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Every Waking Hour
Every Waking Hour
Joanna Schaffhausen | 2021 | Crime, Mystery
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Another thrilling entry in the Ellery & Reed series
Ellery Hathaway is trying to have a normal life. She's attempting to become a police detective in Boston. She's even trying to have a relationship with Reed Markham. But then Chloe Lockhart, a twelve-year-old girl, goes missing, and the case threatens everything Ellery has tried to build. Ellery has many scars--physical and emotional--from her own kidnapping. Is sending a former kidnapped child out to find another the right thing to do? Every moment that Chloe is missing reminds Ellery of her past--and how much she wants, needs, to find Chloe.

I just love the Ellery and Reed series so very much. Book number four is yet another excellent entry. There are two parallel case running, and both keep your attention. I love the tension between Reed and Ellery and how well so many present-day cases can tie back to Ellery's past. She's damaged, yes, but so strong. This is a compelling read, with plenty of twists and turns to keep you reading. And, the epilogue, oh my gosh! What a cliffhanger!

I cannot recommend this entire series enough! 4 stars, and I cannot wait for book #5.
  
Hotel Artemis (2018)
Hotel Artemis (2018)
2018 | Action, Crime, Sci-Fi
Hmm... I don't know. I really enjoyed this film...

The cast was brilliant. Sterling K. Brown and Jodie Foster were excellent. Dave Bautista always with the lovable tough guy. And who doesn't like watching Sofia Boutella beat the hell out of people?! I even loved Goldblum's short appearance in it, his slightly eccentric style wasn't too overpowering on everything that was going on and he worked really well as the big bad.

My main objection, and I think the reason I didn't give this the last half star, is Zachary Quinto. I wouldn't actively avoid anything with him in it... It's not like I have a choice when he's in Star Trek. But he just didn't sit right in this character for me. Yes I understand that he's supposed to be having a bit of a power trip and isn't in any way like his father, but it felt like he was in a completely different film to everyone else.

I found it genuinely enjoyable to watch, and I'll certainly see it again. Although yet again as I've been writing this I'm wavering on my score. In any case, it would still be at least four stars. I'm definitely not in enough doubt that I'm going to go and change it.
  
My Favorite Half-Night Stand
My Favorite Half-Night Stand
Christina Lauren | 2018 | Romance
7
6.5 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
Millie has always been one of the guys. She has four best guy friends—fellow professors. With an upcoming social function planned at the university, the group makes a pact that they will join an online dating service to find plus-ones for the event. But Millie and Reid have recently (secretly) shared a sexy night together. Hence the online dating plan offers some issues. So Millie comes up with “Catherine”—a pretend persona who lets her be more vulnerable than her more closed off self. Then Millie matches with the unaware Reid. Oh yeah, here comes trouble...

Oh, beach reads I love thee! I’m so enjoying catching up on Christina Lauren's back catalog! Although very much based on lying, which is a plot point that often stresses me out, I enjoyed My Favorite Half-Night Stand.

This was such an easy-to-read book. Millie is likable, and I could definitely relate to a slightly reticent, closed off soul. 😉 Yes, I did stress out a bit with all the lies and machinations! But, the book was very funny, sexy, and sweet! Millie’s group of friends was wonderful—just a humorous and fun cast. The chemistry between Millie and Reid was great, too! Definitely a good read! 3.5 stars.
  
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Common Powers Box Set
Common Powers Box Set
Lynn Lorenz | 2019 | Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Science Fiction/Fantasy
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
good, but not great.
Indepedent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this box set.

Four stories, of men coming together when they need each other the most.

Sammi is running away from being a sex slave, can Mitchell keep him safe?

Brian and Rush have chemistry, and they haven't even touched, but can Rush step out of the dark for Brian?

Edward is in town to visit his grandmother. The Chief of Police, Jack, is so NOT his type. So why is he drawn so badly to the man?

After a homophobic attack, Phillip finds himself taken in by Brian and Rush, and Phillip can only hope to have the kind of relationship they do.

For the most part, I did enjoy these four books, but maybe reading them back to back wasn't the best idea.

The general plot lines are very similar, and some dialogue is repaeted, particularly in the final book, when ALL four guys have a say, and it is especially when the guys are getting down and dirty! And they get down and dirty a LOT in that last book! And I'm not usually one to bawk at a lot of down and dirty but I did feel that it overshadowed Phillip's story.

I did enjoy the paranormal aspect: Sammi can read minds, Brian has premonitions, Rush can see in the dark, Edward can heal by touch and Phillip can influence by touch.

I liked that all the guys in the pairings have a say, so we hear from everyone and you know that makes me happy.

I did not like the SPEED at which things moved for the first three couples. Phillip's tale was a good deal slower, with everyone else having some thing to say. The previous three though?? Very quickly it went from attraction to love, for Sammi and Mitchell, it was the first chapter! I'm all for insta-love in places, but I did not like here, especailly for Sammi because of what he was running from. But equally, Jack and Rush are hiding, deep in their only personal hall closets, and you have expected there to be a bit more reluctancy to fall in love from those two (although they DID fight it, tooth and nail!) It was just too mcuh too soon.

It is explicit, heavily so; it also carries references to murder, rape and stalking and deals with the sex industry and being held against their will.

Still, a good read, just not a brilliant one.

3 GOOD stars

**same worded review will appear elewhere**
  
Knock at the cabin (2023)
Knock at the cabin (2023)
2023 | Horror, Mystery
7
7.3 (8 Ratings)
Movie Rating
Writer/Director M. Night Shyamalan is back with his new thriller “Knock at
the Cabin” and like his earlier works; the film blends reality with
supernatural elements to put ordinary people in circumstances that are
dangerous and unnatural.
The film involves a same-sex couple named Eric (Jonathan Groff) and Andrew
(Ben Aldridge), who have taken their adopted daughter Wen (Kristen Cui),
to a secluded cabin for a relaxing vacation.

The arrival of four strangers lead by the imposing but soft-spoken Leonard
(Dave Bautista) becomes dangerous when Leonard informs them that the world
is about to end and only by choosing to sacrifice one of them can the
Apocalypse be diverted.

Leonard explains that the four had the same vision of the end of the world
and that they were drawn to save it by taking such drastic actions. They
inform their captives that they will not harm them but they will not be
allowed to leave as they must make the choice and failure to do so will
doom everyone and force the three of them to exist as the sole-survivors
of the aftermath.

Convinced that the intruders are insane; Eric and Andrew refuse the offer
and watch as one of the four captives sacrifices themselves which is soon
followed by news on the television of a massive earthquakes which resulted
in tsunamis.

Convinced it is a ruse or simply timed events to the days news; the
captives again refuse a request only to see another sacrifice followed by
more news of devastation happening around the world.

What follows is a tight thriller as Eric and Andrew learn more about their
captives and the changing world situation which forces them to confront a
world gone mad.

The film is good at setting a tone and maintaining a mild tension
throughout as the audience is left to wonder how real what is being
presented by Leonard and his associates are. I liked the fact that the
movie did not try to wrap things up nice and tidy and left the audiences
with some questions about the events as well as what would happen in the
aftermath.

Bautista gives an career-best performance and shows that his is capable of
doing more than the action-comedy genre which he has been playing to date
and I hope he continues to seek roles such as this.

While the film may not reach the levels of some of his earlier classics,
Shyamalan has crafted an entertaining film that keeps you guessing.

3.5 stars out of 5
  
The Proposition (Nights Series #6)
The Proposition (Nights Series #6)
A.M. Salinger | 2018 | Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
straight back up to 5 stars!
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.

We met Rhys and Wade in book 3, but I would say you don't need to read the other books before this one. You don't NEED to, but you'd get a better enjoyment of these if you did. And this is book 6, so get a-reading!

Wade and Rhys are partners in the firm that Gabe works for. They've know each other some 16 years. Rhys has lusted over and loved Wade for 12 of those years, and Wade has lusted over Rhys for just 12 months. 12 months ago, he caught Rhys pleasuring himself and calling out Wade's name when he did. So, 6 weeks. They have 6 weeks to get whatever *this* is, out their system. But will 6 weeks really be enough??

Did I mention that I made a new shelf for these books? No?? Oh, well I did, and I called it "fan yourself, it's a hot one!" Books one, two and three are sitting there, and now they are joined by book 6!

Because Rhys and Wade have blow your socks off chemistry! That much was obvious when we met them before but here? Once these guys admit they are doing this, this proposition, they are all in and I think they could probably give Cam and Gabe run for their money!

I loved that both men, separately of each other, came to the conclusion, very quickly, that 6 weeks would NEVER ever be enough. That it took a silly misunderstanding on Rhys' part for them to openly admit their feelings.

Loved that Gabe and Cam (books one and three) and Ethan and Joe (book two) take part here. Luke and Ash (books for and five) are mentioned, but don't appear.

These guys do say those three little words, but they also have another book planned, which is book 9, so I'd say they have their Happy For Now, rather than a Happy Ever After.

Who is book 7 and 8?? No idea, don't care, wanna read them regardless! A certain someone is a little hard done by here, and I'd love for him to have his own book.

After books one through three were five stars, we slipped a little with four and five, but whoosh! Just like that, we're back up to..

5 super sexy stars!!

**same worded review will appear elsewhere**