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Awix (3310 KP) rated On Chesil Beach (2018) in Movies
Jun 1, 2018
Bleak British Repressed Sexuality a Go Go!
Handsomely mounted BBC film starts off looking like many another period-set literary adaptation, then turns into something rather different. Newlyweds Edward and Florence are on the brink of their wedding night; both are nervous, and struggling with the expectations society and their upbringing has placed upon them. (The fact that society hasn't bothered to educate them in the slightest about what can, or should, go on in the bedroom really doesn't help on this voyage into, or possibly out of, virgin territory.) Not all goes to plan; a small but genuine tragedy unfolds.
Not the kind of film you walk home from whistling, unless you're some kind of militant celibacy advocate, but an undeniably fine one (or so it seems to me): very good performances from the young stars, and well-judged direction. Initially the film seems like a slightly dark comedy-drama of manners (the excruciating scenes of people failing to have sex are very awkward to watch), but it develops into something profoundly moving and deeply sad before the end. Thank God for the permissive society.
Not the kind of film you walk home from whistling, unless you're some kind of militant celibacy advocate, but an undeniably fine one (or so it seems to me): very good performances from the young stars, and well-judged direction. Initially the film seems like a slightly dark comedy-drama of manners (the excruciating scenes of people failing to have sex are very awkward to watch), but it develops into something profoundly moving and deeply sad before the end. Thank God for the permissive society.
David (771 KP) rated Bonded in Blood in Books
Sep 6, 2018
Great modern take on vampire genre
I won this book in a giveaway by Smashbomb, thank you. That said, it will not influence my review.
I haven't read many books with a prologue, this one had one and set the book up nicely that it wasn't going to shy away from the gruesome, being a vampire story you would expect nothing less.
The main characters Taz (no relation to Warner Bros one that ate everything) and Morgana (Morgan) I liked pretty much straight away for their love/hate relationship in and out of the bedroom (Some steamy scenes, be warned). Taz, arrogant, egotistical and generally full of himself, then you have Morgan, she reminded me of Selene from Underworld films in that she took no nonsense and was her own woman. They are forced to work together to solve the gruesome murders that threaten to uncover the centuries hidden vampire world that Kayla (human) thinks she is very close to uncovering.
A book that you can't put down, full of excitement, sex and vampiric action. I would highly recommend it and can't wait to read the next book.
I haven't read many books with a prologue, this one had one and set the book up nicely that it wasn't going to shy away from the gruesome, being a vampire story you would expect nothing less.
The main characters Taz (no relation to Warner Bros one that ate everything) and Morgana (Morgan) I liked pretty much straight away for their love/hate relationship in and out of the bedroom (Some steamy scenes, be warned). Taz, arrogant, egotistical and generally full of himself, then you have Morgan, she reminded me of Selene from Underworld films in that she took no nonsense and was her own woman. They are forced to work together to solve the gruesome murders that threaten to uncover the centuries hidden vampire world that Kayla (human) thinks she is very close to uncovering.
A book that you can't put down, full of excitement, sex and vampiric action. I would highly recommend it and can't wait to read the next book.
Alicia S (193 KP) rated Deception (Infidelity, #3) in Books
Sep 28, 2018
How do I even begin to review one of Aleatha's books?! I can't wait for the next book the moment I've begun and the end always comes too soon!? Deception is book three in the five-book Infidelity series. This book, like the previous two, kept me on edge from page one. Not only do I love that she gives you a glimpse back into the prior books in the beginning (which is great for someone like me who has probably read hundreds since reading Cunning and needs the reminder of where we last left off) but she gives you just enough to hang onto before leaving your heart on the floor after a cliffhanger ending!? And I love every minute of it ;-) After where they started, Nox and Charli's relationship has grown into something more spectacular than you could imagine and I loved seeing them in this next phase. Beautiful moments, hot sex scenes and plenty of added drama and action. Her books are everything, so much more than just a love story... HIGHLY, HIGHLY recommended and as usual, I CAN NOT wait for book #4 so she can do it to me all over again!?
LynetteMcC (0 KP) rated Trickery (Curse of the Gods, #1) in Books
Nov 17, 2018
Character development (2 more)
Good female protagonist
World development
What a refreshing take on the reverse harem genre
Well this was a nice surprise. I’ve only recently started enjoying reading reverse harem novels and find they can be a bit on the cringe side of things. Either there’s too much mushy sentiments or it’s straight into the sex talk right off the bat. While there is some of this here, there’s actually some nice development of both Willa, the gods, sols and worlds.
The abcurses are well fleshed out as individuals even without having full knowledge about them straight away. You don’t grind your teeth or blush everytime they appear on the page, which is a plus.
I’d say if you liked hearing about the Greek gods when you were younger (or now even) and enjoy a kind of hunger games type world then this could be the book for you.
It’s a book I felt comfortable reading in public and I’d say to an extant older teens would be fine reading this as it’s not overtly sexual, at least in this first book ?
The abcurses are well fleshed out as individuals even without having full knowledge about them straight away. You don’t grind your teeth or blush everytime they appear on the page, which is a plus.
I’d say if you liked hearing about the Greek gods when you were younger (or now even) and enjoy a kind of hunger games type world then this could be the book for you.
It’s a book I felt comfortable reading in public and I’d say to an extant older teens would be fine reading this as it’s not overtly sexual, at least in this first book ?
Dianne Robbins (1738 KP) created a post in Dear Smashbomb....
Jan 18, 2019 (Updated Jan 18, 2019)
Dianne Robbins (1738 KP) created a post
Jan 18, 2019
Deborah (162 KP) rated The Tudor Wife in Books
Dec 21, 2018
This was not bad for an 'on holiday, don't think too much about it' sort of read. I still can't say I'd go out of my way to recommend it though!
I thought the writing style was OK, but in places got a bit repetitive - towards the end I lost count of the number of times we heard "she who sows the whirlwind reaps the storm".... I never think books written in the first person work quite so well as those written in the third person anyway. This one was written from the point of view of Jane Boleyn (nee Parker), wife to George Boleyn, Anne's brother. It could have been a more interesting psychological study of this woman, but she ends up looking voyeristic and petty! The sex scenes in this book are one of the worst parts to be honest, let alone the fact that we have Jane sleeping with Cromwell and Katherine Howard and Anna of Cleves involved in a very interesting situation with a pot of honey.... it seems to be salacious just for the sake of it as it doesn't add anything!
I thought the writing style was OK, but in places got a bit repetitive - towards the end I lost count of the number of times we heard "she who sows the whirlwind reaps the storm".... I never think books written in the first person work quite so well as those written in the third person anyway. This one was written from the point of view of Jane Boleyn (nee Parker), wife to George Boleyn, Anne's brother. It could have been a more interesting psychological study of this woman, but she ends up looking voyeristic and petty! The sex scenes in this book are one of the worst parts to be honest, let alone the fact that we have Jane sleeping with Cromwell and Katherine Howard and Anna of Cleves involved in a very interesting situation with a pot of honey.... it seems to be salacious just for the sake of it as it doesn't add anything!
Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated Witch's Betrayal in Books
Jul 7, 2019
Great instalment
Contains spoilers, click to show
I know who I really am. But if my coven finds out, they’ll hunt me down until I’m erased from history.
Seth, the arrogant demon hunter, is dangerously close to knowing too much. If that prick gets anywhere near one of my demons, there will be Hell to pay. Unfortunately, he’s also the one teaching me shadow magic.
Secrets hide in the shadows. And some secrets should never be known. But I won’t stop looking for who killed my birth mother. If I must face trauma from my previous lives, so be it.
I have my lovers. I have my coven. But I still need answers.
I really enjoy Crystals approach to demons and angels, heaven and hell! Her character development is so good and she writes her sex scenes making you want more without it overpowering the story! This is the 3rd book and i flew through it! Her style has such a nice flow from one book to another!
I'm lookin forward to seeing where things go from here now the 4 are about to become 5 while contending with the witches hunting them!!
Seth, the arrogant demon hunter, is dangerously close to knowing too much. If that prick gets anywhere near one of my demons, there will be Hell to pay. Unfortunately, he’s also the one teaching me shadow magic.
Secrets hide in the shadows. And some secrets should never be known. But I won’t stop looking for who killed my birth mother. If I must face trauma from my previous lives, so be it.
I have my lovers. I have my coven. But I still need answers.
I really enjoy Crystals approach to demons and angels, heaven and hell! Her character development is so good and she writes her sex scenes making you want more without it overpowering the story! This is the 3rd book and i flew through it! Her style has such a nice flow from one book to another!
I'm lookin forward to seeing where things go from here now the 4 are about to become 5 while contending with the witches hunting them!!
Awix (3310 KP) rated Personal Services (1987) in Movies
Jan 19, 2020
Not many people get a film based on their life while they're still around: prostitute and brothel madam Cynthia Payne had not one but two released in the same year (this and 'Wish You Were Here') - makes one proud to be British. A typical story of rags to riches, embellished with a vast amount of kinky sex and tawdry etablishment hypocrisy - not entirely surprisingly, the women here are the tough and clever ones, the men who come to them are awkward, fragile creatures.
One of those off-beat comedy-drama films, with a strong sense of the seedier side of life, that the UK film industry went in for quite a lot in the 1980s. This one has a strong performance from Julie Walters, but the comedy often feels strained and it can't seem to quite decide how it's going to handle the more graphic material inevitably involved - straightforwardly, or in nudge-nudge style? Tends towards the latter. Passes the time reasonably well as a slightly odd piece of entertainment; may well also be of interest as an insight into the English psyche (God help us).
One of those off-beat comedy-drama films, with a strong sense of the seedier side of life, that the UK film industry went in for quite a lot in the 1980s. This one has a strong performance from Julie Walters, but the comedy often feels strained and it can't seem to quite decide how it's going to handle the more graphic material inevitably involved - straightforwardly, or in nudge-nudge style? Tends towards the latter. Passes the time reasonably well as a slightly odd piece of entertainment; may well also be of interest as an insight into the English psyche (God help us).
Lenard (726 KP) rated Fantasy Island (2020) in Movies
Feb 24, 2020
Much like the recent adaptation of the Banana Splits Hour, Blumhouse's Fantasy Island took a show from my childhood and added horror elements to the premise. Five strangers land on an island where their fantasy is granted. The island is overseen by a mysterious Latino named Mr. Roarke, played by master monologuist Michael Pena. As you may have seen in the trailer, two are given everything that they want (money, sex, a mansion), one plays soldier, one is given a fresh start, and one gets revenge on a middle-school bully. However, a fantasy can easily become a nightmare and the island does not distinguish. As the five strangers are slowly brought back together, they learn that the island did not randomly select them. Someone else has their own nightmarish fantasy to live. I will not spoil the secret, but the mysterious person behind it all makes precious little sense unless he or she had a traumatic brain injury before and during the plot of the movie. Some scenes were very good and it could have been a good horror movie if it had just left the storylines separate like the tv show managed to do.