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Christine A. (965 KP) rated Press Here! Massage for Beginners: A Simple Route to Relaxation and Releasing Tension in Books
Mar 13, 2019 (Updated Mar 13, 2019)
Colorful illustrations (1 more)
Shows proper technique
Informative book on how to give a massage to others and to yourself
I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book so I could give an honest review.
Press Here! Massage for Beginners: A Simple Route to Relaxation and Releasing Tension by Rachel Beider is an informative book on how to give a massage to others and to yourself. It provides clear instructions on how to massage different parts of the body. It also includes sections for specific issues that may need special attention. Also shown are the proper techniques and strokes to use. It is full of colorful and detailed illustrations that show the basics of a massage.
I found the book informative and well written but two sections stand out to me. The first is on how to give yourself a massage. Beider shows how to use either your hand or a tennis ball to self massage. The other is a section on how to treat headaches and sinus congestion. As a sufferer of chronic sinus problems this was the most useful.
One thing I had never considered was you need to take care and look after your own body before you massage someone. Stretches are shown on how to prepare your hands so you do not damage them.
The book is easily labeled to find the exact section on which you want to focus.
Review published on Philomathinphila.com, Smashbomb, Goodreads, Facebook, Twitter, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble on 3/13/19.
Press Here! Massage for Beginners: A Simple Route to Relaxation and Releasing Tension by Rachel Beider is an informative book on how to give a massage to others and to yourself. It provides clear instructions on how to massage different parts of the body. It also includes sections for specific issues that may need special attention. Also shown are the proper techniques and strokes to use. It is full of colorful and detailed illustrations that show the basics of a massage.
I found the book informative and well written but two sections stand out to me. The first is on how to give yourself a massage. Beider shows how to use either your hand or a tennis ball to self massage. The other is a section on how to treat headaches and sinus congestion. As a sufferer of chronic sinus problems this was the most useful.
One thing I had never considered was you need to take care and look after your own body before you massage someone. Stretches are shown on how to prepare your hands so you do not damage them.
The book is easily labeled to find the exact section on which you want to focus.
Review published on Philomathinphila.com, Smashbomb, Goodreads, Facebook, Twitter, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble on 3/13/19.
Billie Wichkan (118 KP) rated The Missing Sister in Books
May 22, 2019
Belle Hatton has embarked upon an exciting new life far from home: a glamorous job as a nightclub singer in 1930s Burma, with a host of sophisticated new friends and admirers. But Belle is haunted by a mystery from the past - a 25 year old newspaper clipping found in her parents' belongings after their death, saying that the Hattons were leaving Rangoon after the disappearance of their baby daughter, Elvira.
Belle is desperate to find out what happened to the sister she never knew she had - but when she starts asking questions, she is confronted with unsettling rumours, malicious gossip, and outright threats. Oliver, an attractive, easy-going American journalist, promises to help her, but an anonymous note tells her not to trust those closest to her. . .
Belle survives riots, intruders, and bomb attacks - but nothing will stop her in her mission to uncover the truth. Can she trust her growing feelings for Oliver? Is her sister really dead? And could there be a chance Belle might find her?
This book is an interesting mix of mystery and romance set in 1930s Burma, and swaps between the stories of Belle, a nightclub singer and Diana, her mother. This novel has mystery, tension, violence and romance.
The setting in colonial Burma was beautifully written. It was an easy read and I enjoyed this story and would recommend.
I received a copy of The missing sister by Dinah Jefferies from the publisher via NetGalley, the review is my own opinion.
Belle is desperate to find out what happened to the sister she never knew she had - but when she starts asking questions, she is confronted with unsettling rumours, malicious gossip, and outright threats. Oliver, an attractive, easy-going American journalist, promises to help her, but an anonymous note tells her not to trust those closest to her. . .
Belle survives riots, intruders, and bomb attacks - but nothing will stop her in her mission to uncover the truth. Can she trust her growing feelings for Oliver? Is her sister really dead? And could there be a chance Belle might find her?
This book is an interesting mix of mystery and romance set in 1930s Burma, and swaps between the stories of Belle, a nightclub singer and Diana, her mother. This novel has mystery, tension, violence and romance.
The setting in colonial Burma was beautifully written. It was an easy read and I enjoyed this story and would recommend.
I received a copy of The missing sister by Dinah Jefferies from the publisher via NetGalley, the review is my own opinion.
Billie Wichkan (118 KP) rated The Stalker in Books
May 22, 2019
A murder on their doorstep
A case that's too close to home . . .
The body of a young woman has been discovered in Bellahouston park, the second in a matter of months. It's clear to Detective Superintendent William Lorimer of Police Scotland that they have a repeat killer on their hands, who is sure to strike again.
Lucky for DSI Lorimer that his wife, Maggie, is miles away from potential danger, touring Scotland to promote her first book. Faced with strangers at every event, Maggie doesn't notice the quiet, non-de script man sitting in the back row.
But he has noticed Maggie Lorimer. And soon his will be a face she never forgets.
Wow... what a great crime thriller this was. I didn't realize this was part of a series but it didn't impact on reading this one at all. It was very easy to follow the main characters and was easily read as a stand-alone.
I loved the complexity of the plot and it flowed very well.
There is plenty of tension and suspense throughout. The writing here is very atmospheric and draws you in.
The pace is just right as it helps the suspense level and atmosphere.
Very good characters and very relatable. I think the writing is superb and very well written.
The author has done a superb job of putting you in the shoes of the victim and how the range of emotions happens.
This is a wonderfully chilling crime read and I highly recommend!!
Thanks to Net Galley and Little, Brown for an ARC.
A case that's too close to home . . .
The body of a young woman has been discovered in Bellahouston park, the second in a matter of months. It's clear to Detective Superintendent William Lorimer of Police Scotland that they have a repeat killer on their hands, who is sure to strike again.
Lucky for DSI Lorimer that his wife, Maggie, is miles away from potential danger, touring Scotland to promote her first book. Faced with strangers at every event, Maggie doesn't notice the quiet, non-de script man sitting in the back row.
But he has noticed Maggie Lorimer. And soon his will be a face she never forgets.
Wow... what a great crime thriller this was. I didn't realize this was part of a series but it didn't impact on reading this one at all. It was very easy to follow the main characters and was easily read as a stand-alone.
I loved the complexity of the plot and it flowed very well.
There is plenty of tension and suspense throughout. The writing here is very atmospheric and draws you in.
The pace is just right as it helps the suspense level and atmosphere.
Very good characters and very relatable. I think the writing is superb and very well written.
The author has done a superb job of putting you in the shoes of the victim and how the range of emotions happens.
This is a wonderfully chilling crime read and I highly recommend!!
Thanks to Net Galley and Little, Brown for an ARC.
Brown_Flopsy (3 KP) rated The Dry in Books
Feb 4, 2018
Excellent debut novel!
What a great book!
Set in Australia, police investigator Aaron Falk is called back to his rural childhood home to attend the funerals of his old friend Luke and his family.
However, Kiewarra is experiencing a crushing drought, which is killing the town; it looks like Luke killed himself and his family; and Aaron and his father were run out of town 20 years ago in connection with the death of Aaron and Luke's friend Ellie. Tempers and temeratures are boiling and Aaron is not welcomed by many who remember the past, especially when Luke's parents ask him to look into the circumstances around his death and that of his wife and child. Did Luke really kill them and them turn the gun on himself? Did Luke kill Ellie too?
This story is beautifully crafted by Jane Harper. It is a very impressive debut novel - atmospheric and tense, with lots of red herrings along the way. I loved that you were with Falk, and local policeman Raco, through every lead, and I was just as convinced as them that they were on the right track each time....and shared their disappointment and frustration when the leads did not pan out.
I really enjoyed the twist in Ellie's story at the end too - just when you thought you knew what had happened to her.
I think this will be one of my top reads this year! Now on to Harper's new Aaron Falk thriller Force of Nature!
Set in Australia, police investigator Aaron Falk is called back to his rural childhood home to attend the funerals of his old friend Luke and his family.
However, Kiewarra is experiencing a crushing drought, which is killing the town; it looks like Luke killed himself and his family; and Aaron and his father were run out of town 20 years ago in connection with the death of Aaron and Luke's friend Ellie. Tempers and temeratures are boiling and Aaron is not welcomed by many who remember the past, especially when Luke's parents ask him to look into the circumstances around his death and that of his wife and child. Did Luke really kill them and them turn the gun on himself? Did Luke kill Ellie too?
This story is beautifully crafted by Jane Harper. It is a very impressive debut novel - atmospheric and tense, with lots of red herrings along the way. I loved that you were with Falk, and local policeman Raco, through every lead, and I was just as convinced as them that they were on the right track each time....and shared their disappointment and frustration when the leads did not pan out.
I really enjoyed the twist in Ellie's story at the end too - just when you thought you knew what had happened to her.
I think this will be one of my top reads this year! Now on to Harper's new Aaron Falk thriller Force of Nature!
Dana (24 KP) rated Deliverance in Books
Mar 23, 2018
Holy crap, this book was very intense. When I started reading it for my writing class, I had no idea what it was about. Having just read stories about Wyoming, I thought it would be about cowboys again, but boy was I wrong.
You don't really feel the tension at the beginning, but as you read it more, you feel it creep up on you. This is a really terrifying thing to have happen to you while you are reading if you haven't experienced it before. When I was in the middle of the first part of the book, I had to put it down because I had to get to work. Once I closed the book, I noticed how tense I had gotten. It was like my whole body was waiting for something bad to happen and I hadn't even noticed.
The character development was amazing as well. You could really see the change from the beginning of the story just to the half way point. Though I didn't like the characters as human beings, some of them were very cold and not the nicest, I could respect them as characters. It just shows how well they were written.
For me, there were a few things that I thought could have been played into more, but I don't want to give away what happens in the novel, so I will leave it at that.
If you like suspenseful books, this is definitely a read for you. It is not for the faint of heart.
You don't really feel the tension at the beginning, but as you read it more, you feel it creep up on you. This is a really terrifying thing to have happen to you while you are reading if you haven't experienced it before. When I was in the middle of the first part of the book, I had to put it down because I had to get to work. Once I closed the book, I noticed how tense I had gotten. It was like my whole body was waiting for something bad to happen and I hadn't even noticed.
The character development was amazing as well. You could really see the change from the beginning of the story just to the half way point. Though I didn't like the characters as human beings, some of them were very cold and not the nicest, I could respect them as characters. It just shows how well they were written.
For me, there were a few things that I thought could have been played into more, but I don't want to give away what happens in the novel, so I will leave it at that.
If you like suspenseful books, this is definitely a read for you. It is not for the faint of heart.
Ross (3284 KP) rated Perfect Prey in Books
Sep 14, 2018
The second in the DI Callanach series, Perfect Prey starts off with a murder in broad daylight in the middle of a music festival crowd. The investigation into this struggles along with next to no information arising, as more and more murders are committed.
This is a definite step up from the somewhat "crime-by-number" first book, with a very clever, intricate plot that simply cannot truly be guessed at until quite late on.
One of my main gripes about the first book (that the main character has to be present for every single discovery and crime scene for it to be included) is not present here. Action is told from a number of different viewpoints to enable the reader to appreciate the whole story in the best way possible.
The character development here is good too, with main characters growing in personality and side characters that were barely mentioned in the first book now given a backstory.
A few crime clichés still present here (the old "knocked on the back of the head, everything went black", and the "this is clearly an important plot point, please sound the klaxon, even though we're going to ignore it as a minor detail for now") but they don't stand out anywhere near as much as in other books, and are somewhat necessary to create that tension where the omnipresent reader knows more than the characters.
All in all, an excellent crime story and a very intriguing plot that keeps the reader gripped well into the night.
This is a definite step up from the somewhat "crime-by-number" first book, with a very clever, intricate plot that simply cannot truly be guessed at until quite late on.
One of my main gripes about the first book (that the main character has to be present for every single discovery and crime scene for it to be included) is not present here. Action is told from a number of different viewpoints to enable the reader to appreciate the whole story in the best way possible.
The character development here is good too, with main characters growing in personality and side characters that were barely mentioned in the first book now given a backstory.
A few crime clichés still present here (the old "knocked on the back of the head, everything went black", and the "this is clearly an important plot point, please sound the klaxon, even though we're going to ignore it as a minor detail for now") but they don't stand out anywhere near as much as in other books, and are somewhat necessary to create that tension where the omnipresent reader knows more than the characters.
All in all, an excellent crime story and a very intriguing plot that keeps the reader gripped well into the night.
BookwormMama14 (18 KP) rated The Reckoning at Gossamer Pond in Books
Jan 2, 2019
I couldn't read this book fast enough! Jaime Jo Wright weaves such a tale of mystery and suspense that you won't want to put it down. Thankfully, when house duties called, I have SCRIBD, so I could listen to the book while I did dishes, vacuumed, and did the laundry.
Filled with so much agony for all that these characters go through, the empath in me had a rough go of it. But, all said and done, the author created the perfect balance with the tension, the hope, the suspense, and the romance. I am not sure how much more I can say without giving away the story! I couldn't figure out who the "bad guys" were for the longest time. I was trying so hard to figure out how everything all meshed together...But couldn't work it out on my own.
Annalise and Libby are two women that I think are incredibly strong, brave, and heroines of the best sort. Sure they have made mistakes (who hasn't), but the important thing is that they learned from them, grew, moved on, and are helping others.
I just want all of Jaime's stories in my hands right now! I could read them all year. Haha! I adore her voice and the vision she has behind her stories. They truly are remarkable and deserve the highest praise.
I received a complimentary copy of The Reckoning at Gossamer Pond from the publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.
Filled with so much agony for all that these characters go through, the empath in me had a rough go of it. But, all said and done, the author created the perfect balance with the tension, the hope, the suspense, and the romance. I am not sure how much more I can say without giving away the story! I couldn't figure out who the "bad guys" were for the longest time. I was trying so hard to figure out how everything all meshed together...But couldn't work it out on my own.
Annalise and Libby are two women that I think are incredibly strong, brave, and heroines of the best sort. Sure they have made mistakes (who hasn't), but the important thing is that they learned from them, grew, moved on, and are helping others.
I just want all of Jaime's stories in my hands right now! I could read them all year. Haha! I adore her voice and the vision she has behind her stories. They truly are remarkable and deserve the highest praise.
I received a complimentary copy of The Reckoning at Gossamer Pond from the publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.
Creepy demons (1 more)
Likeable main characters
A Mexican Supernatural
This appeared on my Netflix recommendations list, so I thought that I would give it a try. I am a huge fan of this type of series, and would liken the series to Supernatural and the exorcist.
Series 1 follows Elvis (a Diablero or demon hunter), Father Ramiro (a priest hunting for his daughter, conceived prior to his joining the Catholic Church, but later abducted by a demon), Keta (Elvis’ sister) and Nancy (a young women who attracts demons). The story primarily centres around the groups search for the truth in finding Ramiro’s missing daughter, although strongly hints at stories that could be followed up in a future series.
Despite being in Spanish originally, Netflix have dubbed the show in English relatively well. I am not opposed to subtitles, but I do like to be lazy at times.
I thoroughly enjoyed this show and binged on it in two sittings. The show itself was quite dark at times, which fits in well with the genre. The story line includes the plight of small children which encourages us to route for the main characters, there is also on and off romantic tension between Ramiro and Nancy, which I found interesting. One thing I will say though, is at times the special effects were a little low budget, although I can imagine that this will improve as the show picks up credibility.
I eagerly await a second season (please renew Netflix), and hope that series 2 is longer than season 1!
Series 1 follows Elvis (a Diablero or demon hunter), Father Ramiro (a priest hunting for his daughter, conceived prior to his joining the Catholic Church, but later abducted by a demon), Keta (Elvis’ sister) and Nancy (a young women who attracts demons). The story primarily centres around the groups search for the truth in finding Ramiro’s missing daughter, although strongly hints at stories that could be followed up in a future series.
Despite being in Spanish originally, Netflix have dubbed the show in English relatively well. I am not opposed to subtitles, but I do like to be lazy at times.
I thoroughly enjoyed this show and binged on it in two sittings. The show itself was quite dark at times, which fits in well with the genre. The story line includes the plight of small children which encourages us to route for the main characters, there is also on and off romantic tension between Ramiro and Nancy, which I found interesting. One thing I will say though, is at times the special effects were a little low budget, although I can imagine that this will improve as the show picks up credibility.
I eagerly await a second season (please renew Netflix), and hope that series 2 is longer than season 1!
LeftSideCut (3776 KP) rated the PlayStation 4 version of Dead by Daylight in Video Games
Jun 20, 2019
A hugely enjoyable, and often frustrating, horror multiplayer
I'll admit first off, that I've put a truly unhealthy amount of hours into Dead By Daylight - I imagine at this point, it's probably around the 700-800 hour mark - certainly enough to have a pretty solid idea of how the game works, and I'll say this - this game is as fun as you make it, and the most important part of that statement is friends.
Communication in DBD is key, and unfortunately, the game is subject to very douchebag-ways of playing (on both the killer and the survivor side).
Playing as one of four survivors can be incredibly frustrating, so jumping in with three friends is an easy fix - and when you're having fun, DBD is an absolute blast, a nice blend of scares, tension, action and teamwork.
Playing as a killer can also be heaps of fun, especially since a number of horror icons have been added as DLC (Michael Myers, Freddy Krueger, Leatherface, The Pig from Saw, Ghostface), and they sit nicely alongside a humble roster of original killer characters, all with unique powers and perks, that make playing as them, and surviving against them, into an exciting mix of tactics and gameplay.
DBD does seem to have issues with bugs and glitches fairly regularly, but on the flip side, there are also regular patches and updates, from a Dev team that listen to their player base more often than not.
If you love horror games, the I implore you to get involved.
Communication in DBD is key, and unfortunately, the game is subject to very douchebag-ways of playing (on both the killer and the survivor side).
Playing as one of four survivors can be incredibly frustrating, so jumping in with three friends is an easy fix - and when you're having fun, DBD is an absolute blast, a nice blend of scares, tension, action and teamwork.
Playing as a killer can also be heaps of fun, especially since a number of horror icons have been added as DLC (Michael Myers, Freddy Krueger, Leatherface, The Pig from Saw, Ghostface), and they sit nicely alongside a humble roster of original killer characters, all with unique powers and perks, that make playing as them, and surviving against them, into an exciting mix of tactics and gameplay.
DBD does seem to have issues with bugs and glitches fairly regularly, but on the flip side, there are also regular patches and updates, from a Dev team that listen to their player base more often than not.
If you love horror games, the I implore you to get involved.
Michael Packner (32 KP) rated Child's Play (1988) in Movies
Jun 21, 2019
The atmosphere is top notch. (4 more)
The tension could be cut with a knife at times.
Young Alex Vincent is surprisingly amazing in the film.
The film quickly establishes Chucky as a horror icon.
Everything was done with practical effects and actually looks amazing
Hi I'm Chucky, wanna play?
I'm sorry but at least for me this is about as close as you can get to a perfect horror film. The atmosphere of this film is perfect and both the acting and direction are top notch. The special effects are astounding for the time that this came out and Chucky is masterfully voiced by Brad Douriff. This film is interesting in the fact that if you grew up in the 80s and early 90s and remember what life was like back then, not only was this film absolutely terrifying for you as a child, but it holds up beautifully 30 years later. If you are a child of the modern era however, you just might find this film ridiculous and dated. The kills are extremely well thought out and suspenseful and the dark as night soundtrack fully adds to the terrifying experience. Child's Play remains 30 years later for me a staple of the horror genre and one of the main reasons I became such a big fan of the genre. Alex Vincent is unbelievably great holding down the lead role as a 6 year old. Not many horror films can survive centered around a protagonist so young, but this film does so masterfully.
I'm sorry but at least for me this is about as close as you can get to a perfect horror film. The atmosphere of this film is perfect and both the acting and direction are top notch. The special effects are astounding for the time that this came out and Chucky is masterfully voiced by Brad Douriff. This film is interesting in the fact that if you grew up in the 80s and early 90s and remember what life was like back then, not only was this film absolutely terrifying for you as a child, but it holds up beautifully 30 years later. If you are a child of the modern era however, you just might find this film ridiculous and dated. The kills are extremely well thought out and suspenseful and the dark as night soundtrack fully adds to the terrifying experience. Child's Play remains 30 years later for me a staple of the horror genre and one of the main reasons I became such a big fan of the genre. Alex Vincent is unbelievably great holding down the lead role as a 6 year old. Not many horror films can survive centered around a protagonist so young, but this film does so masterfully.