Search

Search only in certain items:

Lovestained - Single by Hope Tala
Lovestained - Single by Hope Tala
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Album Rating
Hope Tala is an up-and-coming singer-songwriter from London, England. Not too long ago, she released a music video for her “Lovestained” single.

“Slipping back into happiness ‘cause you give me more time to live a life that sings like mine. You make me drowsy with delight and I’m slipping back into feeling blessed. ‘Cause you are so damn fine and I’ll skip into the sunlight with you and skip back at midnight.” – lyrics

‘Lovestained’ is the first single taken from Hope Tala’s upcoming EP.

So far, the likable tune has amassed over 500,000 streams online since being released in April.

Also, the song contains a relatable storyline, warm vocals, and tropical-flavored instrumentation laced with drifting acoustic guitar chords.

“‘Lovestained’ sits in the grey area between infatuation and love. When you just want the person you’re interested in to give you a little bit more of themselves so that you can let yourself fall for them.” – Hope Tala

Half-whispered and half-sung, ‘Lovestained’ is sheer honey for the ears. Also, it’s a sensual treat that lingers long after the first note drifts away on the open breeze.

https://www.bongminesentertainment.com/hope-tala-lovestained/
  
TD
The Dancing Master
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
The Dancing Master is the first book I have read by Julie Klassen. This story is not only intriguing and suspenseful, but it is also full of romance and God's love and grace. Set in Regency England, I found this to be an excellent book. If you like Jane Austen's settings, you will most definitely like Julie Klassen's books.

Written in a more modern American voice, the language flows well and is easy to understand. I really love the characters in this story. Everyone seems to have secrets they are trying to hide and the past comes back to haunt more than one person in the story. However, all will be revealed in due course. Will our characters be able to overcome their differences? Or will the past come between them and drive them apart for good?

I found Alec and Julia's story to be fun, a bit suspenseful, and romantic. While romance isn't as prevalent in this book, it is still there.

I borrowed The Dancing Master from my local library. I was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.
  
In times of war people have been known to go to drastic measures. Where will loyalties lie when the truth comes out?

Mr. McKinnon, or rather Rees Phillips, has been sent as a butler, a spy, into the house of Lady Céline Wexham. Céline is a French émigré who is most likely a spy herself. Although as he gets to know her his loyalty to his homeland falters. It is 1813 and word has it that Bonaparte will soon be conquered. The royalists long to reestablish the monarchy in France, however Lady Wexham is in favor of the republic. She has made enemies of the French and the British. Will Rees follow his country, his heart, or God’s call?

Moonlight Masquerade is an exquisite tale of love in regency England. Intrigue, espionage, masquerades and highwaymen fill the pages of this book from beginning to end. It is a very moving story filled with sorrow and joy. Ruth Axtell did a wonderful job detailing where our true loyalties must lie. First and foremost to God. Our path will become clear, if not easy, as long as we rely on Him to guide us.
  
Running in Circles
Running in Circles
Claire Gray | 2018 | Fiction & Poetry, Mystery, Thriller
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
A good start to a new series!
Lucy works on a very small newspaper on a Thai island. She arrives after a traumatic experience back home in England, hoping to escape the memories of whatever has happened to her.
However, she becomes involved in some traumatic events on the island: a bomb goes off across from the hostel that she lives in, killing many people in the bars nearby, and a body washes sup on the beach - an investor in her newspaper. Lucy and her boss, Steve, decide to investigate these two occurrences and consequently become involved in some very disturbing events.
I really liked this. There is a feeling of 'disconnect' with Lucy. Her former trauma has left its mark on her, she is finding life difficult, and the author writes this feeling really well. I thought the whole atmosphere was well written - I could feel the humidity, the claustrophobia and the sadness and fear post bombing.
I'll be interested to read the next book in this series when it comes out - I rather like Lucy and Steve.
Many thanks to Sapere Books for my copy of this book to read and honestly review.
  
V for Vendetta
V for Vendetta
David Lloyd, Alan Moore | 2008 | Fiction & Poetry
4
7.7 (6 Ratings)
Book Rating
This sits alongside "[b:Watchmen|472331|Watchmen|Alan Moore|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1442239711s/472331.jpg|4358649]"; as one of [a:Alan Moore|3961|Alan Moore|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1304944713p2/3961.jpg]'s most influential works, with this set in the (then) future of the late 90s: a time when, following a global cataclysm, England has given itself over to fascism.

I'll be honest: I'd seen the Natalie Portman/Hugo Weaving film years ago (mainly out of curiosity to see how the Wachowski's would follow up The Matrix films), but had no idea how closely it stuck to the core material.

Until now.

The answer is actually surprisingly faithful, with most of the core beats of the two versions the same.

While both versions, I feel, do lose their way a bit at just over the half way mark, they both do have some memorable (and thought-worthy) quotes, chief among them these two:

[i]People shouldn't be afraid of their governments. Governments should be afraid of their people[/i]

[i]Everybody is special. Everybody. Everybody is a hero, a lover, a fool, a villain. Everybody. Everybody has their story to tell[/i]
  
The Flame Bearer (the Last Kingdom Series, Book 10)
The Flame Bearer (the Last Kingdom Series, Book 10)
Bernard Cornwell | 2016 | Fiction & Poetry
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
The continuing story of Uhtred of Bebbanburg, who, since the first story in the series ([b:The Last Kingdom|68527|The Last Kingdom (The Saxon Stories, #1)|Bernard Cornwell|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1407107780s/68527.jpg|881821] has been dreaming of recapturing his ancestral home - a home that was originally stolen by his uncle afollowing Uhtred's capture by the Danes in that first novel, and is now owned by his cousin.

The series as a whole has dealt with the forging of what ias now knwon as England, with Alfred (the Great) palying a key role in the earlier novels, and with the later novels dealing with events following his death. Although he is a pagan and Alfred was a Christian, Uhtred has played a key role in many of the events depicted - mostly (as with nearly all of [a:Bernard Cornwell|12542|Bernard Cornwell|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1240500522p2/12542.jpg]'s novels) all based on or around real historical events.

I say mostly, as this is one of the few rare exceptions (being nearly all fiction), with the author himself admitting as much in the Afterword to this particular tale.
  
Killing Beauties
Killing Beauties
Pete Langman | 2020 | Fiction & Poetry, Mystery, Thriller
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Killing Beauties is about the female spies (She-Intelligencers - isn’t it funny how they could make even that sound like an insult 🤔) who worked for the exiled Charles Stuart during Cromwells reign. Charles Stuart himself sends two female spies back to England to turn Cromwell’s Secretary of State, John Thurloe, into their accomplice using their feminine wiles and training. This is actually based on the true story of two female spies - not something that any of us are usually taught in history lessons at school (perhaps due to their methods!). This is a story with heaps of subterfuge and betrayal, and women who are determined to do the best job they can for their King and their secret society. It was quite amusing in places, which was a little light relief in an otherwise tense story. There’s loads of great historical detail too - think sights, smells and sounds.

It’s a really fun book - fast-paced and with a feeling of danger. I loved it!

Many thanks to The Pigeonhole for serialising the book, and for Pete Langdon for commenting along with us readers!