Because of Miss Bridgerton (Rokesbys #1) By: Julia Quinn

Because of Miss Bridgerton

Because of Miss Bridgerton (Rokesbys #1) By: Julia Quinn

Plot:

Sometimes you find love in the most unexpected of places…

This is not one of those times.

Everyone expects Billie Bridgerton to marry one of the Rokesby brothers. The two families have been neighbors for centuries, and as a child the tomboyish Billie ran wild with Edward and Andrew. Either one would make a perfect husband… someday.

Sometimes you fall in love with exactly the person you think you should…

Or not.

There is only one Rokesby Billie absolutely cannot tolerate, and that is George. He may be the eldest and heir to the earldom, but he’s arrogant, annoying, and she’s absolutely certain he detests her. Which is perfectly convenient, as she can’t stand the sight of him, either.

But sometimes fate has a wicked sense of humor…

Because when Billie and George are quite literally thrown together, a whole new sort of sparks begins to fly. And when these lifelong adversaries finally kiss, they just might discover that the one person they can’t abide is the one person they can’t live without…

Review:

Love me some Julia Quinn and when my nana was done reading this she let me borrow it. I have to say at first I thought the book was pretty depressing. This series is going to be set during the American Revolutionary War but it’s still from the side of the British, so I found it a bit hard to root for the people at first. Especially since two of the brothers are fighting in the war. There was also all the emotional stuff the oldest brother was going through.

Eventually, though, things got happier and George was able to accept himself for who he was, Billie helped him but he didn’t require her to be happy. I like that. I don’t want love to be the only reason someone is happy or content with themselves. Putting that much pressure on someone else isn’t good, it’s fine if someone else guides you to your realization but you shouldn’t depend on them for it.

Anyway, love Julia Quinn, excited for more in the series.

5/5

Trial and Temptation (The Mandrake Company #2) By: Ruby Lionsdrake

Trial and Temptation

Trial and Temptation (The Mandrake Company #2) By: Ruby Lionsdrake

Plot:

After ten years of flying freighter ships from planet to planet, Val Calendula never thought she would apply for a job as a combat pilot in a mercenary outfit. But her brother has gotten himself into financial trouble, and he’s heading to a mining prison if Val can’t pay off his debts. Mercenaries don’t always live long… but they make good money while they’re alive. A few combat bonuses, and Val could earn what she needs. The problem? She might have graduated from the military flight academy, but she hasn’t fought anything more dangerous than dust bunnies on the bridge lately. To make matters worse, the man in charge of hiring pilots was her instructor back at the academy. Commander Thatcher was almost as brilliant as he was arrogant and condescending, and he never seemed to think Val was smart enough to be there. She has no idea if she’ll be able to convince him otherwise now… or if she’ll be able to stand working with him. When Gregor Thatcher left the military, he never expected to run into any of his former acquaintances, much less the one he admired and mooned over during his two years teaching at the academy. Back then, he never told Val Calendula he cared for her, partially because officers weren’t supposed to have relations with cadets, but mostly because he didn’t know how to speak of his feelings. He might not have any trouble grasping navigational mathematics and astrodynamics, but people are more problematic. Gregor is elated that Val has entered his life again, but he’s fairly certain she hates him. Worse, he’s responsible for deciding whether she’s qualified to be a combat pilot. How can he judge fairly when his tongue tangles and idiotic words come out of his mouth whenever she’s around? When the captain sends Val and Gregor on a mission to pick up a military advisor and deliver him to a planet at war, Val hopes she’ll have an opportunity to prove herself capable of the piloting position. Gregor hopes he’ll have the opportunity to improve Val’s opinion of him. But when the military advisor goes missing, and they’re forced to divert to a dangerous moon base, the mission turns into a fight for survival. Val may learn too late that there’s more to Gregor than that aloof exterior… and that inside is a man she could love.
Review:

Really liked the hero in this book, he was very smart and had all the issues that comes with that. Think Sheldon from Big Bang Theory, only not quite so socially stunted. He was adorable and could still kick ass. I also liked the heroine and how practical she was. She had put herself in a perilous position for family and was obviously nervous but she didn’t let it keep her down. She rose to the occasion admirably.

Not much going on with the rest of the crew of the ship, but I’m really curious about what’s going to happen with Striker, I think that’s his name. I like him, but none of the women do. He’s randy and loves comics, what’s not to love?

Oh well, looking forward to the next book.

4.5/5

Mercenary Instinct (The Mandrake Company #1) By: Ruby Lionsdrake

Mercenary Instinct

Mercenary Instinct (The Mandrake Company #1) By: Ruby Lionsdrake

Plot:

Skulking around in the ruins on a planet swarming with treasure hunters, slavers, and bounty hunters isn’t good for one’s health. But Ankari Markovich needs a few archaeological samples for her latest business venture, a venture that might prove lucrative enough to move her family off the impoverished planet where she grew up. Unfortunately, she has no sooner collected her samples than she’s captured by a band of brawny mercenaries. The captain might be handsome, but he’s intent on turning her over to some finance lord who has, for reasons unknown, put a bounty on her head, a ridiculously large one at that. If she can’t figure out a way to escape before she’s delivered to the lord’s home world, she could be forced into a life of indentured servitude—or worse. Captain Viktor Mandrake doesn’t usually take on piddling bounty hunting gigs, but when his intelligence officer informs him of a criminal on a nearby planet, he decides it wouldn’t hurt to take a shuttle down to collect the woman. But Ankari Markovich is trouble from the start, nearly eluding his elite forces, then fighting and tricking his people left and right. He finds himself admiring her spirit, but according to her warrant, she’s a criminal. The safest thing is to keep her in the brig and ignore her until she can be handed off to the man who wants her. But the situation grows more complicated when other bounty hunters show up, wanting to claim Ankari for themselves. Thanks to this woman, Viktor’s ship is in danger, his crew members are going missing, and he’s fighting enemies he never asked for in a jungle in the middle of a hurricane. He’s either going to strangle Ankari… or fall in love. Either scenario could get him killed.
Review:

I was not expecting to like this so much. It was really good and a fun read. I liked the characters and thought the world was interesting. I could see some Star Wars and Indiana Jones influence, which I of course loved, and I loved how strong the female lead was.

By the end of the book the couple was together, but nothing final, so there might be more about them in the future. The man was a bit monotone, but it was believable with his background. I did like the fact that he didn’t expect his crew to follow him in questionable decisions.

I’m looking forward to reading more about The Mandrake Company and I’ve already got the next book queued up.

4.5/5

Ip Man 3 (2015)

Ip Man 3

Ip Man 3 (2015)

Director:

Wilson Yip

Starring:

Donnie Yen

Lynn Hung

Jin Zhang

Mike Tyson

Plot:

When a band of brutal gangsters led by a crooked property developer make a play to take over the city, Master Ip is forced to take a stand.

Review:

It’s been a while since I watched the first Ip Man movies and all I really remember is that I liked them and that Donnie Yen was awesome.

Man I really hope they utilize him correctly in Rogue One. Please don’t screw that up.

Anyway, the last few fight scenes in this movie were great, the first ones were good as well just didn’t quiet do it for me. Maybe because Master Ip is supposed to be getting old but his punches didn’t have that much power, seemingly.

Didn’t like the story in this movie, it was way too emotional. I get that this is supposed to be about a real man’s life, but I could have done without the weepy story line. I don’t like crying when I watch an action movie.

I need to watch the other movies before I give any kind of order of preference, but more than likely this will be my least favorite.

3.5/5

The Passenger By: Lisa Lutz

the-passenger-lisa-lutz

The Passenger By: Lisa Lutz

Plot:

From the author of the New York Times bestselling Spellman Files series, Lisa Lutz’s latest blistering thriller is about a woman who creates and sheds new identities as she crisscrosses the country to escape her past: you’ll want to buckle up for the ride!

In case you were wondering, I didn’t do it. I didn’t have anything to do with Frank’s death. I don’t have an alibi, so you’ll have to take my word for it…

Forty-eight hours after leaving her husband’s body at the base of the stairs, Tanya Dubois cashes in her credit cards, dyes her hair brown, demands a new name from a shadowy voice over the phone, and flees town. It’s not the first time. She meets Blue, a female bartender who recognizes the hunted look in a fugitive’s eyes and offers her a place to stay. With dwindling choices, Tanya-now-Amelia accepts. An uneasy―and dangerous―alliance is born.

It’s almost impossible to live off the grid today, but Amelia-now-Debra and Blue have the courage, the ingenuity, and the desperation, to try. Hopscotching from city to city, Debra especially is chased by a very dark secret…can she outrun her past? With heart-stopping escapes and devious deceptions, The Passenger is an amazing psychological thriller about defining yourself while you pursue your path to survival. One thing is certain: the ride will leave you breathless.

Review:

I really loved the first few books in the Spellman Files, enough that Lisa Lutz almost became a must buy for me. However, I read her book Head you Lose and honestly didn’t like it too much. After reading the last Spellman Files book and The Passenger I think I know why Lutz isn’t a must buy for me. Her characters are very loose and fast with their morals.

The main character, that has several names, is a victim and at first I felt sorry for her. Something had clearly gone wrong for her and it was bad and not her fault, but the more I got to know the character the more I didn’t care. She was just so stupid. Part of that was because she was a teenager when event first happened, and other things I’m not going to go too into, but the book happened like ten years later. How had she not gotten any smarter?

At one point the main character has someone hold her up and she thinks of them as a thief, at no point in her journey does she really acknowledge all the bad she’s done. She is constantly defending her actions and even talks about the guilt she feels, but it doesn’t change anything for her. She still keeps doing the wrong things. It’s annoying.

I was disappointed by the story and I thought the ending was anti-climactic. Also reading the book blurb now I realize it’s misleading and I assumed a lot from it. Oh well.

2/5