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Alison Pink (7 KP) rated Spilled Blood in Books
Jan 15, 2018
I won an ARC of this book from First Reads.
This is the first Brian Freeman book I've ever read. Now that I'm done with it I feel like I've been missing out on a fantastic author! This book was so well written! It had colorful but realistic & well developed characters. The suspense was top notch. The conclusion was fast paced & 1 that I did not see coming in the least. So many books like this turn out to be too predictable. Thankfully this one was not!
Spilled Blood tells the story of Olivia Hawk, a high schooler who is arrested for murdering another high school girl. The evidence points strongly to her, both in the physical evidence from the scene & from the gossip around town. In sweeps her dad, a lawyer, who beings to slowly unravel the mysteries of the crime while struggling with the ever present, "Did she do it?" question. I hate to say much more than that for fear of ruining a fantastic plot!
This book had action, mystery, big companies, cancer, cover-ups, and bombs all covered yet still managed to throw in a good romance without feeling forced. This was an AMAZING read!!
This is the first Brian Freeman book I've ever read. Now that I'm done with it I feel like I've been missing out on a fantastic author! This book was so well written! It had colorful but realistic & well developed characters. The suspense was top notch. The conclusion was fast paced & 1 that I did not see coming in the least. So many books like this turn out to be too predictable. Thankfully this one was not!
Spilled Blood tells the story of Olivia Hawk, a high schooler who is arrested for murdering another high school girl. The evidence points strongly to her, both in the physical evidence from the scene & from the gossip around town. In sweeps her dad, a lawyer, who beings to slowly unravel the mysteries of the crime while struggling with the ever present, "Did she do it?" question. I hate to say much more than that for fear of ruining a fantastic plot!
This book had action, mystery, big companies, cancer, cover-ups, and bombs all covered yet still managed to throw in a good romance without feeling forced. This was an AMAZING read!!
Alison Pink (7 KP) rated Keepsake in Books
Jan 15, 2018
This was a really good book! Believe it or not, it is actually the 2nd book I've read recently that involved hoarding. Weird!
Anyway, this book is so very easy to get hooked in to. It is so real! I found myself really feeling for Trish & Mary. They were both so screwed up in such a real way, but that just made them all the more interesting. I found the psychological aspects behind the hoarding & the OCD fascinating. It was such a struggle for both of the women.
The part that really got my respect though was the ending. It wasn't all tied up in a pretty bow, everyone smiling & everything okay again. Like I said before, it was real...real life. I was satisfied with the ending for that fact. I hate it when books are so real & then the author ruins it by tacking on that happy ending when all the readers know that real life isn't like that at all. So, Kirstina Riggle, thank you for not putting yourself into that cliched category & for having the guts & brains to "keep it real."
Anyway, this book is so very easy to get hooked in to. It is so real! I found myself really feeling for Trish & Mary. They were both so screwed up in such a real way, but that just made them all the more interesting. I found the psychological aspects behind the hoarding & the OCD fascinating. It was such a struggle for both of the women.
The part that really got my respect though was the ending. It wasn't all tied up in a pretty bow, everyone smiling & everything okay again. Like I said before, it was real...real life. I was satisfied with the ending for that fact. I hate it when books are so real & then the author ruins it by tacking on that happy ending when all the readers know that real life isn't like that at all. So, Kirstina Riggle, thank you for not putting yourself into that cliched category & for having the guts & brains to "keep it real."
Haley Mathiot (9 KP) rated Etiquette & Espionage (Finishing School, #1) in Books
Apr 27, 2018
I listened to this book in almost one sitting, while on a long car ride. I was almost disappointed when I got there because I had two chapters left and I wanted to know what happened!
E&E was a very cute and clever story. It had everything: awesome characters, a villain you love to hate, mystery, adventure, surprises, romance, humor, and wonderful descriptions. Also, Werewolves and vampires. But not the sparkly modern-day super-sexy kind… the kind that will kill you. Oh yeah, also, they’re the professors.
And the students of the school Sophronia goes to?… they live in the sky. How cool is that? I loved Sophronia so much, and she reminded me of myself when I was nine (though she was like fourteen or something)
Suffice to say, I wanted to transfer to that finishing school instead of my boring old university.
Content/Recommendation: Clean! Recommend to ages 13+ (keep in mind, I’m 21 and I loved it).
Audio: The reader, Moira Quirk, was excellent! Wonderful use of accent and inflection, and very talented. Looking forward to hearing more of her voice acting.
E&E was a very cute and clever story. It had everything: awesome characters, a villain you love to hate, mystery, adventure, surprises, romance, humor, and wonderful descriptions. Also, Werewolves and vampires. But not the sparkly modern-day super-sexy kind… the kind that will kill you. Oh yeah, also, they’re the professors.
And the students of the school Sophronia goes to?… they live in the sky. How cool is that? I loved Sophronia so much, and she reminded me of myself when I was nine (though she was like fourteen or something)
Suffice to say, I wanted to transfer to that finishing school instead of my boring old university.
Content/Recommendation: Clean! Recommend to ages 13+ (keep in mind, I’m 21 and I loved it).
Audio: The reader, Moira Quirk, was excellent! Wonderful use of accent and inflection, and very talented. Looking forward to hearing more of her voice acting.
Rikkasaurus (0 KP) rated Mass Effect: Andromeda in Video Games
May 7, 2018
Game play (1 more)
World graphics
Facial graphics (2 more)
Bugs
Incomplete storyline
Andromeda got too much hate
Before the war against the Reapers led by Shepard, The Andromeda Initiative sought to send out colonies to another galaxy. You play as Sarah or Scott Ryder, a soldier in the Initiative to find a new home for your colony. Explore new planets and discover new species.
My thoughts? I played Andromeda when it first came out. It was super buggy. The facial expressions were laughable. But it was in space with all our familiar ME Easter eggs, had great game play, and a vast amount of potential. However due to the backlash of fans (yes, EA should have NOT released such a unrefined game. Yes, it isn't as good as the original trilogy - because it is unfair to compare it to the story arc of a complete trilogy!) EA has stepped away from continuing with this story which is the most frustrating thing ever. EA needs to bring it back and the team needs to break boundaries and be creative to bring this story line further to life and continue it on for a DLC or next game.
My thoughts? I played Andromeda when it first came out. It was super buggy. The facial expressions were laughable. But it was in space with all our familiar ME Easter eggs, had great game play, and a vast amount of potential. However due to the backlash of fans (yes, EA should have NOT released such a unrefined game. Yes, it isn't as good as the original trilogy - because it is unfair to compare it to the story arc of a complete trilogy!) EA has stepped away from continuing with this story which is the most frustrating thing ever. EA needs to bring it back and the team needs to break boundaries and be creative to bring this story line further to life and continue it on for a DLC or next game.
Sarah (7800 KP) rated Uncommon Type: Some Stories in Books
Apr 16, 2018
Such a multi-talented man
Tom Hanks is probably my favourite actor. I don't think he's ever been in a film that I haven't liked. So for me this book of short stories was a bit of a worry as id hate for it not to be as good as his acting.
Fortunately however, these stories prove that Hanks can write as well as he can act. The stories are very short, but detailed and witty and for the most part very interesting. Not a lot tends to happen in these stories, they seem to be more of a "day in the life of" but this isn't a bad thing because they're so well written that you still find the stories to be very entertaining. The only parts of this book I didn't like were the short columns from Hank Fiset, which to me seemed a little out of place and not as well written as the rest of the books.
This really proves Hanks is a good author and I'd love for him to write a full novel. Something like the story about regression would make a great novel.
Fortunately however, these stories prove that Hanks can write as well as he can act. The stories are very short, but detailed and witty and for the most part very interesting. Not a lot tends to happen in these stories, they seem to be more of a "day in the life of" but this isn't a bad thing because they're so well written that you still find the stories to be very entertaining. The only parts of this book I didn't like were the short columns from Hank Fiset, which to me seemed a little out of place and not as well written as the rest of the books.
This really proves Hanks is a good author and I'd love for him to write a full novel. Something like the story about regression would make a great novel.
graveyardgremlin (7194 KP) rated Improper English in Books
Feb 15, 2019
What a book! This was hilarious at first, and I do mean hilarious, and then it began to get serious while still maintaining its humor. This book really wrung me out with Alix's emotions. I know that Alix would probably annoy others and they'd hate her insecurities and reasons she did some things, but I understood her. Although Alix is more outgoing, in some ways she reminds me of myself, and I think that has made this book more meaningful (perhaps we all have a little bit of Alix inside?). She was truly a realistic character and I loved her, flaws and all, and really felt for her at times. Alex, while I think he could have been developed more, was still a very good hero for Alix. He was just what she needed so she could start recognizing what she needed to do to change her patterns. I liked all the side characters; they added a nice touch to the story. I really don't know what else to say about this heartwarming tale, I just loved it! Even if it did leave me emotionally drained. :)
Long winded and dull
Dan Brown is a very divisive author. Most people either love him or hate him, and if I'm being honest, I'm verging more on the latter after reading this.
The Da Vinci Code and Angels and Demons were fantastic books, but I discovered after reading most of Dan Brown's other books that his writing and plots follow virtually the same paths. And that gets a little boring after a while when it feels like you're reading the same story with slightly different details. And this is the problem with Origin. It's the same old plot structure, but this time with a very dull storyline. It promises us this amazing discovery and builds it up for far too long over the initial 100 pages or so, but then reveals nothing until after 450 pages by which point I was very close to giving up. There wasn't even any tension or thrills during Brown's predictable chase scenes, and the whole story was just beyond dull and predictable. And even the final reveal right at the end, I'd predicted it right from the start. Think I may have to give up reading Dan Brown's books now.
The Da Vinci Code and Angels and Demons were fantastic books, but I discovered after reading most of Dan Brown's other books that his writing and plots follow virtually the same paths. And that gets a little boring after a while when it feels like you're reading the same story with slightly different details. And this is the problem with Origin. It's the same old plot structure, but this time with a very dull storyline. It promises us this amazing discovery and builds it up for far too long over the initial 100 pages or so, but then reveals nothing until after 450 pages by which point I was very close to giving up. There wasn't even any tension or thrills during Brown's predictable chase scenes, and the whole story was just beyond dull and predictable. And even the final reveal right at the end, I'd predicted it right from the start. Think I may have to give up reading Dan Brown's books now.
Recommended gritty read
What a roller-coaster of a ride that was! I'm sure I experienced all the emotions known to man whilst reading this book - joy, surprise, sadness, disgust, anger, anticipation and fear to name but a few.
The characters are believable and brilliant although not all of them are particularly likeable. The story is gripping and had me hooked from start to finish and although I anticipated the end, it didn't disappoint or spoil it for me. The only complaint I have is the epilogue ... what the heck?!?! I found it cheesy and, in my humble opinion, totally unnecessary apart from tying up a couple of loose ends which could have been put elsewhere in the book however, this didn't ruin it for me it just made me "tut" and roll my eyes.
Kimberley Chambers isn't known as the "Queen of Gangland Crime Fiction" for nothing and I would definitely recommend to readers who enjoy a gritty story that's not all about violence and hate.
Thank you to the publisher, HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest review.
The characters are believable and brilliant although not all of them are particularly likeable. The story is gripping and had me hooked from start to finish and although I anticipated the end, it didn't disappoint or spoil it for me. The only complaint I have is the epilogue ... what the heck?!?! I found it cheesy and, in my humble opinion, totally unnecessary apart from tying up a couple of loose ends which could have been put elsewhere in the book however, this didn't ruin it for me it just made me "tut" and roll my eyes.
Kimberley Chambers isn't known as the "Queen of Gangland Crime Fiction" for nothing and I would definitely recommend to readers who enjoy a gritty story that's not all about violence and hate.
Thank you to the publisher, HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest review.
Lily (2 KP) rated The Sun Eaters in Books
Jan 30, 2018
Two orphan boys try to survive post WWII
This book will definitely grab your life-sac into a boxing ring, land a few right hooks, an upper cut, and drop kick you on the floor. But maybe, like the boys say in the book, you're one of the ones that can see the beauty in the strange, the love-hate of all good stories. So you'll put it down, make someone something to eat, feed yourself, fortify your bones to get at it again - finish it, tear a piece of one of the pages and chew it into a stew-like paste and swallow it. Forever making a little home for these boys inside your body. Maybe you'll eat a little bit more of it each day as you pray and work to keep the world one in which we don't have to eat the sun, dig our own graves. But be warned, once read their hunger might become your own. And hunger never dies.
Sarah (7800 KP) rated Baywatch (2017) in Movies
Feb 9, 2018
Funnier than expected
I'd expected to hate this film and although it a little bit ridiculous, I found a lot funnier than I ever thought it'd be.
Some of the one liners and wisecracks verging on hilarious, although they're not as frequent as id like. It's laughably bad in parts and that almost adds to its charm. It doesn't take itself too seriously. This is part of the problem though too, I struggled to tell if this was a spoof of the original show, if it was making fun or if it was trying to be serious as it flitted about. If they'd have concentrated on making this a loving mick-take of the show, I think it could've ended up being quite good. There's a scene over the end credits with the girls discussing why the swimsuits are as they are, and that's the sort of thing that should have been in the main film.
The only thing I really didn't get was the CGI and sfx. Did they purposely make it look really bad in homage to the show, or did was the budget spent elsewhere? It didn't work, it just looked naff.
Some of the one liners and wisecracks verging on hilarious, although they're not as frequent as id like. It's laughably bad in parts and that almost adds to its charm. It doesn't take itself too seriously. This is part of the problem though too, I struggled to tell if this was a spoof of the original show, if it was making fun or if it was trying to be serious as it flitted about. If they'd have concentrated on making this a loving mick-take of the show, I think it could've ended up being quite good. There's a scene over the end credits with the girls discussing why the swimsuits are as they are, and that's the sort of thing that should have been in the main film.
The only thing I really didn't get was the CGI and sfx. Did they purposely make it look really bad in homage to the show, or did was the budget spent elsewhere? It didn't work, it just looked naff.