Search

Search only in certain items:

SC
Sandpiper Cove (Hope Harbor, #3)
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: #008080;">My Thoughts:</span></strong>
<strong><span style="color: #008080;"> When I think of Irene Hannon, I think of suspense and thrills. But, I must say that this book, really was amazing. She is absolutely wonderful in her writing styles. Her books are unique and captivating and always have a message within the pages for the readers to reflect on. I loved that!</span></strong>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: #008080;">Lexie and Adam's characters are very complex yet blended smoothly in the story line. It's a powerful story line. Some of the issues in the story, really hit home with me as I have two teen sons who have faced some of the same issues. It's very heart wrenching, yet Ms. Hannon's words are inspiring. I loved being able to feel a part of the story and understanding some of the characters feelings.</span></strong>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: #008080;">I loved the characters that Ms. Hannon added to the story. They all wrapped around Lexie and Adam and complimented them well! There were a few occasions I found my self chuckling out loud when the secondary characters showed up in the story. It rounded out the feels of the book.</span></strong>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: #008080;">I would definitely recommend this book to all with 4 star praises! It's filled with heart stealing characters, a plot that will leave you thinking long after you've shut it's pages, and inspiring words that you just might need to read. I loved every minute of this book and it's definitely a keeper on my shelf! While this is the 3rd book in the Hope Harbor series, it's definitely easy to read as a stand alone. Although there are characters I'm hoping we will see more of in future books (hint, hint, Ms. Hannon!) and some that I'm looking forward to reading about in previous books. Great job, Ms. Hannon!</span></strong><a href="http://cafinatedreads.com/revell-reads-blog-tour-review-sandpiper-cove-by-irene-hannon/"; target="_blank">This review was originally posted on Cafinated Reads</a>
  
Stronger (Breaking Free #3.5)
Stronger (Breaking Free #3.5)
A.M. Arthur | 2019 | Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
so glad Dex and Serge got a book!
**verified purchase Dec 2018**

This is book 3.5 in the Breaking Free series, but you can totally read this one as a stand alone. I would, however, STRONGLY recommend that you read the other books in the series, they are so bloody good, I'm inhaling them! You won't regret it! there is a bit on the listing for this book that says it should be read between 3 and 4, or after 4. The time lines cross some of the end of book 3. I've not yet read book 4, but will be reading that after.

Dex and Serge have been together a while and are awaiting the arrival of the child they have been lucky enough to adopt. And this book takes us back to the beginning of that beautiful relationship that positively GLOWS out of the other books.

I loved this couple inn the other books, and I am so glad we got the story of their mating. But what this book shows is, it's not just the omegas who are classed as second class citizens, but also the betas. Both Dex and Serge suffered at the hands of alphas who *thought* they were better than everyone else. I'm not telling how, cos that's spoilers, but Arthur keeps throwing these things at me, and just when I think it won't get any worse, it does!

It's a truly beautiful thing to watch Dex wait for Serge, it really is. Dex knows Serge is his mate, even if betas don't bond the same way alphas and omegas do. They LOVE far harder, though! Dex just needs to make sure that Serge knows he is safe, and that Dex loves him.

And we get Tarek too. His friendship with Dex is so Deep, that he stands up for Serge when he hears another alpha friend saying what he wanted to do to Serge. It shows that Tarek's soul is good and pure, way before he meets Braun in Saved (book one)

It's a lot shorter than the other books, some 150 pages, but it still packs quite a punch!

5 full stars

**same worded review ill appear elsewhere**
  
Chocolate a la Murder
Chocolate a la Murder
Kirsten Weiss | 2019 | Fiction & Poetry, Mystery, Thriller
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
A Delightful Paranormal Mystery!
I jumped at the chance to read this delightful little mystery as I have come to adore cozy novels in recent months. This is the fourth book in the ‘A Perfectly Proper Paranormal Museum’ series by Kirsten Weiss, the first book being ‘The Perfectly Proper Paranormal Museum,’ followed by ‘Pressed to Death’ and ‘Deja Moo.’

The setting for the story is a town called San Benedetto in the California wine country. In “Chocolate a la Murder,” owner, Maddie Kosloski, of the Perfectly Proper Paranormal Museum, is preparing for The Wine and Chocolate Days Festival in San Benedetto. Maddie has sweet dreams about her new Magic of Chocolate exhibit. Her latest attraction is a haunted Mexican whisk called a molinillo that rattles if someone lies.

When Maddie visits the town's new boutique chocolate shop, she finds one of the owners dead and covered in melted cocoa. Maddie's determined to catch the killer, and she soon uncovers deadly dealings in the world of artisan chocolate. But the deception surrounding those dealings are enough to make the molinillo rattle all night. Will Maddie have to temper her passion for sleuthing before a killer makes her their next target?

Although I haven’t any read of the first three books of the series, Kirsten Weiss, provides plenty of back-stories, so “Chocolate a la Murder” works well as a stand-alone novel. Written in the first person, the characters in this novel were a real laugh and I especially liked Maddie’s feistiness. I even found myself asking the same questions and thinking along the same lines as Maddie when trying to work out the identity of the perpetrator. I really enjoyed the easy-to-read writing style, the plot and the pace of the book. The paranormal element helped to add intrigue to the tale, whilst making it a little different to some of the other books in the genre.

All in all, “Chocolate a la Murder” is a lighthearted, lovely read, that combines mystery, thrills and murder and mayhem and I'm looking forward to reading the first three books of the series.

[Thanks to #NetGalley and Midnight Ink Publishing for the free ARC of #ChocolateAlaMurder in exchange for an honest review.]
  
40x40

Mothergamer (1546 KP) rated the PC version of Portal 2 in Video Games

Apr 3, 2019  
Portal 2
Portal 2
Shooter
Is Portal 2 worth all the hype? The answer is a resounding yes! Valve really did their homework on making the sequel to Portal fun and interesting. Portal was one of the first person games that I could play because the camera didn't bob around and make me feel nauseous. I was pleased to see that the camera angles are excellent in first person once again and don't have that wobbly bobbing effect that always makes me ill.
 There are new items in the game like hard light bridges, aerial faith plates, and propulsion gel. Each item is introduced carefully, allowing the player to become familiar with the items and how to use them. The puzzle rooms are amazingly designed, and while one puzzle may seem obvious to one person, it may not to another. There's no hard and fast learning curve with the difficulty levels of the puzzles and with the voice of GlaDos pouring often hilarious insults at you in a sing song computer voice make it entertaining.
 The humor in Portal 2 is perfectly dark with great comedic timing and terrific voice acting especially from Stephen Merchant as Wheatley. You will often find yourself chuckling, but also find yourself having that unsettling feeling throughout the story as it progresses. The main story for Portal 2 is longer than the first one, and perhaps even better which is a great thing for a sequel game.
 After you are done with the main story, you can play a co-op multiplayer stand alone story play through of the game featuring two droids Atlas and Peabody who are sent testing for GlaDos and the puzzles rely on them working well together as a team. This mode is a lot of fun with well balanced and greatly constructed puzzles.
 Valve has outdone themselves with Portal 2, with great puzzles, game play, and story. If you haven't picked up Portal 2 yet, you definitely should. It promises a great gaming experience for old and new Portal fans alike. This is definitely a game that any gamer worth his or her salt should have in their collection.
  
BA
Breathe, Annie, Breathe
8
9.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I picked it up on a total whim (having received an ARC) and really enjoyed it. First, I have to state that apparently this is part of Kenneally's "Hundred Oaks" YA series, which I didn't know. It definitely can stand alone, however.

Annie is finishing up high school and training for a marathon. She's never been a runner - in fact, she hates it. However, Annie is running in honor of her late boyfriend Kyle, who never had a chance to run the marathon for which he was training.

Annie is a very mature kid, which took a bit of getting used to. She was definitely in a very developed relationship early in life and she came across older than her years. However, we learn that she's been on her own a bit - her dad was never around and her Mom has been busy working multiple jobs to keep the family afloat. So her maturity works, overall.

Annie is struggling with guilt over Kyle's death. She starts to find relief in her marathon training. She also starts to find relief in Jeremiah, the brother of her training coach. Jeremiah is unlike anyone Annie has ever known.

This was a simple, YA love story. You pretty much know where it's going to go. But it was surprisingly sweet and touching and well-done. Annie is an extremely likable character. Her maturity lends her some credence not always found in YA characters. I also found myself quite swept up in Jeremiah (not unlike Annie), who was also different from the typical YA beau.

Finally, the running element was a fun add to the book. As someone training for a 5K (nowhere near a marathon, but I like to pretend, ha), it was enjoyable to watch Annie progress toward her goal.

Overall, this is probably really a 3.5 star novel, but I just enjoyed the story so much, I bumped it up to 4.

<i>(Note: I received an advanced copy of this book via Netgalley in return for an unbiased review.)</i>
  
Young Enough (The Age Between Us #2)
Young Enough (The Age Between Us #2)
Charmaine Pauls | 2018 | Erotica, Romance
8
8.0 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
You need book one first!
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.

This is book two in The Age Between Us set, and you MUST read book one, Old Enough, before you read this one, it is not a stand alone.

I'm not gonna write a blurby bit, cos I might give something away!

When it all starts to unravel for Jane, and indeed for Brian, together, and separately, its like a ball rolling down a hill. As it moves, it gets faster and faster, and for Jane and Brian, things move at great speed, one thing after another after another, til the only way is for them both to walk away. When reading this unraveling, its like Oh My God. Then its, No Freaking WAY! And SAY WHAT NOW!!!

Because Pauls chucks so many, so bloody MANY things at this couple, and at us, it's a wonder they are still standing. So many twists and turns, so much that came totally out of left field, that I was totally blown away with the plot twists!


I've filed it on the darker/grittier shelf, because some of the things that are thrown at Brian and Jane need that tag. But if I tell you what they are, that would give plot lines away, so if anyone wants to know, please feel free to message me, and I will tell you, but I'm not doing that here.

BUT!!!

It's again, first person present tense, from both Jane and Brian's point of view. And as much as I loved this book, more so than the first, I still can't get past that. And for that I'm sorry!

Its very well written, though and you really do feel for both Brian and Jane when things start to go wrong. Strangely, I felt more for Brian than I did for Jane. Well I did, up to a point, and after that point?? It was Jane I felt more for!

So, even though I enjoyed this one more than book one, I still can't get past the present tense .....

4 stars

**same worded review will appear elsewhere**
  
40x40

Darren (1599 KP) rated Alien 3 (1992) in Movies

Jun 20, 2019  
Alien 3 (1992)
Alien 3 (1992)
1992 | Horror, Sci-Fi
Story: How do you follow up two of the best sci-fi films or all time? This struggles to keep up with the atmosphere created in the first two. It offers nothing new to the series either. As a stand-alone film this would struggle to be a good sci-fi thriller. It’s only positive I can think of were a couple of surprise deaths. (5/10)

 

Actor Review: Sigourney Weaver – Ripley back to kick the alien’s arse. Sigourney has created one of the biggest icons in female cinema, but this is not the chapter anyone would be remembering. (6/10)

 ripley

Actor Review: Charles S. Dutton – Dillon leader of the religious movement on in the prison. One of the good guys who protects Ripley from the bad prisoners. He does an ok job but doesn’t have enough to work with. (6/10)

dance

Actor Review: Charles Dance – Medical officer with a dark past on the road to recovery. Good supporting role is used well to create a good connection between Ripley and the prisoners. (6/10)

 

Director Review: David Fincher – The great director disowned this film after it got changed post production and I don’t blame him. (4/10)

 

Action: Slow moving action throughout. (6/10)

Sci-Fi: Take out the Alien it offers very little in the world of sci-fi. (5/10)

Thriller: Not very thrilling compared to previous offering. (5/10)

Special Effects: Poor special effects too. (5/10)

Chances of Tears: No (0/10)

Settings: A prison on a planet with nowhere to run creating a great isolation setting for this sci-fi horror. (9/10)

 

Suggestion: I only say try because it makes the first two look even better and it is nice to see how the characters you grew to love, well their next chapter. (Try It)

 

Best Part: Lead scene.

Worst Part: Loses suspense element.

Action Scene of the Film: Final scene.

Kill Of The Film: Clemens

Oscar Chances: Nominated for one Oscar for visual effects

Chances of Sequel: Did get a sequel.

 

Overall: Poor addition to the franchise.

https://moviesreview101.com/2014/01/29/alien-3-1992/
  
IG
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
In Good Company is a witty romance filled with people that are sure to capture your heart. Embark on this journey and find yourself immersed into the society of Newport, Rhode Island.

The summer season of 1882 is about to begin and Everett Mulberry has found himself without a nanny for his wards, again. Millie Longfellow has once again been dismissed from her position as a nanny. Neither Everett or Millie are thrilled when the employment agency places Millie in Everett's services. But this is the last hope for both of them. Millie's unique behavior as a nanny is frowned upon by many, however her unorthodox ways might be just what these children need. Everett's goal of holding a powerful position among the upper class of society appears to be within reach. But as events begin to unfold regarding the untimely death of the children's parents, he is severely tested. Will he hold on to his position and snobbery? Or will he let the children, and Millie, soften his heart?

"I don't think reading is a pleasure I'll ever be able to abandon." - Millie Longfellow

Jen Turano is one of the most brilliant authors that I have ever had the pleasure of reading. I had to spend this last week in the hospital with my son, and I am so very thankful that I chose to read this book while I was there (He is doing better and we are home now). I laughed out loud so many times. Millie and Everett's story was good for my spirit and my sanity. In Good Company is a beautiful combination of The Sound of Music and Pride and Prejudice, two of my favorite stories. Jen does a wonderful job of depicting the prejudice between the social classes of the time. The prejudice and the snobbery is heartbreaking. But, the story breaks all of those barriers and it is thrilling to witness. Get ready for a grand adventure full of mischief, romance and a few peacocks!

Although this book can stand alone, I highly recommend reading After a Fashion, the first book in the series.

I received a free copy of In Good Company from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for my honest review.
  
A Name Unknown will completely sweep you off your feet. If you are even the slightest bit bookish, you will simply fall head over heels for Peter! A man of incredible character, high standards, genuine compassion, a deep relationship with Jesus, and a serious TALENT with words! Rosemary, is just...AHHHH! A woman who I want to meet. A woman who I wish was a real life person so that I can interview her, have lunch with her, and go for walks together along the cliffs in Cornwall. Also, Roseanna talks about Cornish Pasties...Um...those are perhaps my very favorite meal EVER! (Here is a recipe, Jody Hedlund also talks about them in Undaunted Hope...I use butter and not margarine and I do not put rutabaga in them.)

Throughout the story both Peter and Rosemary struggle with secrets that lay in their past. Some known, some unknown, (even to themselves) some discovered along the way. As they grow closer they come to understand that they can not have these barriers between them."With the greatest risks come the greatest rewards", but is it worth it to risk everything that they have built their lives on? Will they be able to confide in one another before all is revealed? And will the past stand between them and keep them apart? Or draw them closer together?

There is SO MUCH we can learn from this story. And ONE of the biggest points is that God is able and willing to forgive us...NO MATTER our past, no matter what we have done, what we have been through. The question is, do we want Him to? Do we want Him to change us for the better? The other message that stands out SO.STRONGLY...Is that God hears us. He may not always give us the answers we WANT...But He HEARS us...Even if it doesn't feel like He does.

Set at the very beginning of WWI, this book begins an incredible adventure for Rosemary's family. I am SO looking forward to the next books.

I received a complimentary copy of A Name Unknown from the publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.
  
Ride Along 2 (2016)
Ride Along 2 (2016)
2016 | Action, Comedy
Kevin Hart and Ice Cube reprise their roles in Ride Along 2 which hits theaters this weekend. In the sequel, Ben Barber (Kevin Hart) is a rookie cop seeking to prove his worth as he aspires to become a detective like his soon to be brother-in-law James, played by Ice Cube. After a stakeout to catch a local drug dealer doesn’t go as planned, due to Ben’s meddling, the two stumble upon a flash drive which leads them to Miami to investigate further. Once there, they find themselves facing off with an international drug and gun smuggler (Benjamin Bratt) with the help of tough Miami Detective, Maya Cruz (Olivia Munn).

Fans of the first film will not be disappointed in this sequel to the film which introduced us to the bumbling antics of Ben Barber and the seasoned veteran James Payton. Ride Along 2 succeeds where other “Buddy Cop” movies and sequels have failed in the past. There is great chemistry between Hart and Cube. The film features great comedic timing with the characters, as well as, a healthy amount of dramatic and relatable issues throughout. The jokes are fun, and, at times witty. The humor doesn’t look for the cheap laugh by recycling the same jokes from the previous film. The only real problem with the film is that the plot is too similar to the original in a number of ways. Ben finds himself wanting to prove he deserves to be a cop, not only to himself, but to James, as well.

They find themselves trying to bring down a criminal empire all by the end of the week when Ben is set to marry James’ sister. Despite some of the moments being a bit far-fetched, the film does not rely too many references to the original in order for people to follow along with the story. It can easily stand alone. Fans of the first film, as well, as those who love a good Police themed comedy will enjoy the ride. Hopefully, the Brothers-in-law will return for a third film.