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The Vessel
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
179 of 230
Book
The Vessel
By Adam L G Nevill
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Struggling with money, raising a child alone and fleeing a volatile ex, Jess McMachen accepts a job caring for an elderly patient. Flo Gardner – a disturbed shut-in and invalid. But if Jess can hold this job down, she and her daughter, Izzy, can begin a new life.

Flo's vast home, Nerthus House, may resemble a stately vicarage in an idyllic village, but the labyrinthine interior is a dark, cluttered warren filled with pagan artefacts.

And Nerthus House lives in the shadow of a malevolent secret. A sinister enigma determined to reveal itself to Jess and to drive her to the end of her tether. Not only is she stricken by the malign manipulation of the Vicarage's bleak past, but mercurial Flo is soon casting a baleful influence over young Izzy. What appeared to be a routine job soon becomes a battle for Jess's sanity and the control of her child.

It's as if an ancient ritual was triggered when Jess crossed the threshold of the vicarage. A rite leading her and Izzy to a terrifying critical mass, where all will be lost or saved.

I tried my hard not to completely devour this book in one go. It was just absolutely outstanding. I can’t recommend it enough. Got to be the best book I’ve read this year by far.
  
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David McK (3562 KP) rated Aliens (1986) in Movies

Jun 23, 2020 (Updated Mar 16, 2022)  
Aliens (1986)
Aliens (1986)
1986 | Action, Horror, Sci-Fi
The action (1 more)
Powerloader scene
All downhill from here ... (0 more)
James Cameron's sequel to Ridley Scott's 'Alien', set 57 years later and turning the 'haunted-house' setup of the original into a full-blown Vietnam war movie metaphor, with the sole survivor of the Nostromo, Ellen Ripley (a career best Sigourney Weaver) rescued and woken up from hypersleep by The Company, and convinced to return to the planet where she first encountered the Xenomorph, when they suddenly lose contact with the colonists on said planets.

The Extended Edition of the movie adds even more context, with the revelation that Ripley had a daughter who has since died, to the 'found family' at the heart of the narrative - especially between Newt and Ripley herself - while Bill Paxton has the honour(?) of becoming the only actor to be killed by a Predator, an Alien and a Terminator, as one of the (initially) cocksure Colonial Marines trapped behind enemy lines.

Top it off with the iconic final act (Ripley in a Powerloader Vs the Alien Queen) and some eminently quotable lines throughout:

"Game over, man! Game Over!!"
"They mostly come at night, mostly …"
"I say we take off and nuke the entire site from orbit. It's the only way to be sure"
"Get away from her, you b..."

And we have what most surely be one of the best sequels ever. Even, in my opinion, eclipsing the original.

It's just a pity it's all downhill from here ...
  
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Heather Cranmer (2721 KP) created a post

May 6, 2022  
Sneak a peek at the Christian contemporary romance novel TURN TO ME by Becky Wade on my blog, and enter the giveaway for a chance to win a signed copy of the book - two winners!

https://alltheupsandowns.blogspot.com/2022/05/book-blitz-and-giveaway-turn-to-me.html

**BOOK SYNOPSIS**
His promise will cost him far more than he imagined.

Guilt has defined Luke Dempsey's life, but it was self-destructiveness that landed him in prison. When his friend and fellow inmate lay dying shortly before Luke's release, the older man revealed he left a string of clues for his daughter, Finley, that will lead her to the treasure he's hidden. Worried that she won't be the only one pursuing the treasure, he gains Luke's promise to protect her until the end of her search.

Spunky and idealistic, Finley Sutherland is the owner of an animal rescue center and a defender of lost causes. She accepts Luke's help on the treasure hunt while secretly planning to help him in return--by coaxing him to embrace the forgiveness he's long denied himself.

As they draw closer to the final clue, their reasons for resisting each other begin to crumble, and Luke realizes his promise will push him to the limit in more ways than one. He'll do his best to shield Finley from unseen threats, but who's going to shield him from losing his heart?
     
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Heather Cranmer (2721 KP) created a post

Aug 28, 2022  
Fans of contemporary Christian romance are going to love LOVE AND THE DREAM COME TRUE by Tammy L. Gray! Read an #Excerpt on my blog, and enter the giveaway for a chance to win the full set of the "State of Grace" series in paperback!

https://alltheupsandowns.blogspot.com/2022/08/book-blog-tour-and-giveaway-love-and.html

**BOOK SYNOPSIS**
Their faith will face its toughest test yet.

Four years after getting the biggest break of his life, Cameron Lee's music career has taken a nosedive, leaving him two options: become a sellout or give up on his lifelong dream. He reluctantly returns home for his sister's wedding, hoping to avoid his past and find his love for music again.

Single mom Lexie Walters has suffered her fair share of tragedies and setbacks, but she has finally scraped together the money to achieve her dream of going into business with her cousin as an interior designer. When Lexie's life is at an all-time high, she runs into her teenage crush, Cameron Lee.

Lost in the emotional turmoil of failure, Cameron is immediately drawn to Lexie and her infectious smile and optimistic spirit. Moreover, he adores her mouthy, no-holds-barred daughter. But fantasies only last so long, and soon Lexie and Cameron must face the real world, the one fraught with heartbreak, disappointment, and questions that sometimes can only be answered by a leap of faith.
     
BC
Belador Cosaint ( Belador book 9)
5
5.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
7 of 230
Book
Belador Cosaint ( Belador book 9)
By Dianna Love

Belador Maistir, Vladimir Quinn, has yet to locate his daughter and now his worst fears have come to fruition. A vicious enemy hot on her trail plans to turn his child into an apocalyptic weapon. Quinn doesn't even know what the young girl looks like or where her deceased mother hid her. He knows of only one woman - a remote viewer - who might be able to help, but Reese O Rinn has vanished into thin air, literally. He has even less chance of finding that fiery female and no time to search for her.

A powerful entity is determined to push the Belador dragon king, Daegan, and the entire preternatural world into the open, starting with the city of Atlanta. Chaos sends Quinn and all the Beladors running hard around the clock. When their innocent families come under attack and the VIPER coalition refuses to send aid, Daegan invokes the ancient rule of cosaint to protect his people, but will that backfire on him and the Beladors?

Alliances are tested. Secrets are exposed. Battle lines are drawn in blood. It all comes down to who lives and who dies as Quinn faces an unimaginable sacrifice to save his child.


I was so looking forward to reading this I have loved this series so far but this book just wasn’t flowing something was missing. I possibly won’t be continuing with the rest of the series.
  
Every Little Secret [Audiobook]
Every Little Secret [Audiobook]
Sarah Clarke | 2022 | Thriller
7
7.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Three things cannot long stay hidden: the sun, the moon and the truth." Buddha

From the outside, Grace, Marcus and their daughter Kaia appear to be a happy family who have it all but, below the surface, secrets lie which threaten to tear their lives apart.

This was a good book to listen to; it started strong, had a few chapters that dragged on a bit but then finished strong. The story is told from 3 timelines and from multiple points of view but whilst I did get lost a few times, this was probably because I was dipping in and out of the audiobook rather than listening to it in big chunks but I soon got back on track.

The characters are strong and well developed and whilst they might not be the most likeable people in the world, I didn't think it mattered too much to me in this particular instance.

The story and plot were interesting and it was a real puzzle trying to work out who was telling the truth and how it was all going to end which I really enjoyed. There are a number of twists and the ending was great.

Overall, a good domestic, family thriller which the narrator did a good job of distinguishing between the characters and keeping you engaged.

Thank you to HarperCollins UK Audio via NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to listen to this book and share my thoughts.