Who Moved My Cheese

 

A short story about dealing with change. All in all, I say: READ IT - a good lesson for anyone to learn.

Sex Criminals (comic)

 

A couple find out that when they have sex they can enter an alternative space where they can get away with stuff. At least until they get caught. The writing is good - the plot is only okay. All in all,  I say: SKIP IT

The Girl Who Would be King

 

Amazon writes, "A novel about two teenage girls with superpowers and radically different agendas, destined for a collision that will rock the world:

Separated by thousands of miles, two young women are about to realize their extraordinary powers which will bind their lives together in ways they can't begin to understand.

Protecting others. Maintaining order. Being good. These are all important things for Bonnie Braverman, even if she doesn't understand why. Confined to a group home since she survived the car accident that killed both her parents, Bonnie has lived her life until now in self-imposed isolation and silence; but when an opportunity presents itself to help another girl in need, Bonnie has to decide whether to actually use the power she has long suspected she has. Power that frightens her.

Across the country, Lola LeFever is inheriting her own power by sending her mother over a cliff...literally. For Lola the only thing that matters is power; getting it, taking it, and eliminating anyone who would get in the way of her pursuit of it. With her mother dead and nothing to hold her back from the world any longer, Lola sets off to test her own powers on anyone unfortunate enough to cross her. And Lola's not afraid of anything.

One girl driven to rescue, save, and heal; the other driven to punish, destroy, and kill.

And now they're about to meet." All in all, I say: READ IT. It would make a better comic book or graphic novel, but it wasn't bad. I liked all of it except the very ending when the "winner" finds out she is pregnant. I didn't like that scene.

The Flight Girls

 

Amazon writes, "1941. Audrey Coltrane has always wanted to fly. It’s why she implored her father to teach her at the little airfield back home in Texas. It’s why she signed up to train military pilots in Hawaii when the war in Europe began. And it’s why she insists she is not interested in any dream-derailing romantic involvements, even with the disarming Lieutenant James Hart, who fast becomes a friend as treasured as the women she flies with. Then one fateful day, she gets caught in the air over Pearl Harbor just as the bombs begin to fall, and suddenly, nowhere feels safe.

To make everything she’s lost count for something, Audrey joins the Women Airforce Service Pilots program. The bonds she forms with her fellow pilots reignite a spark of hope in the face war, and—when James goes missing in action—give Audrey the strength to cross the front lines and fight not only for her country, but for the love she holds so dear." All in all, I say: SKIP IT - boring

Her Final Words

 

Amazon writes, "A shocking thriller by the bestselling author of Girls of Glass.

It seems like an open-and-shut case for FBI special agent Lucy Thorne when Eliza Cook walks into the field office. The teenage girl confesses to murdering a young boy. Disturbingly composed, she reveals chilling details only the killer could know. Beyond that Eliza doesn’t say another word, leaving a vital question met with dead silence: Why did she do it?

To find the answer, Lucy goes to the scene of the crime in the small Idaho town of Knox Hollow. But Lucy’s questions are only mounting. Especially when she’s drawn deeper into the life of the victim. Then a combing of the woods yields unsettling evidence that Eliza isn’t the only one in this close-knit rural community with secrets.

Getting to the truth is becoming Lucy’s obsession. And it’s a dangerous one. Because for the good folks of Knox Hollow, hiding that truth will take more than silence." All in all, I say: SKIP IT boring

The Wish List

 

Amazon writes, "Sometimes you have to hit the bottom before you can float to the top.

Maria Birch is seventy years old and, for her, every week is the same.

On Monday, she does her weekly shop. On Tuesday, she goes for a blow-dry. On Wednesday, she visits the laundrette. But Thursday is her favourite day of all – everything hurts less on a Thursday.

Every Thursday Maria walks to her local café. Waiting for her at one of the red gingham-topped tables is Albie Young, a charming man with a twinkle in his eye and an impressive collection of tweed flat caps. Every week, the pair share a slice of marble cake and a pot of tea.

Except, one week, Albie doesn’t turn up.

When Maria finds out what has happened, her perfectly ordered life is ripped apart at the seams. Suddenly, she is very lonely. Without her Thursday friend – her only friend – she no longer has the energy to circle the weekly TV listings, she has no reason to leave her apartment, no reason to laugh.

Then she discovers that Albie isn’t who she thought he was, and she’s left wondering if she knew her friend at all. But Albie has left behind a legacy – a handwritten list of wishes he never got the chance to complete.

Maria is resigned to facing the rest of her days heartbroken and alone. But fulfilling Albie’s wishes could hold the key to her happiness – if only she’s able to look past his secret…" All in all, I say: SKIP IT - boring

Miss Etta

 

Amazon writes, "She rode with the most famous outlaws of her time. Then she vanished.

In the fall of 1895, Etta Place falls in love with Harry Longabaugh, alias the Sundance Kid. She gives up everything to follow him and his partner-in-crime, Butch Cassidy, in their outlaw life across the continent and beyond. Breathtakingly beautiful and every inch a lady, Etta can also ride and shoot as well as any man. As their fugitive life begins to crumble, she finds herself alone and living in a convent with her newborn son. Knowing she can’t hide away forever, she moves halfway across the country to begin anew. Etta prays her past won’t catch up with her.

In 1911 Emily Pleasants steps onto the train station platform of Pine Creek, Minnesota with a teacher’s contract in hand and a secret life she’s fled. A young widow with a small son, she’s searching for a safe place to raise her child where no one will recognize her. She meets Edward Sheridan, a successful merchant and bank owner, who quickly falls for her beauty, intelligence, and kindness. Still, she worries her notorious past will threaten the one thing dearest to her—her son.

From the deserts of Texas to the sweeping vistas of Wyoming, the refinement of New York City to the lush valleys of Argentina, Etta followed the outlaw men she loved so dearly. And then, she disappeared.

One woman, two separate lives. What became of the elusive Etta Place?" All in all, I say: SKIP IT - boring

After the Fall

 

Amazon writes, "In a world without power, Jason must fight for survival as he heads to the wilds of the Appalachian Mountains.

An electromagnetic pulse attack on the United States shuts down all power, communications and transportation. With no food deliveries, no vehicles working, society begins to unravel.

Starvation and death begin to reign and panic leads to violence. Marauding gangs roam the countryside, stealing, killing or worse and cities begin to wall themselves off from the danger outside.

As society breaks down, Jason heads to the Appalachian Mountains to avoid the growing anarchy, hoping to wait out the chaos. The gangs threaten but loneliness becomes his biggest enemy as the solitude envelopes him.

In a secluded mountain valley he finds a woman, Anne, and her two daughters struggling to survive. They are near starvation when Jason shows up.

Violence soon follows him. Survival will mean fighting…and killing. The power hasn’t returned, the country is still shattered and Jason and Anne must struggle for a new life in a dangerous world.

If you like “One Second After” and other survival/post-apocalyptic stories, you will enjoy this personal story of trying to survive and thrive after an EMP attack." All in all, I say: SKIP IT - it's humans fighting humans. At the end - it got creepy with the daughter of the woman he is seeing. 

Trust No One

 

Amazon writes, "It’s the worst possible time for Detective Kerri Devlin to be involved in an all-consuming double-homicide case. She’s locked in a bitter struggle with her ex-husband and teenage daughter, and her reckless new partner is anything but trustworthy.

Still, she has a job to do: there’s a killer at large, and a pregnant woman has gone missing. Once Devlin and her partner get to work, they quickly unearth secrets involving Birmingham’s most esteemed citizens. Each new layer of the investigation brings Devlin closer to the killer and the missing woman, who starts looking more like a suspect than a victim.

But just as answers come into view, the case twists, expands, and slithers into Devlin’s personal life. There’s a much more sinister game at work, one she doesn’t even know she’s playing—and she must unravel the truth once and for all to stop the killer before she loses everything." All in all, I say: SKIP IT - boring

The Killing Fog

 

Amazon writes, "Survivor of a combat school, the orphaned Bingmei belongs to a band of mercenaries employed by a local ruler. Now the nobleman, and collector of rare artifacts, has entrusted Bingmei and the skilled team with a treacherous assignment: brave the wilderness’s dangers to retrieve the treasures of a lost palace buried in a glacier valley. But upsetting its tombs has a price.

Echion, emperor of the Grave Kingdom, ruler of darkness, Dragon of Night, has long been entombed. Now Bingmei has unwittingly awakened him and is answerable to a legendary prophecy. Destroying the dark lord before he reclaims the kingdoms of the living is her inherited mission. Killing Bingmei before she fulfills it is Echion’s.

Thrust unprepared into the role of savior, urged on by a renegade prince, and possessing a magic that is her destiny, Bingmei knows what she must do. But what must she risk to honor her ancestors? Bingmei’s fateful choice is one that neither her friends nor her enemies can foretell, as Echion’s dark war for control unfolds." All in all, I say: SKIP IT boring

Post-Apocalyptic Nomadic Warriors

 

Amazon writes, "For Jerry, it was a chance to start over. But after years of traveling the wasteland and helping those in need, he’s starting to realize his heart isn’t really in it anymore. So, for the first time since the world ended, he’s considering a career change. Maybe something with more food and less getting shot at. But when he learns that an army of vicious raiders is planning to wipe out the peaceful town of New Hope, he realizes that he can’t escape what he truly is, a post-apocalyptic nomadic warrior.

Post-Apocalyptic Nomadic Warriors is the first book in the Duck & Cover Adventures, an action-packed, laugh-out-loud take on the post-apocalyptic genre readers are calling “Mad Max meets The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy.”" All in all, I say: SKIP IT - It started out being pretty funny. Then, all of a sudden gorillas drive away with an RV and ...I was out!

A Place Outside the Wild

 

Amazon writes, "Eight years after Z-Day, the surviving remnants of mankind face the unknown. The fences and walls kept the ravenous undead at bay until they wasted away. A once overwhelming foe has turned feeble and weak, and a world gone wild seems ripe for reclamation.

The scars of the long war run deep. And hope is a dangerous thing when the real enemy might just be the survivors themselves." All in all, I say: SKIP IT - it was boring

End Game (Calm Act Book 1)

 

Amazon writes, "Time ran out on climate change.

Super-storms. Government surveillance and breakdown.
Tech whisperer Dee Baker seeks safety.

Because the climate science was almost right. It was already too late. Weather disasters spin out of control. Food prices skyrocket. Refugees spill everywhere, including Americans fleeing the dust bowl, floods, and hurricanes.

Congress has a plan, the Calm Act. Its public face is martial law. The secret measures are worse.

Dee's job provides her classified access to the truth. They promise her an ark berth, secure in a sealed biosphere. But she doesn't trust them to deliver. She's also dating Adam, a fun ark-itect, and Zack, who plans to organize the community and take a stand outside the arks.

In this apocalyptic adventure, set in the U.S. Northeast, ordinary people face a mounting climate crisis, and a government that seems to have betrayed them.

Dee needs a plan. Because the storms won't wait." All in all, I say: SKIP IT - it was so boring.

Palm Springs

 

What you think is a comedy about Andy Samberg (SNL) attending a wedding and trying to hook up with the sister of the bride is really something more unsettling. It's funny and unexpected. JK Simmons (Law & Order) also stars. All in all, I say: SEE IT on Hulu. I don't want to write more about plot because I want you to be surprised. 

The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher

 

There are 4 movies in the series which plays on Amazon. Paddy Considine (Wolf) plays the real life Scotland Yard detective turned private detective in England. The 1860s England setting is really well done. He does a good job acting. I enjoyed the movies. All in all, I say: SEE IT

Peanut Butter Falcon

 

Dakota Johnson (Fifty Shades) works in a nursing home in the Carolinas; in a small town. A man with Down Syndrome who has become a ward of the state is placed in the home. He keeps trying to escape to go visit a wrestling camp he wants to join. He finally makes it with the help of a down on his luck fisherman played by Shia LaBeouf (Honey Boy). It's cute. All in all, I say: SEE IT on Hulu

Warrior Nun

 

On Netflix this supernatural show introduces nuns who fight demons. An angel gives his halo to a nun and it gives her power to see evil beings. A once paralyzed dead girl in Spain ends up with the halo. All hell breaks lose - pun intended. It's interesting. I hoped for less political angling and more fights. All in all, I say: SEE IT

Love on the Spectrum

 

In this Netflix show, autistic men and women learn how to interact with others, so they can go on dates and find love. It takes place in Australia. Some are just starting and others have been dating or living with someone for awhile. It's addictive. All in all, I say: SEE IT

Indian Matchmaker

 

On Netflix, this series follows a matchmaker. She compiles data on single Indians and helps them find mates. She says it for arranged marriages and not love marriages, but all the people want is a love match. It's addictive. All in all, I say: SEE IT

Love, Lies and Records

 

Season 1 on Acorn is about a woman who works in the records office. She is about to be promoted when all hell breaks lose. Her co-worker is tossed from his home for wanting to dress like a woman. Her husband catches a murder case. Her lover really wants her to be with him. The other woman that wants her job is blackmailing her, and so on. They try to make us care about her - she's a good person, but I didn't like her lying to her partner. All in all, I say: SKIP IT

Showbiz Kids

 

A documentary on HBO about - just like it says - actors who started when they were kids and the experiences they had. Wil Wheaton, Evan Rachel Wood, and Milla Jovoich are just a few of the people that are interviewed. It's super interesting. All in all, I say: SEE IT

Motherless Brooklyn

 

Edward Norton (Isle of Dogs) writes, directs, and acts in this film noir wanna be movie about a guy with Tourettes. Bruce Willis (Die Hard), Alec Baldwin (Rust), and Willem Dafoe (Siberia) also star. Norton's mentor is killed and he works to uncover the reason. It has to do with property and progress. It's not bad, but it's not great. It gets a little convoluted. Why he bad guys kill some people, but not others is never really clear. All in all, I say: SKIP IT 

Barkskins

 

On National Geographic or Hulu, this is an historical depiction of life in New France. David Thewlis (Avatar 2) is a land owner in the new colony trying to build a life for himself without being killed by the native population. Marcia Gay Harden (Moxie) is a widow who runs an Inn. She's trying to keep young girls safe in town from the men that are desperate for brides. There is a lot of political plays taking place. I really enjoy the acting and the plot. All in all, I say: SEE IT

Cursed

 

Gustaf Skarsgard (Vikings) is Merlin in this prequel to all King Arthur movies. The magical kingdoms are being hunted down and they need a leader. She is a reluctant leader, but one with power none the less. If you like fantasy and/or the Arthur legend then you will enjoy this. All in all, I say: SEE IT on Netflix

Motherland: Fort Salem

 

On Hulu, this show depicts an alternative timeline to the outcome of the Salem witch trials. In this version of history, a deal is made between the people of Massachusetts and witches. The witches agree to become the military for American. They fight all battles. If you are born a witch you are called to service. This series follows a group of women going through the training. It's a unique story line. It is designed for younger people, but I liked it. All in all, I say: SEE IT on Hulu. 

The Forgiven

 

Forest Whitaker (Respect) is Desmond Tutu during the reconciliation trails in South Africa. Eric Bana (Deadfall) is one of the worst offenders of torture from Apartheid. They have a few meetings where they each learn something about forgiving. It's a snapshot of one trial. It is powerful though. All in all, I say: SEE IT on Amazon.