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Pippi Longstocking's Villa Villekulla!
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Explore Pippi Longstocking's amazing house Villa Villekulla! In here there are no rules. Bring out...
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2357 KP) rated Oh Danny Girl in Books
Jan 17, 2023 (Updated Jan 17, 2023)
Life Unraveling Can Be Dangerous
When Danny O’Brien goes to court that morning, she’s not expecting anything too difficult in the uncontested divorce she is there to handle. That’s before a gun is found in her briefcase – a gun connected to the high-profile cop killer case where her husband is the defense attorney. Then her husband is murdered in a hotel room with a woman. As Danny realizes the legal peril she is in, she tries to make sense of all that is happening around her. Will she figure things out before it is too late?
This was a great thrill ride from the very beginning, and I had a hard time putting the book down. The characters are great, and help pull us into the story. The chapter breaks also signal that we are switching to another character’s point of view, and this technique is used perfectly to help us understand them better and to fully see what is unfolding. I did think a couple of character moments happened too soon, and a couple of times the chapter breaks were used for false suspense (to keep us from learning something the character had just learned), but these were minor issues for me. Most of the twists surprised me and kept me hooked until I reached the satisfying end. I can’t wait to see what happens to these characters next.
This was a great thrill ride from the very beginning, and I had a hard time putting the book down. The characters are great, and help pull us into the story. The chapter breaks also signal that we are switching to another character’s point of view, and this technique is used perfectly to help us understand them better and to fully see what is unfolding. I did think a couple of character moments happened too soon, and a couple of times the chapter breaks were used for false suspense (to keep us from learning something the character had just learned), but these were minor issues for me. Most of the twists surprised me and kept me hooked until I reached the satisfying end. I can’t wait to see what happens to these characters next.
When the World Tips Over
9.0
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An explosive new novel brimming with love, secrets, and enchantment The Fall siblings live in hot...
ArecRain (8 KP) rated Taboo (Albright Sisters, #2.5) in Books
Jan 18, 2018
I had very high hopes for this book. While I wasn't disappointed, I shouldn't have set my standards so high just because of a pretty cover. The gorgeous cover is what intrigued me and I literally couldn't stop myself from buying it. I didn't know it was part of a series so I definitely am going to read the other three novels in the series. Although, I am so confused as to how they can consider this novel 2.5. What disappointed me about Taboo was the completely simplistic and unimaginative plot.
The rundown: boy and girl fall in love despite being in different classes of society. Because society would never accept their relationships, someone meddles, breaking them apart. One turns into a whore while the other turns into a crybaby and runs to another country. Said crybaby returns and, because he cannot get his once lover out of his head, he blackmails her into becoming his whore. Eventually, the truth comes out and the couple lives happily ever after.
Despite the uncreative plot, I really enjoyed this book. The erotic scenes were great except for one particular scene that just wasn't my taste. Despite that, they were expertly written. The only thing that actually bothered me was the fact that the female protagonist became a whore for the ton so that sex wouldn't be ruined for her. It was a major "Wtf?" moment and I almost threw the book across the room, especially since Michaels like to repeatedly bring this point up.
Overall, a pleasing erotic novel.
The rundown: boy and girl fall in love despite being in different classes of society. Because society would never accept their relationships, someone meddles, breaking them apart. One turns into a whore while the other turns into a crybaby and runs to another country. Said crybaby returns and, because he cannot get his once lover out of his head, he blackmails her into becoming his whore. Eventually, the truth comes out and the couple lives happily ever after.
Despite the uncreative plot, I really enjoyed this book. The erotic scenes were great except for one particular scene that just wasn't my taste. Despite that, they were expertly written. The only thing that actually bothered me was the fact that the female protagonist became a whore for the ton so that sex wouldn't be ruined for her. It was a major "Wtf?" moment and I almost threw the book across the room, especially since Michaels like to repeatedly bring this point up.
Overall, a pleasing erotic novel.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2357 KP) rated On Borrowed Time in Books
Dec 15, 2019
Can Lindsey Find Her Brother Before Time Runs Out?
Lindsey Norris is getting ready for the weekly Crafternoon meeting, but she finds a surprise guest hiding out in their usual meeting room – her brother Jack. She wasn’t expecting to see him for a few more weeks when her entire family arrived for Christmas. He begs her to keep his presence a secret and promises to explain everything after a nap. Lindsey returns after the meeting, but instead of her brother, she finds a dead body on the floor. Who is the dead man? Where is her brother? And how much danger is he in?
I originally picked up this book thinking I’d get a Christmas themed cozy. It was quickly obvious that wasn’t going to be the case, but that is hardly a complaint at all. The story was so strong I didn’t want anything slowing it down. It kept my attention the entire time, from the fast-paced opening until it reached the action-packed climax. The love triangle is still going strongly here, although it seems obvious to me which way Lindsey is leaning. It doesn’t take over from the main mystery, and it provides some fun humor along the way. One of the guys gets some nice character development. All the regulars are here and very strong. The new characters don’t get a whole lot of page time, but they do come alive with what little page time they do have. This is a great book that will please fans of the series.
I originally picked up this book thinking I’d get a Christmas themed cozy. It was quickly obvious that wasn’t going to be the case, but that is hardly a complaint at all. The story was so strong I didn’t want anything slowing it down. It kept my attention the entire time, from the fast-paced opening until it reached the action-packed climax. The love triangle is still going strongly here, although it seems obvious to me which way Lindsey is leaning. It doesn’t take over from the main mystery, and it provides some fun humor along the way. One of the guys gets some nice character development. All the regulars are here and very strong. The new characters don’t get a whole lot of page time, but they do come alive with what little page time they do have. This is a great book that will please fans of the series.
Tim McGuire (301 KP) rated Fractured (2019) in Movies
Jan 24, 2020
380. Fractured. The makers of this film finally figured out how to make a good Sam Worthington movie. Have him walk around totally confused due to a head injury for 95% of the movie! On the way back from the in-laws the Monroe family stop at small convenience store, and as they get ready to leave, daughter Peri is confronted by a mean ol junkyard dog, and when dad, Ray tries to help, well doesn't go so great. Father and daughter go tumbling down into what looks like a rather unsafe construction site. Ray whacks is head pretty hard, daughter Peri, appears to have more serious injuries. Mom, Joanne, coming from the restroom we assume, comes to help, they all pack in the car and off to the hospital they go. As the docs go to take Peri to go get checked out, only one more person can go with, so mom heads off with her. And that's the last time Ray see's them. He dozes off in the waiting room, to see the sun setting, wakes startled heads to the check in and asks about his daughter. Who? The hospital staff seem to remember Ray coming in alone, for a head injury. What? Let the paranoia begin! Directed by Brad Anderson, who also directed one of my fave movies Session 9, did a great job keeping Ray looking confused and with reason the entire movie, Sam Worthington's strong point, lol. I say go for it, fast paced, paranoia thriller... Filmbufftim on FB
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2357 KP) rated Crypt Suzette in Books
Feb 25, 2020
Halloween Hit and Run
Val Deniston’s granddad has taken on another boarder, a young woman named Suzette Cripps. Suzette spends most of her time in her room, but she is planning to participate in the literary themed costume contest to celebrate the town’s new bookstore. The morning after the contest, Suzette is dead, killed by a hit and run driver. The police are investigating, but they think it was an accident. Val can’t help but think it was more than that. Is she right?
The mystery starts out quickly, and it is easy for us to share Val’s suspicion that this wasn’t an accident. There are plenty of suspects, and I felt like it took a little while for me to keep them all straight. This is a minor complaint, however, as they did get developed as the book went along. I’m in awe at how the clues were sprinkled into the book, and as Val used them to piece things together at the end, I felt foolish for not picking up on them myself. The book is set at Halloween, and the fall atmosphere is a lot of fun. We get a creepy Halloween inspired scene near the end as well. Val’s granddad is a hoot, and I really enjoyed his sub-plot involving ghost hunting. There are five more five-ingredient recipes at the end of the book. While it would be fun to read this book at Halloween, it works well at any season of the year. I enjoyed it in February, after all.
The mystery starts out quickly, and it is easy for us to share Val’s suspicion that this wasn’t an accident. There are plenty of suspects, and I felt like it took a little while for me to keep them all straight. This is a minor complaint, however, as they did get developed as the book went along. I’m in awe at how the clues were sprinkled into the book, and as Val used them to piece things together at the end, I felt foolish for not picking up on them myself. The book is set at Halloween, and the fall atmosphere is a lot of fun. We get a creepy Halloween inspired scene near the end as well. Val’s granddad is a hoot, and I really enjoyed his sub-plot involving ghost hunting. There are five more five-ingredient recipes at the end of the book. While it would be fun to read this book at Halloween, it works well at any season of the year. I enjoyed it in February, after all.
Kim Pook (101 KP) rated Annabelle Comes Home (2019) in Movies
Sep 8, 2020
At first, the start of the movie didn't make much sense to me. A middle aged couple purchase Annabelle and on their way home their car breaks down, they witness what Annabelle can do but yet they're still willing to get back in the car with the doll and take her home! I'd have been burning that thing but hey ho! Anyway, it turns out this couple 'the warrens' collect possessed artifacts and keep them under lock and key, and Annabelle is no exception, the Warren's lock her away in a glass cabinet and have her blessed every week to keep the evil away.
One day a friend of the Warren's babysitter comes over to hang out, keen to see the cursed artifacts, and when she's left alone she goes wandering into the locked room where she comes across Annabelle. She unlocks the cabinet to prop her back up after she falls forward and is scared by the kitchen smoke alarm causing her to flee back to the kitchen leaving the cabinet unlocked. Low and behold Annabelle falls out of the cabinet which I found pretty amusing. After that, strange things start happening such as a child asking for annabelle to come out and play, people seing ghosts and annabelle appearing in random places, nothing overly scary really. The movie finally gets going after about an hour with a few jump scares, evil ghosts and a rabid wolf to name a few, but it was over quicker than it started and in quite an abrupt way too.
One day a friend of the Warren's babysitter comes over to hang out, keen to see the cursed artifacts, and when she's left alone she goes wandering into the locked room where she comes across Annabelle. She unlocks the cabinet to prop her back up after she falls forward and is scared by the kitchen smoke alarm causing her to flee back to the kitchen leaving the cabinet unlocked. Low and behold Annabelle falls out of the cabinet which I found pretty amusing. After that, strange things start happening such as a child asking for annabelle to come out and play, people seing ghosts and annabelle appearing in random places, nothing overly scary really. The movie finally gets going after about an hour with a few jump scares, evil ghosts and a rabid wolf to name a few, but it was over quicker than it started and in quite an abrupt way too.
Jesters_folly (230 KP) rated Tea for God in Video Games
Sep 21, 2019
Tea for God is rouguelite, dungeon crawling shooter for PC VR that uses procedural generation and impossible spaces to create the game map as you play.
In ‘Tea for God’ you are on a quest to pay respects to the late ‘God Emperor’ who was killed by robots. To get to him you must travel through his high-tech palace which is, unfortunately still infested with the killer robots
The game uses VR room mapping and does not come with a ‘teleport’ option like a lot of other VR games which means that you physically have to walk around to move in game. This is where the Procedural generation comes in to play, the game knows the size of your play area and will generate the game map to fit. The use of impossible spaces means that a corridor can spiral around and you can find yourself in an area that couldn’t exist in normal reality which means that the game is easily playable in a small area. I only have a small area myself and have never walked into anything (except maybe the odd cat).
The controls are simple, to move you walk and you use the controls to shoot and pick up items. The game play is entering, there are a number of different robots of different sizes and weapon capabilities and they could be hiding around any corner.
The game is currently listed as being pre Alfa so should only get better. Tea for God is currently only available from the creators site ( https://void-room.itch.io/tea-for-god).
In ‘Tea for God’ you are on a quest to pay respects to the late ‘God Emperor’ who was killed by robots. To get to him you must travel through his high-tech palace which is, unfortunately still infested with the killer robots
The game uses VR room mapping and does not come with a ‘teleport’ option like a lot of other VR games which means that you physically have to walk around to move in game. This is where the Procedural generation comes in to play, the game knows the size of your play area and will generate the game map to fit. The use of impossible spaces means that a corridor can spiral around and you can find yourself in an area that couldn’t exist in normal reality which means that the game is easily playable in a small area. I only have a small area myself and have never walked into anything (except maybe the odd cat).
The controls are simple, to move you walk and you use the controls to shoot and pick up items. The game play is entering, there are a number of different robots of different sizes and weapon capabilities and they could be hiding around any corner.
The game is currently listed as being pre Alfa so should only get better. Tea for God is currently only available from the creators site ( https://void-room.itch.io/tea-for-god).
Somme: Into the Breach
Book
The notion of battles as the irreducible building blocks of war demands a single verdict of each...
History conflict