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Bethr1986 (305 KP) rated Shadow Guardian (Blood Shadows #1) in Books
Feb 27, 2022
Kay has never felt wanted or loved by her parents and has a strong resentment towards them. The only people she can trust in her life are Elizabeth, Zayn, James and David. When dark shadows start attacking people Kay will find out who she can trust as she battles to save everybody against the destructive shadows and their chaos.
I absolutely loved this book and did not want it to end! I finished the last page of the last chapter turned the page to see thank and was like no! I've not finished reading that yet I don't want it to finish!
I enjoyed the fight scenes they were really descriptive that you can imagine the tendrils and reactions of every character. I think the growth of the relationship between Kay and Ethan is well written and I can understand the turmoil between them both and found myself at times calling either character a name because of their reaction to an incident.
Completely gripping, with thrills, mystery, love and betrayal. Can't wait to read the next one!
Please read
I absolutely loved this book and did not want it to end! I finished the last page of the last chapter turned the page to see thank and was like no! I've not finished reading that yet I don't want it to finish!
I enjoyed the fight scenes they were really descriptive that you can imagine the tendrils and reactions of every character. I think the growth of the relationship between Kay and Ethan is well written and I can understand the turmoil between them both and found myself at times calling either character a name because of their reaction to an incident.
Completely gripping, with thrills, mystery, love and betrayal. Can't wait to read the next one!
Please read
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Unlike typical Forums and Review Apps with different sub categories, with Smashbomb you are able submit your individual reviews, and read reviews submitted by others, all in one place. Personally, I think that this is imperative as I have found myself exploring alternative genres of books, movies and music that I otherwise would not have without the reviews submitted by yourselves.
The Community here on Smashbomb is not comparable to general Communites that are prevalent throughout Social Media and Apps. Here, we value each others opinions, and we are grateful for those opinions and differentiating genres that then allow ourselves to expand our current genre taste.
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Join, and stay as a member of our Community.
Unlike typical Forums and Review Apps with different sub categories, with Smashbomb you are able submit your individual reviews, and read reviews submitted by others, all in one place. Personally, I think that this is imperative as I have found myself exploring alternative genres of books, movies and music that I otherwise would not have without the reviews submitted by yourselves.
The Community here on Smashbomb is not comparable to general Communites that are prevalent throughout Social Media and Apps. Here, we value each others opinions, and we are grateful for those opinions and differentiating genres that then allow ourselves to expand our current genre taste.
Smashbomb also provide giveaways. I myself was fortunate enough to be picked as a winner for a giveaway which was a Funko Pop. I won this giveaway an approximate two years ago, and that same Funko Pop is on my shelf watching as I write this review.
Join, and stay as a member of our Community.
Oh my word! Well that was a disturbing and dark book but I found myself racing through it and literally couldn't put it down .. a cliché I know but absolutely true in this case.
What can I say? Gripping, frighteningly realistic and topical, dark, tense and heart-wrenching ... just a great book all round really. I must add a warning though, it does deal with violence towards women and whilst this is, as you can imagine, not pleasant, it is I feel an honest portrayal of what is going on in the world today.
Written from the perspective of all the main characters, this is a fast-paced and engrossing read with a twist that caught me by surprise.
I haven't read anything by this author before but will certainly be keeping my eyes open in the future and my thanks must go to Avon Books UK and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest, unbiased and unedited review and for introducing me to another new author.
What can I say? Gripping, frighteningly realistic and topical, dark, tense and heart-wrenching ... just a great book all round really. I must add a warning though, it does deal with violence towards women and whilst this is, as you can imagine, not pleasant, it is I feel an honest portrayal of what is going on in the world today.
Written from the perspective of all the main characters, this is a fast-paced and engrossing read with a twist that caught me by surprise.
I haven't read anything by this author before but will certainly be keeping my eyes open in the future and my thanks must go to Avon Books UK and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest, unbiased and unedited review and for introducing me to another new author.
Molly J (Cover To Cover Cafe) (106 KP) rated Lydia, Woman of Philippi in Books
Feb 27, 2019
I am a picky reader when it comes to Biblical fiction. I've found very few authors who captivate me completely with the Biblical fiction. Diana Wallis Taylor is one of those few authors. When I sit down to Ms. Taylor's work, I know that I can prepare myself for the powerful messages within, I can prepare myself for the feeling as if I am right there in the middle of some of the most incredible happenings in the Bible. That's how good her writing style is.
With Lydia, I got just that. Taken from the book of Acts and Lydia's story, we learn all about the wonderful woman of the color purple. The things she endured with a father who didn't care for the fact that she chose her mother's religion, and with an arranged marriage.....it just really tugged at my heart and made me fall in love! I loved the way she was chiseled so vividly. The way she overcame her issues, and her determination to stand tall despite it all, and the way her heart opened up after meeting Paul....it all really just enveloped me and took me on a ride that I won't soon forget!
This is definitely a 4 star worthy Biblical novel. If you love learning about the Bible in interesting ways, if you want a deeper relationship with reading and with God, then Ms. Taylor's Lydia is one you don't want to miss. You'll be taken to the center of the story, captivated completely, and fall in love with the Biblical accounts in a whole new way. I know I did! I can't wait to read another amazing, moving, and heart twisting story from the talented work of Diana Wallis Taylor.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and was under no obligation to post a review, positive or negative.*
With Lydia, I got just that. Taken from the book of Acts and Lydia's story, we learn all about the wonderful woman of the color purple. The things she endured with a father who didn't care for the fact that she chose her mother's religion, and with an arranged marriage.....it just really tugged at my heart and made me fall in love! I loved the way she was chiseled so vividly. The way she overcame her issues, and her determination to stand tall despite it all, and the way her heart opened up after meeting Paul....it all really just enveloped me and took me on a ride that I won't soon forget!
This is definitely a 4 star worthy Biblical novel. If you love learning about the Bible in interesting ways, if you want a deeper relationship with reading and with God, then Ms. Taylor's Lydia is one you don't want to miss. You'll be taken to the center of the story, captivated completely, and fall in love with the Biblical accounts in a whole new way. I know I did! I can't wait to read another amazing, moving, and heart twisting story from the talented work of Diana Wallis Taylor.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and was under no obligation to post a review, positive or negative.*
Emma @ The Movies (1786 KP) rated Hunter Killer (2018) in Movies
Sep 25, 2019
Now let's be honest, we all know that Hunter Killer isn't going to be sweeping the Oscar noms. As action fans, do we care? Noooooope!
This is a film that does exactly what you expect, and want it to do. It's Olympus Has Fallen. It's White House Down. It's Geostorm. It's modern action that you don't have to think about. It's that perfect diversion.
I think they tried to capitalise on the big names in this one for the posters. It doesn't really seem like Gary Oldman is in it enough to warrant second billing, but what do I know? The supporting actors were very good. The more I see Common pop up in films the more I'm enjoying him. There are also great performances from Toby Stephens, Michael Nyqvist and Linda Cardellini, which was a nice surprise.
Thanks to half term and my holiday I was traumatised to realise that I was potentially going to miss this one at the cinema. It was on for just one week at my Cineworld which coincided with my first week away, I got back to find most places weren't showing it any more and as expected, I was annoyed. Stupid half term. Vue ended up coming to my rescue with one slight drawback... it was only showing at a time where I'd have norally been in bed for about two hours.
There was a reason for the last bit of waffle. Having to see it in the middle of the night, I was fully aware that the film starts out relatively slowly. I found myself drifting off a little bit, but when the action started I was drawn in and some of the pieces were very effective.
I ended up doing a bit of an IMDb surf from this film while looking at some of the actors. It was a surprising learning curve. Hunter Killer was one of the last films made by Michael Nyqvist before his death, I also discovered that Toby Stephens is Maggie Smith's son. Two very different things that I'm surprised I didn't know.
What you should do
Hunter Killer is definitely worth watching if you catch it on the TV or streaming. It's an entertaining action film that will pass a couple of hours.
Movie thing you wish you could take home
I could do with some handy radar that would help me work out if spaces were big enough for me to parallel park in.
This is a film that does exactly what you expect, and want it to do. It's Olympus Has Fallen. It's White House Down. It's Geostorm. It's modern action that you don't have to think about. It's that perfect diversion.
I think they tried to capitalise on the big names in this one for the posters. It doesn't really seem like Gary Oldman is in it enough to warrant second billing, but what do I know? The supporting actors were very good. The more I see Common pop up in films the more I'm enjoying him. There are also great performances from Toby Stephens, Michael Nyqvist and Linda Cardellini, which was a nice surprise.
Thanks to half term and my holiday I was traumatised to realise that I was potentially going to miss this one at the cinema. It was on for just one week at my Cineworld which coincided with my first week away, I got back to find most places weren't showing it any more and as expected, I was annoyed. Stupid half term. Vue ended up coming to my rescue with one slight drawback... it was only showing at a time where I'd have norally been in bed for about two hours.
There was a reason for the last bit of waffle. Having to see it in the middle of the night, I was fully aware that the film starts out relatively slowly. I found myself drifting off a little bit, but when the action started I was drawn in and some of the pieces were very effective.
I ended up doing a bit of an IMDb surf from this film while looking at some of the actors. It was a surprising learning curve. Hunter Killer was one of the last films made by Michael Nyqvist before his death, I also discovered that Toby Stephens is Maggie Smith's son. Two very different things that I'm surprised I didn't know.
What you should do
Hunter Killer is definitely worth watching if you catch it on the TV or streaming. It's an entertaining action film that will pass a couple of hours.
Movie thing you wish you could take home
I could do with some handy radar that would help me work out if spaces were big enough for me to parallel park in.
Kristy H (1252 KP) rated Our Little Secret in Books
Apr 12, 2018
Excellent, well-written suspense novel from debut author
"All love stories are crime stories and all crime stories, love. If you say that's not true, you're not looking properly. Perhaps when two people join, it's inevitable, the things they'll damage in each other." ~Angela to Novak*
Angela is being held for interrogation at the police station. Detective Novak wants only thing from her--to know where Saskia is. But Angela cannot comply; instead, she tells Detective Novak a story, one starting with her senior year, when she fell in love with a boy named HP. As she tells her tale, it becomes clear it is one of love, sadness, betrayal, and anger. Does Angela know where Saskia is? And can we trust her?
This was a really fascinating and different book, and it was so refreshing to read something that felt original and unlike so many of the suspense novels I've read lately. I will say upfront: Nay is an excellent storyteller, and I found this novel to be wonderfully written. Parts of this story actually hurt me to read, because it was so vividly told. I could so clearly picture the events unfolding and visualize this tale of teen love gone wrong.
I loved the idea that our entire book is Angela, trapped at the police station, telling the story of the last several years of her life to Detective Novak. It seems unconventional, and it is, but it worked well for me. It took the unreliable narrator trope to a different level, and it was so much better than the drunken, rambling, angry unreliable narrator that we see so often. Angela tells her tale of woe and bitterness to the Detective, with only minor interruptions as he provides some pieces of new evidence that occasionally cast doubt upon her viewpoints. As such, we are left to guess how truthful she is being with all of us. Every statement she makes is charged with double meaning. I found the entire thing to be incredibly compelling and oddly fascinating. I was completely hooked, madly flipping the pages to find out what happened next. Even more, I was amazed at how Nay created sympathy toward a character who wasn't all that likeable at times. I was rooting for her, even when I knew I probably shouldn't.
I felt this faltered only a little near the end, where I wasn't quite sure I was on board with everything, but it certainly wasn't enough to diminish my love of the novel. And the actual ending is excellent and basically redeemed it all. Overall, this was an excellent, well-written, suspenseful novel. Angela is a dynamic and complicated character who immediately draws you in with her narration. I was constantly second-guessing her as I read and found the entire novel to be incredibly powerful and satisfying. Apparently this is Nay's first book, which is even more impressive. Can't wait for the next one. Definitely worth a read! 4+ stars.
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher and Netgalley in return for an unbiased review (thank you!).
*all quotes from an advanced reader copy and subject to change
Angela is being held for interrogation at the police station. Detective Novak wants only thing from her--to know where Saskia is. But Angela cannot comply; instead, she tells Detective Novak a story, one starting with her senior year, when she fell in love with a boy named HP. As she tells her tale, it becomes clear it is one of love, sadness, betrayal, and anger. Does Angela know where Saskia is? And can we trust her?
This was a really fascinating and different book, and it was so refreshing to read something that felt original and unlike so many of the suspense novels I've read lately. I will say upfront: Nay is an excellent storyteller, and I found this novel to be wonderfully written. Parts of this story actually hurt me to read, because it was so vividly told. I could so clearly picture the events unfolding and visualize this tale of teen love gone wrong.
I loved the idea that our entire book is Angela, trapped at the police station, telling the story of the last several years of her life to Detective Novak. It seems unconventional, and it is, but it worked well for me. It took the unreliable narrator trope to a different level, and it was so much better than the drunken, rambling, angry unreliable narrator that we see so often. Angela tells her tale of woe and bitterness to the Detective, with only minor interruptions as he provides some pieces of new evidence that occasionally cast doubt upon her viewpoints. As such, we are left to guess how truthful she is being with all of us. Every statement she makes is charged with double meaning. I found the entire thing to be incredibly compelling and oddly fascinating. I was completely hooked, madly flipping the pages to find out what happened next. Even more, I was amazed at how Nay created sympathy toward a character who wasn't all that likeable at times. I was rooting for her, even when I knew I probably shouldn't.
I felt this faltered only a little near the end, where I wasn't quite sure I was on board with everything, but it certainly wasn't enough to diminish my love of the novel. And the actual ending is excellent and basically redeemed it all. Overall, this was an excellent, well-written, suspenseful novel. Angela is a dynamic and complicated character who immediately draws you in with her narration. I was constantly second-guessing her as I read and found the entire novel to be incredibly powerful and satisfying. Apparently this is Nay's first book, which is even more impressive. Can't wait for the next one. Definitely worth a read! 4+ stars.
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher and Netgalley in return for an unbiased review (thank you!).
*all quotes from an advanced reader copy and subject to change
Gemma (26 KP) rated The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974) in Movies
Oct 18, 2019
This movie is odd for me. It's seen as a cult classic and a 'must watch' but when I watched it I found myself extremely disappointed.
It's not that the movie is bad, don't get me wrong it's not... But it's so hyped up that you can't help but feel disappointed when the gore level is low and so is the kill count.
Be that as it may it is a good movie. The acting is decent, the plot is good and the characters are memorable. It's also greatly improved for any serial killer nerds like myself when you see all of the connections to Ed Gein throughout the movie and Leatherface being inspired by him. Not to mention the respect you gain for the cast and crew when you see the filming conditions they had to put up with.
So yeah, this movie is good and any horror fan should watch it at least once but..... Don't get your hopes up for a full on blood bath.
It's not that the movie is bad, don't get me wrong it's not... But it's so hyped up that you can't help but feel disappointed when the gore level is low and so is the kill count.
Be that as it may it is a good movie. The acting is decent, the plot is good and the characters are memorable. It's also greatly improved for any serial killer nerds like myself when you see all of the connections to Ed Gein throughout the movie and Leatherface being inspired by him. Not to mention the respect you gain for the cast and crew when you see the filming conditions they had to put up with.
So yeah, this movie is good and any horror fan should watch it at least once but..... Don't get your hopes up for a full on blood bath.
Fortnite Funny
4.5
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Hey brothers! 😄 I'm Fortnite Funny! (Or Michael!) And on my Channel, you can watch, enjoy, and...
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2171 KP) rated Double Whammy in Books
May 18, 2019
I Wanted to Like this Book More Than I Actually Did
Former police officer Davis Way has finally landed a new job. She’s working as undercover security at the Bellissimo Resort and Casino in Biloxi, Mississippi. The first thing she’s asked to do is figure out how someone is rigging the Double Whammy machines to win the jackpot. She’s just started the investigation when she makes a startling discovery – the person getting the jackpots is her ex-ex-husband, a man she doesn’t want back in her life. Can she figure out how he is rigging the machines without crossing his path?
I’ve had this series and this book on my radar for a while. While I don’t gamble, the casino setting intrigued, and I know this series is very popular. Unfortunately, this is one of those books that entertains while you are reading, but when you set it down, you begin to see the flaws. There is a good plot here, but it gets distracted several times with sub-plots that slow things down. I did like how Davis’s complicated past is given to us in flashbacks spread out over the entire novel; it helps give some of her actions more context. Unfortunately, I felt she made some very stupid decisions over the course of the novel, especially in the final third. There’s a complication in that final third that stretched my ability to suspend disbelief as well. It’s a shame because I liked the characters and can see them growing even more over the course of a series. This book describes itself as a comic caper, and I’ve found that some just don’t work for me, and I think that’s the case here. I know the series has many fans, but this debut didn’t work for me as well as I wanted it to.
I’ve had this series and this book on my radar for a while. While I don’t gamble, the casino setting intrigued, and I know this series is very popular. Unfortunately, this is one of those books that entertains while you are reading, but when you set it down, you begin to see the flaws. There is a good plot here, but it gets distracted several times with sub-plots that slow things down. I did like how Davis’s complicated past is given to us in flashbacks spread out over the entire novel; it helps give some of her actions more context. Unfortunately, I felt she made some very stupid decisions over the course of the novel, especially in the final third. There’s a complication in that final third that stretched my ability to suspend disbelief as well. It’s a shame because I liked the characters and can see them growing even more over the course of a series. This book describes itself as a comic caper, and I’ve found that some just don’t work for me, and I think that’s the case here. I know the series has many fans, but this debut didn’t work for me as well as I wanted it to.
BookInspector (124 KP) rated Eat, Drink, Run: How I Got Fit Without Going Too Mad in Books
Sep 24, 2020
The blurb describes this book pretty accurately. After meeting The Royals, Bryony accidentally offered to run a marathon for Heads Together charity, who helps people suffering from mental health issues. I really loved how brutally honest and funny this memoir was. Bryony tells the reader the darkest and most shameful events of her life with pride! I think many people can relate to Bryony and her life lessons in one way or another. She openly speaks about her weight, OCD, depression, personal life struggles as well as her achievements with Mental Health Mates, her interview with Prince Harry and finishing the marathon.
Bryony talks a lot about mental health in this book, sometimes it did feel a little bit too much for me. I do understand the importance of it, but it got a little bit repetitive at times. I really liked the way it was written, it feels like an old friend, telling her life story, Bryony is unapologetic and states the facts the way they are. This book carries plenty of foul language, alcohol, strange relationships, and it was an absolute joy to read. 😀 I found the chapters to be a little bit too long for my liking, but because they were really funny, the book didn’t drag to me.
So, to conclude, I know that I learned a lot from Bryony. I learned that many people suffer from mental health issues, even though it is hard to see it with a naked eye. Bryony offers few easy and simple ways how to deal with those pesky demons, and enjoy your life as much as you can. I really enjoyed this memoir, and I hope you will give this book a try when you are looking for some inspiration.
Bryony talks a lot about mental health in this book, sometimes it did feel a little bit too much for me. I do understand the importance of it, but it got a little bit repetitive at times. I really liked the way it was written, it feels like an old friend, telling her life story, Bryony is unapologetic and states the facts the way they are. This book carries plenty of foul language, alcohol, strange relationships, and it was an absolute joy to read. 😀 I found the chapters to be a little bit too long for my liking, but because they were really funny, the book didn’t drag to me.
So, to conclude, I know that I learned a lot from Bryony. I learned that many people suffer from mental health issues, even though it is hard to see it with a naked eye. Bryony offers few easy and simple ways how to deal with those pesky demons, and enjoy your life as much as you can. I really enjoyed this memoir, and I hope you will give this book a try when you are looking for some inspiration.