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Rise of the Hearts: Rebirth
Rise of the Hearts: Rebirth
Antoine Bonner | 2018 | Science Fiction/Fantasy
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book so I could give an honest review.

Rise of the Hearts: Rebirth is the second book in Antoine Bonner's Rise of the Hearts series. Using Goodreads' rating system, I gave this book 3 stars. I gave the first book only 1 star. It was a challenge to even finish the first novel.

I liked Rebirth and do not think it was because I was familiar with the characters since I could not relate to them in the first novel. The writing improved since the last novel. In the first one, the story did not flow but it flowed well in Rebirth.

The first novel is NOT intended for Young Adults. Based on the description, I had mistakenly thought it was appropriate for younger readers. There are several passages that are not appropriate for young adults. I cannot think of any passages that would not be appropriate in the second book but still feel the series in not a young adult series.

This novel is only 100 pages long and is a very quick read. The story felt as if it was an episode in the middle of a television series. It felt as if it was only part of a story. I would read the next episode.

Review published on Philomathinphila.com, Smashbomb, Goodreads, Facebook, Twitter, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble on 3/11/19.
  
Easy exercises to improve your happiness (0 more)
A journal in which you are given different activities to improve your happiness.
I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book so I could give an honest review.

Everyone, including me, can use some more happiness in their lives so I requested to read The Happiness Diary: The Practice of Finding and Savoring Things to Be Joyful About by Barbara Ann Kipfer.

The Diary is not a book to read in one sitting. It is a journal in which you are given different activities to improve your happiness. Some are reflective exercises. Other suggest an journal prompt to complete then review after a specific time period - days, weeks, months, or more. Rereading your entry allows you to see how your life, goals, and happiness have changed during that time period.

It offers different ways to help express your happiness. It encourages you to try all of the techniques to find which one or ones are preferable to you.

One of the entries I have been doing for years. For homework for a Positive Psychology class, you needed to think of 3 good things that happened that day. It is a great exercise.

One of my favorite entries is the Newness Challenge. It suggests you try something new every day for a month. I have been trying to learn something every month for years. It is challenging but fun.

Review published on Philomathinphila.com on 3/17/19.
  
Maori
Maori
2009 | Exploration, Nautical
Simple (2 more)
Easy to Teach
Fun Polynesian theme
Carcassone level of simplicity with good depth and a Polynesian theme
I teach this to "non-gamers" all the time and we even take it with us on vacation. The game is simple, there is a 4 by 4 grid of tiles to choose from, and you move a little boat around the board one or two spaces and take one of those tiles. you have some shells you can use to move the boat further or inside to the middle tiles. you can also get more boats to move further. You also have a player mat in which to place the newly acquired tiles, but one you place them you can't move them. Each tile has different values based on what you have around it, you try to create islands, and huts double the scoring trees. This is just the Gist, there is more to it, and there is event a backside to the board for extra challenge. we like this one a lot for those nights when a heavy game doesn't appeal to us, or we are sitting no the deck with a glass of wine, unwinding. we want to play and have fun without thinking too hard. Thee is a fun trying to place yourself just right so that someone else can't reach on the next turn, but then you will. I highly recommend this one.
  
SO
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Well... This book took me quite a long time to finish. Aka, I didn't have as much of a commute for the past 2 weeks.

This book is beautiful. Juliet Marillier is truly a master at weaving a story. This book was recommended to me by my sister and I cannot believe that it took me this long to finally read it. A couple years ago, I did a reading challenge where I asked my family and close friends what book they would want me to read. Naturally, my sister chose the first in this series with the knowledge that I would relate better to the second. I'm glad that I took the time to listen to the audiobook of this novel. The narrator was wonderful and truly made the series come alive. For the past two days, I have actually gone out of my way to listen to the book when normally I would just listen to it on my drive into work.

The characters in this book are spectacular. I loved how Juliet Marillier captured the anguish, joy, and all the emotions in between. I fell in love with the relationships that were written in this series. The characters were realistic and had great depth to them.

If you're looking for a beautiful fantasy with some romance, this is the book for you. Seriously, you need to read this book.
  
Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery
Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery
Entertainment, Games
I wanted to give this 10/10 purely for being Harry Potter however I have restrained myself and been honest instead.
I have left it a while to review this game as they have been adding quite a lot of new features recently.

A lot of people have been moshing about the energy situation, however I think the developers are aware a lot of people were unhappy and have added features to help combat this. You can now buy pets which will give you extra energy throughout the day. In the latest classes challenge you can earn energy as a reward. Duelling club, every time you win a duel you get 4 energy and if you win a certain amount of duels you will earn more energy as well. Also there are now 3 ways you can build friendships and as you level up a friend you can earn energy.

I actually like the energy restriction as it means you take some time playing the game instead of rushing through. Also I find it fits in with my work day well, when I get a break to play, I’ll have full energy waiting for me.

I would like some more situations where you get to chose what to do as I feel sometimes the game can be quite scripted.

Overall I love this game and hope I don’t reach seventh year too quickly as I don’t want it to end.
  
Sleeping with Other People (2015)
Sleeping with Other People (2015)
2015 | Comedy
7
7.0 (5 Ratings)
Movie Rating
Relationships can be a complicated and challenge for many people. Combined with the pressures of work and modern society, it is a wonder how many people still manage to find one another and make meaningful connections.

In the new film “Sleeping With Other People”, audiences are introduced to Jake (Jason Sudeikis), and Lainey (Alison Brie), who meet by chance in a dorm, and have a very memorable evening with one another.

Flash forward years later and Jake and Lainey are struggling with relationships as Jake is a womanizer and Lainey has issued with fidelity in relationships and her self-destructive nature.

The two reunite by chance and begin a friendship which as time goes on, blossoms into something more. Of course both characters have their share of demons to contend with and have people in their past and present that have to be factored in as they struggle to grasp the rules of modern life.

Sudeikis and Brie work well with one another as their relationship seems natural and forced as they are both people trying to do the right thing yet haunted by their destructive patterns when it comes to love and relationships.

Solid supporting work by Amanda Peet and Adam Scott and the talented and enjoyable ensemble cast make the film a pleasant surprise and one that you should not miss.

http://sknr.net/2015/09/18/sleeping-with-other-people/
  
Early Man (2018)
Early Man (2018)
2018 | Animation
From the creators of Chicken Run and Wallace and Gromit comes the “true”
story of the origin of the world’s most popular sport-football (or soccer
as we call it in the U.S.). A charming film that takes us back to the dawn
of man, The Stone Age, where a motley band of cavemen and women live an
archaic lifestyle foraging and hunting for their food.

Their way of life
is shattered as the Bronze age approaches, and mining for metal becoming
superior, along with the love of football (soccer) playing second. The
leader of the Bronze Age conquerors Lord Nooth strips the cavemen from
their land to mine for more metal and for smelting. Eager to keep their
way of life and get their home back, the Cavemen challenge Lord Nooth to a
game of football.

Who doesn’t love a good underdog story? As you can guess, it’s hysterical
slapstick humor and sheer silliness of epic proportion. In true Wallace
and Gromit fashion, Aardman animation create a movie with an underlying
sweetness that makes the audience fall in love with such delightful
characters.

Featuring an all-star British voice cast featuring Tom
Hiddleston, Maisie Williams, Tom Redmayne, and Timothy Spall, Early Man may
not be your typical run of the mill bright, boisterous, tug at the
heartstrings type of movie, but it definitely provides enough physical
comedy to keep the audience laughing and a great message about teamwork and
learning to coexist.
  
Dirty Angels (Dirty Angels, #1)
Dirty Angels (Dirty Angels, #1)
Karina Halle | 2014 | Contemporary, Romance
5
5.5 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
I bought this years ago, 2015 to be exact, and have put it off for a long time when my taste changed from New Adult to Young Adult and Urban Fantasy. I chose it as a challenge read on here so I would finally read it.

So this starts with a prologue. Luisa decides to run away from her abusive drug lord husband in the spur of the moment decision, only to be captured by the enemy. It then moves into Chapter One and we see how she came to be married to Salvador and how she came to be in Javier's captivity. Javier wants her as a hostage so he can negotiate for something Salvador has and the longer they spend around each other, the more they begin to understand each other and feelings emerge.

I'm not really into mafia/cartel books. I find them to be rather violent and prefer sweeter stories with some angst in them. There were some times in this when I just couldn't read all the description and just skipped entire paragraphs, especially the bit with Franco. I also skipped quite a bit towards the end just wanting that final showdown between Javier and Salvador.

I didn't really get their romance. I understand Luisa looking for any light in the blackness that she's living but I still thought Javi was a bit dark, though he did have some nice moments.

I won't be continuing the series.
  
    Defend London

    Defend London

    Games and Entertainment

    (0 Ratings) Rate It

    App

    Defend London from the attack of Hitler in this spectacular 3D game where you can handle planes,...