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Twice As Fatal (Jarvis Mann Detective #2)
R. Weir | 2015
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Jarvis Mann is back with another amazing adventure. With two cases taking over his life he may have bitten more than he can chew. The author’s writing style is very detailed and visual. I enjoyed reading this book from beginning to end.
The first case has him trying to find a football player. Hired by the father Jarvis sets out and finds Ray. Thinking it’s over a video is threatened to be released if Ray that could destroy his present and future.
The second case his landlord has him following her husband. She thinks he’s either gambling, cheating and taking her money. When Jarvis finds that the husband is connected to the wrong people. Life just got harder.
A must read if you have fallen for Jarvis Mann. This author creates magic with her words and visual detail. Great job!
  
A Study in Scarlet
A Study in Scarlet
Arthur Conan Doyle, Mark Billingham | 2009 | Fiction & Poetry
8
8.8 (4 Ratings)
Book Rating
Although I might be a fan of historical fiction, books that were published before I was born are not ones I usually pick up.

Don't get me wrong, there are some brilliant writers; Charles Dickens, John Steinbeck, the Austen's, all amazing writers, brilliant minds, but their writing style doesn't appeal to me. I would only pick up their books because of an academic reading list, and since academia doesn't need me to read fiction, I avoid it.

A very wise person recently told me that avoiding things is something I should avoid. Which is one of the reasons why I love this read harder challenge, taking you out of your comfort zone and expanding your reading is the best way to gain perspective.

Continue reading my review at: https://www.readsandrecipes.co.uk/2017/01/read-harder-1900-1950.html
  
The tumblr feel to it. (2 more)
The writing style.
The diagrams.
Great beginner book!
Okay, so I don't ever read books like this but I picked this up for one of my writing jobs and I must say, wow! This was one hell of a read. I was honestly surprised with how fast I blew through The Financial Diet and actually enjoyed reading it!!! That's right, I said I enjoyed it. There are quite a few lessons that are taught in this novel that I feel everyone should take to heart. This is coming from the person who sucks with money and doesn't follow a budget. I got so motivated while reading, that I was stashing away certain tips for the whole budgeting aspect of things and how to save money. I mean who doesn't love saving money!?
  
Exploding Kittens
Exploding Kittens
2015 | Animals, Card Game, Comic Book / Strip, Humor
Fun Game
My daughter is in love with this bonkers game! Exploding Kittens is a russian roulette style game featuring amusing art from The Oatmeal. Simple to learn, but with some quirky little rules that I have to keep looking up again and again (usually when my daughter uses them on me to full effect!). It's one of those games that isn't that exciting at the beginning of a new game, but as you near the end of the pack and you know that the exploding kitten card is coming soon, the tension and enjoyment really grows. I'm not sure of the longevity of the game though, and that's the only downside to this really. There are expansion packs available, to enhance the gameplay and increase the potential number of players, which I'd be interested to try out some time.
  
Peppermint (2018)
Peppermint (2018)
2018 | Action, Drama, Thriller
Strong Woman Lead (0 more)
Depth of story not associated with Bad Ass-ness (1 more)
Only one reference to peppermint, doesn't warrant the name of the movie as a whole
Solid Suburban Mom Vigilante Bad Ass Movie.
This was a good time. It's like Boondock Saints (minus the style) meets Shooter and Alias. Everyone loves it when untouchable bad guys get their comeuppance. We all like watching the take down of corruption. That said I could've used a little more depth of story. It was mostly by the numbers as far as action films go. I went into this one not knowing the basic premise, my wife picked it and I said ok. Had I known the premise I would've seen most of this movie coming. That's not to say it's less enjoyable, just that it's slightly less awesome. (hence the 7)
  
SL
Separate Lives
8
6.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
I absolutely loved Separate Lives! I was hooked from page one by the writing style. The characters were well developed and relatable in a lot of ways, tho I wasn't fond of Pippa and her intentions toward Alex. I could also identify with Susie quite a bit tho I wish she'd had more backbone in dealing with Alex at the end of their relationship. The entire time I was reading this book I was so engrossed that it almost felt like the characters were friends of mine. The ending answered a few questions but it left me wanting to know how things wound up with Susie and Will. Overall I truly enjoyed my time with these great characters and will be looking forward to more from this author. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC!
  
The Boneless Mercies
The Boneless Mercies
April Genevieve Tucholke | 2018 | Science Fiction/Fantasy
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Amazing writing style (2 more)
Really good plot
World building and exploration of said world
It's a standalone and I wish there was more (0 more)
Well I expected something different but I'll take this
I loved this book. I got my hands on an arc copy and my god am I happy. From the blurb I expected some sort of girl power book which put me off a bit but there was no where near as mich as that as I thought. The plot didn't rely at all on a drive of proving girl power as the characters actually stood on their own and had their own motives and drives. I loved their journey through the lands and meeting the sea witches,I only wish there was more or a sequel but there's been no whispers of it and that severely upsets me.
  
TY
Thank You for Smoking
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
This book was an ok read, it took me quite a while to get into it as the writing style is very different to what i'm used to. I found the story to be quite jumbled and sometimes I just had no idea which of the characters were speaking, I had to sometimes read a page a couple of times in order for it to sink in. Some of it a found quite funny but other bits I didn't really understand. The novel is very political, which probably explains why I kept losing interest (not to say it wasn't interesting at all- which is why I gave it 3 stars, I did like it, mainly because it was just different). The story had some good twists but I do believe that the ending was very unrealistic.
  
SO
Sword of Honour
David Kirk | 2016
2
2.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Back in 2013 (or thereabouts) I picked up a book in my local Tesco's; a book of which (at the time) I knew nothing about but which IO ended up quite enjoying. That books (Child of Vengeance) was the immediate precursor to this, and turned out to be one that I quite enjoyed.

Fast forward roughly 5 years, and I picked up the sequel, hoping to receive the same enjoyment from it.

Unfortunately, those hopes were dashed: I found this (which is, effectively, a Japanese revenge tale) to be plodding, pedestrian, heavy going and really just not that engaging, populated with unlikeable characters with murky motivations and with a verbose style of writing that just did not flow, even in the action sequences. As such, I actually found this a struggle to make it to the end!

Sorry Mr Kirk!
  
Curse the Dawn (Cassandra Palmer, #4)
Curse the Dawn (Cassandra Palmer, #4)
Karen Chance | 2009 | Fiction & Poetry
Curse the Dawn balances serious action with a very funny Freaky Friday style hijinks. However, such adventures are not just for kicks, and actually help to further the plot of other major characters.

The stakes are higher in book 4, with a God on Cassie's tail. At one point, quite literally. But when I look back over the books, I can't get over my love of book 3 enough and book 4 seems lacking in comparison.

Not that it is a bad book. Quite the opposite. Curse the Dawn is a necessary book in the series. It takes the series to a higher level. It's the start of a new arc for Cassie. We've had the trilogy of her finding herself, and now this starts her journey to find her power and place in the world. I can't wait for more.