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Stalking Jack the Ripper
Stalking Jack the Ripper
Kerri Maniscalco | 2016 | Fiction & Poetry, Mystery, Young Adult (YA)
8
7.6 (11 Ratings)
Book Rating
This was one of the few book series that I obsessively read and instantly loved. The romance isn't fast paced, there's historical facts that are interesting, and Maniscalco really knew how to captivate not just me, but other readers too (I got my friend obsessed with this series as well).
I will say, its not for those who don't like the extreme detail on violence and gore, but if you're a fan of crime novels and topics such as Jack the Ripper, then you ought to love this book!
I'm so glad I found this book and would happily recommend this to many people.
  
The Chestnut Man
The Chestnut Man
Søren Sveistrup | 2019 | Crime, Thriller
9
8.9 (7 Ratings)
Book Rating
So having read / listened to a few YA novels recently thinking they would lighten the mood I went back to my usual pick of full-on serial killer gore-tastic and why did I ever leave!?! This is my thing apparently (not sure what that says about me!!)

I enjoyed this dark police procedural it ticked all the requirements, evil but clever killer, a determined but troubled police detective (not too much romance.) I listened to the audiobook narrated by CharlottMelen and appreciated the experience of not tripping over the Danish name pronunciation as would have happened if I'd read it.... Not for the weak of stomach.
  
UT
Until There Was You
10
9.3 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
I love Kirstan Higgins so much. She's a good writer, she's funny, she's clever, her characters are awesome, and there's always a cute dog or cat.

Also she rocks at writing kissing scenes. WOW!.

The number-one thing I love about her novels is this: She writes these awesome contemporary romance novels, but she doesn't litter them with explicit sex, which I DON'T like to read (I mean really, I feel like I'm sneaking into a XXX movie when I read stuff like that. It's private, man! The characters don't want you to know what's going on under the sheets!).

Anyway, Until There Was You didn't disappoint. Liam was amazing, Posey was sweet, Nicole (the daughter) was adorable, and the family was family: a-typical in every way and funny and weird and full of life. I love it. I wish I could keep this book forever instead of bringing it back to the library. I tore through this thing in like five hours... I stayed up until 4am reading.

But hey, other people have to read it too, right?

:D
  
Despite being the second in the series, you don’t need to read the first to enjoy this novel.

Overall, the novel wasn’t terrible. I am not a fan of insta-lust nor people contradicting their morals with their actions. While there was chemistry between the leads, the insta-lust factor put me off. The erotic scenes were also a bit tame for my tastes. Filled with innuendos instead of being straightforward, I feel the erotic scenes would be more suited for someone who is put off but more vulgar language.

I also wasn’t a fan of the author’s writing style in general. Some part seems too long, dragging out unnecessarily or was just too flowery.

Bottom line, this is a historical romance meant for those who want a tamer historical romance. Honestly, it reminds of the novels that my grandma used to read, like Kathleen Woodiwiss and older Jude Deveraux.
  
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Lenard (726 KP) rated Tolkien (2019) in Movies

May 19, 2019  
Tolkien (2019)
Tolkien (2019)
2019 | Biography, Drama
Tolkien is a biopic of author/professor JRR Tolkien, the writer of The Hobbit and other fantasy novels. The only reason it was greenlit was to ensnare fans of the LOTR. The film opens with Ronald in the trenches of Belgium during WWI suffering from trench fever. He is overcome with a need to find his friend who he learns is nearby and in dire trouble. We then flashback to his country childhood home located in a village reminiscent of The Shire from his novels. His father has died and left the family with little hope of survival. The church has found a new home for the Tolkiens in Lake-town, I mean Birmingham. Soon, his mother is dead, Ronald and his brother become wards of the Catholic Church and are moved into the home of elderly woman who already cares for a young female pianist. Tolkien earns scholarship to a local private school where he accidentally becomes friends with other artistically inclined young men. One of whom, the poet, is secretly in love with Tolkien. Thus, with a kiss, I die in the trenches of Belgium fron poison gas. The whole film spends so much time finding connections to his famous novels, it never really gets to know the writer himself. Plus, Nicholas Hoult does not help much playing the writer like a Hugh Grant rom-com character. He even does the squinting quirk multiple times to romance his boarding house companion.