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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2273 KP) rated Permanently Booked in Books
Feb 22, 2019
Who Help the Librarian Check out Permanently?
Summer Smythe and Dorothy Westin are taking some books to be donated to the Hibiscus Pointe library when they find the body of Lorella, the librarian, on the floor in the stacks. Summer is certain that the strange encounter they had on their way into the library is the best clue to the killer, but Dorothy thinks the book club that Lorella was trying to start in the retirement community might hold the clue. Can the duo work together again to solve the latest mystery?
I really enjoyed the first book in this series, and it was great to get to visit Dorothy and Summer again. They may be very different people, but they make a fantastic team. We get to see that as the book spends equal time in their third person points of view. This technique is perfectly used to allow them both to drive the mystery at various times. The plot is great with several viable suspects and keep us guessing until the end. I did think one or two minor things were left dangling, but it wasn’t a big deal since the important pieces of the puzzle were resolved. The characters range from fairly normal to wacky in a fun way, and I loved spending time with them. If you are looking for a light mystery, this is one to book to put on your reading schedule soon.
I really enjoyed the first book in this series, and it was great to get to visit Dorothy and Summer again. They may be very different people, but they make a fantastic team. We get to see that as the book spends equal time in their third person points of view. This technique is perfectly used to allow them both to drive the mystery at various times. The plot is great with several viable suspects and keep us guessing until the end. I did think one or two minor things were left dangling, but it wasn’t a big deal since the important pieces of the puzzle were resolved. The characters range from fairly normal to wacky in a fun way, and I loved spending time with them. If you are looking for a light mystery, this is one to book to put on your reading schedule soon.
Merissa (12351 KP) rated Red Waters (Tainted Waters #3) in Books
Mar 8, 2019
Red Waters (Tainted Waters #3) by India R. Adams
Red Waters is the third book in the Tainted Waters series, and we suddenly explore a dark and dangerous place with Whit. She starts off by wanting to find Yury, but instead, she is found instead. Her world changes to something so prevalent and yet unrecognisable.
Ms. Adams gives you an insight into the world of human trafficking, and no matter how horrendous, how descriptive her writing is, how it breaks your heart to read - you just know that this is merely the tip of the iceberg.
This is a hard book to read, so I can only imagine how hard it was to write. It is told first person, present tense, so you are with Whit and all she endures. You stay there when the clear lines between black and white blur and become grey.
There are two further books in this series yet to come, and I absolutely can't wait!! Ms. Adams' writing continues to evolve with each book of hers I read. The standard is exceptional, and the story matter makes you think. With no editing or grammatical errors that I noticed, this book was devoured in one sitting. Absolutely outstanding, and highly 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!
Ms. Adams gives you an insight into the world of human trafficking, and no matter how horrendous, how descriptive her writing is, how it breaks your heart to read - you just know that this is merely the tip of the iceberg.
This is a hard book to read, so I can only imagine how hard it was to write. It is told first person, present tense, so you are with Whit and all she endures. You stay there when the clear lines between black and white blur and become grey.
There are two further books in this series yet to come, and I absolutely can't wait!! Ms. Adams' writing continues to evolve with each book of hers I read. The standard is exceptional, and the story matter makes you think. With no editing or grammatical errors that I noticed, this book was devoured in one sitting. Absolutely outstanding, and highly 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!
Neon's Nerd Nexus (360 KP) rated Angel-A (2005) in Movies
May 13, 2019
Je t'aime
My number 3 title in my #top10 #favourite films is 'Angel-a'
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#Angela is a very underrated #lucbesson movie but for me its his absolute best work. This #film has had such a massive impact on my life/who I am as a person & for that reason alone its a film I hold so close to my #heart. Essentially a #love story but different to the kind we are used to #Angel-a is #heartbreaking, #funny, #strange & visually #breathtaking. Teaching not only about the importance of love but more about the importance of learning to #loveyourself first Angel-a has such a powerful message especially for people feeling lost in life. Simply #beautiful to look at with every scene looking like a piece of art & directed with such #passion, love & care that I was pulled right into its #weird & wonderful story right from the start. Its an #emotional rollercoaster at times hitting you right in the heart but it also has just enough #crazy Besson style & humour to make it truly unique & different to what you would expect from the genre. Seemingly #inspired by the film wingsofdesire by #wimwenders & just like it Angle-a too is also rich in #philosophy & the cast is an absolute joy to watch. While not for everyone I simply can not describe how much I adore this movie. ------------------------------------------------
#filmbuff #filmcritic #angel #heaven #magical #fantasy #art #artsy #french #wednesdaywisdom
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#Angela is a very underrated #lucbesson movie but for me its his absolute best work. This #film has had such a massive impact on my life/who I am as a person & for that reason alone its a film I hold so close to my #heart. Essentially a #love story but different to the kind we are used to #Angel-a is #heartbreaking, #funny, #strange & visually #breathtaking. Teaching not only about the importance of love but more about the importance of learning to #loveyourself first Angel-a has such a powerful message especially for people feeling lost in life. Simply #beautiful to look at with every scene looking like a piece of art & directed with such #passion, love & care that I was pulled right into its #weird & wonderful story right from the start. Its an #emotional rollercoaster at times hitting you right in the heart but it also has just enough #crazy Besson style & humour to make it truly unique & different to what you would expect from the genre. Seemingly #inspired by the film wingsofdesire by #wimwenders & just like it Angle-a too is also rich in #philosophy & the cast is an absolute joy to watch. While not for everyone I simply can not describe how much I adore this movie. ------------------------------------------------
#filmbuff #filmcritic #angel #heaven #magical #fantasy #art #artsy #french #wednesdaywisdom
Billie Wichkan (118 KP) rated As Long as We Both Shall Live in Books
May 22, 2019
My wife! I think sheÂ’s dead!Â’ Matt frantically calls to park rangers, explaining that he and his wife, Marie, were out hiking when she stumbled on a cliff edge and fell into the raging river below. They start a search but arenÂ’t hopeful: no one could have survived that fall.
ItÂ’s a tragic accident.
But when police discover Matt’s first wife also died in suspicious circumstances – a fire in their family home – they have a lot more questions for him.
Is Matt a grieving husband, or has he just killed his second wife? Detectives Loren and Spengler dig into the coupleÂ’s lives to see what they can unearth. And they find that loveÂ’s got teeth, itÂ’s got claws, and once it hitches you to a person, itÂ’s tough to rip yourself free.
So what happens when youÂ’re done making it work?
Well this is one crazy warped marriage ride!
Seriously I found myself laughing at the antics and thoughts of these two at times; then on the flip side being gripped by the suspense.
I really enjoyed this one.
Read what happens when 20 years of marriage becomes a minefield of love/hate.
If you love psychological twisty thrillers as much as me then you need to read this one!
Recommend reading.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-book ARC to read and review. This is my honest voluntary review.
ItÂ’s a tragic accident.
But when police discover Matt’s first wife also died in suspicious circumstances – a fire in their family home – they have a lot more questions for him.
Is Matt a grieving husband, or has he just killed his second wife? Detectives Loren and Spengler dig into the coupleÂ’s lives to see what they can unearth. And they find that loveÂ’s got teeth, itÂ’s got claws, and once it hitches you to a person, itÂ’s tough to rip yourself free.
So what happens when youÂ’re done making it work?
Well this is one crazy warped marriage ride!
Seriously I found myself laughing at the antics and thoughts of these two at times; then on the flip side being gripped by the suspense.
I really enjoyed this one.
Read what happens when 20 years of marriage becomes a minefield of love/hate.
If you love psychological twisty thrillers as much as me then you need to read this one!
Recommend reading.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-book ARC to read and review. This is my honest voluntary review.
Billie Wichkan (118 KP) rated You Die Next (Starke & Bell, #2) in Books
May 22, 2019
When a group of urban explorers stumble across a murderer's kill room in a derelict film studio, terror strikes. And when one of the group is found dead, the team realise - they're being hunted.
DI Dominic Bell is investigating the murder, but as the body count rises, time is running out. The only person who can help him is a figure from his past, Clementine Starke - but Clementine is haunted by her own demons. Can the two of them pair up to catch the killer? Or is it already too late?
This is the second book of Clementine Starke, DI Dominic Bell stories.
You don't have to have read the first one to read this one as there is enough back story provided to fill you in.
This story revolves around a group of Urban Explorers that see something they shouldn't have.
Along side this we have Starke and Bell who have their own demons they are dealing with.
This was a great story and I loved the plot and it was definitely a new premise to have the plot around.
Great characters and love seeing a bit more insight into our main ones.
We had lots of twists and turns and an ending I didn't see coming.
Looking forward to the next in series.
Recommend reading!
My thanks to Orion Publishing Group, the Author for an eARC via NetGalley; this is my honest opinion.
DI Dominic Bell is investigating the murder, but as the body count rises, time is running out. The only person who can help him is a figure from his past, Clementine Starke - but Clementine is haunted by her own demons. Can the two of them pair up to catch the killer? Or is it already too late?
This is the second book of Clementine Starke, DI Dominic Bell stories.
You don't have to have read the first one to read this one as there is enough back story provided to fill you in.
This story revolves around a group of Urban Explorers that see something they shouldn't have.
Along side this we have Starke and Bell who have their own demons they are dealing with.
This was a great story and I loved the plot and it was definitely a new premise to have the plot around.
Great characters and love seeing a bit more insight into our main ones.
We had lots of twists and turns and an ending I didn't see coming.
Looking forward to the next in series.
Recommend reading!
My thanks to Orion Publishing Group, the Author for an eARC via NetGalley; this is my honest opinion.
Merissa (12351 KP) rated Driving Whiskey Wild (The Whiskeys #3) in Books
Feb 13, 2018
Driving Whiskey Wild (The Whiskeys #3) by Melissa Foster
Driving Whiskey Wild is the third book in The Whiskeys series, but each book is written so it is standalone. Saying that, I would have loved to have read the first two books, simply because I'm nosy and like to see how everyone pairs up! In this book, we find out about Bullet. He is the mean and moody, belligerent and broody, alpha male - that is, until you get to know him and then you find out he has a marshmallow centre! The woman who gets under his skin is his total opposite in every way. Finlay is sweet, so much so he calls her 'lollipop', she prefers skirts and dresses, and has that sunny, 'everything is wonderful' attitude that made my teeth hurt. However, underneath, she is trying to keep everything together just as much as the next person. These two actually make a wonderful pair, and round each other out.
This was very well written, with no editing or grammatical errors that disrupted my reading flow. The characters are great, and you meet characters from the other books without them taking over the current story. If you are looking for a steamy, positive read, then I can definitely recommend this book.
* 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!
This was very well written, with no editing or grammatical errors that disrupted my reading flow. The characters are great, and you meet characters from the other books without them taking over the current story. If you are looking for a steamy, positive read, then I can definitely recommend this book.
* 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!
Lindsay (1727 KP) rated Horse Camp in Books
Feb 15, 2018
This book is read though the eyes of Percy and Penny. The twins take turns tell you about their lives and about their family and trouble though their eyes. They are staying with their Uncle Stretch for the summer, for their mother is sent to jail.
They are trying adjust to all the changes that are happening to their family. Percy and Penny and their little brother Pauly are sent to live with their uncle until their mom and dad try to work things out. Percy and Penny are living with an uncle they do not know.
Penny writes in her diary and to her mom and dad though out the book. She also writing to someone in Africa that she is sponsoring. Percy tell his story though first person and describes it as a book read it. It make sent though this point a view. As for Penny is always writing in diary or writing a letter to family member. You can see the the twins moods and see the changes though the book.
I really can not tell that plot of this story is? All I could get out the story is that the twins were trying to adjust a new life and new family members or people. I only could get is that it was being read though the twins perceptive or though there eyes. You can make your own decision.
They are trying adjust to all the changes that are happening to their family. Percy and Penny and their little brother Pauly are sent to live with their uncle until their mom and dad try to work things out. Percy and Penny are living with an uncle they do not know.
Penny writes in her diary and to her mom and dad though out the book. She also writing to someone in Africa that she is sponsoring. Percy tell his story though first person and describes it as a book read it. It make sent though this point a view. As for Penny is always writing in diary or writing a letter to family member. You can see the the twins moods and see the changes though the book.
I really can not tell that plot of this story is? All I could get out the story is that the twins were trying to adjust a new life and new family members or people. I only could get is that it was being read though the twins perceptive or though there eyes. You can make your own decision.
Disclaimer: I received a copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Elaine and her mother have a special relationship, the kind every parent and child strive for. They have their ups and downs, but they both know the love and support of the other is there. That comes into play in a slow crawl towards dementia for Elaine's mother, Betty. First, it's the little things, but it slowly gets worse as time goes by, and Elaine has chronicled that journey, both for her mother as well as herself, in this wonderful book.
I used to work for a Neurology clinic where we saw many patients with Dementia, and while I could recognize the signs and symptoms because of that, it's understandable how someone so close to the person could miss them, or push them aside as something else. To see how Elaine and the rest of her family coped with this illness, and for her to share such a personal story in such a public way, is very awe-inspiring, and I wish both her and the rest of her family all the best. I feel as though this book could help open someone's eyes to what a family member or friend might be experiencing, and while it's a very emotional read, I would recommend everyone I know to give it a shot for that very reason.
5 stars
Elaine and her mother have a special relationship, the kind every parent and child strive for. They have their ups and downs, but they both know the love and support of the other is there. That comes into play in a slow crawl towards dementia for Elaine's mother, Betty. First, it's the little things, but it slowly gets worse as time goes by, and Elaine has chronicled that journey, both for her mother as well as herself, in this wonderful book.
I used to work for a Neurology clinic where we saw many patients with Dementia, and while I could recognize the signs and symptoms because of that, it's understandable how someone so close to the person could miss them, or push them aside as something else. To see how Elaine and the rest of her family coped with this illness, and for her to share such a personal story in such a public way, is very awe-inspiring, and I wish both her and the rest of her family all the best. I feel as though this book could help open someone's eyes to what a family member or friend might be experiencing, and while it's a very emotional read, I would recommend everyone I know to give it a shot for that very reason.
5 stars
Kristin (149 KP) rated The Book of Paul in Books
Dec 7, 2018
Disclaimer: I received an e-copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.
The Book of Paul is a story told my multiple viewpoints, sometimes in first person, sometimes in third, between the characters of Paul, Martin, and William (the narrator), with a little bit of Rose's story thrown in occasionally. From the very beginning, I was definitely intrigued, as it's just a different kind of book from what I normally read, but in a good way. Once some of the paranormal aspects came in, along with the lineage back to certain historical characters, it definitely kept my attention. However, it is a very long book (which is no problem for me), so there were times where I had to just set it down for a little bit and get a grip on what I'd just finished.
Honestly, I liked this book. I found it a little weird at times, a little hard to wrap my head around, but for the most part, I enjoyed reading it. I would recommend it to those who like a little history, a little religion, and a lot of paranormal and action. For me, it's not a book I could've read in one sitting, but I definitely would've read a lot faster if I hadn't had to work. It's definitely an interesting story, and I want to continue the 7-volume series when I have a little more time. =)
4 stars
The Book of Paul is a story told my multiple viewpoints, sometimes in first person, sometimes in third, between the characters of Paul, Martin, and William (the narrator), with a little bit of Rose's story thrown in occasionally. From the very beginning, I was definitely intrigued, as it's just a different kind of book from what I normally read, but in a good way. Once some of the paranormal aspects came in, along with the lineage back to certain historical characters, it definitely kept my attention. However, it is a very long book (which is no problem for me), so there were times where I had to just set it down for a little bit and get a grip on what I'd just finished.
Honestly, I liked this book. I found it a little weird at times, a little hard to wrap my head around, but for the most part, I enjoyed reading it. I would recommend it to those who like a little history, a little religion, and a lot of paranormal and action. For me, it's not a book I could've read in one sitting, but I definitely would've read a lot faster if I hadn't had to work. It's definitely an interesting story, and I want to continue the 7-volume series when I have a little more time. =)
4 stars
Sarah (7799 KP) rated Fortitude - Season 1 in TV
Dec 9, 2018
A genre-spanning atmospheric thriller
I watched Fortitude when it first aired a few years ago, and have decided to give it another watch now to refresh my memory now the final series has aired.
Fortitude is set in a beautiful location in the arctic, and the show really makes the most of showing off this location as often as possible. The plot itself is intriguing and bonkers, but yet doesn't quite go too far. It spans a verify of genres, from murder mystery and crime to drama and gory horror, and it does this really well. Some of the gory horror parts are actually quite disturbing (in an good). This is also a very character driven story, and most of the characters in this are well rounded and developed. It has a fantastic cast including some very well known faces like Stanley Tucci and Michael Gambon. However for me it's Richard Dormer that truly shines in this. He gives Dan a lot of depth and despite his errant and sometime psychotic ways, you do still feel sorry for him. I find it difficult to accept that this is the same person who plays Beric Dondarrion in GoT, he's that good an actor.
If you're looking for something that's well acted, doesn't stick to a specific genre and is honestly a little bizarre and unusual, then this is definitely worth a watch.
Fortitude is set in a beautiful location in the arctic, and the show really makes the most of showing off this location as often as possible. The plot itself is intriguing and bonkers, but yet doesn't quite go too far. It spans a verify of genres, from murder mystery and crime to drama and gory horror, and it does this really well. Some of the gory horror parts are actually quite disturbing (in an good). This is also a very character driven story, and most of the characters in this are well rounded and developed. It has a fantastic cast including some very well known faces like Stanley Tucci and Michael Gambon. However for me it's Richard Dormer that truly shines in this. He gives Dan a lot of depth and despite his errant and sometime psychotic ways, you do still feel sorry for him. I find it difficult to accept that this is the same person who plays Beric Dondarrion in GoT, he's that good an actor.
If you're looking for something that's well acted, doesn't stick to a specific genre and is honestly a little bizarre and unusual, then this is definitely worth a watch.