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Lindsay (1779 KP) rated Night of Nonsense (The Magic Magnifying Glass #3) in Books
Aug 23, 2021 (Updated Aug 24, 2021)
The third book in this series of Magic Magnifying Glass is called "Night of Nonsense." It seems like we will meet two more creatures of the night. We meet that Fin has got a new baby sister. Between this and now, his cousins come to visit. He shows off a unique present to these cousins. All because he got a new baby sister.
What adventures will Fin find himself in? He seems to need a few of these new forest friends; We seem to meet a Horned Owl and a Bat named Bella. We seem to run into Perry. What is Perry doing near the lake?
Does Fin seem to be pulled into a mystery of finding his cousin's diary? Will his cousin Dennis get blamed for the missing journal. While they are on the beach enjoying themselves. There seem to be mix-ups as Fin's mom is looking for his baby sister's diaper bag for either diapers or wet wipes. What happens to Jusinina's diary?
Dennis comes to Fin, and he gets pulled into solving the mystery of a missing diary and clearing this cousin Dennis's name. Will Fin be able to solve the mystery? This adventure started when Fin gets trapped in his sister's playpen and finds a pink ribbon. Does Fin seem to have to help his friend Elliott when they get into a bit of ruffle play with a fox? Will the fox be friendly or not. Fin and Elliott seem to meet a Horn Owl, and who is this horned owl, and will he be nice or not?
Children will learn about bats and owls, and foxes in this book. We met up with a few other forest friends. I love how these adventures are clean and educational for children to learn about nature and animal facts. This book takes you on an adventure with Fin during the night. You will meet a few night creatures and learn about them.
Parents can talk with the children and help them learn more about these lovely animals that come out at night. Maybe you can spend an evening outdoors with your child or children, and they can try and spot these night creatures or name them if they see them.
I can't wait to see the next adventure Fin and his friend Elliott get up to and what other friends Fin meets along the way.
What adventures will Fin find himself in? He seems to need a few of these new forest friends; We seem to meet a Horned Owl and a Bat named Bella. We seem to run into Perry. What is Perry doing near the lake?
Does Fin seem to be pulled into a mystery of finding his cousin's diary? Will his cousin Dennis get blamed for the missing journal. While they are on the beach enjoying themselves. There seem to be mix-ups as Fin's mom is looking for his baby sister's diaper bag for either diapers or wet wipes. What happens to Jusinina's diary?
Dennis comes to Fin, and he gets pulled into solving the mystery of a missing diary and clearing this cousin Dennis's name. Will Fin be able to solve the mystery? This adventure started when Fin gets trapped in his sister's playpen and finds a pink ribbon. Does Fin seem to have to help his friend Elliott when they get into a bit of ruffle play with a fox? Will the fox be friendly or not. Fin and Elliott seem to meet a Horn Owl, and who is this horned owl, and will he be nice or not?
Children will learn about bats and owls, and foxes in this book. We met up with a few other forest friends. I love how these adventures are clean and educational for children to learn about nature and animal facts. This book takes you on an adventure with Fin during the night. You will meet a few night creatures and learn about them.
Parents can talk with the children and help them learn more about these lovely animals that come out at night. Maybe you can spend an evening outdoors with your child or children, and they can try and spot these night creatures or name them if they see them.
I can't wait to see the next adventure Fin and his friend Elliott get up to and what other friends Fin meets along the way.
Lottie disney bookworm (1056 KP) rated Of Glass And Ashes in Books
Aug 30, 2021
Of Glass and Ashes is the third in the Twisted Pages series and the first time we meet Aika, the sister of Zaina from Of Thorns and Beauty and Of Beasts and Vengeance.
Despite being a Cinderella retelling, Aika is a fiesty, unpredictable protagonist. Whereas Zaina kept her walls built high and analysed every move she made, her sister fights hard to compartmentalise her emotions and, every so often, her control slips: Aika is literally the fire to Zaina’s ice.
Thankfully we do not lose Zaina and Einar just yet as they still have a couple of POV chapters in order to continue their mission. I loved the little insights into their dynamic and how this has progressed since we left them in Of Beasts and Vengeance.
Aika is wholeheartedly the star of the show though. Fiery and morally grey, Aika is used to acting upon her Mother’s orders and adopting different identities. However, when grief causes her to act with her heart rather than her head, events are put into motion that put our gutsy heroine in the worst danger of her life.
As with all of Madame’s daughters, Aika is a tortured soul and the reader gains glimpses of her previous life and how she came to be with Madame. Maybe this is why we forgive Aika’s questionable actions: we can clearly see the effect that her upbringing has had on her priorities and the trauma that she feels when she can’t save someone is palpable.
The beauty of Elle and Robin is that they never fail to provide an amazing love interest for their main characters. Spiky, closed off Zaina had an enemies to lovers relationship with the muscly giant Einar and spirited Aika introduces the reader to her ex-lover Remy. Remy is a confident, sarcastic member of the Guard and he sure keeps Aika on her toes but is it only Aika keeping secrets or does Remy also have something to hide?
Suspenseful, secretive and with some seriously deadly glass slippers, Of Glass and Ashes is a page turner which I devoured in less than 24 hours. I can’t wait for March 2022 to see what lies in store for Aika and Zaina in the next installment, Of Thieves and Shadows.
Despite being a Cinderella retelling, Aika is a fiesty, unpredictable protagonist. Whereas Zaina kept her walls built high and analysed every move she made, her sister fights hard to compartmentalise her emotions and, every so often, her control slips: Aika is literally the fire to Zaina’s ice.
Thankfully we do not lose Zaina and Einar just yet as they still have a couple of POV chapters in order to continue their mission. I loved the little insights into their dynamic and how this has progressed since we left them in Of Beasts and Vengeance.
Aika is wholeheartedly the star of the show though. Fiery and morally grey, Aika is used to acting upon her Mother’s orders and adopting different identities. However, when grief causes her to act with her heart rather than her head, events are put into motion that put our gutsy heroine in the worst danger of her life.
As with all of Madame’s daughters, Aika is a tortured soul and the reader gains glimpses of her previous life and how she came to be with Madame. Maybe this is why we forgive Aika’s questionable actions: we can clearly see the effect that her upbringing has had on her priorities and the trauma that she feels when she can’t save someone is palpable.
The beauty of Elle and Robin is that they never fail to provide an amazing love interest for their main characters. Spiky, closed off Zaina had an enemies to lovers relationship with the muscly giant Einar and spirited Aika introduces the reader to her ex-lover Remy. Remy is a confident, sarcastic member of the Guard and he sure keeps Aika on her toes but is it only Aika keeping secrets or does Remy also have something to hide?
Suspenseful, secretive and with some seriously deadly glass slippers, Of Glass and Ashes is a page turner which I devoured in less than 24 hours. I can’t wait for March 2022 to see what lies in store for Aika and Zaina in the next installment, Of Thieves and Shadows.
Laura Doe (1350 KP) rated The Deception in Books
Mar 18, 2022
This book was an enjoyable read, if not at times a little predictable with what was going to happen. But even so, when I did guess something, I did second guess myself until it actually happened.
Samantha and her twin sister Alison have been through a lot together, first their parents die in a terrible accident then their grandmother dies, all before they go to university. At university Samantha meets a boyfriend who she enjoys spending time with until she starts seeing red flags in their relationship. She breaks up with him only to discover he is dating her twin sister. It ends with Alison being murdered and the boyfriend being murdered in prison. Samantha then decides she needs a new start and moves away and changes her name.
The book then moves on around 10 years and we find out what Samantha has been up to, she has changed her name to Rosie, married and had a baby. She has neglected to tell her husband her past, but all of that changes when she gets a letter from one of the journalists from 10 years previously. The journalist is then murdered and the police start pointing the finger at her and her husband.
While it was enjoyable, the police parts didn’t seem to add up as they jumped to a conclusion before looking at all the evidence, including the autopsy report which wasn’t rushed through like the rest of the evidence. This didn’t ring true for me, why would all of the evidence from the house be rushed through but not the autopsy when that tells you so much about the death and how the person was murdered? Just little parts of the story niggled at me, which did stop me from enjoying it as much as I could.
I also guessed who was involved from as soon as they entered the story, although I didn’t know how they were connected but I did know that they had the trust fund money and it was only at the end when it was revealed their true identity I could see how they ended up with the trust fund.
Thank you to Bloodhound Books and Gillian Jackson for my copy of this book to read and review.
Samantha and her twin sister Alison have been through a lot together, first their parents die in a terrible accident then their grandmother dies, all before they go to university. At university Samantha meets a boyfriend who she enjoys spending time with until she starts seeing red flags in their relationship. She breaks up with him only to discover he is dating her twin sister. It ends with Alison being murdered and the boyfriend being murdered in prison. Samantha then decides she needs a new start and moves away and changes her name.
The book then moves on around 10 years and we find out what Samantha has been up to, she has changed her name to Rosie, married and had a baby. She has neglected to tell her husband her past, but all of that changes when she gets a letter from one of the journalists from 10 years previously. The journalist is then murdered and the police start pointing the finger at her and her husband.
While it was enjoyable, the police parts didn’t seem to add up as they jumped to a conclusion before looking at all the evidence, including the autopsy report which wasn’t rushed through like the rest of the evidence. This didn’t ring true for me, why would all of the evidence from the house be rushed through but not the autopsy when that tells you so much about the death and how the person was murdered? Just little parts of the story niggled at me, which did stop me from enjoying it as much as I could.
I also guessed who was involved from as soon as they entered the story, although I didn’t know how they were connected but I did know that they had the trust fund money and it was only at the end when it was revealed their true identity I could see how they ended up with the trust fund.
Thank you to Bloodhound Books and Gillian Jackson for my copy of this book to read and review.
ClareR (6001 KP) rated The Dictator’s Wife in Books
Mar 8, 2022
The Dictator’s Wife drew me in from the first page. I was utterly gripped by this claustrophobic-feeling story about the wife of a deposed (and dead) dictator.
Laura Lāzārescu’s parents had escaped Yanussia and its oppressive regime when she was a small child. Yanussian wasn’t spoken in the house, Yanussia wasn’t spoken about at all. So when Laura is asked to go to Yanussia with her law firm to represent Marija Popa, the wife of the country’s former dictator, her parents aren’t at all happy.
Marija is firm in her innocence. But is she really innocent? She’s accused of money laundering and human rights abuses, but she repeatedly paints a picture of herself as that of the nations mother. This is a woman with charisma, and you know when she has entered a room. She uses her femininity like a weapon - people do what she want them to with little effort on her part (or so it appears).
And Laura is affected by her. What makes it more interesting, is that Marija knows Laura’s mother - something that Laura has no knowledge of.
There’s a feeling of dread running throughout this book: Laura and her colleagues can’t leave the grounds without an escort, the building itself has secrets, and it’s as though those secrets are oozing from the walls. It feels like Laura is being constantly watched.
Everyone in this novel has secrets: Laura’s parents, her colleagues, the Yanussian lawyer, Marija’s sister, and most importantly, Marija herself. Family is an important theme: Marija is adopted, but even her adopted sister is clearly covering up for her. Laura’s family has pretty much destroyed itself as her parents keep their secrets from her.
Other themes are secrets, gender roles, stereotypes within those roles and the role of the media and social media in particular. Social media is a big driver behind the attitudes of the people towards Marija, and the media itself fuels this.
Laura just wants to find out the secrets that her parents won’t tell her, but will she be able to before she has to leave?
I’d most certainly recommend this book, and I’m really looking forward to reading more from Freya Berry in the future. Many thanks to Hayley @Shelflyfe and @Headline books for my prize-winning copy.
Laura Lāzārescu’s parents had escaped Yanussia and its oppressive regime when she was a small child. Yanussian wasn’t spoken in the house, Yanussia wasn’t spoken about at all. So when Laura is asked to go to Yanussia with her law firm to represent Marija Popa, the wife of the country’s former dictator, her parents aren’t at all happy.
Marija is firm in her innocence. But is she really innocent? She’s accused of money laundering and human rights abuses, but she repeatedly paints a picture of herself as that of the nations mother. This is a woman with charisma, and you know when she has entered a room. She uses her femininity like a weapon - people do what she want them to with little effort on her part (or so it appears).
And Laura is affected by her. What makes it more interesting, is that Marija knows Laura’s mother - something that Laura has no knowledge of.
There’s a feeling of dread running throughout this book: Laura and her colleagues can’t leave the grounds without an escort, the building itself has secrets, and it’s as though those secrets are oozing from the walls. It feels like Laura is being constantly watched.
Everyone in this novel has secrets: Laura’s parents, her colleagues, the Yanussian lawyer, Marija’s sister, and most importantly, Marija herself. Family is an important theme: Marija is adopted, but even her adopted sister is clearly covering up for her. Laura’s family has pretty much destroyed itself as her parents keep their secrets from her.
Other themes are secrets, gender roles, stereotypes within those roles and the role of the media and social media in particular. Social media is a big driver behind the attitudes of the people towards Marija, and the media itself fuels this.
Laura just wants to find out the secrets that her parents won’t tell her, but will she be able to before she has to leave?
I’d most certainly recommend this book, and I’m really looking forward to reading more from Freya Berry in the future. Many thanks to Hayley @Shelflyfe and @Headline books for my prize-winning copy.
Debbiereadsbook (1570 KP) rated Make Them Bleed (Pretty Deadly Things #1) in Books
Sep 25, 2025
dark, but good.
Independent reviewer for BookSirens, I was gifted my copy of this book.
THis is book 1 in a new series by Logan Chance, and it spins off Men of MAddox Security (I think, since I read that series and Dean Maddox pops up here!) But you don't need to have read those for this to make sense. Arrow popped up at some point in the other series, is all.
Juno's sister was murdered, while she live streamed. And Juno sets about finding her killers and getting some justice, somehow. She resorts to the dark web, and meets a masked man who offers to help. Said masked man is none other than her best friend, Arrow, who puts trackers on her computer, so he could keeps a eye on what she was doing in the dark web. CAn he keep his identity a secret, while helping Juno??
Ohhhh! I liked this, a lot!
Juno and Arrow are perfect for each other, even if they have been friends for years!
What I loved most about this, was when Juno finds out who the masked man is, and what he has done, she's not mad, or angry. She understands WHY Arrow does what he does. What she does feel, though, is a whoosh (almost, since it's been brewing a while!) of attraction to Arrow and she forces the issue. Loved the way she does that.
It's dark, Arby, Juno's sister is murdered live streaming. There are some darker forces at work here but I did NOT see where they were coming from. So well played on that front, Mr Chance!
It's steamy, once Juno and Arrow get their act together!
It has some funnier moments, but I wouldn't call this a romantic comedy. Emotional in places, very much so.
A character, right at the beginning, has a say and I wasn't sure why he did for a long time. But it does become clear, in the end.
A huge supporting cast, who I believe will get their own stories. Looking forward to that.
But heads up about this one. The murder is live streamed, and on page, from a viewer's POV. Harrowing reading, but I do think it is needed.
4 VERY good stars
*same worded review will appear elsewhere
THis is book 1 in a new series by Logan Chance, and it spins off Men of MAddox Security (I think, since I read that series and Dean Maddox pops up here!) But you don't need to have read those for this to make sense. Arrow popped up at some point in the other series, is all.
Juno's sister was murdered, while she live streamed. And Juno sets about finding her killers and getting some justice, somehow. She resorts to the dark web, and meets a masked man who offers to help. Said masked man is none other than her best friend, Arrow, who puts trackers on her computer, so he could keeps a eye on what she was doing in the dark web. CAn he keep his identity a secret, while helping Juno??
Ohhhh! I liked this, a lot!
Juno and Arrow are perfect for each other, even if they have been friends for years!
What I loved most about this, was when Juno finds out who the masked man is, and what he has done, she's not mad, or angry. She understands WHY Arrow does what he does. What she does feel, though, is a whoosh (almost, since it's been brewing a while!) of attraction to Arrow and she forces the issue. Loved the way she does that.
It's dark, Arby, Juno's sister is murdered live streaming. There are some darker forces at work here but I did NOT see where they were coming from. So well played on that front, Mr Chance!
It's steamy, once Juno and Arrow get their act together!
It has some funnier moments, but I wouldn't call this a romantic comedy. Emotional in places, very much so.
A character, right at the beginning, has a say and I wasn't sure why he did for a long time. But it does become clear, in the end.
A huge supporting cast, who I believe will get their own stories. Looking forward to that.
But heads up about this one. The murder is live streamed, and on page, from a viewer's POV. Harrowing reading, but I do think it is needed.
4 VERY good stars
*same worded review will appear elsewhere
Running with the Werewolf (Darkaway Island #1)
8.0
Rate It
Book
Welcome to Darkaway Island: A destination resort for supernaturals. Where Monsters Come to Play! ...
Paranormal Romance Rom-Com
Clair (5 KP) rated My Sister's Bones in Books
Sep 29, 2017
Thank you to Penguin UK as part of an Instagram promotion of this book.
Kate Rafter is a journalist who works in some of worst places in the world, seeing some of the world's worst atrocities. She returns home on the death of her mother. Her sister Sally has never left Herne Bay and is an alcoholic, who hates Kate. The book is split between the main events of the story and scenes in a police station where Kate is being assessed on her mental health. We know that Kate keeps hearing and seeing a young boy in the family garden - but her experiences in Syria which have left her traumatised means that no one believes her.
Marketed as a rival to The Girl on the Train (I wish they wouldn't do that), I enjoyed this book and would ideally have given it 3.5 stars.
Negatives first...I didn't think it was that well written, there were plot holes that annoyed me and I found the characters one dimensional.
BUT the story was fast moving and intriguing and then there is a major twist which I didn't see coming which made me gasp.
Kate Rafter is a journalist who works in some of worst places in the world, seeing some of the world's worst atrocities. She returns home on the death of her mother. Her sister Sally has never left Herne Bay and is an alcoholic, who hates Kate. The book is split between the main events of the story and scenes in a police station where Kate is being assessed on her mental health. We know that Kate keeps hearing and seeing a young boy in the family garden - but her experiences in Syria which have left her traumatised means that no one believes her.
Marketed as a rival to The Girl on the Train (I wish they wouldn't do that), I enjoyed this book and would ideally have given it 3.5 stars.
Negatives first...I didn't think it was that well written, there were plot holes that annoyed me and I found the characters one dimensional.
BUT the story was fast moving and intriguing and then there is a major twist which I didn't see coming which made me gasp.
Laura (40 KP) rated The Upside of Unrequited in Books
Oct 1, 2017
This book was such a quick and easy read. The book is told entirely from Molly’s point of view, she is very relatable and has a distinct and developed voice. I soon felt like I knew her and really related to her as a main character. One of the things that I really loved about The Upside of Unrequited is the importance of the relationship between Molly and her twin sister Cassie, and the strong relationships she has with the rest of her family. There are so many important elements woven in to this story, and I felt like it was really well done. There is a lot of diversity, and it feels totally natural, and none of the characters are reduced to their diverse characteristic, they all read like real people, and I really liked all the different relationship dynamics.
*This book was kindly provided to me for honest review by the Publisher via Netgalley. This has not impacted on the content of this review, which it my own honest opinion.
A full review is available on my blog: https://readingsanctuaryblog.wordpress.com/2017/04/14/review-the-upside-of-unrequited-by-becky-albertalli/
*This book was kindly provided to me for honest review by the Publisher via Netgalley. This has not impacted on the content of this review, which it my own honest opinion.
A full review is available on my blog: https://readingsanctuaryblog.wordpress.com/2017/04/14/review-the-upside-of-unrequited-by-becky-albertalli/
Laura T (4 KP) rated Stranger Things - Season 2 in TV
Nov 4, 2017 (Updated Nov 4, 2017)
Steve And Dustins bromance. (3 more)
Eleven and Hopper as a family.
Lucas’s little sister (she needs a bigger part next time)
Ghostbusters!
Love letter to the 80s
I don’t normally review stuff but I ADORE this show. I love anything geeky anyway but this just combines it with the awesomeness that was the 80s. A fantastic show that you can’t help be sucked into and want to watch them all in one go (who needs sleep?!?) I wasn’t sure whether I’d watch it when I first saw it advertised, but I’m so glad I did. They’ve got it down to a t. Bad hair, crap fashion, awesome music, and fantastic homages to some great 80s films. It’s just one big love letter to some of the best things about that decade. Wasn’t sure if S2 would be as good, but i think it’s just as good if not better. And we know how rare that can be. I’m not gonna go into everything about the show as I think you just need to clear a big chunk of space in your free time and binge them all. S3 and 4 cant come soon enough!!
Domonique (0 KP) rated Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood in Books
May 12, 2018
This was really good. I have been a Trevor Noah fan since my sister told me about him a few years ago and I watched one of his specials on Netflix. Then for my 1 year anniversary with my now husband, we saw him live and he was even better than on TV. When I found out he had written a book, I couldn't wait to read it and I am so glad that I did. It was enlightening, insightful, funny and very honest. I loved hearing about his relationship with his mother, how he came to know his father, learning more about apartheid and how that affected him as a mixed child growing up in South Africa and how he came to be where he is today. I actually listened to it as an audiobook, which I really enjoyed because he has such a soothing voice and he is great at doing variations and inflections on his voice to make it sound younger, older or pretty much anything. Bottom line, it was a great read and it makes me respect and love Trevor Noah even more.