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TL
The Long Hard Road Out of Hell
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I read this book for my 2014 Book Challenge. In this challenge I asked certain people to recommend books to me and I told them that I would read them sometime this year. This was my sister's recommendation.

First off, if you۪re going to read this book make sure that it is the actual book. The ebook does not compare to the actual book.

I have never been a huge fan of Marilyn Manson but I'm not a huge fan of metal music or shock-rock. I tend to stay on the pop-rock and alt-rock area so I was definitely apprehensive with this book. I have heard many rumors about Marilyn Manson but I never actually cared to learn whether they were the truth or not. This was very fascinating. I found myself intrigued while reading this book.

This book is disturbing, grotesque and honestly I was horrified for half of the book. This book definitely was shocking. The pictures in the middle were hard to look at without squirming and they definitely made me very uncomfortable when looking at them. The stories were also fascinating yet horrifying.

This book was also very introspective. I found myself fascinated by Marilyn Manson and it had me wanting to read more.

This book definitely wasn۪t my normal flavor but ultimately I am giving this book 4 stars because it fascinated me!
  
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KarenRC (6 KP) rated The Anomaly in Books

Jul 23, 2018  
The Anomaly
The Anomaly
Michael Rutger | 2018 | Science Fiction/Fantasy, Thriller
8
7.7 (6 Ratings)
Book Rating
Former screenwriter turned YouTuber Nolan Moore, has been leading his team and viewers on adventures to uncover mysteries in various locations, with increasingly disappointing results. His latest expedition takes them to the Grand Canyon in search of a cavern previously found by an old explorer that Nolan wants to see for himself. With his trusty team around him they head off, but after searching for two days, they start to lose hope. Just as they are about to give up and go home, they spot something high up on the canyon wall and for the first time, Nolan is convinced that he has finally uncovered an actual mystery. But what is the secret hidden in the cavern? And just how much are they going to wish that they had never found it?!
I am really excited to hear that the film rights for this book have been picked up because it is written like a Hollywood blockbuster. Not surprising really as the author is in fact a screenwriter from California! But after a bit of a slow start, the action picks up and it is then a fast-paced adventure. In the vein of Indiana Jones and Tomb Raider with some brilliant characters, especially Ken, I can definitely see this on the big screen and can't wait to see who they cast.
  
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Mary (13 KP) rated The Den (2014) in Movies

Jul 28, 2018 (Updated Jul 29, 2018)  
The Den (2014)
The Den (2014)
2014 | Horror, Mystery, Thriller
7
7.2 (5 Ratings)
Movie Rating
I enjoyed the perspective of seeing the person through the webcam when the hacker was present. It made it obvious what was occurring and added an interesting effect to the movie. (0 more)
The only issue I found with this movie was that there was no definitive climax. There was a whole lot of rising action, however it was difficult to acknowledge a singular climax as many different issues were presented all at once. (0 more)
Contains spoilers, click to show
I was very taken by the trailer of the movie "The Den" because I viewed it as an actual fear that many people have in today's society. I was able to find the movie on Netflix and it was pretty enjoyable. The storyline progressed at a decent rate and, all in all, was very interesting. I would not consider it a horror film, it was more of a thriller in my opinion. There is a bit of gore, but it isn't bad for the category it falls into. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone who scares easily or is paranoid of being watched through the webcams of electronic devices.


The addition of the dark web Red Room at the very end of the movie was very suprising. However, I found it to be a great addition to the storyline as it was a link to what the hackers were doing with their victims.
  
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Christine A. (965 KP) rated 806 in Books

Nov 14, 2018  
806
806
Cynthia Weil | 2018 | Young Adult (YA)
8
7.0 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book so I could give an honest review. Ò806Ó by Cynthia Weir is a fun, fast-read about three newly found siblingsÕ road trip to find their biological father. Even though the issues discussed are serious, the author was able to portray them in an easy-to-read and upbeat way.

Often, we use novels, especially Young Adult novels, as a way to escape our own lives and this book allows you to follow the main characters along a very interesting road trip. The teens are portrayed as real teens. They are not perfect. They make mistakes. They say and/do the wrong things. They have feelings. They express those feelings without falling into teenager's typical stereotypes. They have opinions. They let those opinions be known. While some of their antics were a bit unbelievable, don't most novels make you suspend reality? I found myself enjoying and engrossed by the story and characters and cheering for them to succeed and find their father.

I thoroughly enjoyed the authorÕs writing style. I have not read anything by this author but I have heard, liked, and sang along with many of the songs she wrote. Check out her long list of songs on Wikipedia. I would add her to my "want to read" list.
  
TC
The Clock Of Life
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Firstly, thank you to Nancy Klann-Moren for approaching me to read and review this book. Congratulations are also in order, as The Clock of Life was nominated for the general fiction/novel section of the Indie Book Awards.

This book gets a middling 3 stars from me. I found the character development to be really detailed, and I felt as though I knew the characters by the end. As the blurb already mentions, the main focus of the book is on Jason Lee. Starting from when he began school and ending with a relationship and career choice as a teenager, this book is Jason's journey through childhood.

The reason it didn't rate any higher for me though is that I found it to be fairly slow paced, and at times weighed down with politics that as an English woman, I didn't completely connect with. Plotwise, while things did happen, it didn't become exciting until right at the end.

The message about race is a good one, and the book highlights how far attitudes towards race have come. I did enjoy it, although maybe not in the way I enjoyed a book like The Hunger Games, where I felt a sense of satisfaction and couldn't wait to read more. If you like bildungsromans/coming-of-age stories, I'd definitely recommend it.
  
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Shane Crick (5 KP) rated The Presence in Books

Dec 10, 2018  
TP
The Presence
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
You enter the life of Rosalind and events that occur within her personal life. She ends up landing the job of Branch Manager at a local library. This library Is rumored to be haunted and harbors some Interesting characters that Rosalind has to endure at her workplace. Finding herself suddenly homeless and armed with her furry friend Tofu, Rosalind finds herself engulfed In an supernatural adventure that will forever change her life and those around her.

I really wanted to like this book, but found myself dredging on and couldn't wait to finish. For me, I found It was quite slow at arriving upon any action that started to make the book more Interesting. I generally enjoy mystery, supernatural books, but this one was a tough cookie overall. I truly wished the Author added a bit more drama within the first chapters to keep It Interesting, Instead of slowly, Increasing to a dismal climax, to be drug back down the hill to reach another one. There are some good plots within the book that kept me reading and wanting to find out what the final outcome would be. However, predictable most times, I persevered on to the finish line.

I received an Advanced Readers Copy of this book and In return, this Is my personal, unbiased review of this particular book.
  
I'm Not Cinderella
I'm Not Cinderella
Tarrah Montgomery | 2014 | Science Fiction/Fantasy
7
7.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I received this book as a gift from my best friend who insisted I read it. (Thanks, Krystal. Darn you!) I ended up enjoying it more than I thought I would.

The story follows Brinlee, a 17-year-old girl from Idaho, as she accidentally switches places with Cinderella after finding a secret door in her attic bedroom. While stuck in this fairytale world, Brinlee threatens the happily ever after of this beloved tale; now with new mysteries surrounding the characters, Brinlee is determined to uncover those secrets. Along the way, she meets some new friends and finds unexpected love.

I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this one. Especially given the fact that I almost gave up on it. It started out slow and didn’t really hold my attention until about halfway through, at which point the story took off including an unexpected twist that had me hooked and anxious to see how it would play out.

Once the story picked up, I found it hard to put down. However, I was slightly disappointed with the ending and the introduction or revelation of the identities of characters that were only vaguely introduced to begin with.

Overall, I found it to be a good clean read that I would recommend to any fan of Cinderella.
  
Lost and Found
Lost and Found
Orson Scott Card | 2019 | Contemporary, Crime, Science Fiction/Fantasy
7
7.5 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
‏I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book so I could give an honest review.

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card is one of my favorite books. Being offered the opportunity to read his latest, Lost and Found, is an honor and privilege. I know I am supposed to be unbiased when doing reviews but it was difficult in this case.

Lost and Found is not long, less than 300 pages, and flows wells so it is a quick read. In it, we are introduced to Ezekiel Blast who has a gift for finding lost items. He feels compelled to return his finds. Instead of being thanked, people accuse him of taking the items in the first place. He is friendless and an outcast until a girl walks up to him and asks "Are you really a thief?

This story is charming and engaging. The well-developed characters are endearing. It is being marketed as SciFi and Fantasy as well as Teen and Young Adult. I agree it is a Teen/YA book but, if anything, it is light SciFi and Fantasy. People who do not usually read SciFi and Fantasy will enjoy this story.

I believe I gave an unbiased opinion on this story especially since it is not a typical SciFi and Fantasy book.

This 200-word review was published on Philomathinphila.com on 1/27/20.
  
Good Girls Lie
Good Girls Lie
J.T. Ellison | 2019 | Fiction & Poetry, Mystery, Thriller
7
7.4 (5 Ratings)
Book Rating
‏I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book so I could give an honest review.

J.T. Ellison's latest work, Good Girls Lie, is set in an elite boarding school which is set atop a hill in the small town of Marchburg, Virginia. The students are only the best girls who are hand-picked each year by the dean. However, it is not a young adult book. It is a thriller full of secrets, secret societies, lies, and a strict honor code that is not always followed.

In the beginning, I found it difficult to get into the book but I am glad I kept reading. Several reviewers described it as fast-paced but I disagree. It is a slow burn but it does definitely burn. The twists were both expected and unexpected but worked well.

It opens with a body being found then flashes back to learn the events that lead up to the death. It is not a new tactic but, with the story, it works well.

J.T. Ellison is best known for her Lt. Taylor Jackson series. The 8th book, "Field of Graves" was published in 2015. She has teamed up with Catherine Coulter to write "A Brit in the FBI" series. The 6th book in the series, The Last Second, was published in 2019.

This 200-word review was published on Philomathinphila.com on 1/10/2020.
  
A Conspiracy of Bones (Temperance Brennan #19)
A Conspiracy of Bones (Temperance Brennan #19)
Kathy Reichs | 2020 | Crime, Thriller
6
8.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
Disappointed
Having read previous outings involving Temperance Brennan, although not for some time, I was keen to dip back in to find out what was going on with her but, and I am really sorry to say this, this one just didn't grab me like they usually do and I found myself jumping in and out rather than being captivated and enthralled. If I'm honest, I think this is my fault ... I should have kept up with the series as I believe I have missed out on an awful lot.

I found the story really hard to get into with quite a bit of inner dialogue which was a little tedious. It did pick up the more I read but just not enough to keep my interest from start to finish. The characters however are excellent and the bones of the story is there, I just felt the execution wasn't as good as previous books from this author.

I do think that people who have read the entire series will enjoy it more than I did and I would therefore suggest that if you are thinking of starting with this one, don't as it will put you off reading more of this author's work and you will certainly be missing out.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster UK and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest review.