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Molly J (Cover To Cover Cafe) (106 KP) rated The White City in Books
Mar 1, 2019
The Characters (3 more)
The Plot Line
True Crime Elements
Writing Style
Fantastic Debut!
I am a lover of true crime, historical fiction, suspense and romance. I mean a huge lover of all of them. So, when I saw that this was the best of all of those worlds, I was ecstatic. This is a debut novel from Grace Hitchcock and let me tell you what. The detail she includes in this story, made me feel like I was right there in the center of the World’s Fair, following these awesome characters, and reaching an ending that left me wanting another story just like it.
Winnie and Jude’s characters are wonderful! I loved them so good. The detail with which Hitchcock created the scenes that Winnie saw, and went through, and how Jude fell for her, was awesome. I felt like I became Winnie and fell for Jude instantly. Jude was a sweet soul and Winnie was absolutely full of spunk and sass!
The real life serial killer aspect woven into the story was incredible. I had no idea about that time period having someone like that, and it really made the story that much more captivating. The twists and turns of the roller coaster story, seeing Winnie going “undercover” to prove to her Police Chief father that she was right, was fantastic and had me reading this book and finishing it in a 24 hour period.
If you love historical novels, love the thrills of a great suspense story, and enjoy reading a God-filled romance book, then look no further than this 4 star debut. Ms. Hitchcock has extreme talent and is sure to be on the best sellers list before long! I sing the praises of this story loudly and can’t wait for the next book from this talented author, as well as another incredible installment in this new series from Barbour!
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review, positive or negative.*
Winnie and Jude’s characters are wonderful! I loved them so good. The detail with which Hitchcock created the scenes that Winnie saw, and went through, and how Jude fell for her, was awesome. I felt like I became Winnie and fell for Jude instantly. Jude was a sweet soul and Winnie was absolutely full of spunk and sass!
The real life serial killer aspect woven into the story was incredible. I had no idea about that time period having someone like that, and it really made the story that much more captivating. The twists and turns of the roller coaster story, seeing Winnie going “undercover” to prove to her Police Chief father that she was right, was fantastic and had me reading this book and finishing it in a 24 hour period.
If you love historical novels, love the thrills of a great suspense story, and enjoy reading a God-filled romance book, then look no further than this 4 star debut. Ms. Hitchcock has extreme talent and is sure to be on the best sellers list before long! I sing the praises of this story loudly and can’t wait for the next book from this talented author, as well as another incredible installment in this new series from Barbour!
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review, positive or negative.*
RəX Regent (349 KP) rated The Happening (2008) in Movies
Mar 7, 2019
Back in 2009, when I first saw this, I wrote a review on Flixter which read "Simple question: What the hell was Happening???? More to the point
What was the point???? This movie was so diabolically pointless, self-serving and self-indulgent that words could never do it justice. Such a fall from grace from the man who brought us The Sixth Sense and Unbreakable
"
In many ways, that sums this film up perfectly. On a second viewing, an almost three years later, I feel that I have just a little more to say, but none of which is particularly good, except for the fact that I have increased my original one star/candle review to three out the maximum of ten! Shyamalan was a rising talent and now he has fallen far from grace, especially after the flop that was The Last Airbender. In this film he managed, whether by some misguided design or just by poor direction, to get some of the most amateurish performances out his cast imaginable.
I mean, I know that I'm hardly Mark Wahlberg's greatest advocate but he's still miles better than this, as is his counterpart, Zooey Deschanel, who both put in embarrassingly poor performances, but not just bad, but something that I would expect to see in a church hall! This was amateur all the way, with the only saving grace being the otherwise precise Shyamalan direction. But that's not to say that it wasn't boring or that he was directing a pointless narrative. The concept was slightly interesting but handled in such a ridiculously cack-handed and misjudged manner that I doubt anyone would dare suggest this idea again, let alone finance of film it.
I won't give away the "Twist", if you would call it that, but it is original, I grant you that, but interesting enough to support a movie? No way. Nor was anything else about this film.
In many ways, that sums this film up perfectly. On a second viewing, an almost three years later, I feel that I have just a little more to say, but none of which is particularly good, except for the fact that I have increased my original one star/candle review to three out the maximum of ten! Shyamalan was a rising talent and now he has fallen far from grace, especially after the flop that was The Last Airbender. In this film he managed, whether by some misguided design or just by poor direction, to get some of the most amateurish performances out his cast imaginable.
I mean, I know that I'm hardly Mark Wahlberg's greatest advocate but he's still miles better than this, as is his counterpart, Zooey Deschanel, who both put in embarrassingly poor performances, but not just bad, but something that I would expect to see in a church hall! This was amateur all the way, with the only saving grace being the otherwise precise Shyamalan direction. But that's not to say that it wasn't boring or that he was directing a pointless narrative. The concept was slightly interesting but handled in such a ridiculously cack-handed and misjudged manner that I doubt anyone would dare suggest this idea again, let alone finance of film it.
I won't give away the "Twist", if you would call it that, but it is original, I grant you that, but interesting enough to support a movie? No way. Nor was anything else about this film.
Molly J (Cover To Cover Cafe) (106 KP) rated 99% Faking It in Books
Mar 21, 2019
Characters (2 more)
Writing Style
Plot line
Every now and then, I love to read a good young adult romance. A romance that is young, and innocent. So, I was browsing through Netgalley and saw this one, and fell in love with the synopsis and the cover (I mean, seriously. How adorable is that cover? I can just feel the hug he's giving her!). I grabbed it up. I'm super glad I did, too, because I have a new author to read more work by, and characters that have stolen my heart for the long haul.
I loved the way Chris Cannon chiseled these characters. They are true-to-life and came alive within the story. I felt more like I was watching a movie on the big screen than I was reading a book. Lisa and Matt reminded me a lot of some of the kids I used to know in high school. Lisa had a crush on a guy who just wanted to be friends.....or so she thought. Friend zone happened a lot back in my day at school!
Watching Lisa and Matt together in this read was super fun. They were witty and so cute. I loved watching them realize their feelings for each other, and their banter with each other was fun. The sparks flew but nothing was over the top, and Lisa and Matt would be great characters for any young adult (or adult!) to read.
Chris Cannon has a beautiful talent. The way she weaves the story together, even though it is the second in her Dating Dilemmas series, I wasn't overly confused by the happenings surrounding Lisa and Matt's story. I felt a part of these young people's lives and had so much fun reading it! I definitely recommend this book with 4 stars and am looking forward to reading book 1 and other books by this author.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley, Entangled Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review, positive or negative.*
I loved the way Chris Cannon chiseled these characters. They are true-to-life and came alive within the story. I felt more like I was watching a movie on the big screen than I was reading a book. Lisa and Matt reminded me a lot of some of the kids I used to know in high school. Lisa had a crush on a guy who just wanted to be friends.....or so she thought. Friend zone happened a lot back in my day at school!
Watching Lisa and Matt together in this read was super fun. They were witty and so cute. I loved watching them realize their feelings for each other, and their banter with each other was fun. The sparks flew but nothing was over the top, and Lisa and Matt would be great characters for any young adult (or adult!) to read.
Chris Cannon has a beautiful talent. The way she weaves the story together, even though it is the second in her Dating Dilemmas series, I wasn't overly confused by the happenings surrounding Lisa and Matt's story. I felt a part of these young people's lives and had so much fun reading it! I definitely recommend this book with 4 stars and am looking forward to reading book 1 and other books by this author.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley, Entangled Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review, positive or negative.*
Goddess in the Stacks (553 KP) rated Fire and Heist in Books
Apr 2, 2019
I picked this up off the library shelf for the title; I took it home for the description. Were-dragon thieves? Awesome. It turns out it's not that simple. For one, the were-dragons have lost the ability to transform over the years - the last dragon to transform was Sir Francis Drake, and the book is set in modern times, so, at least a couple hundred years have passed. And humans know the were-dragons exist! I suppose without the ability to transform, they're little more than rich celebrities with parlor tricks. (Immune to fire to certain temperatures, ability to breathe fire.) What humans don't know is how much the wyverns tend to steal to enrich their hoards. And that some of them can do limited magic.
We open on Sky, sixteen, rattling around her mansion, dealing with her now dysfunctional family of three brothers and their father. Her mother went missing not very long ago, during a heist. The kids have been told she's gone, she's alive, she's not coming back, and to drop the matter. Were-dragon society almost exiled all of them for whatever their mother got into, so they're all on thin ice. Sky, of course, is having none of this. When she stumbles on a lead for where her mother went, she pursues it, and learns all kinds of secrets.
The book was okay, I suppose. I was a little appalled at were-dragon society, and that the dragons just - bow to the authority of the Council. Dragons should have more spine. The heist part was pretty cool, with Sky and her friends figuring out how to take apart every layer of security piece by piece.
I don't know. It was a fluffy book, but not a feel-good book, and I just wasn't that enthused.
You can read all my reviews at http://goddessinthestacks.com
We open on Sky, sixteen, rattling around her mansion, dealing with her now dysfunctional family of three brothers and their father. Her mother went missing not very long ago, during a heist. The kids have been told she's gone, she's alive, she's not coming back, and to drop the matter. Were-dragon society almost exiled all of them for whatever their mother got into, so they're all on thin ice. Sky, of course, is having none of this. When she stumbles on a lead for where her mother went, she pursues it, and learns all kinds of secrets.
The book was okay, I suppose. I was a little appalled at were-dragon society, and that the dragons just - bow to the authority of the Council. Dragons should have more spine. The heist part was pretty cool, with Sky and her friends figuring out how to take apart every layer of security piece by piece.
I don't know. It was a fluffy book, but not a feel-good book, and I just wasn't that enthused.
You can read all my reviews at http://goddessinthestacks.com
Whatchareadin (174 KP) rated The Ever After in Books
Apr 9, 2019
What would you do if you found out your husband had an affair? Would you try to end the marriage, or work it out? What if sex was not a part of the affair, would that make a difference? These are the questions that Josie has after she finds out that her husband, Frank, has been having an affair for the past seven weeks. Should she stay or go? He's so great with the kids, but what about her? This book takes you on Josie's journey from her discovery of the affair, to her final decision on whether to stay with her husband or get a divorce.
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the opportunity to read and review this book.
I'm not sure what I would do if infidelity was a question in my marriage. I think, we can all say what we would do, but until we are faced with that situation, I don't think we fully understand how we would feel. Love is a tricky thing and when you find it with someone, it can be devastating when they break that love apart.
When Josie finds out about Frank's affair, her world is turned upside down. She has to find out the answer to all of her questions. She doesn't know if she will ever be able to trust Frank again or how she is going to live without him, as well. This is the man who is the father of her children and the man she has shared a bed with for so many years. But how could he betray her like this? They both decide to go to counseling. But Josie has conditions that Frank must agree to before she will even entertain the fact of sharing just her time with him. Will he agree or will they just end up going their separate ways.
This book is good for any married woman to read and may help you if this is a situation that you may be going through in your life.
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the opportunity to read and review this book.
I'm not sure what I would do if infidelity was a question in my marriage. I think, we can all say what we would do, but until we are faced with that situation, I don't think we fully understand how we would feel. Love is a tricky thing and when you find it with someone, it can be devastating when they break that love apart.
When Josie finds out about Frank's affair, her world is turned upside down. She has to find out the answer to all of her questions. She doesn't know if she will ever be able to trust Frank again or how she is going to live without him, as well. This is the man who is the father of her children and the man she has shared a bed with for so many years. But how could he betray her like this? They both decide to go to counseling. But Josie has conditions that Frank must agree to before she will even entertain the fact of sharing just her time with him. Will he agree or will they just end up going their separate ways.
This book is good for any married woman to read and may help you if this is a situation that you may be going through in your life.
TacoDave (3886 KP) rated Young In My Head by Starflyer 59 in Music
May 9, 2019 (Updated May 9, 2019)
songs (3 more)
instruments
vocals
vibe
15 Albums In and Starflyer 59 Still Rocks
If you've never heard of Starflyer 59, I have a treat for you.
What began as a "shoegazer" band in the mid 90's (think Smashing Pumpkins meets The Smiths) has progressed over the years through heavy, chunky guitars, to Brit-pop mixed with synth, to this new album which just ... rocks. With the release of the band's 15th full album (not to mention many EPs and collections), band lead Jason Martin has shown that he's still got it. "Young In My Head" is soothing, catchy rock that is perfect driving music.
I'll attach a Youtube link so you can hear the title song from the album.
The songs themselves are catchy in a way that makes you sing along without realizing it. The lyrics are surprisingly melancholy, dealing with growing older and realizing that you aren't the energetic kid you were when you started ("It's been 25/since I wrote/Blue Collar Love/Man, I had my turn/I need to go/Stayed longer than most"). But the music still has an upbeat groove to it that keeps it from feeling depressing. Martin walks that line between melancholy and depression like an expert.
My only complaint isn't really a complaint: Starflyer has some of the best guitar solos to end songs, and this album is no different, but they feel truncated - like they cut out too early. I would love longer outros like they used on older albums. Listen to the song "Cry," for a good example - the end of the song is amazing, beginning at 2:00, but it doesn't last long enough.
In the past 25 years Starflyer 59 has not released a bad album. Each album has a different sound and groove to it, but they are all undeniably Starflyer. I, for one, will continue to listen to their albums and hope they go another 25 years.
What began as a "shoegazer" band in the mid 90's (think Smashing Pumpkins meets The Smiths) has progressed over the years through heavy, chunky guitars, to Brit-pop mixed with synth, to this new album which just ... rocks. With the release of the band's 15th full album (not to mention many EPs and collections), band lead Jason Martin has shown that he's still got it. "Young In My Head" is soothing, catchy rock that is perfect driving music.
I'll attach a Youtube link so you can hear the title song from the album.
The songs themselves are catchy in a way that makes you sing along without realizing it. The lyrics are surprisingly melancholy, dealing with growing older and realizing that you aren't the energetic kid you were when you started ("It's been 25/since I wrote/Blue Collar Love/Man, I had my turn/I need to go/Stayed longer than most"). But the music still has an upbeat groove to it that keeps it from feeling depressing. Martin walks that line between melancholy and depression like an expert.
My only complaint isn't really a complaint: Starflyer has some of the best guitar solos to end songs, and this album is no different, but they feel truncated - like they cut out too early. I would love longer outros like they used on older albums. Listen to the song "Cry," for a good example - the end of the song is amazing, beginning at 2:00, but it doesn't last long enough.
In the past 25 years Starflyer 59 has not released a bad album. Each album has a different sound and groove to it, but they are all undeniably Starflyer. I, for one, will continue to listen to their albums and hope they go another 25 years.
Neon's Nerd Nexus (360 KP) rated Wild Rose (2018) in Movies
May 13, 2019
River wild
#wildrose is a powerful & #depressing look at the harsh reality of trying to chase your dreams & raise a #family at the same time. #Jessiebuckley plays Rose a young #woman forced to grow up to fast because of mistakes she made at a very young age. This is not your usual #happy singer #songwriter film instead going for a more raw vibe which keeps the film grounded in a very harsh, relatable & achievable reality. Rose fresh out of #prison (fuelled, driven & inspired by her #passion for country music) #feels like she is destined to play at #nashville & as we follow her from the highs to the lows we get such a tremendous sense of who this woman really is. Shes selfish neglectful, hot headed & reckless not only hurting family but leaving most people who come into her life miserable too. Shes essentailly been forced to grow up quick having children then becoming incarcerated at a young age which has zapped her youth away from her. Its all very riviting/#heartbreaking stuff watching her trying to chase her dreams then having to grow up & accept responisibility for her actions. Harsh realities of life are a big focus here & there's something deeply sad when the film communicates how we all have #dreams yet life always seems to find ways of putting them on hold or removing them from our path completely. Acting is award worthy with Jessies absolutely captivating & show stopping performance followed closely by the also stunning #juliewalters. All in all i was extremely won over by this movie, it got to me on an emotional/relatable level while surprising me with the broad #issues it tackles. Not your average feel good music movie 'Wild Rose' has #heart, #soul & a deep burning fire full of meaning that's hard to ignore. #countrygirl #country #odeon #odeonlimitless #ciniphile #mondaymotivation #singer #singing #america #glasgow #scottish #astarisborn #screenunseen
Neon's Nerd Nexus (360 KP) rated First Man (2018) in Movies
May 13, 2019
Hotter than the sun
#firstman is tense, awe inspiring, #breathtaking & a visually splendor continuing #damienchazelle streak of mind blowing films. I won't pretend I know a lot about the #moonlanding & the #spacerace because I don't so I will be giving my opinion here on the film itself not its historical accuracy. Where First Man really succeeds it its visuals & sound design, there are times when you would actually believe some scenes were archive footage it looks that authentic. Grain covers the screen giving the film an #oldfashioned feel but at the same time the film feels light years ahead & current too. Sound is crisp & punchy with the desolate & intimidating silence of #space to the screeches, roars & rattles heard from inside the space capsule, its scary stuff really putting you in the boots of the astronauts. There's some damn right insane cinematography here too with stand outs being a pov crash & the moon landing its self which is such a #beautiful & impact full scene my entire screening held their breath & cheered just like watching the real thing. #ryangosling is so good here as #neilarmstrong he's a troubled man dealing with loss, #family commitment, dedication to his mission & his own personal #demons. Ryan doesnt say much but his face shows all the pain, tiredness, loneliness, how smart he is & his #passion constantly. The effects the mission has on his & his family's #mental state is explored greatly & #clairefoy is also mesmerising as his worried wife showing the effects from here side too. We all know the basic story of the #moon landing yet Damien makes it a fresh, tense, deep & exciting in a film so full of wonder & exploration into the unknown that as we watch the camera dance around space its dazzling & almost dreamy especially with its #gorgeous almost #lalaland esque score. There's also so much #nostalgia here with scenes reminiscent of #alien, 2001 a space odyssey, #retro #scifi films & even old #musicals. Everyone needs to see this film & see it big. Its award worthy thats for sure. #stevenspielberg #fridaythe13th #fridayfeeling #odeon #odeonlimitless #filmbuff #filmcritic
Not to be taken at face value
This is one of those books that if you read it and then let it digest for a while, it becomes much more than it originally appears. Unfortunately, as this is quite a short story, I can’t go into much detail without giving the game away but I would suggest that if you want to get the most out of it, you don’t take it at face value.
The premise of the story is simple, two friends (Nate and AJ) spend their last night together in a “funhouse” before AJ gets shipped off to Afghanistan. The “funhouse” is not what you would find at Blackpool Pleasure Beach; there is no fun involved. From the entrance, Nate and AJ need to discard all their possessions in exchange for a pair of pyjamas and paper shoes and once inside, they are not allowed to go back - they become inmates/patients.
It doesn’t take long for the shenanigans to begin and we are “treated” to some pretty graphic descriptions of what befalls the participants. I’m quite a hardened horror reader but even some of the “treatments” made me squirm. There were a couple of “tutting” moments though as is usual with horror books (and films) whereby the characters do things that you really wouldn't do in real life but, on the whole, it’s pretty good.
I’m not sure that I can say that the main characters of Nate and AJ are particularly likeable as I didn’t feel myself warming to them at all or particularly caring about what happened to them but they are believable and well developed for such a short story.
I have read another book by Z Rider - Suckers: A Horror Novel - which was thoroughly engrossing and, like this book, has more to it than first meets the eye and I would recommend them both to anyone who enjoys this genre.
Thank you to the publisher, Dark Ride Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with an advance copy in return for an honest review.
The premise of the story is simple, two friends (Nate and AJ) spend their last night together in a “funhouse” before AJ gets shipped off to Afghanistan. The “funhouse” is not what you would find at Blackpool Pleasure Beach; there is no fun involved. From the entrance, Nate and AJ need to discard all their possessions in exchange for a pair of pyjamas and paper shoes and once inside, they are not allowed to go back - they become inmates/patients.
It doesn’t take long for the shenanigans to begin and we are “treated” to some pretty graphic descriptions of what befalls the participants. I’m quite a hardened horror reader but even some of the “treatments” made me squirm. There were a couple of “tutting” moments though as is usual with horror books (and films) whereby the characters do things that you really wouldn't do in real life but, on the whole, it’s pretty good.
I’m not sure that I can say that the main characters of Nate and AJ are particularly likeable as I didn’t feel myself warming to them at all or particularly caring about what happened to them but they are believable and well developed for such a short story.
I have read another book by Z Rider - Suckers: A Horror Novel - which was thoroughly engrossing and, like this book, has more to it than first meets the eye and I would recommend them both to anyone who enjoys this genre.
Thank you to the publisher, Dark Ride Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with an advance copy in return for an honest review.
Dana (24 KP) rated The Rose and the Dagger in Books
Mar 23, 2018
I thought this series was going to be longer. Why did it have to end when I just started it?
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I thought I was going to be in a major reading slump for a while after reading ACOMAF, but this book proves that I'm not! Yay!
I liked how the characters developed in this book. (If you can't tell, that is one of the main things I judge on whether I enjoyed the book or not.) Shazi and Khalid are so adorable and will go to the ends of the earth for each other, but not in an overbearing or controlling way. As it says in the book they don't belong to anyone. They belong together. I feel like that is a good way to look at them. They care so deeply for each other, but they are still independent and are able to function without the other (for the most part).
I wanted to see more of Despina in this book. The parts we did get to see her in, though, were awesome! Girl power!
I loved getting to know Irsa, Shazi's sister, because she showcased another side of Shazi that wasn't shown much in the first book. We get to see her interacting with the family she loves so much, and I really appreciate that.
The plot was also super fun. I won't post any spoilers, but it moved along very nicely and it wasn't predictable to me!
I was lucky enough to get to meet Renee Ahdieh at YA'llWest this year, and she is so sweet! She honestly cares about her readers and her writing!!
The only thing I'm bummed about is that my picture I took with her disappeared from my phone, so that's a bummer!
Overall, I would definitely recommend this book series, including the cute short stories, to just about anyone. They have the fairy tale-esque vibe to them while still being very independent and powerful! I am so glad I was convinced to pick up this series!
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I thought I was going to be in a major reading slump for a while after reading ACOMAF, but this book proves that I'm not! Yay!
I liked how the characters developed in this book. (If you can't tell, that is one of the main things I judge on whether I enjoyed the book or not.) Shazi and Khalid are so adorable and will go to the ends of the earth for each other, but not in an overbearing or controlling way. As it says in the book they don't belong to anyone. They belong together. I feel like that is a good way to look at them. They care so deeply for each other, but they are still independent and are able to function without the other (for the most part).
I wanted to see more of Despina in this book. The parts we did get to see her in, though, were awesome! Girl power!
I loved getting to know Irsa, Shazi's sister, because she showcased another side of Shazi that wasn't shown much in the first book. We get to see her interacting with the family she loves so much, and I really appreciate that.
The plot was also super fun. I won't post any spoilers, but it moved along very nicely and it wasn't predictable to me!
I was lucky enough to get to meet Renee Ahdieh at YA'llWest this year, and she is so sweet! She honestly cares about her readers and her writing!!
The only thing I'm bummed about is that my picture I took with her disappeared from my phone, so that's a bummer!
Overall, I would definitely recommend this book series, including the cute short stories, to just about anyone. They have the fairy tale-esque vibe to them while still being very independent and powerful! I am so glad I was convinced to pick up this series!