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Possum Problems (The Magic Magnifying Glass #2)
Possum Problems (The Magic Magnifying Glass #2)
Wendy Ann Mattox | 2020 | Children
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
The second book in this series of Magic Magnifying Glass is called “Possum Problems.” It seems like we met Perry, and he is a little possum. He seems to have got lost and decided to jump into Fins’ backpack.

What adventures will Fin and Perry get into along with Elliott? There seems to be a baseball mystery for Fin to solve along with two other puzzles. This book reminds me of my experience with a possum for the first time. I met my first ever possum through an incident in my backroom when I checked on my cats. I found him in a wastebasket; it is beyond me how it got in the backroom or the wastebasket. My first words when I told my mom about this strange creature; I called it “Big Fat Rat” though it was not a rat. Though that is what it looked like to me. To this day, we get a laugh out of me calling my first experience with a possum a Big Fat Rat. He ended up back outside once mom came home, and we got it outside on the porch.

I was not scared of the thing. I was more startled and wondering what and how it got into the house. Not so much that it was scary, so this book teaches you what a possum is, and we get an adventure with one. We finally meet Mr. Mole as well. Now snakes are not a favorite of mine, But will Bart learn to be kind or not? Snakes do like mice, I believe. So we meet a snake for the first time in this book. Will Martin’s baseball mystery get solved.

Children will learn about nature and animals in nature. We also see how having friends and asking for help is good. Will James leans to lean on God’s trust. What does the new bible verse mean that shows up on the magnifying glass lens? What trouble will Fin and Perry find when looking for Perry’s family? Does Martin seem to think that a possum might have ruined this baseball? Did he or not. Children will enjoy reading a clean read and learning about wildlife animals. Animal facts are an excellent way to learn about through a book, and children will love them.

I can’t wait to see what the next adventure Fin and his friend Elliott
get up to and what other friends Fin meets along the way.
  
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Becs (244 KP) rated Ember Burning in Books

Oct 2, 2019  
Ember Burning
Ember Burning
Jennifer Alsever | 2019 | Fiction & Poetry
7
7.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Contains spoilers, click to show
I received Ember Burning for an honest review and am just now getting around to do it. My bad…

Okay, so I was honestly really looking forward to reading this novel when I first received it in the mail that I’m kicking myself in the rear end for not picking it up sooner. I was shocked that it was exactly everything I was looking for in a young adult fantasy novel.

It’s got some witchiness to it. It’s got an adventure in it. And it’s got the best thing known to man, love. Fast-paced with well-rounded characters that make you either hate them or love them with a hint of history underlain throughout the novel. What more can I say about this wonderful book?

Genre: Paranormal, Fantasy, Young Adult

Reading Level: High School and up

Interests: Witch’s, Egyptian hieroglyphics, darkness

Style: Not so light but also not a heavy read. Very fast-paced – which I loved.

Difficulty Reading: NO, I could not put this book down. Oh my goodness, Jennifer Alsever has such a unique way of writing. At first, I was a little annoyed that there were so many sentences that could be switched to, ya know, longer sentences which leads to a way easier read. But they grew on me and as I started to get further into the book, I understood why it was written in such a way. Because that is the personality of the main character Ember. It definitely helped understand her more as an individual, rather than just another character in a book.

Promise: A mystery meets fantasy – it delivers.

Insights: Honestly, none. I wouldn’t change anything in Ember Burning even if it meant saving the planet. (Okay, maybe I might change stuff to save the planet. But that’s our home for crying out loud.) Ember Burning is such a well-written novel that leaves you wanting to continue on her journey with her in Oshun Rising and Venus Shining. (Which by the way, is the rest of the series.)

Ah-Ha Moment: WHEN EMBER AND TRE KISS. (Yes, that needed all caps.) Awh man, I love me a good romance. Especially one so sweet and simple like Ember and Tre’s. **SPOILERS AHEAD** I mean it’s such goals to be laying out talking about life and then turning to each other, kissing, and then both admitting that you wanted to do that for a while now. Like OH MY GOD, I’m seriously dying over here. **SPOILERS END** I ship Ember and Tre so hard and Lilly, Zoe or this redhead b**ch better not get in the way of their love. I’ll come after them. (‘I kill you!‘)

Favorite Quote: “Of course I know this is ridiculous. What I’m doing. Going to Trinity Forest. Alone. Like the freak show I am. The girl who goes off the tracks. Who obsesses about missing people, about what happens in Trinity. But the mystery of Trinity calls to me. If I disappear, so be it.” – Girl, you ain’t no freak show. You are so perfectly normal. And if you’re a freak show well, I guess I’m a freak show too.

What will you gain: A love for Ember and her determination to get out of the black vortex known as Trinity Forest. A hate for Zoe’s sweet yet bossy attitude of not giving a shit about anything. A love-hate for Lilly and her psychotic yet charming sides. A love for Tre, my favorite character in the entire novel.

Aesthetics: The cover. The way Tre smiles. The entire book. The way Tre looks. The way Jennifer Alsever describes Synesthesia within Ember’s mind. Have I mentioned Tre and how much I really dig him?

“Would you sacrifice your future to forget your past.”
  
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Lee Ann (116 KP) rated Moonlight Sins in Books

May 18, 2018  
Moonlight Sins
Moonlight Sins
Jennifer L Armentrout | 2018 | Romance
7
7.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
This book is so awkward. That's really the only way I can put it. The female MC flits between sounding like a woman in her 20s to a teenager and back again with alarming regularity.

The three de Vincent brothers are flat. It's like JLA picked out three primary alpha male qualities, gave one to each and figured that was enough. Devlin is the silent, mysterious one, Gabe is the easygoing one and Lucian is the playboy. Each trope isn't a bad one, but there's barely any fleshing out.

The plot alludes to ghosts haunting the house, but nothing ever really comes of that other than ghostly footsteps and flickering lights happening here and there but have no real impact on the story, it's like they're used as an excuse for mystery.

The primary storyline is okay - Lucian is painted as a womaniser at first, and the first few scenes with him are boring and predictable. When he first meets Julia, the JLA we know and love shines through for a while, with witty banter and Lucian gets a little bit of padding.

Sadly, the plot seems to lose its way at some point - it's almost like she's trying to hard and throwing as much into the mix as she can to ensure she covers all bases.

The result is a messy read, up and down, good parts and bad. It reads mostly like it should be YA, but with some of the most awkward sex scenes with things like "he caught her nipple between thumb and forefinger and did something that...." lots of sentences in these scenes end with "did something that..." we never find out what that something is lol

Overall, it's not horrible, but it was awkward and clumsy. I do have the second one on preorder, so we'll see..
  
Winter Moon (Walker Papers, #1.5)
Winter Moon (Walker Papers, #1.5)
Mercedes Lackey | 2005 | Science Fiction/Fantasy
8
8.0 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
The first story by Mercedes Lackey is meant to take place in her world of the Five Hundred Kingdoms, minus the power of The Tradition to force things a certain way. The only clue the I found that could indicate that this story would fit in the Five Hundred Kingdoms is the presence of the Fool. Other than that, it simply read as a good fantasy plotline, with equal parts romance, intrigue, and adventure. The story wrapped up nicely, with no loose ends, but I would love to read a full novel about the Grey Ladies - not much information is given on this group of women and they certainly have much potential for a good full-length story.

The second story is by Tanith Lee, whom I have never read before now. I rather enjoyed the world development, despite the length she had to work in, and the imagery was both mysterious and beautiful. After I read the story, I went looking online to see if this world fit into any other novels, but I could not find any information on this. Still, I plan to check out more of her work now.

The third story by C. E. Murphy takes place in her Walker Papers series, specifically between the first and second book. Since I have only read the first two books in the series, I thoroughly appreciated how this story filled in a few blanks for me about what is happening in the series. In this story, Joanne learns about her deceased mother, who turns out to be quite a fascinating character. I think I may even prefer her to Joanne. It can't be easy for the author to translate a thick Scottish accent onto paper, either. Now I am anxious to read more of the Walker Papers series.
  
The Centurion's Wife (Acts of Faith, #1)
The Centurion's Wife (Acts of Faith, #1)
Davis Bunn | 2009 | Fiction & Poetry
8
8.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
This book was a wonderful surprise in both its accuracy in utilizing the Biblical account, as well as its mastery in enlivening the recorded events pulled from the Bible by weaving in the fictional story of Leah. I have read these parts of the Bible more times than I can count, but this novel made the events fresh and exciting, as if I were living in the time period and watching them first hand. It made me realize as I read it how much I take for granted in having the completed Bible, which those first believers did not have. I could relate quite easily to some of the characters, especially the portrayal of Mary Magdalene. I also especially loved how the authors described the scene at Pentacost, as well as the allusions to the wedding in Revelation using Leah's wedding plans.
This book is the first book in the series Acts of Faith, which I like because not only are all the loose threads not accounted for, but also because I would love to see other Biblical characters portrayed by these authors, such as Paul. I look forward to continuing the series with the next book, The Hidden Flame.
This is how Christian fiction should be written, in my humble opinion. The beliefs and doubts of the characters are real and believable - even to the point of looking messy and contradictory. Their faith hasn't been softened and molded by political correctness, too afraid to quote more than a few fee-good verses from Psalms or even use the name of Jesus. A Christian is not a one-dimensional type-cast description, and neither should the characters in a Christian fiction novel be.
  
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Simon Joseph (14 KP) rated Final Space in TV

May 1, 2019  
Final Space
Final Space
2018 | Animation, Comedy, Sci-Fi
9
7.2 (26 Ratings)
TV Show Rating
The writing and plot are amazing (4 more)
Character development is incredible and you really get to know them in the short time you have with them
The relationahips between the characters is also diverse and emotive
The script is geat and funnier than you expect after the first 1 or 2 episodes
Can only be reviled in the adult animated category by Rick & Morty or maybe Archer
It can take the first 2 episodes to really grasp what's going on and how it's being shown to you but after that it's easy to fall in love with the characters and the show (0 more)
A hilarious animated action comedy series filled with drama and emotional scenes that get you right in that little soft spot you have!
I don't like giving too much away when giving a full review but I stumbled upon this show on Netflix and was intruiged straight after the first episode which, yes is a little slow but is just laying out the story so it doesn't waste lots of episodes doing this and you can dive right into the adventure.

It is about a character called Gary who is portrayed and seen as a bit of a Village Idiot in a futuristic version of Earth. Essentially the show follows his journey and you watch his character develop into a potential hero that you thought he could be but could always still screw it up. You meet a vast array of characters and have an emotional roller-coaster of a time following their journey.

I would highly recommend the show if you're a fan of well written humour and perfectly timed wit as well as the adult animation genre like Archer and Rick & Morty.
  
The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part (2019)
The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part (2019)
2019 | Adventure, Animation, Comedy
Smashing
#legomovie2 is a sequel that manages to out brick the first film & fly straight into your #heart #spaceship first. I loved the first lego movie & absolutely adored the #legoninjago movie but wasn't entirely sure if we needed anymore of them. That being said Im happy to report that the second lego movie is infact really #awesome & while not laugh out loud funny its by far the most interesting & varied one out of the bunch. This time the story is centred around #love, change & the inner battles we all face on a day to day basis with strong themes of battling #depression, realising self worth, being who you are/trying to fit in & trust it gets #pretty complex at times too & as i left i overheard kids telling their parents that they didnt get it. That being said there is enough visual variety, visual pop & #crazy #music numbers to keep people of all ages engrossed the entire run time too. Talking of visuals the #beauty/complexity of the animation & textures has been severely ramped up this time, figures have dust, muck, scratches & chipped paint galore making the real world connection to these plastic blocks even more prominent. Riding on movie cliches & poking fun of other films is a big part of this film too as are various #popculture #cameos & they fit perfectly/bring a #smile (there are some really niche one too like #starshiptroopers & #2001aspaceodyssey which isreally #cool to see). #legomovie 2 really is a lot of #fun & with a good over all message letting us all know that sometimes not everything is awesome.... but that's ok is something i feel a lot of us can certainly learn from. Take the #family to see it you'll all have a blast i promise. #odeon #odeonlimitless #filmbuff #filmcritic #lego #weekend #kids #family #funny #silly #saturday
  
Over Raging Tides (Lady Pirates, #1)
Over Raging Tides (Lady Pirates, #1)
Jennifer Ellision | 2018 | Science Fiction/Fantasy, Young Adult (YA)
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Over Raging Tides (Lady Pirates, #1) by Jennifer Ellision
Over Raging Tides is the first book in the Lady Pirates series, and going by this one, I can't wait to continue with this series. Grace has been a pirate since the age of seven, and is now Quartermaster and First Mate of Lady Luck, a pirate ship with an all-female crew. There is rivalry between her and Celia, the other woman who wanted the Quartermaster role. Grace's mother was taken from her when she was younger, by creatures of the sea that aren't friendly! Everyone presumes she is dead, including her love, the Captain of the ship. Things get interesting when Grace rescues two brothers from the Mordgris and brings them on-board. Her life changes and she sees things she never saw before.

This story was amazing and gripped me from the very start. The world building is amazing, and rich in history. The characters are well developed, although obviously some are more than others. One of my favourite characters is Sam, and I can't wait to see what she will do next. There were no editing or grammatical errors that disrupted my reading flow, and the pacing was very smooth.

One word for you though - cliffhanger! This is the first book in the series so it does end with one almighty cliffhanger that will leave you wanting book two immediately. Unfortunately for me, it's not actually released yet, so I will have to wait oh-so-patiently!

For a clean, nautical adventure, with magic, mayhem, and a good dosing of rum, then I can highly recommend this book! Another corker by Jennifer Ellision.

* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and my comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
  
That's My Ethan
That's My Ethan
Tarian P.S. | 2018 | Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance
8
7.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
really REALLY enjoyed this!
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.

Damir met Ethan at a college coffee and was SMITTEN. It's the only word to describe how he felt about Ethan. And this is their story: the true story of love at first sight.

I liked this one! I LIKED it a LOT!!!

Damir is in a frat house, and is, by his own admission, a bit of a man-whore. Ethan is. . . not. And like a moth to a flame, Ethan pulls Damir in, and keeps him close by throwing that 6 months wait time him! Loved that! Loved that it was ETHAN who called time, so close to the end and finally gave in!

But what I particularly liked about this one, was the development of the D/s relationship between Damir and Ethan. That Damir didn't know he was a Dom till his friend, Lance, pointed it out. That Ethan didn't know what he needed, til Damir gave it to him.

I loved that Lance taught Damir how to wield a flogger correctly, how to restrain and how to push Ethan way more than Damir could have on his own. All too often, these books have experienced Dom and newbie subs, and we don't get HOW the Doms are taught.

While I am aware this is based around a true story, I didn't read it as such.

It is written in the first person, from both Damir and Ethan's point of view, and there are a lot of flipping from one to the other inside of the chapters, sometimes from page to page BUT each change is clearly headed. So you know who is talking to you.

First I've read of this author, I'd like to read more!

4 solid stars

**same worded review will appear elsewhere**
  
Mr. Kiss and Tell (Veronica Mars #2)
Mr. Kiss and Tell (Veronica Mars #2)
Rob Thomas | 2015 | Mystery
9
8.8 (4 Ratings)
Book Rating
Can Veronica Track Down an Attacker?
This book finds Veronica Mars hired by the Neptune Grand to clear them of responsibility for an attack that left a young woman almost dead several miles away. Before she was found, she was last in the hotel. At first, she claims she can't remember what happened in the attack, but then she names someone on the hotel's staff. With a client who wants Veronica to prove them innocent and a victim who thinks Veronica's only motive is to discredit her, can she find the truth? Meanwhile, Weevil's trial is winding down. Will the jury reach the correct verdict? And will Veronica's father ever be able to use the stories he's found of the Sherriff department's evidence planting?

Having been a fan of the Veronica Mars TV show since the pilot aired, I'm a bit surprised it took me so long to read this second book. I'm glad I finally did because I loved it. The mystery introduced here was great, and it gave us a good excuse to check in with many of our favorite characters. We even saw some minor characters again. The characters are all fantastic. I was most surprised by how much I grew to appreciate Veronica and Logan's relationship, something I'd never been a fan of in the TV series. Like with the first book, I wish this had been told in Veronica's first-person narration – I missed her snarky narration from the series. But that's a minor complaint. Fans of the series will definitely love it. Those new to the franchise might have trouble appreciating everything that happens here, but the obvious solution is to go back and watch the show. You'll find it is well worth your time.