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A Fairy Godmother's Redemption (The Magicals #4)
A Fairy Godmother's Redemption (The Magicals #4)
Maya Tyler | 2021 | Paranormal, Romance
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
A pleasure to read from start to finish.

For a young adult plus audience as there are sexual scenes.

Faye is relatable, she's sensitive, has a need to help others and like the rest of us, feels she could/should have done better. I think she more than redeems herself with the help she's able to give to Drew.
    Eighteen year old Drew hasn't had the easiest of lives and it's about to get a whole lot more complicated. He's a lovely character that I found quite endearing, I had my fingers crossed for a happy ending for him.

Enter Seraphina, eighteen year old pop princess with her own troubles. Beautiful, talented and a sweetheart, with her own Fairy Godmother lending a helping bibbity bobbity boo.

A Fairy Godmother's Redemption is fun, cheeky and has its sad moments. I'm thrilled to say it's part of a series though it could easily be read as a standalone.....but you wouldn't want to miss out!!

 @Merissa
  
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ClareR (5996 KP) rated Honeycomb in Books

Nov 30, 2021  
Honeycomb
Honeycomb
Joanne M. Harris | 2021 | Fiction & Poetry, Science Fiction/Fantasy
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Honeycomb by Joanne Harris is a collection of short fairy tales that are all connected by way of the Lacewing King so that a bigger picture of this world is built. The Lacewing King is a cruel and selfish ruler, as are many of the Kings and Queens of the Silken Folk. However the Lacewing King begins to learn that there are consequences to his actions.

I loved these stories. I’m a huge fan of fairytales, myths and legends - they’re most definitely not just stories for children, as these dark and often disturbing stories prove. In fact, these short tales are just like the original fairy tales, in that people are tricked, driven to madness and die (but not ALL the time!).

The seemingly separate stories gives the reader more insight to the world of the Silken Folk, and the overarching story of the Lacewing King was just perfection. The beautiful artwork by Charles Vess really does make this a very special book, and I’m going to be sad to see it go back to the library!

I’d highly recommend this wonderful book.
  
Dogs Don't Wear Pants (2019)
Dogs Don't Wear Pants (2019)
2019 | Drama, International, Romance
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Movie Rating
The film reminded me a lot of the Mexican Leap Year, despite being a more pop version, as its Latin counterpart is rawer, denser and sadder. It doesn't mean that this film doesn't have its moments of rawness, density and sadness, but it is aesthetically more beautiful, it has a certain American film standard. The scenes of Juha trying to hold on to his wife's memories are very sad. The actors make the movie work, the duo, as strange as it may seem, managed to forge a nice chemistry. There is a lot that was left open and that could be better worked on in countless points, Juha's relationship with her daughter is just one of them. The ending left me with mixed feelings, but I got into the mood. The film only gets lost when it tries to emulate some points of Hollywood cinema, otherwise it made a good film. Krista Kosonen steals the scenes in which she appears, an actress who deserves much more than being an extra in Blade Runner.
  
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Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated Broke in Books

Nov 22, 2021  
Broke
Broke
Mandasue Heller | 2021 | Fiction & Poetry
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
195 of 250
Book
Broke
By Mandasue Heller

Once read a review will be written via Smashbomb and link posted in comments

Amy's marriage to Mark isn't the best - he can't resist the girls, he can't hold down a job. But she doesn't want to know just how bad things are until his gambling habit brings the debt collector to her door. He makes it brutally clear how she can pay off Mark's debts ...And Amy's troubles are only beginning. Someone else wants Mark for herself, and she is ready to steal Amy's man, her self-respect and even her children. As the stakes rise, Amy will either lose everything, or she'll have to learn how to be as hard and ruthless as her enemies ...



I read it in less than 6 hours! Couldn’t put it down! It made me sad and bloody angry and was very well written. The life choices these two people made nearly destroyed their children yes it was bleak but with the best outcome! I really enjoy this style of written too so was a really good read.
  
SQ
Siren Queen
Nghi Vo | 2022
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Title: Siren Queen
Author: Nghi Vo
288 pages
Published: May 10th of 2022

Let's start off by I love the name of the book and the blue color palette on the cover. Blue makes it very pretty and anything that says "Siren" catches my intrest. Even though it's not about that I'm glad I read it. This book is about Luli Wei a beautiful talented wanting to be a star in pre-code Hollywood. In it she knows how the movie business can be very dangerous but she doesn't seem to be bothered by this. She also prefers to play a monster rather than a maid. She learns the worst monsters of all are not on screen but rather in reality around her in Hollywood. She also learns success always comes with a very steep price to pay and it's never lovely. This book caught my attention from the beginning and is well written. It has an interesting story plot and is one book I'd definitely reccomend. Also, reality is just sad.
  
KO
Kings Of B'More
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I was so lucky to receive this book right around summer because it is the perfect summer read about friends and it's LGBTQ so put it on your list for June or any other month really <3 <3 <3 I love the cover too it is colorful and carnivals give me me that summer carefree vibe. Although it looks like a happy read, it's also sad that its the boys last adventure in Baltimore before Linus moves out of the state.

This wasn't the news Harrison expected because they had plans to navigate teenagehood to adulthood together. They plan a bucket list aka Ferris Bueller’s Day Off send off so they can have an epic day to remember. This is one of my favorite movies and I love the reference. Even though they are scared to grow up they include things they are afraid to do on the bucket list to do together before they are apart and it just the sweetest. They better keep in though through video chat!
  
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Merissa (13389 KP) rated Dear John in Books

Sep 12, 2023  
Dear John
Dear John
Holly Day | 2023 | Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
DEAR JOHN is part of the #WorldLetterWritingDay collection and we have Logan, an undercover cop, and Zion, an artist, stuck together on a remote island with no Wi-Fi, internet, or anything digital. Logan wasn't there to keep an eye on Zion, but rather his rather dodgy boyfriend.

I enjoyed my escape to the island. I found the revelations from Zion to be sad and loved how Logan was there for him. Yes, it was insta-love, but sometimes it's just got to be!

This is a short story but there is still a steamy time, plus the tension of not knowing if said dodgy boyfriend would show up. And don't forget the letters that Zion sent, which definitely made me chuckle. A thoroughly enjoyable story that I definitely recommend.

** same worded review will appear elsewhere **

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

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Sep 12, 2023
  
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ClareR (5996 KP) rated Sharp Glass in Books

Jan 5, 2025  
Sharp Glass
Sharp Glass
Sarah Hilary | 2024 | Contemporary, Crime, Mystery, Thriller
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I listened to Sharp Glass on audiobook through Xigxag, and I absolutely loved both the story and the narrator, Imogen Church.

A woman wakes up to realise that she’s being held captive by a man - and she has to work out how she’ll escape.

Over the course of the story, we learn who she is, why she’s captive in a cellar and who’s holding her there. The fact that the cellar is in complete darkness made my imagination run wild - as well as the imagination of the main character! What had she done? Was this revenge? Or something even more sinister?

This is a claustrophobic read and I was right there in the cellar with the woman. They all seem to be thoroughly unreliable characters: no one seems to be telling the truth. I felt that my job as the reader, was to try and detect who was lying the least!

It’s a sad story with some dark, violent themes. This novel was a really good tale, executed really well.
  
One Day (Nights, #9)
One Day (Nights, #9)
A.M. Salinger | 2018 | Contemporary, Erotica, Romance
10
6.0 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
a beautiful and fitting end
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.

This is the final book, book NINE in the Nights Series, and to get the full enjoyment of this one, you really MUST at least read book one: One Night, and book three: Tokyo Heat. I would STRONGLY recommend you read them all, though! Not least because I said so, but they are rather awesome and I am really sad to see the end of this group of people!

Gabe and Cam are planning their wedding and Ethan is in charge of their joint stag/bachelor party. He pulls that off beautifully! There are a few surprises, a trip across the globe to see family, and so much love, between each couple, not just Gabe and Cam, my sister would say "please pass the bucket" and make retching noises!

Each coupe have a *scene* in this book, but the emphasis is on Gabe and Cam and the run up to the wedding. After Cam ran when Gabe said those three little words, I wasn't sure they would get this far, but as the first couple in this series, it's only right and proper that they be the first to tie the knot.

Each scene is hawt and sexy and well written. Each person in the pairing has a say so we get each and every thought these people have, as they begin the wedding celebrations the week before. Ethan's planning is brilliant and how he manages to keep it a secret from everyone, especially Joe, is beyond me!

I loved what Gabe and Ethan did for Cam and Joe and I hated Gabe's family for what they did to him, but they DO redeem themselves, so were somewhat forgiven, but not totally!

But the bit that got me?? The vows between Gabe and Cam. Bear in mind, I started this book at 215am, cos I couldn't sleep, I did not stop til 430 when I finished. And I bawled my bloody eyes out! So much so, I woke the teenager up in the other room! I mean, the love between these two guys, between EACH couple really, jumps off the page and slaps you about the face so much!

Hence the "warm and fuzzies", AND "too stinking cute", along with the "fan yourself, its a hot one" tag! I don't think I have any other warm and fuzzies on the fan yourself shelf, but then again, Gabe and Cam were the founder members of the fan yourself shelf!

The epilogue is rather awesome, and I pray to every deity and god known to man, and then some, that Ms Salinger will write a followup to this series, and call it One More Day! You'll see what I mean when you read that epilogue!

While it's always sad to see a series end, it's made a little bit less sad when it has such a beautiful and fitting end.

Thank you, Ms Salinger, for introducing me to your people, thank you, indeed, for stepping away from your usual fare and writing about them! I loved them all, but Gabe and Cam will always be my favourites.

5 full and shiny stars

**same worded review will appear elsewhere**