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The Sixth Man (King & Maxwell, #5)
The Sixth Man (King & Maxwell, #5)
David Baldacci | 2011 | Fiction & Poetry
8
8.7 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
This is the first of the Michelle Maxwell & Sean King series that I have read. I'm not normally someone who picks up a book from the middle of series...I like to read all the way through starting at book 1. However, not knowing any of the "back story" didn't harm my enjoyment of this book at all.
The premise of the book is very cloak & dagger stuff...Dept of Homeland Security, Cabinet memebers, federal prisoners, etc. There were a few places in the book that dragged a bit, but all in all it was a page turner from the outset. Maxwell & King are dynamic lead characters with more twists & turns than you can imagine. There is also a strong chemistry/attraction between them. Baldacci does a great job of putting that aspect out there without making it too sappy, something I hate in spy/action novels.
All told I really look forward to reading more books in this series, even if it means I have to read them out of order!
  
Life or Death
Life or Death
Michael Robotham | 2015 | Fiction & Poetry
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Life or Death started out super exciting, then it died for about a half a chapter and I had a really hard time getting back into it. That’s not to say it was exciting, but the characters felt a little distant at first. I couldn’t figure out what was going on in Audie’s head, so I didn’t connect with him very well at first. Once I got past that rough part, and as the story grew I learned more and more what was going on, I was totally addicted.

The story follows Audie Palmer, an unlikely criminal who turns out to be much more than expected. He is fighting very hard for something that doesn’t make sense on the surface… it’s not until you dive deeper with him that you realize just how much more there is to the story. So much love, so much hate, so much deceit.

I loved the way the story came together at the end. As I said, there were some chapters I had trouble getting into at first, but when the story ended, I wanted to applaud.
  
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Sarah (7800 KP) rated One More Light by Linkin Park in Music

May 3, 2018 (Updated May 3, 2018)  
One More Light by Linkin Park
One More Light by Linkin Park
2017 | Alternative
A beautiful final album for Chester
I know a lot of people will hate this album because it's not like the Linkin Park of old - it's not heavy and instead is verging on mainstream and poppy. But going more mainstream worked for Coldplay and Muse, and personally i think it works well for Linkin Park too, it's just a shame this will be the last time we get something quite like this.

I think this album is very poignant and beautiful, and has some fantastic songs. Title track One More Light is by far my favourite even if it is a little sad - I dare you to listen to this & not be moved. Listening to this after Chester's death is very bittersweet, to have such a good album and realise that this album along with the rest will never be performed by Linkin Park as they were.

Its a very fitting final album for Chester - albeit maybe a little too disturbingly fitting if you listen closely to some of the lyrics. Such a shame.
  
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Sue (5 KP) rated The Pajama Frame in Books

Apr 23, 2018  
The Pajama Frame
The Pajama Frame
Diane Vallere | 2018 | Mystery
8
8.0 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
The Pajama Frame is book #5 in the Madison Night Mystery series. While the books can be read as stand-alone, each preceding book builds on the characters and their relationships.

When her octogenarian friend dies and leaves interior decorator Madison Night a pajama factory, Madison is faced with a decades-old tragedy and a more recent murder. All Madison wants to do is hide from the drama, but when estranged family members and special interest groups want to get into the sealed factory, Madison realizes she is caught having to solve a mystery before she becomes the next victim.

As with previous Madison Night books, I found the character of Madison delightful and refreshing. She is no-nonsense, quirky, snarky, and a throwback to Doris Day. Who wouldn’t enjoy an independent woman that dresses and enjoys decorations from the era of the fifties and sixties? Add to the mix a love/hate relationship with the chief of police Tex and a few witty friends & neighbors; you have the perfect chemistry for a delightful cozy mystery series.
  
As I Am
As I Am
Melissa Collins | 2018 | Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
3 good solid stars
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.

I thought I was getting over the first person/multi point of view thing, you know, but it appears that I still prefer to LISTEN to first person books than READ them.

That said, I enjoyed this, mostly. It's not a difficult, complicated read. It's quite emotional in places, Chase has to deal with the aftermath of his parents death, bringing up his younger brother in the best way he can. Noah is dealing with the aftermath of that too, but in a very different way. It's sexy in places, and inspiring in other, Chase's brother has a wise head on his 17 year shoulders.

It just didn't blow me away. It was a nice book, that is the best word I can come with, and ya'll know how much I hate using the N word!

It's told from both men's point of view, and the story flows well.

I just didn't love it.

3 good stars

**same worded review will appear elsewhere**
  
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ClareR (5950 KP) rated Ghost Wall in Books

Feb 11, 2019  
Ghost Wall
Ghost Wall
Sarah Moss | 2019 | Fiction & Poetry
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
A disturbing look at family dynamics.
This novella really packs a punch. Its uncomfortable subject matter is presented in an uncomfortable setting. Slivie, her checkout assistant mum and bus driver dad, spend their summer holidays recreating life in Iron Age Britain, along with an archaeology professor and some of his students. Silvie's dad is a very keen, knowledgable amateur archaeologist, and is well respected by the professor. However, he is an unhappy man. He seems to hate the way he lives, and takes his frustrations (physically) out on his wife and daughter. I actually thought Silvie was far younger than it transpired that she was, purely because of the way her father spoke to and treated her.
The book becomes darker as it goes on, as we see more of Silvie's dads' outdated ideas of masculinity and a woman's station in life, and the conclusion is simply stunning.
This is well worth a read in my opinion.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy of this book to read and fairly review.
  
Voyage of the Fox Rider (Mithgar (Chronological) #2)
Voyage of the Fox Rider (Mithgar (Chronological) #2)
Dennis L. McKiernan | 2019 | Science Fiction/Fantasy
6
8.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
many cultures (1 more)
diversity
lots of ship jargon (2 more)
slow at times
written dialects can be hard to follow
Don't read this series in chronological order. There are some spoilers in the epilogue. If you aren't hooked by chapter 14 or 15 you more than likely won't enjoy the rest of the book. Although, I wouldn't mind if you proved me wrong. Alamar's character is a love/hate guy especially because he enjoys arguing it'll get on your nerves or roll off your back depending on who he reminds you about. Jinnarin is a Pysk that hasn't really been away from home she is naive and surprised that the world is different than what she was told or thought.
about 3/4ths of the book is on a ship. Voyage is in the title... this is important.. VOYAGE is in the title. There are a lot of slow parts of the ship hasn't gotten to a destination what will we do? Talk philosophy , plann and descriptions of the ship. Heaps and Heaps of ship descriptions.
  
Of Mice and Men
Of Mice and Men
John Steinbeck, Susan Shillinglaw | 2013 | Fiction & Poetry
8
7.2 (50 Ratings)
Book Rating
Pros:
▪Short story
▪Descriptive writing
▪Strong plot
Cons:
▪Emotional
Moving into March strong, I wanted a quick read last night so picked this one out of my TBR. It took me approx 1 hour to read.
I read this one in school many years ago but hated it, absolutely hated it, the teachers make you judge it and for this reason I think this book is so underrated by many generations! If you previously read this in school and feel you hate it, I really suggest you try read it again, you'll appreciate it so much more.
The narrative is strong and descriptive, yet short and to the point, making it flow really nicely. I feel that this story is about the misunderstood and the unloved, the people who are over looked, judged and forgotten. It ends tragically for a very innocent and naive character. I felt much more of a connection to it this time round and felt the rollercoaster of emotions aswell. Despite this being a marmite book, this is a classic and always will be.
  
Sherlock Holmes (2009)
Sherlock Holmes (2009)
2009 | Action, Drama, Mystery
Gorgeous Imagery (1 more)
A wonderful Portrayal of a Classic Character
Humorous And Absolutely Wonderful
I find that this movie tends to get a bad rap and I will admit based on the multiple portrayals we see of Sherlock Holmes in the modern area this is no match for Cumberbatch's portrayal. However, I love it all the same. Even if people hate on it no one can tell me that this film holds any less whimsy or joy that Sherlock Holmes offers. The since of mystery and adventure bring a me much joy as I watch him piece things together without giving a damn for how it may make him look or a care for other's opinions. Everyone's portrayal of Sherlock is different and even if it's not Cumberbatch I love this one all the same and enjoyed every last second of this film. From the gorgeous imagery and scenes painted on the screen to the hilarious banter passed back and forth between the characters, this is a film one could watch again and again.
  
Slaughterhouse-Five
Slaughterhouse-Five
Kurt Vonnegut | 1969 | Science Fiction/Fantasy
10
8.0 (9 Ratings)
Book Rating
So it goes...
Like most Vonnegut books you either love Slaughterhouse-Five or simply hate it, I can admit Vonnegut really isn't for everyone but for me his books are hilarious and leave me thinking about them more days after I finish them.

I found Slaughterhouse-Five at the perfect time in my life where I could really appreciate it. I had lost my grandpa not long before and this book really just help me accept it with this quote from the book;


“When a Tralfamadorian sees a corpse, all he thinks is that the dead person is in bad condition in the particular moment, but that the same person is just fine in plenty of other moments. Now, when I myself hear that somebody is dead, I simply shrug and say what the Tralfamadorians say about dead people, which is "So it goes.”



Through the ups and downs of this book, I just found the whole meaning behind "So it goes" to be so beautiful and I know it is something that will always stick with me.