The Gauntlet: The Soppranaturale Series by Ashley Pagano
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I got hooked from the very beginning of this book. All of the supernatural creatures exist together in this series. They live in a supernatural refuge masked as a hotel. Link and Ommily are faeries, one turns evil and the other is trying to protect everyone . I’m ready to read the next book in the series.
Bycatch by Alexander Blevens
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Rex Thompson is a Vietnam Veteran. While stationed in Da Nang, in 1970, he steals money the U.S. government has earmarked for South Vietnam. Captain Nguyen Duc Dung, who caught him in the act, is blamed for the crime. Rex has regretted this act for years but the crime comes back to haunt him, and we see the negative impact is has had not only back then, but now, 24 years later.
While working in shrimping industry in Biloxi, Mississippi—the two families from long ago meet up and there are grave consequences that impact all involved. Through this story, we get insight into choices, their ramifications, cultural conflict and redemption.
Curse of the Elf Lord by Heidi Vanlandingham
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This second book in the series follows the story of Emilien and Hel. They were married and in love until Emilien was cursed and turned into a wolf. He and their daughter left Hel and he became the guardian of his realm while Hel stayed in hers. This story has a few of the characters from the last book but is mostly a whole new plot line. I’m again happy for the glossary of people and characters, I just wish they had phonetic spelling too because I think I am saying all the names incorrectly! This book has magic, fighting, love, courage, and so much more. You travel through realms and time and see so much. There are multiple stories happening as they are all trying to figure out why the dead are leaving their realms. It ended pretty quickly but left an opening for the next book which will focus on Emilien and Hel’s daughter, Shalendra.
Reviewed by @bibliophilenerd
View all my reviews
The Hunter by Nicole Flockton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
One of my favorite tropes is enemies to lovers, and this book just confirms that once again to me! I love the chemistry between them, and the plot was great as well. I love the world building the author did here, and I want to read more. The fact that it is Freemasons just really caught my attention. This was my first book to read of the series, but I could still hang with the story without feeling lost. Of course, I will go back and catch the first book.
Curse of the Elf Lord by Heidi Vanlandingham
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
An Elven who was cursed into the body of a Werewolf? Now there’s a new story line I hadn’t thought of or heard of.
Emilien wants to win back the love of his life But he knows its unlikely especially in the body of a Werewolf. He’s been focusing on the disappearance of his brother and sister and law until he’s threatened to stop
At the same time his wife Hel also known as “the ice queen” is trying to make heads or tails of sudden disappearances across the 9 worlds.
Hel and Emilien are at odds but are going to have to work together to save their 9 worlds and their daughter is going to have to forgive Emilien… can they all work together to save the 9 worlds from complete ruin?
This 2nd installment of the series was much easier to follow, engrossing, full of drama and intrigue, family ties, high stakes adventure. I thoroughly enjoyed it!
The Intruders by Brett McKay
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This book was completely different from many other books that I have read. To be quite honest, I didn’t know if I liked it or didn’t like it, but at the same time, I could not put it down. Dex Sanders and his wife Reagan find themselves kidnapped and have no idea why. Thus begins a story of conspiracy and secrets so big it affects the entire world. I enjoyed the action as Dex and others fight the aliens from taking over the world and killing them. Also, the author made comments after every chapter. It was really interesting to read his thoughts. I loved the little side story of Pam and Connor. There will definitely be other books, and I look forward to reading them as well.
The Gauntlet: The Soppranaturale Series by Ashley Pagano
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
5/5 Stars
The Gauntlet: The Soppranaturale Series #1 by Ashley Pagano
This is the first book I’ve read by the author. This book was a fast read and I didn’t want to put it down. I also didn’t want it to end. The Gauntlet is the first book in The Soppranaturale Series. This does leave on a bit of a cliffhanger.
Link thought he was the only Fae alive. Sure there’s supposed to be another one, but he hasn’t met her. When she walks into the hotel all things go out the window. He breaks her into their world and sees what they can do together. The quote I chose for Link is: “She may already have a room.”
Ommily is the other Fae that exists. She comes to the hotel with her human fiance. She’s not sure if this will be a dead end like the others. Then she meets Link and finds that she’s falling for him. Then his ex comes into the picture. The quote I chose for Ommily is: “I may have a few ideas about that.”
Highly recommended for Teen Fairy lovers.
Defying Ella by Morgana Bevan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Perfect story! I loved this book! Read it in 2 days because I was addicted! Ella and Jared have a bit of a past, but since then, they’ve never gotten along. Well, that’s an understatement. They’ve hated each other’s guts. But when they are forced together, they have to face their feelings and work it out. This book is hot, emotional, romantic, and just written so perfectly! Read this book! It will definitely be worth your time!
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Loved this audiobook! The narrator was on point, really making me feel like I was in the story. Will is a rich man who doesn’t know what he is missing until he meets Harper. Harper is in the same boat, except she feels like she has much more to lose, because she has Jeremy. Jeremy is Harper’s younger brother who has a brain injury making her his caretaker. Will comes into their lives and turns them upside down. But is it a good thing, or bad? This book is not just your usual romance novel, it also has speed, cars, family, loss, and so much more. Listen to this book! It is the whole package!
The Warrior by Nicole Flockton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
The Warrior is the third book in the Freemasons series by Nicole Flockton. Sienna has feelings for Jude however he is reluctant to open up to her as he has dedicated his life to looking for his sister Renee. When a sighting of Renee leads him to start looking for her in another country, Jude and his fellow ex-military friends need Sienna’s help to infiltrate the organisation that has her. This is a good read, the chemistry between the two main characters is there and you can feel the pain and panic while Sienna is undercover. It is quite fast paced which is nice and the story is intriguing. I would recommend.
Mafia Elite Box Set: Volume Two by Amy McKinley
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Loved these books!
#7:
I don’t understand how these books keep getting better & better. Everything single time a new one comes out, sign me up! While there are slight similarities between the books for obvious reasons, each and every book is different. Different situations and life stories. I don’t know how she does it. Literally 🤯 = me. All I truly know is that in previous books we have seen glimpses of Nico & Mia, and we don’t really know who either of them are. Nico we’ve seen a bit more, but I like that they both flourish and develop naturally in this book. I truly hope this isn’t the end of the road! Maybe some sequels or spin offs of the current Chicago families would be nice. However honestly anything Amy McKinley writes will be amazing!
#6:
I don’t understand how these books keep getting better & better. Everything single time a new one comes out, sign me up! While there are slight similarities between the books for obvious reasons, each and every book is different. Different situations and life stories. I don’t know how she does it. Literally 🤯 = me. All I truly know is that in previous books we have seen glimpses of Nico & Mia, and we don’t really know who either of them are. Nico we’ve seen a bit more, but I like that they both flourish and develop naturally in this book. I truly hope this isn’t the end of the road! Maybe some sequels or spin offs of the current Chicago families would be nice. However honestly anything Amy McKinley writes will be amazing!
#5:
A great story of the underdogs finding their way survive and come up on top! I loved that aspect of this book. It was refreshing! What starts off as a whoopsie, ends up being one of the best decisions Summer & Luc make! It starts their angsty and steamy roller coaster of a ride. In the beginning there’s tons of mistrust and secrets, but with time they see the truth and gain trust. Many curveballs and surprising moments. In the end everything happens to a reason and everything plays out as it should. Summer is welcomed with the wives & family and clicks with them instantly like she meant for that life all along!
4:
What did I think? This was a steaamyyy savage love affair!
Firstly the glossary of who’s who on the first page… chefs kisses! I have not read any of the previous books and was worried I would be lost but luckily wasn’t! I loved that you get both perspectives of the main characters POV. This made it easy to follow, and loved to see how they both were truly feeling. I like that we got to be in both of their heads! This book was filled with hellaaa spicy moments, lotsss and lotsss of plot twists, and roller coaster moments. It had me on the edge of my seat and with the popcorn ready! I could not put this book down to save my life!
Overall a really great read, and I can’t wait to read more in this series!!
The Gauntlet: The Soppranaturale Series by Ashley Pagano
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
The Soppranaturales hotel is a great place to go if you’re not human. Vampires, witches, werewolves and much more reside here under the human radar and its kind of like a safe house for monsters.
Link is the last known Fae and lives at the Soppranaturales hotel and works as a clerk. His life is completely changed when Ommily enters the hotel and he realizes that she is also Fae. As the last 2 fairies on the planet, they have the potential to be the most powerful beings alive but they have to prove that they are as powerful as they’re supposed to be.
Both of these characters are impulsive and it had me shaking my head throughout the whole novel. The descriptions of the surroundings and the use of magic was very detailed and easy to envision. I’m not ready to check out of the Soppranaturales hotel but; alas there are no more pages.
Just One More Egg: A Science Folktale by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
A momma bird one-day returns to her nest to find another bird laying an egg in her nest. To the Momma Warbler, it’s just one more egg to take care of. Soon enough, the egg hatches and the baby bird has a much larger appetite than expected… I really enjoyed how entertaining and well-written the story was. I can easily see myself reading this story to children and getting into a scientific-based talk about this phenomenon. The illustrations are also beautiful and easy to follow and decipher.
The Virus of Beauty by C.B. Lyall
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
The Virus of Beauty is Book One in the Virus of Beauty Series. In the first book we are introduced to teenage wizard, Wilf, who would rather play soccer than use his magic because he is terrified of magic. When his father dies suddenly, he finds himself thrust into the political battle between wizards and witches in the Magical Realm. As a virus starts spreading throughout the witch community turning all the witches beautiful, Wilf must overcome his fears of using magic to help his friend Katryna who has contracted the virus.
This book was an intriguing read as it put an interesting twist on the concept of beauty. In the world of witches, the uglier you are the more powerful you are as a witch and beauty is considered a sin. This gives one a lot to think about in a society where so much emphasis is placed on being beautiful and perfect. The characters were well developed, and I found the character of Wilf interesting because as a wizard he had no desire to use magic. I loved Ermintrude’s no nonsense approach to things. A must read for anyone who loves books about witches, wizards, mystery, action, and adventure.
The Warrior by Nicole Flockton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Jude is desperate to get his sister back from the human traffickers who took her nearly 3 years ago. He and his friends, all of whom are freemasons, have been working the past three years to free Renee and others like her who were snatched off the Australian streets and whisked away for nefarious purposes. Sienna works for a shelter ran by a charity set up by Jude and his friends to help homeless and those who have been trafficked and rescued to be able to reunite with family or to be self sufficient, due to being given help, counseling, and jobs. When Jude and his friends come up with a plan to send Sienna in undercover to try and verify information that they have received that might lead them to Renee, Sienna must rely on her experience as a soldier who has been undercover before to save and protect not only herself, but Renee and all the others who are in the same location that Renee is. Jude, who is also a veteran, must rely on himself as well as the team they go with to get Sienna, Renee, and the others to safety without losing himself, the sister he’s been missing, and the woman he loves but has been resisting because he didn’t think he deserved happiness while his sister was gone.
Return of the Elf Lord by Heidi Vanlandingham
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Wonderful story line with two major parts.
Alva is queen of the Huldra holding onto centuries old rules of how they obtain their energy, she’s supposed to drain her partner of energy but instead falls in love and chooses not to drain and kill him for his energy. Her people are unhappy with her rein and she’s losing control. Then she learns her partner is betraying her thus starting a countdown to the end… can she stop him?
Bernard lost is family in the bombing of pearl harbor and he’s able to time travel. He relives thay moment over and over devastated until he decides to return and change the fate of everyone… but changing the past is never a good idea as it can and will cause chaos in the future what will Bernard’s decisions mean…
Alva and Bernard end up in a odd partnership to stop both of these forces (Bernards actions and Alvas partner) from causing utter destruction… but can they work together?
This story is a little slow to start but boy you won’t be able to put it down once you get into the meat or the story!
Hate You Later by Ciara Blume
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I really enjoyed this story. The characters were easy to like and the enemies to lovers story was good with a unique twist.
This story is definately a rom com filled with funny goings on. Our main characters at first hate each other after Georgia finds out that Hudson is part of the family that is messing up her business and threatening the animal shelter she cares so much about.
Any attraction that was there goes in an instant to hate.
But there is a twist in this tale.
Georgia is part of an influencer challenge as her pet dog and she is paired with a cat?
As they work as a team to complete the challenges the connection between them gets stronger but neither knows who is behind their pets.
What happens when the owners come out from behind their pets? Will the attraction still be there? Or will they continue to fight like cat and dog?
This is a really fun story and I loved the pet element it added extra mystery to the story as you don’t know who is behind the pets and when it is reveled you will be shocked and happily surprised.
Breathe Underwater by Anise Storm
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Evelyn Sheridan was happy to tutor Damien Barrett in high school. She wanted nothing more than to be with Damien. Without warning Damien is whisked out of her life without; leaving her broken-hearted, and Damien hurt and angry.
Years later, Damien Barrett, now Damien Solito has something to finish. His undercover life in the mafia is turned upside down when a chance encounter puts Evelyn back into his life. Damien knows rejecting her would be for the best. Evelyn who’s stubbornness could bring her more harm than good, knows that she belongs to Damien at any cost.
This book is about second chances. It’s full of action and suspense, as well as steamy romance and love.
The question is: will they reunite or go their own ways?
Friends with Benies: An AMBW Paranormal Romance by T.B. Bond
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
While this is the seventh book in the series, it can be read as a standalone.
I’m going to be honest, I nearly passed up this book because of the word Benies in the title. For some reason that word just grates on me. But, then I read the description of the book and decided to give it a chance. I quickly learned that I am not the ideal reader for this story.
That being said, if you are a fan of rom com hijinks, this might be a good read to pick up. It’s got sweet moments, steamy moments, and a lot of pining with a satisfying HEA.
Breathe Underwater by Anise Storm
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Read this if you:
*Enjoy steamy second chance mafia romance
*Believe in living each day as if its your last
*Adore a journey of finding happiness between two broken souls
Meet the Authors: Anise Storm is a USA Today bestselling author of contemporary and dark romance. She is married with children, has a love for football, shoes, and tall dark heroes. When not spending time with family or traveling, she can be found either curled up with a good book or writing.
Taylor Ray writes funny, flirty, and moderate dirty romances, ranging from dark romance to contemporary. She earned her Bachelor’s in Radio/TV/Film and held down three jobs before becoming a single parent. She currently resides in Dallas where she enjoys patio dining, live music, and being ruled by a feline overlord.
Synopsis: “In a world of lies, one truth will remain. When I was left to drown underwater, you were the air that kept me breathing.” 17 year old Evelyn has no idea her father has paid Damian to go far far away and stay away from his daughter. Tutoring Damian had turned into so much more. When he left, Evelyn thought she did something wrong, she was heartbroken. 13 years later, Damien sneaks back into her life when he is given a work assignment in Texas. Can they pick up where they left off? Or are there too many secrets standing in the way?
Reader’s Thoughts: Breathe Underwater was full of angst, suspense, pain, healing, and love. The obstacles and challenges Evelyn and Damian experience in this novel are so down to earth and open your eyes to true struggles. I thoroughly enjoyed Evelyn’s character, she was so stubborn and brave but reckless at times. Damian was courageous in his want to guard Evelyn. It drove me crazy that he kept pushing her away but he felt this was the only way he knew how to protect her. If I could change anything about this novel it would be the length and streamlining the plot throughout. I felt at times some scenes were very drawn out with word and information overload whereas other parts were rushed, lacked detail and left you with many questions. Overall this novel had amazing character development. The chemistry between the two main characters was intriguing and the push and pull of the two really added to the story line. I would not hesitate to recommend this book to a friend!
Trigger Warnings: This book contains scenes of dark subject matter including flashbacks of abuse. It also contains graphic violence-both sexual and physical.
Available now in Paperback and eBook.
⭐️⭐️⭐⭐⭐️
WE Blend by Willa Drew
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I love falling back to my go to genre. Romance is my favorite genre and this was just what the doctor ordered. I like how the lead is complex. I love how the characters compliment one another and how the story is unfolded. I really like how it has a link to music. There is always a bit of the unseen when there is a bit of the character built on lies but it all works out in the end and that is what had me on the edge of my seat. I just couldn’t put this book down to see how it would unfold. I will definitely read more from this author in future.
Review by @caraleeloonat
View all my reviews
The Warrior by Nicole Flockton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This story is an action packed romance. The story continues with our Freemasons. Jude and Sienna finally get the chance to come together after flirting in the last book. The spark has been there. Jude has been focused on finding his sister, Renee. Until she is found, he doesn’t want to get into a romance. He feels so guilty, that it is his fault. Sienna, the director of the Freemasons Homeless shelter, is dealing with her own hassles, but she is there for him. This story will grip you right from the start. This author is one of my favorite romance authors for her writing. It’s contemporary. It’s heartfelt. You can feel the emotions as they work out their relationship. The major action comes as a rescue attempt is made for Renee. The drama and adventure will leave you on the edge-of-your-seat wanting to know what’s happening. The cliffhanger is exciting. Some major characters make an appearance in this book from the previous books. The upcoming final book is on it’s way. The story of Declan and Renee will be told. I can’t wait. I have loved this series.
Bycatch by Alexander Blevens
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
What an amazing book! I was intrigued from the moment I read the synopsis. One action, seemingly innocuous, can have ripple effects that last decades and impact generations. The two main characters experience tremendous growth and development throughout the timeline, while others do not. Readers experience the power of forgiveness, and witness the devastating results of generational poor parenting.
Euphoric Wonderland: An Eclectic Collection of Psychedelic Poetry to Stimulate the Senses and Open the Mind by Ryan M. Becker
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This book was not what I was expecting—from first glance at the book’s cover, it looked like it would be about music, however it was instead a collection of poetry; covering many of today’s topics and issues. The last time I enjoyed poetry like this was when I was younger and read the books from Shel Silverstein. To me, Euphoric Wonderland is the adult version of the Shel Silverstein books. Besides the captivating poems, beautiful art work was included. The combination of wonderful poetry and amazing illustrations made for a relaxing read! So, if poetry is your thing, I highly recommend.
Mary Espinoza
October 2022
WE Blend by Willa Drew
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
El is a rock stars’s stepdaughter, so she understands the press and the spotlight. Her parents have never wanted that for her, but all she wants is to be her own artist and sing her own music. Nobody understands how music speaks to El, until she meets Wil. Wil comes from a poorer childhood, but happy nonetheless. He doesn’t feel like he’s missed out on anything living with his mom and grandfather. But when Wil’s mom gets sick, he understands he has to do anything to make sure she is taken care of. Meeting El was not an accident, but falling for her… Read this book and see how the story turns out. It holds love, friendship, trust, and betrayal, but can they find their way through it all? The story is stretched out perfectly, just the right amount of time between plot changes, and relationship changes. The author did an amazing job with this book and I look forward to reading more books of hers!
Divided Lives by K.R. Mullins
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Having read one of The Notebook Mysteries by the same author, I can’t believe I didn’t click that Aunt Emma was the same Emma! No wonder I loved the character of Lottie and her varied group of friends. It was once again fantastic to read about the US at the beginning of the 20th Century and to have adventures with female heroines who do not fit the stereotypes of the time! Love a strong female lead! Will definitely be looking for more from this author and her wonderful characters!
Reviewed by @sparkinside
Elemental Fire by E.G. Manetti
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
LOVED this book! This is my first read by this author and it was ADDICTING. As soon as I started I refused to put it down! I loved how commonplace magical folk are- and the idea of glamor to disguise their true appearance. The mcs, Sin (what a great name) and Rad (adorable with his contractions), were so much fun to read- their chemistry was off the charts and I loved their adventures. I’m a big fan of reading books with the MCs point of view and even more so when it switched between the two of them. I’m so excited I found a new author to read in a genre I love! I’m ready to start the next in the series- check this one out friends! You won’t be disappointed!
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~ ~ BOOK SPOTLIGHT SHOWCASE ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Marcy, a strong, independent business owner uncharacteristically turns into an enraged, nightmare-plagued woman. Her lack of control over her anger makes her long-term boyfriend issue her an ultimatum – seek therapy for her behavior or lose him.
After being held-up and threatened at gunpoint during a robbery, Marcy is pushed over the edge. That night, she meets a stranger named Liam with whom she feels an inexplicable connection. Totally exhausted and intoxicated, she agrees to help him find his family’s murderers. Delving into the dark world of revenge brings Marcy and Liam into close quarters where they fall for each other, causing even more emotional anguish for Marcy.
Linda Burson, a native of Pennsylvania, but long time Connecticut resident, has been writing ever since she was given a writing assignment in school, at the age of eight. Later, as a teenager, she started out writing memoirs and attempted several nonfiction pieces.
After attending college studying English, Psychology, and Business Law, Linda worked in positions where she wrote and edited papers for others. She spent time pursuing other interests, and traveling. Much of Linda’s free time was spent reading mysteries, romance, and women’s contemporary fiction novels.
After several attempts at writing nonfiction, but having life get in the way, she put her passion on hold again. She gave up writing to focus on raising her daughters, being a wife, running her own businesses and taking care of her dog, a Lhasa Apso named Nathan.
After a serious bout of breast cancer, Linda eventually closed her business after fifteen years. She decided it was time to attempt writing again. This time, however, with nothing to distract her, she decided on tackling fiction, a contemporary, commercial romance with a dark edge.
On January 1, 2013, she sat down with her laptop and started writing the first chapter. After a few more chapters, she realized the story wasn’t near complete. Before she was aware of it, her idea of a single book turned into a trilogy, which turned into a much longer series called the MARCY SERIES. There are a total of thirteen books in the series. Most of the series were published by a small publishing house. After the publishing house closed, Linda re-edited the series, gave the novels new covers, and self-published them.
When asked about inspiration, Linda has this to say: “Nobody really inspired me to write, but I do remember my mother and father always saying ‘anything you put your mind to you can accomplish. Don’t ever let anyone tell you, you can’t do something.’ Having the support and encouragement of my family is also important.”
Linda has also published a standalone murder mystery novel entitled, Murder Among Friends, a romantic suspense novel called, The Colors of my Life, and a short story as a part of a five-story anthology with other authors called Where There’s Murder, There’s Mystery. Her story is entitled, Lies Aren’t Forever. Another Romantic suspense called The Kidnapping has also just been self-published.
Visit Linda’s website www.lindajburson.com for more information on her books.
The Veil by Wanda Luthman
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I know the biblical account of what happened when the veil ripped and I knew that this story was going to be about when that happened. I didn’t realize that was all it was going to be about. In reading the description, I thought that this would be like other biblically inspired fictional books that are centered around a certain time and events in the bible, but that included fictional characters with their own story and lives and how the events in the bible affected them etc. Instead, this book was basically just like reading it from the bible, just worded a little differently. This just isn’t my kind of story. If you just want to read the same story about the veil ripping, but from a fictional characters perspective, you will probably enjoy this book. It is well written. Just know that there is no story beyond what the bible already tells us.
Hate You Later by Ciara Blume
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is a perfect beach read romance that’ll keep you coming back for more of the character’s antics. I love the take on being petfluencers and a feel good storyline. This story has everything you could want; a romance you pull for, characters you love to hate, and cute pets that seem to dictate their owners lives.
Georgia is the owner of Celestial Pets which specializes in clothes for all kinds of pets as well as natural foods and treats. When her world comes crashing down all at once thanks to the millionaire Holms. First they boot the pet shelter out of their current location, then the rent hike, and possibly theft. So when Georgia meets Hudson he’s not so bad until she finds out he is a Holm. Can Georgia and Hudson move past the bad blood caused by Bryce to find their happily ever after? Can Georgia manage to save everything she holds dear even if it means asking for help once in a while?
This book is all about growth, we see Georgia grow as a person and a friend. She finds that not all problems have to be solved by yourself and sometimes you need a little help from those who care about you. It was so fun to see the relationship develop and everything come to light regarding Georgia’s finances. This is an amazing book that’ll make you laugh, make you cry, and even make you want to deck someone.
