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Heather Cranmer (2721 KP) rated Sinister Entity in Books
Jun 7, 2018
(This review can also be found on my blog <a href="http://themisadventuresofatwentysomething.blogspot.com/">The (Mis)Adventures of a Twenty-Something Year Old Girl</a>).
I had been craving a good ghost story, so when Sarah from Fae Books recommended Sinister Entity by Hunter Shea, I bought it on Amazon right afterwards. I'm glad I did because it was a fantastic read!
(Now I've read that most readers of review blogs don't like when a blog basically says again what a book is about, so I'm just going to give you a little bit more about what the book is about since it's not just about a doppelganger.) Jessica and Eddie are ghost hunters both with unique abilities. When they get a call from the Leigh family saying that they are seeing their daughter's double, Eddie and Jessica jump at the chance to help. However, the doppelganger is the least of the Leigh's problem. A more sinister force has set its sight on their 16 year old daughter. She is in more danger than anyone could have imagined.
Anything that has the word "entity" in it, I'm loving. I'm a sucker for ghost stories so the title definitely got my attention.
The cover conveys that it's going to be a scary story, but I think the cover could've been a little bit better. I would've liked to see a picture of Selena (the Leigh's daughter) and her doppelganger in a scary setting or something similar.
The world building was done rather well. I've been a part of a ghost hunting team, so I was more critical one it came to that aspect. However, Shea didn't disappoint. Not once did it feel as if the whole scary entity thing was over the top. I can't fault the world building at all. The whole normal family in suburbia thing feels natural and not pushed upon the reader.
The pacing at the beginning was a little slow. I felt that, at the beginning, it was too much info dumping. The book starts off with Jessica investigating another house. I felt like we didn't really need to read about that. The fact that she was a ghost hunter which we are told in the beginning was good enough. Also, we are also introduced to Eddie's special abilities in a university research type setting. I felt like this was a bit overkill. Just let Eddie explain his special abilities throughout the story instead of dumping them on us in the beginning. Saying that, the pacing picked up after the info dump at the beginning. I couldn't put the book down after that. The story continues to flow smoothly throughout the rest of the book.
Even though the plot in this type of story has been done before, I still enjoyed it. I love the doppelganger spin on this type of classic ghost story. I also must mention the plot reminded me of the stories of the late great Richard Laymon. (If you don't know who he is, look him up, and then read some of his novels). I also enjoyed the fact that the plot didn't really have any romance in it which was refreshing.
I enjoyed each of the characters even the sinister entity and Selena's doppelganger. I felt that each character was written exceptionally well. I especially enjoyed how strong of a character Jessica was. I never felt like she was inferior to Eddie just because she is a female. Both characters were just as strong as each other. As for Selena, I could actually feel her fear. I love how the author actually made her come across as a teenage girl. The way Selena acted and spoke were exactly what I imagined someone of her age doing/saying. I felt sorry for Selena throughout most of the book due to what was happening to her. I enjoyed the scenes with her doppelganger immensely, and I never expected the twist to happen. I even enjoyed how evilly the sinister entity was written.
The dialogue was really fun to read as it left me feeling a little bit afraid for everyone in the book. Not once did the dialogue between the characters feel forced. Like the pacing, the dialogue was smooth. As for the language, there are a few bad words when it comes to female and male anatomy, so just be warned if you're not big on that.
Overall, Sinister Entity by Hunter Shea is a very good and spooky ghost story. It has a classic ghost story feel which I enjoyed thoroughly.
I'd recommend this book to all fans of horror aged 17+ due to language used and themes throughout.
I had been craving a good ghost story, so when Sarah from Fae Books recommended Sinister Entity by Hunter Shea, I bought it on Amazon right afterwards. I'm glad I did because it was a fantastic read!
(Now I've read that most readers of review blogs don't like when a blog basically says again what a book is about, so I'm just going to give you a little bit more about what the book is about since it's not just about a doppelganger.) Jessica and Eddie are ghost hunters both with unique abilities. When they get a call from the Leigh family saying that they are seeing their daughter's double, Eddie and Jessica jump at the chance to help. However, the doppelganger is the least of the Leigh's problem. A more sinister force has set its sight on their 16 year old daughter. She is in more danger than anyone could have imagined.
Anything that has the word "entity" in it, I'm loving. I'm a sucker for ghost stories so the title definitely got my attention.
The cover conveys that it's going to be a scary story, but I think the cover could've been a little bit better. I would've liked to see a picture of Selena (the Leigh's daughter) and her doppelganger in a scary setting or something similar.
The world building was done rather well. I've been a part of a ghost hunting team, so I was more critical one it came to that aspect. However, Shea didn't disappoint. Not once did it feel as if the whole scary entity thing was over the top. I can't fault the world building at all. The whole normal family in suburbia thing feels natural and not pushed upon the reader.
The pacing at the beginning was a little slow. I felt that, at the beginning, it was too much info dumping. The book starts off with Jessica investigating another house. I felt like we didn't really need to read about that. The fact that she was a ghost hunter which we are told in the beginning was good enough. Also, we are also introduced to Eddie's special abilities in a university research type setting. I felt like this was a bit overkill. Just let Eddie explain his special abilities throughout the story instead of dumping them on us in the beginning. Saying that, the pacing picked up after the info dump at the beginning. I couldn't put the book down after that. The story continues to flow smoothly throughout the rest of the book.
Even though the plot in this type of story has been done before, I still enjoyed it. I love the doppelganger spin on this type of classic ghost story. I also must mention the plot reminded me of the stories of the late great Richard Laymon. (If you don't know who he is, look him up, and then read some of his novels). I also enjoyed the fact that the plot didn't really have any romance in it which was refreshing.
I enjoyed each of the characters even the sinister entity and Selena's doppelganger. I felt that each character was written exceptionally well. I especially enjoyed how strong of a character Jessica was. I never felt like she was inferior to Eddie just because she is a female. Both characters were just as strong as each other. As for Selena, I could actually feel her fear. I love how the author actually made her come across as a teenage girl. The way Selena acted and spoke were exactly what I imagined someone of her age doing/saying. I felt sorry for Selena throughout most of the book due to what was happening to her. I enjoyed the scenes with her doppelganger immensely, and I never expected the twist to happen. I even enjoyed how evilly the sinister entity was written.
The dialogue was really fun to read as it left me feeling a little bit afraid for everyone in the book. Not once did the dialogue between the characters feel forced. Like the pacing, the dialogue was smooth. As for the language, there are a few bad words when it comes to female and male anatomy, so just be warned if you're not big on that.
Overall, Sinister Entity by Hunter Shea is a very good and spooky ghost story. It has a classic ghost story feel which I enjoyed thoroughly.
I'd recommend this book to all fans of horror aged 17+ due to language used and themes throughout.
Leanne Crabtree (480 KP) rated Viral Nation (Viral Nation, #1) in Books
Jan 11, 2021
3½ out of 5 stars
I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Hmm…
Well lets start with the cover. It’s amazing; really eye-catching and appropriate to the story. If I’m honest, it’s what drew me to the book in the first place.
Then the plotline: It sounded very interesting, which is the second thing I go for in a book, first the cover then the synopsis. I didn’t realise at the time that it sounds a bit like Acid by Emma Pass, another book I’ve reviewed recently, though it was minus the time-travelling and the autistic girl.
Speaking of, this is the first book I’ve ever read where the character has had “special needs”, though I’m not a fan of that phrase. Clover has autism and struggles with a few things, like crowded places and people arguing.
I’ve never really known anyone who has had autism so it was interesting reading it from the characters perspective and how she has to escape almost into herself to overcome these “issues” and how her dog helped her by applying a gentle pressure to her to anchor her in the here and now.
Up to about the 20% mark I was really liking the story and then it got a little boring and then at about the 35% mark it got interesting again. If a longer book cant keep my interest, I wont carry on reading and luckily for this one, it got good just as i was getting bored. That sounds harsh, but this is an honest review. Anyway, after that point I was really intrigued and almost couldn’t put it down.
I enjoyed it and trying to work out the mystery that was unfolding before me with every page.
If you like young adult dystopian books then you will most definitely like this one.
I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Hmm…
Well lets start with the cover. It’s amazing; really eye-catching and appropriate to the story. If I’m honest, it’s what drew me to the book in the first place.
Then the plotline: It sounded very interesting, which is the second thing I go for in a book, first the cover then the synopsis. I didn’t realise at the time that it sounds a bit like Acid by Emma Pass, another book I’ve reviewed recently, though it was minus the time-travelling and the autistic girl.
Speaking of, this is the first book I’ve ever read where the character has had “special needs”, though I’m not a fan of that phrase. Clover has autism and struggles with a few things, like crowded places and people arguing.
I’ve never really known anyone who has had autism so it was interesting reading it from the characters perspective and how she has to escape almost into herself to overcome these “issues” and how her dog helped her by applying a gentle pressure to her to anchor her in the here and now.
Up to about the 20% mark I was really liking the story and then it got a little boring and then at about the 35% mark it got interesting again. If a longer book cant keep my interest, I wont carry on reading and luckily for this one, it got good just as i was getting bored. That sounds harsh, but this is an honest review. Anyway, after that point I was really intrigued and almost couldn’t put it down.
I enjoyed it and trying to work out the mystery that was unfolding before me with every page.
If you like young adult dystopian books then you will most definitely like this one.
Kristy H (1252 KP) rated Deal Breakers (Dealing with Love #1) in Books
Feb 13, 2018
Devyn and Riley are best friends-- they survived four years of college together. Devyn is focused on graduation and the paid internship that awaits her. Riley is headed to grad school, but he had fun in college as well, including a string of non-serious girlfriends. Riley's not exactly known for monogamy. However, before they head their separate ways, Devyn has one request of Riley - she wants him to help her lose her virginity (yes, seriously). She doesn't want to head into the next phase of her life a virgin and she thinks Riley is the perfect person to assist. Riley is thrilled to help, of course, and plans a special evening. But will that special night change everything for Devyn and Riley?
First of all, I don't know why I keep reading these "New Adult" books. This genre apparently exists on stereotypes and tropes and the ending is basically transparent. In my defense, I picked it up after reading two tough books, with a lot of murder and darkness. Sometimes you just need a fluff book to lighten things up.
For instance, sample dialogue: "I may have just jizzed in my pants a little. How can a woman this hot possibly know football? I think I'm in love." We're not even going to talk about all the things wrong with this.
Still, this book was more compelling than some of the recent New Adult books I've read. If you like New Adult, you'll enjoy this book - it's a fast read and somewhat cute. If you're like me and still adjusting to the genre, you'll roll your eyes at a good deal of the plot and dialogue, but potentially still enjoy the quickness and silliness of it all. 2.5 - 3 stars depending where you fall on the spectrum
(I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in return for an unbiased review.)
First of all, I don't know why I keep reading these "New Adult" books. This genre apparently exists on stereotypes and tropes and the ending is basically transparent. In my defense, I picked it up after reading two tough books, with a lot of murder and darkness. Sometimes you just need a fluff book to lighten things up.
For instance, sample dialogue: "I may have just jizzed in my pants a little. How can a woman this hot possibly know football? I think I'm in love." We're not even going to talk about all the things wrong with this.
Still, this book was more compelling than some of the recent New Adult books I've read. If you like New Adult, you'll enjoy this book - it's a fast read and somewhat cute. If you're like me and still adjusting to the genre, you'll roll your eyes at a good deal of the plot and dialogue, but potentially still enjoy the quickness and silliness of it all. 2.5 - 3 stars depending where you fall on the spectrum
(I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in return for an unbiased review.)
Kristy H (1252 KP) rated The Guncle in Books
Jul 22, 2021
A beautiful, funny, and sweet story of finding hope after loss
Patrick and Sara were best friends in college. Then she married his brother, had two kids, and life went on. Until Sara dies, leaving Patrick's niece and nephew motherless. Patrick has always adored Maisie and Grant--for small time periods. But when his brother Greg asks Patrick, aka "Gay Uncle Patrick," or "GUP," to take the kids for a bit, he's faced with a dilemma. It's time to actually step up. So GUP and the kids head to Patrick's house in Palm Springs, where Patrick leads the life of a very single (and gay) slightly faded actor. Once there, he institutes the "Guncle Rules" and they set out trying to survive. But as Patrick bumbles his way through parenting and trying to help his little charges heal, he realizes they may be helping them more than he could have ever imagined.
"He promised when they'd met that he would never let her go. And then life intervened. She went north and married his brother. He went west and found fame on TV. And slowly, over time, he did. Let go."
Oh this book. I'm not sure a book has ever made me cry so many times, yet I loved it so much. It's often sad but also incredibly funny and heartwarming. Rowley does something special here, capturing Patrick, Maisie, and Grant so beautifully and authentically. This is a lovely story about family and coming together after loss.
There's not much I can say to do this wonderful book justice. The Guncle is made up of a million little moments--obviously Maisie and Grant are hurting, but you learn Patrick is as well. Who needs who more? Patrick is bitingly caustic, and he talks to the kids as if they are tiny adults. But the warmth and love that comes across in his humor--that he uses as his shield--is so clear. The book is a quiet and beautiful journey of all three characters learning to live again, and it's so well-done. It's such a tender and honest story. And the acceptance that comes across here--oh, it just warmed my heart. (A scene where Maisie didn't want to wear her bathing suit, and Patrick didn't force her, but let her wear a t-shirt instead, promising to buy her a rash guard--well it brought tears to my eyes.)
I promise if you give this sweet book a try, you will love it. I love Patrick, Maisie, and Grant. I adored the welcoming message of the book. It's a sad premise, but a hopeful book. 4.5+ stars.
"He promised when they'd met that he would never let her go. And then life intervened. She went north and married his brother. He went west and found fame on TV. And slowly, over time, he did. Let go."
Oh this book. I'm not sure a book has ever made me cry so many times, yet I loved it so much. It's often sad but also incredibly funny and heartwarming. Rowley does something special here, capturing Patrick, Maisie, and Grant so beautifully and authentically. This is a lovely story about family and coming together after loss.
There's not much I can say to do this wonderful book justice. The Guncle is made up of a million little moments--obviously Maisie and Grant are hurting, but you learn Patrick is as well. Who needs who more? Patrick is bitingly caustic, and he talks to the kids as if they are tiny adults. But the warmth and love that comes across in his humor--that he uses as his shield--is so clear. The book is a quiet and beautiful journey of all three characters learning to live again, and it's so well-done. It's such a tender and honest story. And the acceptance that comes across here--oh, it just warmed my heart. (A scene where Maisie didn't want to wear her bathing suit, and Patrick didn't force her, but let her wear a t-shirt instead, promising to buy her a rash guard--well it brought tears to my eyes.)
I promise if you give this sweet book a try, you will love it. I love Patrick, Maisie, and Grant. I adored the welcoming message of the book. It's a sad premise, but a hopeful book. 4.5+ stars.
Ask Anna: Advice for the Furry and Forlorn
Book
Between the pages of ASK ANNA, you'll find advice better than a belly rub. Dogs everywhere run to...
Acanthea Grimscythe (300 KP) rated Deep Blue Sea (1999) in Movies
May 12, 2018
Deep Blue Sea will always have a special place in my heart. At the time of its release, I was eight years old and it’s one of the few horror movies (if you can call it that) that I was allowed to watch. With that said, it’s a guilty pleasure and finding it on Netflix the other night was pretty amazing.
They say the path to Hell is paved with good intentions and Deep Blue Sea reminds us exactly how such proverbs can come true. Dr. Susan McAlester’s unhealthy obsession with finding a cure for Alzheimer’s guides her to costly extremes – and no price is too high in her book. It’s a classic example of sacrificing the few to aid the many, and it is, admittedly, a little overdone.
That said, this movie has some pretty awesome, if dated, death scenes – which I won’t go into detail about in case you haven’t seen it. What I can say is that this is actually a movie where Samuel L. Jackson doesn’t say “motherfucking.” (Feel free to correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t recall hearing it at all, which was a shocker.)
Naturally, Deep Blue Sea isn’t something that’s breathtakingly amazing. It’s got its moments though, and it is a fun jaunt through what goes wrong when you mess with things you don’t know about. Seriously, it’s worth a watch for some of its silly little comedic moments, at that. Pretty solid three out of five.
They say the path to Hell is paved with good intentions and Deep Blue Sea reminds us exactly how such proverbs can come true. Dr. Susan McAlester’s unhealthy obsession with finding a cure for Alzheimer’s guides her to costly extremes – and no price is too high in her book. It’s a classic example of sacrificing the few to aid the many, and it is, admittedly, a little overdone.
That said, this movie has some pretty awesome, if dated, death scenes – which I won’t go into detail about in case you haven’t seen it. What I can say is that this is actually a movie where Samuel L. Jackson doesn’t say “motherfucking.” (Feel free to correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t recall hearing it at all, which was a shocker.)
Naturally, Deep Blue Sea isn’t something that’s breathtakingly amazing. It’s got its moments though, and it is a fun jaunt through what goes wrong when you mess with things you don’t know about. Seriously, it’s worth a watch for some of its silly little comedic moments, at that. Pretty solid three out of five.
Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated The Hunter (The Realm #2) in Books
Jun 7, 2020
100 of 200
Halfway!!
Kindle
The Hunter ( The Realm book 2)
By Eve Langlais
Suzie and her twins tired of running from a violent ex, decide to settle down in sweet suburbia. But forget the quiet life, meet Hunter, Suzie's hot next door neighbor. Masquerading as a private eye, in truth he's a tracker from a magical realm on a quest to keep his world's existence secret. Little does he know that love has its sight on him. To survive a threat from Suzie's past and a predatory shapeshifter from the Realm, they will rely on the special skills that only the Hunter possesses. But will the Hunter allow himself to be caught for the sake of love?
I think everyone need a neighbour like a hunter oh my gosh was he a bit yummy! Yes I used the word yummy! I enjoyed getting a bit more from the realm but they never spend long enough in it! The kids were just so bloody adorable and I now need two dragon babies! This was a easy quick read and I really enjoyed it. Think more could have been made with the hunting and demise of the dragon but still a decent read.
Halfway!!
Kindle
The Hunter ( The Realm book 2)
By Eve Langlais
Suzie and her twins tired of running from a violent ex, decide to settle down in sweet suburbia. But forget the quiet life, meet Hunter, Suzie's hot next door neighbor. Masquerading as a private eye, in truth he's a tracker from a magical realm on a quest to keep his world's existence secret. Little does he know that love has its sight on him. To survive a threat from Suzie's past and a predatory shapeshifter from the Realm, they will rely on the special skills that only the Hunter possesses. But will the Hunter allow himself to be caught for the sake of love?
I think everyone need a neighbour like a hunter oh my gosh was he a bit yummy! Yes I used the word yummy! I enjoyed getting a bit more from the realm but they never spend long enough in it! The kids were just so bloody adorable and I now need two dragon babies! This was a easy quick read and I really enjoyed it. Think more could have been made with the hunting and demise of the dragon but still a decent read.
ES
Education, Security and Intelligence Studies
Book
With intensified threats to global security from international terrorism worldwide, education...
Whatchareadin (174 KP) rated The Warrior in Books
Apr 9, 2019
Major Zebadiah(Zeb) Carter is an extraordinary person. A member of the Special Forces, he is one guy you want to keep on your good side. Not one for many social interactions, he always completes his missions to the best of his abilities(which are amazing).
When Zeb is sent to the Congo to complete a mission, he sees some things he shouldn't have seen. When he reports these things back to his superiors, they tell him to leave it alone, but he can't. He can't stand by and watch innocent women and children be raped and killed for sport. So he decides that he will find the people who are responsible for this and punish them himself.
On his down time, he likes to check in on his sister. On one such occasion, he meets Rory, her 7 year old next door neighbor, who is all but thrilled to have Zeb around. With two busy parents and not too many friends, Zeb is great for Rory. These two have an instant bond that no one would have expected.
When Zeb's mission and a story being written by Rory's dad, Connor, crossing paths, Rory gets to see Zeb in action.
For the most part this was a really great book. I gave it three stars because there were parts that were confusing and I had to go back and read. I felt as though the book could have gotten a little deeper into the character of Zeb. We really don't know more about him than everyone else around him and I would have liked to know more. There is a part at the end of the book, that helps you understand his stoicism a bit more, but knowing that at the beginning of the book may have made me enjoy this better. It's a good book and I plan on reading the rest of the series. The Reluctant Warrior is the next book in the series. And The Warrior Code is coming out later this month. You should get them all!!
When Zeb is sent to the Congo to complete a mission, he sees some things he shouldn't have seen. When he reports these things back to his superiors, they tell him to leave it alone, but he can't. He can't stand by and watch innocent women and children be raped and killed for sport. So he decides that he will find the people who are responsible for this and punish them himself.
On his down time, he likes to check in on his sister. On one such occasion, he meets Rory, her 7 year old next door neighbor, who is all but thrilled to have Zeb around. With two busy parents and not too many friends, Zeb is great for Rory. These two have an instant bond that no one would have expected.
When Zeb's mission and a story being written by Rory's dad, Connor, crossing paths, Rory gets to see Zeb in action.
For the most part this was a really great book. I gave it three stars because there were parts that were confusing and I had to go back and read. I felt as though the book could have gotten a little deeper into the character of Zeb. We really don't know more about him than everyone else around him and I would have liked to know more. There is a part at the end of the book, that helps you understand his stoicism a bit more, but knowing that at the beginning of the book may have made me enjoy this better. It's a good book and I plan on reading the rest of the series. The Reluctant Warrior is the next book in the series. And The Warrior Code is coming out later this month. You should get them all!!
The Drafter
Book
#1 New York Times bestselling author Kim Harrison delivers the first installment in her eagerly...