Tuesday, June 17, 2014

Review - Forever Amish by Kate Lloyd


Forever Amish
Legacy of Lancaster, book there
by Kate Lloyd
Publisher:
David C. Cook
Pub. Date:
June 1, 2014
ISBN: 978-0781408745
Pages: 368  
Buy Link: http://ow.ly/xxswg 
Blog Tour: http://litfusegroup.com/author/klloyd

Review:

Yep, another week with me reviewing another Amish fiction title. You would think I would eventually get bored reading the same genre all the time. Yes, some of the plots are repeated and it gets a little cliched, but I'm never bored reading the genre. Actually, I also get a smile on my face I get a chance to review a new Amish title.

Forever Amish is written by Kate Lloyd, who has several books and novellas under her belt - all set in the Amish world, and is the the third and final book in the Legacy of Lancaster Trilogy. I recall reviewing the first book, Pennsylvania Patchwork, but missed out in reading the second installment, Leaving Lancaster.

The third installment centers on Sally Bingham, a woman who needs a break from her current life. She wonders if she is making the right choice of marrying her boyfriend, Donald, as he obviously doesn't care about her ailing father. Then there is the thing about her mother - well about who her mother is.

One thing in her life that she does has control of is her dogs. She raises them and train them for shows. Out-of-the blue, Sally receives several emails from an Amish woman, Lizzie Zook, asking her advice about buying a dog. Looking for a break from her life, Sally drives to the Lancaster County for the weekend, hoping to meet up with Lizzie.


Review - Out Of The Ruins by Karen Barnett


Out Of The Ruins
Golden Gate Chronicles, book 1
by Karen Barnett
Publisher: Abingdon Press
Pub. Date: May 6, 2014
ISBN: 978-1426780578
Pages: 320
Buy Link: http://ow.ly/xlcaD
Blog Tour: http://litfusegroup.com/author/kbarnett

Review:

Though I do consider myself a big historical fiction reader, I'm not a fan of books set in the early 1900s, as I prefer the 1800s or what is wildly known as the 'wild wild west.' That being said, I do have a fascination about San Francisco, which is weird because I have never even visited California.

Out Of The Ruins by Karen Barnett is the first installment in the Golden Gate Chronicles and is set in San Francisco in 1905. By just looking at the cover, I thought the plot might involve a young female journalist or something in that nature, but I was completely wrong. What I got was an historical accurate look at the life during this era, along with an emotional plot involving a non-believer, Abby Fischer, whom has lost all hope that her sister, Cecelia, will ever get better from her illness.

Her sister has seen about every doctor in the area and all of them cannot help her, that is until a handsome young apprentice, Dr. Robert King, comes into their lives. Traditional doctors don't care for experimental methods, but Robert wants use a risky treatment in the attempt to save Cecelia's life.

Monday, June 16, 2014

Blu-ray Review - Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey


 

Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyessy
Narrated by Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson
Studio: 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
Release Date: June 10, 2014
Retail: $59.98
ASIN: B00IWULSTC
Running Time: 572 minutes
Rating: Not Rated
Buy Link: Amazon



Review: 

Now available to own Blu-ray is the exciting documentary, Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey, hosted by astrophysicist Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson. Special features include an audio commentary on the premiere episode, Library of Congress Dedication, Cosmos at Comic-Con, Cosmos: The Voyage Continues and an Interactive Cosmic Calendar.

The 13-part documentary serves as a sequel to the award-winning 1980 PBS 13-part series, Cosmos: A Personal Voyage, that was co-created and hosted by the late Carl Sagan. Two of Sagan's collaborators, Ann Druyan and Steve Soter, returned to produce this follow-up, along side Family Guy's Seth MacFarlane, Mitchell Cannold, Brannon Braga and Jason Clark.

The series takes a look at the cosmos through the "Ship of the Imagination," in which Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson, along with dazzling special effects and animation, explains how the Big Bang occurred and origin of Earth's evolution. We are introduced to past scientists through the use animation and we are giving a brief glance of the what the future could bring.

Saturday, June 14, 2014

Blu-ray Review - Joy Ride 3: Roadkill


 

Joy Ride 3: Roadkil
Director: Declan O'Brien
Starring: Jesse Hutch, Kirsten Prout, Ben Hollingsworth, Dean Armstrong, Ken Kirzinger
Studio: 20th Century Fox Home Enterainment
Release Date: June 17, 2014
Retail: $29.99
ASIN: B00JF5GAY6
Running Time: 96 minutes
Rating: UNRATED

Review:

Arriving on Blu-ray Combo Pack, DVD and Digital HD on Tuesday June 17, 2014 is Joy Ride 3: Roadkill UNRATED. The second sequel in the thriller franchise is directed by Declan O'Brien (Wrong Turn 3 - 5) and stars Jesse Hutch (Kyle XY), Kristen Prout (Kyle XY, The Lying Game), Ben Hollingsworth (The Tomorrow People), Dean Armstrong (Wrong Turn 4) and Ken Kirzinger (Freddy vs Jason). Special Features include Road Rage: The Blood, Sweat And Gears Of Joy Ride 3, Riding Shotgun With Declan: Director's Die-Aries; Finding Large Marge, audio commentary and deleted scenes.

The original Joy Ride thrilled critics in 2001 and became a blockbuster in rentals. The film was co-written by J. J. Abrams and starred the late Paul Walker, Steve Zahnand and Leelee Sobieski. The film chronicled two brothers and their friend who are tormented by a crazed trucker, Rusty Nails. Seven years later (minus the original cast) a direct-to-DVD sequel, Joy Ride 2: Dead Ahead was released.

Besides from the killer trucker Rusty Nails, no other previous characters return for the third installment, Joy Ride 3: Roadkill. The sequel centers on Jordan Wells (played by Jesse Hutch) and group of friends, who are all heading to Road Rally 1000 to enter his racing car. Sadly, the group take a wrong turn down the "massacre road" and have an encounter with a semi-truck, which happens to have Rusty Nails (played by Ken Kirzinger) behind the wheel. Jordan and his gang are hunted down by the crazed trucker driver, leading them all down a path to hell.


Friday, June 13, 2014

Book Blogger Hop: June 13th - 19th

Book Blogger Hop

Welcome to the new Book Blogger Hop!

If you want schedule next week's post, click here to find the next prompt question. To submit a question, fill out this form.

What to do:

1. Post on your blog answering this question:

  This week's question is submitted by Elizabeth!

Do you think your blog reflects your personality? Does it show organization, a care-free style, or some other trait?

2. Enter the link to your post in the linky list below (enter your Blog Name and the direct link to your post answering this week’s question. Failure to do so will result in removal of your link).


3. Visit other blogs in the list and comment on their posts. Try to spend some time on the blogs reading other posts and possible become a new follower.  The purpose of the hop is to give bloggers a chance to follow other blogs, learn about new books, befriend other bloggers, and receive new followers to your own blog.
  

My Answer: 

Yes, I think my blog reflects my personality. I'm a coffee lover and my blog's theme/layout really reflects my love of coffee. And of course I love reading books, which is explains why this blog is primarily a book blog.




Linky List:

DVD Review - Transformers Animated: The Complete Series



Transformers Animated: The Complete Series
Voice Cast: David Kaye, Corey Burton, Bumper Robinson, Bill Fagerbakke, Jeff Bennett, Tara Strong, Tom Kenny, Susan Blu
Studio: Shout! Factory
Release Date: June 10, 2014
Retail: $37.97
ASIN: B00ITAQ2MS
Running Time: 930 minutes
Rating: TV-Y7
Buy Link: Amazon

Review:

Shout! Factory is taking advantage of the upcoming release of Michael Bay's Transformers: Age of Extinction by re-releasing previous animated series to DVD. Transformers Animated: The Complete Series was released this week, featuring all 42 episodes on a six-disc set.

Right on the heels of the first Michael Bay's Transformers blockbusters, Transformers Animated debuted on the Cartoon Network in late December 2007 and ended in May 2003. Unlike several of the previous animated series, Transformer Animated isn't cannon with the original 80s series, but instead it was reboot with a more kid friendly designs.

The series blasts away with the three-part pilot, Transform and Roll Out!, featuring the Autobots as repair bots lead by Optimus Prime (voiced by David Kaye). His team consists of Ratchet, Bulkhead, Prowl and Bumblebee. Their destinies forever change when they discover the Allspark on an asteroid. Before long, Megatron and his Decepticons (Blitzwing, Lugnut, Blackarachnia and Starscream) arrive to take possession of the Allspark at all costs. A battle wages and the Autobots' ship is damaged and crash lands on Earth.

While the Autobots go into stasis, the remains of Megatron is found by a scientist, Isaac Sumdac. The pilot jumps fifty years into the future, where Sumdac is now a professor in the futuristic version of Detroit. Optimus Prime and the Autobots awake from their stasis and defends the people of Detroit from a monster, resulting in the Autobots becoming heroes. Their biggest fan is young daughter, Sari.

Thursday, June 12, 2014

Review - A Season of Change


A Season of Change
Seasons in Pinecraft, book 1
by Lynette Sowell
Publisher: Abingdon Press
Pub. Date: May 20, 2014
ISBN: 978-1426753558
Pages: 304
Buy Link: Paperback
Blog Tour: http://litfusegroup.com/author/lsowell

Review:

As many of my blog readers already know, I am a huge Amish fiction fan. Ten or twelve years ago, there were only a very few authors writing in this genre, but now there are dozens of new authors popping up every month with a new title. I can't keep up with all the new writers, so I only read the books that are written by authors that I'm familiar with. That being said, I will occasionally read a new title by a newbie author, especially if it strictly for reviewing on this blog.

Several weeks ago I was sent a copy of A Season of Change, book one in the Seasons in Pinecraft series, written by Lynette Sowell. Though the author isn't exactly a newbie, as she has ten novels under her belt, this is the first Amish title I have read by the author.

Normally when I receive a book to review, I will pile the books in order of the tour date and read them in that order, but not with this book, as I read it as soon I received it. I guess my review was suppose to be published a few weeks ago, but I never received the tour information. I doubled checked my inbox and I never received anything. Or maybe I accidentally deleted the email.