Movie Review: Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

I don't normally review movies on here, I don't normally review movies at all.  But for this movie I felt the need to review.  or speculate.  or vent. Whatever you want to call it, I just needed to get it off my chest! So I haven't read the book yet, but after watching the movie and discussing it with a fellow coworker I am definitely moving it up on my to-read pile.   I enjoyed the movie.  I'm not really into the whole "anti-hero" thing but for this movie it fit.  After the movie ended, I thought to myself "wtf was that" & " that chick is nuts! psychopathic!" but upon further contemplation I started realizing her husband is just as sick as her given the outcome of the movie. I mean really, the fact that he didn't do anything speaks volumes to his level of sickness.   The whole movie was a mind fuck and damn if I didn't like it!

As I said, I haven't read the book so I can't speak on how well the actors captured the characters and their nuances.  I will say the acting wasn't bad, definitely better than K. Stewart and E.Patton in Twilight.  I know.  Not even on the same level...I'm just sayin.

I guess it's safe to say I liked the movie.  I'm looking forward to reading the book.

Review: Red Fox (EiT #2) by Karina Halle

Red Fox by Karina Halle
Experiment in Terror #2
324 pages
Goodreads
Amazon │ Barnes & Noble
*** Stars

With Book Two of the Experiment in Terror Series, Perry Palomino and Dex Foray trade in the stormy Oregon coast for the unforgiving deserts of New Mexico. 

In the for­got­ten town of Red Fox, New Mex­ico, a Navajo cou­ple is tor­tured by things unseen and by motives unknown. Wild ani­mals slink through their house in the dark, a bar­rage of stones pound their roof nightly, and muti­lated sheep car­casses are turn­ing up on their prop­erty. Armed with a cam­era and just enough to go on, Perry and Dex travel to the des­o­late locale, hop­ing to film the super­nat­ural occur­rences and add cred­i­bil­ity to their flail­ing web­cast. Only their show has a lot more work­ing against them than just grow­ing pains. Tested by dubi­ous ranch hands, a ghost from Dex’s past, and shapeshift­ing decep­tion, the ama­teur ghost hunters must learn to trust each other in order to fight the most ancient of myths…or die trying.

Red Fox is the second installment in the Eit Series.  It follows our two main characters Dex Forray and Perry Palomino and there adventures in ghost....hunting?  I'm not yet sure what to call it or classify these two as.  Neither do they at this point.  So far in the story I know Perry has some "special" abilities and there's hints that maybe Dex does as well.  Lot's of foreshadowing and tension building  so far in terms of the relationship between the these two and what they're capable of.    Not so much in the first book, but in this one we get a better feel for Perry's feelings and even see some reciprocation from Dex.  I can sense their relationship is going to be complicated, much like the individual.    

This book takes them to New Mexico where they're called on to help a friend...help a friend.  What ensues when they arrive is nothing short of crazy.  It's to be expected I suppose given their choice of profession, but holy $^&t! Perry is one strong chick, that's all I can say.   At this point in the series I've realized that Perry is accident prone and a definite magnet for trouble.  The minute Dex leaves her alone she's in instnat peril.  Which at first annoyed me because really? Are we gonna play the damsel in distress part?  However, I've come to realize that's part of her charm.  Anyways, Dex and Perry are helping out a friend who's been experiencing poltergeist activity.  They live on this huge ranch in the middle of the desert which is prime real estate for weird happenings.   The cast of characters in this book are all very intriguing as well as suspicious.  During the entire book, I wasn't sure who was the culprit even though it was well obvious someone was behind the sinister activity, which definitely kept me interested in the story, characters as well as the outcome.

So far I'm liking this series.  I enjoy the fact that you have to follow these characters from book one as it gives readers a better appreciation for their growth, which I'm hoping I see in future books.  It's fun, light, creepy and sweet with a Supernatural-esque feel to it.

Review: Sketch by Laramie Briscoe

Sketch
Laramie Briscoe
190 Pages
Goodreads
Amazon | Barnes & Noble
*** Stars

My name is Devin, but everybody calls me Sketch. I opened my own tattoo shop two years ago, and I’ve finally gotten to the point where I’m going to be able to give my wife everything she’s ever wanted. I’m going to be able to take time off and spend a day a week with her. In fact, tonight, I stopped and grabbed some wine, got her flowers, and those chocolates she likes. 

What I wasn’t prepared for was to be met at the front door by her carrying her sh*t out. 

She loves me, but she’s not in love with me anymore. What kind of bulls*it excuse is that? I’ve left her alone too often, I’ve been completely focused on one goal, and apparently she’s sick of waiting. 

So here I stand. Half the man I was, p*ssed as f*ck, because while I was busy making a better life for us, she was under the impression I was leaving her lonely. I know one day she’ll see what I’ve been doing has been for us, and when that day comes… She can damn well come crawling back to me.

Giving up is easy.  It's the making it work, that's the hard part

It's not too often that I can read a book and instantly relate to the characters.  But that's exactly what happened with Devin and Nina, from the synopsis to the prologue I was interested.

This is your typical newlywed lovers quarrel. Nina and Devin have been married for a few years now, building their lives. As it goes with a young marriage, some tough choices need to be made.  Which is exactly what Sketch was doing.  He was working day and night to build up his business and as things go with that, his wife was feeling neglected.   The story starts at this point and throughout the book we get to watch them grow as individuals as well as a couple.

I really liked the premise of the story and the story telling.  I enjoyed Ms. Briscoe's writing, for a debut novel I believe she has promise.  With that being said, I would have liked to have seen some build up with emotions.  The plot was a bit flat but not lacking, if that makes any sense.   I like my stories to have layers and depth and Sketch would have been so much better if there were more layers.  Take for instance the "dad" issue. It would have given the story more "meat" for lack of a better term, if the author had given a bit more on that. Because it was referenced quite a few times that they married young, more background would have given that aspect layers as well. There was very little build up in terms of angst and emotions. While the pacing of the story was quick I will say that I enjoyed it.

For the swiftness of it all, I became invested in these characters and I'd definitely read more of this authors work in the future.

Character driven with plenty of heat Sketch is one to read if you're like me and love HEA's.

Release Day + Giveaway! Love & Decay by Rachel Higginson

Today is the release day of Rachel Higginson's Love and Decay: Revolution, Episode Four. This is a serial novella, and completely standalone in the Love & Decay universe. I am so excited to share this with you!! Be sure to enter Rachel's giveaway as well and grab your copy today!

 Love and Decay: Revolution: Episode Four: It’s not easy being a badass Zombie killer. But somebody’s got to do it. King Parker has been fighting Zombies and protecting his family for the majority of his life. It’s what he does. It’s what he’ll always do. And it’s all he’s ever wanted to do. Until he stops in Mexico City on the way back to the States and realizes there is more to life than killing Feeders and more to living than just surviving. When a mysterious redhead crosses his path, he finds himself torn from his family for the first time since Zombies became a thing. Now his family doesn’t need his protection, but she does. King knows better than anybody that life doesn’t always turn out like you expect it to. But what happens when you’re expecting death and destruction and life hands you something beautiful instead? What happens when you experience more than decay? What happens when you find love instead? Love and Decay: Revolution is a Dystopian Romance Novella Series about Zombies, the end of the world and finding someone to share it with. Every episode is approximately 20,000 words long and released every two weeks. Look for Love and Decay: Revolution, Episode Five coming February 5th, 2016.    

Buy now from Amazon | Barnes & Noble   Catch up on the Revolution Episode 1: Amazon | BN  Episode 2: Amazon | BN  Episode 3: Amazon | BN 

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Rachel Higginson is the author of The Five Stages of Falling in Love, Every Wrong Reason, The Star-Crossed Series, Love & Decay Novella Series and much more! She was born and raised in Nebraska, and spent her college years traveling the world. She fell in love with Eastern Europe, Paris, Indian Food and the beautiful beaches of Sri Lanka, but came back home to marry her high school sweetheart. Now she spends her days writing stories and raising four amazing kids.   

Author Page | Instagram | Twitter | Website  

  

Release Day! Sketch by Laramie Briscoe first chapter preview + giveaway

Happy Release Day to Laramie! My review will be coming soon and while I don't want to give anything away, I will say I enjoyed it.  A refreshing story for the New Adult genre. 

Every day during release week you will find a new giveaway on Laramie's facebook page. Be sure to hop over and enter to win any one of the amazing prizes she will be giving away!

A Tattoo Artist - A Husband - An Alpha Male Who Makes No Excuses

My name is Devin, but everybody calls me Sketch. I opened my own tattoo shop two years ago, and I’ve finally gotten to the point where I’m going to be able to give my wife everything she’s ever wanted. I’m going to be able to take time off and spend a day a week with her. In fact, tonight, I stopped and grabbed some wine, got her flowers, and those chocolates she likes. 

What I wasn’t prepared for was to be met at the front door by her carrying her sh*t out. 

She loves me, but she’s not in love with me anymore. What kind of bulls*it excuse is that? I’ve left her alone too often, I’ve been completely focused on one goal, and apparently she’s sick of waiting. 

So here I stand. Half the man I was, p*ssed as f*ck, because while I was busy making a better life for us, she was under the impression I was leaving her lonely. I know one day she’ll see what I’ve been doing has been for us, and when that day comes… She can damn well come crawling back to me.

For a sneak peak of the Prologue & Chapter 1 -http://bit.ly/LBSketch

ARE: http://bit.ly/SketchARE
Amazon: http://amzn.to/1jVGjHv
Amazon UK - http://bit.ly/SketchUK
Amazon AUS - http://bit.ly/SketchAUS
Amazon CA - http://bit.ly/SketchCA
Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/SketchBN
Google Play: http://bit.ly/SketchGPL
iBooks: http://bit.ly/SketchIB
Kobo: http://bit.ly/SketchKB

Laramie Briscoe is the best-selling author of the Heaven Hill Series & the Rockin' Country Series.

Since self-publishing her first book in May of 2013, Laramie Briscoe has published over 10 books. She's appeared on the Top 100 Bestselling E-books Lists on iBooks, Amazon Kindle, Kobo, and Barnes & Noble. She's been called "a very young Maya Banks" (Amazon reviewer) and her books have been accused of being "sexy, family-oriented, romances with heart".

When she's not writing alpha males who seriously love their women, she loves spending time with friends, reading, and marathoning shows on her DVR. Married to her high school sweetheart, Laramie lives in Bowling Green, KY with her husband (the Travel Coordinator) and a sometimes crazy cat named Beau.

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