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Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated Heartless (The Privileged of Pembroke High #1) in Books
Dec 18, 2020
210
Kindle
Heartless (The Privileged of Pembroke High book 1)
By Ivy Fox
Review will be completed on Smashbomb once finished link will be placed in comments
I had their love once.
They saw me for the girl I am and the person I yearn to become one day—a woman who thrives in her freedom and dances away in her rightfully earned independence.
They saw all the strong, unafraid parts of me, and coaxed each one of them out, daring me to dream bigger, climb higher.
They never once saw the girl I had been groomed to see in the mirror.
The abandoned daughter of a dead man.
The unwanted child of a woman who despised her.
The broken body formed wrong and built on a shaky foundation, threatening to fall apart and shatter.
They made all the ugliness disappear and left only wonder and promise. The love we shared for each other was probably the only miracle I would be granted in this life, and I knew they felt the same.
Or so I thought.
Everything I held dear has been robbed from me, and I’ve been a victim of theft too many times to mention.
I will not have them steal my pride.
They can keep my heart, for all I care.
The day they became my stepbrothers, it stopped working anyway.
Well that was so much better than I thought it was going to be! I do love Ivy’s books. This was brilliant I didn’t put it down. So much has happened and we haven’t hit the school yet! The epilogue was sooo good!
Kindle
Heartless (The Privileged of Pembroke High book 1)
By Ivy Fox
Review will be completed on Smashbomb once finished link will be placed in comments
I had their love once.
They saw me for the girl I am and the person I yearn to become one day—a woman who thrives in her freedom and dances away in her rightfully earned independence.
They saw all the strong, unafraid parts of me, and coaxed each one of them out, daring me to dream bigger, climb higher.
They never once saw the girl I had been groomed to see in the mirror.
The abandoned daughter of a dead man.
The unwanted child of a woman who despised her.
The broken body formed wrong and built on a shaky foundation, threatening to fall apart and shatter.
They made all the ugliness disappear and left only wonder and promise. The love we shared for each other was probably the only miracle I would be granted in this life, and I knew they felt the same.
Or so I thought.
Everything I held dear has been robbed from me, and I’ve been a victim of theft too many times to mention.
I will not have them steal my pride.
They can keep my heart, for all I care.
The day they became my stepbrothers, it stopped working anyway.
Well that was so much better than I thought it was going to be! I do love Ivy’s books. This was brilliant I didn’t put it down. So much has happened and we haven’t hit the school yet! The epilogue was sooo good!
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2426 KP) rated The Secrets of Bones in Books
May 6, 2020
I Can’t Keep Secret How Must I Loved This Book
It’s Assembly Day, a day set aside near the end of the school year when professional women from Ohio come to talk about their careers. Jazz winds up as a last-minute replacement, so she sets up in the unused fourth floor, hiding a few bones for Gus, a friend’s cadaver dog, to find during a demonstration. However, Gus goes to an unused closet. Sure enough, Jazz opens it to find a skeleton. Things left with the body make it easy enough to identify the victim as Bernadette Quinn, a teacher who resigned abruptly 3 years ago. Obviously, she didn’t really resign, but what happened all those years ago?
After enjoying the first in this series, I couldn’t wait to get back and visit Jazz again. I wasn’t disappointed at all. The book is so well written I was engrossed from page one. Jazz’s world and the characters all come to vivid life, and the animals are fun. The plot gives us several good suspects and clues that are confusing until Jazz pieces it all together at the end. If you are familiar with some of Kylie Logan’s lighter cozies, know that this is a few shades grayer, falling more in the traditional realm instead of being a pure cozy. However, that is no reason to skip this book. I was so engrossed in this book, I read almost two thirds of it in one day instead of saving some for the next day like I normally would. Now comes the long wait for the next book in the series.
After enjoying the first in this series, I couldn’t wait to get back and visit Jazz again. I wasn’t disappointed at all. The book is so well written I was engrossed from page one. Jazz’s world and the characters all come to vivid life, and the animals are fun. The plot gives us several good suspects and clues that are confusing until Jazz pieces it all together at the end. If you are familiar with some of Kylie Logan’s lighter cozies, know that this is a few shades grayer, falling more in the traditional realm instead of being a pure cozy. However, that is no reason to skip this book. I was so engrossed in this book, I read almost two thirds of it in one day instead of saving some for the next day like I normally would. Now comes the long wait for the next book in the series.
Merissa (13343 KP) rated Gluttony (Seven Princes of Sin #2) in Books
Apr 27, 2022
GLUTTONY is the second book in the Seven Princes of Sin series and, as with book one, is DARK. There are trigger warnings so please take heed.
Leo, the most laid-back of the Princes, rescued Carrie at the end of Donna and Adam's book and we continue on from there. Carrie is addicted to drugs and thinks nothing of doing tricks to get her fix. Leo is determined to help her beat her addiction and live life as his mate.
This book deals more with Carrie and Leo than it does with the overall story arc but there is still enough to keep it moving along. Trust me, I'd sooner bet on the Princes than on the angels! Carrie has some learning to do, not all of which is her fault. We also see a more intense side to Leo, rather than just being fun and jovial, we see what pushes his buttons.
Adam and Donna do play a part here too, but only at the end. Out of the brothers, we see a couple of them throughout but supporting rather than starring roles. Each of the brothers is fascinating and I am thoroughly enjoying this series. I love how the author writes each book, giving the brother the undivided attention they deserve.
A great addition to the series and one I definitely recommend.
** 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!
Leo, the most laid-back of the Princes, rescued Carrie at the end of Donna and Adam's book and we continue on from there. Carrie is addicted to drugs and thinks nothing of doing tricks to get her fix. Leo is determined to help her beat her addiction and live life as his mate.
This book deals more with Carrie and Leo than it does with the overall story arc but there is still enough to keep it moving along. Trust me, I'd sooner bet on the Princes than on the angels! Carrie has some learning to do, not all of which is her fault. We also see a more intense side to Leo, rather than just being fun and jovial, we see what pushes his buttons.
Adam and Donna do play a part here too, but only at the end. Out of the brothers, we see a couple of them throughout but supporting rather than starring roles. Each of the brothers is fascinating and I am thoroughly enjoying this series. I love how the author writes each book, giving the brother the undivided attention they deserve.
A great addition to the series and one I definitely recommend.
** 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!
Merissa (13343 KP) rated Shadow Walker (Bloody Hearts #1) in Books
Oct 3, 2023
Shadow Walker is the first book in the Bloody Hearts series, and we start off with a young girl celebrating her 20th birthday. The boy she has had her eye on comes to her party with his grumpy brother but leaves not long after midnight. Alana's life changes dramatically within a short period of time, and she copes with it well, whilst still throwing hissy fits at regular intervals. Not that I blame her, I'm just saying!
Now, be warned, although this is a slow-burn romance, there IS a love triangle involved, and it's between two brothers. Obviously, I have my favourite over which one I think she should be with, but it wouldn't be the first time the story has changed and twisted in later books. I'm not a huge fan of love triangles, and with the amount of angst in this book, I feel there is enough to continue with a meaty storyline WITHOUT having a love triangle thrown into the mix. I am hoping it will be resolved in the next book, so we can concentrate on Alana's abilities and the Walkers.
Written in the first person, from multiple perspectives, you are kept on your toes as the story develops. The pacing is smooth, the characters well-developed, and the world-building is wonderful. I thoroughly enjoyed this story, and look forward to continuing to the next one to find out what happens next. 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!
Jan 23, 2019
Now, be warned, although this is a slow-burn romance, there IS a love triangle involved, and it's between two brothers. Obviously, I have my favourite over which one I think she should be with, but it wouldn't be the first time the story has changed and twisted in later books. I'm not a huge fan of love triangles, and with the amount of angst in this book, I feel there is enough to continue with a meaty storyline WITHOUT having a love triangle thrown into the mix. I am hoping it will be resolved in the next book, so we can concentrate on Alana's abilities and the Walkers.
Written in the first person, from multiple perspectives, you are kept on your toes as the story develops. The pacing is smooth, the characters well-developed, and the world-building is wonderful. I thoroughly enjoyed this story, and look forward to continuing to the next one to find out what happens next. 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!
Jan 23, 2019
Kristy H (1252 KP) rated The Lost Girls in Books
Feb 13, 2018
In 1935, on the last evening of summer vacation, six-year-old Emily disappears from her family's vacation lake home. Emily's doting mother is devastated, and she and her two daughters (Emily's older sisters) spend the rest of their lives at the lake house, waiting for Emily to return. Six decades later, only Lucy, the middle sister, is still alive. Afraid of dying without telling her story, she writes the tale down in a notebook and leaves it, along with the house, to her sister's granddaughter, Justine. When Justine receives the news that her great-aunt has left her a house in Minnesota, she's shocked. They've only met once, after all, and Justine's flighty mother is still living. But Justine realizes the house represents a way to flee the suffocating life she's living now, and to give her daughters a better life. So they pack up for Minnesota, only to find the house run down, the Minnesota winter cold and isolating, and their only neighbors two elderly men who live in the nearby lodge. Justine's older daughter, Melanie, becomes interested in Emily's disappearance; her mother, Maurie, returns, bringing her usual craziness; and ghosts from Justine's own past threaten their safety. Justine doesn't know what happened at the lake sixty years ago, nor does she know if it's safe for her family now...
This novel was a quick read, which pulled me into its tale immediately. The POV alternates between present-day (late 1990s) with Justine and then flips back to the 1930s, as Lucy tells her story via letter. In this way, we get snippets about the past in chunks, allowing for the story to unfurl slowly, building up suspense. Young does an excellent job in creating her characters: Lucy and her older sister Lilith practically jump off the page, as does little Emily. Lucy was the star of the show for me, both as her younger self and via her letter-writing. Her sadness is easily apparent as she tells a tale of a family trapped by their own secrets.
This is a somber book with serious themes; it's not always an easy read. Still, the back and forth POV works well in this case, and you'll quickly become enraptured in Lucy and Lilith's past, in particular. Justine and Maurie (her mom) are more frustrating characters, but their story is still interesting, especially as you learn about Maurie's life growing up at the lake house with Lilith and Lucy. Overall, this was a different book (in a good way), with insightful and well-drawn characters, and an intriguing plot. Lucy sticks with you, even after it's over.
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher and Edelweiss (thank you!); it is available everywhere on 07/26/2016.
<a href="http://justacatandabookatherside.blogspot.com/">My Blog</a> ~ <a href="https://www.facebook.com/justacatandabook/">Facebook</a>; ~ <a href="https://twitter.com/justacatandbook">Twitter</a>;
This novel was a quick read, which pulled me into its tale immediately. The POV alternates between present-day (late 1990s) with Justine and then flips back to the 1930s, as Lucy tells her story via letter. In this way, we get snippets about the past in chunks, allowing for the story to unfurl slowly, building up suspense. Young does an excellent job in creating her characters: Lucy and her older sister Lilith practically jump off the page, as does little Emily. Lucy was the star of the show for me, both as her younger self and via her letter-writing. Her sadness is easily apparent as she tells a tale of a family trapped by their own secrets.
This is a somber book with serious themes; it's not always an easy read. Still, the back and forth POV works well in this case, and you'll quickly become enraptured in Lucy and Lilith's past, in particular. Justine and Maurie (her mom) are more frustrating characters, but their story is still interesting, especially as you learn about Maurie's life growing up at the lake house with Lilith and Lucy. Overall, this was a different book (in a good way), with insightful and well-drawn characters, and an intriguing plot. Lucy sticks with you, even after it's over.
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher and Edelweiss (thank you!); it is available everywhere on 07/26/2016.
<a href="http://justacatandabookatherside.blogspot.com/">My Blog</a> ~ <a href="https://www.facebook.com/justacatandabook/">Facebook</a>; ~ <a href="https://twitter.com/justacatandbook">Twitter</a>;
Sophia (Bookwyrming Thoughts) (530 KP) rated Hexed (The Witch Hunter, #1) in Books
Jan 23, 2020
Happy Friday the 13th! By no means was this review deliberately placed on this day because it's witchy (maybe it was deliberate in my subconsciousness. I don't have a say in there).
Hexed follows Indigo Blackwood, aka Indie, who has a perfect life dating the captain of the football team, popular, and has a mom who works at a voodoo shop. At least until the family "bible" goes missing after a random stranger by the name of Bishop pops into her life and tells her she may be in danger if she doesn't get the bible back. Oh, and add that there's a centuries old rivalry.
Hexed was a pretty delightful read, but it didn't exactly click with me as other witchy books do. I do love Indie's personality though (and her name it's cute), but for a good part of the book she seemed to be the type that let others walk all over her. She seems hesitant sometimes, but then decides to do it anyway, because it makes the person happy. It's not until after some [major] things go down and a chunk of the book (no books broken in process) that she finally realizes her childhood friend Bianca isn't exactly a true friend.
Thus the cheering behind the screens didn't exactly begin until a little over half the book, when Indie basically tells Bianca, "Screw you. I'm outta here." *zips off to new friend recently made that's a lot better than former friend* Oh, and she officially stops being a doormat.
There's also Bishop, in which I actually thought he either a) was shaped like the chess piece, b) has a very diagonal life, also like the chess piece I suppose, and "Bishop" was just a nickname for something super complicated, or c) he just has a weird name. A was an exaggeration, B may or may not be true except for the nickname part and C was the right answer.
Bishop to me was a bit annoying. Immature, and the sexual innuendos weren't exactly appreciated even though he's humorous. Maybe not exactly immature, but Bishop is more of the very carefree type. He also seemed to be the stalker type at first, which I personally really hate (no privacy. Come on!), following Indie around and popping up just everywhere. On the bright side, he had a legitimate reason rather than, say, "Hey, I just met you. And this is crazy. But I have a MAJOR crush on you, so let's go on a date?"
But the bread talk. I thought that was Peeta's job?
Recommended For: Paranormal Romance fans
The "Cellar": Sorcerers vs. Witches aka Magic vs. Magic rather than Mortal/Machine vs. Magic or Humans vs. Witches.
----------------
Advanced review copy provided by publisher for review
Original Review posted on <a href="http://bookwyrming-thoughts.blogspot.com/2014/06/arc-review-hexed-by-michelle-krys.html">Bookwyrming Thoughts</a>
<a href="http://bookwyrming-thoughts.blogspot.com/"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Gi5Rk5yLloA/UtliaUbdL3I/AAAAAAAACbE/J27z92_qrYU/s1600/Official+Banner.png"; /></a>
Hexed follows Indigo Blackwood, aka Indie, who has a perfect life dating the captain of the football team, popular, and has a mom who works at a voodoo shop. At least until the family "bible" goes missing after a random stranger by the name of Bishop pops into her life and tells her she may be in danger if she doesn't get the bible back. Oh, and add that there's a centuries old rivalry.
Hexed was a pretty delightful read, but it didn't exactly click with me as other witchy books do. I do love Indie's personality though (and her name it's cute), but for a good part of the book she seemed to be the type that let others walk all over her. She seems hesitant sometimes, but then decides to do it anyway, because it makes the person happy. It's not until after some [major] things go down and a chunk of the book (no books broken in process) that she finally realizes her childhood friend Bianca isn't exactly a true friend.
Thus the cheering behind the screens didn't exactly begin until a little over half the book, when Indie basically tells Bianca, "Screw you. I'm outta here." *zips off to new friend recently made that's a lot better than former friend* Oh, and she officially stops being a doormat.
There's also Bishop, in which I actually thought he either a) was shaped like the chess piece, b) has a very diagonal life, also like the chess piece I suppose, and "Bishop" was just a nickname for something super complicated, or c) he just has a weird name. A was an exaggeration, B may or may not be true except for the nickname part and C was the right answer.
Bishop to me was a bit annoying. Immature, and the sexual innuendos weren't exactly appreciated even though he's humorous. Maybe not exactly immature, but Bishop is more of the very carefree type. He also seemed to be the stalker type at first, which I personally really hate (no privacy. Come on!), following Indie around and popping up just everywhere. On the bright side, he had a legitimate reason rather than, say, "Hey, I just met you. And this is crazy. But I have a MAJOR crush on you, so let's go on a date?"
But the bread talk. I thought that was Peeta's job?
Recommended For: Paranormal Romance fans
The "Cellar": Sorcerers vs. Witches aka Magic vs. Magic rather than Mortal/Machine vs. Magic or Humans vs. Witches.
----------------
Advanced review copy provided by publisher for review
Original Review posted on <a href="http://bookwyrming-thoughts.blogspot.com/2014/06/arc-review-hexed-by-michelle-krys.html">Bookwyrming Thoughts</a>
<a href="http://bookwyrming-thoughts.blogspot.com/"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Gi5Rk5yLloA/UtliaUbdL3I/AAAAAAAACbE/J27z92_qrYU/s1600/Official+Banner.png"; /></a>
Origen: A True Story Of Evil
Peter J. Perry and Kathleen Sumpton
8.0
Rate It
Book
Have you ever come face to face with the devil? In a tapestry of sports, business, and dating, there...
True Crime
Phillip McSween (751 KP) rated Uncle Buck (1989) in Movies
Mar 18, 2018
Hilarious
My Movies 365 journey has taken me deep into 80's territory, with Uncle Buck being my next up to review. Released in 1989, it just squeezes into the decade but is perfect for it. The 80's trend is becoming clearer with every film I watch: It was all about having fun. No strong depth. No taking itself too seriously. If you were going to see a film in the 80's, you were there for the sole purpose of having a good time. Did I have a good time watching Uncle Buck? Absolutely!
The film is simple in its design, yet still manages to have a ton of classic scenes. How many takes do you think it took to film the memorable Q&A scene with John Candy and McCauley Caulkin? I crack up just thinking about it so I can only imagine how hard it was for them. And Uncle Buck's car? Oh my God, the car! Hooptiest of hoopties. I don't know what's funnier, hearing its shotgun exhaust for the first time or watching everyone scatter for their lives.
Uncle Buck is called in to help babysit after his brother and sister-in-law have to go out of town to deal with an emergency. Other than the fact that there's no real substance to the movie, I don't really have anything bad to say about it. John Candy is perfect in his role as Buck. He's lived a life full of mistakes, but he's a great guy at heart. How can you not love a guy that will make you table-sized pancakes and punch out a clown for your birthday? My Favorite Line: "Take this quarter, go downtown, and have a rat gnaw that thing off your face!"
Recommended by an Uncle Kory, I'm so glad Uncle Buck made it's way onto my movie list. I'm giving it an 85.
The film is simple in its design, yet still manages to have a ton of classic scenes. How many takes do you think it took to film the memorable Q&A scene with John Candy and McCauley Caulkin? I crack up just thinking about it so I can only imagine how hard it was for them. And Uncle Buck's car? Oh my God, the car! Hooptiest of hoopties. I don't know what's funnier, hearing its shotgun exhaust for the first time or watching everyone scatter for their lives.
Uncle Buck is called in to help babysit after his brother and sister-in-law have to go out of town to deal with an emergency. Other than the fact that there's no real substance to the movie, I don't really have anything bad to say about it. John Candy is perfect in his role as Buck. He's lived a life full of mistakes, but he's a great guy at heart. How can you not love a guy that will make you table-sized pancakes and punch out a clown for your birthday? My Favorite Line: "Take this quarter, go downtown, and have a rat gnaw that thing off your face!"
Recommended by an Uncle Kory, I'm so glad Uncle Buck made it's way onto my movie list. I'm giving it an 85.
Lilyn G - Sci-Fi & Scary (91 KP) rated Kindle E-Reader in Tech
Jul 11, 2018
Font size adjustment, ability to switch to different fonts, including one for dyslexics. (1 more)
No screen glare
A Solid, Basic E-Reader
I received a Kindle E-Reader from Smashbomb as a giveaway prize. This does not influence my review.
This basic Kindle is a great introductory e-reader for people who want to discover the unique joy that is the ability to carry hundreds of books around with you without the bulk and weight.
It has no screen glare, which is so nice after spending hours looking at your phone. The ability to increase your font size to almost ridiculous proportions is fantastic for people with poor vision. It features a variety of fonts including Open Dyslexic which is a bottom weighted font that is easier for people with dyslexia to read. You can also adjust your page settings including spacing, margins, orientation, and alignment.
The battery life is not quite as good as they advertise IF you are someone who reads a lot. However, it's still good.
The storage is fantastic. You aren't going to fill it up anytime soon.
So there are lots of positives, but there are a few negatives.
The Kindle is very awkward to hold bare in your hand. It's a thin rectangle, and there is just no truly comfortable way to hold it. A cover is a necessity for both comfort and screen protection.
Because this is not a Paperwhite, if you want to read at night, you are going to have to use a booklight or leave a light on.
The method of organizing (Collections) that is Kindle specific... sucks. It needs a lot of work. However if you are a Goodreads user, it's not very important.
Overall, while the basic Kindle isn't personally my favorite (I prefer the Paperwhite), it is a great fairly low-cost choice for readers just getting into e-books.
This basic Kindle is a great introductory e-reader for people who want to discover the unique joy that is the ability to carry hundreds of books around with you without the bulk and weight.
It has no screen glare, which is so nice after spending hours looking at your phone. The ability to increase your font size to almost ridiculous proportions is fantastic for people with poor vision. It features a variety of fonts including Open Dyslexic which is a bottom weighted font that is easier for people with dyslexia to read. You can also adjust your page settings including spacing, margins, orientation, and alignment.
The battery life is not quite as good as they advertise IF you are someone who reads a lot. However, it's still good.
The storage is fantastic. You aren't going to fill it up anytime soon.
So there are lots of positives, but there are a few negatives.
The Kindle is very awkward to hold bare in your hand. It's a thin rectangle, and there is just no truly comfortable way to hold it. A cover is a necessity for both comfort and screen protection.
Because this is not a Paperwhite, if you want to read at night, you are going to have to use a booklight or leave a light on.
The method of organizing (Collections) that is Kindle specific... sucks. It needs a lot of work. However if you are a Goodreads user, it's not very important.
Overall, while the basic Kindle isn't personally my favorite (I prefer the Paperwhite), it is a great fairly low-cost choice for readers just getting into e-books.
