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Rambo: Last Blood (2019)
Rambo: Last Blood (2019)
2019 | Action, Adventure, Drama
If you asked anyone to name actor Sylvester Stallone's two most famous roles, they would probably give you (in order):

1: Rocky Balboa
2: John Rambo.

While the Rocky films have been having something of a renaissance of sorts ever since 2006's Rocky Balboa (and the Creed films), Rambo has been left on the sidelines somewhat - perhaps as a result of the increasingly cartoony (and violent) films ever since the 1982 original.

I haven't seen all the Rocky films - I gave up partway through Rocky III, before having to force myself to sit through Rocky Balboa and the first Creed film - but I have seen all the Rambo films.

There's still no doubt that the original Rambo film is far and away the best: indeed, I would strugglt to remember much of the plots of part II (other than there's a fight scene heavily ripped off in Charlie Sheen's 'Hot Shots: Part Deux'), or even part III (starting with Rambo helping to build a temple in Vietnam) or 2008's 'Rambo' (which ends with Rambo coming home as the credits roll)

This one picks up from the end of that film, with Rambo now running the horse ranch that belonged to his family, and with the plot kicking into drive when the daughter of a friend runs away to Mexico in search of her absentee father, and is promptly kidnapped by a Mexican drug cartel.

Cue an extraordinarily violent last act when, for reasons, members of that cartel decide to attack Rambo on his home turf ...
  
Home For Christmas (Texas #9)
Home For Christmas (Texas #9)
RJ Scott | 2018 | Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Home For Christmas (Texas #9) by R.J. Scott
Home for Christmas is the ninth book in the Texas series, and we reunite with the Campbell-Hayes clan. It starts with Christmas (obviously) and Connor ready to make his way home. Before he goes though, he has to rescue a friend from a roof. River is blind drunk and speaks about things he had wanted to keep from Connor. Connor decides to throw an intervention, and the story starts.

Connor admits to being a fixer, and he thinks River needs fixing. The only trouble is, he doesn't really know River that well, and therefore has no idea on what to fix.

It was good catching up with the clan again, and I love how Jack and Riley still have their say, and insights, in their children's lives. Personally, I would have liked a bit more about River and his past, his condition, and what it took to move him forward, but this is only a short novel so I guess I can't have everything.

As with all of R.J. Scott's books, this was smoothly written, with some angst, and definitely some sexy times. The characters are wonderful to return to, and the scenery is breathtaking, making me want to see their ranch in real life.

Another winner for this author, and the series. I know this is supposed to be the final book, but is it really...? I hope not! Definitely recommended by me.

* I received a copy of this book with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
  
Reaper (Birds of a Feather #5)
Reaper (Birds of a Feather #5)
Lena North | 2018 | Contemporary, Paranormal, Young Adult (YA)
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Reaper (Birds of a Feather #5) by Lena North
Reaper is the fifth and final book in the Birds of a Feather series, and it goes out with a bang! Annie is spying on Wilder's ranch, with something to tell them, and not sure of her reception or the reaction once she does. It feels strange for her to mingle amongst people she feels like she already knows, and yet doesn't. Olly is his usual taciturn self, and yet Annie breaks through his barriers easy enough. Things don't go easy for the two of them though, and the whole gang gets involved to keep Annie safe until Olly retrieves his head out of his butt!

What a finale. Seriously, it was fantastic. I love Olly, I have done all the way through this series, but I will admit to enjoying seeing him make a fool of himself. I wasn't too impressed with some of his behaviour though, and was glad he was made to see the error of his ways.

So many characters, so many stories. I can't say out of all of them which are my favourites! Lena North has done an amazing job of making each of these characters and situations completely different, and yet maintaining the overall storyline. I wasn't sure at the beginning if I would like these as much as I did The Dreughan Trilogy. I can now confirm that yes, I did - absolutely!

For a fantastic coming-of-age story, then I can definitely recommend this whole series, and basically anything written by Lena North too!

* Verified Purchase ~ July 2018. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
  
Ready to Trust (Hearts of Oklahoma, #2)
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Ahh, Ready to Trust by Tina Radcliffe was such a sweet story! This is my first time reading a book by this author I decided to read her book after hearing so many of my bookish friends rave about her books and let me say I was not disappointed.

From the surprise of finding out you are a father to the learning curve of running a family business, Tina Radcliffe managed to make me feel immersed in the character’s choices and emotions. I enjoyed the character’s conversations with each other and their logical thoughts about the situations presented and the sweet romances that they allowed to happen between them. Add in an adorable sounding daughter, a wayward cow, and a cowhand that makes you smile, and you have a recipe for a fun lighthearted book. I will definitely be going back to read the other book in the A Hearts of Oklahoma Romance series.

The setting of this book is small-town USA, tight community, caring neighbors, family get-together’s, and food. I loved Tina Radcliffe’s description of life on a farm/ ranch and all the work that goes into it. It was a truly warm setting that I loved reading about.

I give this book 4 out of 5 stars for the fun characters, the lighthearted romance, and the sense of community that Tina Radcliffe displayed. A truly enjoyable book with a lighthearted feel that I did not have to concentrate on while reading.

*I Volunteered to read this book in return for my honest feedback. The thoughts and opinions expressed within are my own.
  
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Blaine Harrison recommended track County Line by Cass Mccombs in Wit's End by Cass Mccombs in Music (curated)

 
Wit's End by Cass Mccombs
Wit's End by Cass Mccombs
2011 | Rock
(0 Ratings)
Album Favorite

County Line by Cass Mccombs

(0 Ratings)

Track

"I discovered Cass McCombs’s music when we were making our fourth album Radlands, which we choose to make in America. At that point we’d all been living in London for years and we were looking for a taste of another life, another existence, and we found that in Texas. “We moved to Austin and lived there for about four months, which doesn’t sound like that long, but it was long enough to immerse ourselves in Texan culture. We went to make the record in this old colonial era ranch house, right out in the middle of nowhere and it was perfect. We had racoons raiding our dustbins, rattlesnakes under the back porch, and a rifle. We even used it to shoot tin cans. “I think it was our first week in Texas, and we went to the local record store in Austin. I always like to ask the guy behind the counter what he likes to listen to, especially if I’m in a different place and the Texan record store guy said, “You’ve got to hear the new Cass McCombs record."" “We put it on, and from that moment it totally shaped what Radlands went on to become. We actually went out to Austin without any songs written, but once we heard Cass McCombs we realised it had the DNA of what we wanted to make. “County Line” is a very slow song. It has a sense of longing about it, a dream-like half-remembered memory mood to it. He’s just got the loveliest voice which is so evocative, and it really captures the mood of Radlands"

Source
  
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019)
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019)
2019 | Crime, Drama, Thriller
Brad drives while Leo coughs: The Movie.
350. Once Upon a Time in... Hollywood. A movie that answers the big questions like: What is Brad Pitt's driving skills like? Or, what does Leonardo Dicaprio look like hacking up a lung? They will be answered because a large portion of this three hour long movie is dedicated to just that. Brad Pitt driving by himself listening to the popular tunes of the late 60's, Brad Pitt driving Leo around while Leo hacks up a lung from smoking and drinking, and Brad Pitt driving while flirting with one of the Manson girls he just happens to keep running into... OK with that out of the way, its a really cool movie, cool concept and of course great acting, writing and directing. Has the Tarantino signature, multiple separate storylines coming into one explosive finale... Basically its the story of a down on his luck actor, Rick Dalton, and his stunt double/bestie, Cliff Booth, and as I said earlier, Cliff drives a lot because his bestie Rick has racked up quite a few DUI's so... and at the same time... we have Rick's new neighbors on Cielo Drive, the Polanski's, Sharon Tate coming into her own stardom and enjoying life, and we also have Cliff's solo driving adventures where he picks up a Manson girl hitching and meets the rest of the family on the ranch, all leading up to the events of August 9, 1969. A pretty sweet ride, I think its the least violent of all Tarantino's movies, but don't worry there's a bit of bloodiness thrown in to make you say, 'there it is'! Filmbufftim on FB
  
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Heather Cranmer (2721 KP) created a post

Nov 17, 2021  
Stop by my blog to read part of the prologue from the contemporary Western fiction novel THE BIG EMPTY by Loren Steffy. If you like what you read, enter the giveaway to win a signed copy of the book as well as a logo hat - three winners!

https://alltheupsandowns.blogspot.com/2021/11/book-blog-tour-and-giveaway-big-empty.html

**BOOK SYNOPSIS**
When Trace Malloy and Blaine Witherspoon collide on a desolate West Texas highway, their fender bender sets the tone for escalating clashes that will determine the future of the town of Conquistador.

Malloy, a ranch manager and lifelong cowboy, knows that his occupation—and his community—are dying. He wants new- millennium opportunities for his son, even though he himself failed to summon the courage to leave familiar touchstones behind.

Witherspoon, an ambitious, Lexus-driving techie, offers a solution. He moves to Conquistador to build and run a state-of-the-art semiconductor plant that will bring prestige and high-paying technology jobs to revive the town—and advance his own career.

What neither man anticipates is the power the "Big Empty" will wield over their plans. The flat, endless expanse of dusty plain is as much a character in the conflict as are the locals struggling to subsist in this timeworn backwater and the high-tech transplants hell-bent on conquering it. While Malloy grapples with the flaws of his ancestors and his growing ambivalence toward the chip plant, Witherspoon falls prey to construction snafus, corporate backstabbing, and financial fraud. As they each confront personal fears, they find themselves united in the search for their own version of purpose in a uniquely untamable Texas landscape.