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Merissa (12066 KP) rated Dead of Winter (Aspen Falls #1) in Books
Mar 21, 2018
Dead of Winter (Aspen Falls #1) by Melissa Pearl & Anna Cruise
Dead of Winter is the first book in a new series called Aspen Falls, which is the name of the town Rosie Sweet returns to, even though she swore she never would. Life hasn't turned out how Rosie thought it would, and she seems to have an amazing knack of choosing the wrong men. When this lands her in deep water, she retreats to Aspen Falls, hoping that she will never be found. However, Aspen Falls is suffering a major drugs problem, and the two things just may be connected.
This is an easy-to-read romance suspense, with fade-to-black romance. Written with the combined talents of Melissa Pearl and Anna Cruise, I found their writing styles merged and complemented each other. I don't know who wrote what bit, and that doesn't bother me in the slightest. With no editing or grammatical errors that disrupted my reading flow, I enjoyed the pacing of this book. It felt very smooth as one scene transitioned to another. Definitely recommended by me.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and my comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
This is an easy-to-read romance suspense, with fade-to-black romance. Written with the combined talents of Melissa Pearl and Anna Cruise, I found their writing styles merged and complemented each other. I don't know who wrote what bit, and that doesn't bother me in the slightest. With no editing or grammatical errors that disrupted my reading flow, I enjoyed the pacing of this book. It felt very smooth as one scene transitioned to another. Definitely recommended by me.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and my comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
BeRad89 (48 KP) rated The Moth and Moon in Books
Mar 23, 2018
In 1780, Blashy Cove is a very progressive town, with running water and legal same sex marriages. An unexpected hurricane drives most of it residents into the cavernous the Moth & Moon, local tavern and inn. While they wait out the storm, fisherman Robin Shipp is forced to face demons from his past. Can the town and Robin pull together in the aftermath of the storm and pick up from the devastation to their homes and lives?
A wonderful combination of action, adventure, emotion, and romance. Once you start reading you will not want to stop! Full of real, relatable characters. They have flaws both physical and emotional; no one is picture perfect in Blashy Cove! However, most are lovable.
I like the descriptions given to the buildings and the surrounding area. It helps immerse the reader into the story. My favorite part of this book, however, is the idea of Blashy Cove, a place where homophobia does not exist. Same sex marriages are common and the norm. No one has to fight for their place. It is refreshing.
My only negative comment is that the physical description of The Moth & Moon gets repetitive throughout the first few chapters.
I highly enjoyed this read and definitely would recommend it to anyone. I give it 5 out of 5 stars
A wonderful combination of action, adventure, emotion, and romance. Once you start reading you will not want to stop! Full of real, relatable characters. They have flaws both physical and emotional; no one is picture perfect in Blashy Cove! However, most are lovable.
I like the descriptions given to the buildings and the surrounding area. It helps immerse the reader into the story. My favorite part of this book, however, is the idea of Blashy Cove, a place where homophobia does not exist. Same sex marriages are common and the norm. No one has to fight for their place. It is refreshing.
My only negative comment is that the physical description of The Moth & Moon gets repetitive throughout the first few chapters.
I highly enjoyed this read and definitely would recommend it to anyone. I give it 5 out of 5 stars
Erika Kehlet (21 KP) rated Eeny Meeny (Helen Grace, #1) in Books
Feb 21, 2018
***NOTE: I was provided a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review***
Detective Helen Grace is lead investigator in what at first seems to be a single unusual murder case, but turns out to be only the first strike by an deranged serial killer. Two victims at a time are kidnapped and locked up with no food or water. They are left with a gun and a message. When one of them is dead, the other will be set free.
Eeny Meeny is a very fast-paced police procedural / thriller story. The characters are not very likable, even the good guys, and that usually would have made me dislike the book. I found it to be very well-written and suspenseful though, and couldn't put it down. The chapters are very short, sometimes as little as two pages, and move between points of view. In another story this might have felt jarring or confusing, but in this case it only added to the tension. I was a little too disturbed by some of the details regarding what the captives went through, as well as with some of the characters personal lives, or I would have rated this higher.
If you enjoy edgy, suspenseful thrillers and don't mind some gruesome details, give this one a read.
Warnings: some descriptions of sex, torture and violence, abuse
Detective Helen Grace is lead investigator in what at first seems to be a single unusual murder case, but turns out to be only the first strike by an deranged serial killer. Two victims at a time are kidnapped and locked up with no food or water. They are left with a gun and a message. When one of them is dead, the other will be set free.
Eeny Meeny is a very fast-paced police procedural / thriller story. The characters are not very likable, even the good guys, and that usually would have made me dislike the book. I found it to be very well-written and suspenseful though, and couldn't put it down. The chapters are very short, sometimes as little as two pages, and move between points of view. In another story this might have felt jarring or confusing, but in this case it only added to the tension. I was a little too disturbed by some of the details regarding what the captives went through, as well as with some of the characters personal lives, or I would have rated this higher.
If you enjoy edgy, suspenseful thrillers and don't mind some gruesome details, give this one a read.
Warnings: some descriptions of sex, torture and violence, abuse
Caitlin Ann Cherniak (85 KP) rated Moana (2016) in Movies
Oct 4, 2018
A real feminist Disney film (3 more)
LOVE THE SOUNDTRACK
The Rock actually makes an extremely good Maui
The animation is to DIE for!
David Bowie musical number ripoff, but that's a very minor issue (1 more)
WHERE'S PUA?
Letterboxd review: https://letterboxd.com/caitcher/film/moana-2016/
First Impressions:
I said it was one of the best movies I've ever seen two years ago. It's still one of the best movies I've ever seen. First, let me start by saying that the animation was definitely at its best with this film (And it's the best as far as the Disney animation studio is concerned; Pixar has nothing to do with this). It is very hard to animate water as real as Moana was made to be, but Disney did it. The film is also one of the most colorful that I have ever seen in years, and it was super appealing to all of the senses. I loved the casting because the majority, if not all, the characters are played either by those of Pacific Islander or New Zealand descent, and that's diversity without shoving it into everyone's faces. Also, remember when Frozen's commercials were saying that its soundtrack was the best since the Lion King. That's bull. Moana's soundtrack is one of the best since the Lion King. This movie beat Frozen by a landslide.
First Impressions:
I said it was one of the best movies I've ever seen two years ago. It's still one of the best movies I've ever seen. First, let me start by saying that the animation was definitely at its best with this film (And it's the best as far as the Disney animation studio is concerned; Pixar has nothing to do with this). It is very hard to animate water as real as Moana was made to be, but Disney did it. The film is also one of the most colorful that I have ever seen in years, and it was super appealing to all of the senses. I loved the casting because the majority, if not all, the characters are played either by those of Pacific Islander or New Zealand descent, and that's diversity without shoving it into everyone's faces. Also, remember when Frozen's commercials were saying that its soundtrack was the best since the Lion King. That's bull. Moana's soundtrack is one of the best since the Lion King. This movie beat Frozen by a landslide.
Jo (37 KP) rated More Than This in Books
Oct 6, 2018
I don't even know! I just really do not know what to make of this. Honestly, I'm so conflicted.
This kicked off with such a dramatic opening, but then the first third was almost intolerably dull and I came so close to giving up on it. I just couldn't make myself care about Seth's miserable existence in his lonely 'hell'. I didn't enjoy his cycle of sleeping and moping, eating rancid food and drinking rancid water, puking and hurting. I get the importance of it, properly setting up the scene - the mood of hopelessness- and all, but it went on far too long.
I'm really glad I did push on, though, because damn! When shit finally did start happening, I was completely and utterly sucked in. The main body of the story had me hooked! Mighty confused but hella invested. And Tomasz -bless him, he totally earned himself a place in my <i>favourite-ever-characters</i> club. I loved him so, so hard!
Then the end hit way before I was ready for it.
And that ending, man... That <b>bloody</b> ending! What the ever-loving <i>FUCK</I>? After all that build up, it kinda felt like I'd been spat out and shat on :(
So. Yeah...
Following much deliberation, I'm awarding 3 stars for the story and one whole star to Tomasz all of his own.
This kicked off with such a dramatic opening, but then the first third was almost intolerably dull and I came so close to giving up on it. I just couldn't make myself care about Seth's miserable existence in his lonely 'hell'. I didn't enjoy his cycle of sleeping and moping, eating rancid food and drinking rancid water, puking and hurting. I get the importance of it, properly setting up the scene - the mood of hopelessness- and all, but it went on far too long.
I'm really glad I did push on, though, because damn! When shit finally did start happening, I was completely and utterly sucked in. The main body of the story had me hooked! Mighty confused but hella invested. And Tomasz -bless him, he totally earned himself a place in my <i>favourite-ever-characters</i> club. I loved him so, so hard!
Then the end hit way before I was ready for it.
And that ending, man... That <b>bloody</b> ending! What the ever-loving <i>FUCK</I>? After all that build up, it kinda felt like I'd been spat out and shat on :(
So. Yeah...
Following much deliberation, I'm awarding 3 stars for the story and one whole star to Tomasz all of his own.
Merissa (12066 KP) rated The Goddess's Curse (Heartmates, #1) in Books
Dec 17, 2018
I received this book from Reading Alley in return for a fair and honest review.
The basic crux of this story is a battle between men and women living apart and only coming together when pheromones and nature mix together.
The Sharona (women) live in luxury and don't have any fears about anything. Anything, that is, apart from when the heat comes on them and their crystal changes colour, which lets them know that they will soon be in the mating season. This isn't a mate at first sight season, it's more like a rutting season with the Sharona mating with various men until the urge leaves her.
The Lahon (men) live in more 'rustic' accommodations and yet seem to be the happier of the two. Or at least they would be if they weren't worried about the lack of water.
The plot line of this story is fairly simple and it is obvious from the start just who the 'bad guy' is. The story lies in the detail of the hows and whys and, of course, getting the innocent party to believe ill of someone else.
Although this story does have a sort of happy ending, it is also left wide open for further stories which I will be happy to read when they come out.
The basic crux of this story is a battle between men and women living apart and only coming together when pheromones and nature mix together.
The Sharona (women) live in luxury and don't have any fears about anything. Anything, that is, apart from when the heat comes on them and their crystal changes colour, which lets them know that they will soon be in the mating season. This isn't a mate at first sight season, it's more like a rutting season with the Sharona mating with various men until the urge leaves her.
The Lahon (men) live in more 'rustic' accommodations and yet seem to be the happier of the two. Or at least they would be if they weren't worried about the lack of water.
The plot line of this story is fairly simple and it is obvious from the start just who the 'bad guy' is. The story lies in the detail of the hows and whys and, of course, getting the innocent party to believe ill of someone else.
Although this story does have a sort of happy ending, it is also left wide open for further stories which I will be happy to read when they come out.
JT (287 KP) rated Crawl (2019) in Movies
Mar 10, 2020
I was pleasantly surprised by Crawl. For one, it’s a monster movie. Two, it has a decent plot with characters you care about seeing survive. And three, it’s very well shot with some great CGI. The film opens with Haley (Kaya Scodelario) psyching herself up to compete in the pool, proof that her ability to swim and swim fast will not be found wanting later on.
When her sister calls to tell her that she has not heard from their father (Barry Pepper), Hayley heads towards a brewing category five Hurricane to see if all is OK – which it’s not.
Turns out that daddy has had a run-in with a couple of hungry alligators and only the confines of the underground basement has prevented him from becoming a quick snack. With floodwaters rising by the minute Hayley the ‘apex predator’ has to get her game face on to fend off another impending attack.
Sharks have always been at the forefront of water-based terror so it’s nice to see the alligator making a return. There is some neat jump scares coupled with good amounts of gore, but it rarely raises the tension levels any more than that.
Acting-wise Scodelario and Pepper do an alright job and there is an inkling of a back story to shed light on their slightly troubled relationship and competitive edge.
When her sister calls to tell her that she has not heard from their father (Barry Pepper), Hayley heads towards a brewing category five Hurricane to see if all is OK – which it’s not.
Turns out that daddy has had a run-in with a couple of hungry alligators and only the confines of the underground basement has prevented him from becoming a quick snack. With floodwaters rising by the minute Hayley the ‘apex predator’ has to get her game face on to fend off another impending attack.
Sharks have always been at the forefront of water-based terror so it’s nice to see the alligator making a return. There is some neat jump scares coupled with good amounts of gore, but it rarely raises the tension levels any more than that.
Acting-wise Scodelario and Pepper do an alright job and there is an inkling of a back story to shed light on their slightly troubled relationship and competitive edge.
Andy K (10821 KP) rated Deep Rising (1998) in Movies
Aug 4, 2019
I love me a creature feature!
A wise-cracking boar captain is hired to bring a band of mercenaries out to sea for an unknown mission. He soon finds out there are several large bombs on board his hull. Meanwhile on a nearby large luxury liner, someone has sabotage's the ships instruments so they are now dead in the water. A beautiful thief is also captured and locked in an inner cabin of the ship.
When the small craft arrives, they notice all the ship's crew and passengers have vanishes do the force of an unknown entity. Once they discover what has happened and what is involved, they have to try and escape the now sinking ship quickly to save themselves.
Treat Williams and Famke Janssen lead the pack here of a very entertaining creature feature in the vein of The Relic, Mimic, Phantoms, The Virus or other films of that era.
Very entertaining as long as you don't think much about it or are able to accept the premise and story as is. The SFX are of the time period. Not great by today's standards or even of those like Jurassic Park which was made years earlier. They are not as bad as The Rock in the Scorpion King (man was that awful)!
When the small craft arrives, they notice all the ship's crew and passengers have vanishes do the force of an unknown entity. Once they discover what has happened and what is involved, they have to try and escape the now sinking ship quickly to save themselves.
Treat Williams and Famke Janssen lead the pack here of a very entertaining creature feature in the vein of The Relic, Mimic, Phantoms, The Virus or other films of that era.
Very entertaining as long as you don't think much about it or are able to accept the premise and story as is. The SFX are of the time period. Not great by today's standards or even of those like Jurassic Park which was made years earlier. They are not as bad as The Rock in the Scorpion King (man was that awful)!
Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons
Games and Entertainment
App
**Supported Devices iPhone 5, iPad 4, iPad Air and iPad Mini 2 or newer devices.** Critically...
