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The Shell
The Shell
Jenni Boyd | 2019
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Nicole Fysh is a conchologist, she studies shells. When her friends send her pictures of themselves diving, she sees something in the pictures that could make history. But if this shell is really what she believes it is, she can't possibly be the only one looking for it. She hops the next flight to join her friends, and find out if this shell is exactly what she thinks.

The Shell is full of twists and turns that will have you on the edge of your seat. I never knew that shells were such a hot commodity. This book definitely will have me taking a closer look at the shells I come across on my vacation this summer.

In Nicole's search for the shell, she comes across quite a few people who are also on the hunt. They will stop at nothing to get their hands on the rare treasure. From murder, smuggling, and purgery, nearly anything. Nicole goes on quite a journey herself, suffering along the way.

Jenni Boyd give another enjoyable mystery. This so far has been my favorite. There are twists you don't see coming and surprises around every corner. You don't know who you can trust and if the truth will ever come out. I recommend this for all looking for a great thriller this summer.
  
Killing Her Softly
Killing Her Softly
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Afraid for her life after spending ten years in an abusive marriage, Kate Finelli has to find the courage to get herself out. When she calls the sheriff’s office, she hears a familiar voice--Jack, the first man to show her love. Can Kate trust him to help her get away from the long-suffering abuse?
Jack left Harper’s Glen for a career in the FBI. He’s returned to fill in for the sheriff, the man who mentored him his whole life. With strained family ties, Jack doesn’t plan on staying in this small town for long, until a panicked call comes in from Kate. He left when she chose his brother, but must stay to help her now.
With the backdrop of a murder investigation and threatening notes, Kate and Jack find each other again. Will the tension within their family keep them apart? Or will their struggle for safety bring them together after all these years?

This is a fast paced romance mixed with some suspense. This story does deal with domestic violence.
Cleverly written and brought together.
Enjoyed the storyline and the plot.
Very believable characters and developed out well.
Enjoyable quick read.
Recommend reading.

I reviewed a digital arc provided by NetGalley and the publisher. This is my honest voluntary review.
  
Sarah Bennett has two secrets: she sees ghosts, and she is in love with a spy.
When Sarah takes a job with occult expert Dr Matthew Geisler, he promises to help her understand the sorrowful spirit that seems to have attached itself to her.
As Sarah struggles to cope with the ghostly presence, she runs into Zeke, the man who left her six months earlier and is recovering from injuries suffered in an alleged accident. But Zeke has secrets of his own, and when an attempt is made on Geisler’s life, Sarah finds herself caught in a struggle between the living and the dead.
Unsure who she can trust, Sarah must solve the mystery of the soul determined to haunt her, and save Dr Geisler and herself from an unknown threat.

This book was previously published as WEEPING IN THE WINGS

This is actually a historical fiction, paranormal, mystery, romance book. I thought it was going to be more paranormal mystery with a little hint of romance.
The characters were lovable and the story kept me wanting more!
I liked the characters and the story was well thought out. A perfect read for fans of mysteries.
This is the first book I have read by Terry Lynn Thomas and am looking forward to reading more of her books.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley.
  
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Kyera (8 KP) rated The Last Star in Books

Feb 1, 2018  
The Last Star
The Last Star
Rick Yancey | 2016 | Children
8
6.8 (10 Ratings)
Book Rating
Another game, another test. Ringer escapes Vosch only to willingly return and do his bidding. The Silencers along this new journey are different than Grace or Evan. They're much older. Much less expected. An old cat lady. A priest. A woman in mom jeans. Ben doesn't know who to trust and when he finds Ringer, she must immediately deceive him. She believes that the only way the Squad can survive is if Evan dies.

Halfway through the book and the action heats up. Some characters die and others must make their first kills. Ringer drops a bomb, figuratively, and I have no idea where the storyline is going with it. It's not immediately explained, but it should have been. It just seems like a strange plot point to add. <spoiler> When you read the end, the reason for a pregnancy is apparent - but it still doesn't flow in the story (in my opinion). </spoiler>

Even three books in and I'm still constantly second guessing my conclusions. What is actually happening? Who or what is the villain? How will it all end? Beautiful and devastating. After all of the terror and death, the conclusion of the book was satisfying. Of course, there was no "and they lived happily ever after" but some of humanity survived and that's important. The lives and their stories matter.
  
Everything, Everything
Everything, Everything
Nicola Yoon | 2015 | Children
8
8.3 (49 Ratings)
Book Rating
Madeline Whittier (Maddy) has SCID, an immunity disorder (think "bubble boy") that confines her to her home. Even stepping outside could kill her. Therefore, she lives alone with her Mom, limited to contact with her and her nurse, Carla. For most of her seventeen years, Maddy has been fine with this, until Olly and his family move next door. Suddenly, Maddy finds herself questioning everything about her life.

For me, this was a lovely and touching book. I fell head over heels for Maddy and Olly and their angsty, teen love. The book is fun, with the writing interspersed with Maddy's drawings and sketches (done by Yoon's husband). A scene with a bundt cake is priceless (trust me). Maddy's voice is fresh and it's interesting to "see" the world through her eyes -- as someone who hasn't been outside since she was a baby. The supporting characters are spare, due to Maddy's limited life, but I loved her nurse, Carla, and Olly. Maddy's mom is a formidable character, as well.

The book takes on a lot - Maddy's illness, domestic violence, teen love, mental illness - I think a lesser author could have easily stumbled. It's not perfect, of course, but I still found myself swept up in Maddy's life and story. It's beautiful, touching, and fun. Definitely a worthy read - one of my favorites that I read this year.
  
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Lindsay (1717 KP) rated Hearts Made Whole (Beacons of Hope, #2) in Books

Feb 15, 2018 (Updated Apr 9, 2019)  
HM
Hearts Made Whole (Beacons of Hope, #2)
10
10.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
We meet Caroline Taylor and her family. What a story this. We see Ryan Chamber who has gotten the cross from his sister, Emma in the first book called "Love Unexpected".

We learn about how Caroline Taylor deals with her loss of her father. We see how she deals with raising her siblings. Caroline finds out from the lighthouse inspector that he hired a man for the job of the lighthouse keeper.

Then we meet up with Ryan Chambers at the Roadside Inn. He asks for directions to the Windmill Point Lighthouse. The story get better has you turn the page. Things start getting worse for them. What is going on in this community and at the Windmill Point Light?

There seems to be action at every turn. Mr. Simmons and Mr. Finich seems to want Caroline out of the lighthouse but why. We meet Arnie Simmons and seem eager to want Caroline Taylor. Will Arnie stop at nothing to get Caroline Taylor? Surprises await them all. Can Ryan and Caroline learn to trust in faith, hope and forgiveness?

The author writes another fastening story. I can not wait to continue on with the next book. Want to learn about Emma and her brother Ryan prior to Ryan getting the cross or how he had the cross?
  
A Court of Wings and Ruin
A Court of Wings and Ruin
Sarah J. Maas | 2017 | Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy, Young Adult (YA)
9
8.8 (113 Ratings)
Book Rating
Don't want this to be over
This was a different ride to the two previous books in the series but it delivered. The focus was strategy and war which was complex but so cleverly plotted and written. I feel this book provided consistency in quality and didn't dip like some trilogies do at this point.

There is a lighter romantic touch to ACOWAR but the depth of love is solid, desperate and tangible. Feyre has been on such a journey as a character and what a woman she has become, a woman I admire and love as a favourite character. Rhysand was wonderful and the cast of strong side characters rocked this book, namely Nesta, Cassian and others. Dare I say, I both loved and feared some of the monsters in ACOWAR and cried over others. The creatures are described so skillfully that this is fantasy that has a 3D feeling.

I'm sad on the one hand that this first trilogy instalment is over, but I'm excited about who will feature in the next three. I have hopes about who will be the main characters, however I trust Maas to deliver. I will re-read without doubt.

This was an audio listen and I was worried about the narrator change but Amanda Leigh Cobb seamlessly slipped into the role which is admirable on book three. Great narration from start to finish.
  
The Krinar&#039;s Informant (A Krinar World Novel)
The Krinar's Informant (A Krinar World Novel)
Charmaine Pauls | 2018 | Erotica, Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
love love LOVED this one!
I was gifted my copy of this book, direct from the author, that I write a review was my choice.

This is Ms Pauls second step into the Krinar world and I loved it!

Liv wants to make sure her brothers survive, makes a deal with Zavir to ensure they will not be harmed when he smashes the resistance ring they are part of. But little Liv makes Zavir want to keep her, and the only way to do that, is to betray her trust.

OoOOOEEEEE!!! I loved these two!!

Powerful, instant attraction. Powerful hatred of the other. enemies to lovers. Betrayal from some many around them. So much right up my street, I read the whole book in one sitting, and did not move til I finished!

It's sexy, it's dark, it's full of hope, and despair, the whole bloody gamut of human, and indeed, Krinar emotions all wrapped up in some 200 pages that is just bloody brilliant!!

Because it's a world written by different authors, you don't need to read them all in any order of order, I don't think. But what I'm left with now, is the overwhelming NEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEED for every single book in this world, and there are a fair few!!

I loved this book, did I say that yet??

so, it can only get...

5 stars
  
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Christine A. (965 KP) rated Smashbomb in Apps

Nov 27, 2018  
Smashbomb
Smashbomb
Entertainment, Lifestyle, Social Networking
8
8.9 (123 Ratings)
App Rating
Can review many types of media and import ratings and/or reviews from other sites. (0 more)
Must wait to edit a review. (0 more)
Smashbomb allows users to review many types of media.
I recently discovered Smashbomb. It's similar to Goodreads but you can review more than books. Movies, apps, TV shows, music, video games, tabletop games, podcasts, and tech are reviewed also.

You can access Smashbomb by downloading the app or by going to Smashbomb.com.

You can easily import your ratings and/or reviews from Goodreads. I had difficulty importing my ratings from IMDb. When I figure out what I'm doing wrong I'll write a blog post to explain.

You earn badges and can be awarded KP, kudos points.

Users can award you KP because of your review or "for submitting high quality content". The amount of daily KP you are rewarded is based on your KP score. The more KP you earn, the more influential you become.

"Some badges are earned based on kudos points (KP) awarded by other users, and others are awarded by Smashbomb directly." As of 11/27/18, approximately 90 badges are offered. "Higher level badges are a sign of authority and trust, which will result in increased exposure and more followers."

I like the KP system, the badge system, and the concept of being able to go to one place for all of the reviews offered.
  
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Christine A. (965 KP) rated Unwritten in Books

Nov 30, 2018  
Unwritten
Unwritten
Tara GIlboy | 2018 | Children, Science Fiction/Fantasy
7
7.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
The story has depth (0 more)
Charming novel
I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book so I could give an honest review.

Unwritten is about Gracie Freeman and her family. Gracie is a normal twelve year old who discovers she is really a character from an unpublished fairy tale. When her parents discovered she was supposed to die in the story, they took her out of the story, and brought her into the outside world. Gracie is desperate to know what the story says about her and, because of a magic book, is pulled back into the story.

Tara Gilboy offers a charming fantasy in which Gracie desires to find out about herself and what the story's author wrote about her. Is she a hero, the villain, or a minor character? Is she supposed to be good or bad? Can she change or is it predetermined?

Unwritten is a short novel with 198 pages, according to Goodreads, but has a lot of depth to it. Authors meeting their characters or characters coming to life is not a new idea but it's unique in the way the author handles the situation. You'll have to trust me. I do not want to spoil anything.

I would enjoy reading a sequel or from a different character's point of view. Unwritten is Tara GIlboy's debut novel.