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Alpha (Vanguards Book 2)
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Someone is about to get some Spice in his life. Spice returns to Chicago searching for her...
adult paranormal romance series fiction Vanguards
Penne Dreadful
8.0
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Local chef Tessa Esposito is struggling to get back on her feet following her husband's fatal...
Colorado Fire (Colorado Protectors #2)
8.0
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Where there's smoke, there's fire. Marshal has it bad, but can he figure it out before he ruins...
Contemporary MM Military Romance
The Trail Boss and the Brat (Farthingdale Ranch #6)
8.0
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Even a rugged heart can be broken, but can it find love again? After a fierce betrayal, Quint...
Contemporary MM Romance
The Anniversary
6.0
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Novelist J.B. Blackwood is on a cruise with her husband, Patrick, to celebrate their wedding...
Literary fiction
Into the Well: An Inheritance of Remembrance
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My name is Jennifer, and this book is for my Irish ancestors. I wrote this book as a way to...
Phillip McSween (751 KP) rated Hell or High Water (2016) in Movies
Mar 11, 2019
Classic
Two brothers rob banks in west Texas to pay off overdue loans before their family home is foreclosed on.
Acting: 10
Beginning: 10
Characters: 10
From the first scene in the beginning with Tanner (Ben Foster) and Toby (Chris Pine), I knew I was going to like the two brothers. One’s a loose cannon while the other is more level-headed and calculated. They argue like typical brothers because they are so different and their interactions remind you of typical sibling hate/love. As a viewer, their personalities worked so well for me because you realize both were needed throughout the movie. Sometimes you needed cool, other times crazy was definitely needed to get the two out of a rough scrape.
I also enjoyed Jeff Bridges character playing the role of Sheriff Marcus, the area’s dedicated peacemaker. He speaks with a quick drawl straight out of an Eastwood western. He is overly truthful to a hilarious extent. He is on his way to retirement and feels like catching Tanner and Toby could be his last bit of peace.
Cinematography/Visuals: 9
Conflict: 7
While there truly are some impactful intense moments that help drive the narrative, Hell Or High Water is more drama than it is an action film. You do get a fair share of bank robberies, car chases, and shootouts. It just would have been nice if they had showed a bit more of that. Some of the parts that dragged on a bit would have served well with a bit more conflict.
Genre: 8
A powerful story about family helping family. Time will tell, but I think it’s a story that will keep its power years from now. The storytelling and direction is just as strong as any of my all-time favorites. Hell Or High Water packs a potent punch.
Memorability: 8
Pace: 10
Plot: 10
The bank robbery genre has been done and redone, but not quite like this. From its setting to the backdrop of the plot, this movie paves its own way within a crowded and successful genre. It succeeds with memorable dialogue and making every single scene count towards a definitive end.
Resolution: 10
The final scene features a conversation between Marcus and Toby. It’s hands-down the most memorable scene in the entire film as you get to see how this chain of events has ultimately affected both characters. They have both gained and lost and both face ghosts that will haunt them for the rest of their lives. It’s a scene that stuck with me long after I watched it.
Overall: 92
Set against a sprawling, yet compacted west Texas, Hell Or High Water gives you everything you look for in a movie. Memorable scenes abound keeping the movie entertaining and fresh. If you haven’t seen it yet, it’s a classic.
Acting: 10
Beginning: 10
Characters: 10
From the first scene in the beginning with Tanner (Ben Foster) and Toby (Chris Pine), I knew I was going to like the two brothers. One’s a loose cannon while the other is more level-headed and calculated. They argue like typical brothers because they are so different and their interactions remind you of typical sibling hate/love. As a viewer, their personalities worked so well for me because you realize both were needed throughout the movie. Sometimes you needed cool, other times crazy was definitely needed to get the two out of a rough scrape.
I also enjoyed Jeff Bridges character playing the role of Sheriff Marcus, the area’s dedicated peacemaker. He speaks with a quick drawl straight out of an Eastwood western. He is overly truthful to a hilarious extent. He is on his way to retirement and feels like catching Tanner and Toby could be his last bit of peace.
Cinematography/Visuals: 9
Conflict: 7
While there truly are some impactful intense moments that help drive the narrative, Hell Or High Water is more drama than it is an action film. You do get a fair share of bank robberies, car chases, and shootouts. It just would have been nice if they had showed a bit more of that. Some of the parts that dragged on a bit would have served well with a bit more conflict.
Genre: 8
A powerful story about family helping family. Time will tell, but I think it’s a story that will keep its power years from now. The storytelling and direction is just as strong as any of my all-time favorites. Hell Or High Water packs a potent punch.
Memorability: 8
Pace: 10
Plot: 10
The bank robbery genre has been done and redone, but not quite like this. From its setting to the backdrop of the plot, this movie paves its own way within a crowded and successful genre. It succeeds with memorable dialogue and making every single scene count towards a definitive end.
Resolution: 10
The final scene features a conversation between Marcus and Toby. It’s hands-down the most memorable scene in the entire film as you get to see how this chain of events has ultimately affected both characters. They have both gained and lost and both face ghosts that will haunt them for the rest of their lives. It’s a scene that stuck with me long after I watched it.
Overall: 92
Set against a sprawling, yet compacted west Texas, Hell Or High Water gives you everything you look for in a movie. Memorable scenes abound keeping the movie entertaining and fresh. If you haven’t seen it yet, it’s a classic.
Whatchareadin (174 KP) rated Something in the Water in Books
Apr 9, 2019
Erin and Mark are about to get married. Before their wedding day, they have a few things to deal with. Erin has to prepare everything for the documentary she is working on, about how inmates re-enter the real world. And Mark, loses his job as an investment banker, which was their main source of income. This forces them to change some plans of their wedding and honeymoon, but also make the break that much more needed.
While honeymooning in Bora Bora, they go on a scuba diving excursion where they find a bag floating in the water. What's inside will lead them on a journey where they will find out more about each other than they ever expected.
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Someting In The Water, gives you the ending of the book first, then goes back three months for us to see what could have possibly happened. The book starts with Erin digging a grave to bury Mark in. If they are newlyweds, what could he have done in such a short time that she is now burying his body in the middle of nowhere.
This book started out really well and it was hard to put down at first. But, as the story went along, the details just became more and more implausible. To me, Erin was an idiot and the fact that she couldn't see what was happening right under her nose, and some of her actions were just ridiculous. The things that occurred in this book did not seem possible for an investment banker and a film maker to pull off (Eg. cutting the lining of their luggage to hide money). It's said this book is supposed to be a psychological thriller, but to me it was just psychotic.
This is debut novel from this author, so I'm willing to give her another chance, if she rights another book. This one reminded me of the movie Into the Blue with Paul Walker and Jessica Alba
While honeymooning in Bora Bora, they go on a scuba diving excursion where they find a bag floating in the water. What's inside will lead them on a journey where they will find out more about each other than they ever expected.
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Someting In The Water, gives you the ending of the book first, then goes back three months for us to see what could have possibly happened. The book starts with Erin digging a grave to bury Mark in. If they are newlyweds, what could he have done in such a short time that she is now burying his body in the middle of nowhere.
This book started out really well and it was hard to put down at first. But, as the story went along, the details just became more and more implausible. To me, Erin was an idiot and the fact that she couldn't see what was happening right under her nose, and some of her actions were just ridiculous. The things that occurred in this book did not seem possible for an investment banker and a film maker to pull off (Eg. cutting the lining of their luggage to hide money). It's said this book is supposed to be a psychological thriller, but to me it was just psychotic.
This is debut novel from this author, so I'm willing to give her another chance, if she rights another book. This one reminded me of the movie Into the Blue with Paul Walker and Jessica Alba
Erika Kehlet (21 KP) rated Musseled Out (A Maine Clambake Mystery, #3) in Books
Feb 21, 2018
***NOTE: I received an advance copy of this book for review through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review***
Julia Snowden is in Busman's Harbor, Maine, wrapping up the tourist season for her family's Clambake business and trying to decide if she will be headed back to her job in New York now that summer is over, or if she will be staying in Maine full-time. When a potential competitor turns up dead in the water, Julia's brother-in-law Sonny finds himself high on the list of suspects. Making matters worse, he is obviously hiding something from Julia, her sister Livvie, and the police. Julia is afraid that her boyfriend, Chris, is hiding something from her too. Since he's one of her reasons to stay in town, the decision to stay or go is just that much harder.
Once again I started a series somewhere other than at the beginning. While you won't be lost reading this book without having read the previous installments, in this case I do wish that I had read books one and two first. I think having a better understanding of the interpersonal relationships beforehand would have been nice, but the author does a good job of keeping you informed without totally rehashing everything that has already happened. With that aside, I really liked the story. There were enough characters and sub-plots to make it hard to guess "whodunnit", yet without being confusing. I felt like I should already have known who did it once Julia finally figured out who the murderer was, but while the conclusion was logical, it was not obvious.
This book is part of a series of culinary mysteries, and recipes like Lobster, Shrimp and Fennel Scampi, Hot Lobster Dip, and Grandma Snowden's Pumpkin Whoopie Pies are sure to make your mouth water.
I will be heading back to Busman's Harbor to read the beginning of this series, and I'm looking forward to more books to come.
Julia Snowden is in Busman's Harbor, Maine, wrapping up the tourist season for her family's Clambake business and trying to decide if she will be headed back to her job in New York now that summer is over, or if she will be staying in Maine full-time. When a potential competitor turns up dead in the water, Julia's brother-in-law Sonny finds himself high on the list of suspects. Making matters worse, he is obviously hiding something from Julia, her sister Livvie, and the police. Julia is afraid that her boyfriend, Chris, is hiding something from her too. Since he's one of her reasons to stay in town, the decision to stay or go is just that much harder.
Once again I started a series somewhere other than at the beginning. While you won't be lost reading this book without having read the previous installments, in this case I do wish that I had read books one and two first. I think having a better understanding of the interpersonal relationships beforehand would have been nice, but the author does a good job of keeping you informed without totally rehashing everything that has already happened. With that aside, I really liked the story. There were enough characters and sub-plots to make it hard to guess "whodunnit", yet without being confusing. I felt like I should already have known who did it once Julia finally figured out who the murderer was, but while the conclusion was logical, it was not obvious.
This book is part of a series of culinary mysteries, and recipes like Lobster, Shrimp and Fennel Scampi, Hot Lobster Dip, and Grandma Snowden's Pumpkin Whoopie Pies are sure to make your mouth water.
I will be heading back to Busman's Harbor to read the beginning of this series, and I'm looking forward to more books to come.
Gareth von Kallenbach (980 KP) rated Chasing Mavericks (2012) in Movies
Aug 7, 2019
Can surfing teach you about life and how to live it? Can it drag you out of yourself enough to figure out just what it’s all about? That all depends on the surfer: Chasing Mavericks is based on the true story of Jay Moriarty (played by Jonny Weston), an accomplished surfer, and amazingly positive kid from Northern California. The story begins with a young Moriarty counting the time between wave breaks. He is with Kim, a staple in his life, and future wife. While saving her dog, he gets knocked into the water by a wave and is pushed down. He is saved by a surfer (Gerard Butler as Frosty) who just happened to be in the right place at the right time, and tells Jay that he has used up his allotment of dumb luck for life. Jay is bit, and finds an old surf board in his garage.
Skip ahead seven years and Jay is an accomplished surfer outperforming everybody on the water. He watches Frosty, who still lives across the street, and follows him early one morning. This is Jay’s introduction to Mavericks; a set of big waves that roll into the Northern Californian coast each winter. Waves can reach as high as 50 feet and surfers can reach speeds exceeding 50 miles per hour. Jay is instantly attracted to the challenge, and in his excitement gets caught by Frosty.
Somehow Jay convinces Frosty to train him how to ride Mavericks, and his tutelage in both surfing and life begin.
This was a great movie; it was beautifully shot, and shows how determination, skill, and a willingness to go beyond oneself can help achieve any goal. There aren’t any amazing surprises, but the story doesn’t need them; Jay is a great character and his struggle to become a part of something so much bigger than himself is worth watching. The soundtrack is also amazing! For anyone familiar with the music of the time; it will be love at first listen. This is one movie not to miss.
Skip ahead seven years and Jay is an accomplished surfer outperforming everybody on the water. He watches Frosty, who still lives across the street, and follows him early one morning. This is Jay’s introduction to Mavericks; a set of big waves that roll into the Northern Californian coast each winter. Waves can reach as high as 50 feet and surfers can reach speeds exceeding 50 miles per hour. Jay is instantly attracted to the challenge, and in his excitement gets caught by Frosty.
Somehow Jay convinces Frosty to train him how to ride Mavericks, and his tutelage in both surfing and life begin.
This was a great movie; it was beautifully shot, and shows how determination, skill, and a willingness to go beyond oneself can help achieve any goal. There aren’t any amazing surprises, but the story doesn’t need them; Jay is a great character and his struggle to become a part of something so much bigger than himself is worth watching. The soundtrack is also amazing! For anyone familiar with the music of the time; it will be love at first listen. This is one movie not to miss.