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Pet Sematary (2019)
Pet Sematary (2019)
2019 | Horror
As the movie starts we see an open car door and muddy prints and a blood trail leading to the front door of a house, cut to white and a family are driving to their new home. This family consists of mum, dad, baby gage, daughter Ellie and a cat called church all names from the original movie we know and love.


One day whilst dad is in work, mum and Ellie witness a strange prossesion involving a group of masked people wheeling what looks like a dead dog in a wheelbarrow towards the woods, Ellie decides to investigate and walks into a pet cemetery. As she proceeds to climb the stick wall to see what's on the other side, she is stopped by a passerby who informs Ellie and her mum that the woods aren't safe.

Whilst dad is working a guy comes in losing a lot of blood with half of his face missing and he dies, coming back momentarily in a vision to tell him the barrier isn't meant to be broken, but what does this mean?? Of course if you're familiar with the original you'll know the meaning of this.

Just like the original, we see the dad have his dream which turns out not to be a dream, we see the trauma Rachel still lives with about her sister and of course church dying and being buried in the pet cemetery.

The day after church is buried, the cat turns up alive and well, but smelly and bad tempered, what is going on? You will have to watch and find out.

I was put off watching this for so long, due to the mention of cults and wendigos in the trailer, so I expected it to be awful and completely different from the original, but apart from a few changes such as a different breed of cat and a role reversal of who dies, the movie more or less stayed true to the original and moves at a steady pace. The ending, however, is very different and unexpected. It definitely leaves a lasting impression that's for sure. I very much enjoyed this movie, everybody's acting Is spot on and believable, and would probably go as far as preferring it to the original.
  
The Prime Suspect (Sam MacKade PI #1)
The Prime Suspect (Sam MacKade PI #1)
Lauren Carr | 2023 | Mystery
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
We are presented to primary victims of murder in the prologue, but we do not know their reason as to why they were killed. Then we are introduced to two police officers, and they seem to be focused on one person, and her name is Bryce Greyson.

Why does everyone think she killed not only her husband but also a roommate? People seem to be telling lies or making things to protect themselves. We are also introduced to Sam MacKade and his team.

Bryce wants to clear her name. So she finds out that a young man is with his daughter for soccer tryouts and seems to ask him if he is willing to help her clear her name. There are more secrets than there are clues. Will this PI be able to find the killers and solve the mystery of the murders?

As it seems that Sam is trying to help Bryce with clearing her name, Things seem to get more messy as they continue to investigate her husband's murder. The law enforcement two, in particular, seem to keep thinking that their prime suspect is the one behind all the murders. They seem convinced that Bryce is one and are still trying to fame her and catch her in the act.

Sam and Bryce try to find clues and investigate other witnesses to not only her husband's murder but also Cat's murder. They seem to be hitting close to home as they pick up pieces and find more murders. They find out what happened to Cat when she went missing and murdered.

They seem to have found a new crime going on or connected to the Dermot murder when he was gunned down. Who is the killer, and who wants Bryce killed? Could all the murders be combined into each other, or is there more to it?

Suppose you are a murder mystery fan looking for a good one to bite into. Lauren Carr's books will make you want more once you get reading. This book is no different. Though this one is one exciting book, and I am hooked already. This book is worth picking up and reading to find out who the killer or murderer could be. The plot is thick and has you guessing and wanting to solve the cold case or the murders that went cold.
  
The Peacemaker (Mifflin County Mystery #2)
The Peacemaker (Mifflin County Mystery #2)
Wanda E. Brunstetter | 2025 | Fiction & Poetry, Mystery, Romance
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
We are welcome back to the Big Valley. Where we left off, we see Rosa's best friend's point of view. In this book, we get to follow Ada and Ephraim some more. Will we find out what happened to Rosa? Is she still alive, or is she gone? Norman and Salina, how are they doing as well? Will we finally see Norman and Salina get married?

We are also still following the Rosa Family; the community is still grieving, and suspicion is still going around. So, we are still suspecting or taking action on Ephraim of Rosa's disappearance. But is there more to the community than dividing the community apart?

Will Ada and Ephraim get together, or will it fall apart? Is there love between Ada and Ephraim? There is so much confusion and pain surrounding Rosa's disappearance that it is hard for anyone to know for sure. But what will happen? Will there be love between a peacemaker and a suspect? Will it last, or will it be too late for the two of them?
Well, Ephraim will return to Lancaster County, where his grandma lives. Will Ephraim and his grandma stay there? But does the Lord have plans?

Ephraim is pondering whether to start looking or make some friends in Lancaster in case he ends up staying.

He seems to ponder this when he finds Blue in the barn. Eventually, he finds a missing pup and starts looking for its owner. He meets Anna.

Back with Ada, she seems to be going about her dad as a greenhouse but appears to be fighting her feelings for Ephraim, though she doesn't know if it's a good thing or not when she knows Rosa broke the relationship up with Ephraim.

Ada hears about Susan through her mother and her friend's mother. She hears Susan lying about not being at a young people's gathering and being out with Ben.

Though Ephraim's father seems to have suffered a major injury that has put him in the hospital and made him and his grandmother hurry to Lewistown, is there a way to pray for them to stay in the Big Valley for good? Or will his grandmother want to return to Lancaster and have her eldest grandchildren go with her?
  
One Step Sideways (Enhanced World Security #1)
One Step Sideways (Enhanced World Security #1)
Victoria Sue | 2024 | LGBTQ+, Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy
10
10.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
daark and deadly!
Independent reviewer for GRR, I was gifted my copy of this book.

This is a spin off from The Enhanced Wordl series, and you really do need to have some understanding of what it means to be Enhanced and how they are treated to fully appreciate this book. I will be honest, I did not read books 6 and 7 from the main series. I don't I missed anything, but I did read books 1 through 5.

Kane was jailed at 16 for shooting a dog. But no one saw any other scars, just the one on his face. When he is released 17 years later, Diesel Rawlings collects him and offers him a job. Danny was a medic with Rawlings. He suffered at the hands of the enemy. He can't baby sit an ex con, especially one who did what he did. But not all is as it appears, and Danny and Kane must work together to find the missing teenagers.

Like I said, I did not read books 6 and 7 of the main series, I can't rememeber why I didn't, but I absolutely LOVED this revisit to this world and the men in it!

Both Kane and Danny suffered, and I felt for them, deeply. When both men fully open up to the other, I cried, I really did!

I'm not going to go too much into the plot, cos spoilers, but things did not go how I was expecting them to, and I have no idea WHAT I was expecting! My book brain is a fickle place sometimes!

It's dark, though, that suffering both men talk. Not a easy read, I tell ya, and I have no triggers.

It's full of love though! Once Danny and Kane get their act together, it was brilliant. Not especially explicit, but I don't think it was needed. Again, that suffering pops up all the time.

The guys from the main books are talked about, but do not take part here. I would have liked them to, but I didn't miss that they weren't. Does that make sense? I think I'm just greedy!

And that epilogue?? Oh well played there Ms Sue, very VERY well played! Bawling my eyes out, I was!

I can't give it anything other than. . . .

5 full and shiny stars! (and I might just go back now, and read books 6 and 7!)

*same worded review will appear elsewhere
  
Taking What's Mine (Men of Maddox Security #4)
Taking What's Mine (Men of Maddox Security #4)
Logan Chance | 2025 | Contemporary, Crime, Romance
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
super steamy!
Independent reviewer for BookSirens, I was gifted my copy of this book.

This is book 4 in the Men of Maddox Security series, I've managed to read it before book 3, but I don't think it matters. They kinda/sorta run along side each other.

Lincoln is tasked with keeping Isabel, Dean's sister, safe. Her stalker is getting close. She is quite capable, thank you very much, and takes great offense at Dean for making her do this. But for the fact it is Lincoln, she might have pulled a hissy fit. Finding themselves in the middle of an adult club, when looking for leads, was not what they expected. But it gives them both a roundabout way to get what they want: each other. They just gotta keep Isabel safe til the threat is gone.

So! Reading out of order, but not really missing anything for doing that. But I do like these books, and I have book 3 to read after this one.

We had a 4 star, a 4.5 star and now we hit the ding, ding, ding, jackpot with a 5 star read!

I think what did it for me here was, Lincoln and Isabel have known each other for some time, worked together daily. And while each has attraction to the other, neither admitted it out loud. This close protection for Isabel brings brings them closer, and I loved the way it evolved.

Steamy, oh yes! Given the situation they find themselves in, and I did NOT see that one coming at me! Loved that!

Book 2 got a higher rating than book 1 for the emotional connection and we get that here, mostly because of the previous attraction, but I still think the emotional connection is far deeper than the pairings in previous books. Might be me, but still, that's my opinion and I'm sticking to it!

There is some reference to Dean's story here, and I've not read that, but I didn't feel I missed anything. I WANT to read it, but I don't feel I NEED to, you know?? Dean's wife Sophia pops up here and I liked her for what little I know of Dean so far. At some point, I will read their story!

5 full and shiny stars

*same worded review will appear elsewhere
  
Death is but a Dream
Death is but a Dream
Erin Hayes | 2013 | Science Fiction/Fantasy
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Contains spoilers, click to show
*contains spoilers*

A police detective -- Callista, Callie for short -- saves a little girl from getting hit by a bus. She, herself, is then hit instead. She wakes up to find herself in the Underworld where she is taken before Hades and offered a deal. Protect his son, Plutus, and find out who wants him dead, and Hades will restore her to life. However, if Callie fails in her objective or dies while in the Underworld, she will die an eternal death, and her soul will never be allowed to have an afterlife.

It doesn't seem like a super great choice, but when a god offers you a deal, the "offering" part is really just a polite term to cover up the fact that you are going to do what that god wants you to do or your screwed. And so Callie has little choice but to accept Hades' offer. She meets several interesting characters along the way, including one of the Furies, Tisiphone, who becomes Callie's friend and ally in the Underworld.

Callie's job is complicated, however, by the fact that Hades forbids her to interview, interrogate, or even outwardly suspect any of his royal family of trying to kill his son, and even FURTHER complicated by the fact that Hades lies to her and manipulates her at every turn.

"Death is but a Dream" is a beautiful and original story of the Olympian gods, and it is quite unique in its view of Greek mythology. Perhaps the closest comparison I can make to a book/series already out there in the market is with Amber Benson's series that starts with "Death's Daughter." (I'm sorry. I can't actually remember what the series is called as a whole.) It has the same tone. Both feature strong, independent female protagonists who are thrown into a fantastical world that they want no part of, so yes, fans of Amber Benson's work will really enjoy this book, I think.

The only complaint I have is that the book could have benefited from some series editing. I had an e-book copy of the novel, and there were quite a few more errors than I would expect a published, completed book to have. Most of the errors were inconsequential -- missing commas, wrong words, etc. -- and could be easily overlooked or fixed by the reader simply inserting the correct word while reading, but still, a polished book should be as free of errors as is possible, and this book had a good number.

I still really, really enjoyed the book, though. I highly recommend it.
  
The Druid's Gift (The Nameless Gods #1)
The Druid's Gift (The Nameless Gods #1)
Dante Silva, Vanessa Mozes | 2017 | Science Fiction/Fantasy
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
very well written high fantasy
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.

She was supposed to on a pilgrimage, being kidnapped for sacrifice was not in the plan!

I gotta be honest here, and you'll know when I gotta talk about my feelings about books, I'm nothing if not honest! When asked did I want to read this book, it came with a link, and of course I looked at it, and my first reaction was nope. That cover did nothing for me, but the blurb grabbed, so I said yes. NOW, I've read this book, and feel I should say this. That cover is right and proper for this book!! It fits Nune and Ty's story so perfectly! And it is a rather good book!

Nune is a day elf, a Druid, and Ty a night elf. They usually never cross paths. Nune is on a pilgrimage and Ty is on an initiation to move up the warrior ranks, I forget what the name he used is, sorry! Nune was supposed to be his sacrifice for this initiation, but after befriending each other, they question why Ty suddenly has to do this, when it's never been required of warriors before.

It is, quite simply, brilliantly written high fantasy. I really find myself engrossed in Nune and Ty, and their path towards finding out just what is going on in Ty's village, and why things are changing so rapidly, to the detriment of the day elves. It's told from both Nune and Ty's point of view. It does carry some difficult subjects, kidnap, elf sacrifice but these are dealt with very well.

Its not overly explicit, indeed, I thought it might actually come out clean, but Nune and Ty do get naughty on. Again, well written. Not overly graphic either, what's here is right for this book.

And there is a MUCH bigger picture that I'm still not seeing. Ty's brother is missing. There's the reason why the Nameless Gods are being summoned. And Ty still has to face his superiors about his failed quest when he gets home.

A step out of my comfort zone, but a very nice step. I hope I get to foloow Nune and Ty on their quest.

And an apology to the author for not spelling Nune with accent on the e, I don't know how to put that on!

4 solid stars

**same worded review will appear elsewhere**
  
It (2017)
It (2017)
2017 | Drama, Horror
8
7.9 (355 Ratings)
Movie Rating
Contains spoilers, click to show
My mom took me to see the new It – and it was great. It does have a few changes that are worth noting though – and I’m curious as to how they will play out in the next part. Presently, the film only covers the part that takes place in 1957-1958 (though in the movie, it’s 1988), which leaves things open for another film.

First, I want to say that I have a thing for Bill Skarsgård. I have since I watched Hemlock Grove, where he plays an upir. So finding out that he would be playing Pennywise somehow dispelled my fear of clowns (which actually formed when I was eight and watched the It miniseries – or at least, the first bit of it). Skarsgård performance is spectacular and I have no complaints regarding his acting.

For the most part, It follows a line between the miniseries and the book. When it comes to a tome the size of It, obviously things have need cutting out. To expect more would likely have mean an entire series (not that I’d complain). There are a few things that really bugged me though. First, Richie does not do his voices in It. This is a major character trait that I feel should have been included – especially since he uses his voice imitations in the book to get past Pennywise. To leave out one of Richie’s defining characteristics is disappointing, as I really wanted to see how it would play out.

Second, once again, what Stan sees differs from the book. Those that have read It know that Stan ends up trapped in a standpipe. Here, a corpse comes at him and in order to escape, he recites the names of birds from a book he keeps in his pocket. This causes the door to open and thus Stan Uris lives. His obsession with birds, like Richie’s voice imitations, is another defining characteristic of the boys that is left out.

Because the movie is pressed for time, it’s easier to understand why other elements are left out – such as the real reason behind Eddie Corcoran’s death (which is left simply at “missing” in the film). In fact, several of the disappearance are touched upon just enough to remind viewers how threatening Pennywise is – and that’s perfect for this film.

Overall, I really enjoyed It. I feel that leaving out those two defining characteristics of Richie and Stan was unnecessary. Despite that, It comes in as one of my favorite film so far this year and I might have to bug Mom to get it for me on DVD.
  
Do Not Become Alarmed
Do Not Become Alarmed
Maile Meloy | 2017 | Fiction & Poetry
10
8.3 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
Liv and Nora are cousins and practically sisters. They decide to take their families on a two week cruise down the coast of Central America. Both women cautious, they spend the first several days aboard the ship. When they finally decide to take an excursion, the men head for golf and the women take the kids on a zip line tour. This is when all hell breaks loose! From the bus breaking down, to six children going missing in a foreign country, this family vacation is definitely not going to plan. Told from the perspective of the children and the parents, as well other key characters that are introduced throughout, you dive deep into the story and it's hard to get drawn out!

This is the first book I've read by Maile Meloy, and I can't wait to read more! I think this is one of the very few times I have read a book with so many characters taking their turn to tell the story and not gotten confused by what is going on. The story flowed perfectly with the unbelievable around every turn.
 
I will say, not any of the characters in this story are likable, except for Nora's son, Marcus, but I don't think they need to be. You are still intrigued by what is going on and what is going to happen next. This does make you want to hug your kids a little tighter, if you have them. Tell them you love them no matter what and make you want to protect them even more than you already do. To me, this book was amazing and I highly recommend it!

Imagine, all your plans for the day going down the tube. Your tour bus breaks down, so you decide to wait at the beach while a new bus arrives. Then maybe you drift off to sleep while the kids are playing in the water near by. The kids are old enough to look after themselves and those who aren't, have the older kids to look after them. Now imagine waking up from what felt like just a moments rest, to find the children that were just there playing in front of you, have vanished. No where to be found no idea where they could have gone. What do you do, who do you call? You're in a foreign country and you opted not to get the international plan for you phone. Where are your children, and what is being done to them?