Watching Wednesday: My Little Happiness

My Little Happiness 

Genres: Romantic Comedy, Chinese Drama

Cast: Fei Xing, Tang Xiao Tian

Rated: PG-13

Year Released: 2021

Synopsis from Viki

Watch HERE | No subscription required

Zhuo Rong (Fei Xing) has long dreamed of becoming a lawyer, but her mother is absolutely determined to see her daughter study finance abroad. Hoping that her daughter will successfully settle down somewhere overseas, Zhuo Rong’s mother won’t take “no” for an answer. Unable to convince her mother to let her pursue her dreams, Zhuo Rong has no choice but to do as her mother wishes. Or does she?

After successfully convincing her mother that she has set off for distant lands, Zhuo Rong secretly returns home to begin work as a legal intern. Taking on her first case, Zhuo Rong comes face-to-face with her childhood friend, Wen Shao Qing (Tang Xiao Tian). Now a surgeon, Shao Qing isn’t just Zhuo Rong’s client, he’s also her landlord and next-door neighbor. Tied together by the ever-tightening strings of fate, Zhuo Rong and Shao Qing find themselves drawing closer, despite their best efforts.

Engaged in a never-ending battle of wits, the childhood friends may fight against the ties that bind them, but how long will they be able to resist the inevitable?

Based on the novel of the same name by Dong Benxi Gu, “My Little Happiness” is a 2021 romantic comedy directed by Yang Long.

While I'm not completely engrossed by the storyline, the lead male's similarities to Big Bang Theory's Sheldon has me sticking around.

Born of Vengeance (The League #12)

Florian?!

Available at Amazon

Born of Vengeance
Sherrilyn Kenyon
The League, book twelve
(Nemesis Rising, book ten)
ebook, 417 pages
Published February 7th 2017 by St. Martin's Press
ASIN B01J1EGWWK


A fate worse than death . . .

Bastien Cabarro survived the brutal slaughter of his entire family only to have his wife pin their murders on him. Made Ravin by The League, he is now a target for their assassins-in-training to hunt and kill. The average life expectancy for such beings is six weeks. But defying the odds is what this Gyron Force officer does best, and Bastien won’t rest until he lays his betrayers in their graves.

Ten years later, he has one chance to balance the scales of justice, provided he relies on his former wingman— the very sister of the woman who testified against him. Major Ember Wyldestarrin joined the outlaw Tavali the day Kirovar fell into the hands of a tyrant, and she and her team were left on an outpost to die under the barrage of enemy fire. The last thing she wants is to be involved in politics again. But if she doesn’t bring Bastien in, her sister will pay the ultimate price. Now she has to find some way to betray her former wingman before he catches on and kills her. Even so, treachery doesn’t come easy to a woman who took a loyalty oath to protect her homeworld and comrades-in-arms, especially when Bastien means more to her than just another partner.

Yet as she tries to do right for her family, she learns that Bastien doesn’t just hold the key to the fate of Kirovar, he is vital to The Sentella-League war, and to The Tavali. If she hands him over, three nations fall. If she doesn’t, her entire family dies. Their fates are all in her hands, and time for all of them is quickly running out.

I admit it. I was warned. But despite this installment being a copy/paste filler that feels like a half-ass slap in the face, none of that quite pissed me off as much as the leading male- Bastien.

The story begins in the prologue with a fast paced meeting of our two protagonists as Bastien shows up when Ember needs someone most and saves the life of her sister, Alura. (Saving that witch will prove to be his first of many mistakes.) And from that moment, and throughout the entire book, we're scene jumping.

First to where Bastien proposes marriage to Ember after a yearlong romance only to be turned down outright. And here he does the one thing that will f*ck his life over for years to come. Bastien retaliates.

Now you'll find out in good time why Ember refused his proposal but so many years will pass first. And Bastien will make one stupid decision after another in this time. He'll even marry her sister. Is this suppose to be some ridiculous nod to the Ross and Rachel fiasco. Where is your loyalty? Where is your honor?!

So many (hell, nearly ALL) of Kenyon's characters are tortured souls who are victims of things beyond their control whether it be their parentage, their race, being in the wrong place/wrong time in the heart of political chaos, but Bastien is simply a victim of himself. Ends up in a manipulated marriage, accused of murdering his entire family, stripped of his royal titles, outcast from his people, marked Ravin... And  he's eyeing Nykyrian's daughter, Thia. And Jayne. *facepalm*

No, Ember. No. I want better for you, girl. 

3 out of 5 stars.

Available in ebook | audiobook | hardcover | paperback | Or check your local library. 

Previously in the League: Nemesis Rising



Previously in The League (2nd Generation): Nemesis Legacy

Power of Hades (Hades Trials #1)

I stared at Hades, my mind spinning.
He was a god. King of the Underworld, Lord of the dead,
and he'd just wiped a tear from my cheek.

Available at Amazon.com

Power of Hades
Eliza Raine, Rose Wilson | Raine's Website
Hades Trials, book one
ebook, 191 pages
Published May 11th 2020
Read for FREE with Prime Reading

I've been kidnapped by Zeus. Plucked from the streets of Manhattan and frightened half to death by a freaking Olympian god. And now I'm trapped in the Underworld, being forced to compete in a series of deadly trials for the position of Queen of the Underworld. Which would mean marrying Hades, the utterly terrifying Lord of the Dead. Who the hell wants a husband at all, let alone one made of smoke and riddled with death?

I have to get back home, to New York and my brother. But I can't leave without completing the trials and they've been designed for a godly Queen, not Persephone - barista and botanical garden enthusiast. I'm surrounded by lethal, all-powerful maniacs. Sexy-as-hell maniacs, sure, but as dangerous as they come. And I'm going to have to prove to all of them that there's a goddess of hell inside me. It's the only way I'll survive the Hades Trials. But then what? And why, why, why am I so desperate to see under Hades smoky exterior and find out what he's hiding from me?

If I win the trials, I have to marry the devil himself. But losing might mean losing my life.

Alright. All right. I'm a fan of mythology. As in, I spent my teenage years completely enthralled by medieval history and Greek gods. And even though that was a lifetime ago and I have the memory span likened to a chimpanzee, I manage to recall a few of the details. The story of Hades and Persephone is certainly one of those tales that sticks with you.

In this creative and well-written spin, Persephone is a college student of agricultural studies, working part time at a local coffee shop, when a blonde haired, blue eyed Zeus meanders in and suddenly, her entire formulated world crashes in around her.

We're going to stop there for a small mid-review rant. As a female who spent nearly two decades working in customer service, I need to know. I need to understand this. And I don't mean to generalize but why, WHY do heterosexual males appear to inherently possess this compulsory need to talk up a female, specifically to make her smile? Is it some kind of validation? Some small victory the male chromosome thrives on? I've yet to encounter this in a female. I don't personally feel the need to make a stranger smile be it man or woman. I'm going to handle my business and leave you the hell alone. With respect.

So someone tell me. Are my lenses blurred? Or does anyone else share this reality with me?

Back to topic.

Forced into a competition testing intelligence, loyalty, glory, and hospitality, the ultimate prize is to become the wife of Hades, Lord of the Underworld. It's a title she not only doesn't want, but has already held. And even though she has no memory of this place or these people, she finds her one inkling of familiarity in the flashes of Hades' silver eyes.

I oohed and aahed over Hades. And while it took a handful of chapters to get to the point where I couldn't put this book down, I did get there. And steamrolled right up to a cliffhanger ending. Argh!

4 out of 5 stars.

Available at Amazon.com in ebook | paperback | audiobook

Next in the Series:

Watching Wednesday: The Evolution of Our Love

So before then, I’ll try to solve my problem. 

And you try to find someone better than me. 

(translated by Viki volunteers, ep 28)

Evolution of Our Love 

Genres: Romantic Comedy, Chinese Drama

Cast: Zhang Ruo Yun, Zhang Tian Ai

Rated: PG-13

Year Released: 2018

Synopsis from Viki

Watch HERE | No subscription required

Love isn’t always found in the places you expect it.

Ai Ruo Man (Zhang Tian Ai) is a successful career woman. But her strong personality and independent nature chases men away in her personal life.

Lu Fei (Zhang Ruo Yun) is a gentle, easy-going man who loves to cook, clean and tend to his garden. Women appreciate his kind spirit, but not enough to date or marry him.

Ai Ruo Man and Lu Fei have been best friends for the past 15 years. As they both enter their 30s, can they help each other find the mate of their dreams?

“The Evolution of Our Love” is a 2018 Chinese drama series directed by An Zhu Jian.

My first introduction to this story was with the Kdrama version "The Time We Were Not in Love" that was released in 2015. 

Anyway, I came across a review that claimed the Korean make (or remake) was a bastardized version of this Chinese drama. And I did quite enjoy the Kdrama. So, being thoroughly intrigued, I smashed that play button on “The Evolution of Our Love”.

And found that that reviewer was ever so right!

Not only is the story unfolded over 40 episodes, whereas the Kdrama was condensed down to 16 (and even then managed to feel drawn out in the middle), this take goes beyond the relationship. While it spans deeper into the layers of their friendship, this version revolves more so around the lead male and his hang ups while also delving into the long held one sided love the female protagonist endures for her crush. Knowing that pain and being able to mirror it onto her best friend when she finally realizes Lu Fei’s feelings was one of the best expressed details of this version. Episode 24(?) alone had me fighting back the tears. Don’t even get me started on episode 38. 

Highly recommend both versions!

Side note: The original story, from what I gathered, comes from Taiwan in a 2011 drama entitled, "In Time With You". It was remade again in 2019 in Japan with the same name, "In Time With You" but also known as “I Don’t Love You Yet.” A truly beautiful sentiment. I have, as of now, watched and enjoyed all versions of this story. This version from China remains my favorite. 

:: WARNING: VIDEO CONTAINS SPOILERS ::