Review: Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice - A Review of the movie...


Last night (Opening Thursday) I took my two kids with me to see this movie at my favorite spot, Movie Tavern. I have been looking forward to this release ever since I heard about the movie being made. Especially since I hated Superman so much in 2013.

Fans of this blog may remember that when Superman: Man of Steel came out my hubby and I received early release passes and I posted my review and the 'nerd' community ripped me apart for my opinions.

Last night after this movie was over I instantly wanted to hop on my blog and post my thoughts but memories of those cruel comments and attacks on a multitude of websites due to this previous review kept me from reliving that moment. (To read that 3.5 Star review of MOS please click here.)

Well I've woken up from a sleep and my opinions are still on my mind so to hell with all those haters I am going to post what I think!

Please beware this review contains a lot of spoilers and if you wish to not read them please stop at this point. Continuing to read is acknowledging you will not attack me for spoiling things ...

Overall I am also giving this movie a 3.5 Star to match it's Superman brother. Like before I will run through the good, the ehh and the bad. I just ask that everyone please remember this is America and yes I am allowed to express my opinion, even if the rest of the world disagrees with me. So try not to rake me over the coals this time.

Although I will add ... after I posted my review in early June 2013, Kevin Smith came out with extremely similar comments to my review and people still loved him so ... there ya go!

The Good:
The opening of the movie was very well laid out. I enjoyed the 'action scenes' that showed what was going on to Bruce Wayne during Superman and the Kryptonian's fight scenes. Honestly I thought those were the best action scenes of the movie. While I know that it was all CGI, there was very little CGI feel to them. Ben Afleck played a good Bruce Wayne. An aged Bruce Wayne. Now like before my knowledge of the comic core material isn't as sharp as my husbands but my memory of The Dark Knight trilogy is. And I really liked that it appeared they continued on that path that was already set up. Meaning Wayne Manor was still in ruins from when it burned down in a previous movie.

I think Jesse Eisenberg's performance of Lex Luthor was very good. I enjoy the bad guy castings usually in the Batman movies so this did not surprise me. He played an eccentric man who turned crazy quite convincingly.

I did however love that Batman, a human, kicked Superman's ass. (Not the scenes and plot but just that it happened). As I am team Bat this made me extremely happy. It was good to see one wish come true in the movie. So yes, even gods can fall!

The Ehh:

The love romance between Clark and Lois (Played by Henry Cavill and Amy Adams) was not full of heat. It was two actors saying lines. I personally love Amy Adams usually so this was disappointing. I think in the MOS movie she had more emotion than in this one. Some of that could be this movie was split between two leading men so her screen time was cut as a result.

The kidnapping of Martha - I thought Lex's plan was good but the acting delivery, lines, scenes, etc was ehh. Wasn't horrible. This fight sequence when she gets rescued was just alright. It did make me miss the days of Christian Bale as Batman.

The Bat Branding ... I don't know how I feel about this. I LOVE that they show Batman really isn't a 'good guy' in this sense and he does kill people, but the branding? I think in some ways we kinda went to far. But I love that kinda stuff in bad guys so should I really judge it in a good guy? I don't know so it's an ehh...

Lex's file on the 'meta humans' - yeah I just, eh. Didn't like it, didn't hate it. I did however think the person they showed as the Flash looked very blah. Maybe it is because I have been spoiled by watching the TV series and I actually do enjoy that Flash.

The Bad:

Everything else? Alfred was very much a lack luster character. Bruce seemed way more concerned about his employee dying in Metropolis at the start of the movie than any amount of emotion he had while doing scenes with the man who raised him from childhood. 

The dream sequences of Batman - just WTF? I am not sure why they were there to begin with. They did not progress the story much, if any, in my opinion. Especially the one where there was a nod to the Wizard of Oz and flying monkey type creatures (I assume they were supposed to be giant bats) swooped in out of the sky and carried the dead bad guys off. Just what the hell??

The final fight scene with Doomsday left MUCH to be desired. Wonder Woman was hot and all but even she couldn't have saved this scene in my opinion.

I think what annoyed me the MOST was Bruce's line "I failed him in life, I won't fail him in death." You failed him in life? How? That whole three minute friendship really solidified that bond between the two of you, was it just because both of your mothers names are Martha? Please - that was so dumb. I mean I get it, I'm sure it's a line out of the comic Doomsday somewhere blah blah blah but the on screen chemistry between two supposedly BFF's was totally not there for a statement of that magnitude to have been said.

To give you a point of reference on how 'bad' this movie was .... My two kids, 13 and 11, they LOVE The Avengers, can watch it over and over and stay focused. They Love Star Wars, my son has seen it three times in the theater and doesn't talk through it at all. Last night these two kids would not shut up. They talked through the whole damn movie because they just couldn't stay focused long enough to capture their attention.

Except for the final scenes. These were my favorite scenes with the Death of Superman and not just because this horrible character's acting finally stopped. My daughter cried and I felt the tears forming in my eyes. That did pull the emotional response for the first and last time of the movie. It was at this moment that I was very glad to know that I listen to my hubby when he talked about the comic Doomsday so I know what is to come and that gave me reassurance. (Unlike in Civil War where I fear they are going to kill the Captain and then I will weep real tears.)

So overall I give this a 3.5. What bumped this review from a 2.5-3 to a 3.5 for me was the final scenes. Anything that can get a tear to form in my eye means that it did get me to connect and that is worth something in my opinion. I do not think I am a fan of Zack Snyder's directing. I just pulled his Imbd and yeah ... I HATED Watchmen so I think I am going to stick with, I am not a fan of Zack Snyder. His constant stealing of ideas from my favorite films (see MOS Review on this and the Wizard of Oz comment here in this review) annoy me to no end. 

Is Ben Afleck a good Batman? I don't know. We saw him as Bruce Wayne and I can see him being that playboy millionaire type person. I don't think we got to see him truly as Batman long enough to determine. Because his big fight scenes were in a suite made of metal fighting Superman. That isn't a suite I would say "Oh man my hubby would look sexy as hell in that!" (unlike Bale's.) However Afleck did look mighty nice with his shirt off so hey there is that! I think if I had to pick a side today I would say Afleck should leave the super hero career to the men of Marvel because after DareDevil and now this ... I can't see him rescuing anyone really.

So here was my 4 am review of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice ... Remember ... don't hate me for my opinion ... but you are welcome to politely disagree.

Sunday Review: HEA Book Tours Presents: NOLA'S OWN series by Kelli Jean

Over The Hills and Far Away
AMAZON

Kenna MacGregor was raised to believe that music is the language of the soul. That life is a song, pulsing with beats and rhythms, harmonizing the inner spirit with the energy of the universe. In a fated moment, she discovers the one person whose music reaches deep into her being, speaking to her in ways no one else ever could. He is the dominating, larger-than-life, in-your-face Phil Deveraux. He's the lead singer of her favorite band and her adolescent fantasy. She's just a face in the crowd. A face Phil is destined to see and never forget. Their lips touch, igniting an inferno-hot passion--awakening an incredible spiritual connection between them--melding their souls in ways neither of them could foresee. Time stands still for Kenna and Phil and real life relentlessly thrusts them in different directions, while they each cling to that one moment when their destiny was sealed with a kiss.


No Quarter
AMAZON


Kenna
“All of his pain, I was always the cause of it. Even if indirectly. All roads led to Kenna, I supposed.”
My Madman brings me to life—but it comes at a price. I’m the one who faces his demons when they decide to crawl out of the hell inside his head.
One thing is certain: it’s not my forgiveness that is needed. Phil must forgive himself before there’s chance for us. I’m afraid he won’t be able to. What will I have then?
Without him, I’m just existing.


Phil
"Looking back now, I think I wanted to scare her a little, wanted to see if she'd run screaming from the demons in me."
My Baby Girl owns me. Always has, always will. My heart beats for her, my soul is only half without her. Then The Madman surfaces and rips into her. My demons are threatening to rip us apart.
I'm going to lose her, lose my only dream, the only future I'll accept.
How do I fix this? She speaks of forgiveness. Deep down, I'm afraid I'm too weak to find it.
Kenna is strong enough to walk away from us. She’s giving me No Quarter.


REVIEW

This is going to be a review of the series.

I was given both in exchange for an honest review.

This series was complicated for me to write about. There were some excellent things. For example, the authors writing style was very fluid. The plot seemed to be solid and didn't really leave me 'wanting' lots more of unfinished business. I like books like that - that have clear cut beginning middle and ends and tie up all lose ends, or as many as possible.

What has me struggling with this series is there was just so much sex. And while I love good sex scenes I felt like these sex scenes weren't there for real purpose but just because. It felt very much inundated with them and it was just too much for me.

I've read the reviews others have posted and I can see why it has so many 5 stars. I very much can see how some readers love these types of books. And maybe it just isn't for me in that sense.

And that's okay.

Overall I'm going to give this one 3.5 Stars.

I am going to chalk up my issues to it just not being my cup of tea because the writing itself was well done.

Gluten Free Friday Home Made Recipe #14: Granola Bars

I was on a quest to try and find a source of protein that was healthy and tasted good. That's when I thought of Granola Bars. Now I personally love them. They are easy to grab and toss in a bag to carry with you to work. And they tend to fill you up. So I did a little research on different recipes and I took a little bit from all of them. And here is what I came up with.

Remember, as always, everything is organic and gluten free.

Enjoy and Happy Eating!

Ingredients

Wet Ingredients - Glue
1/4 cup honey
1/4 stick of butter
1 tablespoon of vanilla
1 tablespoon of water

Dry Ingredients
1 cup of rice crispy
1 2/3 cup of oats
1/2 teaspoon of salt
2/3 cup of quinoa flour
1/4 tablespoon of cinnamon
2 cups worth of dried fruit, nuts or chocolate chips. I used 1 cup raisins and 1 cup chocolate chip.

Mix the dry ingredients in a large bowl together and mix thoroughly

Mix the wet ingredients together over a low burner. Once melted and mixed slowly pour over the dry mixture. Once the pan is empty set aside and begin to stir the wet and dry ingredients until they all have the 'glue' on them.

In a square or rectangle pan place parchment paper down. Pour the mixture over the paper and smooth out evenly at the thickness level you want.

Bake at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes. When you pull it out let it cool. If you go to cut into pieces and it's still soft place in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to harden.

Make sure you wrap each individual piece properly or place in an air tight container.

This was an easy sweet dish that I give 3.5 stars too.

Gluten Free Friday Home Made Recipe #13: Bread Loaf

This actually turned out a lot better than I had expected it too. Especially since I was using the quinoa flour. Remember, most of the time I am getting these gluten free recipes from somewhere else and tweeking them to what my husband and I have available and like.

I've actually used this loaf and made garlic bread out of a few slices. That added some extra nice flavor to it.

This still had a touch of an issue with crumbling. But I often find most home made bread I've made (in the bread machine) crumbles some. So I am not sure if that was my error or the nature of the beast.

Now I don't have an oven cooking time since I used the Basic Function on my Bread Machine and it cooked it for 3 hours and 20 minutes. I doubt that's how long you would cook it in an oven.

I mixed wet ingredients first and then added dry ones second inside the bread machine container.

Good Luck and as always, Happy Eating!

As always all products are organic and gluten free

(If you need the method to create the flour used in this recipe please see blog post here)

Wet Ingredients

3 Large Eggs, Lightly Beaten
1/2 cup of Vegetable Oil
1/2 cup of water
1 cup of hemp milk.

Dry Ingredients

1 1/2 cups of quinoa flour
1 1/2 cups of wild rice flour
1/3 cups of pure cane sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons of salt
1 tablespoon of yeast (although I don't think this actually did anything, as this didn't rise)

In a small bowl combine the wet ingredients and once properly blended pour into the bread maker container.

In a different bowl combine the flour and mix together. Then add the salt, sugar and yeast. Thoroughly mix together and then pour into the bread maker container.

With a rubber spatula mix the wet and dry ingredients together in the container.

Pres start on the bread maker, cook on the 'basic' function.

Overall this was about a 3.5 out of 5 star bread loaf!

Review: Romancing The Vines: A Tale of Love, Lust and Revenge

Title ROMANCING THE VINES: A TALE OF LOVE, LUST AND REVENGE
Author CATHERINE MACDONALD
Source Received a copy of this in exchange for an honest review
Purchase AMAZON


Blurb

Francesca Bernard is a vintner in the Sonoma Valley who just can't seem to perfect her wine, her finances, and her love life. She finds herself torn between the man she lives with and the man she loves. A letter arrives from a long-lost cousin encouraging her to travel to Italy to uncover the secret to her wine and her heart. Tension is tight around the vineyard, so she leaps at the chance. Once in Italy, her cousin notices Francesca's torment and convinces her to visit the local seer, who is known to help lost souls. The old woman propels Francesca back through time on a heart-pounding quest where she visits three lives where her survival was in jeopardy. Armed with the secrets and truths, she finally understands how the love, lust, and revenge they have endured for centuries holds the answers to their present survival. 
Magna gathered Francesca's hands into her own cool gnarled ones and stroked them lightly. "Listen dearie. No one is allowing you to remain innocent and stuck on the wheel of life and death for eternity, but yourself. Even though the mind forgets, the soul remembers. Hopefully by examining these lifetimes you will understand the truth. You are responsible for the life you have--no one else." 
From Sonoma, Italy, and the Middle Ages Francesca travels to uncover the truth of the wine and the two men who have fought over her for centuries. Romancing the Vines is the sweeping romance of Francesca, Enrico, and Giancarlo and the secret to the wine that has been eluding her for centuries.

Review

This is the second book in the series. I probably should have read the first book before accepting the request to review this book because I believe that I would have been able to enjoy this story more because I would have already been drawn into this plot and story line.

Overall Ms. MacDonald's writing was easy to follow. It didn't really lag much and the story flowed well.

I was pretty mild feeling towards the characters. None of them really pulled me in making me HAVE to learn more about them. But they didn't really push me away either. I was very 'okay' with all of them.

To me, this book was an average read. There wasn't anything wrong with it. I just wasn't drawn into everything like I had hoped and I really think that is because I haven't read the first book.

I liked the description the author had in the novel. It was easy to picture the plot as it unfolded and that is always a plus to me.

I am going to give this a 3.5 Stars. I liked the authors writing and I think a non-mid series book would be pleasant to read from Catherine MacDonald.

Sunday Review: The Writers Coffee Shop Presents: Indivisible Line by Lorenz Font

Title: Indivisible Line
Author: Lorenz Font
Source: Received a copy in exchange for an honest review
Purchase Link: Amazon

BLURB

Pre-med student Sarah Jones is back in Beaver, Alaska, for summer vacation. A loyal member of the Gwich'in tribe, she accepts the rules set by her father, the leader of their small town. Raised in a strict household, she learned early on to do what is expected of her and has agreed to an arranged marriage. Despite her reluctance to marry without love, Sarah is unwilling to defy her father's wishes. She hopes to help usher in an era of independence and stability for the town, but for now, her focus is finishing med school so she can become Beaver's resident doctor. Business owner Greg Andrews wants to escape his philandering wife and his life in general. Leaving New York City to join a hunting expedition in Alaska, Greg's plans are turned upside down when he is shot on Gwich'in land and ends up on Sarah's operating table. In the absence of a qualified doctor, Sarah must operate to save his life. She refuses to wait for the consent of their tribal leader, and her father banishes her from the tribal land in punishment. Grateful for his life, Greg concocts a scheme to help. Plagued by the side effects of her unconventional operation, he convinces Sarah to become his live-in nurse. Without the means to support herself, Sarah agrees to the questionable arrangement, but she soon finds herself in even more trouble. Her new problem is that she is falling in love with this infuriating man, and the choices she now must make are much more difficult than the simple act of saving a man's life. Together, Sarah and Greg must both decide whether they can overcome the vast differences between them, or if the indivisible line that separates their worlds will ultimately pull

REVIEW

There was a lot that I liked about this book. I felt the story line was pretty original except for the fact it was a naive girl falling in love with a millionaire..but I'm going to let that go since I enjoyed the story.

Sarah was a likeable character. She didn't annoy me like most 18-24 year old female lead characters do. I often times forgot she was young.

I wasn't a huge fan of Greg. He got under my skin with his controlling demeanor and his ability to complicate the situations.

Often times I feel like we complicate the situations and that's really what he did. He complicated everything and after a while you're like omfg come on already!

I liked how Sarah took her dad's criticism in stride and worked her way through that pain.

The writing was very decent. I felt it was easy to follow and it didn't feel like there were any gaping holes in the story which I like. It kept me reading which is important.

Overall I think this story is a strong 3.5 star. If I had liked Greg more it would have been a 4 star but as it stands he had a bit to many characteristics that made me want to slap him ... so 3.5 stars it is.

I would read another book by this author. If that brings it up some. I really enjoyed her easy going style.

Sunday Review: HEA Book Tours Presents: Self Destruct (Book 1) & Destroy Me (book 2) by KD Carrillo

Title Self Destruct (Destroy #1)
Author K. D. Carrillo
Source Received from the author in exchange for an honest review
Purchase AMAZON

Blurb

At twenty-years-old, Becca Scott thought she finally had her life under control. With the help of the people around her, she was able to deal with her traumatic childhood and let go of the pain that haunted her every day. But one unexpected encounter at a lake house would stir up every dark emotion she worked so hard to forget.

There wasn’t anyone Aiden Ryan hated more than himself. Plagued with a life filled with manipulation and regret, he will try anything to ignore the guilt that eats him alive, even if it means more pain for him in the long run. It’s not until he meets Becca that things start to change. There’s only one problem - he’s stuck in a relationship he can’t get out of with a woman he doesn’t care about.

Love is complicated, but when two people have demons they refuse to face, love could destroy them. Together, Becca and Aiden try and let go of their painful pasts to be together, but will their pasts let go of them?

Review

As odd as this is going to sound, this was probably the hardest review I have ever had to write. And its because I am so insanely torn on this book. I want to start this review out by saying I read this in probably 2 days. It was extremely easy to read. Nothing complicated at all about the book. Simple isn't even the right adjective to describe it.

So you would almost think it bored me.

But it didn't. I kept reading, and reading and reading and then before I knew it I was getting up late for work because I was stuck reading about Becca and Aiden.

I didn't really like them. A lot of that is probably because it was a New Adult book and I kept thinking to myself over and over - "Damn these kids are nauseating and ridiculously out there."

But I kept reading and reading ... The plot was decent. Aside from the "i love you" being thrown around over and over and over it wasn't very repetitive.

These kids were very nauseating, but when I think back on my life at 21 in college, i was pretty nauseating too.

And that makes me think these two kids were probably spot on to kids now a days in college.

All in all I give this 3.5 stars. I think if you like New Adult books then this is probably right up your ally.

Title Destroy Me (Book 2)
Author KD Carrillo
Source Received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
Purchase Link AMAZON

Blurb

Some pasts linger long after the wounds have healed.

Kate guards her secret from all that know her. Independent and cunning, she traverses through her life one day at a time. Keeping to herself and living her life on her own, just the way she likes it.

However, one man is intrigued by her mysterious ways, despite her attempts to keep everyone at arm’s length.

Reed struggles with the circumstance of his past on a daily basis. His nights are full of terror and haunting memories. He’s a man looking for his purpose outside of the tragedy that curses his mind, and he thinks he may have found it in a reserved and mysterious blonde.

Demons can only hide for so long.

Review

This was another hard one. So while I think the same things applied in the first book, i.e. insane amounts of 'i love you' and very annoying behavior by college aged adults, this was a better book.

I think the authors writing has improved from book one to book two. I felt there was less repeating, although it did still happen. But it flowed much better.

The plot in book two was a bit more complex which I liked, and again I read this book in twenty four hours. So while on the surface I would say this book isn't for me, apparently there was something there to make me keep reading it.

Ultimately I think I am going to avoid "New Age' category books because I think that's my real issue. When I think back to how I was in college it pairs up with these characters so I don't think it is that the author isn't on point.

Because I think K.D. is.

I think I just don't like young twenty something year olds who think they know everything and can rule the world.

All in all I'd say this is a 3.5 star book. And if I was asked to read the next ones in this series I would because for reasons I can't understand, these characters draw me in.

Sunday Review: Mistletoe in the City by Amber Daulton

Title Mistletoe in the City
Author Amber Daulton
Source Given to me by the author in exchange for an honest review
Purchase Link AMAZON

Blurb

Krista Hartley never expected the unrequited love of her life, the irresistible Derek Weston, to work as the groundskeeper at the apartment building she just moved into. They barely spoke in high school but now, three years after graduation, they tore at each other’s clothes and jumped into bed together at every opportunity. After all, how could a hot-blooded woman say no to a sexy man with an eyebrow ring, a dragon tattoo and a deadly swagger?

A Christmas miracle drew Krista back into Derek’s life. He kissed her for the first time under mistletoe, pampered her with romantic candlelight dinners and memorized every inch of her delectable body with his tongue. He refused to let his dream girl slip through his fingers again but then another woman threatened their whirlwind romance. Hurt once before, Krista broke off their relationship and then Derek made a drunken mistake that could destroy their love forever. With just days to Christmas, he vowed to win back her heart and trust, and prove his innocence once and for all.

Story 3 in the best-selling series, Handmade for Christmas.

Review

I have read a few of Ms. Daulton's stories and this book is no different. It lives up her easy to follow and enjoyable style of writing.

This time of year people enjoy those books that give you the happy ending and make you feel all warm and fuzzy and this book gave me that. I smiled more than a few times while reading Krista and Derek's little love affair.

I would have liked to see this story a bit longer so I could have gotten to know more of the characters. The cover I think doesn't do Derek's character enough justice. He is much more bad boy than the cover model. Which was a bonus for me.

Often times the 'happy ever after' books to me feel cheesy and I usually am let down. With Ms. Daulton's novella I didn't feel that at all.

All in all I would say this was a solid 3.5 star read. Had there been more of Krista and Derek then I easily could have seen this moving in the 4 star range.

Sunday Review: Sage Blog Tours Presents: Review: Crimson Son

TITLE Crimson Son
AUTHOR Russ Linton
GENRE: Superhero Fiction/ Fantasy/ SciFi
SOURCE: I received a copy of this in exchange for an honest review
PURCHASE: AMAZON

REVIEW:

I think the concept of this novel is really good. I liked how different it was and the fact the main character was in first person present tense. I love that.

However, I still struggled while reading this book. It was a great start but my attention was easily distracted. I wasn't hooked even thought I really liked the idea behind the novel.

I'm not sure why I wasn't hooked. There wasn't anything specific I could pin point saying "this is what did it." I think maybe because the main character was 19 and I'm not a huge NA fan.

That being said the writing style was easy to follow. It flowed nicely. I didn't see any gaping holes in the story or anything that felt really left under developed.

If you like NA and YA books you would probably enjoy this one.


All in all I'll give it 3.5 stars.

BLURB:
His mother kidnapped, his superhero father absent, powerless Spencer Harrington faces a world of weaponized humans to prove himself and find the truth.

Nineteen-year-old Spencer is the son of the Crimson Mask, the world's most powerful Augment. Since witnessing his mother's abduction by a psychotic super villain two years ago, he's been confined to his father's arctic bunker. When the "Icehole" comes under attack from a rampaging robot, Spencer launches into his father's dangerous world of weaponized human beings known as Augments.

With no superpowers of his own save a multi-tool, a quick wit and a boatload of emotional trauma, Spencer seeks to uncover his mother's fate and confront his absentee superhero father. As he stumbles through a web of conspiracies and top secret facilities, he rallies a team of everyday people and cast-off Augments. But Spencer soon discovers that the Black Beetle isn't his only enemy, nor his worst.


Author Bio

In the fourth grade, Russ Linton wrote down the vague goal of becoming a “writer and an artist” when he grew up. After a journey that led him from philosopher to graphic designer to stay at home parent and even a stint as an Investigative Specialist with the FBI, he finally got around to that “writing” part which he now pursues full time.

Russ creates character-driven speculative fiction. His stories drip with blood, magic, and radioactive bugs. He writes for adults who are young at heart and youngsters who are old souls.
a brief excerpt from your book


Social Media:
Website - www.russlinton.com
Facebook - facebook.com/RussLinton
Twitter - twitter.com/Russ_Linton
GoodReads - https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6587498.Russ_Linton

Excerpt

This part always comes so fast.

I hand the phone back to Mom. “You’ll need to send later, I guess. The signal dropped. Should be in your outbox ready to go.”

As she takes the phone, the wall of the room explodes.

Here. Dream becomes nightmare. For a moment, I feel I can make it stand still, but why would I? Events unfold with the emptiness of the bunker gnawing at my insides. I can identify every stray chunk of plaster and splinter of wood in this time-robbed moment.

Fragments of home spray like a swarm of locusts. Mom screams and the world spins under her protective dive. I struggle to see through a haze of dust. Glimpses of the valley filter past a humanoid silhouette. A long, pincered arm lashes out. The arm clamps tightly around Mom’s waist and retracts, drawing us closer.

“Release the boy and he will live,” the Black Beetle speaks with an unnatural vibration. “He can relay a message for your husband.”

Mom squeezes tighter but her screaming stops.

I search her face, knowing what I’ll find, all the while scrambling to find an anchor as we slide across the room. She’s bleeding from a gash on her forehead and the pincer cinches tighter. Her eyes are full of fear, but focused. She’s calculating, deliberating. A hundred times? A thousand? It always hurts.

“No, Mom, please!” I throw my hands around the leg of a toppled chair which drags uselessly behind us. Countless trips through this nightmare, I know I can’t keep us here, but I reach out anyway. And always, she lets go.

I grab her arm, trying to pull her back, cursing my stunted size, my weak limbs, my feeble grip. Sweaty hands slip as the pincer continues to retract. Her trembling lips form a final smile and she watches me with a sad but determined expression.

She mouths the words, “I love you.”

Sunday Review: Romancing the Vines by Catherine MacDonald

Title ROMANCING THE VINES: A TALE OF LOVE, LUST AND REVENGE
Author CATHERINE MACDONALD
Source Received a copy of this in exchange for an honest review
Purchase AMAZON


Blurb

Francesca Bernard is a vintner in the Sonoma Valley who just can't seem to perfect her wine, her finances, and her love life. She finds herself torn between the man she lives with and the man she loves. A letter arrives from a long-lost cousin encouraging her to travel to Italy to uncover the secret to her wine and her heart. Tension is tight around the vineyard, so she leaps at the chance. Once in Italy, her cousin notices Francesca's torment and convinces her to visit the local seer, who is known to help lost souls. The old woman propels Francesca back through time on a heart-pounding quest where she visits three lives where her survival was in jeopardy. Armed with the secrets and truths, she finally understands how the love, lust, and revenge they have endured for centuries holds the answers to their present survival. 
Magna gathered Francesca's hands into her own cool gnarled ones and stroked them lightly. "Listen dearie. No one is allowing you to remain innocent and stuck on the wheel of life and death for eternity, but yourself. Even though the mind forgets, the soul remembers. Hopefully by examining these lifetimes you will understand the truth. You are responsible for the life you have--no one else." 
From Sonoma, Italy, and the Middle Ages Francesca travels to uncover the truth of the wine and the two men who have fought over her for centuries. Romancing the Vines is the sweeping romance of Francesca, Enrico, and Giancarlo and the secret to the wine that has been eluding her for centuries.

Review

This is the second book in the series. I probably should have read the first book before accepting the request to review this book because I believe that I would have been able to enjoy this story more because I would have already been drawn into this plot and story line.

Overall Ms. MacDonald's writing was easy to follow. It didn't really lag much and the story flowed well.

I was pretty mild feeling towards the characters. None of them really pulled me in making me HAVE to learn more about them. But they didn't really push me away either. I was very 'okay' with all of them.

To me, this book was an average read. There wasn't anything wrong with it. I just wasn't drawn into everything like I had hoped and I really think that is because I haven't read the first book.

I liked the description the author had in the novel. It was easy to picture the plot as it unfolded and that is always a plus to me.

I am going to give this a 3.5 Stars. I liked the authors writing and I think a non-mid series book would be pleasant to read from Catherine MacDonald.

Sunday Review: Outlander and Dragonfly In Amber by Diana Gabaldon

Title: OUTLANDER
Author: Diana Gabaldon
Source: Purchase from Amazon
Buy Link: AMAZON
 
The year is 1945. Claire Randall, a former combat nurse, is just back from the war and reunited with her husband on a second honeymoon when she walks through a standing stone in one of the ancient circles that dot the British Isles. Suddenly she is a Sassenach—an “outlander”—in a Scotland torn by war and raiding border clans in the year of Our Lord . . . 1743.

Hurled back in time by forces she cannot understand, Claire is catapulted into the intrigues of lairds and spies that may threaten her life, and shatter her heart. For here James Fraser, a gallant young Scots warrior, shows her a love so absolute that Claire becomes a woman torn between fidelity and desire—and between two vastly different men in two irreconcilable lives.

Title: Dragonfly In Amber
Author:Diana Gabaldon
Source:Purchase form Amazon
Buy Link: AMAZON


For twenty years Claire Randall has kept her secrets. But now she is returning with her grown daughter to Scotland's majestic mist-shrouded hills. Here Claire plans to reveal a truth as stunning as the events that gave it birth: about the mystery of an ancient circle of standing stones ...about a love that transcends the boundaries of time ...and about James Fraser, a Scottish warrior whose gallantry once drew a young Claire from the security of her century to the dangers of his ....

Now a legacy of blood and desire will test her beautiful copper-haired daughter, Brianna, as Claire's spellbinding journey of self-discovery continues in the intrigue-ridden Paris court of Charles Stuart ...in a race to thwart a doomed Highlands uprising ...and in a desperate fight to save both the child and the man she loves....

Review:

This is a combined review of the first two books in this series.

I would like to start this review off by saying I think the technique of writing and the in depth character development and plot are amazing. This author is extremely talented and I can really understand why so many people are obsessed with this world.

It simply is too long.

As I read each of the novels I keep thinking to myself If I was an editor what would I cut. I never can answer that. There is nothing that I would want to cut because each detail is essential to the world she has created.

And that's my problem. Reading novels that are larger than the bible isn't something that I am interested in doing on a regular basis. There are always exceptions, like with Styxx or Acheron from Sherrilyn Kenyon. The difference is those books flew by, I couldn't put them down. This series I found myself not rushing to finish after work or before my drive in. I wasn't so sucked into the world that it left me constantly wondering what was Jamie and Claire up to. Would they be okay, would they be reunited? I never asked those questions because I just didn't care enough about the characters.

To me it felt like so much detail pushed me away.

Now I know I am in the minority on this one. I know there are thousands of readers out there that love this type of epic writing and maybe I am just the wrong target audience for it.

I am not saying this whole series isn't good. Because there are somethings that are magnificent in their own right. For example her attention to detail about everything of the historical time. I had no idea what they used to do to traitors and I found that whole scene fascinating when they were talking about what would happen to Jamie if he was caught and found as a traitor. I will never forget that moment when I felt my stomach clinch visualizing the heart being ripped out of his chest cavity and tossed onto a fire.

That was brilliantly written.

Like i said her writing style is great. It really is. These books are just too long for me.

I am currently reading book three, Voyager and I am still struggling. While I still am not drawn into the book and feeling the 'must finish' sensation, after 2000 pages, I am vested in these characters.

Overall, I have to give this series thus far a 3.5 Star. Maybe if I continue to read then I will feel otherwise. I just can't say that I feel that right now.

Sunday Review: Crosswinds by N R White

Title: Crosswinds
Author: N.R. White
Source: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
Purchase Link: Amazon

Blurb

Stranded in an airport during a storm, a random act of kindness and an unexpected encounter leads to a life-changing experience for a young sailor on his way to his first duty station overseas. When Bobby walked into the airport's only smoking lounge and asked to bum a smoke, Jack knew there was a reason a crosswind had unexpectedly blown the sailor into his path. It wasn't until several hours later that Jack realized the exact purpose of their chance encounter

Review

I am extremely undecided about this novel. What I do know is the author has a beautiful writing style and excellent quality. What I am unsure about is the blot itself.

There have been a lot of books that I have read this year and in my life and this one is easily not like any of them. Most novels revolve around tow characters but what was unusual about this story is it was two men. One older and one younger, both sailors. They come together after the airlines have downed planes to bond over cigarettes, alcohol and burgers.

It was entertaining, for the most part. It wasn't a novel I would instantly say go out and read like now because I don't think my friends as a whole enjoy the more spiritual and moving type novels. There wasn't the action, adventure and romance that I am used to reading or seeing my friends read.

But that doesn't mean it was a bad novel. I just don't think it was necessarily my type of novel.

I'm going to have to give this story 3.5 stars

Sunday Review: Intertwined By Emily R. Zajac

Title: Intertwined
Author: Emily R. Zajac
Source: Given from the author in exchange for an honest review
Purchase Links: AMAZON

BLURB

Fear. Lies. Love. Murder. I live in a life of fear. I wanted to survive him. The fights. The abuse. The loss. I was lost in a hole of depression. My only hope was Travis Black. Travis is…. Strong. Determined. Loving. Attractive. He should make me feel better….that was until I met Chase Braden. Chase is…. Broken. Cut off. Bad. I began wanting him….I began knowing him…. I wanted to survive this hell…..I wanted revenge…..I wanted love… I guess I was selfish….just like my father taught me to be…. I am Karma Hall…and this is my story.

REVIEW

So I am very confused about how I feel about this book. First, I typically do not read young adult/new adult novels because it is hard for me to identify with the characters. In this case, the identification was relatively easy. I enjoy first person books the most and I liked the rotating story line and point of view a lot. It kept me focused on what was going to happen next with each characters.

The writing was decent. The style easy to follow and there wasn't a whole lot of trouble keeping the pace for a decently quick read.

My issue with the book came down to this ... the whole ARC of the plot.

I like Chase - I really do. But I do not buy he and Karma's attraction/insta love story line. I mean ... she really was throwing that L word around a lot and I did not get any 'lovey dovey' vibes straight off the bat from the interactions they had. I did get their chemistry and that he was new and mysterious and dangerous but I did not get the love.

Not to mention he is 23 and she is 16 ..... I'm putting that part aside since Chase didn't deflower her or anything....

Now Travis and Karma I liked up to a point. Travis was a bit controlling for my personal taste in men but i do think he acted like a typical 18 year old boy. I think Travis and Karma worked ... I understood their love. It made sense to me.

Then the ending ... it was like, serious, what the fuck just happened? And it ends.

Now I know the author probably set it up like that so people would rush out to read book two. I get it, hell I do that in my own books. But the ending didn't make total sense. It was like a wham bamm thank you ma'am kind of ending and I just, yeah. Can't wrap my head around that part.

Overall though, since it was an YA / NA type book and it did keep me entertained and wanting to find out what happen I can over look these issues. I think this is a solid 3.5 read and I do hope I read book two to find out what happens int he Chase Travis Karma love triangle.

Sunday Review: The Unholy by Paul DeBlassie Tour Host: Pump Up Your Books

 Title: The Unholy

Author: Paul DeBlassie

Source: I received this from the author in exchange for an honest review

Purchase Links: AMAZON

BLURB

A young curandera, a medicine woman, intent on uncovering the secrets of her past is forced into a life-and-death battle against an evil Archbishop. Set in the mystic land of Aztlan, “The Unholy” is a novel of destiny as healer and slayer. Native lore of dreams and visions, shape changing, and natural magic work to spin a neo-gothic web in which sadness and mystery lure the unsuspecting into a twilight realm of discovery and decision.

BLURB 

What a different style novel! 

Here is the good and the bad about The Unholy. First it was very difficult to get 'into' the book. I liked the characters but I just wasn't sold. Now, about halfway through I needed to know how it ends and I am glad I read it. But I always get iffy about books that take that long to form a bond with.

Now the good -- the writing style and quality was very good. The story line felt solid to me and over all a good and pleasant reading experience.

I wish it felt faster in the beginning but I think if you are looking for a different sort of book to read then you should deff give this one a try.

I'm rating this a 3.5 on the Ashley meter.

Paul DeBlassie III, Ph.D., is a psychologist and writer living in Albuquerque, New Mexico who has treated survivors of the dark side of religion for more than 30 years. He is a member of the Depth Psychology Alliance, the Transpersonal Psychology Association and the International Association for Relational Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy. Dr. DeBlassie writes psychological thrillers with an emphasis on the dark side of the human psyche. In The Unholy, a young curandera, a medicine woman, intent on uncovering the secrets of her past is forced into a life-and-death battle against an evil archbishop. Set in the mystic　land of　Aztlan, the Unholy is a novel of destiny as healer and slayer. Native lore of dreams and visions lure the unsuspecting into a twilight realm of discovery and decision.

Visit his website at www.pauldeblassieiii.com or his blog atwww.pauldeblassieiii.blogspot.com.

Gluten Free Friday Homemade Recipe - #1 Waffles

Part of the fun of my Gluten Free Adventure is learning to make new recipes and sharing them. I love cooking, I always have. It is one form of my stress relief.  So I am starting something new on Friday's since people have been asking me what the recipes are that I cook with for my Gluten Free lifestyle. So each week, or every couple weeks depending on how many I come up with, I am going to post a new homemade recipe with photos.

I hope you share your photos and adventures too if you do use any of these recipes!

Onto the first one ... Waffles!


One thing that I really was missing giving up bread was the occasional pancake or waffle. So I went out on a journey to mix and match ingredients I have known were in these mixes until I found the combination I can live with.

Here is what goes into my concoction ... Remember, ALL of these items are Gluten Free and/or Organic!!!

2 Eggs, beaten
1/2 cup of Milk
Teaspoon of Baking Soda
.5 Teaspoon of Baking Powder
1 Cup Flour
Tablespoon of Vanilla
Teaspoon of Cinnamon

Mix these ingredients together in a large mixing bowl and you want to make sure it is a smooth consistency. You don't want any lumps causing there to be random pockets of uncooked flour inside your food, YUCK!

This yields 4 waffles in a standard waffle maker.

Put on some butter and maple syrup and you are good to go.

This waffle turned out okay. On a scale of 1-5 I give it a 3.5. There is always room for improvement and maybe someone out there reading this will come up with something that I can tweek to give this the extra oomph that it needs.

Enjoy and Happy Eating!

Sunday Review: The Memory Healer by Julie Filarski

Title: The Memory Healer

Author: Julie Filarski

Release Date: June 19, 2014

Source: Net Galley in exchange for an honest review

Purchase Links: Amazon

Blurb

On a wet summer morning in the historical township of Port Brandon, South Eastern Australia, talented artist and psychic Beth Montgomery reluctantly agrees to carry out a psychic assessment of Carrington House. She soon becomes frightened by a string of nightmares that could be warning her not to tamper with the metaphysical. Despite her fears, she braces herself for what is to come and continues to unearth the secrets of the past.

As soon as she enters the historical home, the image of a distraught Victorian maid appears, and then a young woman manifests on the staircase. Beth is transported to another era, where a magnificent four-poster bed, an engraved watch, and an exquisite ring evoke fleeting memories. When Beth spies a calendar, the date fills her with dread, but she cannot remember why.

Returning to the present time, Beth agrees to work for the irresistible Dr Matthew Jamieson, the new vet in the district. Each time they meet, memories of another lifetime flood her heart. She senses an eternal bond between them, but with two unfaithful partners in her past, she is reluctant to become romantically involved with him.

As her passion for Matthew intensifies, she regresses to 1895. In her past life as Mary Clark, she meets the darkly handsome Samuel Methven and falls in love with him on sight. But is he as honourable as he seems? Faced with Samuel’s apparent betrayal, Beth is plagued by fears that Matthew will also be unfaithful to her. She knows that to learn the truth, she must return to her past life, but that means facing an unbearable tragedy. Does Beth have the courage to move between lifetimes and relive that dreadful event? Will she be able to discover whether her soulmate was faithful to his twin soul?

Review

This review took me a while to come up with. I enjoyed the book. No doubt about that. But there was just something about it that left me questioning things. I thought the premise was very unique. A time traveling psychic who experienced her past lives. Very clever. 

I think what had me wanting more was the relationship between Beth and Matthew. I get that they were soul mates but I didn't really feel the whole relationship build up with them.

I did like how Beth had to work through her past issues and solve the mystery of Samuel. That I liked a lot.

Overall I am giving this a 3.5 star rating simply because as much as I did enjoy it the Beth and Matthew story line could have had more.

The Trailer

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gw-rlZ1Nbws]

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Introducing Julie

Julie Filarski’s love of reading quickly progressed to a love of writing. While writing The Memory Healer, she studied Professional Writing and Editing at Chisholm Institute in Berwick, Australia. Much of the novel was written on the train while she travelled to and from work at the University of Melbourne.

Julie first began studying the metaphysical realm in the early 1980’s. After a few sessions of Hatha yoga, she quickly became drawn to yoga philosophy and the belief in reincarnation. Since that time, Julie studied the topic in depth, as well as researching a wide range of other spiritual topics. Her studies have led her to understand that mankind has an inherent belief in immortality and that there is a deep and underlying spiritual purpose to all life.

Julie lives with her husband, Murray, near Phillip Island in Victoria, Australia. They have two children and five lovely grandchildren.

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