Search
Search results
Merissa (14030 KP) rated Unapologetically Me (Offbeat Shifters #3) in Books
Mar 25, 2021 (Updated Aug 2, 2023)
UNAPOLOGETICALLY ME is the third book in the Offbeat Shifters series, but the first one of Charlie and Austin. Charlie was the unreliable pop Divo, who wouldn't take any nonsense, and Austin was Jesse's dad, who made more than a few mistakes when raising his son. This is their story.
And what a story it is!!! I really enjoyed Jesse and Isaac, I did. But these two, wow! I loved their story. It made me smile, it made me laugh, and it also made me cry. I NEED their happy ending! Part of what I loved though, was seeing Jesse and Isaac with the twins, through Austin's eyes, and seeing how he felt about his past.
This is an incredibly well-written story, that has an open ending designed to leave you hanging on for the next book, which I need, like yesterday! The characters are all amazing, with their own interests and foibles to make them more 'human'. I loved how Charlie bakes when he's stressed! And I do so love a flapjack.
This really is a fantastic addition to the series, and I can't wait for more. It was brilliant seeing Jesse and Isaac again, but now I need to know Austin and Charlie get their HEA!
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Mar 25, 2021
And what a story it is!!! I really enjoyed Jesse and Isaac, I did. But these two, wow! I loved their story. It made me smile, it made me laugh, and it also made me cry. I NEED their happy ending! Part of what I loved though, was seeing Jesse and Isaac with the twins, through Austin's eyes, and seeing how he felt about his past.
This is an incredibly well-written story, that has an open ending designed to leave you hanging on for the next book, which I need, like yesterday! The characters are all amazing, with their own interests and foibles to make them more 'human'. I loved how Charlie bakes when he's stressed! And I do so love a flapjack.
This really is a fantastic addition to the series, and I can't wait for more. It was brilliant seeing Jesse and Isaac again, but now I need to know Austin and Charlie get their HEA!
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Mar 25, 2021
Acanthea Grimscythe (300 KP) rated 100 Fathoms Below in Books
Jan 31, 2019
Contains spoilers, click to show
I love books that take place under the sea–particularly horror books. If you’ve read my review on Something’s Alive on the Titanic, you probably already know that. (It’s a great book by the way, and its author is Robert Serling–brother to Rod Serling.) It’s only natural that I selected 100 Fathoms Below when I read its nautical, and eerie, description.
And here’s where my spoiler comes in, because I’m about to go on a mini-rant. The synopsis hints at a mysterious, evil monster hunting the crew of the ship, but it does not say what that creature is. Therefore, I feel that revealing this is a book about vampires is, in fact, a spoiler–contrary to popular belief of other reviewers. It’s pretty obvious early on, with the first hint coming in at 8%, however if I’d known this was a vampire book before I chose it, I wouldn’t have taken the time to read it. The key word there is BEFORE. Because I had it spoiled by a straight up summary of the prologue on Goodreads, coupled with a pretty hearty description about the… well, vampires. So, now that you know that overly used trope is here, let’s take a moment to discuss what Kent and Kaufmann do right, shall we?
The vampires in 100 Fathoms Below are good ol’ classic boys, in the sense that they’re bloodthirsty and want nothing more than to maim and breed more of their kind. They aren’t romanticized, either–and that’s a great thing. In fact, they’re written well enough that, despite having been spoiled by a fellow reviewer, I enjoyed the book enough to finish it. Mostly because I wanted to see how things ended.
Something else Kent and Kaufmann excel at is creating a connection between the readers and characters. I found myself sharing the hopes and dreams of many of the figures we meet. That made some of the deaths a lot more difficult on me.
The plot is quick, making it an easy read; however, the sense of intrigue isn’t really there. The whole discovering a prototype Soviet submarine takes the back burner with an occasional mention and even when it does come back into play toward the end of the book, there’s not exactly any excitement or fear of them being caught. I found that to be a bit disappointing.
Overall, it’s an entertaining read, but I probably wouldn’t take the time to re-read it. I’d like to thank NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
And here’s where my spoiler comes in, because I’m about to go on a mini-rant. The synopsis hints at a mysterious, evil monster hunting the crew of the ship, but it does not say what that creature is. Therefore, I feel that revealing this is a book about vampires is, in fact, a spoiler–contrary to popular belief of other reviewers. It’s pretty obvious early on, with the first hint coming in at 8%, however if I’d known this was a vampire book before I chose it, I wouldn’t have taken the time to read it. The key word there is BEFORE. Because I had it spoiled by a straight up summary of the prologue on Goodreads, coupled with a pretty hearty description about the… well, vampires. So, now that you know that overly used trope is here, let’s take a moment to discuss what Kent and Kaufmann do right, shall we?
The vampires in 100 Fathoms Below are good ol’ classic boys, in the sense that they’re bloodthirsty and want nothing more than to maim and breed more of their kind. They aren’t romanticized, either–and that’s a great thing. In fact, they’re written well enough that, despite having been spoiled by a fellow reviewer, I enjoyed the book enough to finish it. Mostly because I wanted to see how things ended.
Something else Kent and Kaufmann excel at is creating a connection between the readers and characters. I found myself sharing the hopes and dreams of many of the figures we meet. That made some of the deaths a lot more difficult on me.
The plot is quick, making it an easy read; however, the sense of intrigue isn’t really there. The whole discovering a prototype Soviet submarine takes the back burner with an occasional mention and even when it does come back into play toward the end of the book, there’s not exactly any excitement or fear of them being caught. I found that to be a bit disappointing.
Overall, it’s an entertaining read, but I probably wouldn’t take the time to re-read it. I’d like to thank NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Russ Troutt (291 KP) rated The Lighthouse (2019) in Movies
Oct 30, 2019
I steered me vessel to the theater last night and saw The Lighthouse. Not much I can say about the movie itself without giving spoilers, it's definitely one that can only be discussed between two people that have been stranded together for a couple of hours in a theater staring at the light from the projector viewing this film. Is it possible to love everything about a movie, but not really like the movie? Maybe I'm just going mad. The acting from Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson is some of the best you'll see this year, or any for that matter. The look and feel of the movie is as magical as the beauty and song of a siren on the rocky shore. To be honest, while giving praise to every aspect of it, I didn't feel like I actually liked the movie itself walking away from it. But with loving everything Robert Eggers cooked up with The Lighthouse and reflecting on my take away and interpretation of the story, it's one of my favorite movies of the year. This is why I love art so much; to really take a masterpiece like this in, to tear apart and pick at internally like a seagull, and then flatulate how I feel about it.
Lee KM Pallatina (951 KP) rated Manhunt (PS2 Classic) in Video Games
Aug 18, 2019
Kill or be killed
Contains spoilers, click to show
Manhunt is a classic game released for ps2 & xbox original. The game brought serious intensity to a very dark and violent videogame story.
With so may dark, demented, gory & bloodsoaked videogames released today, manhunt to me remains one of THE very best, although it may not have aged well, it does not take away what a major hit it was with mainstream players.
Manhunt is a stealth-based psychological horror video game developed by Rockstar North and published by Rockstar Games.
originally released for the PlayStation 2 on November 18, 2003, and for Microsoft Windows and Xbox on April 20, 2004.
Manhunt follows the story of convicted serial killer James earl cash, who wakes up after his execution to realise...He's still Alive?!
You take control of Cash, who is given an opportunity to escape by "the Director" a mysterious man who locked you up in carcer city, jam packed with more free roaming criminals..the worst of the worst, who gets off to violence and will be watching your every move via cctv.
If your going to escape. Prepare to get EXTREMELY VIOLENT!
With so may dark, demented, gory & bloodsoaked videogames released today, manhunt to me remains one of THE very best, although it may not have aged well, it does not take away what a major hit it was with mainstream players.
Manhunt is a stealth-based psychological horror video game developed by Rockstar North and published by Rockstar Games.
originally released for the PlayStation 2 on November 18, 2003, and for Microsoft Windows and Xbox on April 20, 2004.
Manhunt follows the story of convicted serial killer James earl cash, who wakes up after his execution to realise...He's still Alive?!
You take control of Cash, who is given an opportunity to escape by "the Director" a mysterious man who locked you up in carcer city, jam packed with more free roaming criminals..the worst of the worst, who gets off to violence and will be watching your every move via cctv.
If your going to escape. Prepare to get EXTREMELY VIOLENT!
FC
Fashionable Clothing from the Sears Catalogs: Late 1970s
Book
The gamut of trends and fashions during the late 1970s are explored in this priceless pictorial...
Take it as a Compliment
Book
Gold medal winner in the 'Independent Spirit' category of the Independent Publishers Outstanding...
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2585 KP) rated What Happened at Midnight in Books
Aug 27, 2020
Nighttime Crime
Frank and Joe Hardy are shocked when they get the new request from their father, famed detective Fenton Hardy. He wants them to break into a house and steal something. Of course, it is to keep an invention for his client safe. However, doing that puts the boys on the radar of a gang of smugglers. Will they be able to protect the invention and round up the smugglers?
I remember as a kid the title really intriguing me. Yes, several scenes take place at midnight, but the title isn’t as relevant to the story as it might be. That hardly matters since the story is so action packed that it is hard to put it down. Coincidence rules quite a bit, and the characters are thin. Elements are also very dated today. So in other words, it’s a typical Hardy Boys book. Still, I take that into account when I pick up one of these books, and I enjoy the nostalgia I get from revisiting these old friends.
I remember as a kid the title really intriguing me. Yes, several scenes take place at midnight, but the title isn’t as relevant to the story as it might be. That hardly matters since the story is so action packed that it is hard to put it down. Coincidence rules quite a bit, and the characters are thin. Elements are also very dated today. So in other words, it’s a typical Hardy Boys book. Still, I take that into account when I pick up one of these books, and I enjoy the nostalgia I get from revisiting these old friends.
Lou Grande (148 KP) rated Sorry to Bother You (2018) in Movies
Jul 17, 2018
This movie was funny, poignant, and sure did take a turn in the third act. The world that Cassius Green ("cash is green") lives in is a not-quite bizarro version of our own world--take all the issues the United States is having and turn them to 11 and you'll understand. It reminded me a bit of Idiocracy in that way. But I digress. Cassius Green just wants stability. He wants to make money to eventually move out of his uncle's (Terry Crews) garage, and he wants to impress his girlfriend, Detroit (Tessa Thompson). He finds a job working as a telemarketer, and, what's more, he finds success by adopting a "white voice," voiced by David Cross. He soon faces a moral crisis when he finds out what he's actually selling, and who he's selling out.
Brilliantly shot and directed, Sorry to Bother You is a delight to watch. Every actor is on point, and the comedic timing never skips a beat. But it's not without a message, and it won't be hard to decipher. Sorry to Bother You is a satire in the purest of forms--and what is being satirized is us. After it's over, it invites you to take a moment to reflect on your own life, and what part you play in the world. Excellent, relevant film. Highly recommend.
(Also, I have to add that I saw this at a weekday afternoon matinee, and the audience was full of old white people. They looked less than pleased as we were walking out. What did you think this was??)
Brilliantly shot and directed, Sorry to Bother You is a delight to watch. Every actor is on point, and the comedic timing never skips a beat. But it's not without a message, and it won't be hard to decipher. Sorry to Bother You is a satire in the purest of forms--and what is being satirized is us. After it's over, it invites you to take a moment to reflect on your own life, and what part you play in the world. Excellent, relevant film. Highly recommend.
(Also, I have to add that I saw this at a weekday afternoon matinee, and the audience was full of old white people. They looked less than pleased as we were walking out. What did you think this was??)
Whatchareadin (174 KP) rated The Hit (Will Robie #2) in Books
May 10, 2018
David Baldacci has done it again. Another heart pounding thriller with Will Robie.
Reading these books, always makes me wonder if there really are people defending our country like Will Robie. I read the book on America's best sniper, but he didn't do anything like this. Does art really imitate life?
In the installment of the Will Robie series, Robie is hired to take out someone he knows. But something doesn't seem right about this hit. Why didn't she follow out her mission as previously instructed? What would make her do something like that. Jessica Reel is as good if not better at this job than Will Robie. So something in his gut is telling him that the story he was given is not the whole truth. There has been a lot of that going on as of late.
So what happens if these two work together to get to the bottom of what is really going on? Will they be able to work together, or will one be out of the agency, the only way to go out?
Reading these books, always makes me wonder if there really are people defending our country like Will Robie. I read the book on America's best sniper, but he didn't do anything like this. Does art really imitate life?
In the installment of the Will Robie series, Robie is hired to take out someone he knows. But something doesn't seem right about this hit. Why didn't she follow out her mission as previously instructed? What would make her do something like that. Jessica Reel is as good if not better at this job than Will Robie. So something in his gut is telling him that the story he was given is not the whole truth. There has been a lot of that going on as of late.
So what happens if these two work together to get to the bottom of what is really going on? Will they be able to work together, or will one be out of the agency, the only way to go out?
Dean (6927 KP) rated The House of the Dead: Overkill in Video Games
Feb 24, 2019
Great graphics (2 more)
Variety of levels and enemies
Very funny!
A bloody good shooter!
An excellent light gun game for the Wii. One of the best I've played on any console and definitely the most fun. The best House of the Dead game for me, this was the first game that really sold the light gun gaming on the Wii.
The graphics are very good, it's quite a big game compared to other gun games. Some levels could take a good 15-20 minutes to complete. The music is groovy, there are plenty of guns to use. There is plenty of replay value with mini-games, various achievements to go for.
The thing that stands out the most is the humour. The whole feel is a tongue in cheek '70's grindhouse, Horror B Movie vibe. It works, the voice acting is good and it will probably make you laugh.
Overall it is a little easy on the normal levels but it's so enjoyable. If you like Horror films and light gun games you'll love this.
The graphics are very good, it's quite a big game compared to other gun games. Some levels could take a good 15-20 minutes to complete. The music is groovy, there are plenty of guns to use. There is plenty of replay value with mini-games, various achievements to go for.
The thing that stands out the most is the humour. The whole feel is a tongue in cheek '70's grindhouse, Horror B Movie vibe. It works, the voice acting is good and it will probably make you laugh.
Overall it is a little easy on the normal levels but it's so enjoyable. If you like Horror films and light gun games you'll love this.