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Phil Leader (619 KP) rated In Harm's Way in Books
Nov 15, 2019
Three siblings, all with troubled marriages. Adele and Blair appear to be the perfect couple, but he has started claiming to have to work late. Adele suspects he is having an affair. Gavin and Monica have a new baby and that is putting a strain on their relationship. Mackenzie and Derek.... well Mackenzie is an alcoholic and Derek has seen her getting into a strange car.
She also claims to have a stalker, although in a drunken outburst at a party she claims he's her lover. When she leaves Derek and disappears, nobody seems to be bothered other than Gavin, who gets DS Andrew Geddes involved. But how far can the investigation get when nobody thinks she's actually missing? Meanwhile Mackenzie finds herself chained in a cellar at the mercy of her abductor...
All this might sound like its giving away important plot points but it really isn't; all of this is obvious from the first few pages. What follows is the story of the three relationships, the six people involved key to the story. The abduction itself is just part of the much bigger story, a story about relationships both between married couples and within families.
Added to this is Andrew Geddes, the world weary but sharp police detective previously seen in the Charlie Cameron novels. It is so good to see him with a case of his own to solve, especially as this is one that may be impossible to prove is actually a case at all.
As with his other books, Mullen carefully misdirects the reader all the way through providing twists and turns both small and large. He skillfully hides clues in plain sight then removes the blindfold from the reader's eyes with one deft phrase or scene.
This is a masterful piece of work from one of the best thriller writers out there.
She also claims to have a stalker, although in a drunken outburst at a party she claims he's her lover. When she leaves Derek and disappears, nobody seems to be bothered other than Gavin, who gets DS Andrew Geddes involved. But how far can the investigation get when nobody thinks she's actually missing? Meanwhile Mackenzie finds herself chained in a cellar at the mercy of her abductor...
All this might sound like its giving away important plot points but it really isn't; all of this is obvious from the first few pages. What follows is the story of the three relationships, the six people involved key to the story. The abduction itself is just part of the much bigger story, a story about relationships both between married couples and within families.
Added to this is Andrew Geddes, the world weary but sharp police detective previously seen in the Charlie Cameron novels. It is so good to see him with a case of his own to solve, especially as this is one that may be impossible to prove is actually a case at all.
As with his other books, Mullen carefully misdirects the reader all the way through providing twists and turns both small and large. He skillfully hides clues in plain sight then removes the blindfold from the reader's eyes with one deft phrase or scene.
This is a masterful piece of work from one of the best thriller writers out there.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2163 KP) rated Death by Equine in Books
May 12, 2021
Tragic Accident or Murder?
Veterinarian Jessie Cameron has agreed to fill in for her mentor, Doc Lewis, at Riverview Racetrack so Doc can take a much-deserved two-week vacation. However, the night before Doc is supposed to leave, he is killed by one of the horses at the track. Jessie’s work at the track makes her begin to question the supposed accident that killed Doc. Could there be more to it than the police are seeing? The more Jessie investigates, the more she begins to see her mentor in a different light. Did she really know the man? What secret she is uncovering led to his death?
I always love it when an author manages to come up with an unusual murder weapon, and that’s exactly what author Annette Dashofy has done for this stand alone. I may have been impatient, but I felt the book was a bit slow at the beginning, but it wasn’t long before I was caught up in the story and all Jessie was learning. The climax was wonderfully suspenseful. I did struggle with how little the police believed Jessie, which is funny since it is part of so many other books I read. The characters are wonderful. They are fully realized and help draw us into the story, confusing us on what exactly is going on until Jessie figures it out. Like Annette Dashofy’s other books, this one has a smattering of foul language and a tad more violence than in the cozies I normally read. These are cozy adjacent or traditional, and I’m sure if you enjoy cozies you’ll enjoy these, too. If you’ve wanted to try Annette’s books, this is a great place to jump in. If you are already a fan, you’ll enjoy this one as well.
I always love it when an author manages to come up with an unusual murder weapon, and that’s exactly what author Annette Dashofy has done for this stand alone. I may have been impatient, but I felt the book was a bit slow at the beginning, but it wasn’t long before I was caught up in the story and all Jessie was learning. The climax was wonderfully suspenseful. I did struggle with how little the police believed Jessie, which is funny since it is part of so many other books I read. The characters are wonderful. They are fully realized and help draw us into the story, confusing us on what exactly is going on until Jessie figures it out. Like Annette Dashofy’s other books, this one has a smattering of foul language and a tad more violence than in the cozies I normally read. These are cozy adjacent or traditional, and I’m sure if you enjoy cozies you’ll enjoy these, too. If you’ve wanted to try Annette’s books, this is a great place to jump in. If you are already a fan, you’ll enjoy this one as well.
Matthew Krueger (10051 KP) rated Scanners (1981) in Movies
Sep 7, 2020
I'm Gonna Suck Your Brain Dry
Scanners- is anethor excellent film directed by Cronenberg. I love his style which is sci-fi mixed with horror. With disturbing, gory effects.
The plot: Scanners are men and women born with incredible telepathic and telekinetic powers. There are many who exercise the benefits of their special gifts in a safe and judicious manner. However, there is a group of renegade scanners who plan to create a race that will rule the world.
In the film, "scanners" are people with unusual telepathic and telekinetic powers. ConSec, a purveyor of weaponry and security systems, searches out scanners to use them for its own purposes. The film's plot concerns the attempt by Darryl Revok (Ironside), a renegade scanner, to wage a war against ConSec. Another scanner, Cameron Vale (Lack), is dispatched by ConSec to stop Revok.
Writer and director David Cronenberg has called Scanners one of his most difficult films to make, citing an incomplete script when the shooting schedule commenced, as well as a lack of constructed sets.
The iconic head explosion scene was the product of trial and error, eventually settling on a plaster skull and a gelatin exterior packed with "latex scraps, some wax, and just bits and bobs and a lot of stringy stuff that we figured would fly through the air a little better" as well as "leftover burgers." When other explosive techniques failed to give the desired effect, special effects supervisor Gary Zeller told the crew to roll cameras and get inside the trucks with doors and windows closed; he then lay down behind the dummy and shot it in the back of the head with a shotgun.
Michael Ironside is a excellent job as the villian.
Its a excellent sci-fi body horror film.
The plot: Scanners are men and women born with incredible telepathic and telekinetic powers. There are many who exercise the benefits of their special gifts in a safe and judicious manner. However, there is a group of renegade scanners who plan to create a race that will rule the world.
In the film, "scanners" are people with unusual telepathic and telekinetic powers. ConSec, a purveyor of weaponry and security systems, searches out scanners to use them for its own purposes. The film's plot concerns the attempt by Darryl Revok (Ironside), a renegade scanner, to wage a war against ConSec. Another scanner, Cameron Vale (Lack), is dispatched by ConSec to stop Revok.
Writer and director David Cronenberg has called Scanners one of his most difficult films to make, citing an incomplete script when the shooting schedule commenced, as well as a lack of constructed sets.
The iconic head explosion scene was the product of trial and error, eventually settling on a plaster skull and a gelatin exterior packed with "latex scraps, some wax, and just bits and bobs and a lot of stringy stuff that we figured would fly through the air a little better" as well as "leftover burgers." When other explosive techniques failed to give the desired effect, special effects supervisor Gary Zeller told the crew to roll cameras and get inside the trucks with doors and windows closed; he then lay down behind the dummy and shot it in the back of the head with a shotgun.
Michael Ironside is a excellent job as the villian.
Its a excellent sci-fi body horror film.
Kirk Bage (1775 KP) rated Terminator: Dark Fate (2019) in Movies
Jan 22, 2021
If there is a better example of a tired franchise that needs to be left alone now, then The Terminator brand is it. Messing about with time-lines and alternate realities should be a blank canvas for creativity, as it was in the first two James Cameron sci-fi classics, but for three films in a row it has been a confusing, preposterous recipe for action movie disaster. Where all three Terminator films since T2 are letting us down is in trying to crowbar too much narrative into too little space, whilst favouring the CG fight sequences over any other aspect of story or character. Basically, the writers, directors and marketing machines of all three have killed them in the starting blocks. What started out as a mind-blowing commentary on fate and survival has become a lazy excuse for cheesy one liner delivery and re-hashed action sequences devoid of true tension.
I prefer this to Genysis, but don’t like it quite as much as Salvation, although all three are awful messes really. It is cute to see Linda Hamilton return after so long, but truthfully did anyone really need it? She is fine, if largely unmemorable here, as is Arnie, who phones it in as usual. But the latest Terminator itself, aka Gabriel, is boring and brings little new to the table. What is worth applauding is the commitment to the role of Grace by Mackenzie Davis, who kicks ass in every scene and also acts everyone else out of the ballpark. As a whole it isn’t as bad as you might fear it would be, but it still isn’t great. Watch it only if you are a Terminator completist or you really don’t have anything else to do.
I prefer this to Genysis, but don’t like it quite as much as Salvation, although all three are awful messes really. It is cute to see Linda Hamilton return after so long, but truthfully did anyone really need it? She is fine, if largely unmemorable here, as is Arnie, who phones it in as usual. But the latest Terminator itself, aka Gabriel, is boring and brings little new to the table. What is worth applauding is the commitment to the role of Grace by Mackenzie Davis, who kicks ass in every scene and also acts everyone else out of the ballpark. As a whole it isn’t as bad as you might fear it would be, but it still isn’t great. Watch it only if you are a Terminator completist or you really don’t have anything else to do.
Lindsay (1717 KP) rated The Lady Who Cried Murder (Mac Faraday Mystery #6) in Books
Apr 16, 2022
If you are looking for murder or mystery to enjoy, Lauren Carr will not disappoint. I read almost all of her books. Her books will have you lured in for more than you are expecting. Each book or audiobook can be read as a standalone though you can read them in series. This one is about a girl who wants to be a celebrity but will see get it all and easy money. Will she get it all, or will she pay the price?
There seem to be more secrets and murders than one person can handle. We meet a mother who thinks her daughter has stood abducted. The daughter shows up at a press conference and has set up her mother. Her mother is angry and does some things and changes her will. Whatever happens to her daughter Khole?
David does not want to stand up once more, so he does the interviewer something by checking it out. But do they listen to him when he wants to make sure it is not a setup to make it a circus of the Spenser police department?
Does David find Khole killed and cut up? Who had done it and why? What is Khole's big announcement about what she would tell the interview? We seem to be working with David and Mac and Cameron and Joshua. The team appears to be paired up and works out who the killer is? Guess who gets pulled into these are their girlfriends. You will not guess who is behind all the murders. This one ended up having me guessing until the end. I still did not know who it was up to until the end.
There seem to be more secrets and murders than one person can handle. We meet a mother who thinks her daughter has stood abducted. The daughter shows up at a press conference and has set up her mother. Her mother is angry and does some things and changes her will. Whatever happens to her daughter Khole?
David does not want to stand up once more, so he does the interviewer something by checking it out. But do they listen to him when he wants to make sure it is not a setup to make it a circus of the Spenser police department?
Does David find Khole killed and cut up? Who had done it and why? What is Khole's big announcement about what she would tell the interview? We seem to be working with David and Mac and Cameron and Joshua. The team appears to be paired up and works out who the killer is? Guess who gets pulled into these are their girlfriends. You will not guess who is behind all the murders. This one ended up having me guessing until the end. I still did not know who it was up to until the end.
Darren (1599 KP) rated Aloha (2015) in Movies
Jun 20, 2019
Story: Aloha starts Brian Gilcrest (Cooper) who dreams of going into space but his dreams go sour after teaming up with billionaire Carson Welch (Murray) before getting a chance to go back to Hawaii. He is now a representative for Carson due to a war injury who has to deal with his ex-girlfriend Tracy (McAdams) but has to follow orders from captain Allison Ng (Stone), while meeting back up with former friends.
Brian working for Carson as he wants to introduce a space program to Hawaii but first Brian needs to negotiate with the locals. All this while Brian ends up in the middle of a love triangle with Allison and Tracy.
Aloha is a film that just never pulled my attention, be it the bland characters slow moving love triangle or whatever Carson was meant to be doing. I personally am not sure what was meant to be happening, everything that did happen just seemed to be very slow moving and offering nothing to really root for. You simply jut didn’t care what was happening. (2/10)
Actor Review
Bradley Cooper: Brain is an injured war veteran who has sided with billionaire Carson to look into making space travel happen, he has to return to Hawaii where he ends up having to see his ex-girlfriend and be followed around by the golden soldier of the local military. He is here to help create a deal to make space travel in Hawaii. Bradley gives a very average performance not getting a chance to show his real talent. (5/10)brian
Emma Stone: Allison is the most prized soldier of General Dixon who has to show Brian around, she admires him and doesn’t want you to forget she is a quarter Hawaii. While many people criticised the character created she was one of the better things in this film. (6/10)allison
Rachel McAdams: Tracy is the ex-girlfriend of Brian who lives on Hawaii with her new husband and family, when the two get to spend time together they get the closure they never really got. Rachel gives a plain performance that really doesn’t seem to do much. (4/10)
Bill Murray: Carson is the billionaire who is looking to make his own space program on the island of Hawaii and he give Brian one last chance to prove himself to him. Bill tries to bring his quirkiness to this role without really pulling it off. (5/10)
Support Cast: Aloha has the standard attempted comedic actors trying to pull this off but they had little to work with.
Director Review: Cameron Crowe – Cameron has given us some great films in the past but now he has managed to give us his worst. (2/10)
Comedy: Aloha doesn’t have many laughs at all can hardly be called a comedy. (2/10)
Romance: Aloha tries to give us an engaging love triangle but doesn’t really succeed to make us care enough. (3/10)
Settings: Aloha tries to give our location something special with the idea of putting it all on Hawaii for the beautiful setting and doesn’t even get that right. (3/10)
Suggestion: Aloha is one too miss this year, if anyone says to watch just say no. (Just Say No)
Best Part: The end.
Worst Part: It is over an Hour and half.
Funniest Scene: Woody and Brian’s ‘Conversation’.
Believability: No (0/10)
Chances of Tears: No (0/10)
Chances of Sequel: Please God No.
Post Credits Scene: I didn’t both to look.
Oscar Chances: No
Box Office: $20 Million
Budget: $37 Million
Runtime: 1 Hour 45 Minutes
Tagline: Sometimes you have to say goodbye before you can say hello.
Overall: Just watch paint dry it will be more entertaining.
https://moviesreview101.com/2015/11/07/emma-stone-weekend-aloha-2015/
Brian working for Carson as he wants to introduce a space program to Hawaii but first Brian needs to negotiate with the locals. All this while Brian ends up in the middle of a love triangle with Allison and Tracy.
Aloha is a film that just never pulled my attention, be it the bland characters slow moving love triangle or whatever Carson was meant to be doing. I personally am not sure what was meant to be happening, everything that did happen just seemed to be very slow moving and offering nothing to really root for. You simply jut didn’t care what was happening. (2/10)
Actor Review
Bradley Cooper: Brain is an injured war veteran who has sided with billionaire Carson to look into making space travel happen, he has to return to Hawaii where he ends up having to see his ex-girlfriend and be followed around by the golden soldier of the local military. He is here to help create a deal to make space travel in Hawaii. Bradley gives a very average performance not getting a chance to show his real talent. (5/10)brian
Emma Stone: Allison is the most prized soldier of General Dixon who has to show Brian around, she admires him and doesn’t want you to forget she is a quarter Hawaii. While many people criticised the character created she was one of the better things in this film. (6/10)allison
Rachel McAdams: Tracy is the ex-girlfriend of Brian who lives on Hawaii with her new husband and family, when the two get to spend time together they get the closure they never really got. Rachel gives a plain performance that really doesn’t seem to do much. (4/10)
Bill Murray: Carson is the billionaire who is looking to make his own space program on the island of Hawaii and he give Brian one last chance to prove himself to him. Bill tries to bring his quirkiness to this role without really pulling it off. (5/10)
Support Cast: Aloha has the standard attempted comedic actors trying to pull this off but they had little to work with.
Director Review: Cameron Crowe – Cameron has given us some great films in the past but now he has managed to give us his worst. (2/10)
Comedy: Aloha doesn’t have many laughs at all can hardly be called a comedy. (2/10)
Romance: Aloha tries to give us an engaging love triangle but doesn’t really succeed to make us care enough. (3/10)
Settings: Aloha tries to give our location something special with the idea of putting it all on Hawaii for the beautiful setting and doesn’t even get that right. (3/10)
Suggestion: Aloha is one too miss this year, if anyone says to watch just say no. (Just Say No)
Best Part: The end.
Worst Part: It is over an Hour and half.
Funniest Scene: Woody and Brian’s ‘Conversation’.
Believability: No (0/10)
Chances of Tears: No (0/10)
Chances of Sequel: Please God No.
Post Credits Scene: I didn’t both to look.
Oscar Chances: No
Box Office: $20 Million
Budget: $37 Million
Runtime: 1 Hour 45 Minutes
Tagline: Sometimes you have to say goodbye before you can say hello.
Overall: Just watch paint dry it will be more entertaining.
https://moviesreview101.com/2015/11/07/emma-stone-weekend-aloha-2015/
Lee (2222 KP) rated Alita: Battle Angel (2019) in Movies
Feb 8, 2019 (Updated Feb 8, 2019)
The Visuals (1 more)
Alita
A lot of big names, overqualified and underutilised (1 more)
Clunky dialogue and pacing issues
All style, not much substance
James Cameron has spent more than a decade trying to bring Alita: Battle Angel to the big screen. Based on a popular cyberpunk manga series by Yukito Kishiro, published between 1990-1995, he has spent that time refining the script and developing the world that Alita inhabits. And that’s pretty much what he now spends most of his time taking care of with the Avatar movies and the world of Pandora. Hence the reason why he eventually decided to step back into producer duties for this movie, letting Robert Rodriguez pick up the directing reins in order to finally get it finished. Rodriguez uses much of the script that Cameron wrote, but brings a little bit of his trademark style to the table too.
It’s 2563, and we’re in Iron City. Dr Dyson Ido (Christoph Waltz) is scavenging among a huge scrapyard, looking for cyborg spare parts that he can make use of, while fresh metal and rubbish rains down from Zalem – a man-made, floating city sitting in the sky above Iron City. 300 years ago there were many of these floating cities but following a brutal war all of them except for Zalem perished. During that time though, the elevator leading up to Zalem was destroyed, and these days only the ‘pure’ inhabitants of Zalem are permitted there. Nobody from Earth is allowed to visit and if anyone comes down from Zalem, they’re not allowed back. It’s to try and avoid any contamination from entering Zalem. If you’ve seen the Matt Damon movie Elysium… well, then it’s a bit like that really.
Among the usual items, such as robotic hands and eyeballs, Dr Ido discovers Alita, or rather the core of Alita – lying lifeless and broken, with only a battered hairless head and upper torso remaining. He takes her back to his laboratory/home, where he works as a cybernetics expert, repairing and upgrading the inhabitants of Iron City who are either cyborgs or humans with cyborg body parts. Along with his assisting nurse, and using a robotic body that had been previously built for his now deceased daughter (this gets briefly explained later), they rebuild her, giving her the name Alita (also his daughters name). Alita awakens later in a nice comfortable bed, in what was presumably Dr Ido’s daughters room. She has no memory of her previous existence and sets about experiencing all the sights, sensations and tastes that human life and Iron City has to offer, exploring and striking up a friendship with local boy Hugo and his group of friends. But, as the name of the movie implies, this cyborg was built for battle, and it’s not long before Alita begins to remember who exactly she used to be and just how good at kicking ass she is.
A quick word about the visuals, as they are by far the best thing about this movie. Iron City, despite clearly being a futuristic world, is certainly not dark or bleak looking in the way we’re used to with similar movies of this genre. Many of the early scenes take place during daylight hours and the city is a vibrant, bright, bustling home to thousand of humans and cyborgs. We get to go beyond the limits of Iron City – the city walls, out to the badlands beyond, and as you’d expect from Cameron a lot of thought and detail has gone into mapping out and building this world. The cyborgs and the other robots we meet are all pretty standard for a movie of this kind, but it’s Alita that is the most impressive. Much of this is down to the incredible CGI involved in making her look as realistic as she does, but a lot of what makes her so enjoyable and believable is down to Rosa Salazar, whose motion captured performance helps bring her to life. The visuals are obviously at their most impressive during the battle scenes involving Alita – where so many movies with heavy CGI battles end up as just a messy whirlpool of characters and action, that’s certainly not the case here. Slick, inventive and exhilarating choreography allowing you to actually track and follow every single character and action in crisp detail. It’s refreshing and impressive, even more so when watched in 3D and particularly so during the fast paced Motorball scenes featured towards the end of the movie.
Outside of the visuals though, other characters and plot lines don’t seem to stick so well, which is disappointing considering the rich source material available to the film makers. Alita: Battle Angel suffers from inconsistent pacing, dialogue that is clunky and exposition-heavy and there are many times when the accompanying soundtrack just felt distracting to me, out of place with whatever is currently happening. Christoph Waltz, Mahershala Ali and Jennifer Connolly all seem overqualified and underutilised, and the romance between Alita and Hugo is unnecessary, and at times annoying. It feels like it’s trying to cram too much story into its two hour run time, resulting in plot holes and frustrations later on. And there is even a cliffhanger ending – frustrating in that it feels as though we haven’t even properly concluded this part of the story and we’re now being left to wait should a sequel ever be given the go ahead.
I found much to enjoy with Alita: Battle Angel, and would gladly go see a sequel or two, should they get made. It’s enjoyable at times, and dazzling to look at, but overall it did leave me feeling a little bit frustrated and disappointed.
It’s 2563, and we’re in Iron City. Dr Dyson Ido (Christoph Waltz) is scavenging among a huge scrapyard, looking for cyborg spare parts that he can make use of, while fresh metal and rubbish rains down from Zalem – a man-made, floating city sitting in the sky above Iron City. 300 years ago there were many of these floating cities but following a brutal war all of them except for Zalem perished. During that time though, the elevator leading up to Zalem was destroyed, and these days only the ‘pure’ inhabitants of Zalem are permitted there. Nobody from Earth is allowed to visit and if anyone comes down from Zalem, they’re not allowed back. It’s to try and avoid any contamination from entering Zalem. If you’ve seen the Matt Damon movie Elysium… well, then it’s a bit like that really.
Among the usual items, such as robotic hands and eyeballs, Dr Ido discovers Alita, or rather the core of Alita – lying lifeless and broken, with only a battered hairless head and upper torso remaining. He takes her back to his laboratory/home, where he works as a cybernetics expert, repairing and upgrading the inhabitants of Iron City who are either cyborgs or humans with cyborg body parts. Along with his assisting nurse, and using a robotic body that had been previously built for his now deceased daughter (this gets briefly explained later), they rebuild her, giving her the name Alita (also his daughters name). Alita awakens later in a nice comfortable bed, in what was presumably Dr Ido’s daughters room. She has no memory of her previous existence and sets about experiencing all the sights, sensations and tastes that human life and Iron City has to offer, exploring and striking up a friendship with local boy Hugo and his group of friends. But, as the name of the movie implies, this cyborg was built for battle, and it’s not long before Alita begins to remember who exactly she used to be and just how good at kicking ass she is.
A quick word about the visuals, as they are by far the best thing about this movie. Iron City, despite clearly being a futuristic world, is certainly not dark or bleak looking in the way we’re used to with similar movies of this genre. Many of the early scenes take place during daylight hours and the city is a vibrant, bright, bustling home to thousand of humans and cyborgs. We get to go beyond the limits of Iron City – the city walls, out to the badlands beyond, and as you’d expect from Cameron a lot of thought and detail has gone into mapping out and building this world. The cyborgs and the other robots we meet are all pretty standard for a movie of this kind, but it’s Alita that is the most impressive. Much of this is down to the incredible CGI involved in making her look as realistic as she does, but a lot of what makes her so enjoyable and believable is down to Rosa Salazar, whose motion captured performance helps bring her to life. The visuals are obviously at their most impressive during the battle scenes involving Alita – where so many movies with heavy CGI battles end up as just a messy whirlpool of characters and action, that’s certainly not the case here. Slick, inventive and exhilarating choreography allowing you to actually track and follow every single character and action in crisp detail. It’s refreshing and impressive, even more so when watched in 3D and particularly so during the fast paced Motorball scenes featured towards the end of the movie.
Outside of the visuals though, other characters and plot lines don’t seem to stick so well, which is disappointing considering the rich source material available to the film makers. Alita: Battle Angel suffers from inconsistent pacing, dialogue that is clunky and exposition-heavy and there are many times when the accompanying soundtrack just felt distracting to me, out of place with whatever is currently happening. Christoph Waltz, Mahershala Ali and Jennifer Connolly all seem overqualified and underutilised, and the romance between Alita and Hugo is unnecessary, and at times annoying. It feels like it’s trying to cram too much story into its two hour run time, resulting in plot holes and frustrations later on. And there is even a cliffhanger ending – frustrating in that it feels as though we haven’t even properly concluded this part of the story and we’re now being left to wait should a sequel ever be given the go ahead.
I found much to enjoy with Alita: Battle Angel, and would gladly go see a sequel or two, should they get made. It’s enjoyable at times, and dazzling to look at, but overall it did leave me feeling a little bit frustrated and disappointed.
Debbiereadsbook (1166 KP) rated Crossing the Touchline (Auckland Med. #2) in Books
May 7, 2019 (Updated Mar 3, 2021)
freaking loved this!
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.
*Edited to add the review for the AUDIO version.*
Gary Furlong narrates.
Now, I gotta say this. After listening to audio books for a good while now, I've noticed an influx of NON-American narrators. And I LOVE that, I really do. But Furlong narrates this book in the New Zealand accent, quite correctly, since that is where Reuben and Cam are from, and it just takes a little getting used to! This is the first I've listen to of his work, and I have to say, he NAILS this one!
Furlong gets over every single feeling, emotion, internal wrangling these guys have, and it's painful listening, it really is. It was difficult reading, but hearing it?? Oh Lord I wanted to wrap them both up and look after them so bad! And Reuben's dad?? He headed for another punching!
The emotions in the guy's voices, especially since this is first person, is amazing, and I had to stop what I was doing a time or two, to just LISTEN, you know? To hear the heartbreak pouring out for them, the rage, the passion, and finally, all that love.
I did have a little chuckle though. Michael (from book one, First Impressions, pops up. Michael is American, and it took me a little while to figure out why he sounded all kinds of wrong. It's because of that! His American accent, in the midst of all these New Zealand ones was odd, is all.
I loved this book when I read it, and listening to it?? Loved it more!
5 stars for the narration, my wish list just got a whole lot longer with Mr Furlong's books on it!
*Original Review*
Stealing the tagline from the official blurb, because it is just the perfect tagline I have ever come across!
What if your dream will cost you the man who's stolen your heart?
Reuben Taylor has a choice to make. Cameron Wano is that choice.
I'm struggling to say what I want to about this book, because I FREAKING loved it! So if this review runs away with the fairies, I apologise. I shall try to make a coherent sentence or two!
Reuben is so far in the closet, it's pitch black in his life. His brother is an alcoholic, trying to look after a small child, and his father is (in my humble opinion) an utter douchbag of a man. One kiss with Cameron and Reuben is scared. Scared of what could be, but also, scared of what could NEVER be.
Cam is well aware of his status with the rugby team his brother plays for. He is out and PROUD and loud about it. But becoming Reuben's friend is far more important than the possibility of losing Reuben altogether. When things spiral downwards, and passion between the two men spins out of control, Reuben has to make the one choice he never wanted to: his rugby career, or Cameron.
So, I make no bones that I am not a fan of first person books, especially if they are multi point of view. This book is written as such. But both Reuben and Cam have such distinct voices, it took me a while to actually figure out this was a first person book! So well done to Ms Hogan for that one.
I read this book in one sitting. It's not a short book, some three hundred pages. But I started it at 7pm, and did not stop til I ran out of book.
And I went through the whole gamut of human emotion and then some! I tell ya, this book has funny spots, dark spots, scary spots, sexy bits (so much with the sexy bits!) and points along the way that garnered so much rage out of me, had Reuben's father been around, that man would be flat on his back! You can't blame Reuben's brother for what he is doing to Reuben, because he really is not coping and not getting the correct help he and his son need, but I did want to punch him a time or two, too.
But it's not just Reuben who has such extreme's of emotions. Cam does too. He did all the "in the closet thing" and swore never to again. Which is why he decides Reuben needs him to be his friend. But Cam's emotions run away with him, and he can't stop the avalanche of feelings he gets every time he touches Reuben, even if it's just a brush past, or something. He didn't have the difficult upbringing Reuben did, his family love him just as he is, but he can understand why Reuben is hiding. It HURTS Cam, but he gets it.
But ultimately, it isn't something Reuben or Cam does that outs them, someone else does that. And the fall out?? Well, let's just say, I was very surprised about that! In a good way!
There is a wedding in this book, that Cam and Reuben attend (not together!): Michael and Josh work with Cam at the hospital. Cam says some things about these two guys that make me want to go back and read THEIR book, First Impressions. It's a stand alone to this one, but my interest is piqued and I will go back, at some point, and read. THAT book is Ms Hogan's first, that I can see. And THIS one, her second.
I'm a-gonna be following this one, I reckon!
5 emotional, gut wrenching stars!
**same worded review will appear elsewhere**
*Edited to add the review for the AUDIO version.*
Gary Furlong narrates.
Now, I gotta say this. After listening to audio books for a good while now, I've noticed an influx of NON-American narrators. And I LOVE that, I really do. But Furlong narrates this book in the New Zealand accent, quite correctly, since that is where Reuben and Cam are from, and it just takes a little getting used to! This is the first I've listen to of his work, and I have to say, he NAILS this one!
Furlong gets over every single feeling, emotion, internal wrangling these guys have, and it's painful listening, it really is. It was difficult reading, but hearing it?? Oh Lord I wanted to wrap them both up and look after them so bad! And Reuben's dad?? He headed for another punching!
The emotions in the guy's voices, especially since this is first person, is amazing, and I had to stop what I was doing a time or two, to just LISTEN, you know? To hear the heartbreak pouring out for them, the rage, the passion, and finally, all that love.
I did have a little chuckle though. Michael (from book one, First Impressions, pops up. Michael is American, and it took me a little while to figure out why he sounded all kinds of wrong. It's because of that! His American accent, in the midst of all these New Zealand ones was odd, is all.
I loved this book when I read it, and listening to it?? Loved it more!
5 stars for the narration, my wish list just got a whole lot longer with Mr Furlong's books on it!
*Original Review*
Stealing the tagline from the official blurb, because it is just the perfect tagline I have ever come across!
What if your dream will cost you the man who's stolen your heart?
Reuben Taylor has a choice to make. Cameron Wano is that choice.
I'm struggling to say what I want to about this book, because I FREAKING loved it! So if this review runs away with the fairies, I apologise. I shall try to make a coherent sentence or two!
Reuben is so far in the closet, it's pitch black in his life. His brother is an alcoholic, trying to look after a small child, and his father is (in my humble opinion) an utter douchbag of a man. One kiss with Cameron and Reuben is scared. Scared of what could be, but also, scared of what could NEVER be.
Cam is well aware of his status with the rugby team his brother plays for. He is out and PROUD and loud about it. But becoming Reuben's friend is far more important than the possibility of losing Reuben altogether. When things spiral downwards, and passion between the two men spins out of control, Reuben has to make the one choice he never wanted to: his rugby career, or Cameron.
So, I make no bones that I am not a fan of first person books, especially if they are multi point of view. This book is written as such. But both Reuben and Cam have such distinct voices, it took me a while to actually figure out this was a first person book! So well done to Ms Hogan for that one.
I read this book in one sitting. It's not a short book, some three hundred pages. But I started it at 7pm, and did not stop til I ran out of book.
And I went through the whole gamut of human emotion and then some! I tell ya, this book has funny spots, dark spots, scary spots, sexy bits (so much with the sexy bits!) and points along the way that garnered so much rage out of me, had Reuben's father been around, that man would be flat on his back! You can't blame Reuben's brother for what he is doing to Reuben, because he really is not coping and not getting the correct help he and his son need, but I did want to punch him a time or two, too.
But it's not just Reuben who has such extreme's of emotions. Cam does too. He did all the "in the closet thing" and swore never to again. Which is why he decides Reuben needs him to be his friend. But Cam's emotions run away with him, and he can't stop the avalanche of feelings he gets every time he touches Reuben, even if it's just a brush past, or something. He didn't have the difficult upbringing Reuben did, his family love him just as he is, but he can understand why Reuben is hiding. It HURTS Cam, but he gets it.
But ultimately, it isn't something Reuben or Cam does that outs them, someone else does that. And the fall out?? Well, let's just say, I was very surprised about that! In a good way!
There is a wedding in this book, that Cam and Reuben attend (not together!): Michael and Josh work with Cam at the hospital. Cam says some things about these two guys that make me want to go back and read THEIR book, First Impressions. It's a stand alone to this one, but my interest is piqued and I will go back, at some point, and read. THAT book is Ms Hogan's first, that I can see. And THIS one, her second.
I'm a-gonna be following this one, I reckon!
5 emotional, gut wrenching stars!
**same worded review will appear elsewhere**
Acanthea Grimscythe (300 KP) rated King's Cage in Books
May 16, 2018
The third installment in Victoria Aveyard’s Red Queen series, King’s Cage, is probably my favorite so far. Once again, Aveyard proves she is more focused on telling a story than describing a romance – something my readers know I really like. Especially when it comes to young adult fantasy. In fact, I feel labeling this series as “romance” is a stretch – especially given how little Aveyard focuses on actual material meant to draw in readers of that genre.
King’s Cage begins where Glass Sword left off: Mare’s deal with Maven. While she spends her time in prison, we finally get to learn more about other characters in the story – namely Cameron and (later) Evangeline. Though the latter takes place more toward when the action begins to kick up. Naturally, the story is more focused on Mare even from these perspectives, but it provides a refreshing look at the rebellion.
Surprisingly, there are several turns in King’s Cage that caught me entirely off guard. This is a good thing: I hate when books and stories become predictable. I won’t divulge more than that, for fear of spoilers, but I will say this: so far, this book is my favorite in the series and though I am so angry at the ending I could burn it, part of me wants to open it back up to page one and start again. I don’t imagine the library will like it much if I burn their book.
Until the fourth book hits shelves, I guess I’ll have to satisfy my hunger for more by reading the two novellas that Aveyard wrote for her post-apocalypse universe. Oh, and as a side note? This is the first one I read physically so I finally got to see a map of the lands. As I suspected, it takes place in the ruins of what was once the United States.
King’s Cage begins where Glass Sword left off: Mare’s deal with Maven. While she spends her time in prison, we finally get to learn more about other characters in the story – namely Cameron and (later) Evangeline. Though the latter takes place more toward when the action begins to kick up. Naturally, the story is more focused on Mare even from these perspectives, but it provides a refreshing look at the rebellion.
Surprisingly, there are several turns in King’s Cage that caught me entirely off guard. This is a good thing: I hate when books and stories become predictable. I won’t divulge more than that, for fear of spoilers, but I will say this: so far, this book is my favorite in the series and though I am so angry at the ending I could burn it, part of me wants to open it back up to page one and start again. I don’t imagine the library will like it much if I burn their book.
Until the fourth book hits shelves, I guess I’ll have to satisfy my hunger for more by reading the two novellas that Aveyard wrote for her post-apocalypse universe. Oh, and as a side note? This is the first one I read physically so I finally got to see a map of the lands. As I suspected, it takes place in the ruins of what was once the United States.
Kristy H (1252 KP) rated The Lost Man in Books
Apr 4, 2019
I love Jane Harper and this book was certainly no exception. This is her first standalone novel (no Aaron Falk this time), and it is another beautifully written, captivating book that leaves you guessing until the very end. The characters are as scant as the landscape: the three brothers; their mother; Cameron's wife, Isle; Nathan's teenage son, Xander; a few workers from Cameron's property; and a couple of townsfolk. Yet somehow Harper weaves an excellent story that casts doubt from the beginning on what happened to Cameron. Did he purposely wander into the outback to his death? Or was something more nefarious going on?
While we're trying to figure out what happened, we're learning that something happened with Nathan in this isolated community, leaving him angry and alone. Bub seems bitter himself. Harper inserts tales of the family's past along with the present, giving us more details about our characters. And, at the same time, we start to see how no one's stories really add up. There's no real detective in this one, per se--at least no Aaron Falk, even if there is someone investigating Cameron's death--so things unravel mainly from Nathan's perspective.
And, of course, the unforgiving outback landscape is its own character: vast, stark, and dividing the brothers in more ways than one. Harper describes it so beautifully, just as she has done in her previous works. She so expertly captures the complicated family drama occurring as well as the small town dynamics happening in this often dangerous, isolated environment. The result, especially with these tense, well-drawn characters is a taunt, dramatic story that kept me reading and wondering until the very end.
I will easily read anything Jane Harper writes; her books simply do not disappoint. This one was different, in many ways, than the first two Aaron Falk novels, yet had many similarities, including her beautiful writing, nuanced plot, and wonderful characters. 4+ stars.
While we're trying to figure out what happened, we're learning that something happened with Nathan in this isolated community, leaving him angry and alone. Bub seems bitter himself. Harper inserts tales of the family's past along with the present, giving us more details about our characters. And, at the same time, we start to see how no one's stories really add up. There's no real detective in this one, per se--at least no Aaron Falk, even if there is someone investigating Cameron's death--so things unravel mainly from Nathan's perspective.
And, of course, the unforgiving outback landscape is its own character: vast, stark, and dividing the brothers in more ways than one. Harper describes it so beautifully, just as she has done in her previous works. She so expertly captures the complicated family drama occurring as well as the small town dynamics happening in this often dangerous, isolated environment. The result, especially with these tense, well-drawn characters is a taunt, dramatic story that kept me reading and wondering until the very end.
I will easily read anything Jane Harper writes; her books simply do not disappoint. This one was different, in many ways, than the first two Aaron Falk novels, yet had many similarities, including her beautiful writing, nuanced plot, and wonderful characters. 4+ stars.