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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2434 KP) rated Ivy Get Your Gun (Ivy Meadows Mysteries #4) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Ivy takes on an undercover job at Gold Bug Gulch, where one of the gun fighters has just been shot and killed. As she gets to know the employees at the tourist trap ghost town, she finds plenty of suspects, but was it an accident or murder? Meanwhile, she also trying to land a part in Annie Get Your Gun for a theater company that might really boost her career and keep her relationship with her new boyfriend on track.
Since I’ve loved the first three books in this series, I was expecting to love this one, and I wasn’t disappointed at all. The story moves forward quickly, and the characters are strong. The author finds that perfect balance of comedy without making anything or anyone not feel real. In fact, there’s some real depth to these characters by the end. Throw in the acting, and I completely enjoyed it.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/05/book-review-ivy-get-your-gun-by-cindy.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Since I’ve loved the first three books in this series, I was expecting to love this one, and I wasn’t disappointed at all. The story moves forward quickly, and the characters are strong. The author finds that perfect balance of comedy without making anything or anyone not feel real. In fact, there’s some real depth to these characters by the end. Throw in the acting, and I completely enjoyed it.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/05/book-review-ivy-get-your-gun-by-cindy.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated Fire in Frost (Crystal Frost, #1) in Books
Mar 20, 2020 (Updated Mar 20, 2020)
"There's a fire growing inside of me. It's not the harmful kind that can kill a girl like Olivia. It's the kind that can save her."
CRYSTAL FROST tells herself she isn't crazy, but sane people don't see ghosts. As her psychic abilities manifest, Crystal discovers she can see into the future, witness the past, and speak with the dead. Add blackmail to the list of things she never thought would happen to her, and you basically have her sophomore year covered. After spotting her first ghost, secrets from her family, friends, and classmates begin to surface. Uncovering secrets can be dangerous, but giving up means someone will get hurt. Again.
What was refreshing with this YA was there was no teenage sexual tension drama!! It was a really well written story about a young girl discovering her special gift. It also raised awareness for domestic violence and that it's not acceptable at any age, Alicia Rades did this without coming across as preachy like some authors can. I was impressed with her style and looking forward to reading more by her.
CRYSTAL FROST tells herself she isn't crazy, but sane people don't see ghosts. As her psychic abilities manifest, Crystal discovers she can see into the future, witness the past, and speak with the dead. Add blackmail to the list of things she never thought would happen to her, and you basically have her sophomore year covered. After spotting her first ghost, secrets from her family, friends, and classmates begin to surface. Uncovering secrets can be dangerous, but giving up means someone will get hurt. Again.
What was refreshing with this YA was there was no teenage sexual tension drama!! It was a really well written story about a young girl discovering her special gift. It also raised awareness for domestic violence and that it's not acceptable at any age, Alicia Rades did this without coming across as preachy like some authors can. I was impressed with her style and looking forward to reading more by her.
Tim McGuire (301 KP) rated The Lodgers (2017) in Movies
Sep 19, 2019
Bizarre, enjoyable.
269. The Lodgers. This was a bizarre tale, but I enjoyed still... It takes place in 1920 Ireland and tells the story of twin siblings Rachel and Edward as their 18th birthday approaches, and a destiny to fulfill... Not to weird right? But I didn't mention that they have to follow some strict rules in this house!! And one of the big ones is bedtime, because the night belongs to their parents, ya know the ones that died a few years back, by committing suicide in a lake... yea. Did I mention that their parents were also twin siblings? And their parents before them?? So there is that. Edward is a ghost of a person, never leaves the house completely depends on Rachel, and seems to be ok with succumbing to their fate, while Rachel is looking for a way out, and she might be a little more devious than she lets on. You be the judge! Some cool imagery, and definitely creepy at times, a cool tale to check out... filmbufftim on FB
Bellman & Black
9.0
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Bellman & Black is a heart-thumpingly perfect ghost story, beautifully and irresistibly written, its...
How Beautiful We Were
10.0
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Set in the fictional African village of Kosawa, How Beautiful We Were tells the story of a people...
Africa Historical Fiction Literary Fiction Cameroon
A Curse of Forever
8.5
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Only true love can break the solitude of eternity. Laurel Holgrave never believed her...
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The Whistling
8.0
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Alone in the world, Elspeth Swansome has taken the position of nanny to a family on the remote...
Ghost story
Kelly (279 KP) rated Ghost Stories (2018) in Movies
Jan 15, 2019
This would not be out of place in the Twilight Zone
In a time where the audience has become accustomed to jumpy Hollywood horrors, it’s hard to create a horror that provokes the viewer. Ghost stories does this well.
The film itself follows paranormal sceptic, professor Phillip Goodman, as he tries to unpick and denounce three separate cases. The bulk of the film centres around these three cases, all three cases play on the audiences inner fears of the unknown - I’m sure we have all scared ourselves at some point by objects that look differently to what they are in the shadows of the night! To me, the second case, Simon’s story, was the most disturbing simply for how jumpy and scared the character Simon clearly was with the situation. I was a little confused by the ending to Mike’s story, although I understand that it was necessary to move the story to the next stage, I did feel that more explanation was needed.
The format of this film played out like an episode of the Twilight Zone, including the unexpected twist in the end. This too me was what made the film more compelling. Following the big reveal, I spent a little time revisiting each of the cases, and some of the unusual behaviours of the characters and apparitions made more sense.
The acting within the film was good and believable- I am a fan of Martin Freeman, which did draw me to the movie, and although some of the script was a little bizarre, he did act well.
In conclusion, the film was not scary enough to lose sleep over, however it is disturbing enough to make me think and consider my own views on the paranormal.
The film itself follows paranormal sceptic, professor Phillip Goodman, as he tries to unpick and denounce three separate cases. The bulk of the film centres around these three cases, all three cases play on the audiences inner fears of the unknown - I’m sure we have all scared ourselves at some point by objects that look differently to what they are in the shadows of the night! To me, the second case, Simon’s story, was the most disturbing simply for how jumpy and scared the character Simon clearly was with the situation. I was a little confused by the ending to Mike’s story, although I understand that it was necessary to move the story to the next stage, I did feel that more explanation was needed.
The format of this film played out like an episode of the Twilight Zone, including the unexpected twist in the end. This too me was what made the film more compelling. Following the big reveal, I spent a little time revisiting each of the cases, and some of the unusual behaviours of the characters and apparitions made more sense.
The acting within the film was good and believable- I am a fan of Martin Freeman, which did draw me to the movie, and although some of the script was a little bizarre, he did act well.
In conclusion, the film was not scary enough to lose sleep over, however it is disturbing enough to make me think and consider my own views on the paranormal.
JT (287 KP) rated The Ward (2010) in Movies
Mar 16, 2020
Poor acting (2 more)
Laughable twist
Not scary
Carpenter must have been having an off day
his is a massive disappointment and there is no place to hide here for John Carpenter who making a return to directing since 2001′s Ghosts of Mars has delivered us a real ‘dog’ of a film.
I’m a big fan of his work, but that is his early work with the likes of Halloween and The Thing as my personal favourites, but here Carpenter’s trademark suspense is all but lost in a story that is as predictable as it is stupid.
After setting fire to a barn Kristen (Amber Heard) is sent to a mental hospital, where she is terrorised by a ghost, a hidden past his reflected upon but never fully delved into. There is of course more to it than that, and Heard spends a vast majority of the time either locked in her room or trying to escape while at the same time piecing the puzzle together with the help of some of her fellow inmates.
Carpenter’s use of the wide camera angle is effective in places, and the long cold corridors of the ward are enough to give anyone the chills. However, it is not built on in any way and all the suspense is somewhat lost by the poor acting and monotonous build-up to the next potential terrifying scene. When the ghost is revealed it is, to be honest laughable and not in the least bit frightening which is probably one of the main downfalls of the film.
The twist ending is anything but predictable and you could have spotted it a mile off, it’s a poor effort this perhaps not helped in the writing department, but Carpenter is one of the masters of horror but here he hasn’t even bothered to turn up.
I’m a big fan of his work, but that is his early work with the likes of Halloween and The Thing as my personal favourites, but here Carpenter’s trademark suspense is all but lost in a story that is as predictable as it is stupid.
After setting fire to a barn Kristen (Amber Heard) is sent to a mental hospital, where she is terrorised by a ghost, a hidden past his reflected upon but never fully delved into. There is of course more to it than that, and Heard spends a vast majority of the time either locked in her room or trying to escape while at the same time piecing the puzzle together with the help of some of her fellow inmates.
Carpenter’s use of the wide camera angle is effective in places, and the long cold corridors of the ward are enough to give anyone the chills. However, it is not built on in any way and all the suspense is somewhat lost by the poor acting and monotonous build-up to the next potential terrifying scene. When the ghost is revealed it is, to be honest laughable and not in the least bit frightening which is probably one of the main downfalls of the film.
The twist ending is anything but predictable and you could have spotted it a mile off, it’s a poor effort this perhaps not helped in the writing department, but Carpenter is one of the masters of horror but here he hasn’t even bothered to turn up.
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