Book Review: The Chase by Elle Kennedy

Author: Elle Kennedy

Title: The Chase

Series: Briar U #1

Genre: Sports Romance, Contemporary, New Adult

Format: ebook

Pages: 374

Published:  August 4, 2018

Where I got It: Borrowed from library

Summary: 

Everyone says opposites attract. And they must be right, because there’s no logical reason why I’m so drawn to Colin Fitzgerald. I don’t usually go for tattoo-covered, video-gaming, hockey-playing nerd-jocks who think I’m flighty and superficial. His narrow view of me is the first strike against him. It doesn’t help that he’s buddy-buddy with my brother.

And that his best friend has a crush on me.

And that I just moved in with them.

Oh, did I not mention we’re roommates?

I suppose it doesn’t matter. Fitzy has made it clear he’s not interested in me, even though the sparks between us are liable to burn our house down. I’m not the kind of girl who chases after a man, though, and I’m not about to start. I’ve got my hands full dealing with a new school, a sleazy professor, and an uncertain future. So if my sexy brooding roomie wises up and realizes what he’s missing?

He knows where to find me.

Review:

I had a couple of people recommend this book, and it was available at the library (after waiting in line for a couple of weeks). Why not? Love hockey romances! This is technically a spin-off (methinks) from a different series. I still need to read that series. One day!!!!!!

Here we follow Fitz and Summer. The two couldn't be more different. Summer loves fashion and tries to look at the positives in life. She messed up big, but she has been given a second chance! Fitz is a grumpy and gruff hockey player. There is a spark between them, but she overheard him calling her superficial and just "fluff". She won't chase a man, so she'll just have to ignore him even though he is one of her roommates. 

This started off......meh. I struggled the first 50 pages-ish. I don't want to say it but I can't think of a better word(s)...it was so awkward and cringey. Some of the dialogue made me roll my eyes and made me appreciate not being in my early 20s. However, things leveled out and did get better. I think the author stopped trying so hard to sound like a college kid.

I didn't like Fitz or Summer at first either, but I warmed up to them once we got past the surface-level. Still found them mid by the end. Eh. I think they are side characters in the original series, so maybe I would've liked them more there? Mmmmm. I finally got the first book from the original series from the library, so we shall see. 

I also didn't buy Summer's insta-friendship with Bee. I warmed up too that as we went along. But it still felt so sudden.

But yeah. This was entertaining enough, and it did keep me up one night, so that's a plus? It all felt......shallow? Don't get me wrong, I like a carefree romance, but the author tried to make this deep, but it just didn't strike. Maybe I am getting too old for college romances. 

Overall, 3 stars from me. It was entertaining enough, and I ended up warming up to our mains. 

Reading Challenges:

- Library Love #15

Audiobook Review: Murder at Raven's Edge by Louise Marley

Author: Louise Marley

Narrator: Christopher Bonwell
Title: Murder at Raven's Edge

Series: An English Village Mystery #1

Genre: Murder Mystery, Thriller, Romance
Format: Audiobook
Published:  May 7, 2024
Where I Got It: Audible 

Summary: 

When Milla Graham returns to her childhood home of Raven's Edge after eighteen long years away, she finds the perfect English village looks much the same – all rose-covered cottages, nosy neighbours, and chintzy teashops full of scones and gossip.

But her nostalgic visit takes a dark turn when the body of a local woman is discovered in an abandoned manor house on the edge of the forest. The murder scene is chillingly close to that of Milla’s own mother, whose death was never solved. As she begins to investigate the connection, Milla realizes this adorable village is guarding some dark secrets.

Handsome, grumpy local policeman Ben Taylor doesn't believe in coincidences, and he doesn’t think mysterious newcomer Milla Graham is as innocent as she seems. Why is she really here in Raven’s Edge, and how come she keeps turning up at his crime scenes, causing trouble? Can he solve this murder case without losing himself – or his heart – to the rather distracting Miss Graham?

When another body is found, everyone becomes a suspect – from the barmaid at the local pub to Milla Graham herself. It seems that in Raven's Edge, not everybody is as friendly, or as innocent, as they first seem...

Review:

This was my pick for book club!

Here we follow Milla and Ben. Ben is a grouchy policeman who doesn't believe in coincidences, and he doesn't trust newcomer Milla Graham. Why is she really here in Raven's Edge? How come she keeps turning up at his crime scenes? There is a murder, and she is connected somehow. Milla returns home to Raven's Edge after 18 years. She is here to figure out who really killed her mother and why. When a body shows up that is eerily similar to her mother's...she knows that her life could be in danger. Can she trust Ben? Can she trust herself? 

It took me a minute to get fully into the story. I didn't like Milla. I didn't trust her. Every other word is a lie. I guess I'm a grumpy man like Ben hahahaha. But once we really got past her web of lies to others and to herself, I grew to like her. I wanted the truth to come out. 

Honestly... my biggest takeaway from this book is that if people told the truth, none of this would have happened! Yes, some lies were meant to protect, but in the end...it made things worse. I wanted to shake everyone. THE TRUTH SHALL SET YOU FREEEEEEE!

I enjoyed the mystery and uncovering it. There were times I was super confused, but then by the end it ALL made sense. The ending made me happy. 

The narrator did an okay job. His voices for characters weren't that different, so you really had to pay attention. 

Overall, I did end up liking this story. The beginning and the one main character were a slow start for me, but it was worth it. Nice mystery and interesting charatcers. I know there was a murder there...but can I move to the town? It sounds like an adorable small town. 

4 stars from me. 

Reading Challenges

- Audiobook #24

Blodeuedd's Monday Review: Cackle by Rachel Harrison

Format: 319 pages, Paperback

Published: August 30, 2022 by Berkley

Paranormal/borrowed

So this is listed as a horror. Someone called it pink horror. But yeah there is no horror, it is more a supernatural story.

Annie decides to make a new life as her boyfriend leaves her. This takes her to a teaching job in a small town. There she meets a Fabolous woman! Everyone loves this woman....or do they?

Her and Sophie becomes great friends. Sophie in her big empty house. Spiders. Strange things happening.

But this was about Sophie finding herself and being happy what she finds.

I liked it. It was another easy fun read

All her life, Annie has played it nice and safe. After being unceremoniously dumped by her longtime boyfriend, Annie seeks a fresh start. She accepts a teaching position that moves her from Manhattan to a small village upstate. She’s stunned by how perfect and picturesque the town is. The people are all friendly and warm. Her new apartment is dreamy too, minus the oddly persistent spider infestation.  

Then Annie meets Sophie. Beautiful, charming, magnetic Sophie, who takes a special interest in Annie, who wants to be her friend. More importantly, she wants Annie to stop apologizing and start living for herself. That’s how Sophie lives. Annie can’t help but gravitate toward the self-possessed Sophie, wanting to spend more and more time with her, despite the fact that the rest of the townsfolk seem…a little afraid of her. And like, okay. There are some things. Sophie’s appearance is uncanny and ageless, her mansion in the middle of the woods feels a little unearthly, and she does seem to wield a certain power…but she couldn’t be…could she?

Movie Review: Project Hail Mary (2026)

Title: Project Hail Mary

Length: 2h 36m

Released: 2026

Genre: SciFi, Comedy, Drama
Rating: PG-13
Where I Got It: Drive-In Theater

SUMMARY:

A science teacher wakes up alone on a spaceship. As his memory returns, he uncovers a mission to stop a mysterious substance killing Earth's sun, and realizes that an unexpected friendship may be the key.

Trailer

REVIEW:

Whoopsies. Meant to post this last week....eee!

Anyways...

Soooo I wasn't even excited to watch this. I'm so picky with my SciFi, and I feel like so many are just carbon copies of each other. However, the group wanted to stay and watch it, so I stayed too. ANNNND I was pleasantly surprised. 

Okay - so the story takes place in the future-ish. A science teacher wakes up alone on a ship and can't remember where or why he is there. He keeps getting flashbacks of his time on Earth. As he starts piecing together what happened, he realizes... it is up to him to save Earth. He is literally the last chance to figure out how to stop this mysterious substance from killing their Sun. This substance is killing all the stars, but one, and that is where he is headed. Along the way, he will team up with someone...something...unexpected. 

Okay. Okay. I take it back. I thought this was going to be boring and just a carbon copy. This was fresh and fun. Yes, Earth is in peril, but the movie still had some humor. It felt like real life in a weird way. Yes, dark and gloomy and scary, BUT there are good moments.

I LOVED Rocky. Best character of the year. I would burn the Earth for him. 

The cast was lovely. Our main was great...as usual. Awkward and adorable. Adorkable, some might say. 

The science-y parts were not too science-y, and I appreciated that. I hate when SciFi gets too lost in the details. Sure, I'm sure some science lovers wanted more "details". But meh. They balanced it well. Science stuff and then stuff for non-science people. Everyone can enjoy this. 

Some scenes could've been snipped and trimmed a little bit. Some dragged on a bit too long.

The ending was lovely, and I would've liked to see more. 

All-in-all, I was pleasantly surprised by this film! I went in a negative Nancy and came out wanting to watch this movie again. WHA? Yes! I'll watch it again. It was fun. Some scenes needed a bit of snipping to help the story along, but I liked it overall. 4 stars from me.