Search

Search only in certain items:

The Missing  - Season 1
The Missing - Season 1
2014 | Drama
writing (2 more)
direction
cast/acting
can be slow at times (0 more)
I started watching this show (on Starz in the US) because I like limited series. Limited series are awesome because they're kind of like long movies, long enough to know the characters, but without having to worry about show runners milking old story lines. The first episode of this series feels both fast and slow. You learn a lot, but it doesn't come screaming at you. The suspense builds the further in you get and the intrigue increases along with it. I think I enjoyed the characters and their development more than the actual overall plot. However, it was still a good story all in all. A good mystery/crime drama to satiate your needs.
  
40x40

Sarah (7798 KP) rated Transcription in Books

Jun 6, 2019  
Transcription
Transcription
Kate Atkinson | 2018 | Fiction & Poetry
7
8.5 (4 Ratings)
Book Rating
Good but not memorable
I really struggle with books like this. It's well written with a fairly engaging plot, but is just ultimately unforgettable. It probably doesn't help that it's a book about spies which has been done better by someone like John Le Carre. Don't get me wrong this isn't a bad spy novel, it just doesn't build any real intrigue or tension. Juliet is a likeable main character if not as fully developed as she should be, and overall I did enjoy reading this book. But for me it's a sign of how unremarkable it is that I wouldn't ever go out of my way to recommend it to someone, and will likely have forgotten all about it by next week.
  
Rocket Man: The Definitive Hits by Elton John
Rocket Man: The Definitive Hits by Elton John
2007 | Rock
(0 Ratings)
Album Favorite

"After my parents divorced, my dad bought me 10 random records for Christmas one year. This was the one I connected with the most. Some of the songs are quite hard-hitting – my favourite, All the Girls Love Alice, has this killer guitar riff and a dark subject matter, about a teenage lesbian who gets murdered. I'm just a little kid, eight or nine at the time, and I'm really grooving on the music but also trying to absorb some of the lyrics. I barely even know what sex is at the time and here's this weird lesbian murder intrigue. I was like, what the fuck's going on man? I was totally in. Elton John is more than just Candle in the Wind."

Source
  
Hmm...this has three stars for different reasons to the first. The first one I was confused with all the intrigue and anger and sex going on. I didn't understand the anger and the lack of reasoning behind it.

This one was more to do with the fact that about 50% of it took place behind bars. It seemed to go off on a tangent, and one I really wasn't all that bothered about. I wanted happy Elle and Penn, and it didn't happen until the last 20% or so and even that wasn't all happy.

I'm not sure if I'll be in a hurry to read more of the authors books for a while as I need to be in the mood for these dark stories.
  
40x40

Sarah (7798 KP) rated The Corset in Books

Oct 4, 2019  
The Corset
The Corset
Laura Purcell | 2018 | Fiction & Poetry, History & Politics, Mystery
9
9.0 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
A gripping read
I love it when you pick up a book that you know nothing about, from an author you've never read before and it turns out to be a fantastic and addictive read.

This is marvellous Victorian thriller set from the points of view of two flawed yet highly interesting characters. The central plot of murder, intrigue and abuse is written very well and is a brilliant page turner. I literally couldn't put this book down. It's not perfect and gets a tad rambly at times with some slightly old school language, but for the most part it's such an entertaining read. And the ending was completely unexpected and such a great twist, I really didnt see it coming.
  
Boundless (The Lost Fleet: Outlands, #1)
7
7.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
The first in a new series by Jack Campbell but following characters previously introduced in his 'Lost Fleet' series (never mind the various spin-offs, including the 'Lost Stars' series) and so, as a result, I'm not sure it would really be a good 'jumping-on' point for any new readers to the series.

For those who *have* read the previous aforementioned series, though?

You know what you're getting: more politics, more 'real time' space action and more intrigue, with Captain 'Jack Black' Geary surviving assassination attempts on his life and put in charge of a mission to contact the aliens known as 'The Dancers', who have popped up in previous novels.

More of the same, really, but sometimes that's no bad thing!
  
Against the Grain (THIRDS #5)
Against the Grain (THIRDS #5)
Charlie Cochet | 2015 | Fiction & Poetry
8
7.5 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
Against the Grain (THIRDS #5) by Charlie Cochet
Against The Grain is the first book where Dex and Sloane are not the main couple. Instead, we concentrate on Ash and Cael, and to be fair, their story has been a long time coming. We start where the previous book finished, with Tony wielding Old Betsy, but to the guys' surprise, it doesn't go down how they expected. Instead, Ash learns more about Cael than he realised he didn't know, and it makes him want to 'try'. This is still difficult for Ash, and it's not without it's hiccups, but Cael is prepared to help him where he can. Now, this wouldn't be a THIRDS book if something else wasn't going down, and this time it's all mixed in with Sloane's loss of control, plus it turns out Ash's loss of control, and maybe one other. You are left not knowing who to trust, apart from the family that is Destructive Delta!

Everything does become clear, plus it means a change for our crew, but they are prepared to fight for what they believe in. I will admit that I actually missed Dex's banter more than I thought I would. Although he is (obviously) still around, he isn't the main character and therefore the quips are there as much. Still, I enjoyed the mix of action, intrigue, romance, and sex. Ash and Cael's story is one that I wanted, waited for, and thoroughly enjoyed. I loved all the intrigue, the questions, and how this book complements the series as a whole. Most definitely recommended by me.

* Verified Purchase ~ April 2017 *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
  
A story filled with intrigue, smugglers, ventriloquist, spies, romance, heartbreak, and a traitor. Travel back in time to 1808 in The Innkeepers Daughter.

This story has so many moving parts that you just want to keep reading to figure out WHAT IS GOING ON??? Also, there were several times our hero needed a good purse whomping. I absolutely LOVED this story. The romantic tension between Alex and Johanna...*whew*...And the climax of that tension in their kiss(es)...Make sure you keep a fainting couch nearby...and possible smelling salts.

The common thread throughout this story is all about giving over the control of our lives to God. It is easy to SAY that we trust God to see us through things...And yet we can still be found trying to fix all the little things that go wrong on our own...Trying to make it all better...in our own power. Instead of trusting for a door to open from God...we pry open the cellar door into destruction and chaos and say, "LOOK! I found a way!!! It isn't a GOOD way...but I did it ALL ON MY OWN!" Michelle Griep addresses the need to trust in our Lord so well. And it really rings true.

If you love a good romance that is clean and passionate, sprinkled with mystery and intrigue, this is definitely a book that you will enjoy!

I received a complimentary copy of The Innkeeper's Daughter from the publishers through Celebrate Lit. I was not required to write an honest review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.
  
An Alchemy of Masques and Mirrors
An Alchemy of Masques and Mirrors
Curtis Craddock | 2017 | Science Fiction/Fantasy
9
9.5 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
Thoughtful Characters (2 more)
Unique World
Intelligent Prose
Thoroughly enjoyable and intelligent
I had a sudden craving for sci-fi/fantasy one day and stumbled across this book just days after it had been released. The lead character was a strong, boundary-defying female with her own flaws to overcome - and she was handled very well in terms of development and realistic emotion.

The writing was wonderful, I was sucked in and finished the book in less than a few days (with my busy schedule, that really is a feat!). The villains were not so easy to identify, making the tale of political intrigue that much more interesting.

If you're looking for a story of magic and a rebel heroine, then look no further. I cannot wait for the sequel!
  
40x40

Sarah (7798 KP) rated The Final Trade in Books

Dec 15, 2017  
The Final Trade
The Final Trade
Joe Hart | 2016 | Fiction & Poetry
7
7.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
A good second part
The best I can say about this is that it's a strong second part of the trilogy, and it barely lets up on the action and excitement through the entire story.

I think it has potentially lost some of the intrigue of the first part, but does make up for this in other ways. There are some good new characters, although some that I wish had been featured more prominently. The main character Zoey is starting to grate on me a little with her complete lack of respect & unwillingness to listen. It's okay once or twice, but not throughout the entire book.


Still it's a good book and the final chapter ends in a bit of a cliffhanger, which of course now means I have to read the final part.