Monday, September 30

B's Monday Review: The Scotsman Who Swept Me Away by Hannah Howell

Narrated by: Justine Eyre
Series: Seven Brides/Seven Scotsmen, Book 3
Length: 6 hrs and 46 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release date: 08-27-19
Language: English
Publisher: Tantor Audio
Historical romance
In exchange for an honest review

Narration
Well I really like her voice and style so all good. She is one to listen to. Justine Eyre really is perfect when it comes to historical romance.

She brings the story to life and is pleasant listening to

Story
This is the third McEnroe book. Another brother finds love, and yes it does work like a stand alone book too in that sense.

Geordie wants to see the sea so he sets out on a trip east, together with his brother Robbie. Geordie was a good guy, honorable and well yeah I can't say anything bad about him.

Belle owns a house, and rents out rooms to those that need it. She was smart, knew about medicine from her dad and did not give in.

These two fall into friendship and love. There is some drama too, her neighbor (even if that story got an ending too quickly.) There is a story with Robbie too as he has trouble with his leg after a previous accident.

The story evolved quickly and it was a short book. I do like the fast ones.


Off the New England coast, courageous Mehitabel Ampleford wields a rifle to protect her home from a brutish band of men who are after her land. She will not be intimidated, but their attacks are growing fiercer, and just as their latest confrontation threatens violence, a bold stranger appears out of the ocean mists to send the raiders packing.

Geordie MacEnroy has seen the ravages of war in his mountain town - and in the injuries suffered by his youngest brother; now, his restless soul is calling him to find sanctuary by the sea. His long journey to the beautiful coastline of his adopted homeland feels like a new beginning as lovely Mehitabel, so wise and self-sufficient, offers blessed hope for healing his brother's wounds. Geordie envisions a beautiful life with her as his bride, but a woman who has fought so fearlessly for her home may not willingly surrender all for his love....

Sunday, September 29

Joint Review: Vision in Silver by Anne Bishop






Hello all! Blodeuedd and I will be discussing "Vision in Silver" by Anne Bishop. Blodeuedd is in pink and I am in blue. 






Vision in Silver (The Others, #3)
Author: Anne Bishop
Narrator: Alexandra Harris
Title: Vision in Silver
(The Others #3)
Genre: Paranormal, UF, Fantasy, & romance
Published: March 4th 2014
Pages: Audiobook

The Others freed the cassandra sangue to protect the blood prophets from exploitation, not realizing their actions would have dire consequences. Now the fragile seers are in greater danger than ever before; both from their own weaknesses and from those who seek to control their divinations for wicked purposes. In desperate need of answers, Simon Wolfgard, a shape-shifter leader among the Others, has no choice but to enlist blood prophet Meg Corbyn’s help, regardless of the risks she faces by aiding him.

Meg is still deep in the throes of her addiction to the euphoria she feels when she cuts and speaks prophecy. She knows each slice of her blade tempts death. But Others and humans alike need answers, and her visions may be Simon’s only hope of ending the conflict.


For the shadows of war are deepening across the Atlantik, and the prejudice of a fanatic faction is threatening to bring the battle right to Meg and Simon’s doorstep… 

Have I lured you over to the Others side? Isn’t this series great!?

LOL yess. I am quite addicted to the series and I love the Others. The humans are trash. There are a handful of good ones, but the rest? MEH


Yes, eat dirt MEAT! Ugh, I truly hate humans in this book, except those that have the common sense not to fall for the lies. But at the same time I do understand, all they hear is lies so what else could they believe. But they should think twice, but then humans are sheep.

Yes, or do your own research and use common sense. Like why would Crows go into houses and steal? They have access to all the shiny they want. They are stupid, stupid sheep. 

They do deserve to die, horrible disgusting humans. Oh and then I look at society today and we really are stupid sheep that deserve mass extinction.

This world isn’t the best, but apart of me wishes our world was like that but I would want to be an Other OF COURSE. Humans destroy everything. Heck, they treat their own people like crap like Meg and the other girls. Poor girls. 

Benevolent ownership my ass, they use them as slaves and sex-slaves, and omg breed them, how horrible can they be.

Truly disgusting. I am pro-getting-rid-of-them. They keep proving they are not worthy of living with the Others. The Others try and try and nothing! I am curious to see what is going to happen in the next one...they really messed up this time. 

I lost my train of thought, ehhh, evil humans, oh yes! I know I have read this before and know what will happen, but OMG, I so want to read the next one cos I do not know what happens (even when I do ;)

Eeeee! I can’t wait for next month (I am assuming we are doing the next book next month ;) ) But yes things are escalating. I am beginning to like Meg more and more. I actually sided with her this time and I feel like everyone got a touch dramatic about one scene. 

I did feel they overreacted too. I also liked Meg more this time around, I felt that I understood her better. I also understood what made her special. I remember getting Mary Sue vibes the first time around, but now I know better. She is engineered a special way ;)

Yesss I felt like she was indeed a Mary Sue too, but we are getting more from her and her past. Like her freak out about a small little thing and it makes sense. I’m also liking Simon more. He takes a bit to warm up to. I still like Henry more though ;) 

I was not a Simon fan either when I read them, but when I listened, damn she really gets the growl right for me. I FEEL that he is Simon. She is AMAZING. I can not stress this enough, she makes this series.

The narrator really brings this to life for me. I had struggled with the first one since I read it. These next two? Amazing. I am tempted to read the next one and see the difference and then listen to the audio. Haha. 

Not do NOT read it. Wait, I did like book 4 when I read it so maybe it is saved for you ;)

Hehehehe we shall see. I am addicted to this narrator so I’ll just listen to the audio, I think...unless they change her D: I would be upset. She voices everyone so well even the side characters. 

She does the next one and then the sequels so yay! I did look her up and this and one other or smth was all she had done. My heart broke.

Maybe when the series is done she’ll do another one. Maybe she is one of those narrators that dedicate themselves to a series/author and then when it is done they attach themselves to another one. We shall see. I hope she does more!

I really hope so!
All I can say is that this series is amazing in audio! All the voices are amazing. Great book. Go listen now

Yessss yessss I highly recommend it! It was like night and day for me. 

More to ad??d

Mmmmm it is so hard to discuss a good book. LOL Don’t wanna give away any spoilers. But yes, this was super good. I even had a tear at one part. I highly recommend this series. 

The end :D I want more now!!


Me too!!!! The end!




About the Authors
Carole and Blodeuedd have been blogging a long while now. The last couple of years the epic duo have been discussing books, watching movies, and even wetting the pen and sharing their stories with the worldwide web. They both love cats, chocolate, and a good story.


Saturday, September 28

Movie Review: Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019)




Godzilla: King of the Monsters PosterFilm Title: Godzilla: King of the Monsters
Length:   2h 12min
Released:   31 May 2019
Genre:   Action, Adventure, Fantasy 
Rating: PG-13
Where I Got It: Borrowed friend's copy

SUMMARY:

The crypto-zoological agency Monarch faces off against a battery of god-sized monsters, including the mighty Godzilla, who collides with Mothra, Rodan, and his ultimate nemesis, the three-headed King Ghidorah.









TRAILER:



REVIEW:
I have such a huge spot on my heart for Godzilla. I can't help but watch these. Ooooh that big ol' lizard. 

The story takes place some time after the last movie when Godzilla first made landing and destroyed the last baddies. Things are starting to escalate because the humans are finding a bunch more big monsters sleeping. But something is waking them up and King Ghidorah is taking lead to destroying everything and everyone. 

This was SOOOO good. I think it has become one of my favorite Zilla movies. I even enjoyed the people stories! WHAAA? Normally they are boring and annoying. But they were entertaining. I am blown away! I actually was rooting for the good guys and booing the baddies. Darn, that one baddie. Ugh. I was SO mad.

The monster fights kicked ass. Loved it. I was intrigued by how evil they really made King Ghidorah. He is evil, but he was REALLY evil and targeted people. It was awesome. Loved it. I also loved the moments Godzilla had with the people in this. 

OMG that one scene with Godzilla and a certain character (not giving away spoilers)! OKAY, I will *SPOILER ALERT*  Dr. Ishiro Serizawa sacrifices himself by being the one to make sure the bomb blows up to give Godzilla the energy and power that is needed to get back in the fight. Godzilla was all beat up and just laying there. Dr. Ishiro goes up to Godzilla and touches Godzilla's nose and Godzilla looks right at him and seems to remember the doctor. Dr. Ishiro says "Goodbye...old friend." And then the bomb goes off. *END OF SPOILER*  UGGHHHH MY HEART! I actually cried! Such a power scene! It was beautiful and tragic and sad. If you watch anything from the movie you should watch that. It was good. 

OoooooOOOooo that ending. I was worried that someone, won't name names, was not going to get their just desserts for what they did. Thank goodness. You can't just do THAT and NOT get your karma thrown back in your face. I'm happy with how it all ended. There is an opening for possible more films, BUT if they left it at this I would be content. So good. 

Overall, this has become one of my favorite Zilla movies. I even enjoyed the people side of the story. The fights were good. We got plenty of Godzilla the King. A heart-wrecking scene. And a good ending. 5 stars for sure and if you ever watch a film about this big ol' lizard I recommend this one. 







Friday, September 27

Blodeuedd's Friday Review: The Downstairs Girl by Stacey Lee

Narrated by: Emily Woo Zeller
Length: 10 hrs and 22 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release date: 08-13-19
Language: English
Publisher: Tantor Audio
Historical fiction YA
In exchange for an honest review

Narrator: 
I like the narrator as I have listened to her before, but I did have to up to 2.2 since I felt it was narrated too slowly, but that just makes the story go faster so all good in my book.

She was the perfect voice for Jo.

Story:
Jo lives with her guardian in a basement. Atlanta after the war means no rights for Chinese people, they are not even citizens.

She loses her job and starts working for the family she worked for before, including a certain bratty daughter. She also starts writing an agony aunt column that takes the city by storm.

Did I see the city going crazy over it, nah, not really. I liked what she had to say, she wanted equality and liberty. But far fetched sure, but hey this is a story after all and I really liked how she went after everything. Though the author did try to put in too many issues at once, I know the time gives a lot to talk about, but a focus on a fewer would have been better.

There might be a romance blossoming at the end, nah, did not feel that. I will just choose to see her not going after that.

There is also drama regarding who she is. Who were her parents? I am not saying no to a bit of mystery. I really enjoyed that part. Even if grrrr, it made me want to hit people.

I enjoyed the story, and it did actually never feel particularly YA. I did not even realize it was YA to be honest.


By day, 17-year-old Jo Kuan works as a lady's maid for the cruel daughter of one of the wealthiest men in Atlanta. But by night, Jo moonlights as the pseudonymous author of a newspaper advice column for the genteel Southern lady, "Dear Miss Sweetie". When her column becomes wildly popular, she uses the power of the pen to address some of society's ills, but she's not prepared for the backlash that follows when her column challenges fixed ideas about race and gender.

While her opponents clamor to uncover the secret identity of Miss Sweetie, a mysterious letter sets Jo off on a search for her own past and the parents who abandoned her as a baby. But when her efforts put her in the crosshairs of Atlanta's most notorious criminal, Jo must decide whether she, a girl used to living in the shadows, is ready to step into the light.

Thursday, September 26

Book Review: Things too Big to Name by Molly Best Tinsley


Things too Big to Name
Author:  Molly Best Tinsley
Title: Things too Big to Name
Genre: Mystery, Drama
Pages: ebook
Published:  September 9th 2019
Where I Got It: My shelf (given to me by the author/publisher for my honest and unbiased opinion)



Professor Margaret Torrens retired to a mountain cabin only to find her solitude disturbed first by a former student with an odd, mute girl in tow, and soon after by a man who laid claim to both woman and child.

Now Margaret is locked in a ward for the criminally insane, and a charge of murder is in the air. As a psychologist pries out her story, she is waylaid by her own secrets, borne by the ghost of her young husband, lost decades before. 





I was intrigued right away! The cover and the story itself just called for me. I had to read it! 

The story follows Margaret who has retired to a cabin in the mountains to find solitude. However, she comes across a former student with an odd, mute girl in tow. Then there is a man who follows after claiming to be looking for this woman and child. Now, Margaret finds herself locked away in a ward for the criminally insane talking to a psychologist who tries to figure out the truth and find her secrets. 

This was a pretty intense book. I read this in 1 sitting. I had to know what was going to happen next. Luckily this was a shorter book so it was easy to breeze through. 

I felt so bad for Margaret. But I had my doubts about her at the same times. 

The formatting was interesting. I did go back and forth on my feelings to the letters she wrote to Ben. They seemed to help the story move along while at sometimes I felt it slowed the narrative down a bit. But overall, I still liked seeing her be honest with Ben.

But other than that I was drawn in by the story and the characters. I HAD to know what was going to happen. And man, oh man was that a good ending. Such a good mystery! Yet again...poor Margaret. I was utterly SHOCKED by the ending. SO good, SO good.

Overall, I really did enjoy this story. I did go back and forth on the letters she wrote. I liked them overall, but there were sometimes I felt it slowed things down too much. The mystery was good and I was shocked at the ending. I recommend this if you want a good mystery, with an intense story, but a quick read. I'll give this 4 stars. 






Wednesday, September 25

Blog All About It: it's CRUNCH time






This month's prompt is:  Crunch


This is going to be a stretch on the prompt for sure, but I think it fits.So please follow me through this. This is going to be a check-in on my book goals since we only have a few weeks left of the year. We are officially in crunch time mode!

Image result for it's crunch time gif

It is September (what???? WHENN????) and the end of the year is creeping on us. SHOULD I START CHRISTMAS SHOPPING? I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT TO BE FOR HALLOWEEN???? I AM TURNING A YEAR OLDER! BF AND I ARE CELEBRATING ANOTHER ANNIVERSARY! IT IS NEARLY 2020!!!!!! EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

Image result for freak out gif


Okay...momentary freak out is over.....soooo it is CRUNCH time to get these challenges done. Only so many months left. So many days left....so many hours left. *hyperventilating with a smile on my face and a thumbs up* 

Here is where I am for the year with my challenges and goals:


Books overall: I am 3 books ahead at this current rate. So doing good, doing good. 


Related image
Audiobook Challenge: Goal is to listen to 30 this year 41!!!! Hot dang! Completed THAT challenge.

2019 Cloak and Dagger Reading Challenge
I had picked the Detective level for this which is 16/25 books. I am at 18. I hit the minimum of the goal! Now I'm gonna try and hit the 25!
Contemporary Romance Challenge: 13 left. No BINGOs so I need to get on this and get at least one Bingo. 
Historical Romance Challenge: 12 boxes left. I have one BINGO. WOOT. Hopefully I can get one or two more BINGOs.




 
Crunch time initiated! I think I am going to try and really focus on my BINGOs. I have some lined up that should fit the categories. I did get off base for a while with these. Can't help myself when there is a book that calls my name ;)

Good luck everyone in the last few weeks of 2019! IT IS CRUNCH TIME!!!!! WE CAN DO IT!




Image result for it's crunch time gif



Tuesday, September 24

Time for TV Tuesday: Scrubs (Season 1-9)





Recently Finished:

Through: Hulu

Image result for scrubs show



Oooo this show. I haven't watched it in years. I binged watched it in like 2013 or whenever when it was removed from Netflix. Seen it on Hulu and decided it was time to rewatch one of my favorite shows from my youth. 

The show follows JD and his hospital pals. We get to see him start as a young intern until the end when he becomes the mentor himself in season 9. 

****WARNING! THERE MAY BE SOME SPOILERS!****

And it did not disappoint! SOOO good. Still super funny. I actually even enjoyed the last season where it doesn't fully focus on our old times pals. I wasn't amused with that season back then, but I like it a touch more now. We see new faces with the old cast mainly being mentors and side characters who get some life lessons. I still wished the spotlight was mainly on  the old crew. But I get what they were trying to do. Passing the torch or whatever.

Oh naive JD. I forgot how dumb he is sometimes. Well. They are all dumb. I feel like they all go through a spell of being the asshole or super jerk. 

I'll never get the JD/Elliot thing. They are basically the same person. Never wanted them to be together. The on/off thing annoyed me then and it still annoys me now. Meh. Be together or don't. I do love how after X amount of times of this nonsense even the other characters stopped caring too and were annoyed. 

Carla and Turk are still my favorite characters. I like everyone in different ways. But I wanted to be Carla. I grew up to be more like Elliot...but what can ya do? 

Oooo Perry and Jordan. Love them too. 

The side characters are always a hoot. 

The jokes are cheesy and fun. And some parts are super unrealistic. BUT it was all fun. I love the series moments too. It is not all fun and games. We get some real stuff here. Life lessons we all can take with us. Beautiful combo. Beautiful mixed together! 

Image result for perfection gif

I am still bummed at season 9. It just...ended. I think the writers expected another season and didn't get it. It felt rush and not completed. I was shocked when Hulu said I was done. WHAT??? THAT IS IT???? NOOOO!

Honestly... I don't think this season was needed. Maybe they could've done a TV movie or something. All the fans demanded this show came back and it did but not how the fans wanted. We wanted more of the old cast, but not everyone could come back for whatever reason. Bummer, but people have lives and other responsibilities....SO I get it. 

Besides for my mixed emotions on season 9, I LOVE, LOVE this show. All good. Wonderful characters. Great jokes. Great lessons. Totally worth it to just watch 1-8 and 9 is if you need just a touch more to weed yourself off the show. I will stamp this with 4 stars. It would be 5, but season 9 does lower this mathematically. 





Sunday, September 22

Book Review: 11/22/63 by Stephen King


11/22/63Author:  Stephen King 
Title: 11/22/63
Genre: Historical Fiction, SciFi, Romance, Fantasy
Pages: 849
Published: November 8th 2011
Where I Got It: Borrowed friend's copy



Life can turn on a dime—or stumble into the extraordinary, as it does for Jake Epping, a high school English teacher in Lisbon Falls, Maine. While grading essays by his GED students, Jake reads a gruesome, enthralling piece penned by janitor Harry Dunning: fifty years ago, Harry somehow survived his father’s sledgehammer slaughter of his entire family. Jake is blown away...but an even more bizarre secret comes to light when Jake’s friend Al, owner of the local diner, enlists Jake to take over the mission that has become his obsession—to prevent the Kennedy assassination. How? By stepping through a portal in the diner’s storeroom, and into the era of Ike and Elvis, of big American cars, sock hops, and cigarette smoke... Finding himself in warmhearted Jodie, Texas, Jake begins a new life. But all turns in the road lead to a troubled loner named Lee Harvey Oswald. The course of history is about to be rewritten...and become heart-stoppingly suspenseful.


On the insistence of my friend I decided to read it. Plus time travel books are fun. It is a Stephen King so I went in trying to ignore the fact it is Stephen King. Not that I don't like his stories...he is too long-winded for me. 

The story follows Jake Epping who is a high school teacher. A secret comes to life when Jake runs into his friend Al who looks like he aged over night and looks sickly. Al shows Jake a doorway to the past and tells Jake he is the only one who can take over his mission to stop the Kennedy's assassination. Jake takes the mission and goes. 

Messing with the past is ALWAYS, ALWAYS a bad idea. Step on a butterfly and forever change the future. Him just being there is changing everything. Poor Jake. 

It was long-winded as per normal but I was able to look past it and continue reading. Took me a month because I needed to read other things. This is a big book and there is a lot going on. I feel like I was able to enjoy the story better by only reading small bits at a time. It worked. I guess if I ever read another book by this author I should take baby reading sessions with it. But yes...long-winded but the story itself is SO worth it. I was super intrigued to follow Jake and see what happens. 

Oooooo Sadie. *sobs*

That ending!!!! *sobs more* I did get a tear there. I did see this coming...ish. I know messing with the past is never good and as much as Kennedy is beloved saving him could ruin a lot of things. He had become a martyr for Civil Rights when he was killed. Never know though amazing things could've happened. It's a 50/50 chance. The ending shocked me, but I did call a couple of details. 

What else to say without spoiling things????

I did really enjoy this so my friend Sarah was right. I am glad she forced me to read it even though I'm not a huge fan of SK's writing style. It worked and now I want to watch the mini-series! It did evoke a couple of tears for me and that ending. SO GOOD! This is for sure worth the read. I'll stamp this with 4 stars.