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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2444 KP) rated Nun Too Soon (Giulia Driscoll #1) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Driscoll Investigations already has a full plate when Giulia is offered the case of the Silk Tie Killer. Roger Fitch, the accused, maintains that he is innocent of killing his girlfriend, and Giulia has a hard time walking away from an underdog. Is he truly innocent? There are certainly enough suspects, but can she figure it out?
I absolutely loved this book! Giulia and the other series regulars are a complete delight, and their teasing and bantered kept me grinning and smiling. The case has some nice twists, and the suspects were memorable no matter how much page time they had. This book tends toward the darker end of the cozy spectrum, but it was completely enjoyable.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/01/book-review-nun-too-soon-by-alice.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
I absolutely loved this book! Giulia and the other series regulars are a complete delight, and their teasing and bantered kept me grinning and smiling. The case has some nice twists, and the suspects were memorable no matter how much page time they had. This book tends toward the darker end of the cozy spectrum, but it was completely enjoyable.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/01/book-review-nun-too-soon-by-alice.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Nick and Tesla have decided it is time to learn the truth about where their parents are and what they are working on. When two government agents admit the twin’s parents are missing, they start to look for clues the agents have missed. Will they find the clues to save the day?
I was so glad to see that this on-going mystery was the focus of this book, and it’s nice to get some answers about what has been happening. The characters are good for a middle grade series, although one does seem very over the top. Still, this is a climax that series fans will appreciate.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/05/book-review-nick-and-teslas-solar.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
I was so glad to see that this on-going mystery was the focus of this book, and it’s nice to get some answers about what has been happening. The characters are good for a middle grade series, although one does seem very over the top. Still, this is a climax that series fans will appreciate.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/05/book-review-nick-and-teslas-solar.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2444 KP) rated Delivering the Truth (Quaker Midwife Mystery, #1) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Rose Carroll is a Quaker Midwife in Amesbury, Massachusetts, in 1888. The small town is usually quiet until a fire destroys some of the factories in town, killing employees. Rumors circulate that it was caused by arson. Will her connections in town help Rose figure out what is happening?
This is a good series debut. I had a little trouble keeping track of the characters at the beginning, but I quickly got them all straight, and I grew to care for them by the end. The plot is good with some nice complications and a creative climax. I’m looking forward to visiting Rose again in more books.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/04/book-review-delivering-truth-by-edith.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
This is a good series debut. I had a little trouble keeping track of the characters at the beginning, but I quickly got them all straight, and I grew to care for them by the end. The plot is good with some nice complications and a creative climax. I’m looking forward to visiting Rose again in more books.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/04/book-review-delivering-truth-by-edith.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2444 KP) rated Scene of the Climb (Pacific Northwest Mystery #1) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Meg Reed has finally landed her first post college job. Unfortunately, it’s at an outdoor magazine, and Meg is not an outdoor kind of person. Still, she bravely faces her fear of heights to cover the final leg in a cross country reality TV show competition. But when she witnesses one of the contestants plunge to his death, Meg realizes she might be in over her head.
Meg is a great main character, and I loved spending time with her. The rest of the cast is equally as strong. The pacing was off in the plot a bit, but everything does come together for a nice climax. I will definitely be back for more.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2015/01/book-review-scene-of-climb-by-kate-dyer.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Meg is a great main character, and I loved spending time with her. The rest of the cast is equally as strong. The pacing was off in the plot a bit, but everything does come together for a nice climax. I will definitely be back for more.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2015/01/book-review-scene-of-climb-by-kate-dyer.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2444 KP) rated Waiting is Not Easy! (Elephant & Piggie, #22) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Piggie has a surprise for Gerald, but he’s going to have to wait to see what it is. The problem is, he really has to wait, and he’s not very patient. Will the surprise be worth the wait? Can Gerald hold out long enough to find out?
As always, the lesson (that good things come to those who wait) is illustrated with great humor and fun. The dialogue and illustrations are clever and fun, and kids and their parents will be entertained. It would have been nice if Gerald and Piggie distracted themselves to try to make the time go faster, but it wouldn’t have been as fun. Really, that’s my only complaint in this fun picture book.
Read my full review at <a href"http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2014/11/book-review-waiting-is-not-easy-by-mo.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
As always, the lesson (that good things come to those who wait) is illustrated with great humor and fun. The dialogue and illustrations are clever and fun, and kids and their parents will be entertained. It would have been nice if Gerald and Piggie distracted themselves to try to make the time go faster, but it wouldn’t have been as fun. Really, that’s my only complaint in this fun picture book.
Read my full review at <a href"http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2014/11/book-review-waiting-is-not-easy-by-mo.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Ross (3284 KP) rated Quantum Leap in TV
Feb 14, 2018
Possibly the best TV show ever
Technically sci-fi (Sam is sent back through time into the body of people whose lives went wrong to try and stop certain events from happening) but each episode was a mini-drama in itself with a sci-fi overlay. Whether Sam became a pregnant woman, a struggling aging baseball player or a young man with down's syndrome, Scott Bakula's character had to work out who they were (starting with the standard "Oh boy" in the mirror), and with the help of his hologram assistant Al (Dean Stockwell) what events they would be trying to avoid. Once the task was complete, Sam would "leap" out, each time hoping the next leap would be the leap home.
Truly brilliant and I have nice warm fuzzy memories of watching with my family throughout the early 90s.
Truly brilliant and I have nice warm fuzzy memories of watching with my family throughout the early 90s.
Awix (3310 KP) rated The Stepford Wives (1975) in Movies
Mar 30, 2018
Bryan Forbes' SF-horror-satire has left a cultural impression out of all proportion to its original box-office success. Nice modern couple leave grimy New York for idyllic small town of Stepford, where everyone seems happy and the women are thoroughly domesticated. What on Earth can the secret of the place be...?
Subtle storytelling and fine performances do a good job of masking the fact that the premise of the story is basically a paranoid fever-dream; oddly, some people interpreted the film as being anti-feminist and actually misogynistic, when it is actually about male objectification of women and fears of the same (maybe also has stuff to say about consumerism too). Perhaps a bit overlong, but the slow aggregation of details adds a lot to a convincingly unsettling atmosphere. An entertaining horror fable.
Subtle storytelling and fine performances do a good job of masking the fact that the premise of the story is basically a paranoid fever-dream; oddly, some people interpreted the film as being anti-feminist and actually misogynistic, when it is actually about male objectification of women and fears of the same (maybe also has stuff to say about consumerism too). Perhaps a bit overlong, but the slow aggregation of details adds a lot to a convincingly unsettling atmosphere. An entertaining horror fable.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2444 KP) rated The Quick And The Dead (Jack Prester Mysteries #4) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Jack and Ev are sent to Great Smokey Mountains when the superintendent is poisoned. Then someone shoots at her replacement. What do these women have in common and why is someone out to kill them?
A couple of sub-plots take over a little bit in this one, but overall it’s a solid mystery. Things do come together at the end, which is nice. What I really love are Jack and Ev and how their relationship continues to grow and change. Ev’s journey especially continues here. And the thoughts on prayer woven through the book are great as well.
NOTE: This book was published in the 90’s as The Quick and the Dead and recently rereleased as the ebook Great Smokies.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2015/02/book-review-great-smokies-by-sandy.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
A couple of sub-plots take over a little bit in this one, but overall it’s a solid mystery. Things do come together at the end, which is nice. What I really love are Jack and Ev and how their relationship continues to grow and change. Ev’s journey especially continues here. And the thoughts on prayer woven through the book are great as well.
NOTE: This book was published in the 90’s as The Quick and the Dead and recently rereleased as the ebook Great Smokies.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2015/02/book-review-great-smokies-by-sandy.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Nicole Hadley (380 KP) rated Fables & Fairy Tales to Cross Stitch in Books
Jun 18, 2018
Fables & Fairy Tales to Cross Stitch Véronique Enginger is a wonderful collection of fairy tale themed projects with stitching charts and finishing suggestions. It's perfect for those with knowledge of cross stitching and those interested in stitching up their favorite classic fairy tales.
The book is easy to use, organized from which are the fables section and the fairy tales section of the book. Every project is in a visual format. A very straightforward and simple guidance, very nice visual patterns book, which you can easily follow and copy the design exactly. I love the designs and think the author did a great job reviving the fables and fairy tales of many others and my own childhood with these beautiful cross stitch patterns.
I received an ARC from Schiffer Publishing Ltd. via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The book is easy to use, organized from which are the fables section and the fairy tales section of the book. Every project is in a visual format. A very straightforward and simple guidance, very nice visual patterns book, which you can easily follow and copy the design exactly. I love the designs and think the author did a great job reviving the fables and fairy tales of many others and my own childhood with these beautiful cross stitch patterns.
I received an ARC from Schiffer Publishing Ltd. via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Dean (6927 KP) rated Thir13en Ghosts (2001) in Movies
Jun 18, 2018 (Updated Jun 30, 2021)
Another cool Dark Castle entertainment horror re-make. Didn't know of the original until I saw some reviews mention it. This reminded me a lot of the House on Haunted Hill remake made 2 years earlier. It's fun, not too serious, has a good mix of humour and gore/kills. The cast is ok and well known with Shannon Elizabeth and Matthew Lillard, but it was a nice surprise to see Tony Shalhoub (Monk) appear in this. What really makes this film enjoyable in my opinion, along with House on Haunted Hill, is the set design, make up and ghoulish characters created. Both films have a great wacky house setting, good SFX and the ghosts in this look awesome. A great way to enjoy 90mins. So if you liked House on Haunted Hill you will like this just as much.
