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Crown of Lies
Crown of Lies
Pepper Winters | 2017 | Romance
6
7.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
Contains spoilers, click to show
Hmm...I'm torn with my rating for this. On one hand I couldn't put it down and stayed up until 1am last night getting to 70% in one sitting but at the same time the storyline has me very confused. Why all the demanding alpha attitude and the need to claim her? I'm pretty sure you're who she originally thought you were but she's been thinking about you for the last three years. Yeah, you don't know that but what's with the great mystery of your past? Wouldn't you want her to know you/recognise you?

Anyway, the ending--as usual, by the author--is a giant cliff-hanger, so I've just purchased book 2 because as confused as I am by the whole thing I'm hoping that everything will be revealed in the next book and that our characters get some sort of a happy ending after the emotional rollercoaster of this one.
  
FF
Falling for Mr. Slater
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I am rating this 4 1/2 stars but because of goodreads decision to not have half stars, I round up.

I was fortunate enough to get an advanced copy of this book and boy was I excited! Kendall Day (Grey) writes hilarious romances with some very steamy sex scenes. When I read her description of the book, I'll admit, I was a little hesitant but I am glad that I picked it up and read it.

I really wasn't sure what to expect. But I really fell in love with all of the characters. Roxie (with an ie) is hilarious. She is the kind of character you expect to read when you pick up a Kendall Grey novel. She is sassy, she curses, and she's surprisingly touching. When I read this book, I couldn't help but relate to Roxie. I think many people will be able to read this book and find something they can relate to. Not to be outdone, Mr. Slater is an all around good character. He is the definition of a burnt out teacher with his heart in the right place. It was a fun experience to see them both grow as characters.

The Plot was interesting and it really did have me on the edge of my seat. I never knew what was going to happen next and at times I actually teared up which is one of the highest complements I can give an author. I love when a book makes me feel something enough to show emotion.

All in all, I really liked this book. If you love Kendall Grey, give Kendall Day a chance to wow you.

**I received this book in exchange for an honest review**
  
My Heart Belongs In Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
My Heart Belongs In Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
Murray Pura | 2018 | Romance
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
My Heart Belongs In Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
By: Murray Pura
Publisher: Barbour Publishing, Inc
Published Date: November 1, 2018
256 pages Christian, Romance
#MyHeartBelongsInGettysburgPennsylvania
#NetGalley
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I greatly enjoyed this book. I gave this book 4 stars. I love history and this book was about the civil war one of my favorite subjects.
Clarissa is a 19 year old girl who has a lot of spunk and energy. She is a conductor on the underground railroad. She has a love interest in Kyle and Liberty. She doesn't know which one to choose. She likes both in different ways. Liberty is also on the underground railroad but she doesn't know what he looks like because he always wears a hood over his head. Kyle is studying to be a clergyman. When the war breaks out she is upset that Kyle won't join the army instead he stays behinds and helps the head clergyman.
During one of the underground escapes with Liberty they are caught and Liberty gets hurt. Who is Liberty? Why does he hide his face? What happens to Kyle? You need to read the book to find out.
Clarissa has some more adventures during the war. At the beginning of the book I didn't like her but throughout the story she grows and learns, which makes her a better person.
I was able to figure out a few things that happen in the book fairly quickly so it brought down my rating just a little. The author did a great job on the history. I would recommended this book for those who love history and a romance story.
  
Giving Hope: A Child&#039;s Journey Through a Pandemic
Giving Hope: A Child's Journey Through a Pandemic
Toni Wengerd | 2021 | Children
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I am sure some children will not remember that there was a pandemic? Well, this book "Giving Hope: A Child's Journey Through a Pandemic" is a good one for children of all ages. Young children will be wondering why things have changed and why they can not see their friends and family.

This book does that through the eyes of a child or children. I am not quite sure; This is where the half star (moon) comes in, in my rating of four and a half stars (moons). Otherwise, this book does explain all about the emotions they will go through, from being worried to many others.

These diary entries are well done; Talking about what is going on with children and what is happening around them. Each one occurs with an emotion. This book is good to have around to explain the feelings going on during a stay-at-home order or lockdown, as many have called it.

This book can teach children who are all essential or heroes during this difficult time. This book is not just for a pandemic situation. I could be used to guide during other struggling or difficult times ahead.

The pictures are very bright and vivid. They do tell the emotion or emotions the child is feeling during that diary entry. The drawings are lovely throughout the book. There are some ideas that children can do to help with the changes and maybe even get in though with family during a hard time. Can your child or children come up with something you could do to bring hope? Maybe even come up with some ideas to do around your neighbor and show them or tell you to care while trying to stay safe.
  
Leadership Secrets of Attila the Hun
Leadership Secrets of Attila the Hun
Wess Roberts | 2009 | Business & Finance, History & Politics
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Leadership secrets of Attila the Hun by Wess Roberts, PhD
Read by James Lurie
Genre: Non-Fiction: Self Help, Instruction
Rating: 3.5/5


Review: Wess Roberts gives a brief summary of the life of Attila the Hun, and then shows how you can use simple character traits to be a leader in modern society. The advice is down to earth and easy to apply to many aspects of your life.

The only thing I felt was lacking was a Christian perspective, but the book was not a Christian book so I wasn’t expecting it. However, being a Christian myself, I look at self-help books very critically and from a different viewpoint than most people.

The writing was nice—it wasn’t J.K.Rowling, but it wasn’t Meg Cabot either. It was easy to read (listen too). The pacing was pretty good too, I enjoyed the life of Attila more than I thought I would :)

I listened to the audio edition of the book, and the reader did an excellent job.

Recommendation: Ages 14+ People looking to be good leaders at work, students looking to do well in school, people wanting to start an organization etc.
  
The Ballad of Sandy McNab
The Ballad of Sandy McNab
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
The Ballad of Sandy McNab by Colin Mackenzie is an interesting children’s book with a very different art style. The back of the book claims that this book will be available as a children’s song (I have not looked for it as of yet). The way the book flows definitely lends itself to being a song.


A little green crab is minding his own business in his home when a shark shows up. The shark tries to trick the crab into going outside by asking him to come out and play. When the crab refuses the shark breaks in and tries to attack him. The little crab is quicker than the shark and pinches it until the shark leaves. With the shark gone the little crab can live peacefully again.


It is hard to pick out just one thing as my favorite when I think the entire book is great. The little crab pinching the shark’s nose made me smile and a whale swallowing the shark was an ironic twist I was not expecting. As for what I did not like, its not exactly a complaint this time but more of something that people should be aware of when getting a book (or anything really) that is not from their country. On two pages there was a word that just felt wrong to me. One was “barmy” which given the context I believe means stupid. The other was “nippers” which I believe to be claws. While this is not a problem with this book people (like myself) should be prepared for language differences.


Parents will enjoy reading this short book to their children and may find that is is difficult to read it without singing it or adding emphasis on the verbal patterns. Also as children get older this is a book that they will still enjoy reading themselves. I give this children’s book a 4 out of 4 rating like so many others. The story is not overly long or detailed and the author clearly took time to structure a story around the rhymes. It keeps a steady rhythm that is frequently hard to accomplish. The story itself is cute with a crab besting a much larger opponent.

https://nightreaderreviews.blogspot.come
  
TP
The Precious One
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I've loved Marisa de los Santos since I read "Love Walked In" 8 or so years ago. She has a lovely, poetic way with words and "The Precious One" doesn't disappoint there. It's told in the alternating voices of two sisters: Taisy, a grown woman, who has always wondered why her domineering father, Wilson, was never a true father to her, and who has been basically estranged from him since 18, and Willow, her 16-year-old half sister, Wilson's pride and joy.

After Wilson suffers a heart attack, he summons for Taisy and her twin, Marcus. Only Taisy -- still longing for the fatherly approval she could never attain-- comes. There she learns that Wilson wants her to write a book about his scholarly life. As she embarks on that quest, she learns more than she bargained for about her father, her halfsister, her stepmother, and herself.

Here's the thing about this book. Much of it is incredibly implausible. It's kind of insanely implausible. There's a line where Willow, who is truly this pure, kind child of 16, after being isolated her entire life by her father, is talking to a school friend and asking how anyone could possibly be so nice. That's how I feel about half the characters in the book. Willow, said friend, Luka, Taisy... we also meet Taisy's high school boyfriend, Ben, whom she abandoned when the Wilson craziness happiness. Even he's amazingly nice.
They're all so kind and amazing and introspective. Well, except for Wilson, who is a completely horrible person: even after you learn about his past, he's just an ass.

But it doesn't matter if the characters seem a little too nice, or things happen a little to easily. There's definitely adversity, and poor Willow is certainly put through the wringer in a short period in this book. You find yourself rooting for her (she's just so nice, dammit) and Taisy (she's just so feisty and kind, dammit!) and for their relationship(s). There's also a beautiful moment, where things sort of come full circle, and you find yourself amazed about de los Santos' writing all over again.

It's a pretty book, and a romantic book, and a slightly improbable book, but still a good read nonetheless. Rated 4 stars here, probably truly a 3.5 rating (there's a little de los Santos nostalgia that goes into that rating).

Note: I received a free ebook copy of this novel from Edelweiss in return for a honest review.
  
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Micky Barnard (542 KP) rated Shadow of Night in Books

Feb 17, 2019 (Updated Feb 17, 2019)  
Shadow of Night
Shadow of Night
Deborah E. Harkness | 2012 | Fiction & Poetry
7
8.6 (15 Ratings)
Book Rating
Middle book syndrome
Audibook review - 3.5 stars

This was a good story affected by some pacing issues in my opinion, thus the rating which might surprise some people. Overall, I feel good about the storyline, the character development and the gut-punching emotions. I do think it could have been a little shorter and more dynamically paced. I wasn’t sure if I was going to settle into Tudor England, it took some time but I did settle.

Matthew and Diana’s relationship dynamic was rather different in past times, I found it inevitable, interesting and sometimes annoying. I enjoyed the band of waifs and strays that became part of their family.

Great narration and I’m already lamenting that Times Convert won’t have Ikeda.
  
BlacKkKlansman (2018)
BlacKkKlansman (2018)
2018 | Biography, Comedy, Crime
I saw this movie around two weeks ago, and haven't been really able to decide on a number rating. I went between a 10, then an 8, but now I've settled on 9.
I haven't read the book, so I'm not sure how much the story was embellished and/or changed, but it was overall, an entertaining 'true story'. I know Spike Lee was drawing heavy parallels to today, which, is fine, but I think everyone would have still gotten the point without the last 5-10 minutes of news footage.
Adam Driver and John David Washington were a good team, and their work together was kind of what made the movie. The last scene on the phone was the best part of the movie.