Search

Search only in certain items:

This is a really good read for all those middle schoolers who have a passion for adventure and dinosaurs. It remains interesting and at times fast-paced while being easy to follow and enjoyable. Matt has just turned 12 and has a curious ability to touch a dinosaur egg and see the creature as it would have been in life, Along with his dad, a well-respected palaeontologist and artist, he is allowed to go on his first dig, however, much to Matt's annoyance others get to come along too, not all off then invited. His cousin Jo is one of the expedition, but her interests are more with the illegal logging taking place in the Amazon forest setting than on dinosaur eggs. How this gets them both into trouble and how the uninvited followers all fit into this adventure you will have to read to find out.
Reading this book will introduce you to a set of characters that I am sure you and your children will enjoy following in their future adventures. I for one am looking forward to the next episode of Matt and his father.
  
The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
1994 | Drama
Everything. Thoroughly enjoyed this film. (0 more)
Not a huge fan on what happens to Andy with regards to the "Sisters". But that's just me! (0 more)
One of the Best
Contains spoilers, click to show
My husband made me watch this one evening when we were first moved in together and usually the films he has made me watch haven't gone well!
I saw how old the film was and as I am a classic film lover I gave it a try and it has become one of my favourite films of all time!
The acting is superb, just raw talent and real passion.
I definitely think this film deserves it's high rating on rotten tomatoes and IMdb, it had everything in it that makes a good film and more. It has me laughing, crying, cringing, angry, sad and rooting for Andy and Red!
In the 'Bad' section I have only included one issue I have but that is because of how much you start to like the character of Andy. To see him go through what he did in the film genuinely breaks my heart every time I watch it.
If you haven't seen this film, Please get watching, I'm certain you won't regret it!
  
50 Cities of the U.S.A. by Gabrielle Balkan is an informative book about famous people and places in some of the United States' best known cities. The book contains beautiful illustrations and the trivia.  Each city gets a two-page spread, and the author and illustrator Sol Linero do a great job in packing the two pages with as much information as possible. 

This is a book that will inspire great thinking about travel, the United States and different events, structures, and people. The book has so much to offer and sets it up in a fun, easy to read format. Children could look through the book to find just facts about buildings in the city or people. I find this to be such an excellent book because it provides in depth information for children who already have a geographic passion, but will also inspire new thinking for children who have yet to discover geography.

I recommend this book for children who enjoy learning about the U.S. and geography. 

I received an ARC of 50 Cities of the U.S.A from NetGalley via Quarto Publishing Group and Wide Eyed Editions. 
  
Spooning Leads to Forking: A Gay Teen Romance Story
Spooning Leads to Forking: A Gay Teen Romance Story
B.A. Smith | 2018 | Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance
8
8.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
Spooning Leads to Forking by B.A. Smith
Spooning Leads to Forking is a very well written story about two boys who are figuring out just who they are. It is very fast paced, and you quickly get to the 'action'.


Dylan is a misfit, and happy to be one. Michael is the basketball star. One day their relationship changes in a BIG way, and you get the rawness, the nitty-gritty, the 'real' relationship two seventeen-year-old boys can have, including the insults, bitch slaps, and rough-housing. I would also say it is full of emotion and passion, bordering on obsession.

Very well written, with no editing or grammatical errors that disrupted my reading flow, I would recommend this to anyone who wants a more 'real' story than one filled with unicorns and cupcakes (although they have their place too!). I thoroughly enjoyed this story, and would like to see more of Dylan and Michael as they grow older. Definitely recommended by me.

* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and my comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
  
The Art of Escaping
The Art of Escaping
7
7.3 (4 Ratings)
Book Rating
Set in Rhode Island, Erin Callahan's The Art of Escaping takes place in the summer between junior and senior year, when most students are busy making plans for their future or trying to pad their applications for college.
Then there are those like our unusual protagonist Mattie who uses her three months away from class to find herself by daring to pursue her passion for escapology.
Tracking down the daughter of her favorite escape artist (a local, female Houdini, if you will), although she's hesitant at first, Miyu gradually gives in and begins teaching Mattie the tricks of her mother's trade from lock picking to underwater escapes. Soon enough Mattie is performing her act under a stage persona at a hip speakeasy like club.
An entertaining albeit unusual YA novel that strains your suspension of disbelief, Callahan's Art gets better the further you get into it.
And while its overly stylized characters come off as wise beyond their years and their retro interests and dialogue might have played better if the book - already retro in feel - had been set in the '80s or '90s, it's a fun, fast, and wholly original read nonetheless.
  
40x40

Becs (244 KP) rated Essence in Books

Oct 18, 2018  
Essence
Essence
Hayley Gabrielle | 2018 | Paranormal, Science Fiction/Fantasy, Young Adult (YA)
10
8.5 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
The story. (3 more)
The background.
The charcters.
The cover.
A incredibly captivating story of one girl's adventure of finding who she truly is meant to be.
I was given a read and review copy of Essence by Hayley Gabrielle herself for my full honest opinion.

I absolutely blew through this novel in a matter of 24hrs. I was hooked from the very beginning and I must say, this was one heck of a debut novel! I loved it with a burning passion. The story was there, the background was there, for as much as I could see, there were not any noticeable grammatical errors, the plot is striking profound, and I will definitely be rereading this novel in the very near future!

Can I talk about how much I love Thorne? I really love him and honestly, I really wanted him and Abbey to be together. He deserves love too, even though he's arrogant as all get out. I cried actual tears at the final scene with the portal. An incredibly sad ending and I can not wait to see where Abbey's story continues!

You can find more about this review on my blog at bookingwayreads.wordpress.com
  
Denial in Paradise by courtship
Denial in Paradise by courtship
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Album Rating
courtship. (Eli Hirsch and Micah Gordon) is an indie-pop duo based in Los Angeles, California. Not too long ago, they released a groovy beach tune, entitled, “Guy Stuff”.

“Every single night, such a deep desire just to be inside something. It’s guy stuff. There’s violence in our heart. Soo tough.” – lyrics

‘Guy Stuff’ is a tongue-in-cheek ode to the human nature engrained in men.

The likable tune contains a relatable storyline, pleasing vocals, and light-hearted instrumentation flavored with a punchy piano which plays throughout the track.

Also, the song possesses catchy oohs and aahs which radiates an eclectic, disco feel.

courtship.’s musical inspirations while growing up include ELO, Daft Punk, and Burt Bacharach.

After a year on the road with bands such as Passion Pit, The Wombats, and Weezer, the bubbly duo went back into the studio to create their sophomore album, entitled, “The Art of Breaking Hearts”.

The project follows their highly successful “Denial in Paradise” album, which has amassed over 9M streams thanks to tracks such as “Nice Guy” and “Tell Me Tell Me”.

https://www.bongminesentertainment.com/courtship-guy-stuff/
  
Sailors in the Night - Single by Angelike Falbo
Sailors in the Night - Single by Angelike Falbo
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Album Rating
Angelike Falbo is a 20-year-old singer-songwriter based in Montreal, Canada. Not too long ago, she released a music video for her “Sailors in the Night” single, produced by Vito Luprano (Celine Dion).

“Are we gone with the breeze? Do we swim like the seas? Are we strong like the trees as our leaves are steady falling?” – lyrics

‘Sailors in the Night’ tells an adventurous tale of a young woman who enjoys a passionate night of playful fun with her significant other.

The likable tune contains a relatable storyline, ear-welcoming vocals, and vibey instrumentation flavored with commercial and electro-pop elements.

Not too long ago, a young Angelike Falbo was extremely shy and refused to sing in front of anyone.

It was her father who first uncovered her undeniable talent radiating from the basement of their home. It was then, at the age of 16-years-old, they sought to turn her passion into a reality.

Since then, the bubbly songstress has appeared on Season 3 of La Voix—Quebec’s version of The Voice, where she came in at number 2.

https://www.bongminesentertainment.com/angelike-falbo-sailors-in-the-night/
  
Spooning Leads to Forking: A Gay Teen Romance Story
Spooning Leads to Forking: A Gay Teen Romance Story
B.A. Smith | 2018 | Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance
8
8.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
Spooning Leads to Forking is a very well written story about two boys who are figuring out just who they are. It is very fast paced, and you quickly get to the 'action'.

Dylan is a misfit, and happy to be one. Michael is the basketball star. One day their relationship changes in a BIG way, and you get the rawness, the nitty-gritty, the 'real' relationship two seventeen-year-old boys can have, including the insults, bitch slaps, and rough-housing. I would also say it is full of emotion and passion, bordering on obsession.

Very well written, with no editing or grammatical errors that disrupted my reading flow, I would recommend this to anyone who wants a more 'real' story than one filled with unicorns and cupcakes (although they have their place too!). I thoroughly enjoyed this story, and would like to see more of Dylan and Michael as they grow older. Definitely recommended by me.

* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and my comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
  
FD
Full Disclosure (Nice Guys, #2)
10
9.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
This story is about Mitch and Cody. Mitch is still trying to work on the case that involved his friends, Colt and Jace, from a year or so previously. Unfortunately for him, no-one is particularly interested and wants to pay any attention. He gets sent on assignment to 'collect' someone but upon arrival realises that it is a bust as there is a law convention in town. So he enjoys some time with his friends whilst longing for someone to have a connection with like they do. Along comes Cody.

These two are opposites in pretty much every way but as such actually complement each other... once Cody gets past his issues. I was pretty much yelling at my Kindle as I read the book as I really REALLY wanted them to be together. There is a lot of suspense in this book as the crimes continue but Mitch isn't any closer to finding out 'whodunnit'.

With a cast of amazing supporting characters, an intriguing and suspenseful storyline and sexy scenes that are smokin', this is just a brilliant book full of love, passion and danger. Recommended for all who enjoy M/M romance.