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ClareR (6225 KP) rated Beach Rivals in Books

Aug 23, 2023  
Beach Rivals
Beach Rivals
Georgie Tilney | 2023 | Contemporary, Fiction & Poetry, Romance
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Oh how I loved this book! I read it on The Pigeonhole with my fellow Pigeons, and I think we all agreed that it was lovely. Oh, and we pretty much all agreed that we’d love to go on holiday to Thailand (Or anywhere!) to run a bookshop for three months!

Clare and Jack run the shop together never having met before, and share the tiny flat that comes with the shop. It’s a bit of a “will they, won’t they” for a little while, but you just know that it’s going to happen 🥰

Anyway, they turn a failing bookshop into one that is more of a success, and I can’t say as I’ve ever been more envious of made up characters!

This is such a feel-good read, perfect for the summer - or any time that you need a pick me up, really! It’s just fabulous!

Thank you Pigeonhole and Georgie for reading along!
  
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Phillip McSween (751 KP) rated The Christmas Chronicles (2018) in Movies

Dec 20, 2018  
The Christmas Chronicles (2018)
The Christmas Chronicles (2018)
2018 | Animation, Comedy, Family
9
8.4 (49 Ratings)
Movie Rating Watch
Solid Holiday Film
Two siblings have to help Santa save Christmas after they are responsible for destroying his sleigh.

Acting: 8

Beginning: 8
The movie takes a little bit of time to get ramped up, but it’s a somewhat understandable setup. Director Clay Kaytis is trying to get us emotionally involved in the characters and succeeds to a certain extent. I have to admit, I wasn’t fully invested in the movie after watching the first ten minutes. Once it gets going, though, you’re in for a treat.

Characters: 8
I wasn’t in love with the two main characters Kate (Darby Camp) and Teddy (Judah Lewis). They seemed very cookie-cutter, almost too “Hallmarky” for me. The acting could have something to do with it, I don’t know. I will say that I grew to really like them over time.

Kurt Russell’s Santa Clause was outstanding, hands-down one of the most creative depictions of Santa I have ever seen. He made the entire movie fun. He’s cool, but naive at the same time. He has a big heart, but he doesn’t take any crap either. He stole every moment of every scene he was in to the point where I wouldn’t mind seeing him again running the helm in a sequel. Call me crazy, but I think it’s one of his best roles. I could use another two hours of just him and the elves.

Cinematography/Visuals: 10

Conflict: 10

Genre: 8

Memorability: 9
It’s all about the creativity here as that’s what made the film so memorable. Christmas films have been done and redone so it’s always refreshing to get a new spin on things. While the basics are similar, I can guarantee you this is a Christmas film unlike any you have ever seen. The angry elves were probably my favorite touch, but there are a number of other fun things that stood out as well like Santa’s magic hat.

Pace: 9

Plot: 9

Resolution: 8

Overall: 87
While The Christmas Chronicles does few things exceptionally well, the film succeeds with a solid Santa and a big heart. It’s a solid holiday movie to add to the collection for adults and children alike. Well worth the watch.
  
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ClareR (6225 KP) rated The Rules of Magic in Books

Dec 7, 2017  
The Rules of Magic
The Rules of Magic
Alice Hoffman | 2017 | Fiction & Poetry
10
8.6 (14 Ratings)
Book Rating
How I loved this book! I’ve read it in completely the wrong order - I know that Practical Magic should have been first, but I got caught up in the heat of the moment, and ordered this from the library when it came out. I’m glad I did though. It’s a lovely story, nothing like how I expected it to be. I expected it to be more stereotypically ‘witchy’, but it was much more subtle. This prequel follows two sisters and their brothers as they grow up and recognise that they are different to their peers - they are witches. Their mother encourages them to hide their abilities, to ignore them, but they know that they can't, and when they spend a summer holiday with their aunt they are encouraged to do the opposite of their mother's instructions. They also don't follow their mothers' instructions when she tells them not to fall in love - because of the family curse they are told that it will end badly.
 Well worth a read!!
  
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Sam (74 KP) rated The Mystery of Mercy Close (Walsh Family, #5) in Books

Mar 27, 2019  
The Mystery of Mercy Close (Walsh Family, #5)
The Mystery of Mercy Close (Walsh Family, #5)
Marian Keyes | 2012
7
7.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Once the plot began going in circles of Helen not finding Wayne, my brain started screaming ‘WHEN WILL THIS BOOK END?!’. But then… it all surprised me.

I fell in love with Helen as the novel got more and more into her personal life and mental health, and the more frustrated I got with Helen not managing to find Wayne, the more I found myself wanting to find out exactly where he was.

I loved how this linked to Anybody Out There but you don’t have to have read it to understand what is happening with this one – and because of that, I’m desperate to read Rachel’s Holiday.

I was pleasantly surprised with this. Yes, it did take me a while to get into it and manage to enjoy it, but once I did, I was addicted!

If you’re good at reading longer books, this is definitely one for you! However, if you’re like me and struggle with anything that requires an attention span longer than five minutes, it may take you a while to enjoy it!
  
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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2568 KP) rated A Cajun Christmas Killing (Cajun Country Mystery #3) in Books

Mar 9, 2018  
AC
A Cajun Christmas Killing (Cajun Country Mystery #3)
Ellen Byron | 2017
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
With a couple of weeks to go before Christmas, Maggie should be focusing on getting into the Christmas spirit. However, she’s just learned that a businessman is trying to take over her family’s bed and breakfast built on their family’s plantation. When he turns up dead, naturally, they are all suspects, and Maggie begins to try to figure out what really happened. With a list of suspects that only grows, can Maggie find the killer?

We are getting quite a nice community in this series, and I was glad to revisit Maggie and her friends and family. The characters only grow stronger here and some relationships take surprising turns. The mystery is strong and kept me guessing until the end, and sub-plots compliment the mystery and enhance the characters. Throw in some Louisiana recipes and Christmas traditions and you’ve got a holiday winner.

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.

Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/10/book-review-cajun-christmas-killing-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.