Search

Search only in certain items:

The Escort (Night Series #2)
The Escort (Night Series #2)
2018 | Crime, LGBTQ+, Romance
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
excellent follow up!
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.

This is book two in the Night Series, but you don't need to have read book one, One Night first. I recommend you DO though, cos that book is HOT!!!

This one is more a slow burner, heat wise, but both Ethan and Joe have lusted after the other for over a year. When Ethan reveals he has a stalker, Joe goes all ALPHA male on him, and finally admits to himself at least, how he really feels about Ethan.

From the moment Ethan saw Joe, he knew he would be his, he'd wait til Joe finally rid himself of his silly "no mixing work and pleasure" rule. Joe wants Ethan, more than anyone he ever met, he just needs to see past the fact that Ethan is staff.

Like I said, more of a slow burner, it takes time for the guys to FINALLY admit to themselves who they really want, but once they do, its on, baby!

I'm not one for early profession of love and forever, but, while the guys use those words to THEMSELVES, its not till the very end of the book, they admit their feeling to each other. It's right and proper for this book and these guys.

Cam and Gabe pop up here too, so that's Brownie points from me!

I liked that Ethan manages to keep his secret net worth from, not only Joe, but US too, til right at the end. WE don't get told that news though, at all! Loved that Ethan didn't keep his money, too.

Excellent follow up, keep them coming! Loving these!

5 stars

**same worded review will appear elsewhere**
  
The Beauty of Impossible Things
The Beauty of Impossible Things
Rachel Donohue | 2021 | Crime, Fiction & Poetry
8
7.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
I give this book 3.5 stars but rounded up to 4. I was lucky enough to be given a copy of this book by Readers First in return for an honest review.

It was a slow burn, but definitely one that I wanted to keep reading. We travel through this book with Natasha, a teenager who has the gift of foresight, but always sees when something bad happens. Living with her mother, her father having left them when she was young, who she craves love from but always seems embarrassed about her daughter’s gift.

One night Natasha sees lights coming from the trees on a ridge and feels that something bad is going to happen and tries to warn her little town. People don’t believe her apart from another boy Lewis, who had previously had a breakdown and the town thinks he is strange, who tells her he saw them too and also seems distressed by them.

The story follows Natasha trying to warn people of the horrible events she knows will happen to them and people not seeming to believe her, or her not making any difference and it happening anyway.

It was such a lovely read and something different. I would recommend to anyone who wants a slow burner.
  
Unbreakable (2000)
Unbreakable (2000)
2000 | Drama, Mystery, Sci-Fi
Better than I remembered
I havent seen this since it first came out and I remember then not being very impressed, especially when comparing it to The Sixth Sense. It also didn't help that I didn't know much about comics and superheroes back then.

Watching this again, I have realised it is a good film. It has a great concept and an intriguing plot, although is a bit of a slow burner. The big reveal at the end is entirely unexpected (the first time round anyway) and Samuel l Jackson does a great job. It's never going to be as good as The Sixth Sense and it's a completely different type of film. I'd also say that Split is better, but the plot of this is very different to Unbreakable so it's difficult to compare in detail. Unbreakable isn't perfect but it's much better than I remembered.

It has really made me look forward to Glass even more too.
  
The first thing I would say about this book is that it is a slow burner. For probably the first third of the book, you are wondering about whether to carry on or not (the first time you read it at least!) but if you can stick with it, it does become worth your while.

The history and mythology that GGK has put into the Fionavar Tapestry are things that dreams are made of - certainly for every Fantasy fan.

One of the common complaints about this book seems to be that the five friends adjust too well to their 'new' world. My reply is that it's amazing how normal things can seem to be when you're with friends :o)

This book is an excellent introduction to the series and also sets the second book up very nicely.

This trilogy, along with Tigana by the same author, firmly remains on my Favourites shelf!
  
Flirting With Fire (A Witch’s Night Out #1)
Flirting With Fire (A Witch’s Night Out #1)
Tara Quan | 2014 | Paranormal, Romance
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
In the first of the Witch's Night Out series of novellas, we meet Cat and Leo - familiar and warlock. Cat has eighteen months left on her contract which transferred to Leo upon the death of his aunt. The only trouble is Leo doesn't realise that he is a warlock so can't say the incantation which allows Cat to become human and leave the house.

In a short novella, there is a lot of information and humour. I loved the Draco Malfoy references for a start, but there are plenty to choose from. In some respects, it is a slow burner (pun intended) until they meet for their blind date and then things heat up.

For a short but extremely sexy, quick-witted and humorous story, I can definitely recommend this.

* 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!
Dec 13, 2015
  
Blood Surfer (Thunder City #1)
Blood Surfer (Thunder City #1)
Debra Jess | 2015 | Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
This is the second book in the 'Superhero' category that I have read recently, and this one is once again absolutely amazing!

With a plot that grabs you from the very first word, characters that are completely believable (considering their world), family angst, childish tricks gone bad, and betrayal - it's all here!

The relationship between Scott and Hannah is very fast, whilst paradoxically a slow-burner. The friendship, trust, and possibly more, take time to build up even as circumstances throw them together.

With a world that I would love to return to, and a bunch of characters that I would love to read more of, this is a fantastic read that builds to a rip-roaring climax. Thoroughly enjoyed, highly recommended, and I can't wait for book two!

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

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
May 9, 2016
  
40x40

Dean (6925 KP) rated The Power of the Dog (2021) in Movies

Apr 1, 2022 (Updated Apr 1, 2022)  
The Power of the Dog (2021)
The Power of the Dog (2021)
2021 | Drama, Romance, Western
Benedict Cumberbatch (1 more)
Cool cinematography
A slow burner that won't be to everyone's liking (0 more)
Don't underestimate..
Finally checked this out after all the Oscar wins and nominations. Spotted it on Netflix a while ago but the trailer didn't grab me.
While set as a Western, shot in an awesome location in New Zealand, it's more of a character piece. No gun blazing here. It's the end of the Wild West era 1925 with Horses giving way to cars. A rancher and his brother are on a cattle drive. They meet a window and her young awkward son. Soon she marries the gentlemanly brother and moves to the ranch. Where they are tormented by Benendict Cumberbatch's character. At his awesome best in a more different role for him as a complex bully, mancho man exterior with a hidden depth to him.
Definitely an intellectual film with many layers and aspects to it. A lot of questions hinted at for the viewer to fill in the blanks. By the end it's a simple story told very intricately. Some great actors and beautiful photography, this will hold up well to repeat viewings.
It is very slow going to the payoff at the end and isn't the sort of film that will appeal to everyone. If you appreciate good acting and storytelling though check it out.
  
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975)
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975)
1975 | Comedy, Drama
The character 'Billy' (1 more)
Mac
This is the first time I've seen this film and I did not know the ending which is rare for such an iconic movie like this. No spoilers for me.


The ending upset me a lot!

Billy is very sweet and likeable and is probably my favourite character.

Mrs Ratched makes me so angry, and it's clear to see why she won an Oscar for her role. She is silently devious and unbelievably controlling.

Mac is a slow burner. You're unsure of him in the beginning, unsure whether to like him but by the end I must say i loved him!


Chief, Martini and Cheswick are some of the other cast members and they are very rounded, likeable characters.


Mac brings a sense of rebellion and fun into these men's lives, he doesn't go about a lot of stuff the right way but he treats these men with respect and dignity. He becomes their friend, he sticks up for them and doesn't treat them as if they're stupid or crazy. He treats them like an equal and it's lovely.
  
The People Before
The People Before
Charlotte Northedge | 2022 | Contemporary, Fiction & Poetry, Thriller
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I loved this: creepy, tense and claustrophobic.

Pete and Jess buy a big house in rural Suffolk that needs a lot of work. Overwhelmingly so. Jess is clearly uncomfortable with the house. Pete works in London and Jess is left alone a lot with two children who need a lot of attention. And something clearly happened in London prior to their move that no-one is talking about.

This is a slow burner with characters I loved to dislike. Everything that could go wrong, did. Like Jess, I always felt I was left unbalanced about what was going on. What was going to go wrong next?! One thing after another seems to go wrong in this house. What was Pete up to? What had happened in the house before they had got there?

Honestly, I didn’t read the synopsis to this book before I read it, purely because I’d read and enjoyed The House Guest, Charlotte’s previous book. And I wasn’t disappointed. I’m eager to read whatever she writes next!
  
Fahrenheit 451 (2018)
Fahrenheit 451 (2018)
2018 | Sci-Fi
5
5.0 (3 Ratings)
Movie Rating
Too much of a slow burner...
It’s been a long time since I read (and hugely enjoyed) the book, however I’m afraid the same can’t be said for this. Although I don’t remember too much about the book, I’m sure I recall it being a fairly dark and gritty dystopian future quite like the one in 1984, but this depiction makes it out to be a little too slick and advanced, and not quite dark enough. I appreciate that the book was written some years ago, but I feel like this version has taken in too much of our idea of future technology instead of sticking closer to the source material. I’m known for not liking films that don’t stick close enough to the books, so maybe that’s affecting my judgement.

Michael B Jordan does okay although I feel he’s a little young for how I imagined Montag to be. Michael Shannon is good as the Captain but i think his character motivations are very well defined and they come across as a bit confused. The plot itself is well explained but the problem is it’s quite slow paced and seems to come across as dull and drags at times. Yet Montag’s motivations seem to too quickly change from devoted Fireman to deviant.

Whilst I don’t think this is a terrible adaptation, it’s not one I’d recommend unless you’ve read the book. The only thing this has done is prompted me to read the book again!