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Merissa (12387 KP) rated Need You Now (Love's Paradise Series #1) in Books
Nov 10, 2017
Need You Now (Love's Paradise Series #1) by Dei Araujo
Need You Now is a romantic suspense story that involves the kidnapping of a child. The story moves along smoothly enough, and I really enjoyed the moments with Keyon. I have to say that the male characters in this book had a better depth and believability (yes, I know that's not a real word!) than the females one did. Amaranth had her moments, but she would insist on ignoring the advice/warnings of the professional, and rush headlong into danger. And Cassia was a one-dimensional character who didn't do much to the story and quickly disappeared from working with Nick to being with Roberto.
The story was a good one, and like I said, Keyon stole every scene he was in. The pacing was smooth, and there were no editing or grammatical errors that disrupted my reading flow. With an easy-going writing style, this is a book to read if you don't want anything too deep, but will keep you turning the pages. I did enjoy it, and would read more by this author.
* A copy of this book was provided to me 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!
The story was a good one, and like I said, Keyon stole every scene he was in. The pacing was smooth, and there were no editing or grammatical errors that disrupted my reading flow. With an easy-going writing style, this is a book to read if you don't want anything too deep, but will keep you turning the pages. I did enjoy it, and would read more by this author.
* A copy of this book was provided to me 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!
Suswatibasu (1702 KP) rated My Cousin Rachel (2017) in Movies
Nov 12, 2017 (Updated Nov 12, 2017)
Gothic Victorian suspense surrounding the mysterious Rachel
This film is no doubt atmospheric and evocative, rather than old fashioned Victorian horror, all about the widow of recently deceased cousin who died under mysterious circumstances.
Sam Claflin plays the vengeful nephew, who plots to find out the truth about Rachel, believing that she murdered his guardian. But his feelings become complicated as he finds himself falling under the beguiling spell of her charms.
Daphne Du Maurier was an excellent writer of course and many of her novels have been transferred to both the big and small screen to much acclaim. As it is, this is a film of intrigue and intent that is not quite what it at first seems. The outcome is not mind-blowing and you don't have to be Hercule Poirot to follow the plot or work things out. However, the 'did she didn't she murder' question is left rather open-ended and down to the interpretation/thoughts of the viewer. While it is not in the same league as Rebecca, the director makes a decent effort in creating an uneasy ambience.
It is a fascinating film which delves (in a shallow way) into the workings of the human mind and its psychological ways and how suspicion can play havoc in relationships.
Sam Claflin plays the vengeful nephew, who plots to find out the truth about Rachel, believing that she murdered his guardian. But his feelings become complicated as he finds himself falling under the beguiling spell of her charms.
Daphne Du Maurier was an excellent writer of course and many of her novels have been transferred to both the big and small screen to much acclaim. As it is, this is a film of intrigue and intent that is not quite what it at first seems. The outcome is not mind-blowing and you don't have to be Hercule Poirot to follow the plot or work things out. However, the 'did she didn't she murder' question is left rather open-ended and down to the interpretation/thoughts of the viewer. While it is not in the same league as Rebecca, the director makes a decent effort in creating an uneasy ambience.
It is a fascinating film which delves (in a shallow way) into the workings of the human mind and its psychological ways and how suspicion can play havoc in relationships.
Rachel (48 KP) rated The Venetian: This Haunted World: Book 1 in Books
May 27, 2017
A Slow Burn
actually purchased this book by mistake, it's cover is similar to another novel, but I'm glad that I did!
This novel is certainly a slow burn, for the first 20% of it I was highly unimpressed. It felt flimsy and rushed, making it hard to sympathise with the main characters struggles. To be frank - I almost gave up on it. Suddenly, though, the story really kicks in and I read the remainder in one go.
This story is about anger,madness, betrayal and disappointment. It is also about survival, determination and love.
The main stage for the story is an island that is painted so vividly I can almost believe I have been there! The growing suspense and fear is skillfully built to a crescendo, the story woven between different times in just the right way. The ending is very satisfying - not a fairy tale where suddenly everything is perfect but instead a believable end note.
The medical practices described are even more distasteful and repugnant because they actually occurred. In fact a lot were very common sadly.
This would have been a 10/10 review had it not taken so long for the real, meaty story to start. Hopefully others who have purchased this book also continued with it and discovered this gem of a story.
This novel is certainly a slow burn, for the first 20% of it I was highly unimpressed. It felt flimsy and rushed, making it hard to sympathise with the main characters struggles. To be frank - I almost gave up on it. Suddenly, though, the story really kicks in and I read the remainder in one go.
This story is about anger,madness, betrayal and disappointment. It is also about survival, determination and love.
The main stage for the story is an island that is painted so vividly I can almost believe I have been there! The growing suspense and fear is skillfully built to a crescendo, the story woven between different times in just the right way. The ending is very satisfying - not a fairy tale where suddenly everything is perfect but instead a believable end note.
The medical practices described are even more distasteful and repugnant because they actually occurred. In fact a lot were very common sadly.
This would have been a 10/10 review had it not taken so long for the real, meaty story to start. Hopefully others who have purchased this book also continued with it and discovered this gem of a story.
Gloria (27 KP) rated Prison Break - Season 4 in TV
Jul 18, 2017
Twisted Endings
True to Prison Break form, the new season is laid out as a series of tasks. Still keeping up the suspense and wit.
I find the new season and the out of prison setting actually fresh. You really cannot trust any of the characters here. You think they're on the good side, but it turns out you're wrong. Still managed to be kept entertained, despite the suspension of disbelief required.
Sadly, in this season, a million little things have to fall in place every time for the plot to go on. Other times they just don't. Yet, they were able to keep appearances. But this season has gone a little overboard. Some events aren't justified or aren't build up to them; they just happen. And if you don't accept them, too bad, cause that's how it is. Almost as if they are throwing as much as they can at you. Still filled with many twists and backstabs. That can either cause engagement or head spin. What used to be a band of criminals is now the best covert ops group in the world, pulling multiple Mission Impossible's (c) per episode and randomly navigating through a web of confusing conspiracies.
But, it still manages to keep one wanting to find out what comes next. So it didn't lose that touch.
I find the new season and the out of prison setting actually fresh. You really cannot trust any of the characters here. You think they're on the good side, but it turns out you're wrong. Still managed to be kept entertained, despite the suspension of disbelief required.
Sadly, in this season, a million little things have to fall in place every time for the plot to go on. Other times they just don't. Yet, they were able to keep appearances. But this season has gone a little overboard. Some events aren't justified or aren't build up to them; they just happen. And if you don't accept them, too bad, cause that's how it is. Almost as if they are throwing as much as they can at you. Still filled with many twists and backstabs. That can either cause engagement or head spin. What used to be a band of criminals is now the best covert ops group in the world, pulling multiple Mission Impossible's (c) per episode and randomly navigating through a web of confusing conspiracies.
But, it still manages to keep one wanting to find out what comes next. So it didn't lose that touch.
Alison Pink (7 KP) rated The Perfect Death (Detective John Stallings #3) in Books
Jan 15, 2018
Let me begin by saying that this book introduced me to a wonderful author who I can not wait to read more of!! I love when I can say that about any book, especially a book that I won from First Reads!
The Perfect Death was non-stop action & suspense from page one. It truly started off to hook the reader & it worked for me! The plot felt incredibly real particularly the parts dealing with the Jacksonville Sheriffs & how police handle investigations. The fascinating part was not how the characters handled the police work, but how they interacted with each other. It seemed like a real life workplace with honest to God co-workers.
The plot itself deals with a serial killer who has been on the hunt in North Florida. He finds young, naive victims & strangles them with a cord. As the story continues you find out that he is using them to complete his "work of art." He is a glass blower & blows jars in which he traps his victims' last breaths before he proceeds to strangle them to death.
This book is a fascinating look into real police work & the mind of a serial killer. A person no one thought to take a second glance at until it was too late. I really do look forward to reading more from this author in the future!!!
The Perfect Death was non-stop action & suspense from page one. It truly started off to hook the reader & it worked for me! The plot felt incredibly real particularly the parts dealing with the Jacksonville Sheriffs & how police handle investigations. The fascinating part was not how the characters handled the police work, but how they interacted with each other. It seemed like a real life workplace with honest to God co-workers.
The plot itself deals with a serial killer who has been on the hunt in North Florida. He finds young, naive victims & strangles them with a cord. As the story continues you find out that he is using them to complete his "work of art." He is a glass blower & blows jars in which he traps his victims' last breaths before he proceeds to strangle them to death.
This book is a fascinating look into real police work & the mind of a serial killer. A person no one thought to take a second glance at until it was too late. I really do look forward to reading more from this author in the future!!!
Sarah (7799 KP) rated The Descent Part 2 (2009) in Movies
Feb 2, 2019
Should never have been made
I’ve put off watching this film for years as I resented the fact that it had ever been made, and it turns out I probably should have kept on putting it off. The original Descent was brilliant, but this sequel is just plain awful.
For starters, it looks cheap. The entire thing from the cinematography, the visual effects (the blood looks like fruit juice), and the look of the monsters just looks so horrendous and as bad, if not worse, than a SyFy original film. Then there’s the plot itself, which is so ridiculously stupid it’s laughable. It completely ignores the ambiguous and very good ending from the original and uses a cliched overused trope (memory loss) to get Sarah back into the caves. The new characters are underdeveloped and cliched stereotypes (the brass moronic cop who can’t leave his gun behind). And then there’s the fact that it seems an identical copy of the original, using the same scenes, ideas (seeing through the video camera) that were used in the first film. This loses any of the suspense and atmosphere generated in the first film, and it doesn’t use the music to any good effect whatsoever. It’s not scary, it’s not interesting and it looks horrendous. Avoid at all costs.
For starters, it looks cheap. The entire thing from the cinematography, the visual effects (the blood looks like fruit juice), and the look of the monsters just looks so horrendous and as bad, if not worse, than a SyFy original film. Then there’s the plot itself, which is so ridiculously stupid it’s laughable. It completely ignores the ambiguous and very good ending from the original and uses a cliched overused trope (memory loss) to get Sarah back into the caves. The new characters are underdeveloped and cliched stereotypes (the brass moronic cop who can’t leave his gun behind). And then there’s the fact that it seems an identical copy of the original, using the same scenes, ideas (seeing through the video camera) that were used in the first film. This loses any of the suspense and atmosphere generated in the first film, and it doesn’t use the music to any good effect whatsoever. It’s not scary, it’s not interesting and it looks horrendous. Avoid at all costs.
Nikki Massey (8 KP) rated The Bletchley Circle - Season 2 in TV
Feb 8, 2019
This continues on from the first series of The Bletchley Circle, following for friends and former colleagues after WWII.
This series is split in two. In the first part, one of their fellow former colleagues is accused of murder. Can these ladies unravel the truth and prove her innocence? In the second part, as the ladies caused a few headaches for the military in uncovering their secrets and shady ways they find they have lost their security clearances so some of the women are no longer able to carry on with their jobs such as translation work. So they have to give other avenues to make money and it winds one of them up in a very sticky situation.
As before, I really warmed to the characters and was genuinely sad when one moved on to another life. I grew to love these women; I felt they were almost my friends and I actually cared for them and their outcomes.
You could feel the suspense of them closing in on the truth but realising time was running out. It really kept me gripped until the end.
I do love how they made being intelligent cool by being steps ahead of the police but also in forming such bonds with one another.
We could learn a thing or two from these ladies and their bravery.
This series is split in two. In the first part, one of their fellow former colleagues is accused of murder. Can these ladies unravel the truth and prove her innocence? In the second part, as the ladies caused a few headaches for the military in uncovering their secrets and shady ways they find they have lost their security clearances so some of the women are no longer able to carry on with their jobs such as translation work. So they have to give other avenues to make money and it winds one of them up in a very sticky situation.
As before, I really warmed to the characters and was genuinely sad when one moved on to another life. I grew to love these women; I felt they were almost my friends and I actually cared for them and their outcomes.
You could feel the suspense of them closing in on the truth but realising time was running out. It really kept me gripped until the end.
I do love how they made being intelligent cool by being steps ahead of the police but also in forming such bonds with one another.
We could learn a thing or two from these ladies and their bravery.
graveyardgremlin (7194 KP) rated The Touch of Fire (Western Ladies, #3) in Books
Feb 15, 2019
I got to page 182 when I just had to stop - the book wasn't totally horrible but I didn't like it. I didn't hate or love, like or dislike either Annie or Rafe, which in a romance I need to like at least one of them to keep reading. Annie was a personality that changed; one second she's a strong, independent woman, the next a simpering, dependent, and insecure girl. I hate when authors make characters go from one extreme to another like that. The plot and pacing were rather slow and not that interesting either. The thing I disliked the most was the loves scenes, if you can even call them that. They felt weird and wrong, were disturbing, and not romantic in the least. I think that covers my main reason for not continuing other than not caring to finish the book.
This is the second book of Linda Howard's I haven't cared for, but the first I didn't finish. Even though everyone seems to absolutely adore her books I'm beginning to think they aren't for me. However, I will read Son of the Morning because I love time-travels, and will most likely give at least one of her other books I have lying around and a romantic suspense novel a chance before I write her off for good.
This is the second book of Linda Howard's I haven't cared for, but the first I didn't finish. Even though everyone seems to absolutely adore her books I'm beginning to think they aren't for me. However, I will read Son of the Morning because I love time-travels, and will most likely give at least one of her other books I have lying around and a romantic suspense novel a chance before I write her off for good.
graveyardgremlin (7194 KP) rated Land of the Living in Books
Feb 15, 2019
With a gripping start that fully captured my attention, I had a hard time putting LAND OF THE LIVING down. The suspense-filled atmosphere leapt off the pages and I found myself catching my breath and actually feeling the pressure presented within the covers. This doesn't usually happen to me, especially from a book I know is fiction. The author (or authors really) have done a fabulous job bringing the book to life and I imagine the plot does a fairly accurate job conveying a true life account of something like this. I only have a few minor quibbles. Firstly, Abbie does some dumb things, however it's still believable that she might react that way in her situation, and really, she's not a brainless twit of a victim. Although what she does later was very stupid and I wanted to smack her. Still, after the fact, I suppose I understand it now. Secondly, and I guess lastly, I do not believe for a second that the police are so inept that they could not follow-up on simple, routine leads. If Abbie can do it, surely they can too. To sum it up, the terror was evident, the environment creepy, and the overall pace was just right. A thrilling good read, if not a perfect one.
Molly J (Cover To Cover Cafe) (106 KP) rated The Kremlin Conspiracy in Books
Feb 27, 2019
I will be honest and tell you, this is not my normal type of book to read. I prefer romantic suspense or romantic thriller, not political thrillers. I am just not a big political person. That said, I have to say, Mr. Rosenberg is extremely, extremely talented, and really knew what to put into a phenomenally written novel. This book truly surprised me at how well it captivated me.
The great detail and research that Mr. Rosenberg has put into this novel is incredible. It really helped draw me to the intensity of the story. I was drawn to Marcus Ryker, the Kremlin and all of the edge of your seat, nail biting plot twists that he hadded to the story. I found myself often holding my breath, holding my book with a white knuckled grip. That, to me, is what makes an amazing thriller!
This is definitely a 5 star worthy novel to the greatest proportions. Mr. Rosenberg absolutely blew me away with this novel and I am already looking forward to another thrilling, God filled, gripping novel from this fantabulously talented author. You heard it here folks. A non-political person, loving this absolutely gripping political Christian thriller. Hats off to Mr. Rosenberg!
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and was under no obligation to post a review, positive or negative.*
The great detail and research that Mr. Rosenberg has put into this novel is incredible. It really helped draw me to the intensity of the story. I was drawn to Marcus Ryker, the Kremlin and all of the edge of your seat, nail biting plot twists that he hadded to the story. I found myself often holding my breath, holding my book with a white knuckled grip. That, to me, is what makes an amazing thriller!
This is definitely a 5 star worthy novel to the greatest proportions. Mr. Rosenberg absolutely blew me away with this novel and I am already looking forward to another thrilling, God filled, gripping novel from this fantabulously talented author. You heard it here folks. A non-political person, loving this absolutely gripping political Christian thriller. Hats off to Mr. Rosenberg!
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and was under no obligation to post a review, positive or negative.*