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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2340 KP) rated The Falcon Always Wings Twice in Books
Aug 31, 2020
The Game’s Afoot!
Meg Langslow is spending the summer at her grandmother’s craft center helping with the Renaissance Faire Cordelia is hosting on weekends as Cordelia’s second in command as well as doing blacksmithing demonstrations. Her husband, Michael, is in charge of the actors in “The Game,” which is the code for the improvised scenes he and the rest are doing during the day about who will inherit a fictional kingdom. They are mostly having fun with it, but Terence, one of the other actors, is making life difficult for everyone. Meg isn’t super surprised when he is found dead one morning, but as she goes about her day, she keeps picking up information related to the murder. Will she solve it?
This entry is the series at the top of its game. The murder may take place a little later than some books, but the time is well spent setting up the suspects and motives. I was hooked before the body dropped and happily followed the investigation after it happened. Everything is wrapped up in a climax that has us on the edge of our seats and makes us laugh. The characters are at their most charming – funny without being annoying. I laughed many times as the pages flew by. All the characters are great, and I found myself tearing up at some of the development we got thanks to some strong sub-plots. Since Meg is a blacksmith (not that we see her doing it much in the series), I’m surprised we haven’t been to a Renaissance Fair with her before, but this entry was well worth the wait.
This entry is the series at the top of its game. The murder may take place a little later than some books, but the time is well spent setting up the suspects and motives. I was hooked before the body dropped and happily followed the investigation after it happened. Everything is wrapped up in a climax that has us on the edge of our seats and makes us laugh. The characters are at their most charming – funny without being annoying. I laughed many times as the pages flew by. All the characters are great, and I found myself tearing up at some of the development we got thanks to some strong sub-plots. Since Meg is a blacksmith (not that we see her doing it much in the series), I’m surprised we haven’t been to a Renaissance Fair with her before, but this entry was well worth the wait.
Caeli is one member that has a few unique skills. There is a commander in trouble with his spaceship. Will he survive? Caeli is part of the few survivors of her world. She is taken from her home and put with someone that being dictator.
Tabitha is a good author and she brings it all to life. What will happen on Horizon. Will the commander and Caeli get together and help save the crew, and find love in each other? She happy to work on the ship in where she loves working.
We go on adventures through inner space and what life is like on Horizon. Will they all survive or not? I enjoyed this book from the first page to the last page. I cannot wait to start the second book that I do have in this series. The author has done wonderfully with it. There are surprises throughout the book and some romance as well.
I believe this book is good for though science fiction but also I would suggest teens read it from the age of 14 and up. The parent has the right to decide. It being rated PG 13 so it would be okay for 13 years old if you the parent this your child or children are mature enough for the book. That is up to you.
Tabitha is a good author and she brings it all to life. What will happen on Horizon. Will the commander and Caeli get together and help save the crew, and find love in each other? She happy to work on the ship in where she loves working.
We go on adventures through inner space and what life is like on Horizon. Will they all survive or not? I enjoyed this book from the first page to the last page. I cannot wait to start the second book that I do have in this series. The author has done wonderfully with it. There are surprises throughout the book and some romance as well.
I believe this book is good for though science fiction but also I would suggest teens read it from the age of 14 and up. The parent has the right to decide. It being rated PG 13 so it would be okay for 13 years old if you the parent this your child or children are mature enough for the book. That is up to you.
Whatchareadin (174 KP) rated Save Me in Books
May 10, 2018
Rose McKenna is a mom of two. One day while she is volunteering as Lunch Mom, there is a loud explosion and the entire cafeteria is engulfed in fire. Her daughter, Melly, has gone to the bathroom, but she also has two students in front of her, who are going to need her help as well. What is she to do, and does she sacrifice the life of one to save another.
In Save Me, Rose has a lot of tough decisions to make. She has encountered a lot in her life and this cafeteria explosion, just adds to the mountains of secrets she has bottled inside of her. In a quest to find out how this explosion happened and be an advocate for her daughter, she is taking on a journey, no mother could ever expect.
I really enjoyed this book, mainly because as a mother I can relate. I felt a bit for Rose, being scolded by other parents because of the actions she took, and having to deal with a daughter who is being bullied in a town they just moved to. I felt that Rose could have shared a lot more with her husband during the course of her actions.
This is a thrilling novel, that had me near tears at a few different points. I would recommend this book to all mothers.
In Save Me, Rose has a lot of tough decisions to make. She has encountered a lot in her life and this cafeteria explosion, just adds to the mountains of secrets she has bottled inside of her. In a quest to find out how this explosion happened and be an advocate for her daughter, she is taking on a journey, no mother could ever expect.
I really enjoyed this book, mainly because as a mother I can relate. I felt a bit for Rose, being scolded by other parents because of the actions she took, and having to deal with a daughter who is being bullied in a town they just moved to. I felt that Rose could have shared a lot more with her husband during the course of her actions.
This is a thrilling novel, that had me near tears at a few different points. I would recommend this book to all mothers.
Bookapotamus (289 KP) rated Goodnight Nobody in Books
May 25, 2018
Sometimes flashbacks are useful, helpful even, and contribute to the story. I find myself having a lot of "Ah-ha!" moments when presented with a flashback scenario in a book. Not the case here. They bored me. I came thisclose to skipping ahead to the present-day chapters. But I didn't.
Don't get me wrong, I did enjoy the story, it dragged a bit in those parts, they could have been shorter and more condensed. The story was in most parts about the balance between being a woman and being a mother. Which, maybe since I'm not a mother, I didn't connect as much, and at times felt like screaming "Get it together lady!" Obviously we all know that these "supermoms" are never whom they appear to be on the outside. Everyone has their issues.
There are some good twists and turns of this story of a woman named Kate, former writer/investigator turned stay at home "surburban supermom wannabe" who uses her past to help "find" her future when a mystery presents itself. Who better than Kate to solve the crime?! There is wit and charm in the writing as we all know and love from Jennifer Weiner, and the plot is well-developed, but the story didn't grab me all the way throughout, with an ending that just wasn't very convincing.
Don't get me wrong, I did enjoy the story, it dragged a bit in those parts, they could have been shorter and more condensed. The story was in most parts about the balance between being a woman and being a mother. Which, maybe since I'm not a mother, I didn't connect as much, and at times felt like screaming "Get it together lady!" Obviously we all know that these "supermoms" are never whom they appear to be on the outside. Everyone has their issues.
There are some good twists and turns of this story of a woman named Kate, former writer/investigator turned stay at home "surburban supermom wannabe" who uses her past to help "find" her future when a mystery presents itself. Who better than Kate to solve the crime?! There is wit and charm in the writing as we all know and love from Jennifer Weiner, and the plot is well-developed, but the story didn't grab me all the way throughout, with an ending that just wasn't very convincing.
Andy K (10823 KP) rated San Andreas (2015) in Movies
Feb 9, 2019
A thrill ride of a good time!
Ok, normally I rip on these CGI puke fests with no apparent plot in sight, but this one was a lot of fun. You obviously can't take it seriously, but if you go along for the ride, I think you will enjoy it.
When a rescue worker and his estranged wife find each other amidst the great California earthquakes we all fear, their only goal is to find and rescue their daughter after already losing a child together.
I've sat through a lot of disaster films in my life and seem to have a soft spot for them I guess. Maybe because of the dooming sound in my home theatre or my 75" TV showing all the cool effects larger than life. Somehow The Rock always seems to find projects that suit his talents well. In the modern age of movie stars generally not being the box office draws they once were, he seems to have carved out a fine career for himself in doing these types of movies.
Liked it quite a bit more than I thought I would.
One thing about the movies that makes me the happiest is being pleasantly surprised since it doesn't happen much any more.
Highly recommended.
When a rescue worker and his estranged wife find each other amidst the great California earthquakes we all fear, their only goal is to find and rescue their daughter after already losing a child together.
I've sat through a lot of disaster films in my life and seem to have a soft spot for them I guess. Maybe because of the dooming sound in my home theatre or my 75" TV showing all the cool effects larger than life. Somehow The Rock always seems to find projects that suit his talents well. In the modern age of movie stars generally not being the box office draws they once were, he seems to have carved out a fine career for himself in doing these types of movies.
Liked it quite a bit more than I thought I would.
One thing about the movies that makes me the happiest is being pleasantly surprised since it doesn't happen much any more.
Highly recommended.
Rachel King (13 KP) rated Shadow Kiss in Books
Feb 11, 2019
This book took a much more central focus of the relationship between Rose and Dimitri, as well as Rose's own unique abilities, thanks to her bond with Lissa. This book delved more into what harnessing the elements could do in practical terms, which I have been very curious about. In some ways, I feel like Mead is holding back in terms of telling the reader all the ways that Spirit can be used, but that is writer's privilege. My favorite part of the books is always Rose's relationship with Dimitri, so much so that I feel everything that she feels, laugh when she laughs, etc. Without spoiling the ending, I can definitely say I felt just as much as she did at the end.
It is interesting to see the effect that Rose and Lissa are collectively having on the political and social structures of this world that Mead has constructed. Unwritten rules that previously were unquestioned are now being broken repeatedly - and not just by Rose. Other Moroi are trying to wield compulsion, male Dhampirs are refusing to become guardians, Moroi are learning to wield their abilities offensively and train under guardians, and so on. Lissa falls under many exceptions, being the only Dragomir, which ironically puts Rose even more in the spotlight of society and allows her to be a catalyst for change.
It is interesting to see the effect that Rose and Lissa are collectively having on the political and social structures of this world that Mead has constructed. Unwritten rules that previously were unquestioned are now being broken repeatedly - and not just by Rose. Other Moroi are trying to wield compulsion, male Dhampirs are refusing to become guardians, Moroi are learning to wield their abilities offensively and train under guardians, and so on. Lissa falls under many exceptions, being the only Dragomir, which ironically puts Rose even more in the spotlight of society and allows her to be a catalyst for change.
Sam (228 KP) rated Venom (2018) in Movies
Mar 9, 2019
Action (2 more)
Realistic CGI
Amazing Acting
Weak Ending (1 more)
Missing Something
Great Start, Great Action, Weak Finish
I absolutely loved this film up until the last half hour. This film had a strong beginning, strong middle, and a weak ending. The action scenes were absolutely beautiful and watching Brock, the main character, slowly getting taken over by this monster (Venom) was a masterpiece of acting. I loved watching them interact together, however their relationship went from being absolutely terrifying and brilliant to quickly fast formed friends. I would have liked to see this transition better rather than the fast switch that took place. Considering this to be a key part within the formation of the film I can't in good conscious give it more than rate it at a 7/10 as it made the ending weak and clunky. If this transition was more smooth and played out then I would rate it much higher. In my opinion, Venom is a monster bent on taking over the planet, however in this film he went from villianous to superhero in the matter of minutes. If the time had been taken to smooth out these kinks the film would have been perfect. This being said the action scenes were outstanding, the acting beautiful, and the CGI which played heavily given the film was actually very well done.
Sean Farrell (9 KP) rated The Troop in Books
Mar 15, 2018
I was looking for something a little less serious-minded to read when I this new release came to my attention. It felt like I hadn't read any horror for a while so it seemed a perfect selection, and boy was it. Following 5 boys on a scout camping trip on a remote island does provide the author some chances to delve into what it's like being a teenage male right now, and he does so very well, fully fleshing out each of the characters. But once a strange, emaciated man arrives on the island looking for food, things take a turn for the worse, and rapidly spiral further and further downward from there. Interspersed throughout are clippings from news reports and court transcripts that help to fill in some of the backstory of exactly what lead to the events on the island, which also help to give the proceedings a feeling of being more real. And thinking what happens out there could be real only lends the proceedings that much more horror. I don't want to give away anything about what transpires, but I will say that if you are faint of heart or, perhaps more importantly, weak of stomach, then this book is not for you. If you are looking for something that will leave you genuinely creeped out however, then you should pick up a copy right away.
Sean Farrell (9 KP) rated The Hatching (The Hatching #1) in Books
Mar 15, 2018
Some people find spiders horrifying, others don't have much problem with them. I belong to the former group, and as such, found much in this book to creep me out. The story follows a large and diverse cast of characters located around the world, as a series of bizarre incidences involving spiders begins to point towards a larger disaster looming around the corner. With the cast featuring everyone from doomsday preppers to an FBI agent to an arachnologist to the President of the United States, it's practically a who's who of monster and disaster movie cliches. But thanks to the brisk pace and effectively gross manner of death, this combination of "Arachnophobia", "Alien" and pretty much any Roland Emmerich blockbuster winds up being very hard to put down. There are a few flaws, like some forced-feeling romance elements, and far too many of the characters being described as very attractive. The complete lack of any resolution presented by the ending is a bit of a disappointment as well, though I am left definitely interested in the next book. I don't know how much the type of person who would happily let a tarantula crawl up their arm will get out of this, but for everyone else, you will likely find yourself checking the corners of your walls for a couple days after finishing.
Sonofdel (6291 KP) rated Harry H Corbett: The Front Legs of the Cow in Books
Oct 31, 2019
Insightful, Poignant and Revealing
I started reading this after only knowing of Harry H Corvett in Steptoe and son as Harold the long suffering son of Albert (Wilfrid Brambell) and also n Carry on Screaming as Sidney Bung. I never realised what an accomplished actor he was at this point. After reading this amazing insight into his life i have realsied how versatile an actor he really was. With this being written by his daughter i expected a lot of fawning sentimentality and i am glad that i was proved wrong. This is a very revealing, moving and motivational book written with care and consideration. As well as her own personal experiences she draws on people from stage and screen that include but are not limited to Bryan Murphy, Lynda Baron and writers such as Ray Galton and Alan Simpson. One of the best bigraphies i have read for a very long time. Its a long book and tells of the history of the various theatres that Harry worked at and for but i found this interesting rather than distracting. This also includes a section at the end that debunks some of the myths associated with Steptoe and Son (them hating each other, Wilfrid Brambell always being drunk etc). All in all a five star read.