Saturday, March 31

Movie Review: Beerfest (2006)


Film Title: Beerfest 
Length: 1h and 50 min 
Released: 2006
Genre:  Comedy
Rating: R
Where I Got It: Netflix


SUMMARY:

Two brothers travel to Germany for Oktoberfest, only to stumble upon a secret, centuries-old competition described as a "Fight Club" with beer games.






TRAILER:


REVIEW:
Ooooo what to say about this piece of cinema? It was for sure a random watch on a cloudy day that needed some comedy. My friend suggested this and thus we watched it. 

This was for sure a mindless comedy with a decent plot. It did make me laugh and cheer for the underdogs. The only two goals of the movie. It hit those two goals and nothing else really. Well....this was for sure a boy's movie I believe. Not saying a girl, like me, wouldn't laugh, but it was for sure a movie that focused on guys, beer, and jokes.

The story follows two brothers named Jan and Todd. Their grandfather passed away and they decide to travel to Munich to fulfill a family tradition of spreading the ashes during Oktoberfest. While there, they are told of a secret beer competition called Beerfest. They go and they get their butt kicked and kicked out of the country by Baron Wolfgang who accuses their grandpa of stealing his secret beer recipe. To get revenge, the brothers decide to get their friends together and train for the next year. 

There were some references and jokes that went over my head since I am not crazy about beer. *dodges beer cans being tossed at me* Yes, yes. I prefer other types of boozes so I did not get the love of the beer. Overall, a mindless funny movie about friends and booze. 

Not much else to say....

So, in the end, if you need a silly movie while you get ready for bed this is a good one. Just don't expect anything crazy from this film. Just a silly movie about drinking and dudes trying to win a drinking competition. I'll give this 3 stars. I'm feeling nice today. It is Easter weekend after all. 



Thursday, March 29

Blog All About It: Favorite Scent(s)



This month’s prompt is “Favorite Scent”. I have been struggling how I want to proceed with this prompt. I can easily tell you my favorite scents or share some pictures. I’ve been going back and forth on how to approach this prompt. 


In the end, I think I’ll list my favorite scents and then share some book titles I randomly found on Goodreads that has my favorite scent in the title. Sound like fun? I think so ;) I literally just typed the name of the scent into the search bar and picked whatever one popped up. 


There is no order in my list. 

Japanese Cherry Blossoms – One of my absolute favorite scents. I have SO many lotions and scrubs and perfumes with this scent. Beautifuuuullll. 


Photography SAKURA: Japanese cherry blossom by Ryota Mizukami

Cranberry – Not sure why, but I LOVE the smell of Cranberries. So sweet and sour and yum. 

Cranberry Queenby Kathleen DeMarco


Hot Coco – I actually have a candle that smells just like this. I did have a plug-in for my basement. So sweet. 


Hot Coco (The Unbridled Series #2)by Cindy McDonald 

Ocean Breeze – This has been a longtime favorite. I adore the ocean and I adore this scent. 
Ocean Breeze by Cepi R. Dini 


Cherry – Another fruity one. You can tell I really love the sweet smelling ones. 


Cherry by Mary Karr



Amethyst Lily – My last one I’ll add. This is a new favorite of mine. It smells SO good. 


Amethyst Lily by Rebecca E Ray






There are so many scents I adore, but those are just some special ones that come to mind. I am curious about some of these books now…mhmmmm….maybe I’ll add a couple to my TBR pile….




Wednesday, March 28

Book Review: The Demon Within by Josh Gagnier

Author: Josh Gagnier
Title: The Demon Within
Genre: Fantasy, Paranormal
Pages: ebook
Published: February 3rd 2015
Where I Got It: My shelf (Given to me by the author/publisher for my honest and unbiased opinion)



Joe grew up listening to the voice in his head. It helped him through school, helped him gain wealth in his career. 

The final temptation of power was too much. He hadn't considered the cost. 

Now he must find a way to defeat The Demon Within. 

Little does he know, his every move is being recorded. Every misstep is being judged. As he gets ever closer to winning over his demon, heavenly eyes watch from above. Some root for his success while others hope he'll fail. 

While Joe fights his demon on the battlefront, the angel Michael fights for his Soul. 

Will Joe win out? Will Michael be able to save Joe's soul? 

Or will the Demon win and thrust Joe into the Abyss.



First…I must say…HOLY CANNOLI. This was not AT all what I was expecting. When I closed this book I was blinking and had to reflect what I had just read. 

The story follows Joe who is battling his demon and his goodness. He stumbles into this world of witches, demons, and so much more. Poor guy has had some tough breaks for sure. It seems like no matter what he does the people he loves either get killed or hurt. The story goes along and you learn things that you do not expect. I had no idea what was going to happen next!

I will admit it took me a little while to really get into the story. Honestly, I feel like I was confused the first few pages. Once I got a grasp on the world and what was going on, I was able to really enjoy the story. Maybe this was done on purpose? Joe is confused too. Sooo it makes sense. 

This was short and I wanted more. There was a cliffhanger, but it was a good one. Not too cliffhanger-ish if you get what I mean. It was done well and I do want to read the next one!!
I felt bad for Joe…hopefully he catches a break in the next one. 

I adored his “monitor” Belath. Hopefully, we learn more about him in the future!! Maybe someday get a short story about his past ;) 

In the end, this was really good. The beginning was a little rocky, but once I got my footing in this world I was able to enjoy the journey. I had NO clue what was going to happen next. I tried to guess, but all my guesses were wrong. It was nice! I’m usually good at guessing. I do recommend this! I’ll stamp this with 4 stars. 


Tuesday, March 27

Tell Me Something Tuesday: Mean Girl/Boy Theme


Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly discussion post on Rainy Day Ramblings where Rainy discuss a wide range of topics from books to blogging. Weigh in and join the conversation by adding your thoughts in the comments. If you want to do your own post, grab the question and answer it on your blog.

How do you feel about the whole mean girl/boy theme?

This is a classic theme, especially in YA stories. There has been some good stuff that uses this as a theme, but overall? Over-used. Super over-used and in some ways not realistic. 

Why not realistic? Sure there are some mean boys that I would go to school with or meet and some were attractive. However, I would never fawn over them and wish they were not mean to me. No. Sorry. When people are mean you do not or should not want to date them or be friends with them or even be in the same room as them. Not a real thing at all...at least maybe in my world. Not sure how others feel. 

Also, I feel like it is over-the-top. I was bullied in school, but even my bullies were not as MEAN as these type of characters. 

Sometimes the whole theme can be interesting, but 8/10 times it is over-used and not realistic or even over-the-top. 

What do you guys think?



Mamyia enjoying the sunshine. The snow is almost gone!!!






Monday, March 26

B's Monday Review: Daughter of Eden by Chris Beckett

Angie Redlantern is the first to spot the boats—five abreast with men in metal masks and spears standing proud, ready for the fight to come. As the people of New Earth declare war on the people of Mainground, a dangerous era has dawned for Eden. After generations of division and disagreement, the two populations of Eden have finally broken their tentative peace, giving way to bloodshed and slaughter. Angie must flee with her family across the pitch black of Snowy Dark to the place where it all started, the stone circle where the people from Earth first landed, where the story of Gela—the mother of them all—began. It is there that Angie witnesses the most extraordinary event, one that will change the history of Eden forever. It will alter their future and re-shape their past. It is both a beginning and an ending. It is the true story of Eden. 

Paperback, 400 pages
Published September 1st 2017 by Atlantic Books (first published October 6th 2016)
Dark Eden #3
Science fiction
Library

My thoughts:
This world is so effed up, omg, soooo effed up. But when I am there in the moment I do not see how effed up it is, I just see people struggling to make a living.

Book 1 was amazing, the other two did not live up to amazing, but they are still good. I guess it can only hit you as many times how effed up it is.

The book takes place in the present and a bit in the past (I did prefer the present bit and did want it to be all about that.) In the past we see Angie Redlantern follow a woman, a shadow speaker. They go around and preach the word of Mother Gela.

In the present Angie and her family has to flee as war has come to their planet. The Johnsfolk and Davidsfolk clash (because they are all freaking idiots.) And then visitors from earth comes.

And it hits me, damn, this is effed up! Until that I was in the moment, but then I saw it with the eyes of the astronauts.  They come to find the remains of a woman and man. Stranded on an alien planet 400 years ago. Instead they find people running around in animal skins and fighting with spears. And all these people come from 1 woman and 1 man. Yeah...gross. Many have mutations, facial and feet. Those are then lesser than the rest. They are inbred and indoctrinated. 

This was one freaky series. Dark inbred science fiction.

Sunday, March 25

Joint Discussion: Iron Gold by Pierce Brown






Hello all! Blodeuedd and I will be discussing "Iron Gold" by Pierce Brown. Blodeudd is in green and I am in red.  

Author: Pierce Brown
Title: Iron Gold (Red Rising Saga #4)
Genre: Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Pages: ebook
Being Published: Jan 16th, 2018 
Where I Got It: My Shelf (Amazon)

A decade ago, Darrow was the hero of the revolution he believed would break the chains of the Society. But the Rising has shattered everything: Instead of peace and freedom, it has brought endless war. Now he must risk everything he has fought for on one last desperate mission. Darrow still believes he can save everyone, but can he save himself?

And throughout the worlds, other destinies entwine with Darrow’s to change his fate forever: 

A young Red girl flees tragedy in her refugee camp and achieves for herself a new life she could never have imagined.

An ex-soldier broken by grief is forced to steal the most valuable thing in the galaxy—or pay with his life.

And Lysander au Lune, the heir in exile to the sovereign, wanders the stars with his mentor, Cassius, haunted by the loss of the world that Darrow transformed, and dreaming of what will rise from its ashes.




Do you want to start? ;)


Sighssss I guess. LOL! Soooo. The first half was awesome. Second half? No. Just a big fat ol’ yawn. What about you?


Omg omg, it was so DULL LIKE boring, horrible. Blergh. LOL. Honestly everything was boring except for Darrow and even he had dull moments.But he was the saving grace cos else this would have been a DNF. I was very disappointed.


Yes, Darrow wasn’t bad, but he irritated me. I feel like all he wanted was war even when some sort of peace was there. IDK. But I agree, I would’ve DNFed this without Darrow. I am so bummed. This really felt like a copy-paste from his past books. He tried to introduce new characters but they were super bleh. No one cares. Keep to the original cast. I didn’t want to read those POVs. Only the main people’s.


Exactly! That girl Lyria, yawn! Ephraim, double yawn, Lysander, well he had moments but mostly yawn.
Darrow’s lust for war this not bother me, that place needs war cos everyone are idiots. It is not a society that can stand as it is now either. A senate, psawh, I say every planet and moon needs their own senate. Now everyone is running wild and dying.


But yes wtf 10 more years of war? Why was this book even necessary!?


And why did Darrow think it a good idea to settle down with someone FROM the senate? Like that was a great idea. SMH. And I agree this society sucks. I just wished that we didn’t have this book and just went over the last couple of years of the war and be done with it. This was a veryyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy loooooooooooooooooongggggggggg bridge to the next book which I think is the finale? Gawd knows.


Are you sure. You know so there are not one in between? Ugh. But yes how the F can they even save this place? And since I do not care for anyone except for Darrow and the Howlers and I say LET THEM BURN


I’m not 100% sure. I hope there is just one more….this series cannot be dragged out anymore! I agree...terrible place. Let it burn. Darrow should’ve taken his kid and wife ages ago and live somewhere remote. Not worth the price in blood honestly.


I certainly not like the wife anymore either. Sigh, I mean, sure book 1 had issues but it made it up in the end. But this one, everything was all blargh. POVS I could not care for att all. I mean that thief, I remember nothing? Lyria, why are the big shots even giving her the time of the day? Make us care. Instead we have the same stupid society. Nothing changed! I was still horrified for all the poor Pinks. Anyone that seemed to have made it out were Reds and they were in camps.


Ugh that wife. I liked her in the past but she did go overboard. I get the law is the law, but c’mon...Sighs. Poor Pinks. Poor everyone.

I am sure he is gonna kill Darrow and I will never ever ever ever forgive him. ...EVER


Of COURSE HE WILL! Last book, last paragraph. BOOM dead. He saved the world and everyone is happy, but he dies. That is how it will end. I would be surprised if it doesn’t end that way. SMH. I honestly do not think I want to read the next one. How about you?


Sometimes I have a really difficult time letting go. If there is only one left then I can skim through it. If there are two then I will just read reviews.


Sighssssss I do want to know how this terrible world ends. And it better end in flames. It better not win. I will be SO mad if nothing happens and everything ends the same and Darrow dies for nothing. Nope. I’ll fling the book! Soooo I’ll play it by ear when the next one comes out ;) Hopefully it is the final one.


Ugh, that would be soooooo depressing!!! After everything he dies and nothing changes! I feel that these planets need someone *coughs* like the Emperor to hold everyone in check. AT least it sort of worked then ;) Darrow for Emperor. And there is another trilogy when someone takes him down. Ok let aliens come and wipe them all out.


Hahaha. That would be fun! Darrow would crumble though too many enemies.


True. I am sad. I liked the trilogy cos it was dark and bloody and I was all WAR!!!! Bloodlust!!! And this one felt like politics and bureaucracy.


I can see that. I am bummed too because all the others were good. Nothing great, but this one? Super boooo. The first half had me hooked, but then things fell apart for me. He should’ve ended after 200 and the rest could’ve been part of the final book (a more edited version).


Gosh, yes it was way too long. Almost 600 pages of boring. No thanks. I say that read the trilogy and then do NOT continue.


Agreed. Not worth it. Maybe skip this and read the next one (maybe - it hasn’t come out yet).


I was reading an interview, 2 more, sigh, 2 freaking more. Oh and there might be a tv series, damn, that will be bloody and considering there are rapes there too...maybe too dark for telly. It has to be adult then, considering that this is YA.
Oh oh, how is this still YA? Everyone was adults now! As they were before too when thinking of it


OH.MY.GOD. 2 MORE????? Ugh. I am curious about the TV series tho...maybe a Netflix show or something? Too bloody to be put on TV unless it is a late night show. Mhmmm intriguing.
AND I forgot this was a YA to be honest. Woah...he certainly has pushed the limits of the genre. *blink* *blink* Sooooo much blood.


A 33 year old main character, yup very YA ;)
But I still want to know what happens! I will skim the last one. The second one I can read reviews of


That might be the plan. Skip the next one and read the final. HAHAHA we are horrible people.


But then again, we have read 4 books for this. We should continue. Put on a brave face and just do it


I guesssssssss we came this far I suppose. Maybe I’ll just read Darrow’s POV. Skip the rest. I do not care about them AT all.


Yes, Darrow only! We have a deal. And so sorry for picking a crappy one but we read the previous ones. Sigh. Hope is evil


Hope is evil. BUT who knows? Maybe the next two will be good? This was just a crap on in the series? I’ve experienced that before. THERE IS ALWAYS HOPE!!!!!! THE PINKS WILL RISE AGAIN!


Power to the pinks!


PINNNNNNNNNK!!!!!!!!!!


Lol, time is running way. SO the end?


Yesss, the end! Until next time!



About the Authors
Carole and Blodeuedd have been blogging a long while now. The last couple of years the epic duo have been discussing books, watching movies, and even wetting the pen and sharing their stories with the worldwide web. They both love cats, chocolate, and a good story.





Saturday, March 24

Movie Review: The Autopsy of Jane Doe (2016)


Film Title: The Autopsy of Jane Doe 
Length: 1h and 26min 
Released: 2016
Genre:  Horror, Mystery, Thriller
Rating: R
Where I Got It: Friend's DVD


SUMMARY:

A father and son, both coroners, are pulled into a complex mystery while attempting to identify the body of a young woman, who was apparently harboring dark secrets.






TRAILER:



REVIEW:
My friend brought this over while we were hanging out. It was a random one and she couldn’t even remember where they got this. So why not watch the mystery horror film with a mysterious origin? ;)

This movie follows a father and son duo who are coroners and help the police figure out who and when someone dies. They are presented with a random and mysterious dead body of a young girl who is somehow connected to a three-person murder. Well…things are not what they seem once they do some “digging” into the body. Things get scary and dangerous pretty dang quick. 

This was such a morbid film. The scariness is increased just for the simple fact these two men work on dead bodies. A great setting! Certainly scary by itself. 

Those eyes…they haunt me.  LOL. No, but seriously. Even before learning more about this dead body she gave me the creeps. Once we find out more, she turned into a more ominous and scary “person”.  The scariest aspect of this body is that she legit is just a body. No talking, no moving, nothing, but she is horrifying. 

The scenes of digging into the body were gross, but it added to the film. This is not for the weak of stomach. 

That ending PISSED ME OFF. For real. That was such a crappy ending. After everything and all the promises? And that is how they end it? I did get a chuckle at the toe, but still…I was not amused. I feel it took away from the story in a way. Hard to explain without EXPLAINING what happened. SUPER GIRL!!!!!!!!!!! *shakes fist* UGH! Sorry…it just angered me. 

What else to say about this one?

This was creepy and scary. The story had a good twist on the body and I liked it. I hated the ending though. Maybe it is just me though. I do recommend it if you want to be scared and creeped out. Just be warned there is some dissecting and digging at the body (ies). They are morticians after all. LOL

In the end, I’ll give this 3 stars. Nearly a 4, but I was super mad at the ending. Def recommend this for horror movie fans.