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Alison Pink (7 KP) rated Safe Haven in Books
Jan 15, 2018
Wow! This book was a powerhouse. About halfway through, it got so good I couldn't put it down for anything. The ending built up suspense in such a wonderfully tantalizing way. I was so sucked in to the story that I really did find myself transported to another place. It is truly a rare book that can do that.
I found myself wanting to kill Kevin myself. I was rooting like crazy for Katie. She was so likable...strong & vulnerable all at once. I could really feel her pain & ached to see her finally happy. But I also found myself, much like her, waiting for the other shoe to drop as it seemed inevitable. Alex was a great character too. If I were to describe him you'd likely think of him as that dream guy that doesn't exist in the real world. And you'd be right, he does sound too good to be true. Yet at the same time, he did seem real & so genuine.
The plot was well written. I was kept guessing for some time as the pieces gradually fell into place. Once they did it started to make sense, but it wasn't too predictable either. All in all it was a fantastic read!
I found myself wanting to kill Kevin myself. I was rooting like crazy for Katie. She was so likable...strong & vulnerable all at once. I could really feel her pain & ached to see her finally happy. But I also found myself, much like her, waiting for the other shoe to drop as it seemed inevitable. Alex was a great character too. If I were to describe him you'd likely think of him as that dream guy that doesn't exist in the real world. And you'd be right, he does sound too good to be true. Yet at the same time, he did seem real & so genuine.
The plot was well written. I was kept guessing for some time as the pieces gradually fell into place. Once they did it started to make sense, but it wasn't too predictable either. All in all it was a fantastic read!
Merissa (12971 KP) rated Blake Blacks Out (Differing Sexuality) in Books
Mar 26, 2019
Blake Blacks Out by Rafe Jadison
Blake Blacks Out is the first in what I hope will be a series of books, about people and various 'problems' they have. This one deals with a medical condition where Blake passes out during sex. He wakes up disorientated and distressed, which is where most people walk - or in Blake's case, tell him to get the hell out.
Although this is a fast-paced novella, I thought the inclusion of the details about the condition were really well done. Mr. Jadison was able to get the information across without sounding like a medical journal! Not only that, but there are characters here to like and loathe, which is always a good thing. I loved how Jerome knew what he wanted, and wasn't afraid to work for it.
This book takes place during just one evening, with a small epilogue. The pace is smooth, and the emotions are easy to see/feel. Extremely well-written, I thoroughly enjoyed this, and hope for more in this series. Definitely recommended by me.
* 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!
Although this is a fast-paced novella, I thought the inclusion of the details about the condition were really well done. Mr. Jadison was able to get the information across without sounding like a medical journal! Not only that, but there are characters here to like and loathe, which is always a good thing. I loved how Jerome knew what he wanted, and wasn't afraid to work for it.
This book takes place during just one evening, with a small epilogue. The pace is smooth, and the emotions are easy to see/feel. Extremely well-written, I thoroughly enjoyed this, and hope for more in this series. Definitely recommended by me.
* 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!
Madbatdan82 (341 KP) rated Pokémon: Detective Pikachu (2019) in Movies
May 26, 2019
I'm a 36 year old man child and I dont care!!!!
I normally post complete reviews where I take into account all aspects of cinema - acting, script, cinematography, tone etc. This review contains none of that as this film is scored on how it made me feel. I'm a pokemon fan and have been since I was a child. This film perfectly shows a world where pokemon live and co exist with people - a better world for sure. That said I'm not giving it a 10 score purely for nostalgia. The acting is good and story is also good with enough twists along the way to keep non poke fans interested. Visually it's great with the pokemon blending into the world perfectly. The star of the show is Ryan Reynolds though as Pikachu. Reynolds has made a career of just being himself onscreen and he does it again here. Yes the language from say Deadpool, Waiting, Van Wilder or Blade Trinity is toned down but the same brand of humour is on display giving adults something to laugh at as well as kids. Others probably wud give this a 7 or 8 - I give it 10 because I'm a man child who loves pokemon and Ryan Reynolds....so there!!!
Sarah (7800 KP) rated The Incredibles 2 (2018) in Movies
Nov 10, 2018
A good sequel
I’ll be honest, the first Incredibles film was one of my least favourite Pixar films. Not because it was bad, but like Cars it never really appealed to me very much. But I’m pleased to say that I actually enjoyed the sequel much more than the original.
The plot itself is very similar to the original but with dad Bob being left at home to look after the kids. And for me, this is where most of the enjoyment and humour comes from this film. Watching Bob deal with the kids and Jack-Jack’s uncontrollable powers, and getting increasingly more frazzled, is a delight to watch. Indeed it’s Jack-Jack who is the star of this film and without him, this film would have actually been quite dull. Don’t get me wrong, the animation is top notch as you’d expect from Pixar, but the rest of the plot is a little bit predictable and unfortunately there have been far too many superhero films lately and this doesn’t feel like anything new.
That said, this is still a Pixar film and ultimately good, and will always be a lot more enjoyable than watching one of the latest DC films...
The plot itself is very similar to the original but with dad Bob being left at home to look after the kids. And for me, this is where most of the enjoyment and humour comes from this film. Watching Bob deal with the kids and Jack-Jack’s uncontrollable powers, and getting increasingly more frazzled, is a delight to watch. Indeed it’s Jack-Jack who is the star of this film and without him, this film would have actually been quite dull. Don’t get me wrong, the animation is top notch as you’d expect from Pixar, but the rest of the plot is a little bit predictable and unfortunately there have been far too many superhero films lately and this doesn’t feel like anything new.
That said, this is still a Pixar film and ultimately good, and will always be a lot more enjoyable than watching one of the latest DC films...
Kevin Wilson (179 KP) rated La La Land (2016) in Movies
Nov 24, 2018
Great catchy soundtrack (2 more)
Great cast
Good story
A great musical where the music shines
This was a great movie and went well beyond my expectations. I have watched this many times now and still love it.
Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling are both fantastic and work well together. The songs are so good and catchy and convinced me to go get the soundtrack and am listening to it as i write this. It also convinced me to look into jazz which i never thought to listen to before. This movie feels like a love letter to that genre of music. This movie is all about the music and i loved every second of every song.
It is a romance story you have seen before but they sfill find a way to make if feel fresh and different with an ending not really expected. I think throughtout this movie i felt every emotion there is.
The movie was shot beautifully and in a way you could be convinced this was filmed either now or many years ago. There is an old fashioned feeling about this movie which i loved.
It may not be for everyone but i can recommend it for a musical fan. I never expected to enjoy it as much as i did.
Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling are both fantastic and work well together. The songs are so good and catchy and convinced me to go get the soundtrack and am listening to it as i write this. It also convinced me to look into jazz which i never thought to listen to before. This movie feels like a love letter to that genre of music. This movie is all about the music and i loved every second of every song.
It is a romance story you have seen before but they sfill find a way to make if feel fresh and different with an ending not really expected. I think throughtout this movie i felt every emotion there is.
The movie was shot beautifully and in a way you could be convinced this was filmed either now or many years ago. There is an old fashioned feeling about this movie which i loved.
It may not be for everyone but i can recommend it for a musical fan. I never expected to enjoy it as much as i did.
Merissa (12971 KP) rated Asya in the Tilt of the World in Books
Dec 17, 2018
Asya in the Tilt of the World is the first book in The Asya Trilogy. Asya is a quiet girl, studious, and loves working in the garden. Her family is very different from her, being loud and boisterous most of the time. Her world changes one evening as she meets with James and Christian. From there it becomes everything she never dreamed of.
The premise of this book is a good one, and I love how some vampires are working for the benefit of the earth, and others aren't, plus how credit is given for past 'inventions'. There are some well developed characters that help draw the story along.
Although I enjoyed this story, I didn't really feel a connection between our three main characters. There were questions raised about how she reacted to them, versus how she reacted to others, that just didn't seem to fit. This may be a story that will build up, but be prepared to be left with plenty of questions after reading this book.
* 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!
The premise of this book is a good one, and I love how some vampires are working for the benefit of the earth, and others aren't, plus how credit is given for past 'inventions'. There are some well developed characters that help draw the story along.
Although I enjoyed this story, I didn't really feel a connection between our three main characters. There were questions raised about how she reacted to them, versus how she reacted to others, that just didn't seem to fit. This may be a story that will build up, but be prepared to be left with plenty of questions after reading this book.
* 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!
The Marinated Meeple (1853 KP) rated Betron AMT30 Wireless Bluetooth Headphones in Tech
Dec 28, 2018
Most important, the sound is good (1 more)
fit around the head is adjustable and cans are rotating
Solid wireless headphones.
I have one other pair of wireless headphones which are now 4 years old, I was curious to see how different these might be with more modern technology.... performance wise they are the same, both have great quality sound. This one has the adjustable headband which can be adjusted in small measured amounts, which works fine. The "cans" themselves were very tight for my ears, and I didn't feel like anything longer than a 1/2 hour or an hour was comfortable. I would never pair these with my TV and watch a movie while my wife slept or anything like that. I didn't attempt to play them with any video games, but they worked perfectly with my phone listening to podcasts, it automatically connects when I turn it on which is nice. The other one I have is pads rather than cans and it slides to adjust rather than increments. Overall they are both good. they aren't going to make anyone's top ten list, but they are solid.
This review was posted based on getting them in a giveaway here on smashbomb.
This review was posted based on getting them in a giveaway here on smashbomb.
Movie Metropolis (309 KP) rated Toy Story 4 (2019) in Movies
Jun 23, 2019
Animation (1 more)
Voicework
Fun for kids and adults alike
The animation is absolutely exquisite and probably the best to have ever graced the big screen. With this and How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World, animated films have never looked better and the bar has been set very high indeed. Everything from the glisten in Woody’s eyes to the rope-like fabric of Jessie’s hair is astounding and needs to be seen on the biggest screen possible. There are shots here that wouldn’t look out of place on your living room wall, they are breath-taking.
Of course, the main test of a good Pixar movie is how it makes you feel. And Toy Story 4 delivers heart and humour in spades with a witty script and beautiful send-off to these beloved characters. If Disney makes good on its promise that this IS the final part of a quadrilogy, then they’ve created something very special indeed. We may have lost two animated series’ in 2019, but boy did they go out with a bang.
Now pass me the tissues for god’s sake.
More at: https://moviemetropolis.net/2019/06/21/toy-story-4-review-this-is-the-end/
Of course, the main test of a good Pixar movie is how it makes you feel. And Toy Story 4 delivers heart and humour in spades with a witty script and beautiful send-off to these beloved characters. If Disney makes good on its promise that this IS the final part of a quadrilogy, then they’ve created something very special indeed. We may have lost two animated series’ in 2019, but boy did they go out with a bang.
Now pass me the tissues for god’s sake.
More at: https://moviemetropolis.net/2019/06/21/toy-story-4-review-this-is-the-end/
Merissa (12971 KP) rated Island Tales Vol. 1 (Island Tales #1-2) in Books
Jul 16, 2019
Island Tales Vol. 1 (Island Tales #1-2) by K.C. Wells
Two feel-good stories in one volume, both set in the gorgeous Isle of Wight, UK. Both of them are written extremely well, with emotions clearly showing, and reasons given for acting certain ways. The pacing is smooth, and the characters are well-rounded.
Out of the two, I preferred Waiting for a Prince. I loved how Mark and Sam became friends before lovers, and how Sam's history came to light. I was 'glad' to read about a woman abuser (although I know that sounds wrong!) It is something that happens all too often, and yet is not really spoken - or written - about.
I enjoyed September's Tide, but the whole business with Clark just annoyed me, especially when Michael got involved. And, to be honest, I still don't know why he did, or what he stood to gain by it. That's just me though.
A couple of great stories that are easy to read, and definitely recommended to read near the sea!
* 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!
Out of the two, I preferred Waiting for a Prince. I loved how Mark and Sam became friends before lovers, and how Sam's history came to light. I was 'glad' to read about a woman abuser (although I know that sounds wrong!) It is something that happens all too often, and yet is not really spoken - or written - about.
I enjoyed September's Tide, but the whole business with Clark just annoyed me, especially when Michael got involved. And, to be honest, I still don't know why he did, or what he stood to gain by it. That's just me though.
A couple of great stories that are easy to read, and definitely recommended to read near the sea!
* 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!
James Koppert (2698 KP) rated Avengers: Endgame (2019) in Movies
Nov 12, 2019
This is not cinema?
A hero of mine recently said this is not cinema. Is it the same as a pop puppet singing a song someone else has written with no emotion or soul? Well no actually. Good cinema is good art and art makes you feel things. Endgame will make you ride emotions from start to finish. Ok it is s visual feast but it's full of messages and commentary as well and the overall ethos is, well pretty much "for the many not the few", take that what you will. There is also that incredible moment when all the most powerful ones line up and they are female and you go "wow, go kick ass". They have been brave. They don't care if some spotty fanboy cries into his jerk off sock because captain marvel had a vagina, they wanted a strong female character so they did it. It is brave cinema.
It's almost as though they knew the people would leak spoilers too so they make the sentiment of the film and character start at the beginning almost as if they are mocking themselves. Brave.
Did I enjoy the actual film though I hear you ask? Yeah, it was great.
It's almost as though they knew the people would leak spoilers too so they make the sentiment of the film and character start at the beginning almost as if they are mocking themselves. Brave.
Did I enjoy the actual film though I hear you ask? Yeah, it was great.