Search
Search results
Kristy H (1252 KP) rated In a Dark, Dark Wood in Books
Feb 13, 2018
Nora hasn't heard from her friend Clare in over 10 years, until she receives an invite to her "hen party" (bachelorette party for us Americans) from one of Clare's friends. Clare and Nora were the best of friends in school, until a series of events brought them apart, and she eventually decides to attend, along with their friend Nina. However, when Nora and Nina arrive, they gather with a group of Clare's friends at an isolated house in the woods. Things seem off from the beginning and go downhill from there.
This book was a juggernaut that I couldn't stop reading. It was a fast read with a captivating plot that overcame some of its other flaws, mainly some mildly annoying characters who lacked development and performed some outlandish actions based on the past. The book unfolds from Nora's point of view in bits and pieces, and she's an unreliable narrator as well (suffering from some memory loss), which really allows the suspense to build. Note that despite the title, it's not a scary book, per se, just a thriller or mystery. It's a fun read, trying to piece together the various threads to reach the conclusion. I felt a little bad for those caught up in the schoolhouse games of the characters, for sure.
Overall, would have liked to have gotten to know the characters and their motivations a bit more (some very high stakes actions occur, which are a little hard to believe - a lot of the plot requires suspending disbelief at times, if you really think things through), but still an enjoyable and fast-paced thriller. 3.5 stars.
This book was a juggernaut that I couldn't stop reading. It was a fast read with a captivating plot that overcame some of its other flaws, mainly some mildly annoying characters who lacked development and performed some outlandish actions based on the past. The book unfolds from Nora's point of view in bits and pieces, and she's an unreliable narrator as well (suffering from some memory loss), which really allows the suspense to build. Note that despite the title, it's not a scary book, per se, just a thriller or mystery. It's a fun read, trying to piece together the various threads to reach the conclusion. I felt a little bad for those caught up in the schoolhouse games of the characters, for sure.
Overall, would have liked to have gotten to know the characters and their motivations a bit more (some very high stakes actions occur, which are a little hard to believe - a lot of the plot requires suspending disbelief at times, if you really think things through), but still an enjoyable and fast-paced thriller. 3.5 stars.
Dee R (8 KP) rated the Xbox One version of Fallout 4 in Video Games
Sep 11, 2018
Gameplay (6 more)
Graphics
Character options
NPC's
Quests
Followers
Creation Club
Male characters can't wear makeup (1 more)
Few bugs that break some quests
Teleport into the post-appocolypse!
Contains spoilers, click to show
You start the game as a male/female who has a devoted partner and newborn son Sean. You also have a robot butler Codsworth. Things are normal until there's an emergency announcement on the TV about attomic bombs falling. It's then you have to rush with your partner and baby to vault 111 and here your new journey begins.
It's not what you think as a gamer though. You go into the vault and expect to live there? wrong you get frozen!
You are frozen for years until this man comes into the vault and thaws you, your partner and baby out. But they only want your baby and when your partner doesn't give him up, they sadly get shot and killed. That's the last fresh memory you have as you again get frozen.
Only to thaw out a few years later to venture out into what is left of your home, and to find your son.
The whole game is revolved around finding Sean, however you get the options to help different factions; The Minutemen, Brotherhood of Steel, The Railroad or The Institute. Each quest you do for one of those factions alters how the others see you. And eventually you have to choose a main faction to follow. The rest become enemies.
When this time comes you find what happened to your son, you struggle to grasp the situation and can do 1 of 2 things. You can carry on his legacy or you can destroy it.
It's all down to you.
It's not what you think as a gamer though. You go into the vault and expect to live there? wrong you get frozen!
You are frozen for years until this man comes into the vault and thaws you, your partner and baby out. But they only want your baby and when your partner doesn't give him up, they sadly get shot and killed. That's the last fresh memory you have as you again get frozen.
Only to thaw out a few years later to venture out into what is left of your home, and to find your son.
The whole game is revolved around finding Sean, however you get the options to help different factions; The Minutemen, Brotherhood of Steel, The Railroad or The Institute. Each quest you do for one of those factions alters how the others see you. And eventually you have to choose a main faction to follow. The rest become enemies.
When this time comes you find what happened to your son, you struggle to grasp the situation and can do 1 of 2 things. You can carry on his legacy or you can destroy it.
It's all down to you.
Ivana A. | Diary of Difference (1171 KP) rated Day Of The Accident in Books
Dec 6, 2018
Full review can be found on my blog: www.diaryofdifference.com
When Maggie wakes up from a coma, her whole life has changed. The nurse tells her that she has been in an accident, her little daughter is dead, and her husband sold the house and left her.
Maggie doesn’t remember a thing.
With no home, no family, and no memory, she has to find a way and discover what happened that day.
A thriller that will uncover the greatest of secrets everyone could have. A nail-biter, this one, I tell you.
The character of Maggie was so well formed, that love between a mother and her little daughter is expressed in such a lovely and caring way. A book that will be definitely hard to read for all the parents out there, but a very good one.
I especially loved the part with the letters – it was such a unique way to present …
… present what?
I am not telling you. Go and read it, duhh!
The scenes are so vivid and realistic and the little Virginia Woolf Easter eggs thrown across the pages of this book were so precious. Thrilling story and plot that keeps you on your toes. I haven’t read anything this good in a while!
If you are looking for a book to keep you up at night – this is the one.
If you are looking for the great plot twist – there isn’t only one plot twist…
I highly recommend it to all of the mystery lovers that are reading my review.
A masterpiece.
Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Books UK, for providing me with an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.
When Maggie wakes up from a coma, her whole life has changed. The nurse tells her that she has been in an accident, her little daughter is dead, and her husband sold the house and left her.
Maggie doesn’t remember a thing.
With no home, no family, and no memory, she has to find a way and discover what happened that day.
A thriller that will uncover the greatest of secrets everyone could have. A nail-biter, this one, I tell you.
The character of Maggie was so well formed, that love between a mother and her little daughter is expressed in such a lovely and caring way. A book that will be definitely hard to read for all the parents out there, but a very good one.
I especially loved the part with the letters – it was such a unique way to present …
… present what?
I am not telling you. Go and read it, duhh!
The scenes are so vivid and realistic and the little Virginia Woolf Easter eggs thrown across the pages of this book were so precious. Thrilling story and plot that keeps you on your toes. I haven’t read anything this good in a while!
If you are looking for a book to keep you up at night – this is the one.
If you are looking for the great plot twist – there isn’t only one plot twist…
I highly recommend it to all of the mystery lovers that are reading my review.
A masterpiece.
Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Books UK, for providing me with an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.
Bong Mines Entertainment (15 KP) rated Go Slow - Single by Wild B in Music
Jun 17, 2019
Wild B (Krystal Parks) is a singer-songwriter from Chicago, Illinois. Not too long ago, she released a lovely tropical R&B tune, entitled, “Go Slow”.
“Sipping champagne while he whispers my name. I never been scared, we can go, we can play. Dripped in Balmain, don’t care what they say. Rock the boat, roll the boat, rock my body. You’re my type of speed. I think you should take the lead. Can you be all I need or more? I can throw it back when you throw it down. I can be the jewel on your tilted crown. Now tell me how you want to end the night.” – lyrics
‘Go Slow’ tells an interesting tale of a young woman who shares a special moment in time on the dancefloor with a guy who she desires to be with.
Apparently, what he possesses she likes, therefore, she wants him all to herself for the remainder of the night.
‘Go Slow’ contains a dreamy storyline, pleasing vocals, and rhythmic instrumentation scented with a tropical R&B fragrance.
“‘Go Slow’ was birthed on the night of a spontaneous encounter with a beautiful stranger. In the midst of a fast life in an even faster world, we caught a moment that we unintentionally made last forever. Now when I close my eyes, I remember it in slow motion, as if the universe slowed especially for us to cherish. Not only is it a memory but a reminder of the fulfillment I/we can all receive but just slowing down and enjoying the beauty of NOW.” – Wild B
https://www.bongminesentertainment.com/wild-b-go-slow/
“Sipping champagne while he whispers my name. I never been scared, we can go, we can play. Dripped in Balmain, don’t care what they say. Rock the boat, roll the boat, rock my body. You’re my type of speed. I think you should take the lead. Can you be all I need or more? I can throw it back when you throw it down. I can be the jewel on your tilted crown. Now tell me how you want to end the night.” – lyrics
‘Go Slow’ tells an interesting tale of a young woman who shares a special moment in time on the dancefloor with a guy who she desires to be with.
Apparently, what he possesses she likes, therefore, she wants him all to herself for the remainder of the night.
‘Go Slow’ contains a dreamy storyline, pleasing vocals, and rhythmic instrumentation scented with a tropical R&B fragrance.
“‘Go Slow’ was birthed on the night of a spontaneous encounter with a beautiful stranger. In the midst of a fast life in an even faster world, we caught a moment that we unintentionally made last forever. Now when I close my eyes, I remember it in slow motion, as if the universe slowed especially for us to cherish. Not only is it a memory but a reminder of the fulfillment I/we can all receive but just slowing down and enjoying the beauty of NOW.” – Wild B
https://www.bongminesentertainment.com/wild-b-go-slow/
Jordan Binkerd (567 KP) rated The Dukes of Hazzard: The Beginning (2007) in Movies
Aug 15, 2019
April Scott as Daisy Duke was hot - which is half of the appeal (2 more)
The stunts were decent - which is the other half
Harland Williams is hilarious, and I'll watch basically anything with him in it
Most of the cast - not necessarily that they were bad, but some were a bad fit for the characters (2 more)
The writing sometimes felt like a parody of itself.
The stunts were only decent.... and this is Dukes of Hazzard, where the stunts are the key.
Inconsistent and dumb
Ugh. And I thought the first movie was bad. Basically, this movie wants to be The Dukes of Hazzard meets American Pie but winds up closer to a parody of the classic show crossed with one of American Pie's less competent knockoffs. At times it hits the mark, true, but other times its almost more like a parody of the Dukes than it is the real deal. April Scott was decent in her role as Daisy, and turned out not to be just a mannequin for the shorts and crop-top, but the two leads? Less than stellar. Harland Williams is hilarious, but he's not a good fit for Sherriff Coltrane, who is supposed to be at least a little menacing if memory serves. Chris McDonald has made his career playing the corrupt businessman/politician role, which means he does it well, but his turn as Boss Hogg was just a generic rehash of a dozen other roles. As a final nail in the coffin the TV budget hampered the stunts to the point of not being able to save it. Go watch the show instead.
Josh Burns (166 KP) rated The Inpatient in Video Games
Jun 21, 2019
A few decent scares (1 more)
Multiple endings
Too slow paced (1 more)
Short
Learn what happened at the asylum before Until Dawn
The Inpatient takes place 60 years Before Until Dawn. Like Until Dawn, it is mostly narrative and choice based with multiple endings. The Inpatient puts you in the middle of the the downfall of the asylum and hotel from the 1st game. It's short, averaging 2 hours per playthrough and slower paced than the original. It combines Creature Feature, Isolationism, and Body Horror genres. Unlike the 1st game you only play as one character (who yiu can choose gender and skin tone for). It also uses a feature allowing you to speak your answers in conversation into the VR's built in mic rather than clicking on the different answers. I will not spoil this because it has a very nice twist in the story, but you are a patient with amnesia and suffering from terrifying nightmares (that you play through). Shit hits the fan and you go from there. As you explore the asylum you can piece together memories by finding things that trigger those memories, showing you bits of who you were before losing your memory. It plays with paranoia as well, you have no idea if you can trust the staff or not. As a standalone, I can't recommend it because of length and it mainly just builds onto the story of the 1st. If you have played Until Dawn and liked it, than this is worth it. The other big downside is you walk sooooo sllooowww. It's playable with the DS4 controller or Move Controllers.
Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated Archangel MC in Books
Jan 19, 2020
Brilliant
Contains spoilers, click to show
“Even shattered wings hold heavenly beauty.”
I don’t know who I am.
I don’t even remember what my name is.
I was lost, confused and broken the day I met them.
My Angels.
To the world, they’re nothing but leather wearing, foul-mouthed bikers, but to me, they are my saviors.
The light at the end of a very dark tunnel.
However, as my memory starts to come back to me in pieces, I fear the darkness ahead. Maybe the reason why I can’t recollect anything is because I don’t want to.
Life is sweet in heaven.
But hell doesn’t want to let me go.
Archangels MC is a Contemporary Romance Reverse Harem Standalone story where the heroine is just as fearless as her men, but the mystery that torments her once unraveled might be too much for them to overcome.
If you like hot bikers with attitude with a soft gooey center, a little suspense in a story with twists and spins that will make your jaw drop and whole bunch of hotness mixed with sweet tender moments, well then this baby is for you!
My view
This book has so many emotional twists and turns I was so engrossed. The trauma we see Hope go through from crawling out of her shallow grave to finally getting revenge on the person who put her there. For once you are rooting for that happily ever after! The 3 gorgeous,kind and amazing men helping her every step of the way. Really was an emotional roller coaster!
Love the little nod to Freya and her 5 boys too!!
⭐⭐⭐⭐
I don’t know who I am.
I don’t even remember what my name is.
I was lost, confused and broken the day I met them.
My Angels.
To the world, they’re nothing but leather wearing, foul-mouthed bikers, but to me, they are my saviors.
The light at the end of a very dark tunnel.
However, as my memory starts to come back to me in pieces, I fear the darkness ahead. Maybe the reason why I can’t recollect anything is because I don’t want to.
Life is sweet in heaven.
But hell doesn’t want to let me go.
Archangels MC is a Contemporary Romance Reverse Harem Standalone story where the heroine is just as fearless as her men, but the mystery that torments her once unraveled might be too much for them to overcome.
If you like hot bikers with attitude with a soft gooey center, a little suspense in a story with twists and spins that will make your jaw drop and whole bunch of hotness mixed with sweet tender moments, well then this baby is for you!
My view
This book has so many emotional twists and turns I was so engrossed. The trauma we see Hope go through from crawling out of her shallow grave to finally getting revenge on the person who put her there. For once you are rooting for that happily ever after! The 3 gorgeous,kind and amazing men helping her every step of the way. Really was an emotional roller coaster!
Love the little nod to Freya and her 5 boys too!!
⭐⭐⭐⭐
JT (287 KP) rated The Inbetweeners 2 (2014) in Movies
Mar 10, 2020
This is as straightforward as you could possibly want it. Three lads go to meet up with one lad in Australia. It’s the sequel people begged would happen and they got their wish. There is not an ounce of disappointment as banter levels are raised.
Jay is on a gap year down under and catching up with the guys via email he lets them know he’s up to his neck in clunge and making a shit load of cash as a top night club DJ. All complete bullshit of course. But it’s delivered in a brilliant continuous shot that opens the film.
For the others the chance to break the monotony of their current lives could not come soon enough. Will who is decidedly more unpopular than ever, Simon looking to escape his psychotic girlfriend and Neil who is, well, same old Neil all feel that the time is right to go travelling (or on holiday).
It would be hard to review this without going into too much detail and if that were the case some of the best gags and laughs would simply be ruined. So I’m going to keep my mouth shut.
That said Damon Beesley and Iain Morris do their best to make sure this adventure leaves a lasting memory with some exquisite scenes and class gags. The cast all deliver as you would expect and there are a few nice supporting additions (Will’s Mum for one).
Given the success of this a third film would seem likely, but it’s going to take something pretty special to top it on almost every level.
Jay is on a gap year down under and catching up with the guys via email he lets them know he’s up to his neck in clunge and making a shit load of cash as a top night club DJ. All complete bullshit of course. But it’s delivered in a brilliant continuous shot that opens the film.
For the others the chance to break the monotony of their current lives could not come soon enough. Will who is decidedly more unpopular than ever, Simon looking to escape his psychotic girlfriend and Neil who is, well, same old Neil all feel that the time is right to go travelling (or on holiday).
It would be hard to review this without going into too much detail and if that were the case some of the best gags and laughs would simply be ruined. So I’m going to keep my mouth shut.
That said Damon Beesley and Iain Morris do their best to make sure this adventure leaves a lasting memory with some exquisite scenes and class gags. The cast all deliver as you would expect and there are a few nice supporting additions (Will’s Mum for one).
Given the success of this a third film would seem likely, but it’s going to take something pretty special to top it on almost every level.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2440 KP) rated Murder on Memory Lake in Books
Apr 8, 2020
Tranquility Shattered by Murder
Things are looking up for Alberta Scaglione in her retirement. She’s inherited money and a cabin on Memory Lake from an aunt, and her granddaughter, Jinx, has come back into her life thanks to a job for the local paper in Tranquility, New Jersey. However, things take a sad turn when Alberta finds the body of her childhood nemesis in the lake. Alberta quickly realizes the woman was murdered, and Jinx talks Alberta into investigating to jump start her transition to crime reporter. Can they solve the case?
The book starts out with a couple of chapters that are little more than data dumps, giving us the background on the characters. Yes, we need to know the information, but it could have been slipped into the novel better. The mystery itself is strong with several viable suspects and a logical trail to the great climax with some fun red herrings along the way. Alberta and Jinx are joined by another couple family members, and the four women are a delight, making me laugh a few times. The book is written in omniscient point of view, but mostly sticking with Alberta and Jinx. It mostly works, but it allows for passages of the characters pondering life. These felt like they’d be more at home in a literary novel than a mystery. The book closes out with a few recipes. The bones of the book are good, but overall, it felt overwritten. There is enough enjoyable elements to the book that if you are curious about the book, I recommend you check it out and see what you think for yourself.
The book starts out with a couple of chapters that are little more than data dumps, giving us the background on the characters. Yes, we need to know the information, but it could have been slipped into the novel better. The mystery itself is strong with several viable suspects and a logical trail to the great climax with some fun red herrings along the way. Alberta and Jinx are joined by another couple family members, and the four women are a delight, making me laugh a few times. The book is written in omniscient point of view, but mostly sticking with Alberta and Jinx. It mostly works, but it allows for passages of the characters pondering life. These felt like they’d be more at home in a literary novel than a mystery. The book closes out with a few recipes. The bones of the book are good, but overall, it felt overwritten. There is enough enjoyable elements to the book that if you are curious about the book, I recommend you check it out and see what you think for yourself.
Gareth von Kallenbach (980 KP) rated The Boy Next Door (2015) in Movies
Aug 6, 2019
The theme of the dangerous person living next door as well as forbidden attraction and desires are no stranger to Hollywood as they are themes that have powered some of the most intense and erotic dramas in recent memory.
The latest offering from Hollywood has Jennifer Lopez as Claire, a woman who is newly divorced and falls for her new neighbor played by Ryan Guzman.
At first the relationship is exciting for Claire but things take a turn for the worse and Claire soon learns that her new neighbor is not what he first appeared to be and is a very dangerous and manipulative individual.
You would think with a premise such as this and a decent cast that this would at least be a passable thriller but instead it is about as lifeless and formulaic a film as they come.
The film was completely predictable aside form one brief moment at the end of the film that was mildly unexpected, but other than that I found myself whispering to my husband throughout the movie what was going to happen next, and it did.
Supporting actors John Corbett, playing Lopez’ (estranged) husband, and Ian Nelson as their teenage son, did a passable job given the material they were working with but deserved much better.
Ryan Guzman who plays 19-year-old neighbor Noah, manages to play the creepy psycho part pretty well, but the material was as I said previously; so very predictable.
I wish I could offer more than 1 star out of 5, but I can’t for the film which is a shame as the audience and the cast deserved so much more with this premise.
The latest offering from Hollywood has Jennifer Lopez as Claire, a woman who is newly divorced and falls for her new neighbor played by Ryan Guzman.
At first the relationship is exciting for Claire but things take a turn for the worse and Claire soon learns that her new neighbor is not what he first appeared to be and is a very dangerous and manipulative individual.
You would think with a premise such as this and a decent cast that this would at least be a passable thriller but instead it is about as lifeless and formulaic a film as they come.
The film was completely predictable aside form one brief moment at the end of the film that was mildly unexpected, but other than that I found myself whispering to my husband throughout the movie what was going to happen next, and it did.
Supporting actors John Corbett, playing Lopez’ (estranged) husband, and Ian Nelson as their teenage son, did a passable job given the material they were working with but deserved much better.
Ryan Guzman who plays 19-year-old neighbor Noah, manages to play the creepy psycho part pretty well, but the material was as I said previously; so very predictable.
I wish I could offer more than 1 star out of 5, but I can’t for the film which is a shame as the audience and the cast deserved so much more with this premise.