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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2171 KP) rated Dying for Devil’s Food in Books
May 8, 2019
Somebody’s Dying for this Reunion
Mel Cooper is less than excited about her high school reunion because of all the bad memories she has from those years, yet she gets talked into going by her best friend, Angie, mainly because of the gig Angie gets them providing cupcakes for the event. Once there, Mel finds herself beginning to make peace with her past, that is until she finds the dead body of Cassidy in the bathroom. Cassidy was the worst bully in school, and just a couple hours with her has proved that things haven’t changed. With her classmates looking at her as the killer, Mel knows she has to clear her name. Can she do it?
Fortunately, most high school reunions aren’t nearly as bad as this one is. But all the horrible people from Mel’s past make for wonderful suspects as she attempts to figure out what really happened to Cassidy. What impressed me was that this book allowed for some growth in Mel and it showed us deeper suspects than I was expecting from the first few chapters. This allowed the plot to move along at a quick pace with plenty of twists to keep me engaged. Trust me, I didn’t want to put this book down until I reached the great climax. There is a dose of humor mixed in that kept me smiling and laughing as I read. Cupcake fans will be pleased with the three new cupcake recipes included at the back of the book. It’s hard to read just one book in this series, and I’m already hungry for my next visit with Mel, Angie, and the rest of the gang.
Fortunately, most high school reunions aren’t nearly as bad as this one is. But all the horrible people from Mel’s past make for wonderful suspects as she attempts to figure out what really happened to Cassidy. What impressed me was that this book allowed for some growth in Mel and it showed us deeper suspects than I was expecting from the first few chapters. This allowed the plot to move along at a quick pace with plenty of twists to keep me engaged. Trust me, I didn’t want to put this book down until I reached the great climax. There is a dose of humor mixed in that kept me smiling and laughing as I read. Cupcake fans will be pleased with the three new cupcake recipes included at the back of the book. It’s hard to read just one book in this series, and I’m already hungry for my next visit with Mel, Angie, and the rest of the gang.
Billie Wichkan (118 KP) rated The Perfect Betrayal in Books
May 22, 2019
'I THOUGHT SHE WAS OUR FRIEND. I THOUGHT SHE WAS TRYING TO HELP US.'
After the sudden death of her husband, Tess is drowning in grief. All she has left is her son, Jamie, and she'll do anything to protect him - but she's struggling to cope.
When grief counselor Shelley knocks on their door, everything changes. Shelley is beautiful, confident and takes control when Tess can't bear to face the outside world.
But when questions arise over her husband's death and strange things start to happen, Tess begins to suspect that Shelley may have an ulterior motive. Tess knows she must do everything she can to keep Jamie safe - but who can she trust?
***
WOW!!! What a fantastic book!!!
I am struggling with what to write as I will not give any of the plot away to you!
This was a really interesting read for me , I really thought I knew what was happening , and then wow what a twist at the end .
This book slowly builds to a great ending. Hard to say anymore without giving things away. The story is mainly from Tess points of view in terms of flashbacks to the past 2 months and occasional points of view of Ian and Shelley.
The characters are so well written and you just find yourself right there with them seeing what they see.
The plot was phenomenal.
The ending ... wow did not see that coming!
If I could give more than 5 stars I would!!!
Highly highly recommend!!!
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for the ARC in return for an honest review .
After the sudden death of her husband, Tess is drowning in grief. All she has left is her son, Jamie, and she'll do anything to protect him - but she's struggling to cope.
When grief counselor Shelley knocks on their door, everything changes. Shelley is beautiful, confident and takes control when Tess can't bear to face the outside world.
But when questions arise over her husband's death and strange things start to happen, Tess begins to suspect that Shelley may have an ulterior motive. Tess knows she must do everything she can to keep Jamie safe - but who can she trust?
***
WOW!!! What a fantastic book!!!
I am struggling with what to write as I will not give any of the plot away to you!
This was a really interesting read for me , I really thought I knew what was happening , and then wow what a twist at the end .
This book slowly builds to a great ending. Hard to say anymore without giving things away. The story is mainly from Tess points of view in terms of flashbacks to the past 2 months and occasional points of view of Ian and Shelley.
The characters are so well written and you just find yourself right there with them seeing what they see.
The plot was phenomenal.
The ending ... wow did not see that coming!
If I could give more than 5 stars I would!!!
Highly highly recommend!!!
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for the ARC in return for an honest review .
Merissa (11958 KP) rated Arctic Spirit (Arctic Ice #1) in Books
Mar 30, 2018
Arctic Spirit (Arctic Ice #1) by Elena Kincaid
Arctic Spirit is the first book in a new series by Elena Kincaid. We start off with Charlotte. Her father was in the air force and one of the best moves he made was when he was stationed in Alaska. Why? Because Charlotte meets Drew and Chris, two brothers and her best friends. The day she has to leave them is the day that broke her heart. She does it though, knowing it is better this way as she would never be able to choose between them. They let her go, in pain as well, but knowing a secret that stops them from asking her to stay. As they are shifters, they have a fated mate out there, and it wouldn't be fair on Charlotte, or their mate, if they had to choose between them. The years pass by, and Charlotte agrees to meet up with them again. Things turn out differently to how she expected, and the story really gets going.
This was a brilliant way to begin. You have fated mates, a lovely ménage, jealousy, danger, humour - trust me, it's all here. The pacing of the story was smooth, and the scenes were delightfully descriptive. With no editing or grammatical errors to disrupt my reading flow, this book flew by as I was totally engrossed from start to finish. Can't wait for the next book. 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 my comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
http://erotic.theromancereviews.com/viewbooks.php?bookid=26680
This was a brilliant way to begin. You have fated mates, a lovely ménage, jealousy, danger, humour - trust me, it's all here. The pacing of the story was smooth, and the scenes were delightfully descriptive. With no editing or grammatical errors to disrupt my reading flow, this book flew by as I was totally engrossed from start to finish. Can't wait for the next book. 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 my comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
http://erotic.theromancereviews.com/viewbooks.php?bookid=26680
Micah Ulibarri (79 KP) rated Everything Sucks - Season 1 in TV
Apr 3, 2018
It's a dramedy that takes place in the 90s. I'm talking so 90's it hurts. Three high school freshmen in Boring, Oregan start off their first year of high school in a big way. Hopefully they wont embarrass themselves.
I absolutely fell in love with this show. First of all, it is funny and feels more like a comedy. Nevertheless, the characters are complex and the situations are interesting and emotional.
The young actors, Peyton Kennedy, Jahi Winston, and Rio Mangini especially, do some great work. I think it's great that they actually look like young high school kids. Nonetheless, the are able to bring the emotion.
The show has themes of relationships, self-discovery, growing up, and how the 90s influenced that. There are some very positive representations of discovering sexuality. Not only as a young adult, but some of the older adults recently out of long term relationships also learn what it is to love and trust again.
Finally, one of the big plot points is the making of a movie in the kids AV club. It's actually really impressive when you see just how intensive a process that was not even 20 years ago.
All in all, the characters are the ones that sell the show. The show often ends on cliff hangers making you wanting to come back. My wife and I watched it through twice in one week. It's only 10 episodes and every single one of them is well worth it.
Also, shout out to the 90s tunes. Most of which are still songs on pretty much any of my playlists.
I absolutely fell in love with this show. First of all, it is funny and feels more like a comedy. Nevertheless, the characters are complex and the situations are interesting and emotional.
The young actors, Peyton Kennedy, Jahi Winston, and Rio Mangini especially, do some great work. I think it's great that they actually look like young high school kids. Nonetheless, the are able to bring the emotion.
The show has themes of relationships, self-discovery, growing up, and how the 90s influenced that. There are some very positive representations of discovering sexuality. Not only as a young adult, but some of the older adults recently out of long term relationships also learn what it is to love and trust again.
Finally, one of the big plot points is the making of a movie in the kids AV club. It's actually really impressive when you see just how intensive a process that was not even 20 years ago.
All in all, the characters are the ones that sell the show. The show often ends on cliff hangers making you wanting to come back. My wife and I watched it through twice in one week. It's only 10 episodes and every single one of them is well worth it.
Also, shout out to the 90s tunes. Most of which are still songs on pretty much any of my playlists.
Nicole Hadley (380 KP) rated Buying Samir (India's Street Kids #2) in Books
Jun 18, 2018
Buying Samir by Kimberly Rae is about a young girl, Jasmina, who has been rescued from the streets of India. Jasmina had been exploited by child traffickers, and now is on the road to learning how to trust again. Jasmina is given a safe place to live with loving adults, yet she desires to find her family that she betrays those who would look after her. She sets out to rescue Samir, her brother, but she tries to do it on her own.
This book describes the dangerous side of the streets throughout the story. Through Jasmina's story, we learn more ways that people are lured in and human trafficked in India. Parts of the story were exciting, but Jasmina was more passive than usual while she figured out what was going on with the "modelling" business. I'd expected this to be more about Samir's story, but it's not. It's Jasmina coming to terms with how human trafficking has destroyed her family.
By the end of the story we are left with the beautiful outcome of Jasmina accepting Jesus Christ as her Savior. We see how His love can turn her tragedies into a story of healing and triumph. Samir, on the other hand, has sadly chosen to embrace his hatred and anger. It has turned him into becoming the very people he hated. Life is like that. We face trials, and who we turn to...God or Satan/the lost world...will decide whether our story is triumphant or tragic.
I give this book 4/5 stars.
I received this book from BJU Press via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.
This book describes the dangerous side of the streets throughout the story. Through Jasmina's story, we learn more ways that people are lured in and human trafficked in India. Parts of the story were exciting, but Jasmina was more passive than usual while she figured out what was going on with the "modelling" business. I'd expected this to be more about Samir's story, but it's not. It's Jasmina coming to terms with how human trafficking has destroyed her family.
By the end of the story we are left with the beautiful outcome of Jasmina accepting Jesus Christ as her Savior. We see how His love can turn her tragedies into a story of healing and triumph. Samir, on the other hand, has sadly chosen to embrace his hatred and anger. It has turned him into becoming the very people he hated. Life is like that. We face trials, and who we turn to...God or Satan/the lost world...will decide whether our story is triumphant or tragic.
I give this book 4/5 stars.
I received this book from BJU Press via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.
Tara (6 KP) rated Ink Iron and Glass in Books
Jul 3, 2018
Has some twists you don't see coming! Keeps you guessing. Keeps building to the end. Makes you wish you had the next book ready so you can find out what happens next. (1 more)
Wasn't a complete cliffhanger, but it did leave you with questions. General curiosity to how the story will continue.
Keep with it!
Book Sleeve Description -
Can she write a world gone wrong?
A certain pen, a certain book, and a certain person can craft entirely new worlds through a branch of science called scriptology. Elsa comes from one such world that was written into creation, where her mother - a noted scriptologist - constantly alters and expands their reality.
But when her home is attacked and her mother kidnapped, Elsa is forced to cross into the real world and use her own scriptology gifts to find her. In an alternative Victorian Italy, Elsa finds a secret society of young scientists with a gift for mechanics, alchemy, or scriptology - and meets Leo, a gorgeous mechanist with a smart mouth and tragic past. She recruits the help of these fellow geniuses just as an assassin arrives on their doorstep.
In this thrilling debut, worlds collide as Elsa unveils a deep political conspiracy seeking to unlock the most dangerous weapon ever created - and only she can stop it.
Wish I had the second book so I can find out what happens!
New type of YA story.
Refreshing.
Can start off slow...trust me...stick with it!
Can she write a world gone wrong?
A certain pen, a certain book, and a certain person can craft entirely new worlds through a branch of science called scriptology. Elsa comes from one such world that was written into creation, where her mother - a noted scriptologist - constantly alters and expands their reality.
But when her home is attacked and her mother kidnapped, Elsa is forced to cross into the real world and use her own scriptology gifts to find her. In an alternative Victorian Italy, Elsa finds a secret society of young scientists with a gift for mechanics, alchemy, or scriptology - and meets Leo, a gorgeous mechanist with a smart mouth and tragic past. She recruits the help of these fellow geniuses just as an assassin arrives on their doorstep.
In this thrilling debut, worlds collide as Elsa unveils a deep political conspiracy seeking to unlock the most dangerous weapon ever created - and only she can stop it.
Wish I had the second book so I can find out what happens!
New type of YA story.
Refreshing.
Can start off slow...trust me...stick with it!
Phillip McSween (751 KP) rated Surf's Up (2007) in Movies
Jul 28, 2018
Surprisingly Great
I feel like I'm fairly "In the Know" when it comes to films. I make it my business to know all the upcoming films, but this one definitely snuck under my radar even all these years later. A solid film for the entire family, I only wish I had caught this one sooner. It's the story of penguin Cody Maverick (Shia LaBeouf)and his journey to win top surfer at the World Surfing Championship in Hawaii.
Acting: 10
Great cast of voice actors led by LaBeouf. The voices breathe life into each character giving them their own flair. Jeff Bridges seems to always find a way to be the shining moment in almost every film he's in.
Beginning: 10
Characters: 10
Cinematography/Visuals: 10
Some of the best animation I have seen in film, hands down. The colors are bright and vivid, teeming with life. Where the visuals really shine are during the surfing scenes. There appears to be so much care that went into the water and wave animation and it pays off on screen. I can't wait to watch this film on a 4K television.
Conflict: 10
Genre: 8
Memorability: 6
Pace: 8
Plot: 10
If a penguin surfing isn't original enough for you, the story as a whole is enough to keep you entertained. Has there ever been an animated film about surfing period, let alone surfing animals? Not sure, but this film captured its essence well while respecting the sport.
Resolution: 10
Overall: 92
With a hilarious opener, classic characters, and Joe the Chicken (trust me, you'll love him), this film is a home run. Great movie for a family night.
Acting: 10
Great cast of voice actors led by LaBeouf. The voices breathe life into each character giving them their own flair. Jeff Bridges seems to always find a way to be the shining moment in almost every film he's in.
Beginning: 10
Characters: 10
Cinematography/Visuals: 10
Some of the best animation I have seen in film, hands down. The colors are bright and vivid, teeming with life. Where the visuals really shine are during the surfing scenes. There appears to be so much care that went into the water and wave animation and it pays off on screen. I can't wait to watch this film on a 4K television.
Conflict: 10
Genre: 8
Memorability: 6
Pace: 8
Plot: 10
If a penguin surfing isn't original enough for you, the story as a whole is enough to keep you entertained. Has there ever been an animated film about surfing period, let alone surfing animals? Not sure, but this film captured its essence well while respecting the sport.
Resolution: 10
Overall: 92
With a hilarious opener, classic characters, and Joe the Chicken (trust me, you'll love him), this film is a home run. Great movie for a family night.
Merissa (11958 KP) rated Liam For Hire in Books
Oct 18, 2018
Liam for Hire by A. Zukowski
Liam For Hire can be read as a standalone, but it does feature a couple of characters from the first book - The Boy Who Fell To Earth. That was an amazing read, so I wholeheartedly recommend you do start with that one first, just so you get the full picture.
Liam is one of those characters, and we meet up with him a few months after Sasha. He has mainly got his act together, and is now an escort. He knows what he is, and what he does. He would like more, but he just can't see it. As the story progresses you see many reasons for why he would feel like this, and trust me, it will break your heart. As for Ali, there is little I can say about him apart from I LOVE HIM!! His attitude was perfect for Liam, and helped him in more ways than even Liam realised.
This is a dark read yet again, showing Liam's addiction, and recovery, and addiction. Too many good bits to mention, I was thoroughly engrossed in this book, and read it in one sitting. It was so nice to read a story from Liam's perspective. With no editing or grammatical errors to disrupt my reading flow, I have no hesitation in recommeding this story, or this author. Absolutely fantastic, and I can't wait for Chris' story.
* 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!
Liam is one of those characters, and we meet up with him a few months after Sasha. He has mainly got his act together, and is now an escort. He knows what he is, and what he does. He would like more, but he just can't see it. As the story progresses you see many reasons for why he would feel like this, and trust me, it will break your heart. As for Ali, there is little I can say about him apart from I LOVE HIM!! His attitude was perfect for Liam, and helped him in more ways than even Liam realised.
This is a dark read yet again, showing Liam's addiction, and recovery, and addiction. Too many good bits to mention, I was thoroughly engrossed in this book, and read it in one sitting. It was so nice to read a story from Liam's perspective. With no editing or grammatical errors to disrupt my reading flow, I have no hesitation in recommeding this story, or this author. Absolutely fantastic, and I can't wait for Chris' story.
* 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!
Bong Mines Entertainment (15 KP) rated Night Shift by Juze in Music
Jun 17, 2019
Juze is a German producer, DJ, influencer, and songwriter. Jantine is a platinum-selling singer-songwriter based in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Not too long ago, they released a groovy electro-house tune, entitled, “Night Shift”.
“Dancing in the dark when we move it’s something natural. We play and then we pause and it gently drives me up the wall. And I wonder should I trust this old heart of mine when I judge this vibe. Is it me or is it us? Am I way too high on Martini Dry?” – lyrics
‘Night Shift’ tells an interesting tale of a young woman who dances in the dark with her significant other.
Apparently, they’ve been drinking and having a great time being in each other’s company.
‘Night Shift’ contains a playful storyline, ear-welcoming vocals, and dance-floor friendly instrumentation flavored with electro-pop and groovy house elements.
Juze’s songs have received support from huge international DJs such as Tiesto, DJ Chuckie, and Nicky Romero.
Since then, the bubbly producer has appeared regularly at Bootshaus (Cologne, GER), which placed at #8 in DJ Mag’s Top 100 clubs poll and Amsterdam’s elite Supperclub. Also, he’s worked on remixes for artists such as Ed Sheeran and AURORA.
Jantine is one of the most requested songwriters in the Netherlands. So far, she has collaborated with Skrillex, Valentino Kahn, Hardwell, Rock Mafia, EXO, F(x), Andrew Goldstein, Julian Jordan, Dante Klein, and many more.
Her heart lies with ‘80s pop and indie music, and she has released music via SM Entertainment, Universal Music, and Spinnin’ Records to name a few.
https://www.bongminesentertainment.com/juze-jantine-night-shift/
“Dancing in the dark when we move it’s something natural. We play and then we pause and it gently drives me up the wall. And I wonder should I trust this old heart of mine when I judge this vibe. Is it me or is it us? Am I way too high on Martini Dry?” – lyrics
‘Night Shift’ tells an interesting tale of a young woman who dances in the dark with her significant other.
Apparently, they’ve been drinking and having a great time being in each other’s company.
‘Night Shift’ contains a playful storyline, ear-welcoming vocals, and dance-floor friendly instrumentation flavored with electro-pop and groovy house elements.
Juze’s songs have received support from huge international DJs such as Tiesto, DJ Chuckie, and Nicky Romero.
Since then, the bubbly producer has appeared regularly at Bootshaus (Cologne, GER), which placed at #8 in DJ Mag’s Top 100 clubs poll and Amsterdam’s elite Supperclub. Also, he’s worked on remixes for artists such as Ed Sheeran and AURORA.
Jantine is one of the most requested songwriters in the Netherlands. So far, she has collaborated with Skrillex, Valentino Kahn, Hardwell, Rock Mafia, EXO, F(x), Andrew Goldstein, Julian Jordan, Dante Klein, and many more.
Her heart lies with ‘80s pop and indie music, and she has released music via SM Entertainment, Universal Music, and Spinnin’ Records to name a few.
https://www.bongminesentertainment.com/juze-jantine-night-shift/
BookwormMama14 (18 KP) rated Behind the Scenes (Apart from the Crowd, #1) in Books
Jan 2, 2019
Undoubtedly Jen Turano's BEST book yet! A healthy dose of mystery, the suspense of the romance, the antics of Permilia...And Asher...*SWOON*
"Turn your troubles over to God, and...accept what He may have in store for you." - Behind the Scenes
It is a well established fact that Jen Turano is a TOP favorite author of mine. And Behind the Scenes has surpassed all the others to take its place at the top of her books. Very well written with a lot to keep the reader engaged it was HARD to put this one down! The opening scene with Alva Vanderbilt's ball swept me into the era and had me swooning and giggling and gasping and holding my breath. Permilia and Asher danced, argued, and perhaps encounter a dastardly plot...As the story unfolds, more pieces to the puzzle are laid, but you also find out that the puzzle is much larger than originally anticipated. All the while Asher and Permilia are learning to trust that maybe God's plan for their lives can be something AMAZING!!!
Behind the Scenes wouldn't be complete without Jen's unique style and sense of humour that she weaves into her storylines. Never fear dear reader! Jen does not disappoint. This book is full of new predicaments, comedic escapades, and dramatic rescues. I simply can not wait to continue this series with Gertrude's story in Out of the Ordinary releasing this fall!
I received a complimentary copy of Behind the Scenes from Bethany House Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.
"Turn your troubles over to God, and...accept what He may have in store for you." - Behind the Scenes
It is a well established fact that Jen Turano is a TOP favorite author of mine. And Behind the Scenes has surpassed all the others to take its place at the top of her books. Very well written with a lot to keep the reader engaged it was HARD to put this one down! The opening scene with Alva Vanderbilt's ball swept me into the era and had me swooning and giggling and gasping and holding my breath. Permilia and Asher danced, argued, and perhaps encounter a dastardly plot...As the story unfolds, more pieces to the puzzle are laid, but you also find out that the puzzle is much larger than originally anticipated. All the while Asher and Permilia are learning to trust that maybe God's plan for their lives can be something AMAZING!!!
Behind the Scenes wouldn't be complete without Jen's unique style and sense of humour that she weaves into her storylines. Never fear dear reader! Jen does not disappoint. This book is full of new predicaments, comedic escapades, and dramatic rescues. I simply can not wait to continue this series with Gertrude's story in Out of the Ordinary releasing this fall!
I received a complimentary copy of Behind the Scenes from Bethany House Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.