Thursday Book Teaser: The Colonel's Lady

A weekly meme created by Carole (me) to share excerpts and book teasers from books. Anyone can join, just make sure not to give away any spoilers.

Happy Thursday everyone. Yet again Michigan is throwing me through a loop. It was raining yesterday and in the 50s, but now it's snowing and in the 20s. >.> I can't wait for winter to be over. Anyways....this week I'll be sharing a little teaser from The Colonel's Lady by Laura Frantz.

Page Number: 48

Starting at: random spot on the page

"Roxanna shut the trunk with a bang as if doing so could shut away the memory, but felt she'd slammed her finger in the lid instead. Even the slightest reminder stung, though she'd tried her best to forget. Indeed, she'd come downriver four hundred miles to escape it, all the way to this frightening place. She should have pitched the hat in the Ohio River along the way, but as it was her favorite, she didn't.

Lying down on the freshly made bed, she smiled at the rustle of the corn-husk tick, thinking of the feather on she'd left behind. Truly, her new life here on the far frontier hardly held one reminder of her old one. At home, in their small stone house, she'd had a fine four-poster bed with plump pillows and a calico cat that slept at her feet, rag rugs on polished pine floors, a clothespress scented with rose sachet. All such amenities were missing here. Thinking it left her feeling a bit hollow.

But, she decided, the wilderness was a fine antidote to all her regrets. Soon, very soon, she and Papa would leave this inhospitable place and be on their way to a new home. A new life. She needn't think again of Ambrose or the future she might have had......"

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<3CaroleRae

Movie Review: Unthinkable

Length: 1 hour & 36 minutes
Released: 2010
Genre: Thriller, Drama
Rating: R- language, violence, blood, torture scenes
Directed By: Gregor Jordan
Where I Got It: online (boyfriend sent me it)

SUMMARY:
Armed with the knowledge that their suspect has planted three nuclear bombs in three U.S. cities, black ops interrogator H (Samuel L. Jackson) and FBI Agent Helen Brody (Carrie-Anne Moss) resort to extreme methods to get the confession that could save millions of innocent lives. A former nuclear expert, Younger (Michael Sheen) has turned against his country. Shortly after Younger plants his bombs, he's apprehended by the nation's top anti-terrorism task force. But while Younger is in custody, the FBI can't get him to reveal where the nukes have been hidden. H may be able to get an answer, but once Agent Brody gets a glimpse of his tactics, she begins to wonder whether the good guys have finally stooped to the level of the terrorists, or if H is truly justified in fighting fire with fire.


TRAILER:

CAST:
"H" - Samuel L. Jackson
Helen Brody - Carrie-Anne Moss
Younger/Yusuf - Michael Sheen
Jack Saunders - Martin Donovon
Vincent - Gil Bellows

REVIEW:
It's been a while since I watched this...but I shall try and recall as many of my thoughts as I can on this film.

Alright, this was a movie that made you think. It made you feel and it made you question yourself as a person. It also makes you think about wrong vs. right. After watching this my views on torture and all that has shifted just a tad bit. Should removing fire with fire be the right choice? If torturing and possibly even killing someone will save the lives of millions, should we allow it to happen? Personally, would I kill or torture in the name of saving not only my fellow citizens, but other people from other countries as well? I simply loved the way this movie made me think.

I loved Samuel L. Jackson in this. He was excellent! I loved the rest of cast as well. I found the dialogue a little off at parts and cheesy once in a while, but overall the acting and plot made up for the dips in script. 

Honestly....I am curious as to why this film isn't more well-known...why it wasn't more popular.  

The only thing I didn't like about this was the torture scenes (well one scene in particular). I have a weird reaction when someone's fingers are broken or whatever. I don't know why it bugs me so much...it just does. I get queasy and I have to look away. Not just in movies or TV, but it real life as well. That one scene really made me gag and have to look away. 

Plus I wasn't a big fan of any of the characters or of even the end. There was something that bugged me. I can't lay a finger on it....but it bugged me. Don't get me wrong...it had a good ending and it fit well. But, gah, I don't know. Maybe I expected something different. 

All-in-all, it was a good film. I'm so glad boyfriend made me watch this. It's really thought provoking. Though the dialogue was left to be desired, the acting made up for it. I would recommend that people with tough stomachs watch this. I did well until the finger bit *shudders* Anyways, yeah, if you think you can handle it and you like movies that make you think. Watch this. I give it four stars overall. ^.^

Favorite Character(s): .....?.....
Not-so Favorite Character(s): Younger

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<3CaroleRae

Book Review: Turn Coat

Author: Jim Butcher

Title: Turn Coat (The Dresden Files #11)
Genre: Mystery, Action, Sci-Fi, Urban Fantasy, Paranormal
Pages: 420

First Published: April 7th, 2009
Where I Got It: my shelf (Christmas gift from Boyfriend)

"When it comes to the magical ruling body known as the White Council, Harry keeps his nose clean and his head down. For years, the Council has held a death mark over Harry's head. He's still thought of as a black sheep by some;and as a sacrificial lamb by others. But none regard him with more suspicion and disdain than Morgan, a veteran Warden with a grudge against anyone who bends the rules.

Like Harry.

So when Morgan turns up asking for help, Harry isn't exactly eager to leap into action. Morgan has been accused of treason against the White Council;and there's only one final punishment for that crime. he's on the run, he wants his name cleared, and he needs someone with a knack for backing the underdog.

Like Harry.

Now Harry must uncover a traitor within the Council, keep a less than agreeable Morgan under wraps, and avoid coming under scrutiny himself. And a single mistake may cost someone his head.

Like Harry..."

This is the 11th installment of the Dresden Files. However, this is the first book I've read in Jim Butler's series. It seemed to stand well as a stand-alone. There were a few inside jokes and a few back-stories that went WAY over my head, but kuddos to Jim Butler for keeping newbies on the same page as veterans of the series. 

First of all....I love Harry. God, Harry was an amazing character. Though I'm not big into wizards and that side of the supernatural, but man....he is my favorite wizard. He reminds me a lot of male, wizard version of Anita Blake. Kick-ass, witty, funny, honorable, and sassy-to-boot. I wish Harry was real because I would want to be his friend. 

Honestly...I liked nearly all the characters that joined in on the fun. Even Morgan...Harry's arch-nemesis. From what I know, I know I should not like Morgan and whatnot. Morgan was not a nice guy to Harry in the past and was generally an ass, but I liked him. He was just doing his job and he can't help it that he feels Harry is a lose cannon. Morgan has been alive for many years and has experienced much. So I can his doubt that Harry can be an exception and be "changed". I don't know the whole story on what Harry supposedly did. But again...many veteran fans probably wanted Harry to turn in Morgan, but again...Harry is awesome and got over his hatred for Morgan and decided to help an innocent man. 

It was a fun book and I enjoyed the ride. It took me a while to finish, but there was a lot going on (in the book) and like a sweet wine, you need to just sip on it. Also, life got in the way...oh well. I also give kuddos to the author for keeping me unsure how the book would end and I was rather surprised and left agasp. I did NOT see the ending ending the way it did. Nope. I had my theories and my guesses, but none of them were even close. Meh. 

I was happy that there was much more supernatural beings running around then just wizards and warlocks and etc. There are demons, shifters, werewolves, vampires, and more. I'm not huge on wizards and witches, so the including of other beings kept my attention. I especially loved how Harry is buddies with a small group of were-wolves. That made me smile. ^.^

In the end, it was a fun ride. Though it is book 11, I felt like I had a good handle on what was going on. There is a lot of back-story I am missing, but I still enjoyed what I read. Harry was freakin' amazing and I wish he really existed because I would MAKE him be my friend. hahaha. I also loved the interplay with the other characters. Though every single person seemed to be "perfect" and "lovely", it didn't bug me. Oh well. Perhaps I'll backtrack and read some of the other books of this series. We shall see. 

I would recommend this to those that love fantasy and paranormal books. There was a touch of romance in there, but mainly the book was a mystery, action-ie, and magically inclined book with a kick-ass hero. Haha. I grant this book 4 stars. In all reality it is more like 3.5, but I rounded.

Favorite Character(s): Harry, Morgan, Butters, all the wolves, Mouse (Harry's faithful dog), Molly (don't know why, but I like her), Thomas, and Justine.

Not-so Favorite Character(s): Ana (>.>)

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<3CaroleRae

Wordless Wednesday