Search
Search results

Merissa (13194 KP) rated When You Burn Me (Enchanted Hearts #1) in Books
Jan 29, 2025
WHEN YOU BURN ME is the first book in the Enchanted Hearts series with Sienna and Damon leading the way.
Sienna is a light witch in a small but powerful coven, who is one of the last guardians of a key which keeps a powerful dark witch locked up. Damon is the half-breed son of the prisoner, who is only alive because the dark coven is saving him for his 'mother'. When she is free, she will take his power which will also kill him. Obviously, Damon's none too keen on her being freed.
This was a great story with plenty of side characters to help give it some flavour. One of my favourites was Morrigan, a sassy and sometimes grumpy light witch who can cause death by the simple touch of her hand. One of the characters I didn't like so much was Terra, Sienna's aunt. I kept waiting for her to grow on me but it never happened.
A good start to a new series that I definitely recommend, and I can't wait to see what happens next.
** 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; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Jan 29, 2025
Sienna is a light witch in a small but powerful coven, who is one of the last guardians of a key which keeps a powerful dark witch locked up. Damon is the half-breed son of the prisoner, who is only alive because the dark coven is saving him for his 'mother'. When she is free, she will take his power which will also kill him. Obviously, Damon's none too keen on her being freed.
This was a great story with plenty of side characters to help give it some flavour. One of my favourites was Morrigan, a sassy and sometimes grumpy light witch who can cause death by the simple touch of her hand. One of the characters I didn't like so much was Terra, Sienna's aunt. I kept waiting for her to grow on me but it never happened.
A good start to a new series that I definitely recommend, and I can't wait to see what happens next.
** 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; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Jan 29, 2025

Christine A. (965 KP) rated Press Here! Massage for Beginners: A Simple Route to Relaxation and Releasing Tension in Books
Mar 13, 2019 (Updated Mar 13, 2019)
Colorful illustrations (1 more)
Shows proper technique
Informative book on how to give a massage to others and to yourself
I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book so I could give an honest review.
Press Here! Massage for Beginners: A Simple Route to Relaxation and Releasing Tension by Rachel Beider is an informative book on how to give a massage to others and to yourself. It provides clear instructions on how to massage different parts of the body. It also includes sections for specific issues that may need special attention. Also shown are the proper techniques and strokes to use. It is full of colorful and detailed illustrations that show the basics of a massage.
I found the book informative and well written but two sections stand out to me. The first is on how to give yourself a massage. Beider shows how to use either your hand or a tennis ball to self massage. The other is a section on how to treat headaches and sinus congestion. As a sufferer of chronic sinus problems this was the most useful.
One thing I had never considered was you need to take care and look after your own body before you massage someone. Stretches are shown on how to prepare your hands so you do not damage them.
The book is easily labeled to find the exact section on which you want to focus.
Review published on Philomathinphila.com, Smashbomb, Goodreads, Facebook, Twitter, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble on 3/13/19.
Press Here! Massage for Beginners: A Simple Route to Relaxation and Releasing Tension by Rachel Beider is an informative book on how to give a massage to others and to yourself. It provides clear instructions on how to massage different parts of the body. It also includes sections for specific issues that may need special attention. Also shown are the proper techniques and strokes to use. It is full of colorful and detailed illustrations that show the basics of a massage.
I found the book informative and well written but two sections stand out to me. The first is on how to give yourself a massage. Beider shows how to use either your hand or a tennis ball to self massage. The other is a section on how to treat headaches and sinus congestion. As a sufferer of chronic sinus problems this was the most useful.
One thing I had never considered was you need to take care and look after your own body before you massage someone. Stretches are shown on how to prepare your hands so you do not damage them.
The book is easily labeled to find the exact section on which you want to focus.
Review published on Philomathinphila.com, Smashbomb, Goodreads, Facebook, Twitter, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble on 3/13/19.

Micky Barnard (542 KP) rated 99 Percent Mine in Books
Dec 2, 2018
Different to The Hating Game but equally as good
99 PERCENT MINE grabbed me in with Darcy love from the off, she's an absolute feisty female with a weakness that makes her strong. I admired her attitude, her unfiltered mouth, her inner 'oh s$$t' and her outer 'don't mess with me'. That said, it really did take 20% in for me to really get fully enmeshed into the story. The 5 star rating comes from everything that overwhelmed me and took over my life from there.
Darcy Barratt is a twin, the weaker runt and her twin Jamie, well let me say, I hated that guy and his influence on the characters in this story (even though I suspect there's a story that could come from him). Darcy and Jamie had another half to them, Tom Valeska, unofficial adoptee into the Barratt clan. Darcy has loved him forever but their life has been missed opportunities and it has always been easier for her to up and leave.
<i>"I inhale his birthday-candle pheromones. I want to know what his goddamn bones smell like. Let me start down in his DNA structure and work my way back up." </i>
Tom Valeska (I can't help saying his names together, forgive me) is solid in the friendship stakes, a support, a protector, a wannabe saviour. He comes to renovate Darcy's grandmother's house and therein starts the literal magnetism between these two. Holy chemistry, I cannot explain the draw between them and I felt right in the middle of it, like iron filings. This was a burn of slow proportions but the absolute furnace it created, blew me away.
<i>"My body is taking over. Everything is boiling up out of me-years of stolen looks and tight T-shirts and that bone-deep certainty that the animal in him wants me too."</i>
I literally shelved my Saturday, locked in my fellow arc-buddy and we read together, across the ocean, exchanging highlights, swooning alongside one another, fearing together and having a mind-blown explosion over the chemistry and banter. I could not put this book down, nor would I want to. It is very unlike me to feel drawn back to a book immediately but I just know I will have to read again on release (when I have my pretty, yellow paperback in my hand) and immerse myself once again.
Sally Thorne has followed up The Hating Game with something totally different and entirely as good. No one writes dialogue like Ms Thorne and she has amply shown her diversity and also her consistency. Sorry for the glow-y-ness but I am still riding high on feelings here and I hope you will be too.
<i>"My stomach falls down an elevator shaft. Those words, spoken aloud in his voice, crackle through my synapses, and right now, I've never been more alive. I am heartbeat and full lungs."</i>
I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.
Darcy Barratt is a twin, the weaker runt and her twin Jamie, well let me say, I hated that guy and his influence on the characters in this story (even though I suspect there's a story that could come from him). Darcy and Jamie had another half to them, Tom Valeska, unofficial adoptee into the Barratt clan. Darcy has loved him forever but their life has been missed opportunities and it has always been easier for her to up and leave.
<i>"I inhale his birthday-candle pheromones. I want to know what his goddamn bones smell like. Let me start down in his DNA structure and work my way back up." </i>
Tom Valeska (I can't help saying his names together, forgive me) is solid in the friendship stakes, a support, a protector, a wannabe saviour. He comes to renovate Darcy's grandmother's house and therein starts the literal magnetism between these two. Holy chemistry, I cannot explain the draw between them and I felt right in the middle of it, like iron filings. This was a burn of slow proportions but the absolute furnace it created, blew me away.
<i>"My body is taking over. Everything is boiling up out of me-years of stolen looks and tight T-shirts and that bone-deep certainty that the animal in him wants me too."</i>
I literally shelved my Saturday, locked in my fellow arc-buddy and we read together, across the ocean, exchanging highlights, swooning alongside one another, fearing together and having a mind-blown explosion over the chemistry and banter. I could not put this book down, nor would I want to. It is very unlike me to feel drawn back to a book immediately but I just know I will have to read again on release (when I have my pretty, yellow paperback in my hand) and immerse myself once again.
Sally Thorne has followed up The Hating Game with something totally different and entirely as good. No one writes dialogue like Ms Thorne and she has amply shown her diversity and also her consistency. Sorry for the glow-y-ness but I am still riding high on feelings here and I hope you will be too.
<i>"My stomach falls down an elevator shaft. Those words, spoken aloud in his voice, crackle through my synapses, and right now, I've never been more alive. I am heartbeat and full lungs."</i>
I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

Merissa (13194 KP) rated Origin (Scales 'n' Spells #1) in Books
Oct 2, 2020
Origin is the first book in the Scales 'N' Spells series and I LOVED IT. Cameron is backpacking his way around Europe and ends up in Germany where he attends a Dragon Festival. Whilst he is there he is hugged by Ravi and held onto until Alric arrives. Alric is the Fire Dragon King and it turns out that Cameron is a mage although he doesn't believe it yet.
Cameron is young but knows he likes older men and Alric certainly falls into that category. Alric feels the attraction to Cameron but wants to make sure his clan have a chance to find out if he is their mate first. Both of these characters are amazing for different reasons. Cameron is a level-headed man who doesn't hesitate to compliment people and means it, sincerely. I thought that was fantastic! Alric is noble as all get out which, although I loved, just made me want to slap him upside the head when he wouldn't make a move on Cameron!
Add to that a brilliant cast of supporting characters, most of whom I hope get their own stories, an overall story arc that kicks off with a bang and will only get better as the series progresses, and a simply stunning setting, and you are left with a book to sink your teeth into and enjoy. Alric and Cameron take their time getting to know each other and then the steam rises!
This book ticked all of my buttons and I really can't wait for the next. I want to see which Dragon is brave enough to take on Halmeoni! Absolutely recommended by me.
* 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!
Cameron is young but knows he likes older men and Alric certainly falls into that category. Alric feels the attraction to Cameron but wants to make sure his clan have a chance to find out if he is their mate first. Both of these characters are amazing for different reasons. Cameron is a level-headed man who doesn't hesitate to compliment people and means it, sincerely. I thought that was fantastic! Alric is noble as all get out which, although I loved, just made me want to slap him upside the head when he wouldn't make a move on Cameron!
Add to that a brilliant cast of supporting characters, most of whom I hope get their own stories, an overall story arc that kicks off with a bang and will only get better as the series progresses, and a simply stunning setting, and you are left with a book to sink your teeth into and enjoy. Alric and Cameron take their time getting to know each other and then the steam rises!
This book ticked all of my buttons and I really can't wait for the next. I want to see which Dragon is brave enough to take on Halmeoni! Absolutely recommended by me.
* 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!

Sarah Betts (103 KP) rated The Stars Now Unclaimed (The Universe After #1) in Books
Dec 31, 2019
I would like to thank NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book has three things I adore:
Snarky characters
Space battles
A group who becomes a family despite the odds.
Needless to say I LOVED this book.
It starts out with a soldier looking for one of many children who can stop the evil hypocritical fascists called the Pax.
There was an incident called the pulse that knocked out most of this verse's technology.
There are some really cool characters and some things that surprised me, which I found delightful!
There are only two complaints about this book I have:
I felt there could have been more cool alien species
This book comes out in about a week, which means it will probably take a year for the next one to come out.
Bummer.
(A more in-depth review can be found at
on August 14th at 6am pst)
This book has three things I adore:
Snarky characters
Space battles
A group who becomes a family despite the odds.
Needless to say I LOVED this book.
It starts out with a soldier looking for one of many children who can stop the evil hypocritical fascists called the Pax.
There was an incident called the pulse that knocked out most of this verse's technology.
There are some really cool characters and some things that surprised me, which I found delightful!
There are only two complaints about this book I have:
I felt there could have been more cool alien species
This book comes out in about a week, which means it will probably take a year for the next one to come out.
Bummer.
(A more in-depth review can be found at
on August 14th at 6am pst)

Kim Pook (101 KP) rated Ready or Not (2019) in Movies
Feb 11, 2020
Me and my husband originally wanted to see this in our cinema, but our local wasn't showing it. We finally got to rent it from amazon prime last night.
The movie is about a young bride who has to take part in a family tradition of game night. What that game is depends on the card which is drawn from a box, unbeknown to the bride one card is a deadly game of hide and seek. Which is the card she draws, meaning she has to hide and the rest of the family have to find her and kill her before sunrise, because they believe if she lives they all die. The movie was very good, not too much gore but enough for any horror fan to enjoy, with some humour thrown in for good measure. They do try a few jump scares but they didn't phase me at all (and I'm a very jumpy person), that aside I would highly recommend it.
The movie is about a young bride who has to take part in a family tradition of game night. What that game is depends on the card which is drawn from a box, unbeknown to the bride one card is a deadly game of hide and seek. Which is the card she draws, meaning she has to hide and the rest of the family have to find her and kill her before sunrise, because they believe if she lives they all die. The movie was very good, not too much gore but enough for any horror fan to enjoy, with some humour thrown in for good measure. They do try a few jump scares but they didn't phase me at all (and I'm a very jumpy person), that aside I would highly recommend it.

The Weirwolf: My Story
Book
"Cripple. That was the word that really used to get to me. I could take a lot of insults. But...

Podcastification - podcasting tips, podcast tricks, how to podcast better
Podcast
Podcastificating the world, one listener at a time. Podcastification is a fun look at podcasting,...

Colour with Me, Mum!: Colour, Create, and Connect with Your Child
Jasmine Narayan and Hannah Davies
Book
Create beautiful artwork and spend quality time together with Colour With Me, Mum! Colouring is a...

Kasyan from the Beautiful Lands
Book
"No, no, I've got your word for it, I've got to die ...you promised me ...you told me..." Turgenev's...