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Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated Black Arts , Tarts & Gypsy Carts ( Spells & Caramels book 2) in Books
Mar 14, 2022
47 of 230
Kindle
Black Arts, Tarts & Gypsy Carts ( Spells & Caramels book 2)
By Erin Johnson
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A carnival bakery booth. A deadly magic show. Is it the perfect recipe for murder or a clever sleight of hand?
Palace pastry chef Imogen is struggling to control her newfound magic and her potent feelings for the prince. So when the carnival rolls into the kingdom, she jumps at the chance to run the royal bakery booth. But her plan to escape her problems backfires when murder rocks the magician's table, and her dear friend is found holding the bloody saw.
Determined to cook up a way to keep Rhonda out of witch's prison, she sifts through the clues and the long list of suspects. Between devious dark magicians, cagey stage assistants, and a strongman with more to offer than just muscles, everyone at the fairgrounds seems to be hiding secrets - even Rhonda.
With the final night of the carnival approaching, will Imogen's shaky powers be enough to flush out the murderer before her good friend ends up on the chopping block?
This series is so different and quirky. The characters just make you smile. Iggy has to be my favourite I mean a flame with personality and a sense of humour what’s not to love! It’s just such a pleasure to read.
Kindle
Black Arts, Tarts & Gypsy Carts ( Spells & Caramels book 2)
By Erin Johnson
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A carnival bakery booth. A deadly magic show. Is it the perfect recipe for murder or a clever sleight of hand?
Palace pastry chef Imogen is struggling to control her newfound magic and her potent feelings for the prince. So when the carnival rolls into the kingdom, she jumps at the chance to run the royal bakery booth. But her plan to escape her problems backfires when murder rocks the magician's table, and her dear friend is found holding the bloody saw.
Determined to cook up a way to keep Rhonda out of witch's prison, she sifts through the clues and the long list of suspects. Between devious dark magicians, cagey stage assistants, and a strongman with more to offer than just muscles, everyone at the fairgrounds seems to be hiding secrets - even Rhonda.
With the final night of the carnival approaching, will Imogen's shaky powers be enough to flush out the murderer before her good friend ends up on the chopping block?
This series is so different and quirky. The characters just make you smile. Iggy has to be my favourite I mean a flame with personality and a sense of humour what’s not to love! It’s just such a pleasure to read.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2615 KP) rated One Final Turn in Books
Jun 9, 2026 (Updated Jun 9, 2026)
I Expected This Ending. But It Still Disappointed
Ellie McDonnell is getting ready to head to Portugal. The country is neutral, and it is where people are expecting her cousin to head now that he’s rumored to have escaped. The hope is that they can rescue these escapees and gain information on the route they took to escape, keeping it open for others. While Major Ramsey is also on the mission, he isn’t in charge, which is a good thing since he has recently fired Ellie. But once they’ve arrived, will they be able to get beyond the tension between them to complete their mission?
I was anxious to read this book after the cliffhangers we got at the end of book four. The mission of this book gets off to a slow start with some repetitive action due to the focus on Ellie and Ramsey’s romance. Sadly, I found it even more toxic than it had been previously. When the mission picks up in the second half, I was hooked. Fans will be satisfied with the resolution we get in this final book in the series. I know I was. That includes the storyline about Ellie’s parents. I’m not sorry I read the series, I just wish I could have gotten behind the romance.
I was anxious to read this book after the cliffhangers we got at the end of book four. The mission of this book gets off to a slow start with some repetitive action due to the focus on Ellie and Ramsey’s romance. Sadly, I found it even more toxic than it had been previously. When the mission picks up in the second half, I was hooked. Fans will be satisfied with the resolution we get in this final book in the series. I know I was. That includes the storyline about Ellie’s parents. I’m not sorry I read the series, I just wish I could have gotten behind the romance.
Gareth von Kallenbach (980 KP) rated The Maze Runner (2014) in Movies
Aug 6, 2019
Kids have one heck of an imagination, and “The Maze Runner” gives off the impression that is exactly where its plot came from. The film is an adaption of the first book in the young adult sci-fi series written by James Dashner.
In the film, the action starts right out of the gate with a boy in a cage being delivered up to a strange place. Upon his arrival, he encounters a group of boys, each of which arrived in the same way. The boys created a sort of primitive community in a beautiful green glade. Each boy is assigned a specific role in order to contribute to their survival. None of them are able to remember where they came from or their life before arriving.
The plot quickly begins to revolve around the boys who have been deemed maze runners. The glade in which the community resides is surrounded, or I should say enclosed, by a gigantic stone maze. The maze runners run through the maze trying to find out more about it in order to eventually escape. But, the maze is unsolvable because it changes shape each day and is too dangerous to stay in overnight.
The main protagonist Thomas (Dylan O’Brien) quickly interjects himself into the maze runner role, against the wishes of the community. But it isn’t long until he proves himself capable of the role when he becomes the first boy to kill what they call a “griever.” His arrival marks the beginning of new hope for the boys’ escape. At this point, one must wonder why none of the boys had ever killed a “griever” before the arrival of Thomas.
The “grievers” are cyborg spiders residing within the maze. They are the main threat keeping the boys confined to the glade, and they come off as an incredibly hokey aspect of the film. However, this may be really enjoyable for fans of corny science fiction.
I have not had a chance to read the series myself, but something tells me details were left out of the film which would have brought the quality of the plot up a level.
Unfortunately, the plot is poorly developed in crucial areas which could have made the film great, had they been further developed. For example, the creators of the strange place and the robotic spiders are not given much depth. The lack of detail in this area is what gives the execution of the plot a make-believe feel. Perhaps this part of the plot is purposefully left open to lay the ground work for the rest of the series to be made into film.
All criticism aside, what makes “The Maze Runner” enjoyable is that it stems from a unique idea. It takes the audience on a new adventure. However, I would hardly say the film aims to please a young adult audience. Its execution seems tailored for tweens. It lacks any real graphic violence, staying well within its PG rating.
I give “Maze Runner” 3 out of 5 stars.
In the film, the action starts right out of the gate with a boy in a cage being delivered up to a strange place. Upon his arrival, he encounters a group of boys, each of which arrived in the same way. The boys created a sort of primitive community in a beautiful green glade. Each boy is assigned a specific role in order to contribute to their survival. None of them are able to remember where they came from or their life before arriving.
The plot quickly begins to revolve around the boys who have been deemed maze runners. The glade in which the community resides is surrounded, or I should say enclosed, by a gigantic stone maze. The maze runners run through the maze trying to find out more about it in order to eventually escape. But, the maze is unsolvable because it changes shape each day and is too dangerous to stay in overnight.
The main protagonist Thomas (Dylan O’Brien) quickly interjects himself into the maze runner role, against the wishes of the community. But it isn’t long until he proves himself capable of the role when he becomes the first boy to kill what they call a “griever.” His arrival marks the beginning of new hope for the boys’ escape. At this point, one must wonder why none of the boys had ever killed a “griever” before the arrival of Thomas.
The “grievers” are cyborg spiders residing within the maze. They are the main threat keeping the boys confined to the glade, and they come off as an incredibly hokey aspect of the film. However, this may be really enjoyable for fans of corny science fiction.
I have not had a chance to read the series myself, but something tells me details were left out of the film which would have brought the quality of the plot up a level.
Unfortunately, the plot is poorly developed in crucial areas which could have made the film great, had they been further developed. For example, the creators of the strange place and the robotic spiders are not given much depth. The lack of detail in this area is what gives the execution of the plot a make-believe feel. Perhaps this part of the plot is purposefully left open to lay the ground work for the rest of the series to be made into film.
All criticism aside, what makes “The Maze Runner” enjoyable is that it stems from a unique idea. It takes the audience on a new adventure. However, I would hardly say the film aims to please a young adult audience. Its execution seems tailored for tweens. It lacks any real graphic violence, staying well within its PG rating.
I give “Maze Runner” 3 out of 5 stars.
Say My Name (Stark International Trilogy, #1)
8.0
Rate It
Book
I never let anyone get too close - but he's the only man who's ever made me feel alive. Meeting...
The Prepper's Pocket Guide: 101 Easy Things You Can Do to Ready Your Home for a Disaster
Bernie Carr and Evan Wondolowski
Book
BE PREPARED BE SAFE From California earthquakes and Rocky Mountain wildfires to Midwest floods and...
Alice (117 KP) rated How It All Blew Up in Books
Mar 3, 2021
Thank you to Netgalley and Hot Key books for the opportunity to read and review this book ahead of its release!
This book was a delight and so compulsively readable! It was so fun to escape to Rome with Amir but also to delve into some deeper topics as well. One of my friends lives in Italy and this is just exactly how I picture her life. Amir was such a fun narrator and even though he was a bit of an asshole sometimes you really were rooting for him! We can so often romanticise situations, people and places and this story showed that even the things that we romanticise and deem perfect are messy when we look a little closer.
This book was a delight and so compulsively readable! It was so fun to escape to Rome with Amir but also to delve into some deeper topics as well. One of my friends lives in Italy and this is just exactly how I picture her life. Amir was such a fun narrator and even though he was a bit of an asshole sometimes you really were rooting for him! We can so often romanticise situations, people and places and this story showed that even the things that we romanticise and deem perfect are messy when we look a little closer.
Andy K (10826 KP) rated Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018) in Movies
Apr 27, 2019 (Updated Apr 27, 2019)
Still more dinosaurs...
I'm not sure what a 5th "Jurassic" film can say that wasn't said in the previous 4 films, but they tried anyways.
After a volcano spews hot lava and ash on the original Jurassic island, humanity is left with the choice whether to save the prehistoric beasts or let them become extinct again maybe as it was supposed to be.
One of John Hammond's original partners is involved in trying to relocate several species from the dying island to a new home where they can be free of tourists and left to live their lives out in peace. Of course evil animal poachers seeking to weaponize the ferocious beasts intervene and only Chris Pratt (overrated) and Bryce Dallas Howard (not sure if she wore high heels the entire film this time) are here to stop them.
Not enough new material here to keep the film exciting and fresh. The same people running, getting eaten, etc is present here and I was bored.
Some cool visuals during the first half with our heroes trying to escape the volcanic habitat were compelling, however, the second half was way too predictable and not very exciting.
This franchise should now become extinct.
After a volcano spews hot lava and ash on the original Jurassic island, humanity is left with the choice whether to save the prehistoric beasts or let them become extinct again maybe as it was supposed to be.
One of John Hammond's original partners is involved in trying to relocate several species from the dying island to a new home where they can be free of tourists and left to live their lives out in peace. Of course evil animal poachers seeking to weaponize the ferocious beasts intervene and only Chris Pratt (overrated) and Bryce Dallas Howard (not sure if she wore high heels the entire film this time) are here to stop them.
Not enough new material here to keep the film exciting and fresh. The same people running, getting eaten, etc is present here and I was bored.
Some cool visuals during the first half with our heroes trying to escape the volcanic habitat were compelling, however, the second half was way too predictable and not very exciting.
This franchise should now become extinct.
