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Lucy Stone is working nights at a mail order company. When the owner is killed in the parking lot, she begins to piece together gossip to find the killer. I like the characters, but the plot was slowed down so much in the first half by every day life (Lucy is a married mother of two), that I was bored. Things did pick up in the second half.

Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/04/book-review-mistletoe-murder-by-leslie.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
  
PR consultant Sasha Solomon is putting together a campaign for the New Mexico city of Clovis, which means she gets to see her best friend Mae. Mae is acting weird, however, and with good reason. There's a dead body on her dairy farm. And, oh yeah, she's being kidnapped by aliens. After the first 20 pages, I was fully into this book. It's different but funny with great characters and some wonderful turns of phrase.

Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/02/book-review-clovis-incident-by-pari.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
  
And the Mountains Echoed
And the Mountains Echoed
Khaled Hosseini | 2014 | Fiction & Poetry
10
7.8 (9 Ratings)
Book Rating
This is an incredible book. It tells a sweeping epic that manages to be both about love and the history of modern day Afghanistan. Each chapter tells a different story, and yet everything is expertly connected into one overarching narrative. At times it is endearingly sweet and at others heart-wrenchingly sad. I had an incredibly difficult time putting this book down as I had to keep seeing where it would take me next and how it would all tie together. A remarkable achievement and a book I will always remember.
  
The Avengers (2012)
The Avengers (2012)
2012 | Action, Sci-Fi
Avengers (Assemble) is, IMO, the best movie to come out of the MCU. Yes, there are plot holes, and it's not a very intelligent movie, but it's a ton of fun. I'm a huge fan of TH's Loki, and he is, by far, the strongest villain thus far in the MCU. It's fast paced and is successful at bringing the gang together. The quips and humor are well timed (unlike AoU) and worked in the film.
Here's hoping Infinity War is more like this film, and nothing like AoU.
  
Well, according to the acknowledgement at the end of the book, there was originally one enormous book which was broken up into The Assassin's Curse and The Pirate's Wish. I think they should have been published as one volume, but I obviously don't work in the industry. I definitely recommend that you have both books on hand before starting th duology, though.

I'm quite pleased with how the plot threads were brought together, and the main character certainly developed well. The book passes the Bechdel test with flying colors, too.
  
Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017)
Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017)
2017 | Action, Adventure, Comedy
cast chemistry (2 more)
fun story
quotable one liners
Better than expected
I was not expecting much when I heard they were making a new 'Jumanji' film. Fear filled my head of a remake, nothing could top the first.
However i found this film pleasantly surprising. Feel this film could stand alone and not be constantly compared to the first.
The films plot was predictable but still fun and joyful. The cast was what made this film great. Their chemistry and dialogue was very funny and held the film together.
  
40x40

Andy K (10826 KP) Feb 23, 2018

Can't believe the box office results on this film.

40x40

mmb02191 (81 KP) rated the PC version of BioShock Infinite in Video Games

May 29, 2018  
BioShock Infinite
BioShock Infinite
2013 | Shooter
Beautiful animation (3 more)
Wonderful story
Thought out characters
Great gameplay
In shock
I started playing this game and was a little skeptical. I had heard great things about it, but I thought they were over exaggerating. They definitely weren't. The storyline, characters, and animation style work together to create a game that I couldn't stop playing until I was done. So much dialogue! So much character development! And then a twist at the end that left me in shock. If you haven't played it yet, give it a try!
  
Small Town Murder
Small Town Murder
Comedy, Society & Culture
10
7.9 (10 Ratings)
Podcast Rating
Hysterically funny (3 more)
Informative
Great research
Empathic toward victims/victims' families
Crime and Comedy
Two American comedians who examine the horrendous things that sometimes happen when people in small towns snap and commit murder. A hilariously funny show, which is respectful to the victims and their families, while laughing at murderers, incompetent law enforcement, and small town behaviour.
True crime and comedy can go together, and laughter and black humour are a good coping mechanism when dealing with horrific circumstances, and these two walk the tightrope between irreverence and insensitivity very well.
  
Codenames
Codenames
2015 | Card Game, Deduction, Party Game, Spies / Espionage, Word Game
Great for groups (0 more)
Broken this out a few times, good with larger groups
This is not the game for 4 people although it's possible to play that many. this game really shines when there are teams of people deciphering the clues together and arguing about it. I find 8 to be optimal, one person giving clues and three people to a side deciphering. 4 vs 4 is best. Anything less and it's just lest of an experience. I've never had more than 8 to try it out, but I'd hope its even more fun.
  
Carry on: The Rise and Fall of Simon Snow
Carry on: The Rise and Fall of Simon Snow
Rainbow Rowell | 2016 | Children
8
8.6 (20 Ratings)
Book Rating
That was interesting - I was thinking as I was listening to it that I should have listened to this before I listened to Fangirl - then I got further into it and then I didn't feel too much like that - though I preferred Fangirl to this one - it was cool and somewhat harry potteresque - but different enough still. I definitely loved Simon, though Baz was awesome and I got distracted by both of them together lol .. cmon book I perhaps think I need more - maybe I should read some fanfic other than fangirl .........