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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2436 KP) rated Snow White Red-Handed (Fairy Tale Fatal Mystery, #1) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Prue and Ophelia take on jobs as maids to the Coops, Americans who are traveling to their castle in Germany’s black forest. Almost as soon as they’ve arrived, a cottage is discovered on the property that looks like a dwarf cottage, and fairytale experts are brought in. The next day, Mr. Coop is poisoned with an apple. What have Prue and Ophelia gotten themselves into?
I love fairytales and fairytale reimaginings, so I had to give this cozy mystery series a try. It was so much fun. The story was fast paced, and the fairytale aspect provided a nice twist to the cozy formula. The characters were sharp as well, and the author made perfect use of a multiple viewpoint story. Can’t wait for the sequel.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2015/06/book-review-snow-white-red-handed-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
I love fairytales and fairytale reimaginings, so I had to give this cozy mystery series a try. It was so much fun. The story was fast paced, and the fairytale aspect provided a nice twist to the cozy formula. The characters were sharp as well, and the author made perfect use of a multiple viewpoint story. Can’t wait for the sequel.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2015/06/book-review-snow-white-red-handed-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Erika Kehlet (21 KP) rated Finding Fraser in Books
Feb 21, 2018
This was a fun read, even for someone who has never read any of the Outlander series.
The book alternates between chapters telling us the story, and blog posts that Emma writes as she goes along. The blog posts are short and sweet, and sometimes provide a little insight into things that have not yet been fully disclosed in the story.
I did feel that the heroine was a bit naive for 29. I often wanted to yell into the book at her, and to point out how blind she was being, or how ridiculous some of her choices were. Even so, Emma is a likable character, and I couldnt help but root for her and wish her success in her quest to find love.
NOTE: I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
The book alternates between chapters telling us the story, and blog posts that Emma writes as she goes along. The blog posts are short and sweet, and sometimes provide a little insight into things that have not yet been fully disclosed in the story.
I did feel that the heroine was a bit naive for 29. I often wanted to yell into the book at her, and to point out how blind she was being, or how ridiculous some of her choices were. Even so, Emma is a likable character, and I couldnt help but root for her and wish her success in her quest to find love.
NOTE: I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Erika Kehlet (21 KP) rated Beauty, Beast, and Belladonna (Fairy Tale Fatal Mystery, #3) in Books
Feb 21, 2018
Beauty, Beast, and Belladonna is the 3rd book in the Fairy Tale Fatal series, set in 1867. I love cozies and historical fiction, and this story was a wonderful mix of the two. Variety hall actress Ophelia Flax finds herself at a hunting party in France, pretending to be someone she is not, and trying to figure out how to avoid getting herself married to the Compte de Griffe. When an unexpected guest turns up dead after a string of petty thefts, she must try to find both the thief and the killer to get herself out of more than one entanglement. I absolutely loved the colorful characters, the time period, and the setting in this story. I plan on going back soon to read this series from the start!
NOTE: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
NOTE: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
Hazel (2934 KP) rated A Map of the Dark in Books
Mar 11, 2018
A series that will grow
Hmm, this is a toughie for me. I enjoy reading Karen Ellis' books and love her characters but I admit that I struggled to get into this one. I can only think this is because there is a lot of background information on the main character Elsa and although very important as it explains the motivations pushing her and the daily struggle she has with her inner demons, it did interrupt the flow of the story for me. Having said that, when another in the series comes out, I would give it a go as I think now we have the history out of the way, the story will come to the fore with the intrigue, twists and excitement Karen Ellis is adept at creating.
Thanks to the publisher, Hodder & Stoughton, and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest review.
Thanks to the publisher, Hodder & Stoughton, and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest review.
Nicole Hadley (380 KP) rated Sam and Emma in Books
Jun 18, 2018
Sam and Emma by Donald Nelsen is a cute story with a simple yet direct message. The message simply is; we are different. We live different lives, live in different places, eat different foods, and look different. While we are all different, it is important to accept all the differences.
This is a story about Sam and dog and Emma the cat. Sam is is kind dog who wanted to get to know about others. Emma was proud and while she is the one who wanted to go on the adventure was unaccepting.
This is a book about accepting others for who they are. The illustrations are simple but convey the message clearly. I would love to have this book in my classroom to teach about understanding and welcoming all views and thoughts.
I received a copy of this book from Dover Publications via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This is a story about Sam and dog and Emma the cat. Sam is is kind dog who wanted to get to know about others. Emma was proud and while she is the one who wanted to go on the adventure was unaccepting.
This is a book about accepting others for who they are. The illustrations are simple but convey the message clearly. I would love to have this book in my classroom to teach about understanding and welcoming all views and thoughts.
I received a copy of this book from Dover Publications via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Loz Hughes (80 KP) rated Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban in Books
Jul 14, 2018
By far my favorite Harry potter book.
Contains spoilers, click to show
Ive always found this book to be my favorite out of the whole series purely because Harry finds some family...his godfather, whom after a convoluted storyline he realises isnt set out to murder him. Its the only book where I feel he actually has a few happy moments in his life and is discovering who he is and achieves a bit of character stability. I love how the story handles the introduction of Sirius and displays the political and media spin that happens in the background (between the bad reporting on the daily prophet and ministry of magic). Also the trio (Harry, Ron and hermoine) seem to have solid bonds of friendship grow tighter in this storyline.
Jarom Solar Norris (186 KP) rated Bohemian Rhapsody (2018) in Movies
Nov 9, 2018 (Updated Feb 13, 2019)
What’s not to like about Queen? Bohemian Rhapsody does an excellent job of telling a dramatic history of the band and its forerunner, Freddie Mercury. Rami Malek does an excellent performance. Parts of the movie are like watching a hilarious “How It’s Made” video of some of the best music of the century, parts of it are literally just watching concerts and listening to awesome music. Most importantly, there’s the story of Mercury’s evolution, which is a story arc any writer could only dream of: a British-Indian man abandoning his heritage, struggling to balance love for a woman with being gay, being manipulated by a manager turned lover, being scrutinized by the media, and eventually being able to be comfortable with who he is, all the while using his talent to push the band to create more and more musical innovations. It’s so good.
Micky Barnard (542 KP) rated They Both Die At The End in Books
Dec 6, 2018
Uplifting and sad
This was more uplifting than I expected and an easy story to slip into despite the dystopian slant of the contemporary setting. Both Matteo and Rufus were endearing characters in different ways with friends and family you could love on. The book takes place over a very short timeline and it takes some talent to make connections work in this context but the dystopia facilitated some of this.
I didn’t expect the culmination (outside of the obvious) to happen in the way that it did. It took me by surprise and half cheated my hopes and desires for the story. However, I felt a lot and sniffed to the end.
Great narration, I particularly liked the use of a third narrator to add in any random characters POV of which this book has rather a few. This third narrator contextualised this aspect.
I didn’t expect the culmination (outside of the obvious) to happen in the way that it did. It took me by surprise and half cheated my hopes and desires for the story. However, I felt a lot and sniffed to the end.
Great narration, I particularly liked the use of a third narrator to add in any random characters POV of which this book has rather a few. This third narrator contextualised this aspect.
Awix (3310 KP) rated The Red Turtle (2016) in Movies
Jun 16, 2019 (Updated Jun 16, 2019)
Animated Belgo-Japanese allegorical fantasy is nice to look at and relaxing to watch. A man is washed up on a desert island after a storm, finds his attempts to leave are frustrated by a large crimson chelonian; after an attempt to kill the creature, he resolves to make friends, successfully bringing the turtle out of her shell (thanks, I'm here all week) - the two of them fall in love and have a family together.
As you can see, not short on the traditional 'WTF?!?!?' element of Studio Ghibli films, but it also possesses the typical virtues of being a really, really beautiful and well-told story. Maybe a touch under-powered story-wise, and it doesn't feel rushed even at only about 80 minutes long, but a finely-crafted and very pleasant film. The romance that HP Lovecraft never got around to writing.
As you can see, not short on the traditional 'WTF?!?!?' element of Studio Ghibli films, but it also possesses the typical virtues of being a really, really beautiful and well-told story. Maybe a touch under-powered story-wise, and it doesn't feel rushed even at only about 80 minutes long, but a finely-crafted and very pleasant film. The romance that HP Lovecraft never got around to writing.
Merissa (13414 KP) rated Insight (Insight #1; Web of Hearts and Souls #1) in Books
Dec 17, 2018
This is supposed to be a book for Young Adults but I think it is suitable for anyone wishing to read a mystery / love story with a hint of paranormal in the form of "insights" or talents or gifts, whatever you want to call them.
This book starts on earth and will take you to different dimensions via 'strings', invisible (to most) passages of energy.
I won't go into the plot as it is better to just read the synopsis and go from there but it has an overall quite simple story that is overlaid with complications and events that all in all make this a fantastic read.
And, yes, I am a hopeless romantic, so the idea of having your other half out there who will complete you is almost certainly going to go down well with me and this book does it well!!
This book starts on earth and will take you to different dimensions via 'strings', invisible (to most) passages of energy.
I won't go into the plot as it is better to just read the synopsis and go from there but it has an overall quite simple story that is overlaid with complications and events that all in all make this a fantastic read.
And, yes, I am a hopeless romantic, so the idea of having your other half out there who will complete you is almost certainly going to go down well with me and this book does it well!!