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Mr Toppit
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The bestselling, Richard and Judy Book Club Pick, Mr Toppit is a darkly comic, enthralling story of...
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2393 KP) rated The Drowning Sea in Books
Jun 23, 2022
Maggie’s Still Finding Mysteries
After quitting her job, Maggie D’Arcy is spending her summer in Ireland with her daughter, her boyfriend, Conor, and his son, as they get serious about Maggie and her daughter moving to Ireland. They’ve rented a cottage on a West Cork peninsula, but their vacation hits a snag when the body of a young man who disappeared months ago washes ashore. Even though Maggie isn’t a cop, she can’t help but ask questions. Where has he been for the last few months? Who would want him dead? Can Maggie find the answers even without her badge?
Since I’ve enjoyed the first two books in this series, I was curious to see where the series was going to go in this book. Once again, the writing was atmospheric and made me feel like I was there with Maggie. The characters are well drawn, although I did have a little trouble keeping all the relationships of the villagers straight. Still, I loved getting to spend time with the core cast again. Unfortunately, the pacing of the book was off, lagging at times in the middle and leaving us with a weak climax, although the climax did answer all our questions. The book is written in present tense, and it took my brain a bit to adjust to that. Most of the story is told from Maggie’s first-person point of view, but we do get some chapters from other characters’ points of view to help flesh things out. Fans of the series will be glad they picked up this book.
Since I’ve enjoyed the first two books in this series, I was curious to see where the series was going to go in this book. Once again, the writing was atmospheric and made me feel like I was there with Maggie. The characters are well drawn, although I did have a little trouble keeping all the relationships of the villagers straight. Still, I loved getting to spend time with the core cast again. Unfortunately, the pacing of the book was off, lagging at times in the middle and leaving us with a weak climax, although the climax did answer all our questions. The book is written in present tense, and it took my brain a bit to adjust to that. Most of the story is told from Maggie’s first-person point of view, but we do get some chapters from other characters’ points of view to help flesh things out. Fans of the series will be glad they picked up this book.
The Ashes of London
6.0
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From the No.1 bestselling author of The American Boy and The Silent Boy comes a brand new historical...
Rachel King (13 KP) rated The Lightning Thief in Books
Feb 11, 2019
I decided to read this partly because I had just seen the movie and partly because I heard that it was a good series for fans of the Harry Potter series. Well, in regards to the movie, it's appalling how much the producers changed the book's plot to make the movie. If they make a second movie, I likely will not be interested, as I much more prefer the book's plot. In regards to the book's similarities to Harry Potter, they are vast, but really, who wouldn't aim to write something as popular and complex as the Harry Potter series? J.K. Rowling owns a castle! So, on to the actual book.
Years ago I thought that writing a fantasy series that uses Greek mythology would be a great idea, so I was excited when I heard of the Percy Jackson series. I love the modernized spin on the various good and bad characters, bringing them to life in both creative and believeable ways, such as Ares on a Harley and "Mr." Charon wearing Italian suits. The "Gods" of mythology at times seemed more like immature teenagers or work-aholic parents, with as much flaws as any normal human, and I really appreciated that they were differentiated from The GOD early on, and their place in the known universe was explained in the context of Percy's world. I especially like the scene of Hephaestus' trap that Percy and Annabeth get caught in. How the "normal" humans explained away the activities of the mythological characters was probably the most creative of the whole text, and at times rather humorous. It actually makes me wonder how much of what I see everyday is only a cover for what is really happening in the spiritual realm.
The only element that really bugged me about the text was how Percy changed from this moody, victimized pre-teen to a rather mature young man with almost no transition - emotional or otherwise. It almost felt like Percy possessed two different personalities that shared the same body. While Percy often says that he did not want to be the son of Poseidon, I found evidence of inner termoil strangely absent throughout the text. I also felt that there were smaller issues that could have been more detailed and developed, such as the characters of Grover and Annabeth. I will be continuing the series with The Sea of Monsters (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 2) in the near future.
Years ago I thought that writing a fantasy series that uses Greek mythology would be a great idea, so I was excited when I heard of the Percy Jackson series. I love the modernized spin on the various good and bad characters, bringing them to life in both creative and believeable ways, such as Ares on a Harley and "Mr." Charon wearing Italian suits. The "Gods" of mythology at times seemed more like immature teenagers or work-aholic parents, with as much flaws as any normal human, and I really appreciated that they were differentiated from The GOD early on, and their place in the known universe was explained in the context of Percy's world. I especially like the scene of Hephaestus' trap that Percy and Annabeth get caught in. How the "normal" humans explained away the activities of the mythological characters was probably the most creative of the whole text, and at times rather humorous. It actually makes me wonder how much of what I see everyday is only a cover for what is really happening in the spiritual realm.
The only element that really bugged me about the text was how Percy changed from this moody, victimized pre-teen to a rather mature young man with almost no transition - emotional or otherwise. It almost felt like Percy possessed two different personalities that shared the same body. While Percy often says that he did not want to be the son of Poseidon, I found evidence of inner termoil strangely absent throughout the text. I also felt that there were smaller issues that could have been more detailed and developed, such as the characters of Grover and Annabeth. I will be continuing the series with The Sea of Monsters (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 2) in the near future.
Brothersong
10.0
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Set in the dreamy backwoods of Oregon, Brothersong is a queer, paranormal romance of burning passion...
Merissa (13159 KP) rated Cato (Fueled By Lust #3) in Books
Apr 6, 2023 (Updated Apr 10, 2023)
Oh my! This series has taught me that although I have liked getting to know the Emperor's son and his Royal Guard, my heart actually belongs to the tattooed and pierced I.T. guy. Cato is one hot mamma and he is just about perfect - a bit of a slob but still perfect.
Luna, my heart goes out to her. Abuse isn't just physical and unless you've been on the receiving end of mental abuse you will have no idea how crippling it can be. I thought Celeste made Luna's story absolutely heartrending.
Cato has had me in tears - both with Cato's emotions and with Luna's story. It is an absolutely superb book that I really can't recommend highly enough.
The thing that really ties it all up for me into one of the best erotic sci-fi series I have ever read is the attention to the timeline and all the details of the world and the men. The mannerisms and sayings that we take for granted that can be misconstrued... and frequently are by the 'newbies' that arrive. I love how the ending of one book leads into the start of the next.
There are so many stories I have yet to hear, I hope that Celeste has more than a couple of tales left to tell in this series!
* 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!
August 27, 2016
Luna, my heart goes out to her. Abuse isn't just physical and unless you've been on the receiving end of mental abuse you will have no idea how crippling it can be. I thought Celeste made Luna's story absolutely heartrending.
Cato has had me in tears - both with Cato's emotions and with Luna's story. It is an absolutely superb book that I really can't recommend highly enough.
The thing that really ties it all up for me into one of the best erotic sci-fi series I have ever read is the attention to the timeline and all the details of the world and the men. The mannerisms and sayings that we take for granted that can be misconstrued... and frequently are by the 'newbies' that arrive. I love how the ending of one book leads into the start of the next.
There are so many stories I have yet to hear, I hope that Celeste has more than a couple of tales left to tell in this series!
* 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!
August 27, 2016
ClareR (5938 KP) rated Saga, Vol. 9 in Books
Nov 2, 2018
I keep reading, it keeps tearing my heart out!!
I LOVE THIS SERIES!! But seriously, it seems to end on an event that tears my heart out every time! Prince Robot, his son and Petrichor are all trying to sell their stories and using magic, change themselves into another species (like you do - the ultimate witness protection programme), but of course nothing runs smoothly.
The Will lives up to his name (eventually!!), and the family seem happy at last. But that's OK, because the ending sorts that little detail out.
And Ghus is his lovely little self. If anything happens to him, I swear I will NOT be happy!
And there is going to be a year long hiatus!!! How can they do this to me??!!
The Will lives up to his name (eventually!!), and the family seem happy at last. But that's OK, because the ending sorts that little detail out.
And Ghus is his lovely little self. If anything happens to him, I swear I will NOT be happy!
And there is going to be a year long hiatus!!! How can they do this to me??!!
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2393 KP) rated The Monkey's Raincoat (Elvis Cole, #1) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Elvis is hired to track down Ellen Lang's husband because the husband disappeared with their son. However, after the Lang house is searched and the first body turns up, he realizes he is in way over his head.
This book suffers from the cliches of the PI genre, but manages to overcome them with some pretty entertaining characters. Elvis and his PI partner Joe are both interesting, and Elvis's sense of humor is fun. There are some twists that surprised me as well. The book is definitely outside my normal comfort zone with the use of bad language and more violence, which I wasn't always comfortable with. Still, I do intend to read more in the series.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2014/08/book-review-monkeys-raincoat-by-robert.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
This book suffers from the cliches of the PI genre, but manages to overcome them with some pretty entertaining characters. Elvis and his PI partner Joe are both interesting, and Elvis's sense of humor is fun. There are some twists that surprised me as well. The book is definitely outside my normal comfort zone with the use of bad language and more violence, which I wasn't always comfortable with. Still, I do intend to read more in the series.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2014/08/book-review-monkeys-raincoat-by-robert.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
The Red Heart (The Red Heart Club Book 1)
1.0
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Julianna Lockland, the Earl of Lockland's illegitimate daughter, has one night to secure the heart...
fiction series erotica The Red Heart romance historical erotica