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Carma (21 KP) rated Chasing Eva in Books

Jun 17, 2019  
CE
Chasing Eva
8
9.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
Eva and Clive met long ago at one of the parties their fathers held around the holidays. Their fathers had been friends and business associates for quite some time and at one party Eva and Clive had their first kiss. Fast-forward many years later to a chance meeting in the elevator of their mutual building. Now thrown together as someone is trying to manipulate her company, she relies on Clive to help her navigate this new normal.

Chasing Eva is a romantic suspense read continuing in the next 2 books in the series Loving Eva and Killing Eva. This was a first read for this author and overall I enjoyed her writing style. I felt though a little confused as to how Eva didn’t remember kissing Clive (not the most common name) all those years ago. And if Clive knew so much about Eva through the years, didn’t know she was running her fathers company and just a few floors down from his office.

So that aside, this story was an interesting read for me. I haven’t been reading too much in the romantic suspense genre lately (though at one time it was a mainstay) and this one I would classify as more romantic than suspenseful. It gives a good baseline for where Clive and Eva have grown since that first kiss, and how they can come together now and try a relationship. Eva has some self-doubts after seeing some of the women Clive has dated, but in the end he shows her that he has eyes for only her.

This new to me author gets 4 stars for this introduction to her series. I am almost through with Loving Eva and then on to Killing Eva to see how this triology ends. All opinions expressed are my own, no review expectation was given.
  
Van Wilder: The Rise of Taj (Van Wilder 2) (2006)
Van Wilder: The Rise of Taj (Van Wilder 2) (2006)
2006 | Comedy
6
5.5 (2 Ratings)
Movie Rating
It has been four years since audiences last met Taj Mahal Badalandabad(Kal Penn), as he interned under Van Wilder in the film of the same name.

In Van Wilder 2: The Rise of Taj, we catch up with a more seasoned and confident Taj as he embarks on a trip to England in order to earn his teaching Doctorate under an advisor program.

From a outrageous encounter on his flight to England to running afoul of the snobbish Pipp Everett (Daniel Percival), Taj soon finds himself watching over a house full of some of the most dysfunctional people he has ever seen.

Undaunted, Taj decides to mentor his charges in much the same way that Van Wilder helped him, and hopes to help them earn a sense of dignity and self respect.

When Taj encounters the lovely Charlotte (Charlie) Higginson (Lauren Cohan), he earns the wrath of Pipp who happens to be dating Charlotte and already has a strong dislike for Taj and his students.

What follows is a fun, if predictable romp, where Taj and company must battle Pipp and his minions and prevail.

While this version contains its share of gross out comedy, there are some genuine fun and light-hearted moments. While it will not be remembered as one of the great comedies, of the year, there are some enjoyable moments in the film, especially Kal Penn who carries the film as well as he can with the material he is given.

In many ways the film plays out as a by the numbers comedy, yet there are some fun moments here, and if you were a fan of the first film, you just might find this your cup of tea.
  
The Life and Times of William Boule
The Life and Times of William Boule
Max China | 2014 | Crime, Fiction & Poetry, Thriller
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
It took me a long time to get around to reading a Max China book and I had heard a lot of good things about his work. I was not disappointed.

This novel forms a sequel to The Sister but I didn't feel I needed to read that to enjoy this as the characters are introduced and explained well. Carla Black is a journalist who wants to flush out the titular serial killer from his hideaway in Morocco. Meanwhile Miller, a missing persons investigator and former lover of Carla, suspects she may run into trouble and follows on to help her. When Boule runs into Carla unexpectedly, she and Miller end up in a race to safety with the serial killer in determined pursuit.

There are so many things that make this book stand out. China's descriptions of the dusty streets of Morocco, full of colours and smells are extremely immersive. His characters are all very solid and well-drawn. I particularly liked the local police chief who turns out to be a very shrewd and resourceful operator in his own right at working out what is going on. Boule is suitably amoral and nasty, a real sociopath but when the narrative is from his point of view the reader finds out his self-justification for his actions.

China keeps the reader guessing with the direction the plot is going to take next and the pace is frantic, the chase scenes desperate and nerve wracking and the pauses in action claustrophobic with menace. Everything gathers pace and momentum neatly until the final showdown which is perfectly pitched in terms of drama.

I really was impressed by this book and China is an outstanding writer.

(Contains violence and sexual scenes and references)
  
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