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Final Space Season One
Final Space Season One
2018 |
10
8.2 (5 Ratings)
An epic comedy space drama
Final Space flashed up a few times for me as a recommended show on Netflix. As the trailer automatically played, it came across as some kind of Futurama/Rick and Morty wannabee, with annoying characters. So I ignored it, until one day I just decided to give it a go. And, it was slightly annoying for a while. But, it was also slightly funny at times too, and I remember feeling a bit like that about the first episode of Rick and Morty, so I stuck with it a little bit longer. I'm so glad I did.

Final Space is a sprawling, epic space adventure. Set across 10 episodes, each one continuing the story, starting with a teaser of the final episode, and ending with a cliffhanger. Huge space battles, tonnes of action, drama, sadness, and even some romance. There's an evil bad guy, plenty of hilarious characters, and a cute little planet destroying alien, who now has his own plush toy (added to my Christmas list...). And it all builds to ask incredible, tension filled finale with an even bigger cliffhanger. I freakin loved this show...
  
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Sawyer (231 KP) Aug 18, 2018

i been wanting to check it out seems interesting

Defects (The Reverians #1)
Defects (The Reverians #1)
Sarah Noffke | 2015 | Dystopia, Paranormal, Romance, Young Adult (YA)
8
9.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
This is a young adult story of action and adventure with romance to round it off. Em is classed as a Defect because apart from being able to Dream Travel, she has no discernible gift and has to endure daily injections in the hope that they will help to bring it forth. However, things aren't always as they seem, and Em finds out through an old friend, that things are going on she had no idea about, and her family are directly involved with.

I loved the friendship between Zach, Em, and Rogue, although Zach's feelings were plain for all to see apart from Em and Rogue! Their story is only just beginning and I can't wait to read more. With intrigue on every page, this is a well-written and well-paced story, set in a world that I haven't read about before. This is the first book by this author that I have read, but I thoroughly enjoyed it and will be continuing with this series. Definitely recommended by me.

* I received this book from the author via Bostick Communications in return for a fair and honest review. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Feb 22, 2016
  
Jungle Cruise (2021)
Jungle Cruise (2021)
2021 | Adventure
Ask anyone who has ever spent time at a Disney park what attractions they enjoy riding and chances are good that the Jungle Cruise will be amongst them. The project was a labor of love for Walt Disney and has thrilled millions of guests with the scenic cruise, animated animals, and the cringe-worthy puns and jokes from the captains who have made it an enduring legend.

Since attractions ranging from “Pirates of the Caribbean”, “The Haunted Mansion” and “The Tower of Terror” have made their way to screens along with others over the years; it was not much of a shock to hear that The Jungle Cruise was next in line to make the leap to the big screen. Despite several release date changes and then a lengthy delay due to Covid; the film has finally arrived backed by a star-studded premiere at Disneyland.

When Doctor Lilly Houghton (Emily Blunt) with the help of her high-maintenance brother MacGregor (Jack Whitehall) desire to find a mythical item and gain entry into a prestigious organization; they are hampered by the sexist views of early 1900 England and forced to steal an artifact and race to the Amazon.

With a dangerous foreigner; Prince Joachim Jesse Plemons and his goons in hot pursuit, Lilly and her brother find themselves in the company of a boat captain named Frank (Dwayne Johnson); who in dire need of money uses all sorts of methods to gain a charter and take Lilly and her brother into a dangerous area.

Along the way, all manner of humor, action, and dangers arise as everything from hostile natives, animals, rapids, and of course, The Prince stands in their way. If this was not bad enough; there is also a matter of a curse that must be factored in which presents an even bigger danger than before.

In a race against time, Frank and Lilly must learn to trust and work with one another and decipher the clues to save the day and keep the forces of evil from winning.

The film takes a bit of time to get going as while there is some action and great scenery and sets; early on it does seem to be unsure of what type of film it wants to be and what type of story it wants to tell.

Is it a madcap adventure with a dash of romance? Is it an FX-laden action spoof? Perhaps it is an over-the-top action film that recalls the fabled cinematic adventures of old?

In reality, the film is a combination of all of the above. I had flashes of “The African Queen”, “Romancing the Stone”, “Raiders of the Lost Ark”, “Pirates of The Caribbean”, and “The Mummy” during the film.

While the MacGuffin element of the film may be a bit confusing for some with more questions than answers; Blunt and Johnson work very well with one another and Whitehall provides a wider element to his character making him more than the comic relief in the film.

The FX are very enjoyable and the film mixes the humor with the action well including some of the best jokes from the attraction.

While it may at first glance be considered just a routine adventure film; the movie blends a strong and enjoyable cast with a fun adventure that recalls the thrilling cinematic tales of old but does so with a fresh and modern twist.

4 stars out of 5
  
INCEPTIO (Roma Nova Thriller #1)
INCEPTIO (Roma Nova Thriller #1)
Alison Morton | 2023 | Thriller
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
INCEPTIO is the first book in the Carina Mitela Adventure series and we start off in the EUS (Eastern United States). The world isn't the same as we know it, with different countries, rules, and regulations. In the middle of this is Karen Brown, an unassuming name for an unassuming young woman whose life is about to change.

Some of it is fairly formulaic - bad government people, new life, new wealth, new status. It's something that has been done before. However, I enjoyed this one, I really did. Everything comes easy to Karen/Carina - whether it is the Latin language (which is NOT easy, trust me), or specialised self-defence. She can be quite mouthy but no one seems to have a problem with that. I'm glad this isn't listed as a romance because it isn't. In fact, the romance side almost seems to be just a page-filler as I didn't really feel much of a connection between any of them.

This book has plenty of action, told from Karen and Jeremy's perspectives only. From drugs being brought into Roma Nova, to escaped prisoners, to finding a mole, it's all going on and Carina is right in the thick of it.

I enjoyed this story and would definitely read more in this series. Recommended by me.

** 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!
Apr 26, 2023
  
Blessed Fury (Angels of Fate, #1)
Blessed Fury (Angels of Fate, #1)
C.S. Wilde | 2018
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Once you face the devils, there’s no going back.
Guardian angel Ava Lightway has spent a century watching over her charges, whispering the words of the gods in their ears. But her peaceful existence ends when she’s assigned to Liam Striker, a supernatural detective with no memory of his past.
Liam might be Ava’s biggest challenge yet. Stubborn and dangerously captivating, he’ll stop at nothing to find the demon who murdered his father. Even if it costs him his life.
Keeping death away from her new partner is an impossible task. And even if their investigation doesn’t destroy Ava, succumbing to Liam’s smoldering touch just may.
Read the sizzling, breath-taking tale of angels gone bad!

Wow; this was an absolute amazing read.
This is an epic adventure of angels, demons, vampires, werewolves, Warriors and Erudites.
I love that it has so many different paranormals in this.
So action packed but at the same time there are so many sweet moments that happen with the forbidden romance that is happening.
Really loved the plot and storyline.
I am in love wiyh the characters and can't wait to see them develop further.
I can't wait to get stuck into the next one now.
Recommend reading.

I received an ARC from the very talented author and this is my honest voluntary review.
  
The Moth and Moon
The Moth and Moon
Glenn Quigley | 2018 | LGBTQ+
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
In 1780, Blashy Cove is a very progressive town, with running water and legal same sex marriages. An unexpected hurricane drives most of it residents into the cavernous the Moth & Moon, local tavern and inn. While they wait out the storm, fisherman Robin Shipp is forced to face demons from his past. Can the town and Robin pull together in the aftermath of the storm and pick up from the devastation to their homes and lives?

A wonderful combination of action, adventure, emotion, and romance. Once you start reading you will not want to stop! Full of real, relatable characters. They have flaws both physical and emotional; no one is picture perfect in Blashy Cove! However, most are lovable.

I like the descriptions given to the buildings and the surrounding area. It helps immerse the reader into the story. My favorite part of this book, however, is the idea of Blashy Cove, a place where homophobia does not exist. Same sex marriages are common and the norm. No one has to fight for their place. It is refreshing.

My only negative comment is that the physical description of The Moth & Moon gets repetitive throughout the first few chapters.

I highly enjoyed this read and definitely would recommend it to anyone. I give it 5 out of 5 stars
  
NA
Now and Forever (Wild at Heart, #2)
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Romance and suspense in the mountains of Idaho Territory, 1866.

Shannon Wilde, the middle sister, has a soft spot for animals. She cares for her flock of sheep on her homestead. When her life takes a dramatic turn off of a cliff with Matthew Tucker, she finds herself married to the rugged mountain man. Shannon is a strong independent woman who is not used to being protected by a man. But as attacks begin to try and drive her off her land, maybe she needs that protection after all. The attacker picked the wrong family to mess with, Tucker's fury is not something to trifle with. But will he be able to protect the wife that he is falling in love with? Will her past drive a wedge between them? Find out on another adventure with the Wilde family!

Mary Connealy is quickly becoming one of my favorite western authors. Her romantic comedy has a side of action and terror, which makes her books well balanced. Now & Forever is not for squeamish stomachs however. I found myself grimacing as I read through a couple of the scenes. I was hooked from the start though, and I couldn't put it down through all of the action and suspense. It really felt like Criminal Minds meets the Old West as they try to find out who is behind the attacks. I enjoyed watching as Shannon and Tucker's relationship developed, turning into love and respect for one another. After experiencing unbelievable horrors in he Civil War, Shannon's faith is on shaky ground. Tucker helps her through her journey of reestablishing that faith in God. Even with their challenging upbringings and pasts, they learn to work through their differences, becoming a team that is inseparable.

I received a free copy of Now & Forever from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for my honest review.
  
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Merissa (11800 KP) rated Becoming Brooklyn in Books

Jul 13, 2021 (Updated Jul 17, 2023)  
Becoming Brooklyn
Becoming Brooklyn
Amanda Deich | 2021 | Contemporary, Science Fiction/Fantasy, Young Adult (YA)
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
BECOMING BROOKLYN is a standalone novel that has the potential for a series. A series I really hope happens!

Brooklyn is a 9/11 baby, her father died in the terrorist attack. During a memorial service, terrorists attack again and Brooklyn, along with five others, are told the impossible -- that their parents had superpowers and worked with the government to stop terrorists. They are given the choice to follow in their footsteps. But things aren't always as they appear and they all have hard lessons to learn.

This was a great story. It is filled with action, adventure, and a touch of romance. I loved how the story panned out, and how they worked together, which made the ending even more jaw-dropping.

The characters are all well thought out and play to their own strengths. Told from Brooklyn's point of view, obviously, we learn more about her, but through her eyes, we learn about the others too. Brilliant storytelling!

I don't know if there are any plans for a sequel or series, but I would love to hear more from Brooklyn and see where the future takes her.

A fantastic contemporary superpower novel that I have no hesitation in recommending.

** 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, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Jul 13, 2021
  
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Chloe (514 KP) Jul 14, 2021

this sounds really good ill have to keep my eye out for it

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Merissa (11800 KP) Jul 15, 2021

@Chloe, I really enjoyed it! Different, but oh so good.

This is the second part of The Artist's Touch set - Rissa and Spence are a couple, they've found out some of the secrets that their families have been keeping from them, and they are being stalked.

This story - as a whole - is simply stunning. Spence is a character that I could easily fall in love with over and over again. From quiet and nerdy, to being in control and HOT, he ticks the boxes for me. Rissa is wonderful, she knows what she wants and isn't afraid to work to achieve it, whether that is going after Spence or making her work dream come true. Seriously, I wish this couple every happiness!

But there is, of course, the fly in the ointment and for Rissa and Spence, there are two. One is the secrets and the other is the stalker. This book brings about the culmination of both of those things, but not in a way that I was expecting. Layer upon layer of manipulation, deceit and murder need to be peeled back before Spence and Rissa can have their HEA, but they might not survive long enough to reach it.

With action, adventure, romance, and sorrow, this book was a delight to read. I will also say that I knew something was going to happen to one of the supporting characters, due to certain actions in book 1, but I never expected the outcome that S.H. Pratt gave us! I was not a happy bunny because my leaking eyes meant that I couldn't read as fast as I wanted to! And that is all I will say on the matter.

If you want a book that is steamy romance, coupled with psychological chills, then I can definitely recommend this set. Highly recommended.

* I received this book from the author in return for a fair and honest review. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
  
Refuge (Relentless, #2)
Refuge (Relentless, #2)
Karen Lynch | 2014 | Paranormal, Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy, Young Adult (YA)
10
9.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
O.M.G.!!! It's been a while since I read Relentless and now I've got a major urge to read it again, just so I can immerse myself in Sara's story right from the word go.

This is one of those books that I bought immediately after I finished Relentless, but just never got the chance to read before life got in the way. Let me just say, that since I've finished this, life isn't going to get a chance to get in the way as I am starting Rogue straight away!!

In Refuge, Sara is living in a 'military-style compound' where she was dumped by Nikolas. Let's just leave it at he is not her favourite person right now. She is struggling in training as she fears losing control of her Mori demon. She hasn't really made new friends, instead stays in phone contact with Roland, Peter, and of course, Uncle Nate.

There is too much to give you a rundown of this book, and seriously, why on earth would I do that? That's what the synopsis is for!! Suffice it to say, Sara has a big learning curve in front of her. With her magic, she is learning new 'tricks', as well as receiving her very own early warning vampire radar.

So many bits made me smile, so many bits made me frustrated for Sara, but most of all, I can't wait to see where it will go next. With one heckuva cliffhanger that really Nikolas should have seen coming a mile off knowing Sara (remember, I'm writing this before reading Rogue so I have no idea if he realises or not!)

If you want a paranormal romance that is full of Mori demons, the fae, griffins, Alex the wyvern (love him!), hellhounds, vampires, shifters, absolutely gripping, full of action and adventure, romance, and 'real-life' reactions, then look no further. I really can't recommend this highly enough!!!

* Verified Purchase on Amazon *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Jun 7, 2016