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A Gathering Of Secrets
A Gathering Of Secrets
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Kate Burkholder is the chief of police for the small town of Painter's Mill in Ohio. When a young Amish man is found burned to death in his family's barn, Kate is determined to find out who is responsible. Being ex-Amish herself, Kate has a strong connection to the people. But trying out to find out who would have wanted Daniel Gingerich dead is turning into quite a list. You see, Daniel wasn't the good Amish boy every portrayed him to be. He had a dirty secret and once Chief Burkholder is able to uncover his secrets, she may be able to find his killer.

Thank you to Minotaur Books for the opportunity to read and review this book.

When I first heard about this book, I was quite intrigued by the story line. I didn't know that this was a part of a series, so that was a little disappointing, but I don't feel like I missed out on too much. I definitely want to go back and read the rest of the series.

Daniel Gingerich is in the period of an Amish person's life called Rumspringa. This is a time once Amish reach adulthood that they take the time to "find themselves". Daniel had a serious girlfriend and had plans to marry her. But he was a young man and attractive. He could have almost any girl he wanted. So why was he killed and who did it? When Kate finds out Daniel's secret, the suspect pool grows bigger and bigger the more she digs into this young man's life. The Amish community is so tight knit that no one wants to tell anyone's secrets.

This book was very hard to put down, and there were surprises I didn't see coming. I look forward to reading more books by Linda Castillo.
  
The Time of My Life
The Time of My Life
Nora Phoenix | 2018 | Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
The Time of My Life by Nora Phoenix
Nora Phoenix is a relatively new author to me. I've only read her No Shame series up until this one. For No Shame, I was hooked. I loved how Ms. Phoenix was able to introduce her characters and ways of living. So when I saw The Time of My Life I immediately signed up to review.

And I am glad that I did!!!

This is an amazing story, that will keep you engrossed from start to finish. The characters, whether they are there to be liked or loathed, all ring true, and sometimes in a whole that's-too-realistic-and-it's-scary kind of way! Judah and Denver are very different, in more ways that one, but they complement each other perfectly. The path to true love is never smooth though, and these two know that more than most.

I honestly don't want to talk too much about particular points in the story as I don't want to ruin it for anyone else. For myself, I loved going in blind, not knowing anything about it. What I can and will say is that there are no editing or grammatical errors that disrupted my reading flow. Spread out over time, this is no insta-love, but it builds up over time, making it all the sweeter. The pacing is smooth and the transitions from one scene to the next are flawless.

Just one more thing that made me laugh to myself - and yes, this is a big hint, I guess - I never considered the title of the book until the ending. Perfect.

Absolutely recommended by me!

* 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!
  
Where Love Grows
Where Love Grows
Jay Northcote | 2019 | Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Where Love Grows is a beautiful story between two men who have struggled with hard times, set in the gorgeous backdrop of Wales. Stephen has been seriously ill and is struggling to get his life back on track. It appears hopeless and he feels helpless. Luke is suffering from depression and has no idea on how to make his life better OR be able to move forward. Together, these two are amazing.

Oh my, I loved this story. I am not a gardener although my heart is in the right place. Unfortunately, my brown thumb doesn't cooperate! So I was immediately sympathising with Luke as he struggled to understand the difference between a weed and a flower. Stephen is a prickly character that endears himself to you as you learn more about his story. Yes, I wanted to slap him upside the head a couple of times, but I want to do that to my husband at times too, so count it as a compliment 😉

The writing is excellent, with clear descriptions of places, weather, emotions, you name it. The pacing is smooth, with the ending sneaking up on me. I was so engrossed in the story, I didn't realise I was nearing the end. I could have carried on reading! There is only a small cast of characters but this works so well. The storyline is superbly simple, focusing on the important things between our two characters rather than unnecessary drama.

This is a book to enjoy all year long, no matter what the season, or what is growing in your garden. Absolutely fantastic, and highly recommended by me.

* 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!
  
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019)
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019)
2019 | Crime, Drama, Thriller
a good story (0 more)
a bit slow in parts (0 more)
Contains spoilers, click to show
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood is the 9th film by Quinton Tarantino. Set in 1969 the film follows Rick Dolton, an actor whose career is on it's way down and his stunt double and friend Cliff Booth. Although this is a Tarantino movie it is not an action movie but more of a ‘slice of life’ movie with some action scenes.
Like all Tarantino movies, when there is no action, and there is very little action, the film crawls at a slow pace with lots of set up, dialog and driving meaning that nothing much happens for the first hour and a half. This time is used to set up the characters and the three intertwining time lines; The main one with Rick and Cliff, one that follows Sharon Tate and one that follows the Manson family.
As with most Tarantino film’s the narrative isn't linear with a lot of Rick’s back story being told by flashbacks and clips from films and T.V. shows, both real and fictional.
I have said that this is not an action film but it does have a few violent scenes, including people getting burnt with a flame thrower. The film culminates with the Manson family's murder of Karen Tate and Roman Polanski, however, as with Inglorious Bas****ds the film goes off on a different tangent from what really happened.
There are a few ‘meta' moments in ‘Once upon a time in Hollywood’ including a moment where Rick is reading a book that is echoing his life and other moments where Rick and Cliff interact with other real actors, most of whom don't play themselves (partly because some of the real actors are dead) creating and oddly unreal atmosphere.
  
Time's Orphan (Odriel's Heirs #3)
Time's Orphan (Odriel's Heirs #3)
Hayley Reese Chow | 2023 | Science Fiction/Fantasy, Young Adult (YA)
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
TIME'S ORPHAN is the absolutely amazing finale in the Odriel's Heirs series and features the lost Time Heir, Emara. I won't go into the story apart from saying you absolutely MUST read this as a series. Although following different timelines and characters, it is all necessary to understand the overall story arc.

Ever since Jago in book one, the Time Heirs have been slippery characters - mentioned but not seen. There is a reason for this and, oh, but it's hard reading! Emara is a brave character, scared and alone for most of her life, but does she ever come into her own!!! Everything ties up here. All the other books, the story arc, Shad, it's all here and I was gripped by every word.

I was so happy to see Shad in here and to finally learn his back story. Absolutely perfect but I won't spoil it. In fact, everyone is in here, just what I wanted in the final book. That doesn't take anything away from Emara though. It is 100% her story and I loved it.

My time in Okarria might be over for now but it won't be the last time I visit. These books are now on my wish list to be bought as real-life copies. That way I can re-read whenever I want to and, if I don't want to re-read, I can gaze at the gorgeous covers.

A stunning series from the very beginning and HIGHLY recommended by me. 10 out of 5 stars for beings so utterly brilliant!

** 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!
  
12 of 235
kindle
Magical Midlife Invasion ( Levelling up #3)
By K.F. Breene
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Jessie is well on her way to learning her new life and settling in. The tough alpha, Austin, has joined her team, and she has painstakingly learned to fly. At the moment, life couldn’t get any better.

But it can get a whole lot…more irritating.

Her parents have decided to visit. They don’t know anything about magic, about Jessie’s new digs, or about the crazy crew living in and around Jessie’s house. She must do everything in her power to keep the truth away from them.

Which would be much easier without the unfelt presence lurking within Ivy House’s borders. It seems an enemy has figured out a way to magically bypass Ivy House’s defenses. Jessie is completely exposed.

The real battle, however, won’t be with the incoming force. It will be between Mr. Tom and Jessie’s mom, each intent on being the most helpful. Mr. Tom might have met his match, and he is not pleased.

Just when things were finally settling down, Jessie is in the thick of it again, and this time, the turmoil is all around her.

This series is so good! It’s so funny and quirky and a joy to read. The characters are you unique and funny you get so invested in what’s happening with them. Jessie and Austin need their head banging together really hard!! The only thing is that bloody room of killer dolls and the house finding it funny letting them put. I will now have nightmares of little killer dolls carrying knives and climbing trees 😂😂😂. Definitely a series to lighten up your reading load.
  
CH
Come Home Katie ( Dear Celeste 1)
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
79 of 220
Arc/kindle
Come Home Katie ( Dear Celeste 1)
By J.R. Erickson
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

What if you died and brought the dead back with you?

A terrible hit and run accident took Celeste Cleary's life until doctors managed to bring her back. But now she's... different. Once a respected scientist, she walks the thin veil between the living and the dead.

As she struggles to return to her former life, Celeste receives an email-a heart-wrenching letter from a stranger, a woman begging for help locating her seventeen-year-old sister, Katie, who vanished a year before.

Celeste's first impulse is to say no-what does she know about finding a missing person?

But late one snowy night Celeste is drawn into the forest where the spectral form of Katie awaits her and, though the girl does not speak, the message is clear. Katie wants Celeste to uncover the truth behind her disappearance.

As Celeste delves into the mystery surrounding Katie's vanishing, she is ensnared in a sinister labyrinth of secrets and lies. Someone doesn't want her to find out the truth and there's nothing they won't do to stop her.

This had me completely hooked from start to finish. The story and characters just draw you in and have you invested. Celeste is changed after having a NDE and these changes bring a former sceptic and scientist to believe the spectral appearance of a young girl who missing means she need to help find her. There are a few times in this book where I thought hell no I’d be out of there I honestly wouldn’t have coped. It was really good, when I wasn’t reading I was thinking of who could have done it. I was so wrong up until 2 chapters before it was revealed! Highly recommend.
  
How To Be A Footballer
How To Be A Footballer
Peter Crouch | 2018 | Sport & Leisure
4
4.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Lots of Amusing stories (0 more)
Not that Interesting (0 more)
Not What I Hoped
I had high hopes of this book because i think that Peter Crouch is a very good footballer, a very funny guy and entertaining, but i was dissappointed to be honest. I was expecting his life story, childhood, shool, family etc. I was not exoecting an entire book on the inside story of what different football stars wear, listen to, drive and live in. This was more of an encyclopedia of football players facts than a Autobiogrpahy. If i had known what it was i would not have added it to my Amazon wish list. Ah well we live and learn :)
  
Greatest Hits by Culture Club
Greatest Hits by Culture Club
2005 | Pop
(0 Ratings)
Album Favorite

"I first song I remember loving had to be ‘Do You Really Want To Hurt Me?’ by Culture Club and so I guess I figured out I was an emo pretty early on in my life! But I really just connected with that song when I was a kid. For one, I was taken back by this man’s look, is that a girl or a boy? I was intrigued at that moment, but the song itself is a really good song. A lot of Culture Club’s music had sort of a reggae feel to it and at that point I had never heard reggae music and it sort of felt other-worldly in a way."

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