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Heather Cranmer (2721 KP) created a post

Aug 4, 2022  
Joining me on my blog today is author Preston Lewis in a fascinating interview about his historical Western series, the Three Rivers Trilogy. You can also read up about the third book in the trilogy, RIO HONDO, and enter the giveaway for a chance to win a signed copy of the book - two winners!

https://alltheupsandowns.blogspot.com/2022/08/book-blog-tour-and-giveaway-rio-hondo.html

**RIO HONDO SYNOPSIS**
With the embers of the Lincoln County War still burning, rancher Wes Bracken must rebuild his life amid the white-hot animosities lingering from the deadly feud. His vengeful brother-in-law vows to kill him, the county's economic kingpin seeks revenge, and the despicable outlaw Jesse Evans, who violated Bracken's wife, intends to murder Bracken and his young family. Two promises complicate Bracken's survival chances: a pledge not to kill his wife's brother and a commitment to help William H. Bonney earn a governor's pardon for his crimes. To survive and fulfill his dream of a peaceful life in 1880s New Mexico Territory, Bracken must fight a corrupt legal system, a duplicitous governor, a ubiquitous political ring, and the evil Jesse Evans. If Bracken keeps his promises to his wife and Billy the Kid, he risks an early grave in the same soil that holds so many of the Lincoln County War's dead. If he ignores those pledges, he will dishonor the good name he hopes to build his future upon.
     
Fatal Fascinator
Fatal Fascinator
Jenn McKinlay | 2023 | Mystery
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Deadly Wedding of the Year
Cousins Scarlett and Viv have agreed to create the hats for the wedding of the season. Scarlett is mainly excited because it means they’ve scored an invitation, and the wedding is taking place in a castle in the country. Even their friend Andre is there as the wedding photographer. But joy turns to tragedy when Scarlett finds the dead body of the groom in the library. With no one allowed to leave while the police investigate, Scarlett can’t help but poked around. Will she figure out what happened?

Since author Jenn McKinlay is so busy writing, we don’t get quite as many entries in this series as in some of her others. That makes it nice to get to revisit these characters again. A few of the regulars have cameos than a real part, but it was still nice to see everyone and see how they are continuing to grow. The book is filled with suspects, but I never had a hard time keeping them all straight. The story was always moving forward, and the plot had a few nice surprises on the way to the climax. The pages just flew by. Meanwhile, there were plenty of moments that made me laugh or grin, including some pun wars, which I always enjoy. Whether you are a fan of the series or just checking it out, you’ll enjoy this book.
  
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Merissa (13730 KP) rated Alexi (Tangled Tentacles #1) in Books

Mar 23, 2022 (Updated Jun 30, 2023)  
Alexi (Tangled Tentacles #1)
Alexi (Tangled Tentacles #1)
JP Sayle, Lisa Oliver | 2022 | LGBTQ+, Paranormal, Romance
8
8.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
ALEXI is the first book in a new series about a group of Kraken shifters who are called in to assist the police on several missing people cases - or is it a serial murderer? Danik is worried it will be swept away as a serial killer when he just knows they are still alive. Alexi soon puts those fears to rest once they realise they are mates. No way will Alexi go against Danik like that.

So, what do you have? A group of close brothers who tease each other constantly. Different personalities I am looking forward to getting to know. A possibly crooked police force. Missing paranormals, presumed dead, but oh so alive according to Danik. It's all here, and it's FUN.

I loved the way the personalities worked well with each other. Danik and Alexi are just wonderful, giving me warm, squidgy feelings whenever they are soft and cuddly. It is funny, with some brilliant one-liners that kept me amused. The pacing is spot-on, and the ending leads perfectly to the next book.

What's next? A Kraken and a Vampire. Oh, boy!

I honestly can't wait to continue this series. Absolutely recommended by me.

** same worded review will appear elsewhere **

* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Mar 21, 2022
  
Stranger Things - Season 3
Stranger Things - Season 3
2019 | Horror, Thriller
Just everything (0 more)
Getting better with age
I've loved all 3 seasons of ST so far but this is the best so far. It's just just sublime. All the characters get depth and development whilst introducing a few new ones. The nostalgia shown in this is superb and unapologetic. At one point Mike and Lucas are having a convo about coka cola classic vs new coke and (very post modern tongue firmly in cheek) Lucas says 'classic is good but the remake is better'. Terminator, evil dead, back 2 the future, day of the dead, invasion of the body snatchers and many more are lovingly referenced with possibly the greatest and funniest being a brilliant neverending story shout out. The gore and horror is there in spades with more a focus on body horror and some very 'Lovecraftian' scenes which are equally awesome & disgusting. Steve & Dustin are the stars and continue their great team up from season 2 and honestly I think a spin off where they have a detective agency would be an amazing show that needs to be made!! It'll make u laugh, it'll make u cry but you will love it...PS keep watching for a post credits scene in last episode! Season 4 I cant wait!!!
  
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Awix (3310 KP) rated The Raven (1963) in Movies

Feb 9, 2018 (Updated Feb 9, 2018)  
The Raven (1963)
The Raven (1963)
1963 | Classics, Comedy, Family
7
8.2 (10 Ratings)
Movie Rating
Vincent Price Broods Over His Dead Wife's Portrait (Yet Again)
Roger Corman's cycle of Poe-inspired movies goes into full-on comedy mode with this tale of squabbling magicians (played by Vincent Price, Peter Lorre and Boris Karloff). It is, obviously, only very loosely inspired by Poe's poem, but then you can only stretch 108 lines of verse so far.

The fun is in the performances, with the veteran cast members competing to ham it up more extravagantly. Also knocking about the lower reaches of the cast list is Jack Nicholson, really showing not much sign of the talent that would earn him so many Oscar nominations in later years.

Knockabout stuff, but well played and often very funny. Not actually much of a horror movie, though, certainly by modern standards.
  
This is the story of Caislyn and Jax, two very different women with attitude!

Jax has run away from an abusive relationship and started a new life. She considers herself wholly human in a world where the 'paranormal' exists.

Caislyn is a witch whose parents are missing and the world, including her lawyer, presume dead although she refuses to believe this.

Throw them together and what have you got? A fast-paced, punchy book that made me laugh with their humour and search along with them for answers. Vampires are "alive and kicking" in this book but are not, for once, in the hot seat but more a back seat driver which makes a nice change.

Will definitely be getting the second and third books in this series.
  
CBGB (2013)
CBGB (2013)
2013 | Drama, Musical
7
7.0 (2 Ratings)
Movie Rating
Soundtrack (1 more)
Allan Rickman
Pre punk to post punk
As a lover of Punk it was only a matter of time before I watched this and it felt like a compilation album with extended talking in between. Loosely based on Hilly Crystal the owner of CBGS's in New York and the place where punk was formed.

There are appearances from Television, Talking Heads, The Ramones, The Dead Boys and it shows that Blondies did have more fun. The story is nothing too taxing and it's weaved round the music. Some famous faces and a Harry Potter characters bare bum as he proves his natural hair colour out of the cameras beady eye.

So if you like Punk, bare bums and don't mind a young Sting then this could help your life in a small way
  
Brief Interviews With Hideous Men
Brief Interviews With Hideous Men
David Foster Wallace | 2001 | Fiction & Poetry
(0 Ratings)
Book Favorite

"Wallace is not for everyone, but he is for me. My blind spot in my own work is ‘the evil that men do.’ I think I know a thing or two about the way people love, but I don’t know anything about hatred, psychosis, cruelty. Or maybe I don’t have the guts to admit that I do. Wallace writes brilliantly about hideous men and hideous women and the hideous culture that produces them. Reading Wallace for the first time was also about the hideous revelation of a talent a lot bigger than mine. You can take it when the competition is dead people—it’s harder when they’re alive. Wallace’s prose has brought me as much envy as it has joy over the years. He makes me more ambitious for myself."

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