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Indiana jones and the dial of destiny (2023)
Indiana jones and the dial of destiny (2023)
2023 | Action, Adventure
8
7.8 (9 Ratings)
Movie Rating
Eels look like snakes? No they don't ...
Harrison Ford is over 80 now.

So fair play to him for returning to one of his most iconic roles, as Doctor Henry Jones Jr aka Indiana Jones, in what must surely by his swansong for that role.

And even more fair play for the film not making light of his age, but working it 'properly' into the plot (which has an absolute bonkers ending), with Jones - at one point - wondering aloud what he is even doing scaling a rock face at his age (and with mention made of the events of Temple of Doom in particular, at this point).

The whole prologue of the film - here, helmed by James Mangold instead of Spielberg - is set during the closing stages of World War II, and sees a CGI de-aged Ford battling Nazis in pursuit of a stolen relic, that leads him to the real McGuffin of the movie, the Dial of the title.

Jump forward to the late 60s, and Jones is retiring from academia when he is visited by the daughter of an old friend who wants his help in recovering said relic.

Initially hesitant - and following the breakup of his marriage to Marion, and, as we later discover, the fate of Mutt - Jones soon finds himself drawn back into the way of his old life.

For my money, this is better than Crystal Skull, with the the Dial as a McGuffin, 'suiting' Indiana Jones better than the sci-fi trappings of that earlier film, and with Phoebe Waller-Bridge a better foil than Shia LaBeouf.

Still not up there with the original trilogy, though.
  
Once Upon A Goth Dog Solstice
Once Upon A Goth Dog Solstice
RL Merrill | 2024 | Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
It's cute and sweet and warm and fuzzies!
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.

This is book 8 in the Once Upon A Holiday series, a multi author series joined ony by the Hook's Book Nook Travelling Library, which pops up in all the books. I have not read any of those, and they can all be read as stand alone books.

Luther is suffering after being medically discharged from the Marines, fostering his daughter and trying to make ends meet. Meeting Doug at the local craft market, and the pair embark on a tentative relationship, that sees Doug away from long periods. Can they make it work?

I liked this, a good deal.

It's sweet and cute, its warm and fuzzies and low angst. Not ever so explicit, but I didn't miss that. It's more about the budding relationship between these two, than the smex. I liked that it was low steam, to be honest.

I kinda didn't feel their connection at the beginning though. I felt they met, met again and then jumped into bed together. It just felt a little off, to ME, that's all. The connection DOES build, just that intial bit didn't quite work for me.

LOVED the way Luther introduces Mila and Doug, and how they all get along with Violet, Luther's sister. She has a story to tell, I'm sure! Oh and Oscar! Children and dogs for the win!

A good read, one that passed a very dull shift at work. One that made me smile.

4 stars

*same worded review will appear elsewhere
  
Ginger Snapping All The Way (Love In Mission City #1)
Ginger Snapping All The Way (Love In Mission City #1)
Gabbi Grey | 2021 | Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
the connection between Maddox and Ravi is instant and powerful.
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarain, I was gifted my copy of this book.

This is book 1 in the Love In Mission City series, but I am reading it AFTER book 3. SO I have spoilers for this book in that book. It did not detract from my enjoyment of this book, though. I will get to read book 2 asap.

Maddox doesn't like Christmas, but a friend asks a favour and he's left with the most gorgeous man he ever saw. Ravi just needs a place to stay til tomorrow to get the plane home to see his god daughter. But Mother Nature has other ideas and the few days they have snowed in make the world of difference to both man. But they live a continent apart, this was only supposed to be fleeting.

I really enjoyed this. Maddox is grumpy and Ravi is a match for that but not as a grump. Ravi is fighting a good deal with himself and his past, and his pain is not immediately clear. I liked that, as I did in book 3, one character's pain is front and centre, but it takes time for the other's to become clear.

The whole book takes place over a couple of days, and the connection between Maddox and Ravi is instant and powerful.

Now I need to read book 2, Stanley's Christmas Redemption. Stanley is Maddox' ex, and he gets a bum wrap here. I have a feeling that there is more to his story than Maddox says.

4 very VERY good stars

*same worded review will appear elsewhere
  
Treasure and Tarot (Echoes of Secret Springs #1)
Treasure and Tarot (Echoes of Secret Springs #1)
Minerva Howe | 2025 | LGBTQ+, Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
TREASURE AND TAROT is the first book in the Echoes of Secret Springs series, and we begin with Sebastian and Colton. Sebastian is the omega who was left holding the baby, seemingly abandoned; Colton is the alpha who walked away, intending to return, but never did - and you find out why on both sides of the story!

This is a spin-off from Minerva Howe's Secret Springs series, which I haven't read. I get the feeling I might have enjoyed this book more if I had, but I was still able to read their story without too much trouble. My biggest problem was figuring out which town they were speaking about.

Colton and Sebastian's second-chance romance was a wonderful story, with plenty of ghostly action, romance, and cuteness to spare. Their daughter, Abby, wins everyone's hearts, and I loved the big group of supporting characters. I am stuck between a rock and a hard place over which one I want a story for first.

Just as an aside, for some reason, I thought Tarot might play a bigger part than it did. I'm not saying it's bad the way it is, just that I thought there'd be more. 😆

Anyway, I read this in one sitting and hope to return to this ghostly town, whatever it's called. Definitely 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!
Jun 23, 2025
  
The Long Way Home (Coming Home #1)
The Long Way Home (Coming Home #1)
October O'Neil | 2025 | Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance
7
7.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
THE LONG WAY HOME is the first book in the Coming Home series and begins with Marcus and Cory, both broken characters in different ways.

Marcus was a troubled teen/trust fund child who got together with Declan, someone out of the same group of people who actually wanted to spend time with him. Unfortunately, Declan became seriously ill and made Marcus continue on with his life without Declan being in it. Cory became a dad at 19 and a single dad six months later. His whole life revolves around his daughter and his family. The sparks fly when these two meet, but not for the reasons Marcus thinks.

I will say, most of this book is angst between the two, with lots of misconstrued signals and attempts to speak. Considering they're both adults, this became frustrating very quickly. You could cut out half of this and still have a decent-sized novel, as this was a LONG read.

I found both characters to be slightly inconsistent in how they thought and behaved, especially Cory. Considering how he'd been earlier in the book, there was a bit of whiplash involved when he and Marcus actually had their first date.

On the whole, this was a good read that I would give 3.5 stars to (rounded up). It is a debut novel and there is plenty of potential for future stories.

** 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!
Feb 28, 2025
  
War of the Cards
War of the Cards
Colleen Oakes | 2017 | Science Fiction/Fantasy
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Contains spoilers, click to show
WAR OF THE CARDS
COLLEEN OAKES
352
FAIRYTALE RETELLINGS / FANTASY

She paused and drew a finger dramatically across her neck.
“OFF WITH THEIR HEADS!”
The army answered back.
OFF WITH THEIR HEADS!”

This book gave me chills!

Sypnosis:
The final book in the twisted YA trilogy re-imagining of the origin story of the Queen of Hearts. Dinah has lost everyone she ever loved. Her brother was brutally murdered. The wicked man she believed was her father betrayed her. Her loyal subjects have been devastated by war. And the boy she gave her heart to broke it completely.

Main characters:
– Dinah (the Queen of Hearts)
– Wardley
– Cheshire
– Sir Gorrann
– Mundoo

Main events:
Dinah is now ready for battle against her “father” the King of Hearts. Her and her gang of Yurkei – Spades and friends, head off the palace to battle for the crown.

Most exciting part:
When Dinah steps through the sky curtain. Ooh.

My favourite part:
The battle scene – you see how much Dinah’s character development has changed.

My summary:
Very good book – a great ending to the series. I love retellings and this one is one of my favourites. Great links and references to the original stories with names and descriptions.

My Review:
The Queen of Hearts she made some tarts all on a summer’s day. The Knave of Hearts he stole the tarts and took them clean away. The King of Hearts called for the tarts and beat the Knave full sore. The Knave of Hearts brought back the tarts and vowed he’d steal no more.

This story isn’t a nice as that poem, this story involves heartbreak, love, murder, revenge, family feuds and lots of secret plotting. Colleen Oakes turns a classic story into an amazing retelling of the infamous Queen of Hearts.
SPOILERS
Dinah is born into royalty, daughter of Queen Davianna and the cruel King of Hearts. Dinah’s mother died when she was young, leaving her and her Mad as a Hatter brother Charles alone. After her brother is murdered in cold blood Dinah is soon to be blamed by the King of Hearts and the rest of the Kingdom. She soon flees after a man in a cloak tells her to run and leave the palace.

She leaves her Kingdom and the love of her life Wardley behind and ends up in the Twisted Woods. Throughout the first two books, you see her hate her father and why. She finds out she has a sister called Vittiore who in fact is not her sister and her father lied about who she actually was, by claiming he met someone who later became pregnant, when in fact he found her and made her pretend she was his daughter. The way he treats Dinah and her brother. How the cruel King rules Wonderland and treats his people.

You travel with Dinah and a Spade called Sir Gorrann, (who she meets in the Twisted Woods) to where the Yureki live. You meet them and find out they are in fact good people who later help her take the role as Queen of Hearts.

But most importantly you find out that her father is, in fact, Cheshire the King of Heart’s loyal advisor. Who was “in love” with Queen Davianna and had a secret affair with her which lead to Dinah. I say “in love” because later it’s revealed that all along Cheshire had planned this moment and wanted to be apart of Wonderland more closely like having a daughter as the Queen of Hearts! So it’s unclear whether he did actually love her, or if he loved the fact of her. As we all know Cheshire loves himself.

The third book for me tests Dinah in more ways, what she has been through is a lot. But now she has to face rejection from the man she has always loved. Becoming a leader of many men who in fact don’t get along. Realising all her life she has feared a man who isn’t actually her father, who is the real reason her mother died; through neglect. Her brother wasn’t murdered by who she thought – the King of Hearts. Her sister isn’t her sister. But most importantly Dinah learns how to keep her head.

I loved this series because I loved Dinah. I felt for her the whole time and not once did I hate her. Yes, she did something so bad and later regretted it by cutting off Vittiore’s head when she saw her and Wardley in bed together – which later made him hate her. But she also beat the King of Hearts, led an army of Yurkei and Spades to war and beat the Kings army. Trained a Hornhoov called Morte who was her loyal friend till the end. She even went into the Sky Curtain and came out alive. She kept her promises of peace and followed through by changing the ways of the Wonderlanders lives. She destroyed the horrible Black Tower and changed the lives of the Spades for the better. Gave Cheshire his just desserts, tried to make amends with Wardley and became the Queen Wonderland needs and deserves.

Dinah is amazing and despite a few bad things she has done, she is a good person who knows right and wrong and wants to makes things better and I loved following her on this journey throughout Wonderland.

Rating:

5 ★ – AMAZING

Love, Christina ?
  
Kill the Father
Kill the Father
Sandrone Dazieri | 2017 | Fiction & Poetry
9
8.5 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
Filled with Twists and Turns
This was one of the better thriller/mystery novels I have read so far this year. Wow. It was well written, filled with lots of twists and turns and the way everything is tied together is fantastic and makes the writing flow to keep you engaged and the pages turning.

The characters speak for themselves. They’re heavily flawed and are dealing with horrible pasts. I like both of them and Dante and Colomba do make a great team. Dante certainly has his quirks and his mannerisms due to his being a previous kidnapping victim. It feels like they certainly complement each other and they have an amazing chemistry when working together. They’re both very strong characters, no doubt.

If any of you have read The Monster’s Daughter by Michelle Pretorius I found some similarities between Colomba and Alet in the fact they both don’t take crap and go beyond their limits to solve things and they’re certainly not afraid to take a swing or kick to make their point across (Colomba has a good share of that throughout the book)

The plot was really good and what I really enjoyed reading the most was the way everything was seamless and how it was put together. Everything that happened to Colomba and Dante was related and well explained. The explanation as to the origins of Colomba’s situation was very well done! I enjoyed that aspect of the plot. The only thing is, the book is rather long and the plot a bit on the slow side but it’s nevertheless a great read and going through the twists and turns was completely worth it.

And yes, there’s a cliffhanger ending. I can’t wait to read the second one.
  
Hide and Seek
Hide and Seek
Desiree Holt | 2017 | Fiction & Poetry
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Hide and Seek (Vigilance #1) by Desiree Holt
Hide and Seek is the first book by Desiree Holt that I have read, but it won't be the last. We start off with Graham, who has somehow been in bed with a drugs cartel, but didn't realise it. He decides that he needs to escape from it, meticulously planning everything. However, best laid plans and all that... it doesn't quite go according to how he thought it would.

His daughter ends up being smack-dab in the middle of everything, with the drug cartel goonies coming at her from all sides. The only help she has is the town sheriff and her sister who runs a security agency. Luckily for her, that is all the help she needs.

The attraction between Logan and Devon is instantaneous, with some inopportune and poorly timed reactions thrown in for good measure. Devon is a strong character, and doesn't do anything ridiculous because 'she knows best'. Logan has his own secrets, but finds the attraction for Devon to be stronger than his hesitations.

On the whole, I enjoyed this book. There were no editing or grammatical errors that disrupted my reading flow. The pace was smooth and the transition from one scene to the next flowed. I think the only thing for me would be the timing of certain things, but then there is no 'ruling' of when the time is right.

I hope this is the first in a series, and if so, I look forward to reading further along. Definitely recommended by me.

* 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!