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Alpha's Embrace (Omega Misfits #3)
6.0
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I am Misha and I am twenty years old. My name was given to me at birth by the doctor who...
American Rose: A Nation Laid Bare: The Life and Times of Gypsy Rose Lee
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With the critically acclaimed Sin in the Second City, bestselling author Karen Abbott “pioneered...
HotelTonight
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Book last minute hotel deals up to a week in advance! HotelTonight makes it *incredibly* easy &...
PhotoPuppet HD
Entertainment and Education
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Puppet animation and frame-by-frame animation combined. Tap record and animate everything! Play back...
Veganagogo Vegan Travel
Travel and Food & Drink
1.0
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Veganagogo is a fun and easy way to communicate your vegan dietary requirements almost anywhere in...
Translator with Speech HD Pro
Travel and Reference
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The coolest translator on the iPad now supports speech input for the following languages: Czech...
Kristy H (1252 KP) rated Under the Southern Sky in Books
Aug 12, 2021
A heartfelt romance set in North Carolina
Amelia Saxton, a journalist, has just published a personal story in "Modern Love" discussing her own modern marriage with her husband Thad, talking about how happy they are in their life filled with travel and their decision not to have children. That same day she discovers Thad is cheating on her--with another man. Devastated, Amelia's life is completely upended and she wonders if she can ever trust again. While researching another story, she finds out that some embryos belonging to her childhood friend Parker and his late wife, Greer, have been deemed "abandoned." Parker had a love for the ages with Greer, but Amelia--the literal girl next door--was his first love. He had forgotten about the embryos, but once he hears Amelia's news, he wants to become a single father via surrogate. As Amelia and Parker each return home to Cape Carolina to deal with their own grief, they find comfort in their friendship.
"People always think being loved will change them. But that's not true. It's really, truly loving--with the kind of love you couldn't take away even if you wanted to--that turns you inside out."
This book had an interesting plot idea--the whole embryo idea has the possibility to become icky, but overall Woodson Harvey pulls it off. I have been through IVF and dealt with frozen embryo decisions myself, so the book certainly hit home. The story is told via Parker and Amelia's present-day perspectives and interspersed with excerpts from Greer's journals. The North Carolina setting is atmospheric and takes on a life of its own.
At times, this tale is kind of silly and all over the place, but it's a very easy read. The characters are also easy-to-like, and I grew to care a lot about both Parker and Amelia. It's a fun and romantic tale, with just about everyone tied together in various ways. There are meddling moms, family secrets, and drama with Parker's brother. All of this makes the book quite a page-turner, which is at turns sweet and heartbreaking. 3.75 stars.
"People always think being loved will change them. But that's not true. It's really, truly loving--with the kind of love you couldn't take away even if you wanted to--that turns you inside out."
This book had an interesting plot idea--the whole embryo idea has the possibility to become icky, but overall Woodson Harvey pulls it off. I have been through IVF and dealt with frozen embryo decisions myself, so the book certainly hit home. The story is told via Parker and Amelia's present-day perspectives and interspersed with excerpts from Greer's journals. The North Carolina setting is atmospheric and takes on a life of its own.
At times, this tale is kind of silly and all over the place, but it's a very easy read. The characters are also easy-to-like, and I grew to care a lot about both Parker and Amelia. It's a fun and romantic tale, with just about everyone tied together in various ways. There are meddling moms, family secrets, and drama with Parker's brother. All of this makes the book quite a page-turner, which is at turns sweet and heartbreaking. 3.75 stars.
Merissa (14013 KP) rated Ripped (Mars Fitness #1) in Books
Jan 22, 2025
EDIT: I requested this book and had completely forgotten that I'd already read it, but the blurb still pulled me in, so that was good. Even though I could remember the story once I started, I was still loving the read, as the emotions and circumstances kept me turning the pages.
I'm so happy I have re-read this and can honestly say all my previous comments still stand. A great way to start a series and HIGHLY RECOMMENDED by me.
RIPPED is both the first book in the Mars Fitness series and also the first book by this author I have read. Let me start by saying I want more! Both of the series and by this author.
Connor's world is upended when he walks in on his boyfriend and best friend after getting home from a spin class. No, they're not 'doing the do' but it's pretty obvious anyway. Distraught, he ends up back at the gym and collapses on Sawyer and Donnie. Whilst this is a pretty quick start to Donnie and Connor's relationship, it is also not rushed. Both of them feel attraction immediately, but they also both have issues they want to work through.
One thing I absolutely adored was that Connor's family was dysfunctional! It made a nice change from a cookie-cutter family where, even if there's a disagreement, it's sorted out with minimum fuss. I'm sorry but not all families are like that! The other thing that got me was when Donnie was talking to Roger and his parents. So emotional and perfectly written. Grief isn't linear and it doesn't always make sense. I loved Roger's presence in this story, comfort and encouragement instead of power and threats, even if he is dead.
A great read that I couldn't put down. I want to see more of Connor and Donnie and I'm really hoping they turn up in Sawyer's book, which comes next. HIGHLY recommended by me.
** 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, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Mar 28, 2023
Jan 22, 2025
I'm so happy I have re-read this and can honestly say all my previous comments still stand. A great way to start a series and HIGHLY RECOMMENDED by me.
RIPPED is both the first book in the Mars Fitness series and also the first book by this author I have read. Let me start by saying I want more! Both of the series and by this author.
Connor's world is upended when he walks in on his boyfriend and best friend after getting home from a spin class. No, they're not 'doing the do' but it's pretty obvious anyway. Distraught, he ends up back at the gym and collapses on Sawyer and Donnie. Whilst this is a pretty quick start to Donnie and Connor's relationship, it is also not rushed. Both of them feel attraction immediately, but they also both have issues they want to work through.
One thing I absolutely adored was that Connor's family was dysfunctional! It made a nice change from a cookie-cutter family where, even if there's a disagreement, it's sorted out with minimum fuss. I'm sorry but not all families are like that! The other thing that got me was when Donnie was talking to Roger and his parents. So emotional and perfectly written. Grief isn't linear and it doesn't always make sense. I loved Roger's presence in this story, comfort and encouragement instead of power and threats, even if he is dead.
A great read that I couldn't put down. I want to see more of Connor and Donnie and I'm really hoping they turn up in Sawyer's book, which comes next. HIGHLY recommended by me.
** 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, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Mar 28, 2023
Jan 22, 2025
Merissa (14013 KP) rated The Complete Grimm Chronicles (The Grimm Chronicles Box Set) in Books
Apr 12, 2023
I honestly don't know where to start with this book as there are so many good points. I guess a good place to start with what you actually get with this book. This book contains all 12 episodes of the series, as well as the bonus "Lost diaries" of previous heroes and all of the collected Grimm's Fairy Tales so it makes for a very long and satisfying read.
The best way I can describe this set of books is to tell you to imagine Buffy the Vampire Slayer but instead of the Scoobies and her Watcher, imagine a great big, talking, sometimes visible, white Rabbit called Briar to his friends, otherwise known as Br'er Rabbit.
The wit is fast and sharp and on pretty much every page. There is also exhaustion, pain, temptation, and even time for the usual teenage angst. There are no plot holes and the story continues with a smooth flow, making your reading of it completely and thoroughly enjoyable. Be prepared though, if you're anything like me, you will cry! And not just once, either. Characters that you don't like to start with insidiously get under your skin until you do like them and then, of course, you worry about their well-being. (Yes, I know it's a book but it's written that well that you do care!!)
These fairy tales stay true to the originals by the Brothers Grimm, they have not been Disney-fied in any way. You could even say that they are 'grim' as they involve people being eaten, violence, and self-mutilation. These are all things that actually happened in these stories before they were 'softened' for today's children.
If you want a change from Disney, if you like a butt-kicking, fast-witted but altogether relatable Hero, if you want the warmth that the friendship of the Hero's helper or if you just want to read about fairy tales, then I can definitely recommend this set of Chronicles. Seriously, I can't recommend it highly enough. Absolutely brilliant.
* 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!
Jun 08, 2015
The best way I can describe this set of books is to tell you to imagine Buffy the Vampire Slayer but instead of the Scoobies and her Watcher, imagine a great big, talking, sometimes visible, white Rabbit called Briar to his friends, otherwise known as Br'er Rabbit.
The wit is fast and sharp and on pretty much every page. There is also exhaustion, pain, temptation, and even time for the usual teenage angst. There are no plot holes and the story continues with a smooth flow, making your reading of it completely and thoroughly enjoyable. Be prepared though, if you're anything like me, you will cry! And not just once, either. Characters that you don't like to start with insidiously get under your skin until you do like them and then, of course, you worry about their well-being. (Yes, I know it's a book but it's written that well that you do care!!)
These fairy tales stay true to the originals by the Brothers Grimm, they have not been Disney-fied in any way. You could even say that they are 'grim' as they involve people being eaten, violence, and self-mutilation. These are all things that actually happened in these stories before they were 'softened' for today's children.
If you want a change from Disney, if you like a butt-kicking, fast-witted but altogether relatable Hero, if you want the warmth that the friendship of the Hero's helper or if you just want to read about fairy tales, then I can definitely recommend this set of Chronicles. Seriously, I can't recommend it highly enough. Absolutely brilliant.
* 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!
Jun 08, 2015