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Merissa (11779 KP) rated On Solid Ground (On Solid Ground #1) in Books
Oct 18, 2018
On Solid Ground (On Solid Ground #1) by Melissa Collins
On Solid Ground is the first book in the On Solid Ground series. In this story, we meet Dax, a veteran suffering from PTSD, and Beck, a tattoo artist with his own history to contend with. When these two meet, the attraction is off the charts, but both of them have issues to deal with.
I loved this story, but did find bits of it annoying. I know every relationship deals with miscommunication, but these two really took the biscuit. Saying that though, I still loved them as a couple.
On Solid Ground was well-written, with no editing or grammatical errors that disrupted my reading. The only thing that disrupted me was the story/characters themselves.
If you are in the mood for a Military M_M story with plenty of angst, then I can definitely recommend this one.
* 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!
I loved this story, but did find bits of it annoying. I know every relationship deals with miscommunication, but these two really took the biscuit. Saying that though, I still loved them as a couple.
On Solid Ground was well-written, with no editing or grammatical errors that disrupted my reading. The only thing that disrupted me was the story/characters themselves.
If you are in the mood for a Military M_M story with plenty of angst, then I can definitely recommend this one.
* 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!
Merissa (11779 KP) rated Tattoo (Take It Off #7) in Books
Apr 10, 2023
This book starts with a bang... or rather a gunshot as there is a robbery in process at a bank. Throughout the introduction, you find out who Brody is, who he was acting as, what Taylor does in a time of crisis and how she can keep a cool head when needed. All of this is within the first few pages.
I found the concept of Brody's tattoo being the catalyst for the events that followed absolutely brilliant. Although this book moves at a very fast pace (and indeed seems to finish WAAAY too quickly) nothing seems rushed and our two main characters have the time and opportunity to explore their situation and their mutual attraction.
A perfect book to read to while away a few hours - because, believe me, once you start reading this, you won't put it down until you've finished.
* 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. *
September 11, 2016
I found the concept of Brody's tattoo being the catalyst for the events that followed absolutely brilliant. Although this book moves at a very fast pace (and indeed seems to finish WAAAY too quickly) nothing seems rushed and our two main characters have the time and opportunity to explore their situation and their mutual attraction.
A perfect book to read to while away a few hours - because, believe me, once you start reading this, you won't put it down until you've finished.
* 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. *
September 11, 2016
Merissa (11779 KP) rated Written on my Heart in Books
Dec 17, 2018 (Updated Apr 14, 2023)
This story is about two individuals who have both had to deal with an amazing amount in their pasts that most people wouldn't cope with, without curling up into a ball and hoping for everyone and everything to go away.
Ashlyn is struggling to cope with her new flatmate and her job, especially when her past comes a-knocking. Lane is working all hours to try to provide for his family. Their paths cross when Ashlyn's co-worker, Emily, sends her to him to get a tattoo covered over. Their relationship is bumpy which makes a nice change, no insta-love here.
This is well-written and has a smooth plot line. Although you are told some of what happened to Ashlyn, it doesn't go into too much detail. An enjoyable contemporary romance, recommended.
* 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!
Jul 28, 2015
Ashlyn is struggling to cope with her new flatmate and her job, especially when her past comes a-knocking. Lane is working all hours to try to provide for his family. Their paths cross when Ashlyn's co-worker, Emily, sends her to him to get a tattoo covered over. Their relationship is bumpy which makes a nice change, no insta-love here.
This is well-written and has a smooth plot line. Although you are told some of what happened to Ashlyn, it doesn't go into too much detail. An enjoyable contemporary romance, recommended.
* 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!
Jul 28, 2015
Goddess in the Stacks (553 KP) rated Beasts Made of Night in Books
Apr 19, 2018
Terrible characters (3 more)
Lack of explanation of terms
Stupid cliffhanger
Confusing geography
So this Nigerian-influenced fantasy made enough of a splash when it was released in October that I JUST got it in my hands from the library. That long wait....was not actually justified, sadly. The cover is GORGEOUS and the concept is really, really cool - the execution is lacking. I can tell that the author had the world pretty fleshed out in his mind, from the geography to the vocabulary - but he didn't actually pass that knowledge on to the reader. Kos is a walled city, but I'm not sure whether the Palace is within the walls or not? In one scene our protagonist LEAPS out of the castle and runs back the city - but in another scene he mentions that looking out the castle wall, Kos fits behind his fingernail. Kos is made up of several neighborhood plus a market - it's not small. So either his fingernail is HUGE or Kos is a pretty decent distance away. But it's written as if it only takes him about ten minutes to run there? Not to mention that he cracked a rib in the room that he leaped from (which is never mentioned again).
Oh and he winds up landing in an ivy maze out of nowhere - he couldn't see it from the palace? Let's see....the King regularly bombards neighborhoods with catapults in what's called a "baptism" but the people haven't revolted against this, for some reason. They talk about something called a "kanselo" but never define it. I -think- it's like an organized group or coalition, but I'm really not entirely sure.
The male protagonist treats every woman his age as a potential love interest, debating whether to give them his heart-stone, or whether people will think he's already given one girl or another his heart-stone - but never stops to ask if the girls are interested in HIM that way. Because of COURSE they would be, right? He's the Sky-Fist! The Lightbringer! The one whose tattoos never fade! (Eating sin-beasts causes a black tattoo to appear on your skin - on most sin-eaters these fade eventually.) Also he's just DUMB. He recalls that the sin-eater who ate his mother's sin had a certain tattoo, and when he runs across her years later, it takes him three or four encounters before realizing it's the same sin-eater. (The tattoo is a spider. Covering her FACE. It hasn't faded.) He makes stupid decisions - after nightmares of one love-interest being attacked by sin-beasts, he LEAVES HER SURROUNDED BY THEM to go run out into the city. He has at least FIVE love interests in this book. And only ONE of them seems interested in him in return.
I really wanted to like this book. The concept of sin-eating is great. But the main character and all the one-dimensional characters that surrounded him, along with the confusing geography, just turned me off. And I'm not even getting into the "ending." Yeah. Definitely throwing quotes on that because that was not an ending. The book just stops.
Skip this. It was a terrible book wrapped in a deceptively pretty package.
You can find all my reviews at http://goddessinthestacks.wordpress.com
Oh and he winds up landing in an ivy maze out of nowhere - he couldn't see it from the palace? Let's see....the King regularly bombards neighborhoods with catapults in what's called a "baptism" but the people haven't revolted against this, for some reason. They talk about something called a "kanselo" but never define it. I -think- it's like an organized group or coalition, but I'm really not entirely sure.
The male protagonist treats every woman his age as a potential love interest, debating whether to give them his heart-stone, or whether people will think he's already given one girl or another his heart-stone - but never stops to ask if the girls are interested in HIM that way. Because of COURSE they would be, right? He's the Sky-Fist! The Lightbringer! The one whose tattoos never fade! (Eating sin-beasts causes a black tattoo to appear on your skin - on most sin-eaters these fade eventually.) Also he's just DUMB. He recalls that the sin-eater who ate his mother's sin had a certain tattoo, and when he runs across her years later, it takes him three or four encounters before realizing it's the same sin-eater. (The tattoo is a spider. Covering her FACE. It hasn't faded.) He makes stupid decisions - after nightmares of one love-interest being attacked by sin-beasts, he LEAVES HER SURROUNDED BY THEM to go run out into the city. He has at least FIVE love interests in this book. And only ONE of them seems interested in him in return.
I really wanted to like this book. The concept of sin-eating is great. But the main character and all the one-dimensional characters that surrounded him, along with the confusing geography, just turned me off. And I'm not even getting into the "ending." Yeah. Definitely throwing quotes on that because that was not an ending. The book just stops.
Skip this. It was a terrible book wrapped in a deceptively pretty package.
You can find all my reviews at http://goddessinthestacks.wordpress.com
Debbiereadsbook (1102 KP) rated Cutting Cords (Kiss of Leather #6) in Books
May 3, 2018
love this one!
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.
Book 6 in the series, and blah blah blah, READ the others first! Cos I SAID so!!
I don't recall if we met Liam in previous, or he was just mentioned as a friend of the other subs, but we certainly don't meet Master Neal til this book.
Liam is traumatized by the death of his previous Master, and is skittish, and very socially awkward. Watching Master Neal doing a flogging at Kiss Of leather as part of his being accepted into the club, Liam is all kinds of torn up. For his love for Master Mark, but his need to move on. Being introduced to the painfully shy Liam, Master Neal's protectiveness goes into overdrive. He never wanted anyone like he wants Liam, and if he can be who and what Liam wants and needs, he will bide his time, treat Liam with the kid gloves he needs.
I said in my review of Gaining trust that I thought Master Jordan was my most favourite, but now I have a dilemma! Because I LOVED Master Neal! And Liam, so painfully socially awkward! oh! Loved them both!
Master Neal never wanted to do the TPE thing, but for Liam, he might just be able to do it. Liam needs that, and Master Neal needs Liam. He just didn't know he did, til he met Liam.
I can't express how much Liam's story affected me, he had a painful upbringing and then meeting Master Mark, a much MUCH older guy, he was very sheltered. Watching him come out of himself, and become the young man who helps Master Neal at his tattoo and piercing shop was great fun. Master Neal is very playful with Liam, and while Liam needs the TPE, he also learns there are other things he needs.
While the on going story arc is somewhat finished, it goes into different, more deadly direction. Spoilers I ain't giving!
We are introduced to Tobey and Master Hunter, and also a couple of very interesting characters at Master Neal's tattoo shop! A story for Ray and Cruella would make a very welcome addition to this series!!
5 full stars
**same worded review will appear elsewhere**
Book 6 in the series, and blah blah blah, READ the others first! Cos I SAID so!!
I don't recall if we met Liam in previous, or he was just mentioned as a friend of the other subs, but we certainly don't meet Master Neal til this book.
Liam is traumatized by the death of his previous Master, and is skittish, and very socially awkward. Watching Master Neal doing a flogging at Kiss Of leather as part of his being accepted into the club, Liam is all kinds of torn up. For his love for Master Mark, but his need to move on. Being introduced to the painfully shy Liam, Master Neal's protectiveness goes into overdrive. He never wanted anyone like he wants Liam, and if he can be who and what Liam wants and needs, he will bide his time, treat Liam with the kid gloves he needs.
I said in my review of Gaining trust that I thought Master Jordan was my most favourite, but now I have a dilemma! Because I LOVED Master Neal! And Liam, so painfully socially awkward! oh! Loved them both!
Master Neal never wanted to do the TPE thing, but for Liam, he might just be able to do it. Liam needs that, and Master Neal needs Liam. He just didn't know he did, til he met Liam.
I can't express how much Liam's story affected me, he had a painful upbringing and then meeting Master Mark, a much MUCH older guy, he was very sheltered. Watching him come out of himself, and become the young man who helps Master Neal at his tattoo and piercing shop was great fun. Master Neal is very playful with Liam, and while Liam needs the TPE, he also learns there are other things he needs.
While the on going story arc is somewhat finished, it goes into different, more deadly direction. Spoilers I ain't giving!
We are introduced to Tobey and Master Hunter, and also a couple of very interesting characters at Master Neal's tattoo shop! A story for Ray and Cruella would make a very welcome addition to this series!!
5 full stars
**same worded review will appear elsewhere**
Sarah (7798 KP) rated The Girl in the Spider's Web (2018) in Movies
Jul 21, 2019
Lackluster
I'm really not sure what prompted them to make this film. Instead of following on from the American version of Dragon Tattoo, they've instead chosen to skip the other 2 books in the original trilogy and go to what is probably the weakest book in the Lisbeth Salander series so far. And sadly, the film isnt any better.
Claire Foy is probably the only real highlight of this film as she's really rather good as Lisbeth. The rest of the cast are alright but nothing special though. There also doesn't appear to be much chemistry between Lisbeth and Mikhael and their conversations and interactions in this film are really rather dull and meaningless. And then there's the plot itself. Similar to the book, the plot is quite convoluted and a little over the top. And actually rather boring and lacklustre. There are some bits of action thrown in but not enough to hold interest and this film feels like it drags on for far too long. This is yet another unnecessary film made worse by the fact that they havent even bothered to follow the series in order.
Claire Foy is probably the only real highlight of this film as she's really rather good as Lisbeth. The rest of the cast are alright but nothing special though. There also doesn't appear to be much chemistry between Lisbeth and Mikhael and their conversations and interactions in this film are really rather dull and meaningless. And then there's the plot itself. Similar to the book, the plot is quite convoluted and a little over the top. And actually rather boring and lacklustre. There are some bits of action thrown in but not enough to hold interest and this film feels like it drags on for far too long. This is yet another unnecessary film made worse by the fact that they havent even bothered to follow the series in order.
Tim McGuire (301 KP) rated The loved ones (2009) in Movies
Sep 6, 2019 (Updated Sep 13, 2019)
Perfect.
2. The Loved Ones. Perfect. This movie was freakin awesome. Comes from the land down under, written and directed by a dude named Sean Byrne. Story goes a little something like (hit it), damaged girl asks damaged boy to prom, but boy has a girlfriend already says no, awww. Girl's dad kidnaps boy and together as a family tortures the shit out of him. It was pure twisted fun, not so much horror, more like bloody torture film. Music was awesome, background stories of characters were cool. You believed the crazy people were in fact fucking insane, and the boy was in some serious pain! Stars Xavier Samuel as Brent the boy, who looks like Prince Casian and Bella Swan had a kid. (I'm sorry for the two references from 2 of the worst film series in a while but, oh well, Xavier was in on of em...) And Robin McLeavy as Lola, the insane chick, she's also the hot frontier woman with the tattoo on her face from Hell on Wheels! But seriously, fans of "this kind" of movie should check it out... Its clever... Peace... filmbufftim on FB
Leanne Crabtree (480 KP) rated Blood Bound (Unbound, #1) in Books
Sep 6, 2019
3.5 stars
First off I can't quite believe it just ended like that! WTF?! But at the same time, I have a feeling I know what Liv chose to do.
This will be my third series by the author and probably joint second with her Soul Screamers, with Shifters being number one--which I really loved.
Blood Bound took me a lot of getting into and I can honestly say that the best and most enjoyable bit for me was the last 150 pages or so when it finally all came out and they were going to do the job that had been building for most of the book.
The whole Skills thing was very interesting and the two gangs in the city wanting to off the other was quite entertaining especially with the bindings and tattoo's.
It was complicated at times with the overlapping bindings and friendships/loyalty and just because of those last 150 pages I've marked it up half a star. Not sure if I'll read the next book, though.
First off I can't quite believe it just ended like that! WTF?! But at the same time, I have a feeling I know what Liv chose to do.
This will be my third series by the author and probably joint second with her Soul Screamers, with Shifters being number one--which I really loved.
Blood Bound took me a lot of getting into and I can honestly say that the best and most enjoyable bit for me was the last 150 pages or so when it finally all came out and they were going to do the job that had been building for most of the book.
The whole Skills thing was very interesting and the two gangs in the city wanting to off the other was quite entertaining especially with the bindings and tattoo's.
It was complicated at times with the overlapping bindings and friendships/loyalty and just because of those last 150 pages I've marked it up half a star. Not sure if I'll read the next book, though.
BobbiesDustyPages (1259 KP) rated Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi (2017) in Movies
Dec 29, 2017
Not the Star Wars film I was looking for.
While I am a pretty big Star Wars fan (hell I have a lightsaber tattoo) I also don't mind them playing around with the universe and changing this as long as it makes for a good movie with a good story, so no I'm not some purist that was going to hate this no matter what I was hype and ready for this just like I was for The Force Awakens and man is it killing me to write that I just didn't enjoy this installment to the series.
The main reason I didn't enjoy it that much was that the entire film just felt like a transition to the next saga while The Force Awaken built up so much The Last Jedi just didn't keep up with the momentum and just fell really short for me, halfway through the movie I kind of just wanted it to be over already.
The real downfall in the end though was the characters this time around I really feel like they just wasted Finn and Poe so much throughout the movie with a half thought out side plot that didn't really do or go anywhere for me.
The main reason I didn't enjoy it that much was that the entire film just felt like a transition to the next saga while The Force Awaken built up so much The Last Jedi just didn't keep up with the momentum and just fell really short for me, halfway through the movie I kind of just wanted it to be over already.
The real downfall in the end though was the characters this time around I really feel like they just wasted Finn and Poe so much throughout the movie with a half thought out side plot that didn't really do or go anywhere for me.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2091 KP) rated Against the Claw in Books
Aug 23, 2018
Who Killed the Girl with the Pitchfork Tattoo?
It’s the week of the Fourth of July, and Allie and her aunt Gully are getting ready for the onslaught of customers the holiday weekend will bring to their town of Mystic Bay, Connecticut and the lobster shack that Aunt Gully has started. However, the holiday weekend takes a sad turn when Allie finds a dead body in the bay. No one seems to know who she was. But if no one recognizes her, who would want her dead?
I enjoyed the first book in this series, and it was a delight to return again. The characters are lots of fun, and it was great to see them again. The new characters fit right in; they were so nice, it was hard to believe there was a killer hiding among them. I did think the plot wandered a bit in the first half, but it picked up in the second half. When we reached the climax, I discovered there were some clues I hadn’t even realized where hiding in the book. The location is charming; the perfect summer resort town. So if you are looking for a book to hold on to summer, pick this one up.
I enjoyed the first book in this series, and it was a delight to return again. The characters are lots of fun, and it was great to see them again. The new characters fit right in; they were so nice, it was hard to believe there was a killer hiding among them. I did think the plot wandered a bit in the first half, but it picked up in the second half. When we reached the climax, I discovered there were some clues I hadn’t even realized where hiding in the book. The location is charming; the perfect summer resort town. So if you are looking for a book to hold on to summer, pick this one up.