struggle to get along with it.
The film feels like a full on love letter to Hollywood during the late 60s, and Tarantino's passion for this period is obvious.
The audience are spoiled with gorgeous shots throughout, set to a backdrop of great music (as per usual).
The cast are fantastic - I've mentioned before on here that I'm an unashamed Brad Pitt fanboy, and nothing here changes that. Leonardo DiCaprio is also great (just as he was in Django Unchained) as the two of them stick by each other as Rick Dalton's (DiCaprio) acting career starts to waver.
Living just up the road from Rick are Roman Polanski and Sharon Tate (played by a hugely charming Margot Robbie).
As the film progresses, I found myself wondering what story was trying to be told, but it does all tie up in a very Tarantino way. It's pretty glorious (no spoilers here).
The plot certainly benefits from the viewer having prior knowledge to the horrific Manson family/Tate murder.
The final 20 minutes is where things ramp up, after a very slow burning 2 hours... and after Tarantino's last 3 movies, which I found more action heavy than some of his early work, it's a different approach, and a reason why I think some people may struggle with it.
The pacing is, weirdly, most akin to Death Proof - an extremely dialogue heavy movie with a crazy final act.
But the huge amount of dialogue we're subjected to is pretty much perfect. It's a real treat if you have the patience.
Once Upon a Time... can proudly stand shoulder to shoulder with the rest of Tarantino's portfolio.
It's a loooong film (perhaps a little too long), and I feel that even some proper Tarantino fans may struggle to get along with it.
The film feels like a full on love letter to Hollywood during the late 60s, and Tarantino's passion for this period is obvious.
The audience are spoiled with gorgeous shots throughout, set to a backdrop of great music (as per usual).
The cast are fantastic - I've mentioned before on here that I'm an unashamed Brad Pitt fanboy, and nothing here changes that. Leonardo DiCaprio is also great (just as he was in Django Unchained) as the two of them stick by each other as Rick Dalton's (DiCaprio) acting career starts to waver.
Living just up the road from Rick are Roman Polanski and Sharon Tate (played by a hugely charming Margot Robbie).
As the film progresses, I found myself wondering what story was trying to be told, but it does all tie up in a very Tarantino way. It's pretty glorious (no spoilers here).
The plot certainly benefits from the viewer having prior knowledge to the horrific Manson family/Tate murder.
The final 20 minutes is where things ramp up, after a very slow burning 2 hours... and after Tarantino's last 3 movies, which I found more action heavy than some of his early work, it's a different approach, and a reason why I think some people may struggle with it.
The pacing is, weirdly, most akin to Death Proof - an extremely dialogue heavy movie with a crazy final act.
But the huge amount of dialogue we're subjected to is pretty much perfect. It's a real treat if you have the patience.
Once Upon a Time... can proudly stand shoulder to shoulder with the rest of Tarantino's portfolio.

Minecraft: Story Mode
Games and Entertainment
App
*EPISODE 1 is now available to download for FREE!* **iPHONE 4 & 4S USERS - WE STRONGLY RECOMMEND...

BeatsX Earphones - UNDEFEATED Limited Edition
Tech
Hide when you have to. Strike when you want to. Stay undefeated with the latest Beats / UNDEFEATED...

Debbiereadsbook (1454 KP) rated Kicks (Pleasure Seekers, #2) in Books
May 19, 2024
a perfect follow up to book one!
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.
This is book 2 in the Pleasure Seekers series, but it can be read as a stand alone book. I loved book one, Thrill, and would strongly recommend it but it's not necessary, you know?
I loved Eddie and Scott in book one, and I was looking forward to getting to know them better, because I was fairly certain they are putting on a face for the world. But I discovered, not so much for Eddie. He's very laid back, until he lays eyes on Billy, then all bets are off!
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, but I didn't love it, and I don't know why and my book brain hates that I cannot voice why!
I liked Eddie and Billy, separately and apart. We got a lot of Billy's family here, raising his teenage sister and reconnecting with his older brother but we don't get much about Eddie's. I kinda missed that.
There is powerful and immediate attraction for these two and it burns hot and bright through the whole book. That is, until Billy finds out what Eddie did and then, all bets are off again!
Tyler is still living with Eddie and Scott and as such, Tyler and Danny, along with Scott play a large part here. I liked that we got to catch up with them.
Not an especially emotional read, but sometimes, that's just what you need.
Scott is next. Now Scott, I know, is putting on a face, and the poor man has a case of envy, given that his two flatmates are now loved up and I look forward to getting his story!
As I said, I liked this book, just couldn't quite love it though, like book one, (sorry!)
4 very VERY good stars
*same worded review will appear elsewhere
This is book 2 in the Pleasure Seekers series, but it can be read as a stand alone book. I loved book one, Thrill, and would strongly recommend it but it's not necessary, you know?
I loved Eddie and Scott in book one, and I was looking forward to getting to know them better, because I was fairly certain they are putting on a face for the world. But I discovered, not so much for Eddie. He's very laid back, until he lays eyes on Billy, then all bets are off!
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, but I didn't love it, and I don't know why and my book brain hates that I cannot voice why!
I liked Eddie and Billy, separately and apart. We got a lot of Billy's family here, raising his teenage sister and reconnecting with his older brother but we don't get much about Eddie's. I kinda missed that.
There is powerful and immediate attraction for these two and it burns hot and bright through the whole book. That is, until Billy finds out what Eddie did and then, all bets are off again!
Tyler is still living with Eddie and Scott and as such, Tyler and Danny, along with Scott play a large part here. I liked that we got to catch up with them.
Not an especially emotional read, but sometimes, that's just what you need.
Scott is next. Now Scott, I know, is putting on a face, and the poor man has a case of envy, given that his two flatmates are now loved up and I look forward to getting his story!
As I said, I liked this book, just couldn't quite love it though, like book one, (sorry!)
4 very VERY good stars
*same worded review will appear elsewhere