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Kristin (149 KP) rated Secrets of the Apple Tree Tavern in Books
Dec 7, 2018
Disclaimer: I received an e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
Francis is a scared little boy who just lost his entire family. Luckily, he has a guardian angel in the form of a policeman who smuggles him to a friend who will raise little Francy as her own. Over the years, Francy grows into Frank, a wonderful young man who travels to Dublin and back during the height of World War II and shares many exciting adventures and mysteries with friends and family along the way.
This is a well-researched story that really makes you feel as though you are in 1930s/40s/50s Brooklyn, as well as Dublin during the war. The characters are easy to identify with, and the story itself keeps a very good pace while still providing detailed background on the locations, time period, and characters themselves. You can almost picture yourself as a patron at the bar, sitting right alongside Frank, Butch, Johnny, etc., listening to all the stories from over the years. The cliffhanger is one that I’m interested to see resolved, and I will certainly be awaiting the next installment to see how everything falls in line.
4 ½ stars
Francis is a scared little boy who just lost his entire family. Luckily, he has a guardian angel in the form of a policeman who smuggles him to a friend who will raise little Francy as her own. Over the years, Francy grows into Frank, a wonderful young man who travels to Dublin and back during the height of World War II and shares many exciting adventures and mysteries with friends and family along the way.
This is a well-researched story that really makes you feel as though you are in 1930s/40s/50s Brooklyn, as well as Dublin during the war. The characters are easy to identify with, and the story itself keeps a very good pace while still providing detailed background on the locations, time period, and characters themselves. You can almost picture yourself as a patron at the bar, sitting right alongside Frank, Butch, Johnny, etc., listening to all the stories from over the years. The cliffhanger is one that I’m interested to see resolved, and I will certainly be awaiting the next installment to see how everything falls in line.
4 ½ stars
Sarah (7798 KP) rated Hot Fuzz (2007) in Movies
Aug 24, 2018
Hilarious
I've re-watched this again recently and it's just as funny now as it was when I first saw it in the cinema.
It's hilarious, full of wit and British humour. Not only is it a brilliant comedy, it's a great action and mystery flick too. The pairing of Simon Pegg and Nick Frost works as well here as it did in Shaun of the Dead, and there's a great supporting cast in Jim Broadbent, Paddy Considine and the rest, including those blink and you'll miss it cameos.
Whilst I work for a large urban police force, there are a lot of areas of policing I recognise in this film, which for me makes it even funnier watching it back. From having to bring cake (bribes) in for colleagues, to the old school Vauxhall cars, office banter and the more onerous side of policing, they really have done their research. Although I can safely say I've never met an officer quite as dedicated as Angel! But I do reckon a lot of our new recruits have the same view of policing as Danny does...
Such an entertaining film that doesn't get old.
It's hilarious, full of wit and British humour. Not only is it a brilliant comedy, it's a great action and mystery flick too. The pairing of Simon Pegg and Nick Frost works as well here as it did in Shaun of the Dead, and there's a great supporting cast in Jim Broadbent, Paddy Considine and the rest, including those blink and you'll miss it cameos.
Whilst I work for a large urban police force, there are a lot of areas of policing I recognise in this film, which for me makes it even funnier watching it back. From having to bring cake (bribes) in for colleagues, to the old school Vauxhall cars, office banter and the more onerous side of policing, they really have done their research. Although I can safely say I've never met an officer quite as dedicated as Angel! But I do reckon a lot of our new recruits have the same view of policing as Danny does...
Such an entertaining film that doesn't get old.
Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated Savannah James: Pendale High Class of ‘87 in Books
Jul 29, 2021
117 of 250
Kindle
Savannah James: Pendale High Class of ‘87
By Candi Fox
Once read a review will be written via Smashbomb and link posted in comments
Welcome to 1987, where the high school antics include hot rock stars running beside the smoking jocks.
Savannah James wants love and finds it with Stone Blackwell when he rescues her from an embarrassing speckle with punk metal bassist Aaron Angel.
But all is not fair in love and war, and Stone makes a terrible mistake. Can their connection be saved or will the star QB Thad Harrison make his pass and win the girl?
Pendale High, Class of ’87 is not a YA novel.
I wanted to like it and please don’t be put off this is just My opinion! I thought I t started really well but was seriously rushed in places. I know she’s a mature 17 year old but my god she still came across a child or just all felt a little wrong to me. The ending was very predictable and a little cringy. This was a girl damaged from abuse throwing herself at and man showing her attention. I found it quite toxic!
Kindle
Savannah James: Pendale High Class of ‘87
By Candi Fox
Once read a review will be written via Smashbomb and link posted in comments
Welcome to 1987, where the high school antics include hot rock stars running beside the smoking jocks.
Savannah James wants love and finds it with Stone Blackwell when he rescues her from an embarrassing speckle with punk metal bassist Aaron Angel.
But all is not fair in love and war, and Stone makes a terrible mistake. Can their connection be saved or will the star QB Thad Harrison make his pass and win the girl?
Pendale High, Class of ’87 is not a YA novel.
I wanted to like it and please don’t be put off this is just My opinion! I thought I t started really well but was seriously rushed in places. I know she’s a mature 17 year old but my god she still came across a child or just all felt a little wrong to me. The ending was very predictable and a little cringy. This was a girl damaged from abuse throwing herself at and man showing her attention. I found it quite toxic!
Antonio Banderas recommended The Exterminating Angel (1962) in Movies (curated)
Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated Demons of Bourbon Street (Jade Calhoun #3) in Books
Jul 9, 2021
of 250
Kindle
Demons of Bourbon Street ( Jade Calhoun book 3)
By Deanna Chase
Once read a review will be written via Smashbomb and link posted in comments
New Orleans coven leader, Jade Calhoun, is embarking on a hellish mission. Literally. A week ago her ex sacrificed himself to Hell in order to save Jade's mother. While he suffers, Jade will stop at nothing to bring him home...even if it means working with Lailah, an angel she's never trusted.
But the stakes are raised when Jade discovers her boyfriend, Kane, is marked by a demon. The very same one who tried seducing him right before Jade's eyes. Now Kane's life is on the line, and consequently, Jade's soul is compromised. She'll need all the help she can get, including Lailah's, as she fights her way through Hell to save her ex and Kane - and her entire existence.
This was my favourite so far! It was fast paced lots of action and a few surprises. I really enjoyed it. Jade finally has her mum back and her friend rescued let’s hope she can stay out of hell for a while.
Kindle
Demons of Bourbon Street ( Jade Calhoun book 3)
By Deanna Chase
Once read a review will be written via Smashbomb and link posted in comments
New Orleans coven leader, Jade Calhoun, is embarking on a hellish mission. Literally. A week ago her ex sacrificed himself to Hell in order to save Jade's mother. While he suffers, Jade will stop at nothing to bring him home...even if it means working with Lailah, an angel she's never trusted.
But the stakes are raised when Jade discovers her boyfriend, Kane, is marked by a demon. The very same one who tried seducing him right before Jade's eyes. Now Kane's life is on the line, and consequently, Jade's soul is compromised. She'll need all the help she can get, including Lailah's, as she fights her way through Hell to save her ex and Kane - and her entire existence.
This was my favourite so far! It was fast paced lots of action and a few surprises. I really enjoyed it. Jade finally has her mum back and her friend rescued let’s hope she can stay out of hell for a while.
Merissa (11805 KP) rated Home (Songbird, #4) in Books
Apr 14, 2023
Rachel has everything that she could ask for but she doesn't realise it as she's too busy chasing a dream based on her mother's last words. We travel with her to the City of Angels where she finds out that there is a dark side that she never even anticipated.
I really enjoyed this book and the two main characters, but I did have to remind myself that Rachel was making decisions based on an 18-year-old's perspective. She was very young and very naive and part of me actually wanted her to stay that way but another part of me was wanting to shake some sense into her.
I loved the appearances of Jody, Leo and Angel. It was a perfect cameo for them and I really hope to see more of all of them.
This story is well-written and with a fast-flowing plot. Another excellent book in the Songbird series. Definitely recommended.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and my comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Aug 4, 2015
I really enjoyed this book and the two main characters, but I did have to remind myself that Rachel was making decisions based on an 18-year-old's perspective. She was very young and very naive and part of me actually wanted her to stay that way but another part of me was wanting to shake some sense into her.
I loved the appearances of Jody, Leo and Angel. It was a perfect cameo for them and I really hope to see more of all of them.
This story is well-written and with a fast-flowing plot. Another excellent book in the Songbird series. Definitely recommended.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and my comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Aug 4, 2015
MaryAnn (14 KP) rated Seeing Angels: How to Recognize and Interact with Your Heavenly Messengers in Books
Nov 4, 2019
A recent study found that 57 percent of Catholics, 66 percent of Evangelical Protestants, and 10 percent of Jews have reported having a personal experience with a guardian angel. And 20 percent of those who identified themselves as having no religion also claimed having encountered an angel.
Seeing Angels is one of the most in depth examinations of angelic ministry by one of the cutting-edge charismatic leaders in the church today. Joshua Mills goes beyond the usual takes on angels regarding spiritual warfare and explores who they are, how to recognize them, and what they do.
Part I, Understanding Your Angels, is all about understanding who angels are, exploring why they are necessary and how different angels minister comfort, healing, love, prosperity. It reveals who they carry out specific geographic assignments for cities and nations, as well as the more unique and extraordinary assignments they receive.
Part II, Discerning Your Angels, explains how to become more aware of the unseen heavenly realm, as well as how to recognize divine intervention when it does reveal itself to human sight. Such manifestations include random strangers, visions, or signs and messengers that believers receive. Joshua also explains the way he has interacted with visions of radiant light, swirling colors, and what he describes as atmospheric shifts. All of this is intended to make believers become more aware of both invisible and revealed spiritual realities.
Part III, Working with Your Angels, deals specifically with how to minister alongside these heavenly messengers as they stand watch, provide protection, and administer strength and comfort. This includes recognizing their movements and how to effectively pray for angelic encounters to take place.
With a foreword by Patricia King, Seeing Angels is among the most comprehensive teachings on recognizing angelic beings and understanding how to partner with them in ministry.
My Thoughts: This is an engaging book that will be of certain value to those who are interested in angels. We must remember that there are angels all around us fighting a spiritual battle for us. In his book, Joshua Mills not only identifies and explains angels to us but also assists us to see angels for ourselves.
This is an engaging book, and very insightful. We must remember in Hebrews 13:2 "y some have entertained angels unawares." I am certain that we all have and will someday entertain angels in one form or another.
An exciting book for those who are interested in angels.
Seeing Angels is one of the most in depth examinations of angelic ministry by one of the cutting-edge charismatic leaders in the church today. Joshua Mills goes beyond the usual takes on angels regarding spiritual warfare and explores who they are, how to recognize them, and what they do.
Part I, Understanding Your Angels, is all about understanding who angels are, exploring why they are necessary and how different angels minister comfort, healing, love, prosperity. It reveals who they carry out specific geographic assignments for cities and nations, as well as the more unique and extraordinary assignments they receive.
Part II, Discerning Your Angels, explains how to become more aware of the unseen heavenly realm, as well as how to recognize divine intervention when it does reveal itself to human sight. Such manifestations include random strangers, visions, or signs and messengers that believers receive. Joshua also explains the way he has interacted with visions of radiant light, swirling colors, and what he describes as atmospheric shifts. All of this is intended to make believers become more aware of both invisible and revealed spiritual realities.
Part III, Working with Your Angels, deals specifically with how to minister alongside these heavenly messengers as they stand watch, provide protection, and administer strength and comfort. This includes recognizing their movements and how to effectively pray for angelic encounters to take place.
With a foreword by Patricia King, Seeing Angels is among the most comprehensive teachings on recognizing angelic beings and understanding how to partner with them in ministry.
My Thoughts: This is an engaging book that will be of certain value to those who are interested in angels. We must remember that there are angels all around us fighting a spiritual battle for us. In his book, Joshua Mills not only identifies and explains angels to us but also assists us to see angels for ourselves.
This is an engaging book, and very insightful. We must remember in Hebrews 13:2 "y some have entertained angels unawares." I am certain that we all have and will someday entertain angels in one form or another.
An exciting book for those who are interested in angels.
LeftSideCut (3778 KP) rated Angel Has Fallen (2019) in Movies
Jul 4, 2020
Honestly, if you put a gun to my head and asked me to recite what actually happens either Olympus Has Fallen or London Has Fallen, then I'd be shit out of luck. The recent third entry Angel Has Fallen will be no different in a week or two...
It's not awful (some of the action is fairly entertaining) but it's so by the numbers and boring. Jesus Christ, even Nick Nolte doing his by-now-expected-crazy-old-guy schtick is tiresome after roughly 5 seconds.
The plot revolves around Gerard Butler's Mike Banning, who is high up in the White Houses security detail, being framed for an assassination attempt on the President (Morgan Freeman). He is then chased down by the FBI, whilst he tries to figure out who is actually behind it, take them down, and clear his name.
I don't even need to spoil who the bad guys are because it's painfully obvious from the precise second we meet them.
I don't mind Gerard Butler by any means, but he seems to be phoning it in at this point, as he goes through the motions and runs through a gauntlet of action movie cliches - including but not limited to:
- a dramatic dimly lit and gun heavy opening scene that is blatantly a training excercise
- the hero throwing down an effective weapon to face of with the villain in hand to hand
- the hero walking away from an important family conversation at a pivotal moment to go and do hero stuff
- Danny Huston playing a smug arsehole
- A political sub plot involving Russia that doesn't actually go anywhere
Etc, etc.
I, like most people, love a good bit of Morgan Freeman, but unfortunately, they did a Leia on him and just had him in a coma for most of the film, yaaaaay. Jada Pinkett-Smith is in here somewhere as well, but I can't even remember what happens to her.
Just to top it all off, some of the effects work in this is terrible by any standard, but considering it's a big budget action film, it's pretty embarrassing.
I mean, I can be a miserable bastard sometimes, and I appreciate that maybe I'm railing too hard on a film that should just be a dumb popcorn film, but honestly, Angel Has Fallen feels like the result of someone forcing a bot to sit through the first two, and then produce a script for a sequel.
It's not awful (some of the action is fairly entertaining) but it's so by the numbers and boring. Jesus Christ, even Nick Nolte doing his by-now-expected-crazy-old-guy schtick is tiresome after roughly 5 seconds.
The plot revolves around Gerard Butler's Mike Banning, who is high up in the White Houses security detail, being framed for an assassination attempt on the President (Morgan Freeman). He is then chased down by the FBI, whilst he tries to figure out who is actually behind it, take them down, and clear his name.
I don't even need to spoil who the bad guys are because it's painfully obvious from the precise second we meet them.
I don't mind Gerard Butler by any means, but he seems to be phoning it in at this point, as he goes through the motions and runs through a gauntlet of action movie cliches - including but not limited to:
- a dramatic dimly lit and gun heavy opening scene that is blatantly a training excercise
- the hero throwing down an effective weapon to face of with the villain in hand to hand
- the hero walking away from an important family conversation at a pivotal moment to go and do hero stuff
- Danny Huston playing a smug arsehole
- A political sub plot involving Russia that doesn't actually go anywhere
Etc, etc.
I, like most people, love a good bit of Morgan Freeman, but unfortunately, they did a Leia on him and just had him in a coma for most of the film, yaaaaay. Jada Pinkett-Smith is in here somewhere as well, but I can't even remember what happens to her.
Just to top it all off, some of the effects work in this is terrible by any standard, but considering it's a big budget action film, it's pretty embarrassing.
I mean, I can be a miserable bastard sometimes, and I appreciate that maybe I'm railing too hard on a film that should just be a dumb popcorn film, but honestly, Angel Has Fallen feels like the result of someone forcing a bot to sit through the first two, and then produce a script for a sequel.
Awix (3310 KP) rated Shazam! (2019) in Movies
Apr 5, 2019 (Updated Apr 5, 2019)
The second Captain Marvel movie in as many months is an effective piece of entertainment, although I'm not entirely sure how it manages this. Foster-child Billy Batson (Angel) is chosen by an ancient wizard to become his champion - all he needs to do is say a magic word to be transformed into a powerful superhero (Levi), known as... well, the film awkwardly dodges the issue of what his actual superhero codename is, as DC have (essentially for legal reasons) decided to stop calling this character Captain Marvel, even though that was his name for over seventy years. Lawyers, eh?
Anyway, what ensues is recognisably a Captain Marvel movie, featuring all the things you would hope to see in one, but it's also really a spoof not just of this character but of the superhero genre in general. As I say, it undeniably works, due to good performances (Mark Strong is customarily good as Cap's nemesis Dr Sivana) and a sharp script, even if I can't help thinking that a character who was once the most popular superhero in the world, bar none, deserves slightly better treatment. Let's look on the bright side: it could have been a lot worse, and the general upward trend of DC Comics movies seems to be continuing.
Anyway, what ensues is recognisably a Captain Marvel movie, featuring all the things you would hope to see in one, but it's also really a spoof not just of this character but of the superhero genre in general. As I say, it undeniably works, due to good performances (Mark Strong is customarily good as Cap's nemesis Dr Sivana) and a sharp script, even if I can't help thinking that a character who was once the most popular superhero in the world, bar none, deserves slightly better treatment. Let's look on the bright side: it could have been a lot worse, and the general upward trend of DC Comics movies seems to be continuing.
Kristin (149 KP) rated Cruxim (Fallen Angel/Vampire #1) in Books
Dec 7, 2018
Disclaimer: I received an e-copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.
I love to read pretty much anything mythological and/or supernatural, and this book had both. Amedeo, the Cruxim from the title, looks like an angel, but looks can be deceiving. His mission is to kill as many vampires as possible, as that's what Cruxims are made to do. Along the way, he meets a little human girl named Joslyn, who ultimately falls in love with him, but he knows it can't be. Then she's attacked and turned by a vampire, and now Amedeo must decide whether he can perform his duty and kill her or not. Another woman in his life, Sabine, is a Sphinx, part-woman and part-lion, and she helps him move on with his life after Joslyn's transformation.
Just the idea of Cruxims, Sphinxes, and Vampires was interesting enough, but then a traveling circus/freak show gets introduced, and it gets really interesting (not that it wasn't great before). This book has so many wonderful aspects to it, and it definitely held my attention throughout the entire story. I look forward to more works along this line, and more from the author, in general.
5 stars
I love to read pretty much anything mythological and/or supernatural, and this book had both. Amedeo, the Cruxim from the title, looks like an angel, but looks can be deceiving. His mission is to kill as many vampires as possible, as that's what Cruxims are made to do. Along the way, he meets a little human girl named Joslyn, who ultimately falls in love with him, but he knows it can't be. Then she's attacked and turned by a vampire, and now Amedeo must decide whether he can perform his duty and kill her or not. Another woman in his life, Sabine, is a Sphinx, part-woman and part-lion, and she helps him move on with his life after Joslyn's transformation.
Just the idea of Cruxims, Sphinxes, and Vampires was interesting enough, but then a traveling circus/freak show gets introduced, and it gets really interesting (not that it wasn't great before). This book has so many wonderful aspects to it, and it definitely held my attention throughout the entire story. I look forward to more works along this line, and more from the author, in general.
5 stars