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Midge (525 KP) rated The Year After You in Books
Feb 19, 2019
A Story Of Hope And Sadness
This is a wonderful, soul-searching, but sad story of hope and grief and it is one of the best books that I have read in a while.
It is set in Hope Hall, a Swiss boarding school located in the Alps. For me, one of the things that Nina de Pass did very cleverly was using the setting to maximum effect in THE YEAR AFTER YOU. Since my childhood, I have loved boarding school settings, as everything is so much more intense when in close proximity, such as romantic liaisons and relationships which tend to run at a different rate.
The main protagonist in this novel is Cara, who I found to be exceptionally frustrating at times, though this did not spoil the story for me in any way. From an honesty point of view, she was pretty unreliable as a narrator, however, I had a great deal of empathy for her because of what happened to her best friend Georgina. I loved that Nina de Pass developed Cara’s character so well.
I really liked all of the characters in THE YEAR AFTER YOU because they were so well formed as people with their own parts to play and were not just added after-thoughts to make the protagonist look better. For me, the story-telling also held some poignant messages about support mechanisms of friends and family and mental health issues.
I think that THE YEAR AFTER YOU is a book that I will remember. I would certainly recommend reading it.
Thank you to NetGalley, Black & White Publishing and Nina de Pass for a free ARC of this book in exchange for a voluntary, honest review.
It is set in Hope Hall, a Swiss boarding school located in the Alps. For me, one of the things that Nina de Pass did very cleverly was using the setting to maximum effect in THE YEAR AFTER YOU. Since my childhood, I have loved boarding school settings, as everything is so much more intense when in close proximity, such as romantic liaisons and relationships which tend to run at a different rate.
The main protagonist in this novel is Cara, who I found to be exceptionally frustrating at times, though this did not spoil the story for me in any way. From an honesty point of view, she was pretty unreliable as a narrator, however, I had a great deal of empathy for her because of what happened to her best friend Georgina. I loved that Nina de Pass developed Cara’s character so well.
I really liked all of the characters in THE YEAR AFTER YOU because they were so well formed as people with their own parts to play and were not just added after-thoughts to make the protagonist look better. For me, the story-telling also held some poignant messages about support mechanisms of friends and family and mental health issues.
I think that THE YEAR AFTER YOU is a book that I will remember. I would certainly recommend reading it.
Thank you to NetGalley, Black & White Publishing and Nina de Pass for a free ARC of this book in exchange for a voluntary, honest review.

Can I Speak to Someone in Charge?
Book
'JUST IMAGINE IF WE, THE NORMAL GIRLS, STOOD UNITED AS AN ENORMOUS, HYSTERICAL AND PROUD ARMY. WE...

Alex Kapranos recommended track To the East by Electrelane in No Shouts No Calls by Electrelane in Music (curated)

Christmas for Beginners
Book
The latest festive and feel-good Christmas read from Sunday Times bestselling Carole Matthews 'Full...

Molly J (Cover To Cover Cafe) (106 KP) rated The Christmas Blessing in Books
Feb 25, 2019
Ms. Carlson is back with another emotionally moving Christmas novella. I love her Christmas novellas and will forever read them. She brings wonderful messages from God and mixes them into a captivating story line, and blends it all with characters that steal your heart and become your family til the end.
This Christmas story is set during one of my favorite time periods to read about: WWII, and follows Amelia and her son. I loved how Ms. Carlson transported me back in time. I loved following Amelia on her journey of pain and hope, and longing. The way I felt reading this book, seeing Amelia come to terms with her situation, seeing God work on her heart, really refreshed my own.
If you love stories filled with hope, longing and an ending that will leave you wanting more from a superbly talented author, then this 5 star book is for you. Ms. Carlson delivers her readers a novella that you won't soon forget! Well done!
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell and was under no obligation to post a review, positive or negative.*
This Christmas story is set during one of my favorite time periods to read about: WWII, and follows Amelia and her son. I loved how Ms. Carlson transported me back in time. I loved following Amelia on her journey of pain and hope, and longing. The way I felt reading this book, seeing Amelia come to terms with her situation, seeing God work on her heart, really refreshed my own.
If you love stories filled with hope, longing and an ending that will leave you wanting more from a superbly talented author, then this 5 star book is for you. Ms. Carlson delivers her readers a novella that you won't soon forget! Well done!
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell and was under no obligation to post a review, positive or negative.*

Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2346 KP) rated Crowned and Dangerous (Her Royal Spyness, #10) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Lady Georgie and Darcy’s elopement is put on hold when Darcy gets the news that his father has been arrested for murder. He races off to Ireland to see how he can help, and it isn’t long before Georgie follows him to help clear her future father-in-law. The evidence all seems to point to Darcy’s father. Can Georgie figure out anything that will help clear him?
The book gets off to a slow start as Georgie once again has to figure out where she will live. The time is put to good use since it gives us updates on many of the series regulars. Once Georgie arrives in Ireland, things really pick up, and we are treated to a fantastic puzzle with plenty of twists and surprises. Several of the series regulars get some much needed development here, and I hope it lasts. Meanwhile, there is a fantastic new character I hope we see pop up again in future books.
NOTE: I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/08/book-review-crownded-and-dangerous-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
The book gets off to a slow start as Georgie once again has to figure out where she will live. The time is put to good use since it gives us updates on many of the series regulars. Once Georgie arrives in Ireland, things really pick up, and we are treated to a fantastic puzzle with plenty of twists and surprises. Several of the series regulars get some much needed development here, and I hope it lasts. Meanwhile, there is a fantastic new character I hope we see pop up again in future books.
NOTE: I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/08/book-review-crownded-and-dangerous-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.

Gail (4 KP) rated Frozen Over in Books
Jun 4, 2018
Frozen Over by Tarrah Anders
Four stars
I was captivated by this story. The loss of control and the need to posse someone. Tyson is a man who knows what he wants and doesn’t hold back because of feelings. He’s into one night stands and wham bam thank you ma'am. He’s an butthole and he doesn’t hide it from those around him. You get 100% honesty and realness. Allison is strong minded and determined. She does beg or cry for attention. She knows her worth and doesn’t settle. When she finally has a career break through she didn’t know it would come with the attention of the CEO. When Tyson first saw her he didn’t know that hell was getting ready to freeze over. I really enjoyed the story. I liked the conversation between the main characters it wasn’t forced or lacking in emotion. You could feel Tyson's struggle with coming to term with his emotions. I really liked that he kept his honesty and didn’t let himself hold back. Great read and I hope there is more to come. This author gave me something new and I hope her writing style only gets better.
Four stars
I was captivated by this story. The loss of control and the need to posse someone. Tyson is a man who knows what he wants and doesn’t hold back because of feelings. He’s into one night stands and wham bam thank you ma'am. He’s an butthole and he doesn’t hide it from those around him. You get 100% honesty and realness. Allison is strong minded and determined. She does beg or cry for attention. She knows her worth and doesn’t settle. When she finally has a career break through she didn’t know it would come with the attention of the CEO. When Tyson first saw her he didn’t know that hell was getting ready to freeze over. I really enjoyed the story. I liked the conversation between the main characters it wasn’t forced or lacking in emotion. You could feel Tyson's struggle with coming to term with his emotions. I really liked that he kept his honesty and didn’t let himself hold back. Great read and I hope there is more to come. This author gave me something new and I hope her writing style only gets better.

Leah (: (569 KP) rated Millions (Dollar book 5) in Books
Jul 31, 2018
This final book in the series is possibly even better than the rest. Most of the darkness from the previous books is gone allowing us to really explore Pim and Elder and dare to hope for happiness.
That being said this is by no means a happy carefree book, there is of course pain, physical and emotional, threats and near death experiences to keep you on your toes right till the very end.
We even get a brief glimpse into the mystery of Selix and some of his reasons for being Elder’s shadow. However this small snippet gives some closure but does build hope for more of his story later on.
The end is completely satisfying, we get a multi perspective epilogue, then an extended epilogue and then the final epilogue. I felt it really finished off the story so there were no unanswered questions. Without the fault of some epilogues, which skip forward a few years so that you get information but not necessarily the emotions.
I think this series was the perfect length to tell Pim and Elder’s story but without getting lost in the middle as I feel some series can.
That being said this is by no means a happy carefree book, there is of course pain, physical and emotional, threats and near death experiences to keep you on your toes right till the very end.
We even get a brief glimpse into the mystery of Selix and some of his reasons for being Elder’s shadow. However this small snippet gives some closure but does build hope for more of his story later on.
The end is completely satisfying, we get a multi perspective epilogue, then an extended epilogue and then the final epilogue. I felt it really finished off the story so there were no unanswered questions. Without the fault of some epilogues, which skip forward a few years so that you get information but not necessarily the emotions.
I think this series was the perfect length to tell Pim and Elder’s story but without getting lost in the middle as I feel some series can.

365Flicks (235 KP) rated Stairs (2019) in Movies
Nov 2, 2019
Toby Osmond (3 more)
Story
Tom Paton
Alana Wallace
Don't Go Down
This movie is everything you would hope for in a Tom Paton flick and a hell of a lot more. A high concept psychological horror/thriller like you wouldnt believe that plays in the sci-fi genre realm. So yeah its a mind melding genre bending smorgasboard.
With Samantha Schnitzler and Bently Kalu (Ben Garrett) doing arguably a fair chunk of the heavy lifting, I am always happy to see these guys share the screen. Bently just seems to have this protective nature when his characters interact with Sam's, Schnitzler is always on point as a total Bad Ass and this time gets to play with her more emotional side.
This movie is more than an actioner, its more than a thriller... Stairs lives in many genres while silently making its own. I have said it before and I will say it one more time, the team behind this movie just took one hell of a step in their already solid game to that next level. Lets just hope it doesnt send them back to the start (see what I did there).
With Samantha Schnitzler and Bently Kalu (Ben Garrett) doing arguably a fair chunk of the heavy lifting, I am always happy to see these guys share the screen. Bently just seems to have this protective nature when his characters interact with Sam's, Schnitzler is always on point as a total Bad Ass and this time gets to play with her more emotional side.
This movie is more than an actioner, its more than a thriller... Stairs lives in many genres while silently making its own. I have said it before and I will say it one more time, the team behind this movie just took one hell of a step in their already solid game to that next level. Lets just hope it doesnt send them back to the start (see what I did there).