Search

Search only in certain items:

The Vampire Will See You Now (Psy-Vamp #4)
The Vampire Will See You Now (Psy-Vamp #4)
Cassandra Lawson | 2014 | Paranormal, Romance
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
FINALLY, we have Justin and Caitlin's story. Now, for those of you that haven't read any of the Psy-Vamp series, you don't really have to get the story but it does make more sense if you have. Personally, I would get all of them and settle down for a Psy-Vamp session if you haven't already but that's just me!

Justin and Caitlin are mentioned in all three previous books and I have been waiting for their story to come out. We finally get it with Caitlin and Justin suffering after an event that happened in the previous book (like I said, not necessary but it does help!). Justin decides that the best thing for Caitlin is for him to leave but Caitlin decides to take things into her own hands.

This book has had me in stitches as Caitlin's supposed "quiet time" for her ultimatum to Justin becomes one of the busiest the house has seen. We have characters old and new who pop up which was a great way to catch up on how they're all getting along. One thing I have to add is that I loved the differences between Justin and Caitlin's mothers - absolutely brilliant.

Like all previous books, in this series and the other books by Cassandra Lawson, the wit is in full flow. The women are strong and the men are Alpha. Another jewel in the crown of the Psy-Vamp series. Loved it!
 
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
September 8, 2016
  
Just One Night
Just One Night
Felice Stevens | 2022 | Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Absolutely brilliant from start to finish.
JUST ONE NIGHT is a standalone story in the Billionaire & Escort trope. Madden is the billionaire and Asher is the escort. Both of them are confident men, hiding their inner bruised selves from the world. However, both of them also have strong females in their lives. For Mads, it is his older sister; for Asher, his best friend. Both women know exactly what has gone on in the lives of their men and aren't prepared to stand by any longer.

I LOVED THIS STORY! And it's in a genre that usually doesn't do much for me - probably because I'm about as far away from being a billionaire as you can get! There are no unnecessary miscommunications or misunderstandings. Things happen, explanations and reasons given, BOOM, let's sort it out. I can't tell you how refreshing that was. Instead of all that angst, you get two adult men who know what they want, uniting in their feelings for each other, against those who seek to cause damage.

The pacing is smooth, the descriptions vivid, and the characters both lifelike and loveable. The steam is off the charts and I loved how their relationship grew. There is an epilogue that not only gives you everything you want but also left me wanting more from this pair. I did NOT want this book to finish!

Absolutely brilliant from start to finish. Highly recommended by me.

** same worded review will appear elsewhere **

* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
  
And I Darken (The Conqueror's Saga #1)
And I Darken (The Conqueror's Saga #1)
Kiersten White | 2016 | History & Politics
6
6.9 (9 Ratings)
Book Rating
<i>This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

And I Darken</i> is the first book in a brand new saga, <i>The Conquerors</i>, by bestselling author Kiersten White. Aimed at young adults, it is set at the time of the Ottoman Empire, providing a brief historical lesson as well as an entertaining story.

Inspired by Vlad the Impaler, the tale begins in Transylvania, 1453 with the birth of Lada, a daughter for the ruler of Wallachia, Vlad Dracula (no relation to the vampire). Despite the expectation that women are quiet, docile and mere possessions, Lada grows up with a vicious temper, as wild and fierce as a boar, unlike her younger brother, Radu, who is very cautious by nature. The siblings, caught up in their father’s politics, are sent away to another city. Lada however cannot be tamed, and is quick to insult or physically assault anyone who tries to put her in her place, even her new friend who so happens to be in line to become sultan of the Ottoman Empire.

As the children grow up they begin to involve themselves in the running of the empire, providing advice and companionship to the new sultan. Both Lada and Radu experience strong feelings for their friend, which they try to suppress - Radu, because it is improper (for that time period), and Lada, because she wants to be a strong, independent warrior with the same rights as all men.

<i>And I Darken</i> is extremely political but not in the same vein as politics today. Back in the 1400s, constitutional disagreements lead directly to wars, usually caused by the greed of the ever-expanding empire. Whilst these events are taking place, the true story line surfaces, exploring three very strong relationships. Despite Lada’s façade she is a young woman who cares deeply but does not let her feelings get in the way of achieving greatness. Jealousies and misunderstandings challenge the bonds between friends and siblings, resulting in a cliffhanger to encourage the read to eagerly await the next installment.

Although based on true events, <i>And I Darken</i> is mostly a fantasy. Lada has the characteristics and behaviour of Vlad the Impaler, something that would not have been possible at the time for a woman, but other than references to various battles, there are no other correlations.

The relationships focused on in the narrative can be frustrating at times, and it is easy to become annoyed at the key characters’ actions. Often I felt like giving up on the book, as I was not interesting in the gruesome fighting scenes, and not particularly keen on either Lada or Radu. Although I can admire Lada for her strengths and aspirations and agree that she is right to want more in her life as a woman, I found her malicious behavior difficult to respect.

Overall, <i>And I Darken</i> is a bold attempt by Kiersten White to combine history, romance and young adult fiction, particularly as the characters who would be considered teenagers today, were deemed adults during that time period, resulting in them being much more mature than many of today’s readers. This series is suitable for male and female readers alike as it contains an equal measure of bloody action and budding romance. Sadly, despite my high hopes, this book was not for me.
  
Silver Streak (1976)
Silver Streak (1976)
1976 | Action, Comedy, Romance
8
7.4 (7 Ratings)
Movie Rating
The start of a wonderful comedic partnership
Most people remember Gene Wilder as the frazzled haired wild man in such Mel Brooks classic films as THE PRODUCERS, BLAZING SADDLES and YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN. Others will recall him as the mad genius that held our attention in WILLY WONKA AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY, but there was a 3rd phase to Wilder's career - his unlikely partnership with Richard Pryor - that started with 1976's SILVER STREAK.

Set aboard the titular passenger train, SILVER STREAK is part Alfred Hitchcock "wrong man" suspense thriller, part comedy and part action flick with strong performances at the center anchoring the action.

Surprisingly, Wilder brings a sincere quality to his "everyman" hero of this tale. His book editor, George Caldwell, just wants a quiet 2 1/2 day trip on the train from Los Angeles to Chicago. You root for George from the start. Wilder's performance is deftly tailored to this movie, keeping a lid on his more frenetic energy that helps keep his character grounded. He pairs nicely with Jill Clayburgh (remember her from the '70's?) as a women he meets (and falls in love with) along the way. Clayburgh burst into the spotlight with this performance - and the 2 have tremendous chemistry together.

They are joined by a bevy of wonderful character actors - Ray Walston, Richard "Jaws" Kiel, Ned Beatty, Clifton James, Valerie Curtin, Fred Willard and the great Scatman Crothers. All bring life and energy to this film. Patrick McGoohan is perfectly cast as the villain of the piece. His "buttoned-up" bad guy is the perfect balance to the Wilder's character.

But, of course, the person who steals this film is the great Richard Pryor as Grover T. Muldoon, a petty thief, con-man and "street-wise" hood who aids George in defeating the bad guys. Pryor doesn't show up in this movie until about 1/2 way through, but when he does, the energy (and pace) of this film picks up considerably and the roller coaster ride begins. The comedic partnership between Wilder and Pryor is magnificent, they play off each other very well and they will end up pairing together in 3 other films after this.

Director Arthur Hiller (THE AMERICANIZATION OF EMILY) does a strong, professional job of keeping the movie moving, keeping events grounded until a thrilling conclusion that is satisfying, indeed.

A fun action-thriller that is perfect summer fodder.

Letter Grade: A-

8 stars (out of 10) and you can take that to the Bank(ofMarquis)
  
Also read my review here: http://bookbum.weebly.com/book-reviews/under-the-banner-of-heaven-a-story-of-violent-faith-by-jon-krakauer

<b>TRIGGER WARNING: rape, incest, domestic abuse, child abuse, animal abuse, child murder</b>

I’m speechless. (OK, maybe not). What the <i>heck</i> did I just read? You’re telling me this is <b><i>non-fiction?</b></i> ...How? <b>HOW?</b> This isn’t just some freak incident either, people live like what’s described in this book, I’m baffled by it. I mean I’m a little baffled by strict religious following anyway (no offence meant) but Mormonism is just on another level.

The story of Mormonism is so strange because Joseph Smith was a fucking control freak and swindler but also the way society got away with treating him and his followers was awful. You really can’t pick a right and wrong side, they’re both pretty terrible.

This book's main focus is on how people's strong faith in Mormonism makes them believe they're above the laws of the land, so they go and commit crimes they think are justified and right. For example, Dan and Ron Lafferty, who <i>truly</i> believe God has spoken to them and told them they need to kill their brothers wife and young baby. A deed done by them so brutally, the poor baby was basically beheaded. <b>Clearly this book isn’t for the faint hearted.</b>

One of the saddest moments in this book is when Krakauer meets a Mormon family and their young daughter (I think she was between 8 to 12) comes into the room with floor plans of her dream house, where she's drawn out several different rooms for the other wives of the husband she is going to share. How <i>awful</i> is that, to believe that you must share your husband with other women, because for men of the Mormon faith, women are just child bearers, nothing more. <b>Joseph Smith actually declared God said "women shall be man's handmaid".</b> For this young girl to be planning her life with a shared husband and feeling that's <i>normal</i>, even feeling <i>happy</i> about it, is a terrible, terrible thing to think about.

This took me around 3 months to finish, not only because I accidentally left this in my dad’s suitcase when I came back from Spain, but also because this was such heavy non-fiction reading. Not only did it describe, in gruesome detail, the crimes committed by those under the Mormon faith, it was also a long historical timeline of how Mormonism was created and has grown to where it currently sits today. (<i>Did you know,</i> there are currently more Mormons on this planet than Jewish people?) Not to mention the confusion it causes when trying to remind you who everyone is and how everyone is related, because they’re pretty much <i>all</i> related through marriage.

This is certainly an interesting read. I'm sure you’ve heard about Mormon’s and the Book of Mormon and polygamy, etc, but never really looked further into it. Well, for those of you that would like to look further into it, then this is the book for you! It's incredible to read all about how Joseph Smith magicked up Mormon faith and how gruesome and evil polygamy really is.

I really recommend this book for all of you who love learning about religions or just love to have some random shocking facts to dish out around the dinner table. A seriously interesting, if not disturbing read.
  
Fast Burn (Body Armor, #4)
Fast Burn (Body Armor, #4)
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
The series goes out on a high note. Fast Burn is the 4th and final book in the Body Armor series. As usual, Lori Foster hits it out of the park with her storytelling. Brand Berry has been courted over and over by Sahara Silver to join her elite Body Armor bodyguard agency. He isn’t sure he wants to give up his MMA career to join her agency, but he is more sure he doesn’t want to carry on an affair with his boss which is where he thinks this relationship is headed. She drives him wild, she drives him crazy, she just drives him.

Brand hasn’t had the easiest life, his family is unconventional but loving and he likes being part of the SBC. He has made great friends, had a ton of new opportunities and feels like he is wanted somewhere finally.

Sahara Silver inherited the Body Armor agency from her deceased brother. Not that she believes he is dead, no way in hell. She has made it her mission lately to find out where her brother is and what exactly happened to him. She won’t accept his death short of a body showing up on her doorstep.

Brand has denied his attraction to Sahara for a while, as hard as that is some days, until she becomes dragged in as part of her brother’s mysterious disappearance. When she is kidnapped he jumps into action to make his claim to be by her side known to any and all that dared threaten it. He will protect her at all costs.

Sahara knows Brand will do anything to “save” her and she hates being vulnerable. She has always had to prove she is as capable as any man in her employ. She hates the double standard that women have to endure and sets out to prove not all women are fragile little creatures.

Can Brand and Sahara figure out her brother’s mysterious circumstances before its too late? Can they fight their attraction to one another to focus or will it make them stronger to be full out partners in more ways than one?

Good secondary interactions from all the familiars, Rowdy’s Place, SBC, and of course Leese, Justice and Miles (along with the women that love them). Plus fun new characters like Brand’s Dad who basically has every gun known to man in his basement.

Another strong story from Lori Foster with good twists and turns. It will keep you guessing for the majority of the book (unless you are a good figure outer like me hehe) but if you are a quick study it still doesn’t disappoint with suspense, excitement and action. I am so bummed this series has ended with this novel but knowing there are more Lori Foster books on the horizon carries me through (just barely haha).

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. My ebook had some missing words and sentences which I have no way of knowing if it was technology error or something that will carry through to the paperback et al versions. Overall definitely a book for the forever shelf to re-read over and over again. Until we meet again Body Armor!!
  
Diamonds Are Forever (1971)
Diamonds Are Forever (1971)
1971 | Action, Classics, Mystery
Characters – James Bond gets to finally take care of his arch nemesis Blofeld before going on his latest mission going undercover searching for diamonds, he shows us his usually swagger, getting the women along the way as he looks to solve this latest mystery. Tiffany Case is one of the connections in the chain of the diamond smuggling, the first one James makes contact with, she must learn the help along the way to get out alive. Blofeld is the old enemy that James gets to take care of early on, the man that has held James up from multiply other mission. We do get to meet plenty of people involved in the ring which only make James’s mission more difficult.

Performances – Sean Connery is back and back to his best in this outing as the iconic spy, it is great to have him back even if it is only for one last time. Jill St John is good as the Bond girl for the movie though offers nothing new for the series. Charles Gray keeps the role of Blofeld nicely giving us just what we need from the villain role.

Story – The story here shows James finally getting his hands on Blofeld before needing to head off on a new mission, one that gives him everything he wants, beautiful women, casinos and a villain he wants to stay ahead off. This story plays out just like one of the more famous ones in reverse which becomes very interesting to watch, it has everything you need for the latest adventure for Bond, a villain that is prepared for the intelligence of Bond and the world needing saving once again. This does feel like it has given the life back to the franchise which needed to be bought back from the weaker outings, the story is simple enough and continues to keep us watching along with Bond.

Action/Adventure – The action is good even if the fights are simple enough to show how Bond can beat most in combat. The adventure just takes Bond to new and old locations for his mission.

Settings – From Amsterdam to America, we get a much more knowledge set of locations with the bases being in locations which would make sense for a super villain to be hiding in.


Scene of the Movie – The base attack.

That Moment That Annoyed Me – They seem to be too friendly Bond and Blofeld.

Final Thoughts – For the Bond franchise this is a new feel to them, one that is more interesting and strong then the last few instalments.

 

Overall: Returning to what we want to see.
  
Kill Switch
Kill Switch
Penelope Douglas | 2019 | Contemporary, Romance
8
9.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
🔞🔞🔞

17 of 235
Kindle
Kill switch ( Devils Night book 3)
By Penelope Douglas
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

"I've done far worse than what I went to prison for. She has no idea how bad this can get."

WINTER

Sending him to prison was the worst thing I could’ve done. It didn’t matter that he did the crime or that I wished he was dead. Perhaps I thought I’d have time to disappear before he got out or he’d cool off in jail and be anything but the horror he was.

But I was wrong. Three years came and went too fast, and now he’s anything but calm. Prison only gave him time to plan.

And while I anticipated his vengeance, I didn’t expect this.

He doesn’t want to make me hurt. He wants to make everything hurt.

DAMON

First thing’s first. Get rid of her daddy. He told them I forced her. He told them his little girl was a victim, but I was a kid, too, and she wanted it just as much as I did.

Step two… Give her, her sister, and her mother nowhere to run and no fuel to escape. The Ashby women are alone now and desperate for a knight in shining armor.

But that’s not what’s coming.

No, it’s time I listened to my father and took control of my future. It’s time I showed them all—my family, her family, my friends—that I will never change and that I have no other ambition than to be the nightmare of their lives.

Starting with her.

She’ll be so scared, she won’t even be safe in her own head by the time I’m done with her. And the best part is I won’t have to break into her home to do it.

As the new man of the house I have all the keys.


For gods sake this woman knows how to kick you in the guts with trauma! This has so many trigger warnings. This book makes you feel everything it’s quite graphic and she doesn’t hold back! Whether you like this series or not the woman writes abuse better than anyone I’ve read she gets you feeling all the emotions. I still can’t stand these men but there is a catalyst for each one of them that being the worlds worst parents they certainly didn’t do their kids any good. One thing I love is these women are strong and ruling the world is on the agenda!
  
The Snowman (2017)
The Snowman (2017)
2017 | Crime, Drama, Horror
Location Scouting (0 more)
Not enough suspense (2 more)
poor twist
Plot that just didn't fit or make sense
The Movie that Melted Away
The Snowman was not put together very well. Just like the snowmen that were built in the movie They were missing a lot. No carrot for the noise, no coal for the eyes and not enough suspense to keep me gripped to my seat. I walked in to this movie thinking this would be a thriller, with twists and turns. Right out of the box at the little boys house with the mom was so down played. They could have add a little bit more of a score to show how dramatic the situation was. This was kind of the theme the whole movie.

The acting was actually strong, but the story was not written very well, there were no twists and turns. The flipping from present to past and back was done very poorly and hard to follow sometimes. The characters were not built up to understand their whole story.


The deaths in the movie were not presented very well, I thought there was going to be more bodies stuck in snowmen, but it seemed that the snowmen were more to show that bad things are going to happen. The way the women were murder was so boring. I get what the killer was going for and his MO was very standard, but the presentation could have been so much better.


The one thing that I actually liked was the location that they shot the movie in. It looked very classic with the snow. The landscape and the way they used it in the story was very good.


I had such high hopes for this movie, but by the end of the movie my hope melted away like a snowman at the end of winter.