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The Hollow Kind
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
72 of 220
Book
The Hollow Kind
By Andy Davidson
⭐️⭐️⭐️

When Nellie Gardner learns that she has inherited a turpentine estate from her long-lost grandfather, she throws everything she can think of in her pickup and flees to Georgia with her eleven-year-old son, Max, in tow.

August Redfern’s “estate” is a decrepit farmhouse on a thousand acres of old pine forest, but Nellie sees it as the perfect refuge—a safe place to hide from her violent husband and the chance for a fresh start. But Max sees what his mother can’t: Redfern Hill is no haven. Something lurks beneath the soil, ancient and hungry, with the power to corrupt hearts and destroy souls. And Nellie’s return is about to wake it up.

This was decent read. We follow 2 timelines of a 2 families and it’s dark deep seated roots, and I mean literally. This was darkness from the roots of a turpentine estate which brings nothing but death for both. It’s an interesting premise and dark in a few places. If I had on issue it was sometimes I found it a slog to read. But overall it was good.
  
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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2579 KP) rated Big F@!king Deal in Books

Apr 13, 2026 (Updated Apr 13, 2026)  
Big F@!king Deal
Big F@!king Deal
Lawrence Allan | 2023 | Mystery
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
A Kidnapping is Always a Big Deal
This book picks up exactly where the previous one ended. Jimmy has just made headlines for the right reason - successfully solving a case. The headlines bring someone from his past back into his life - his father, who just vanished over a decade ago. But Jimmy has no time to worry about what his father wants since one of the wealthiest families in LA has hired him to find their college age son who has been kidnapped. The kidnappers have given them until Friday to put the ransom together. Can Jimmy find the young man before time runs out?

I loved the first book in the series, and I enjoyed this one, too. The plot wasn’t quite as strong, but it kept me turning the pages the entire way through. The cast is good, but Jimmy really shines. I loved the humor, especially Jimmy’s observations in the first-person narration. As the title implies, this isn’t a cozy, but the language and violence are used well and aren’t excessive. I’m hoping to get to the third soon.
  
When I read the blurb of this, the first thing I immediately thought of was:

Romeo and Juliet.
But in space.
And with warring planets instead of warring families.

Now that I've finished it, I can say that - while there *is* a (strong) element of truth in that, it's also not the whole picture.

Set during the High Republic era of Star Wars (so even before the much-maligned TV series 'The Acolyte'), this was an actually an era I hadn't yet dipped my toes in to - to me, Star Wars has always been in and around the time of the original trilogy (showing my age here).

Still, for a 99 pence offer, I thought I might as well give it a try.

While it's by no means the worst Star Wars book I've read (and I've read a few...), it's also not the strongest contender: there's nothing wrong with it per se, and the setting does free it from the usual Jedi vs Sith shenanigans, and so whilst I may pick up any the direct sequel (by a different author, I believe), I'm also not in any rush to do so.
  
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Heather Cranmer (2721 KP) created a post

Nov 21, 2022  
"With its excellent illustrations and well written (and researched) passages, this book should be in every therapist's library and every home library. Basically, just put this book in every library."

Read my book review on my blog for the children's self-help non-fiction book CONNECTED: DISCOVERING YOUR INNER GUIDES: A KID'S GUIDE TO NAVIGATING THEIR EMOTIONS by Seema Desai, and enter the giveaway for a chance to win a signed copy of the book - two winners!

https://alltheupsandowns.blogspot.com/2022/11/book-blog-tour-and-giveaway-connected.html

**BOOK SYNOPSIS**
Connected is all about teaching kids and their families how to navigate their emotions. It is a practical guide to understanding powerful concepts that alleviate the stress and challenge in tough situations. The book also includes tools and tips to help children become advocates for their mental and emotional well-being in productive ways, as well as thought-provoking questions to encourage young readers to think about how these tools would be uniquely relatable to them. Written to inspire children to become empathetic leaders and creative solution-seekers, Connected is a book that helps them not only understand themselves better, but also those around them.
     
Salt & Blood (Darker Desires #2)
Salt & Blood (Darker Desires #2)
Tesla Storm | 2022 | Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Independent Reviewer for Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!


Vivianna Sky and Adrian Graves have got a lot of demons to work through with themselves and others. When there is an unexplained phenomenon feeding off the life force of unborn children and expectant mothers, causing their lives and families to fall apart they must do everything they can to stop any more tragedies from happening.


This is book number 2 of the darker desires series, and I have thoroughly enjoyed it so far and I'm hoping that there is more to come from V and Adrian's story (please Tesla?)


The writing is so smooth it just flows and if I didn't have responsibilities I would of quite happily read this in a day I just wish I could have l the stories at once to read straight after one another.


The battle scenes are extremely well described and graphic and there are some sexual scenes but they are tastefully written and didn't make me feel uncomfortable at any point reading them


Another brilliant novel from Tesla Storm


A recommended read from me


** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
  
Twist ma and turns (1 more)
Paige Turner
Predict ability (0 more)
Summary
Tory and Darcy just turned eighteen, freeing them from the foster system they have been on since their parents death when they were infants. However, being free isn’t always easy. Though the system was not easy or even allowed them to find real homes or families, the twins had each other. Now that we are being told they are from another secret world, the Fae World, and are royalty, they must learn about the parents, their world they never knew and a magic they never knew to gain their inheritance they only could have dreamt for. The only problem? Four Celestial Heirs who don’t want them to have their throne back.

This book as a page turned and left me wanting more. It the first in the series and I and already se to devoid book two. The writing style is interesting and can keep you on your toes but I feel the characters are easy to predict as times. But they are you log adults so that might by why in this case. It is still an excellent read.
  
Ice Age: Collision Course (2016)
Ice Age: Collision Course (2016)
2016 | Animation, Family
5
6.2 (13 Ratings)
Movie Rating
I remember watching the first Ice Age film, way back not long after it came out, in about 2002 or thereabouts.

While it was enjoyable enough, it was also - I felt - nothing special (with Scrat the sabre-toothed squirrel stealing the show).

The franchise itself, as a whole, is proof of the old truism that sequels are never as good as the original, with each instalment struggling to match its predecessor.

This is the fifth movie in said franchise, and the core cast of characters has grown to almost unwieldy proportions: no longer just Sid, Manny and Diego but now also grown to encompass (both literally and metaphorically) their families.

The plot? With a meteor hurtling towards Earth (blame Scrat) an din danger of causing another mass-extinction event, Syd, Manny and co have to find a way of saving their way of life while also coming to terms with the fact that their daughter (wait? When did she appear gain?) is now all grown up and can make her own decisions.

The result? It's a pleasant enough way to spend about an hour and a half or so, but not a film I'd be rushing back to see.