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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2097 KP) rated Fudging the Books (Cookbook Nook Mystery, #4) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
The Cookbook Nook is celebrating National Chocolate Month while the town of Crystal Cove is celebrating pirates. However, missing doubloons that are to be a prize at the end of the week put a damper on the festivities. That’s nothing compared to what happens when the owner of a cookbook publishing company is murdered. The victim had lived in Crystal Cove and published several residents. But when Jenna’s friend becomes the police’s chief suspect, Jenna begins trying to find someone else who had motive for murder.
This is a strong book in the series. The plot is constantly unraveling pieces as the suspects lie and point fingers at each other. I had no clue where it was all leading until the end. Meanwhile, the characters are continuing to grow and show us new sides, which I love.
NOTE: I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2015/08/book-review-fudging-books-by-daryl-wood.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
This is a strong book in the series. The plot is constantly unraveling pieces as the suspects lie and point fingers at each other. I had no clue where it was all leading until the end. Meanwhile, the characters are continuing to grow and show us new sides, which I love.
NOTE: I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2015/08/book-review-fudging-books-by-daryl-wood.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Lindsay (1706 KP) rated Love Unexpected (Beacons of Hope, #1) in Books
Feb 15, 2018 (Updated Apr 9, 2019)
What a sweet story this book is. Emma and her brother Ryan start out on a steamer boat. They are attack by pirates. Emma see that the steam boat catch fire. Emma and Ryan jump into the lake and are now trying to survive. Patrick see the steam boat catch fire.
Things start to happen once they arrive to the island. Patrick is in need of a wife to watch over his son Joisah. There are secrets and a romance and a traveling preachers believe they may be answers to each other problems. Can they find the true meaningful word of wife and husband. Will Emma find her own home? Though for having faith you need to believe in god himself and not believe in people. You can not put all your faith in people you love to have all that you need. Does Patrick, Emma or Ryan find that faith? Do they find Joisah? To know these answer and more you need to read the book. Will Patrick get over his Past?
Things start to happen once they arrive to the island. Patrick is in need of a wife to watch over his son Joisah. There are secrets and a romance and a traveling preachers believe they may be answers to each other problems. Can they find the true meaningful word of wife and husband. Will Emma find her own home? Though for having faith you need to believe in god himself and not believe in people. You can not put all your faith in people you love to have all that you need. Does Patrick, Emma or Ryan find that faith? Do they find Joisah? To know these answer and more you need to read the book. Will Patrick get over his Past?
Dana (24 KP) rated Magonia (Magonia, #1) in Books
Mar 23, 2018
Oh my goodness! This is a mix of magic, pirates, and sadness. Trust me, you will need some goddamn tissues near you when you are reading this book. It was so good! The characters are very realistic, the relationships are drawn very well, and the plot goes by very smoothly. There were only a few slow parts, but even those were good. The only thing I wished for was a little more world building. I wish we could have known more about the non main character's backgrounds and a little about the magical world and how it all works. I really recommend this book to people who like magical, piratey books. But really, if you haven't picked this book up yet, do it now. I mean, just by looking at the cover you should want to read it!! If you want to know more about the book, go to: <a href=" video</a> to watch a brief explanatory video from Epic Reads!
Matthew Krueger (10051 KP) rated Treasure Planet (2002) in Movies
Mar 26, 2020 (Updated Mar 26, 2020)
Pirates Ahoy
Treasure Planet- is a strange movie, it came out in the early 2000's and thats when Disney was running out of ideas or starting to. I believe that their were starting to run out of ideas. Treasure Planet- is a strange movie, cause it came out after "The Lion King". And the movie's after "The Lion King" were stange. What im saying is after "The Lion King", disney decided to go really strange/a huge left turn/didn't expect that/disappointed and overall a huge downfall. But i will get to those movies. Oh this is one of them.
The Plot: The legendary "loot of a thousand worlds" inspires an intergalactic treasure hunt when 15-year-old Jim Hawkins stumbles upon a map to the greatest pirate trove in the universe in Walt Disney Pictures' thrilling animated space adventure, "Treasure Planet." Based on one of the greatest adventure stories ever told - Robert Louis Stevenson's "Treasure Island" - this film follows Jim's fantastic journey across a parallel universe as a cabin boy aboard a glittering space galleon.
Its a very underrated film.
The Plot: The legendary "loot of a thousand worlds" inspires an intergalactic treasure hunt when 15-year-old Jim Hawkins stumbles upon a map to the greatest pirate trove in the universe in Walt Disney Pictures' thrilling animated space adventure, "Treasure Planet." Based on one of the greatest adventure stories ever told - Robert Louis Stevenson's "Treasure Island" - this film follows Jim's fantastic journey across a parallel universe as a cabin boy aboard a glittering space galleon.
Its a very underrated film.
David McK (3233 KP) rated The Lone Ranger (2013) in Movies
Sep 15, 2019 (Updated Feb 14, 2021)
"Hi Ho Silver away!"
Gore Verbinski (Pirates of the Carribean) take on the classic Western for Disney, with Johnny Depp's Tonto pretty much playing the same character as his Captain Jack Sparrow, and with Armie Hammer taking on the role of The Lone Ranger.
Set as an elderly Tonto telling the story to a child visitor in a fairground in 1930s San Fransisco, this takes a while to get going (2hour 20 running time!), with a large part of the story settign the scene and the background to how the Lone Ranger came to be who he is/was.
Indeed, apart from a slight refrain at the beginning the stirring William Tell overture doesn't even get used until near the end of the movie (probably for the best, as an overuse would dilute its impact).
I also have to say that this is probably one for the big screen: the sweeping majestic shots of the Wild West do kind of lose their impact on a smaller TV screen!
Gore Verbinski (Pirates of the Carribean) take on the classic Western for Disney, with Johnny Depp's Tonto pretty much playing the same character as his Captain Jack Sparrow, and with Armie Hammer taking on the role of The Lone Ranger.
Set as an elderly Tonto telling the story to a child visitor in a fairground in 1930s San Fransisco, this takes a while to get going (2hour 20 running time!), with a large part of the story settign the scene and the background to how the Lone Ranger came to be who he is/was.
Indeed, apart from a slight refrain at the beginning the stirring William Tell overture doesn't even get used until near the end of the movie (probably for the best, as an overuse would dilute its impact).
I also have to say that this is probably one for the big screen: the sweeping majestic shots of the Wild West do kind of lose their impact on a smaller TV screen!
Gareth von Kallenbach (971 KP) rated Pirates of the Caribbean: At Worlds End (2007) in Movies
Aug 14, 2019
Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) returns in “Pirates of the Caribbean: At Worlds End”, the third film in the series which has set box office records the world over. Picking up shortly after the events of the previous film, “Dead Man’s Chest”, it’s a new world for pirates and those who associate with pirates. Once the hunters, they’ve become the hunted, rounded up by The East India Trading Company, headed by Lord Cutler Beckett (Tom Hollander). Now under Beckett’s command, The Flying Dutchman, and its miserable, unforgiving captain, Davy Jones (Bill Nighy), sails the seven seas hunting pirate ships and giving no quarter.
Will Turner (Orlando Bloom), Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightley) and Captain Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush) journey to exotic Singapore and confront Chinese pirate Captain Sao Feng (Chow Yun-Fat) to gain charts, and a ship, that will take them off to world’s end, to rescue Jack from his cursed fate in Davy Jone’s Locker.
They need to gather the Nine Lords of the Brethren Court, their only hope to defeat Beckett, the Flying Dutchman, and his Armada. Sao Feng is one of the nine lords as is Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp). Their clandestine meeting does not go unnoticed, with the East India Trading Company dispatching troops to interfere, and soon a battle royale erupts in one of the films better moments, which sadly were few and far between.
British troops and treacherous waters dispensed with, Elizabeth, Captain Barbosa, and Will Turner (Orlando Bloom), are reunited with Jack, which sets into motion a very long, and at times confusing series of events. Jack is trying to avoid his debt to the squid faced Davy Jones, while Will is hoping to free his father from the Flying Dutchman as well, and at the same time restore his damaged relationship with Elizabeth.
While this covers the main three characters, the agenda for the others in the film are much more murky, especially that of Barbossa and other members of the Brethren Court who join together and seem content to risk life and limb without much in the way of compensation. There is a tacked on subplot about the Pieces of Eight that are needed to free a magical entity who may be of help in their battle with the deadly Jones and his otherworldly crew, but sadly most of the film’s nearly three hour running times seems either unnecessary and/or confusing as it works its way towards the final climax.
When the film does shift back into action mode which thankfully comes in the final 30 minutes or so of the film, with great special effects, the attractive and nimble cast really get a chance to shine. It is easily the most enjoyable and invigorating action sequence in all three of the films, and is almost worth the wait it took to get there. Almost. The film suffers mightily from the convoluted plot, dragging painfully on for long stretches of time, and only seems to come to life when Depp is on the screen. Sadly that is not nearly enough to save the film, weighed down as it is by the issues I’ve already detailed.
Although visually spectacular, I had high hopes for this film, especially after the great, but somewhat disturbing, opening sequence. Any momentum gained from that was quickly lost and the film soon became a bloated extravaganza of style over substance that was badly in need of having 45-60 minutes trimmed from its running time.
Will Turner (Orlando Bloom), Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightley) and Captain Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush) journey to exotic Singapore and confront Chinese pirate Captain Sao Feng (Chow Yun-Fat) to gain charts, and a ship, that will take them off to world’s end, to rescue Jack from his cursed fate in Davy Jone’s Locker.
They need to gather the Nine Lords of the Brethren Court, their only hope to defeat Beckett, the Flying Dutchman, and his Armada. Sao Feng is one of the nine lords as is Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp). Their clandestine meeting does not go unnoticed, with the East India Trading Company dispatching troops to interfere, and soon a battle royale erupts in one of the films better moments, which sadly were few and far between.
British troops and treacherous waters dispensed with, Elizabeth, Captain Barbosa, and Will Turner (Orlando Bloom), are reunited with Jack, which sets into motion a very long, and at times confusing series of events. Jack is trying to avoid his debt to the squid faced Davy Jones, while Will is hoping to free his father from the Flying Dutchman as well, and at the same time restore his damaged relationship with Elizabeth.
While this covers the main three characters, the agenda for the others in the film are much more murky, especially that of Barbossa and other members of the Brethren Court who join together and seem content to risk life and limb without much in the way of compensation. There is a tacked on subplot about the Pieces of Eight that are needed to free a magical entity who may be of help in their battle with the deadly Jones and his otherworldly crew, but sadly most of the film’s nearly three hour running times seems either unnecessary and/or confusing as it works its way towards the final climax.
When the film does shift back into action mode which thankfully comes in the final 30 minutes or so of the film, with great special effects, the attractive and nimble cast really get a chance to shine. It is easily the most enjoyable and invigorating action sequence in all three of the films, and is almost worth the wait it took to get there. Almost. The film suffers mightily from the convoluted plot, dragging painfully on for long stretches of time, and only seems to come to life when Depp is on the screen. Sadly that is not nearly enough to save the film, weighed down as it is by the issues I’ve already detailed.
Although visually spectacular, I had high hopes for this film, especially after the great, but somewhat disturbing, opening sequence. Any momentum gained from that was quickly lost and the film soon became a bloated extravaganza of style over substance that was badly in need of having 45-60 minutes trimmed from its running time.
Goddess in the Stacks (553 KP) rated Cinnamon and Gunpowder: A Novel in Books
Sep 19, 2018
Cinnamon and Gunpowder reminds me a lot of Treasure Island. Or at least of my childhood memories of reading Treasure Island, as it's been decades since I read it. The book is told from the viewpoint of Owen Wedgwood, a chef who finds himself kidnapped by a famous pirate and forced to cook gourmet meals for her in exchange for his life. As a home cook who's had a small amount of actual training, I really enjoyed his descriptions of making do with only the cooking tools the ship has on hand and whatever rations he could lay his hands on. The creativity he displays in making amazing meals out of almost nothing is one of the best parts of the book. (And the descriptions of those meals - YUM.)
The formatting is set up as a kind of personal ship's log, each part dated and written down after the events happen. Wedgwood (or "Spoons," as the crew calls him) even mentions how he hides it and leaves out a decoy log, since he also writes down his dreams (and plans!) of escaping the pirates.
Some of the events in the book are incredibly predictable, but there are still a few surprises. I was a little disappointed when one thing in particular happened; I saw it coming but hoped that wasn't where the author was going with it. I know that's vague, but I don't want to spoil anything!
I enjoyed learning about Mad Hannah's background and why she's a pirate; she's fighting against the opium trade, and she actually gives Wedgwood a pretty accurate summary of the terrible things the opium trade was responsible for.
Any book that can combine sumptuous description of exotic meals with action and cannonballs will have my attention. And Brown does not shy away from proper action scenes. These are pirates, and fights get brutal. Men lose limbs if not their lives to storms and Navy bombardments. Keeping order on a pirate ship involves lashings and brute force. The book doesn't shrink from those, but it also gets philosophical with Wedgwood's description of flavors, and almost comedic with the images of using cannonballs as pestles for grinding herbs. It's that contrast and variety that makes this book so much fun to read.
You can find all my reviews at http://goddessinthestacks.com
The formatting is set up as a kind of personal ship's log, each part dated and written down after the events happen. Wedgwood (or "Spoons," as the crew calls him) even mentions how he hides it and leaves out a decoy log, since he also writes down his dreams (and plans!) of escaping the pirates.
Some of the events in the book are incredibly predictable, but there are still a few surprises. I was a little disappointed when one thing in particular happened; I saw it coming but hoped that wasn't where the author was going with it. I know that's vague, but I don't want to spoil anything!
I enjoyed learning about Mad Hannah's background and why she's a pirate; she's fighting against the opium trade, and she actually gives Wedgwood a pretty accurate summary of the terrible things the opium trade was responsible for.
Any book that can combine sumptuous description of exotic meals with action and cannonballs will have my attention. And Brown does not shy away from proper action scenes. These are pirates, and fights get brutal. Men lose limbs if not their lives to storms and Navy bombardments. Keeping order on a pirate ship involves lashings and brute force. The book doesn't shrink from those, but it also gets philosophical with Wedgwood's description of flavors, and almost comedic with the images of using cannonballs as pestles for grinding herbs. It's that contrast and variety that makes this book so much fun to read.
You can find all my reviews at http://goddessinthestacks.com
Merissa (11791 KP) rated Averlon (Trident Cove #1) in Books
Sep 11, 2023
AVERLON is the first book in the Trident Cove series and it is a wonderful beginning to the series!
We start off with Faolan in the slave pits. This was a heavy start but really well-written. Faolan gets sold to a pirate captain who is paradoxical in many ways. He has bought a 'pleasure slave' and gets insanely jealous if anyone else touches him, BUT he doesn't want to touch him himself unless he is free of bruises and/or injuries. Being as most of the crew don't like the fact the Captain has a pleasure slave at all - when they have to wait for shore leave - this means Faolan has injuries most of the time, which is good for him!
Averlon is the Mer prince, together with his bodyguard and best friend, Revyn. When he feels the mate bond, he goes in search of his mate. His plan is to be captured by the pirates so he meets the Mer onboard. Of course, it isn't a Mer but Faolan instead.
There were a few examples of behaviour not making much sense - for example when they escaped from the boat. I couldn't understand why Averlon would jump off first, leaving his mate in possible peril, as the biggest danger was behind them (the pirates/captain etc.) not in front of them. I would also have liked Faolan to have had more of a voice at times. I felt he needed more time to understand becoming a Mer, but didn't say anything. I also understand he was in the honeymoon period, but I wish he had spoken up when Averlon went against what Faolan wanted. If there is a good reason it had to be done a certain way - great! Tell Faolan about it so the reader can find out too.
All in all though, this was a great book that made me realise I haven't read a good Mer story in far too long. I look forward to finding out what happened to Karn once they hit the water. Definitely recommended by me.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Sep 10, 2023
We start off with Faolan in the slave pits. This was a heavy start but really well-written. Faolan gets sold to a pirate captain who is paradoxical in many ways. He has bought a 'pleasure slave' and gets insanely jealous if anyone else touches him, BUT he doesn't want to touch him himself unless he is free of bruises and/or injuries. Being as most of the crew don't like the fact the Captain has a pleasure slave at all - when they have to wait for shore leave - this means Faolan has injuries most of the time, which is good for him!
Averlon is the Mer prince, together with his bodyguard and best friend, Revyn. When he feels the mate bond, he goes in search of his mate. His plan is to be captured by the pirates so he meets the Mer onboard. Of course, it isn't a Mer but Faolan instead.
There were a few examples of behaviour not making much sense - for example when they escaped from the boat. I couldn't understand why Averlon would jump off first, leaving his mate in possible peril, as the biggest danger was behind them (the pirates/captain etc.) not in front of them. I would also have liked Faolan to have had more of a voice at times. I felt he needed more time to understand becoming a Mer, but didn't say anything. I also understand he was in the honeymoon period, but I wish he had spoken up when Averlon went against what Faolan wanted. If there is a good reason it had to be done a certain way - great! Tell Faolan about it so the reader can find out too.
All in all though, this was a great book that made me realise I haven't read a good Mer story in far too long. I look forward to finding out what happened to Karn once they hit the water. Definitely recommended by me.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Sep 10, 2023
Sawyer (231 KP) rated Star Wars Legacy in Books
Dec 17, 2017
Set hundreds of years after the death of Darth Vader the Jedi order was rebuilt all is well but history is
destined to repeat itself and the Sith Empire returns stronger than ever the Jedis are being purged and hunted the last son of the Sky Walker Clan Witnesses the death of his father and barely escapes the destruction of
his training grounds the lost and hopeless child of Force is picked up by a band of Smugglers and Pirates
We fast-forward to years later Skywalker and two of his childhood Brothers in Arms are doing well for thenselfs as bounty Hunters using his force abilities to take down Jedi refugees
Things become complicated when the Sky Walker crosses paths with his former Jedi Master who was presumed dead the lone master is on a mission to deliver intelligence that could turn the tide of the war
A conflicted Skywalker must decide to embrace his Heritage or continue living his comfortable makeshift life as a criminal
This is a great original twist on the Star Wars story great art by Dark Horse Comics best and refreshing new characters with lots of sass personality and wit
destined to repeat itself and the Sith Empire returns stronger than ever the Jedis are being purged and hunted the last son of the Sky Walker Clan Witnesses the death of his father and barely escapes the destruction of
his training grounds the lost and hopeless child of Force is picked up by a band of Smugglers and Pirates
We fast-forward to years later Skywalker and two of his childhood Brothers in Arms are doing well for thenselfs as bounty Hunters using his force abilities to take down Jedi refugees
Things become complicated when the Sky Walker crosses paths with his former Jedi Master who was presumed dead the lone master is on a mission to deliver intelligence that could turn the tide of the war
A conflicted Skywalker must decide to embrace his Heritage or continue living his comfortable makeshift life as a criminal
This is a great original twist on the Star Wars story great art by Dark Horse Comics best and refreshing new characters with lots of sass personality and wit
Leanne Crabtree (480 KP) rated Deathmaker (Dragon Blood, #2) in Books
Sep 6, 2019
I received this copy via the author in exchange for an honest review.
Im a huge fan of Lindsay Buroker so when she offered me the chance to read this, I jumped at the chance.
Its part two in her Dragon Blood series and takes place a little time after the first. This one is more like her Emperors Edge series with it being heavy on the action and light on the romance, though there is enough to make you happy. Its more subtle than that of the first, which is what I really like about the authors books.
I grew to like Tolemek/the Deathmaker early on in this, despite him being one of the bad guys, and I think Cas had the same problem. Hes unlike the rest of the pirates she ends up meeting. Tolemek doesnt like hurting women, unlike some of the others, and over time he softens towards Cas and she gets under his skin. It was all rather sweet reading.
If youre a fan of the author then you need to read this. If youve never read anything by her, why not?
Im a huge fan of Lindsay Buroker so when she offered me the chance to read this, I jumped at the chance.
Its part two in her Dragon Blood series and takes place a little time after the first. This one is more like her Emperors Edge series with it being heavy on the action and light on the romance, though there is enough to make you happy. Its more subtle than that of the first, which is what I really like about the authors books.
I grew to like Tolemek/the Deathmaker early on in this, despite him being one of the bad guys, and I think Cas had the same problem. Hes unlike the rest of the pirates she ends up meeting. Tolemek doesnt like hurting women, unlike some of the others, and over time he softens towards Cas and she gets under his skin. It was all rather sweet reading.
If youre a fan of the author then you need to read this. If youve never read anything by her, why not?