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Lindsay (1774 KP) rated The Berlin Package in Books
Feb 8, 2018
Book Tour: The Berlin Package by Peter Riva Pero asked for a filming job and wants to get back in the saddle after what happen the last time. He asks that we work with Heep. He got his wish.On the plane with Ambassador. He figures out a plane problem. He was on his way to Berlin when it occurs. Once Pero lands at the airport he gets a mysterious package.CIA and the State Department want him to read a packet. He did not get a packet. Now he is in a job he does not want. He got to protect his friends and family and now a movie star.A station is missing and someone is after Peru and his crew and want the package delivered to him. Pero want to find out why they want it and what they might want to do with it.Peter Riva does it once again that you want to turn the pages until you find out. Every page is an adventure as you turn the page. You wonder if Pero and his friends will survive or end up dead. Can Pero and Mubro and his new and old friends help rescued Heep and a film star?
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2395 KP) rated French Fried (Ethnic Eats Mystery #2) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Hubbard, Ohio, is celebrating the 130th anniversary of the Statue of Liberty, and Terminal on the Tracks is getting into the act by featuring French food. Laurel has worked hard on the menu with the help of Sophie’s friend Rocky. Rocky has been looking forward to the festival, but she starts to act weird when it kicks off. After missing the fireworks, Laurel goes to Rocky’s house to find Rocky dead. But why would someone want to kill her?
This book features a nice twist on things as Laurel finds herself having to figure out why someone might want to kill Rocky and then find a potential suspect that fits that motive. I enjoyed getting to see how that played out. She does come up with the correct motive and suspect for a wonderful climax. We don’t see as much of some of the supporting characters from the first book as I expected, but this allowed Laurel to really grow here. We do get to see plenty of a couple of supporting characters, and the new characters are wonderful as well.
NOTE: I received a copy of this book.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/06/book-review-french-fried-by-kylie-logan.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
This book features a nice twist on things as Laurel finds herself having to figure out why someone might want to kill Rocky and then find a potential suspect that fits that motive. I enjoyed getting to see how that played out. She does come up with the correct motive and suspect for a wonderful climax. We don’t see as much of some of the supporting characters from the first book as I expected, but this allowed Laurel to really grow here. We do get to see plenty of a couple of supporting characters, and the new characters are wonderful as well.
NOTE: I received a copy of this book.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/06/book-review-french-fried-by-kylie-logan.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2395 KP) rated Biscuits and Slashed Browns (Country Store Mysteries #4) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
March brings a maple syrup festival to Brown County, Indiana, and Robbie Jordan is hoping to snag some of the tourists into her shop, Pans ‘N Pancakes. However, the festival has also brought Dr. Warren Connolly to town, a professor hated for many reasons. He is found murdered one morning before the day’s events can get started, and the police begin to look at one of Robbie’s friends as the killer. Then a local maple syrup farmer goes missing. What is going on?
I thought we might be in for some lectures as Dr. Connolly is first introduced to us as a climate change denier, however, this was dropped after the second chapter as we begin to find real motives for his murder. In fact, we get several strong motives and suspects that kept me turning pages and guessing until the end. While I missed one of the regular characters, the rest were present and accounted for and were as charming as ever. The setting is fantastic, too. I’d love to visit Robbie’s store.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2018/02/book-review-biscuits-and-slashed-browns.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
I thought we might be in for some lectures as Dr. Connolly is first introduced to us as a climate change denier, however, this was dropped after the second chapter as we begin to find real motives for his murder. In fact, we get several strong motives and suspects that kept me turning pages and guessing until the end. While I missed one of the regular characters, the rest were present and accounted for and were as charming as ever. The setting is fantastic, too. I’d love to visit Robbie’s store.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2018/02/book-review-biscuits-and-slashed-browns.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Sarah (7800 KP) rated Red Sparrow (2018) in Movies
Mar 21, 2018
Quite a good adaptation
I've read a lot of negative reviews of this film, so i was pleasantly surprised when it turned out to be quite good.
As an adaptation of the book, it sticks fairly faithfully to the original plot although choose to condense a few plot points to fit it into an already overly long running time. The ending for me was the biggest and best surprise, as it differs from the book and I thought actually made for a much better ending. They also managed to turn a very slow burning plot into something still very intriguing.
Jennifer Lawrence does okay, although her accent seems patchy at times and her fake hair is a little irritating. Joel Edgerton sadly isn't given much to go on as his character is very underdeveloped, however Jeremy Irons does well as per usual.
The main problem is that this is taken from a very detailed book which sadly can't be included completely in the film. This ended up with a few matters not being explained or elaborated on properly and it felt a like it was missing something. Not too bad for readers of the book like me, but my other half was left a tad confused!
As an adaptation of the book, it sticks fairly faithfully to the original plot although choose to condense a few plot points to fit it into an already overly long running time. The ending for me was the biggest and best surprise, as it differs from the book and I thought actually made for a much better ending. They also managed to turn a very slow burning plot into something still very intriguing.
Jennifer Lawrence does okay, although her accent seems patchy at times and her fake hair is a little irritating. Joel Edgerton sadly isn't given much to go on as his character is very underdeveloped, however Jeremy Irons does well as per usual.
The main problem is that this is taken from a very detailed book which sadly can't be included completely in the film. This ended up with a few matters not being explained or elaborated on properly and it felt a like it was missing something. Not too bad for readers of the book like me, but my other half was left a tad confused!
Awix (3310 KP) rated The Wicker Man (1973) in Movies
Feb 18, 2018 (Updated Feb 18, 2018)
British folk-horror film is part of the mini-boom in 'British civil servant travels by seaplane to sun-obsessed Christopher Lee's remote island in search of missing girl, discovers Britt Ekland waiting for him' movies that happened in 1973-4. Devout Christian copper (Woodward) visits Summerisle (off the Scottish coast) after receiving a tip-off about a vanishing schoolgirl, is appalled by what he sees as the immorality of the islanders. The lord of the place (Lee) assures him that there's nothing to be worried about, they just have different ethical standards (they're all Pagans), but Woodward is not convinced. Is something nasty lined up for May Day?
Books have been written about the tortuous distribution endured by The Wicker Man and its producers; rumours persist that the original much longer version is buried under a motorway somewhere in England. But all the available cuts are excellent, if not superb: the film is not particularly scary per se, more a queasy examination of how society, morality and religion intersect with one another; manages to make moral relativism seem more disturbing than devil-worship, somehow. Has one of the greatest non-endings in cinema history. Great performances, banging tunes, thoughtful and playful script; a film for all seasons, but goes especially well with a barbecue.
Books have been written about the tortuous distribution endured by The Wicker Man and its producers; rumours persist that the original much longer version is buried under a motorway somewhere in England. But all the available cuts are excellent, if not superb: the film is not particularly scary per se, more a queasy examination of how society, morality and religion intersect with one another; manages to make moral relativism seem more disturbing than devil-worship, somehow. Has one of the greatest non-endings in cinema history. Great performances, banging tunes, thoughtful and playful script; a film for all seasons, but goes especially well with a barbecue.
Erika Kehlet (21 KP) rated The Precipice (Mike Bowditch, #6) in Books
Feb 21, 2018
***NOTE: I won my copy in a Goodreads First to Read Giveaway***
Mike Bowditch is a Maine game warden along the Appalachian Trail. When two young female hikers go missing, Mike and his girlfriend, wildlife biologist Stacey Stevens, join in the search. Once the bodies are found with teeth marks on the bones, the locals fear they may have been killed by coyotes. Stacey is sure that they weren't, and both she and Mike continue investigating, determined to find the truth of what happened to the two young women.
This was a well-written thriller, with believable characters and an interesting locale. The narrator did a nice job keeping his Maine accent where needed, without being over the top or distracting.
I didn't realize when I first started listening that this was book #6, but it was easy enough to figure out from the frequent references to Mike's past that it wasn't the beginning of a series. The book worked fine as a standalone novel, but I think I would have liked it even more had I read some of the earlier novels first. I will probably read more in this series, but I will start back at the beginning so I can watch Mike grow up into the man he is in this novel.
Mike Bowditch is a Maine game warden along the Appalachian Trail. When two young female hikers go missing, Mike and his girlfriend, wildlife biologist Stacey Stevens, join in the search. Once the bodies are found with teeth marks on the bones, the locals fear they may have been killed by coyotes. Stacey is sure that they weren't, and both she and Mike continue investigating, determined to find the truth of what happened to the two young women.
This was a well-written thriller, with believable characters and an interesting locale. The narrator did a nice job keeping his Maine accent where needed, without being over the top or distracting.
I didn't realize when I first started listening that this was book #6, but it was easy enough to figure out from the frequent references to Mike's past that it wasn't the beginning of a series. The book worked fine as a standalone novel, but I think I would have liked it even more had I read some of the earlier novels first. I will probably read more in this series, but I will start back at the beginning so I can watch Mike grow up into the man he is in this novel.
The Marinated Meeple (1853 KP) rated Breaker 19: The CB Trucker game in Tabletop Games
Apr 12, 2018
Everything else (3 more)
Completely based on luck
The game plays you.....
No Decisions to be made
This IS NOT smokey and the bandit the boardgame.
Do you love dice, and do you hate making decisions? The just maybe this game is for you... This is an activity with rules rather than a game in my eyes. Those kid are not having fun on the box cover, I don't care what you say. In 1976 they really could've done better. But this particular game didn't bother to try. I put this on par with Candyland, but Candyland is much prettier and designed for kids to learn colors and counting. This one has almost nothing to offer. Even if you can get it for 50 cents at a garage sale, throw the board away and keep the dice and money for another game as missing pieces. Or even better, come up with your own rules and redesign the game. that would be a more fun process than playing the game as is for sure. I'm sure it would be more fun to be a trucker for a few hours, even on the boring straightaways of nebraska. So if you can do that instead. Even Monopoly is better than this game.
Kristin (149 KP) rated Flawed Perfection (Eve Sumptor, #2) in Books
Dec 7, 2018
Disclaimer: I received an e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
We continue where we left off with Eve, Adam, and Lainey. This one is written more from Eve's perspective, which I greatly enjoyed, and we get to keep reading about Eve's new marriage to Adam and their sweet baby girl, Bella. Unfortunately, they don't stay happy-go-lucky for very long, as once again there's trouble afoot for Eve. It starts when some of her newly-acquired paintings go missing, and the ones that do make it to the gallery are forgeries! While trying to figure out this mystery, Eve gets pulled into yet another game of cat and mouse, one that she may not be able to win.
This is a great series, and the relationships are easy to identify with. Eve is in love with Adam, Lainey is in love with Jack, but Eve and Lainey both love each other. Now that it's been two years, we can see how they've changed, but we also get to go along with them as they try to cope with the feelings that still exist between them. How will they handle it while dealing with this new and dangerous conflict? You'll have to read that for yourself.
4 1/2 stars
We continue where we left off with Eve, Adam, and Lainey. This one is written more from Eve's perspective, which I greatly enjoyed, and we get to keep reading about Eve's new marriage to Adam and their sweet baby girl, Bella. Unfortunately, they don't stay happy-go-lucky for very long, as once again there's trouble afoot for Eve. It starts when some of her newly-acquired paintings go missing, and the ones that do make it to the gallery are forgeries! While trying to figure out this mystery, Eve gets pulled into yet another game of cat and mouse, one that she may not be able to win.
This is a great series, and the relationships are easy to identify with. Eve is in love with Adam, Lainey is in love with Jack, but Eve and Lainey both love each other. Now that it's been two years, we can see how they've changed, but we also get to go along with them as they try to cope with the feelings that still exist between them. How will they handle it while dealing with this new and dangerous conflict? You'll have to read that for yourself.
4 1/2 stars
Kevin Wilson (179 KP) rated Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children (2016) in Movies
Jul 14, 2018
Unique characters (2 more)
Great cast
Another great tim burton style
Great movie, rather unique
This was a great Tim Burton movie. I do believe it is underrated, I've heard many bad things about this movie mainly being told it's boring but its far from it.
Each character is very unique and sometimes kinda creepy and there were some very interesting parts of the story I found very very interested, more specific the loops.
The cast was great but was surprised not to see Helana Boham Carter playing the lead. I've not heard anything about a sequel but I really hope it happens with the cast returning and maybe add a few new characters (I'm yet to read the books).
It was shot really well, you can see Tim Burton all over it and the CGI was pretty good. I loved the design of the monsters. I would have loved more and it is missing something that I can't quite put my finger on.
However, I could see myself going back and watching this again and that is the sign of a good movie. It was predictable and it's not going on my list of the greatest movies ever but it did not disappoint me.
Each character is very unique and sometimes kinda creepy and there were some very interesting parts of the story I found very very interested, more specific the loops.
The cast was great but was surprised not to see Helana Boham Carter playing the lead. I've not heard anything about a sequel but I really hope it happens with the cast returning and maybe add a few new characters (I'm yet to read the books).
It was shot really well, you can see Tim Burton all over it and the CGI was pretty good. I loved the design of the monsters. I would have loved more and it is missing something that I can't quite put my finger on.
However, I could see myself going back and watching this again and that is the sign of a good movie. It was predictable and it's not going on my list of the greatest movies ever but it did not disappoint me.
Steph (468 KP) rated The Great Book of Amber (The Chronicles of Amber, #1-10) in Books
Jul 9, 2018
I'm rating this book as a 5 for a few reasons. First, I think the world is extremely innovative and unique. I really enjoyed the well thought-out and different magic system and setting. The plot and intrigue was also very enjoyable. The first set of books especially did this quite well. However, the second set of five books really fell short for me, especially 7-10. It seemed like there was a lot of random stuff thrown in that didn't make a whole lot of sense, wasn't explained very well, and no one thing was really focused on. It seemed very haphazard and complicated for no good reason. The ending also seemed to come on extremely quickly. The second to last page of the book was a fight scene and then everything ends on the very last page when Merlin decides to become the King of Chaos with very little rationale given how strongly he had been hinting he was not going to do this. The book completely lacked a resolution. So while I enjoyed it on the whole, I don't feel I would be missing much (except perhaps depth in the magic system) if I didn't read the second 5 books at all.