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Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: WWE Vengeance 2003; Brand: Brock Lesnar; Review: goods fights...goods moves...great night...the best smackdown's ppv I ever seen. Final U.S Championship Tournament:Chris Benoit vs Eddie Guerrero Good match with good wrestles,good ending. 6/10 Indecent Proposal Match:Billy Gunn with Torrie Wilson vs Jamie Noble It was too short but it was entertaining. 6/10 WWE Tag Team Championship Match: The World's Greatest Tag Team vs Billy Kidman,Rey Mysterio The greatest match before the triple threat match in the night,incredible moves...619...all in 1 match .Too bad ending. 8/10 Sthephanie McMahon vs Sable I seen better women matches. 5/10 The APA Invitational It was a short funniest bar match. Undertaker vs John Cena It was good ,John had a good fight but nobody beats the Undertaker. 8/10 Zach Gowen vs Mr. McMahon This boy no doubt is a WWE superstar. 8/10 Triple Threat Match for the WWE Championship: Brock Lesnar vs Big Show vs Kurt Angle The best fight... three incredibles wrestles...goods slams...f5s...chockeslams...Angleslams. 9/10; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: WWE Judgment Day 2003 VHS; Brand: Brock Lesnar; Review: Good Judgement day..with great action..I liked it. F.B.I&John Cena vs Chris Benoit,Rhyno&Spanky: Very good opener...Benoit was the best of the match because Rhyno did nothing. 6.5/10 La Resistance vs Test&Scott Steiner: Regular match..no too much action by La Resistance. 6.5/10 WWE tag team title,Ladder match: Team Angle vs Eddie Guerrero&Tajiri. Very good fight...good moves but,not the best ladder match. 7.5/10 IC title,Battle Royal match: The Big Valbowski vs Christian vs Kane vs RVD vs Booker-T vs Goldust vs Lance Storm vs Chris Jericho vs Test. Bad opener when all of the wrestlers took Kane out of the ring..boring..bad ending. 7/10 Bikini match: Sable vs Torrie Wilson. HOT!!!!!!!!!!! 100/10 Rowdy Roddy Piper vs Mr. America. 2 legends..regular match..no too goods moves. 5.5/10 World Heavyweight Title: HHH vs Big Daddy (Kevin Nash). Great match,great performance by both,good ending. 8.5/10 Women's Title,Fatal 4 Way: Jazz vs Jackie vs Victoria vs Stratus. Very decent fight..very short..like allways. 6/10 WWE Title,Stretcher Match: Brock Lesnar vs Big Show. The best fight of both. Great action...espectacular ending by Lesnar with the truck..good performance...best than the other Stretcher Match. 9.5/10; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: WWE Summerslam 2003 VHS; Brand: Kurt Angle; Review: Very good ppv,good DVD, No extras. World Tag Team Title: La Resistance vs Dudley Boyz. Very bad ending...I thought the Dudley were gonna win. 6.5/10 Undertaker vs A-Train. Good fight with 2 monsters. Funny ending when Taker helds Sable and then Stephanie assaulted her. 7.5/10 Shane O'Mac vs Bischoff. Very strange matchup. When Stone Cold came to the ring, the match bacame good. 8/10 Fatal 4 Way for the U.S Title: Eddie Guerrero vs Chris Benoit vs Rhyno vs Tajiri. Espectacular matcup like all this 4 wrestlers matches. 8.5/10 WWE Title: Kurt Angle vs Brock Lesnar.- Very incredible match . I never Seen Lesnar Give up. 8/10 RVD vs Kane(unmasked). Good match(the first of unmasked Kane),with RVD dominating all thje match, but the end was horrorific. 8/10 Eliminatio Chamber Match for the W heavyweight Title: HHH vs Randy Orton vs Jericho vs Goldberg vs Michael vs Nash. Great matchup,but wort tha the other. 9.5/10; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: WWE Survivor Series 2003; Brand: Brock Lesnar; Review: Awesome night....matches...performances 1.-5 on 5 survivor series match:Team Angle(angle,benoit,hardcore holly,cena&bradshaw)vs Team Lesnar(lesnar,morgan,big show,jones,a-train)Good match but bad opening when holly was eliminated by DQ...good job by Cena and Angle...very good ending. 8/10 2.-Basham bros. vs Los guerreros. very bad match from Los guerreros. 6/10 3.-Women's title: Lita vs Molly Holly. Bad,bad,bad,bad,Molly won. 5/10 4.-Ambulance match: Shane vs Kane. Great action...I thought Kane was died...but,by a Tomstone won this brutal match. 9/10 5.-5 on 5 survivor series match: Team Austin (Michael,dudley Boyz,Booker-t&RVD vs Team Bischoff (Steiner,christian,Jericho,Henry&Orton)The best match in the night...Much better than the other 5 on 5 match...awesome performance by Shawn Michael. 10/10 6.-Buried Alive match: Undertaker vs Mr. McMahon. The match started and in the first taker's punch McMahon was busted open...the match was short but not too bad...the ending was the worst part of the match when Kane came to help Mcmahon and buried taker alive. 8.5/10 7.-World Title:HHH vs Goldberg. Good match but is always the same sh*t(The evolution interference)but Goldberg kill everybody who stay in his match...finally Goldberg retains the title by a jackjammer. 9/10.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dragon Ball Z: Wrath of the Dragon; Brand: Masako Nozawa; Review: Finally came to Dvd this great movie...i`ve seen dragonball z since i was 8 years and its great...its a shame that in USA this anime came soo late,you lost the best because in my country came like about 10 years ago and this movie is the culmination of a great saga...Gotenks in level 3 , goku (as known as kakaroto in my country and in japan) gohan at full power, all the Z warriors at their best...i saw this movie like 8 years ago and when it cames to dvd a had no doubt about that you guys in USA will love it. But wait is more...you guys in USA don't have them all, there is one more movie that was only launched on japan and in some places like my country, its call "Destroy the saiyans" and its between the Cell saga and the Buu saga, and its a great movie too...so try to get it because all the movies of DBZ are great and have interesting histories and staff that helps to understand more about this ANIME. If you have questions about more of this just write asking me. (sory if a had bad words because in my country we don't speak english) Well thats all so continue watching Dragonball z because its the best!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Movies_and_TV |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: The Division Bell; Brand: Pink Floyd; Review: Should have bought it years ago.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pictures at Eleven; Brand: Robert Plant; Review: Perfect condition.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Run With The Pack; Brand: Bad Company; Review: Great condition, infinitely playable.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Silver Rails Edition; Brand: Jack Bruce; Review: Jack's last quite a treasure. Both discs wonderful.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Atlantic Crossing; Brand: Rod Stewart; Review: Great memories. Great musicians.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: At Your Service; Brand: Sammy Hagar; Review: Bought it for my brother as a surprise and he loves it. Rockin'!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Live In '67; Brand: John Mayall; Review: A treasure.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Blue Horizon; Brand: Wishbone Ash; Review: I've adored this band ever since purchasing Argus and seeing them at Hammond Civic Center 41 years ago. God bless you, Andy, for steering ship Wishbone with such a steady and loving hand. In an era of mostly musical mediocrity the great Ash still stands tall and that means so much to me. And thanks, A.P., for signing a tab book for me in Grand Rapids in 2005. Blue Horizon is a quality work and another diamond in a very long chain, mate. I'm on board into the sunset.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: MTV Unplugged in New York; Brand: Nirvana; Review: No complaints.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: There Is Nothing Left To Lose; Brand: Foo Fighters; Review: Sweet.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Crosseyed Heart; Brand: Keith Richards; Review: Thank-you. A delight. In perfect shape.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Humble Pie; Brand: Humble Pie; Review: Fine condition.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: I Stand Alone; Brand: Al Kooper; Review: Love having this again.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Stormcock; Brand: Roy Harper; Review: Wow.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bug; Brand: Dave Davies; Review: Sweet.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hummingbird in a Box; Brand: Peter Frampton; Review: Lovely.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Rippin' Up Time; Brand: Dave Davies; Review: Rockin'!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: South Broadway Athletic Club; Brand: Bottle Rockets; Review: No problems.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_CDs_and_Vinyl |
Given the interaction history of a user with movies/shows as follows:
Title: Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980); Genres: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Men in Black (a.k.a. MIB) (1997); Genres: Action, Comedy, Sci-Fi; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Papillon (1973); Genres: Crime, Drama; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Back to the Future Part II (1989); Genres: Adventure, Comedy, Sci-Fi; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Die Hard 2 (1990); Genres: Action, Adventure, Thriller; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Shrek (2001); Genres: Adventure, Animation, Children, Comedy, Fantasy, Romance; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sting, The (1973); Genres: Comedy, Crime; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Few Good Men, A (1992); Genres: Crime, Drama, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Young Frankenstein (1974); Genres: Comedy, Fantasy; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Tin Cup (1996); Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Pinocchio (1940); Genres: Animation, Children, Fantasy, Musical; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bridge on the River Kwai, The (1957); Genres: Adventure, Drama, War; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: James and the Giant Peach (1996); Genres: Adventure, Animation, Children, Fantasy, Musical; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cool Hand Luke (1967); Genres: Drama; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Kingpin (1996); Genres: Comedy; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Devil's Advocate (1997); Genres: Drama, Mystery, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Raiders of the Lost Ark (Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark) (1981); Genres: Action, Adventure; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984); Genres: Action, Adventure, Fantasy; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989); Genres: Action, Adventure; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Finding Nemo (2003); Genres: Adventure, Animation, Children, Comedy; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977); Genres: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983); Genres: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones (2002); Genres: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi, IMAX; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999); Genres: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Braveheart (1995); Genres: Action, Drama, War; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mummy, The (1999); Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, Horror, Thriller; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Christmas Story, A (1983); Genres: Children, Comedy; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Batman (1989); Genres: Action, Crime, Thriller; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Planet of the Apes (1968); Genres: Action, Drama, Sci-Fi; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Lost World: Jurassic Park, The (1997); Genres: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Back to the Future (1985); Genres: Adventure, Comedy, Sci-Fi; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Gone with the Wind (1939); Genres: Drama, Romance, War; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Casablanca (1942); Genres: Drama, Romance; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, The (2003); Genres: Action, Adventure, Drama, Fantasy; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pocahontas (1995); Genres: Animation, Children, Drama, Musical, Romance; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Perfect Storm, The (2000); Genres: Drama, Thriller; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Planet of the Apes (2001); Genres: Action, Adventure, Drama, Sci-Fi; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Caddyshack (1980); Genres: Comedy; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Tarzan (1999); Genres: Adventure, Animation, Children, Drama; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Spaceballs (1987); Genres: Comedy, Sci-Fi; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Robin Hood (1973); Genres: Adventure, Animation, Children, Comedy, Musical; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Christmas Vacation (National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation) (1989); Genres: Comedy; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Willow (1988); Genres: Action, Adventure, Fantasy; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Patton (1970); Genres: Drama, War; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Young Guns (1988); Genres: Action, Comedy, Western; Rating: 4.5/5.0 | movielens |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Britannia Country House Hotel Spa; City: Manchester Greater Manchester England; Review: got a 2 night stay via a travelzoo offer for £50 a night per room , including breakfast, evening meal on both nights and 1 bottle of wine. stayed in june 2012 but booked in march and at time of booking all room types were available so booked an executive room. this sounds like a must because having seen the reviews on here and from things said by people when we were there, the standard rooms can be fairly grim. the executive room we had was good. it was large, had a 4 poster bed ( although the mattress was hard ) good wardrobes, dining table, 2 leather sofas and a goos sized bathroom with jacuzzi. breakfast and evening meal are served in a good sized restaurant and are both mainly on a self-serve buffet style ( apart from the starter in the evening which is from a choice of 2 and is served to your table ). the food was mostly of a good quality/standard with a reasonable amount of options. the bar area , although quite smart, is fairly small for a hotel of its size. that said , the prices were not excessive and they have a happy hour policy from 5pm to 7pm which made it cheaper than some of the pubs in nearby Didsbury village.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Port Light Hotel; City: Bolberry Salcombe Devon England; Review: believe the reviews , this place takes some beating. owners and staff are all great people, perfectly combining a relaxed informal approach with an efficient professional setup. we were in room 8 which is a lovely room, big comfy bed, superb bathroom/shower, private little patio area and your own access into the restaurant/bar. some reviews on here describe the food as simple pub style, ignore them the food is excellent, great range and all very tasty, we were there for 3 days/nights and had different evening meals each night plus breakfasts and all the food was lovely. the last 2 miles of the journey are down some very narrow lanes but its totally worth it, the views from the hotel and the nearby walks are amazing. have been trying to find a negative point to post but I cannot come up with one, if there is a better dog friendly ( and I mean properly dog friendly, not dog tolerant ) hotel then I don't know of it !; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Nottingham Belfry A QHotel; City: Nottingham Nottinghamshire England; Review: more positives than negatives , firstly the positives - excellent quick check in, very friendly check in staff , good close car parking . - good size room ( paid slightly extra for a superior room which included a bottle of lager, 2 bottles of water, 2 bottles of coke, a small bottle of wine, bathrobes ) which was a lovely size room , although to me the lighting is quite dim and my wife found it hard to find anywhere in the room with sufficient light to get ready ( for a wedding) - good quality food ( served in the bar , apparently the 'restaurant' is always fully booked) , the bar area is good enough, we had a table for 7 people, good food, usual hotel prices. - excellent friendly bar staff . ( 1 woman served me at 9ish in the bar and was back in the restaurant for breakfast at 8am) breakfast itself is acceptable , decent buffet style full english with decent standard ingredients ( have had better, Ibis shepherds bush london do an amazing quality breakfast for similar money) and layout is a bit haphazard . orange/fruit juices are a good 50 feet from croissants etc, you dont even see them till you leave. in the superior room , fantastic bed ( queen size i think ) although the pillows are desperately thin , the bathroom/ shower facilities are excellent negatives. - apart from the above mentioned ( issues with breakfast etc ) - another hotel chain that drives me mad when it comes to the 6am corridor doors slamming, room next door's phone ringing for 3 minutes waking everyone for 3 rooms either side up. one day a hotel chain will actually spend good money when they build their hotels by putting much better noise reduction into dividing room walls, and maybe one day a hotel chain will find a way of stopping room doors/ corridor doors from waking everyone up in the early hours - minor negative , not especially the hotel's fault but still bear in mind, we stayed here for a wedding in nottingham and returned to the hotel at 10pm , whilst sitting in the bar area there ensued an almighty 'free for all' consisting of a dozen or more nottingham based local people , apparently celebrating a 16th birthday , falling out of a room they had booked off the reception area, all in a crazy state of an alcohol induced sillyness, all wanting to fight each other, until they were ushered out of the hotel. in summary, nothing that would put me off staying here again, the best redeeming memory is the excellent professional attitude of the reception/bar staff; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Travellers Rest Inn; City: Slaley Hexham Northumberland England; Review: 2 nights here, returned home with very mixed thoughts, positives and negatives. firstly positives. -friendly welcome. -quality food, evening meals on 2 nights and breakfasts both mornings really well presented, absolutely no complaints. - room 1 , double room - en-suite ( used in website photos) pleasant enough, clean, dog friendly , access without going through the pub - staff/ owners friendly welcoming ( although none actually introduced themselves) , negatives. - room 1 is located above the kitchen, which means until the restaurant closes the extraction system is making an almighty noise right below your bedroom window ( stops about 9.30pm) to be replaced by easily audible singing/cleaning up/ cellar barrel replacing from the kitchen area below till about 10pm. having read previous reviews about this place, including some that stayed in room 1, i was looking for a real quiet countryside retreat ( indeed, a travellers rest ) and indeed if you are looking for a clean ,country pub/b'b with good food and friendly locals where you can drink till last orders and wake in the morning to a superb quiet chorus of birdsong then this may well be the place for you, however if you are looking for somewhere to have an early evening meal, a couple of drinks and then retire to your room for an early evening of relaxation, you really need to look elsewhere; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Chainbridge Hotel; City: Llangollen Denbighshire North Wales Wales; Review: Recently spent 2 nights here after researching the location and studying the hotel's website . on a positive note the entrance and outside sitting area , the bar ,lounge and restaurant areas are very nice and presumably part of a recent refurbishment , the breakfast is reasonable and the evening meals and beer\wine options are also good . There are many good reviews on here concerning the rooms , however a note of caution is needed if you book 1 of the 4 dog friendly rooms they offer . we stayed in room 43 (rooms 43 to 46 are dog friendly) and it was desperately disappointing , hard bed , old delaminating furniture , light in bathroom not working , dog owners should also be aware that the room is very small ,anything above a small dog may well be problematic. On checking out I was informed that 3 of the 4 dog friendly rooms have been returned and I was just unlucky to be allocated the other one , this may well be the case but to pay the same price as other people who presumably had a bright room with a good bed etc seemed very unfair . It appears the only way round preventing this gamble on room allocation is to request a returned room when you book . A real shame because , this issue apart , this hotel does a good job in a lovely location.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Stirk House Hotel; City: Gisburn Lancashire England; Review: Recently spent 2 nights here and wished we could have stayed longer. Booked a room in the seperate lodge building as we had our dog with us , room was lovely and the bed was enormous and comfortable. We were on a dinner bed and breakfast tariff and the food was superb All the staff were extremely friendly and helpful , we would hope to revisit one day , top marks to everyone who works there; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Golden Fleece; City: Chard Somerset England; Review: We have stayed here twice in the last 3 months and think it is a brilliant b and b. Myself , my wife and our little dog have stayed in room 5 both times which is definitely worth the small supplement , it is a big room with a lovely big comfortable bed and a superb large bathroom with a corner bath , all done to a high standard. Breakfast is in the pub and is more than acceptable , I didn't need to eat again till the evening meal . Evening meals are mostly of a good standard , their pies are lovely , we did however have a strange encounter with their take on spaghetti bolognese which , due to the absence of any tomato/puree/ parmasan resembled more of a mince beef and onion dish. A good range of beers and wines available including a well kept draught Budweiser. Carol the landlady is friendly and efficient and should be rightly proud of the business she is creating , ably assisted at breakfast and evenings by the brilliant Janet and Meg who are both lovely people and helped us enjoy both our stays; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Engine Inn; City: Nancledra St Ives Cornwall England; Review: My wife and I recently stayed here for 2 nights with our little dog . Going back thru the reviews since the current owners bought the place 15 months ago there appear to be some strong opinions , the strongest appearing to be from people wishing to voice negative opinions. This is , therefore , my balanced view based on our experience and any pre conceived thoughts we took with us having seen other reviews. Firstly when we phoned to book I explained to the landlord that my wife is partially disabled and walks short distances with the aid of a stick , he explained that he had a ground floor room which could be reached thru the pub, down a few steps, across a flat slabbed area covered by a marquee, then across 15 feet of flat stone chipped concrete to the room , when we arrived that was exactly the route we took which, in her own time , my wife managed fine. The room we had was part of a converted barn which had a slight fusty aroma (not a smell) which the owners were clearly trying to minimise with a dehumidifier, in no way did it detract from our stay. The bed was enormous and comfortable, the room was big with a large shower room . Breakfast was more than adequate provided in the main building of the pub , i didn't need to eat again till the evening. Evening meals in the pub were brilliant , including the biggest and best pie I have had in my life , and a wonderful baileys chocolate cheesecake that the wife adored. Live music was provided both nights we were there which we really enjoyed. Excellent range of beers , lagers and well priced wines. Our second night there was a Saturday and the place was really busy but this didn't stop both the landlord and the landlady from coming to our table 3 times to see if we needed any other food or drink , and when we did , returning with it personally . We found both Adrian and Karen to be brilliant friendly hard working hosts who quickly made us feel at ease . They appear to be a year into a project to completely turn the place round and not everything can be done overnight. They do not claim to be disabled friendly but listened to our personal needs and provided them brilliantly. Please people in TripAdvisor world , if you are considering staying here ,look at their website , look at their pictures , take a reality check. If you consider your priorities to stray somewhere sterilised within an inch of its life , or need somewhere with a lift ,or enjoy paying a fiver a pint to sit in a boring bland room with Muzak playing , or if the remote possibility ofwaking up to find a spider in your room will send you in a tailspin ,book a premier inn or similar in Penzance or Truro. If you enjoy a classic Cornish 300; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Imperial Bed and Breakfast; City: Woolacombe Devon England; Review: Recently returned from 3 days here with my wife and our little dog and we have nothing but positive things to say. A lovely clean building owned and run by Roger and his daughter Sharon, the place is superb. Perfectly located within 2 minutes of the village and the beach but on a private road that gave a lovely element of privacy , it has superb views across the bay which from most of their rooms , including the brilliant room 4 that we had ,was all the better because of the excellent balcony. Breakfast was fantastic and plentiful , I didn't need to eat again till the evening. We found everything about this place to be perfect ,they happily let us have our little dog sit under the table at breakfast which we really appreciated. If I was looking for a fault I couldn't find it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Little Tikes Endless Adventures Jr Play Slide; Brand: Little Tikes; Review: My 2 1/2 year old loves this slide. Got it for her about 6 months ago and she still plays with her "new slide" at least 3-4 days a week. Only issue is it can be a pain to fold and unfold as you have to pull the plastic piece on the bottom pretty good but at least I know there is no chance of my daughter doing it (as it's hard for me to do) or it collapsing on her. Mostly we just leave it set up in her play room and just fold it up if we take it somewhere.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Fisher-Price Dora the Explorer Tunes Microphone; Brand: Fisher-Price; Review: My 2 year old loves Dora and absolutely loves this toy. It gets her up dancing and singing and running all over and teaches her Spanish which she has been repeating. It has stood up to a 2 year olds play and repeated dropping and sometimes throwing (got to love the terrible twos). It is a little bit annoying to me after a while but then again most of her toys that make noise are because she just loves to hit the button 50 million times.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Learn-To-Swim Tube Trainer - Orange; Brand: ; Review: I got this for my 2 year old as she did not want to be in a swimming float or be held and she loves it. She can swim by herself all around the pool (with supervision obviously) and gets out and jumps in by herself, goes under a little and pops right back up.Only issues are the wedgie factor (she doesn't complain about it at all but it doesn't look comfortable )and it would might be better if the bottoms were more of a short type thing instead and it is a bit hard to get off after its wet.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_Toys_and_Games |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Alexander The Great Beach Hotel; City: Paphos Paphos District; Review: I have been here 7 nights half board with my husband and daughter, today is our last day. The temperature is around 20 to 28 degree during our stay, it has been sunny a whole week, which we are extremely happy about it. It only becomes a little chilly after 4:30pm. The location is very convenient to walk or ride a bicycle to the harbour either from the beautiful beach line or from the quite main road. Sun beds: Sun beds are allocated to the guests by the open pool area. My husband is so cheerful coz he successfully became a brownie on our last day. Pool: There are three pools including one heated indoor pool. We used the indoor ones a lot. Food food food: There are a plenty to choose from cold selection, fruit to hot food with sea view in front of us. In the evening, the hotel try to arrange different themes each night in the other restaurant, such as Italian, gala, oriental, including a special Valentine's Day, all ladies offered a red rose at the restaurant entrance. The room: Room is clean and big enough with sea view and staff check a few times a day to ensure you are not lack of any supplements and with a chocolate on your pillow as a finish touch at night. Entertainment: There are various day activities for different age groups of guests and all kinds of night entertainment at bar. The agendas are shown on the screens outside the restaurants and bar daily. Hotel staff: all staff are very friendly. I would like to say thank you for Michael who joined the hotel last November served us almost every night at table no. 23 is really helpfully, polite and pleasant. Emma, the lady who led us to the breakfast and dinner tables, is very bubbly and always remembers where we would like to sit. Francis, the chef who prepares omelet at breakfast, he tries his best to help either guests or staff members behind the counter. We were impressed by them, they presented the imagine of the hotel very well. On our last evening, we were offered a management cocktail 18:00-18:30 as a good gesture from the management as well. All of us enjoyed our stay and definitely will come back soon and would like to recommend to relatives and friends.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Florida Spa; City: Fuengirola Costa del Sol Province of Malaga Andalucia; Review: We stayed at this hotel during Christmas. Temperature: 16-19 degrees Location & surrounding: The location of this hotel is very close to the sea front with one mini supermarket opposite and a big one just turn left on the ground floor of the building next to the hotel. At back of the hotel, 6mins walk to the busy local shops, cafes and bakeries, and train station; from the hotel 15mins walk to the back street, you will find a very nice Spanish church at a square where we attended a beautiful Christmas mass. There are lots of shops offering money exchange with much better rates than in the U.K. Hotel room: very clean with a corner of view of sea and all day sunshine at the balcony. There is a shower and a bath in the toilet. However, the water came out from the shower room door, we all used the shower in the bath instead. Hotel swimming pool: there is a heated outdoor poor, normally the water temperature stays 24-30 degree, so not too cold in the water until you come out. Hotel restaurant&bars: breakfasts and dinners are served at the same restaurant. Staff are very friendly in the restaurant. The chefs chat with guests telling them what they can offer. They also provide different themes of food every evening with lots of varieties. You can order a bottle of wine, if you can't finish, they will keep it for your next day as well. Hotel Spa & massage: the Spa is our favourite place in the hotel. Our package came with free using the pools in Spa as well. We had 30mins massage session for each of us provided by Isabelle. She was so professional and we felt so relaxed. The massage room is not too big but very clean and cosy. If we go back next time, definitely will book with Isabelle again. Hotel entertainment: they provide different theme nights. However, we went for a walk to some shops and square at the back streets every night after meal during Christmas time. The shops and cafes are open till very late. So we hardly went to see the shows at hotel. We will go back next time in a warm season.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Annandale Arms Hotel; City: Moffat Dumfries and Galloway Scotland; Review: We stayed a night this week. We had a two rooms. Both of them are very clean and comfortable with very reasonable price. The view from the window is fantastic. The staff are friendly and helpful. The evening meal was great and the breakfast was delicious. We really enjoyed our stay and definitely will recommend it to our friends.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ben Loyal Hotel; City: Tongue Caithness and Sutherland Scottish Highlands Scotland; Review: We stayed one night at this hotel this week. The restaurant is very cosy and bright. The staff are very friendly. The food was tasty. However, the shower in room 16 has no pressure. The water turned cold every minute. At one stage, it stopped during my shower. But it suddenly came back for 20secs which I was so happy to manage to wash off the foam. The breakfast was nice.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Ship Inn; City: Gatehouse of Fleet Dumfries and Galloway Scotland; Review: We stayed at this hotel last Saturday. The family room is very clean with the beautiful view of fleet bridge and water of fleet. There is a plenty of space in the toilet with shower gel and shampoo provided. The shower is very powerful. Tea, biscuits, coffee and a little coffee capsule machine are at the corner of the room. The restaurant is cosy and bright. The stuff at restaurant are very pleasant. We had delicious steak pie and freshly cooked sea bass. Our full Scottish breakfast in the morning were tasty too. We will come back next time when we are in Scotland.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Plockton Hotel; City: Plockton Ross and Cromarty Scottish Highlands Scotland; Review: We stayed a night at Plockton Hotel. The family room was very clean with a great view from the back door. The food in the restaurant was delicious and fresh. We had some beautiful sea food dishes. Their house Rosé was really smooth. Please do remember, the secret to close the door is to press the little turning button and then turn right from inside. We will definitely go back next time.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Tomacs; City: Plockton Ross and Cromarty Scottish Highlands Scotland; Review: We stayed at Tomacs this Tuesday night on the way to Tongue. We had two rooms on the top floor. The rooms are very cosy, clean and quet with nice smell. The freshly cooked Scottish breakfast is superb. Janet and her husband are really friendly and genuine. They did everything they could to make us feel comfortable. I wish we could stay more days there if our schedule wasn't tight.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Plockton Inn; City: Plockton Ross and Cromarty Scottish Highlands Scotland; Review: We booked an evening meal at Plockton Inn this Tuesday. It was very busy. The staff were very friendly and helpful. The food was lovely with reasonable price. I liked the idea they took the dinner specials' board in front of us when taking the orders, it is very cute and handy. We had a great evening there.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Belroy; City: Benidorm Costa Blanca Province of Alicante Valencian Country; Review: This hotel was recommended by a friend of mine who stayed here early this year. We booked 7 nights during Christmas. It is our first time staying in this hotel. Today is last day for us. Temperature during Christmas: 10 degree in the morning and evening, 16-25 degree around 10:30am - 3:00pm in most of days. Location of hotel: 2mins walk to the beach. 10mins walk to Benidorm old town. Bus stop is right outside the hotel. You can catch bus no.10 to Altea beach if you want, just 1.50 euros for a single trip per person, and it is as good as sightseeing bus. There is a bank with ATM machine opposite the street. Of course, money exchange shops are everywhere. Bring you passport with you if it’s your first time to use that shop. From hotel entrance facing to the street, turn left and cross the road, 2mins walk, there is a carrefour express if you want to buy some water; if you arrive at midnight, and you would like to grab something to eat, then turn right, 5mins walk to McDonald’s. Hotel facilities: We booked a family room. It’s very clean, bright and spacious with three sides of windows, balcony, and a bit sea view. . There is a small indoor heated swimming pool and a big outdoor one. Remember to bring your swimming cap, or get one around 3.50euros from nearby shops if you want. Food range is ok. After a couple of meals, you will know where to find your stuff. But it would be nice if someone could give an induction of layout in the restaurant for a new comer. Like other hotels, they will keep your unfinished bottle for your next meal. The gentlemen called Jonathan and Said working at restaurant are very friendly and pleasant to everyone. Some entertainments are at hotel cafe at night. It’s open to the public too, very cosy with good atmosphere. At Christmas Day, the hotel invited the guests for a gala dinner, they tried really hard to give the guests the best they could. Airport transportation: We were offered a free airport transfer because we booked with this hotel directly. It was a very nice min bus. The driver was very helpful. For your return trip, please ask the hotel reception before you leave, they will give you a pick-up detail for your departure. We will stay here again if we come back to Benidorm next time, but perhaps half board rather than full board. We will definitely recommend to friends and family members.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Travelodge London Farringdon; City: London England; Review: I stayed four nights there in April. It is very convenient to walk from/to Kings cross, Euston station and Gray’s Inn road. The room is very clean and the staff are really friendly. They offer breakfast, simple but it was all I needed. There are plenty of restaurants or cafes on Gray’s Inn road, or you can have something to eat at the hotel bar. It is value for money. I will stay there again next time when I am around that area.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Beach Hut; City: Holyhead Anglesey North Wales Wales; Review: We visited today for a quick lunch. Though it was very busy,the atmosphere was very welcoming. The staff were really friendly. The coffee was nice and food was fresh. We enjoyed it. We will try their breakfast menu next time when we are around that area.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Riad Zaki; City: Marrakech Marrakech Tensift El Haouz Region; Review: We stayed four nights there in May this year. The airport transfer: It is very convenient to catch the express bus to opposite Koutoubia Mosque, then 5 mins walk to the hotel. To the airport, you can catch the airport express bus at the same place, where you got off, to the airport. At airport: It will be a long waiting at passport control after landing. Upon your departure, make sure you give a plenty of time for the queues. When we were there, the queue started before the entrance. Ryanair at Marrakesh airport didn’t have bag-drop service. Everyone had to check in at the counter manually. We saw that the lady at the counter was ticking the name list on a piece of paper! Also, everyone had to fill in the departure card for the immigration including British passport holders. It took us over 3 hours to get to the gate (have to say what a nightmare!) The location of the hotel: it is perfect to walk to Jemaa el-Fnaa, museum and other popular historical places within reasonable walking distance from the hotel. Riad Zaki Hotel: we stayed at a huge double room with a big bathroom. It was very clean with plenty of space. It was very quite at night. The bed was solid and the pillows were comfortable. The staff were extremely helpful and friendly. The breakfast was delicious with different choices. The coffee was tasty. We booked a package with massage and hammam. It was a very different experience. Booking: We booked the hotel from booking.com. However, when we arrived, we showed them our booking, but it seemed they didn’t expect our arrival. They didn’t say anything but prepared a room for us. We thought it perhaps due to the language barrier. We didn’t realise this detail until our last day before we went to the airport. On our last day there, when we were sitting on the bus to the airport at Koutoubia Mosque, we saw a staff from the hotel running to the bus to ask us to pay the hotel fee. We surprisedly found out that they never received any payment from Booking.com though we showed him our document with online payment from Booking.com. Eventually, we had to go to airport with him and withdrew the local money at airport, then paid him in cash to avoid the delay. We guess that it might be some disconnection between the hotel and booking.com. Despite a bit drama on the last day, the overall stay was wonderful. We will go back again next time, maybe we will book it through their website rather than booking.com.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Holiday Inn Lincoln; City: Lincoln Lincolnshire England; Review: We stayed at a family room last Friday. Location: it’s at water front with a short walking distance to all shops in town, the train station and Lincoln University. Hotel: The room was very clean with decent size. The shower was powerful :) and the beds were comfortable. The breakfast was freshly cooked and served from 7:30am to 11:00am. The car park is very convenient. There are plenty of car park spaces at the back of hotel. You may leave your car there until 3pm next day. The staff were really helpful and friendly. We enjoyed our stay very much and will definitely visit there again for the Lincoln Christmas market soon.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Alexander The Great Beach Hotel; City: Paphos Paphos District; Review: We visit this hotel during Christmas and new year’s time. It was warmer than we expected, around 16-20 at lunch time. The hotel has wonderful location, providing good service and great food with different themes in different restaurants. We were welcomed by friendly staff every day. The family room was very clean and spacious with beautiful sea view. We really enjoyed our stay and will go back again and again :); Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: KiWAV motorcycle motorcross orange kickstand pad universal fit; Brand: KiWAV; Review: I am forced to park 2 motorcycles inside my house. This saves my floors from any damage. It also works great when you are forced to park your bike in a grassy area and it's rained recently, causing the kickstand to sink into the earth and your bike to fall over. But that would never happen with this bad boy under the kickstand!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Poweka New Front Brake Reservoir Fluid Bottle for Suzuki Sv Sv650 Sv1000 Motorcycle 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008; Brand: Poweka; Review: Much smaller than the stock SV650S reservoir height wise. Because of this, you can't put as much brake fluid in it as the stock. This makes bleeding the brake system a bit tougher because you have to stop and refill a lot more often. The other problem I had, was that my brake reservoir bracket doesn't let the reservoir sit entirely level, and is actually tilted back a little putting a lean on it away from where the reservoir tube exits into the brake lines. This causes the brake fluid to sit at a slant away from the brake line tubes. I am not a mechanic, but I would think this could possibly introduce bubbles into the braking system easier. So while the product works, it's not without its flaws. It worked for the 2 months I used it before I did a front end swap and ended up with a new GSX-R reservoir instead.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: FMF Racing 11299 Wash Plug; Brand: FMF; Review: I got this so I could protect the exhaust from getting a bunch of water in it when I washed the bikes. Well I have 2 bikes, a WR250F (stock pipe) and a TTR125 (FMF Powercore 4 exhaust). It's like I've found the 2 extremes for this product. With the WR250F, I stick this guy in, and it goes all the way up to the very last/largest ring. Luckily, it seats in there on the last rung...barely. As for the TTR, you can barely get this thing in there! You have to really jam it in there just to get the first rung in. In both circumstances, it does it's job of preventing water getting in the exhaust. However, the "remove before flight" plastic is attached horribly. It just falls off. You'd be better off just stapling it together (assuming you care), because it's not engineered to stay on there indefinitely. I just removed it, and tied a little shop cloth to the plug instead. I tend to forget it's in there, especially on the WR because it practically disappears in the exhaust with how far you have to stick it in. So the shop cloth just gives me a visual aid to say "ah ha, yes I need to remove that before turning the bike on!" Conclusion/TL:DR: With a little modification, and the right size exhaust pipe, this should work just fine. However, smaller bikes beware, and I guess larger bikes too! There's definitely an exhaust hole size sweet spot, and I found the max and min. If you think my review was helpful, please click "yes" below! If you have any questions/comments, feel free to ask and I'll respond as soon as I can.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: 636 Distributing, Inc 990032 Fork Support; Brand: 636 Distributing, Inc; Review: I have seen my friends using these things on their bikes for ages, but I just was never "incentivized" to purchase one. Well, lo and behold I did a front end swap on my fiance's TTR125 to a YZ85 front end. However, the YZ85 forks I bought needed new fork seals. Thus began my first fork seal job ever. Armed with a PVC fork seal driver, I discovered why I will need real fork seal drivers when doing fork seals in the future. None the less, my appreciation for protecting the fork seals skyrocketed. Thus, I went out and bought just about everything I could to prolong the life of my fork seals, and protect them from damage. Thus, the fork support was bought. I truly love this device. Yea, sure, you can use a wooden block....but the fork support conforms a bit better than a wooden block, and certainly weighs less. It's really easy to seat, sits well, and I have had zero issues with it falling out. I don't understand how some people are saying it falls out. Makes me think you're doing something wrong...or maybe you got the wrong size? I got 2 of these things, and they work perfectly on both the YZ85 front end and on my WR250F. Just put them in, seat the "wings" against the fork legs, and then crank down your ratchet straps. Simple as that, and you don't need to crank the bike down nearly as much as when not using the fork supports because you don't have to crank it down through the stroke of the forks. My micro bleeders barely have anything to say after transporting to bike from A to B to A again. Usually they would let out a huge sigh of relief! Conclusion/TL:DR: So I am a believer in these fork supports now. They just work, and they protect the suspension components in your front end. If you think my review was helpful, please click "yes" below! If you have any questions/comments, feel free to ask and I'll respond as soon as I can.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 8MILELAKE Brake Caliper Wind Back Tool 22pc professional disc brake caliper tool set; Brand: 8MILELAKE; Review: This is so dang easy to use, comes with absolutely everything you need, and worked FLAWLESSLY!!!! I am a believer overnight. So glad I got this....didn't have to mess with C-clamps trying to push the piston back in or anything ridiculous like that. This fell under the "right tool for the job" category and just turned what used to be a timely process into a quick second thought. Used this on my 2013 VW Passat. Just be sure to TURN SLOWLY as you're pushing the piston back. This is important so you don't damage the brake system. Just go slow, don't just crank down like a beast, and this will work perfectly. 10/10, would buy again. No issues with quality what so ever. Hope this works for my motorcycle, we shall see!; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Automotive |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Hampton by Hilton Cali Colombia; City: Cali Valle del Cauca Department; Review: Hotel is very conveniently located and extremely safe for travellers of any condition with a 9th floor lobby and elevators to other floors only work with your key card. Room was not enormous but was very comfortable. Great beds and pillows. Excellent, ample shower. One of best hotel hair dryers ever. Ironing board and iron in closet! Breakfast from 6 a.m includes all the basics. Very helpful and very nice staff. Our room (with a view) was quiet despite the Fiestas de Cali below. Key words: practical, friendly, reasonable.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Eurostars Asta Regia; City: Jerez De La Frontera Costa de la Luz Andalucia; Review: Rooms are large, comfortable, modern and quiet. Bathroom is more than adequate with separate shower and excellent amenities. Easy walk to city center, cathedral, and other must sees. Friendly, knowledgeable staff. Breakfast is average hotel fare (soggy bacon, overcooked eggs and the other regulars). Did not use spa or pool, but considering the temperatures they must come in handy! Although there is a carpark next to the hotel, there is another one a 2 minute walk down the street for exactly half the price.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: ME BY MELIA MADRID Reina Victoria; City: Madrid; Review: Excellent location, all the amenities for business travel but if you have to be there on a Fri or Sat be sure you are well above the second floor or not facing either of the plazas as noise level and crowds in this trendy area are raucous well beyond 3 a.m. Breakfast is varied, generous and expensive. Least expensive rooms are a bit tight but well supplied. If tourism is the main event you can easily walk to just about all the most important attractions.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Eurostars Zarzuela Park; City: Madrid; Review: Spent three nights in an unusually warm Madrid winter. The hotel was convenient for us because family live nearby, but I cannot imagine it being convenient for business travel other than to businesses nearby, nor can it be convenient for Madrid tourism as it is in a suburb, nowhere near the center of Madrid. Hotel is fairly new with basic comforts, but nothing extraordinary. Although there are busses and taxis in the suburb, a car is really a must. There is nothing like a shop, restaurant, pharmacy or market in easy walking distance. They are not catering to women on business (This was not a business trip but I do look out for those conveniences): no ironing boards or irons in rooms (although available on request), no coffee makers in the rooms (although the breakfast is quite good in the restaurant), the hair dryers are just average hotel fare, bathroom amenities are few (although you can ask for particulars). The double bed was extremely hard and pillows are nothing special, however the twin beds (side by side) were far more comfortable. We could not regulate the heat in our room, which was too hot. We got through the night by turning everything off and cracking a window. Staff said they would advise maintenance, but they apparently did not, or could not repair. Reservations, check in and out were easy. Breakfast was more than adequate. There is ample parking on site. Price - quality relation is correct. The pool and gardens look great for summer but covered in winter.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Hampton Inn Suites Camarillo; City: Camarillo California; Review: Everything you expect from a Hampton but, there is no makeup mirror in the bathroom, no toilet brush either. Only one elevator for a large hotel. Clean and handy for a stop in Camarillo. Very pleasant staff. Breakfast is adequate, but I missed bacon. Especially close to Camarillo Premium Outlets which has to please shoppers from all over the world!; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with movies/shows as follows:
Title: Cowboy Bebop; Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Sci-Fi, Space; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Trigun; Genres: Action, Comedy, Sci-Fi; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Naruto; Genres: Action, Comedy, Martial Arts, Shounen, Super Power; Rating: 10.0/10.0
Title: Prince of Tennis; Genres: Action, Comedy, School, Shounen, Sports; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Neon Genesis Evangelion; Genres: Action, Dementia, Drama, Mecha, Psychological, Sci-Fi; Rating: 6.0/10.0
Title: Rurouni Kenshin: Meiji Kenkaku Romantan; Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Historical, Romance, Samurai; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Chobits; Genres: Comedy, Drama, Ecchi, Romance, Sci-Fi, Seinen; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: DearS; Genres: Comedy, Ecchi, Harem, Romance, Sci-Fi; Rating: 6.0/10.0
Title: Black Cat; Genres: Adventure, Comedy, Sci-Fi, Shounen, Super Power; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Full Metal Panic!; Genres: Action, Comedy, Mecha, Military, Sci-Fi; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Full Metal Panic! The Second Raid; Genres: Action, Mecha, Military; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Shuffle!; Genres: Comedy, Drama, Ecchi, Fantasy, Harem, Magic, Romance, School, Seinen; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Fullmetal Alchemist; Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Magic, Military, Shounen; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: GetBackers; Genres: Action, Comedy, Drama, Mystery, Shounen, Super Power, Supernatural; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Green Green; Genres: Comedy, Ecchi, Romance, School, Slice of Life; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Kimi ga Nozomu Eien; Genres: Drama, Romance, Slice of Life; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Shaman King; Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Shounen, Supernatural; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Samurai 7; Genres: Historical, Mecha, Samurai, Sci-Fi; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Tenjou Tenge; Genres: Action, Comedy, Ecchi, Martial Arts, School, Shounen, Super Power; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Wolf's Rain; Genres: Action, Adventure, Drama, Fantasy, Mystery, Sci-Fi; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Samurai Champloo; Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Historical, Samurai, Shounen; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Dragon Ball; Genres: Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, Martial Arts, Shounen, Super Power; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Dragon Ball GT; Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, Magic, Sci-Fi, Shounen, Super Power; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Elfen Lied; Genres: Action, Drama, Horror, Psychological, Romance, Seinen, Supernatural; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Genshiken; Genres: Comedy, Parody, Slice of Life; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Great Teacher Onizuka; Genres: Comedy, Drama, School, Shounen, Slice of Life; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Hajime no Ippo; Genres: Comedy, Drama, Shounen, Sports; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Golden Boy; Genres: Adventure, Comedy, Ecchi; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Bleach; Genres: Action, Comedy, Shounen, Super Power, Supernatural; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Shakugan no Shana; Genres: Action, Drama, Fantasy, Romance, School, Supernatural; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Fate/stay night; Genres: Action, Fantasy, Magic, Romance, Supernatural; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Gantz; Genres: Action, Drama, Horror, Psychological, Sci-Fi, Supernatural; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Gantz 2nd Stage; Genres: Action, Drama, Horror, Psychological, Sci-Fi, Supernatural; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: One Piece Movie 5: Norowareta Seiken; Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, Shounen, Super Power; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Hellsing Ultimate; Genres: Action, Horror, Military, Seinen, Supernatural, Vampire; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Dragon Ball Z; Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, Martial Arts, Shounen, Super Power; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Utawarerumono; Genres: Action, Drama, Fantasy, Sci-Fi; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Air Gear; Genres: Action, Comedy, Ecchi, Shounen, Sports; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Black Lagoon; Genres: Action, Seinen; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Gintama; Genres: Action, Comedy, Historical, Parody, Samurai, Sci-Fi, Shounen; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Higurashi no Naku Koro ni; Genres: Horror, Mystery, Psychological, Supernatural, Thriller; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Mahou Senshi Louie; Genres: Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, Magic, Shounen; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Zero no Tsukaima; Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Ecchi, Fantasy, Harem, Magic, Romance, School; Rating: 10.0/10.0
Title: D.Gray-man; Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Shounen; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Black Lagoon: The Second Barrage; Genres: Action, Seinen; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Death Note; Genres: Mystery, Police, Psychological, Supernatural, Thriller; Rating: 10.0/10.0
Title: Shijou Saikyou no Deshi Kenichi; Genres: Action, Comedy, Martial Arts, School, Shounen; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Code Geass: Hangyaku no Lelouch; Genres: Action, Mecha, Military, School, Sci-Fi, Super Power; Rating: 10.0/10.0
Title: Katekyo Hitman Reborn!; Genres: Action, Comedy, Shounen, Super Power; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Bleach Movie 1: Memories of Nobody; Genres: Action, Adventure, Super Power; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Kaze no Stigma; Genres: Action, Fantasy, Magic, Romance, Shounen; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Devil May Cry; Genres: Action, Demons, Fantasy; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Genshiken OVA; Genres: Comedy, Parody, Slice of Life; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Claymore; Genres: Action, Adventure, Demons, Fantasy, Shounen, Super Power, Supernatural; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Zero no Tsukaima: Futatsuki no Kishi; Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Ecchi, Fantasy, Harem, Magic, Romance, School; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann; Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Mecha, Sci-Fi; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Darker than Black: Kuro no Keiyakusha; Genres: Action, Mystery, Sci-Fi, Super Power; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Lovely★Complex; Genres: Comedy, Romance, Shoujo; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Seto no Hanayome; Genres: Comedy, Parody, Romance, School; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Clannad; Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance, School, Slice of Life, Supernatural; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Shigurui; Genres: Action, Drama, Historical, Martial Arts, Samurai, Seinen; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Baccano!; Genres: Action, Comedy, Historical, Mystery, Seinen, Supernatural; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Naruto: Shippuuden Movie 1; Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, Shounen; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Goshuushou-sama Ninomiya-kun; Genres: Comedy, Ecchi, Fantasy, Harem; Rating: 6.0/10.0
Title: Genshiken 2; Genres: Comedy, Parody, Slice of Life; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Kara no Kyoukai 1: Fukan Fuukei; Genres: Action, Mystery, Supernatural, Thriller; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Shakugan no Shana II (Second); Genres: Action, Drama, Fantasy, Romance, School, Supernatural; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Bleach Movie 2: The DiamondDust Rebellion - Mou Hitotsu no Hyourinmaru; Genres: Action, Adventure, Shounen, Supernatural; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Code Geass: Hangyaku no Lelouch R2; Genres: Action, Drama, Mecha, Military, Sci-Fi, Super Power; Rating: 10.0/10.0
Title: Ookami to Koushinryou; Genres: Adventure, Fantasy, Historical, Romance; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Bamboo Blade; Genres: Comedy, School, Seinen, Sports; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Rosario to Vampire; Genres: Comedy, Ecchi, Fantasy, Harem, Romance, School, Shounen, Vampire; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Druaga no Tou: The Aegis of Uruk; Genres: Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Blassreiter; Genres: Action, Sci-Fi; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: To LOVE-Ru; Genres: Comedy, Ecchi, Harem, Romance, School, Sci-Fi; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Vampire Knight; Genres: Drama, Mystery, Romance, Shoujo, Supernatural, Vampire; Rating: 5.0/10.0
Title: Soul Eater; Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, Shounen, Supernatural; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Zero no Tsukaima: Princesses no Rondo; Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Ecchi, Fantasy, Harem, Magic, Romance, School; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Kara no Kyoukai 2: Satsujin Kousatsu (Zen); Genres: Action, Mystery, Romance, Supernatural, Thriller; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Kara no Kyoukai 3: Tsuukaku Zanryuu; Genres: Action, Drama, Mystery, Supernatural, Thriller; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Sekirei; Genres: Action, Comedy, Ecchi, Harem, Super Power; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: One Piece Film: Strong World; Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Shounen; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Clannad: After Story; Genres: Drama, Fantasy, Romance, Slice of Life, Supernatural; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Chrome Shelled Regios; Genres: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, School, Sci-Fi; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Rosario to Vampire Capu2; Genres: Comedy, Ecchi, Fantasy, Harem, Romance, School, Vampire; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Naruto: Shippuuden Movie 2 - Kizuna; Genres: Action, Martial Arts, Shounen, Supernatural; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Yozakura Quartet; Genres: Action, Comedy, Magic, Shounen, Super Power, Supernatural; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Shikabane Hime: Aka; Genres: Action, Horror, Martial Arts; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Toaru Majutsu no Index; Genres: Action, Magic, Sci-Fi, Super Power; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Ga-Rei: Zero; Genres: Action, Super Power, Supernatural, Thriller; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Druaga no Tou: The Sword of Uruk; Genres: Adventure, Fantasy; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Vampire Knight Guilty; Genres: Drama, Mystery, Romance, Shoujo, Supernatural, Vampire; Rating: 5.0/10.0
Title: Kuroshitsuji; Genres: Action, Comedy, Demons, Fantasy, Historical, Shounen, Supernatural; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Black Lagoon: Roberta's Blood Trail; Genres: Action, Seinen; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: ChäoS;HEAd; Genres: Harem, Mystery, Psychological, Sci-Fi, Supernatural; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Asu no Yoichi!; Genres: Comedy, Ecchi, Harem, Martial Arts, Romance, Shounen; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Shikabane Hime: Kuro; Genres: Action, Horror; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: One Outs; Genres: Psychological, Seinen, Sports; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Kurokami The Animation; Genres: Action, Martial Arts, Super Power; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood; Genres: Action, Adventure, Drama, Fantasy, Magic, Military, Shounen; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Hajime no Ippo: New Challenger; Genres: Comedy, Drama, Shounen, Sports; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Sekirei: Pure Engagement; Genres: Action, Comedy, Ecchi, Harem, Super Power; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Ookami to Koushinryou II; Genres: Adventure, Fantasy, Historical, Romance; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Sengoku Basara; Genres: Action, Historical, Martial Arts, Samurai, Super Power; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Senjou no Valkyria; Genres: Action, Military, Romance; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Pandora Hearts; Genres: Adventure, Fantasy, Mystery, Shounen, Supernatural; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Higashi no Eden; Genres: Action, Comedy, Drama, Mystery, Romance, Sci-Fi, Thriller; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Phantom: Requiem for the Phantom; Genres: Action, Drama, Seinen, Thriller; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Isekai no Seikishi Monogatari; Genres: Action, Comedy, Ecchi, Fantasy, Harem, Mecha, School; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Seiken no Blacksmith; Genres: Action, Adventure, Fantasy; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Sora no Otoshimono; Genres: Comedy, Ecchi, Harem, Romance, Sci-Fi, Shounen, Supernatural; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Needless; Genres: Action, Comedy, Ecchi, Sci-Fi, Super Power; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Dragon Ball Kai; Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, Martial Arts, Shounen, Super Power; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Rainbow: Nisha Rokubou no Shichinin; Genres: Drama, Historical, Seinen, Thriller; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Princess Lover!; Genres: Comedy, Ecchi, Harem, School; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Kämpfer; Genres: Action, Comedy, Ecchi, Romance, School, Shoujo Ai, Super Power; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Toaru Kagaku no Railgun; Genres: Action, Sci-Fi, Super Power; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Omamori Himari; Genres: Action, Comedy, Demons, Ecchi, Harem, Romance, Supernatural; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Naruto: Shippuuden Movie 3 - Hi no Ishi wo Tsugu Mono; Genres: Action, Comedy, Martial Arts, Shounen, Super Power; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Baka to Test to Shoukanjuu; Genres: Comedy, Romance, School, Super Power; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Angel Beats!; Genres: Action, Comedy, Drama, School, Supernatural; Rating: 10.0/10.0
Title: Darker than Black: Ryuusei no Gemini; Genres: Action, Mystery, Sci-Fi, Super Power; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Katanagatari; Genres: Action, Adventure, Historical, Martial Arts, Romance; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: 11eyes; Genres: Action, Ecchi, Super Power, Supernatural; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Fairy Tail; Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, Magic, Shounen; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Kuroshitsuji II; Genres: Action, Comedy, Demons, Fantasy, Shounen, Supernatural; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Durarara!!; Genres: Action, Mystery, Supernatural; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Dance in the Vampire Bund; Genres: Action, Supernatural, Vampire; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Shakugan no Shana III (Final); Genres: Action, Drama, Fantasy, Romance, Supernatural; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Deadman Wonderland; Genres: Action, Horror, Sci-Fi; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Working!!; Genres: Comedy, Slice of Life; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Ichiban Ushiro no Daimaou; Genres: Action, Comedy, Ecchi, Fantasy, Harem, Magic, School, Shounen; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Nurarihyon no Mago; Genres: Action, Demons, Shounen, Supernatural; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Bakuman.; Genres: Comedy, Romance, Shounen; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Shiki; Genres: Mystery, Supernatural, Thriller, Vampire; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Ookami-san to Shichinin no Nakama-tachi; Genres: Comedy, Parody, Romance; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Highschool of the Dead; Genres: Action, Ecchi, Horror, Supernatural; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Densetsu no Yuusha no Densetsu; Genres: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Magic, Shounen; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Naruto: Shippuuden Movie 4 - The Lost Tower; Genres: Action, Comedy, Martial Arts, Shounen, Super Power; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Bleach Movie 4: Jigoku-hen; Genres: Action, Comedy, Shounen, Super Power, Supernatural; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Hyakka Ryouran: Samurai Girls; Genres: Action, Comedy, Ecchi, Harem, Samurai, School; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Sora no Otoshimono: Forte; Genres: Comedy, Ecchi, Harem, Romance, Sci-Fi, Shounen, Supernatural; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Baka to Test to Shoukanjuu Ni!; Genres: Comedy, Romance, School, Super Power; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Kami nomi zo Shiru Sekai; Genres: Comedy, Harem, Romance, Shounen, Supernatural; Rating: 10.0/10.0
Title: Hidan no Aria; Genres: Action, Comedy, Romance, School; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Seitokai Yakuindomo; Genres: Comedy, School, Shounen, Slice of Life; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Kore wa Zombie Desu ka?; Genres: Action, Comedy, Ecchi, Harem, Magic, Supernatural; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Code Geass: Boukoku no Akito 1 - Yokuryuu wa Maiorita; Genres: Action, Mecha, Military, Sci-Fi; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: IS: Infinite Stratos; Genres: Action, Comedy, Harem, Mecha, Sci-Fi; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Motto To LOVE-Ru; Genres: Comedy, Ecchi, Harem, School, Sci-Fi, Shounen; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Steins;Gate; Genres: Sci-Fi, Thriller; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Freezing; Genres: Action, Drama, Ecchi, Harem, Martial Arts, Romance, Sci-Fi, Seinen; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Beelzebub; Genres: Action, Comedy, Demons, School, Shounen, Supernatural; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Mahou Shoujo Madoka★Magica; Genres: Drama, Magic, Psychological, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/10.0
Title: Sora no Otoshimono: Tokeijikake no Angeloid; Genres: Comedy, Drama, Ecchi, Harem, Romance, Sci-Fi, Shounen, Supernatural; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Ao no Exorcist; Genres: Action, Demons, Fantasy, Shounen, Supernatural; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Ano Hi Mita Hana no Namae wo Bokutachi wa Mada Shiranai.; Genres: Drama, Slice of Life, Supernatural; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Bakuman. 2nd Season; Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance, Shounen; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Nurarihyon no Mago: Sennen Makyou; Genres: Action, Demons, Shounen, Supernatural; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Kami nomi zo Shiru Sekai II; Genres: Comedy, Harem, Romance, Shounen, Supernatural; Rating: 10.0/10.0
Title: Fate/Zero; Genres: Action, Fantasy, Supernatural; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Mayo Chiki!; Genres: Comedy, Ecchi, Harem, Romance, School; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Dog Days; Genres: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Magic; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Usagi Drop; Genres: Josei, Slice of Life; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: C: The Money of Soul and Possibility Control; Genres: Action, Mystery, Super Power, Thriller; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Towa no Quon 1: Utakata no Kaben; Genres: Action, Super Power, Supernatural; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Ben-To; Genres: Action, Comedy, Martial Arts; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Working'!!; Genres: Comedy, Slice of Life; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Kamisama no Memochou; Genres: Mystery; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: C³; Genres: Action, Comedy, Ecchi, School, Supernatural; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Naruto: Shippuuden Movie 5 - Blood Prison; Genres: Action, Adventure, Martial Arts, Mystery, Shounen, Super Power; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Mirai Nikki (TV); Genres: Action, Mystery, Psychological, Shounen, Supernatural, Thriller; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Towa no Quon 2: Konton no Ranbu; Genres: Action, Mystery, Super Power, Supernatural; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Towa no Quon 3: Mugen no Renza; Genres: Action, Super Power, Supernatural; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Towa no Quon 4: Guren no Shoushin; Genres: Action, Super Power, Supernatural; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Towa no Quon 5: Souzetsu no Raifuku; Genres: Action, Super Power, Supernatural; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Towa no Quon 6: Towa no Quon; Genres: Action, Super Power, Supernatural; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Boku wa Tomodachi ga Sukunai; Genres: Comedy, Ecchi, Harem, Romance, School, Seinen, Slice of Life; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Kore wa Zombie Desu ka? of the Dead; Genres: Action, Comedy, Ecchi, Harem, Magic, Supernatural; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Guilty Crown; Genres: Action, Drama, Sci-Fi, Super Power; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Hunter x Hunter (2011); Genres: Action, Adventure, Shounen, Super Power; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Another; Genres: Horror, Mystery, School, Supernatural, Thriller; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Brave 10; Genres: Action, Adventure, Historical, Samurai, Seinen, Super Power; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Zero no Tsukaima F; Genres: Adventure, Ecchi, Fantasy, Magic, Romance; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: High School DxD; Genres: Comedy, Demons, Ecchi, Harem, Romance, School; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Blood Lad; Genres: Action, Comedy, Demons, Seinen, Supernatural, Vampire; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Code:Breaker; Genres: Action, Comedy, School, Shounen, Super Power, Supernatural; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Fate/Zero 2nd Season; Genres: Action, Fantasy, Supernatural, Thriller; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Sword Art Online; Genres: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Game, Romance; Rating: 10.0/10.0
Title: Accel World; Genres: Action, Game, Romance, School, Sci-Fi; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Medaka Box; Genres: Action, Comedy, Ecchi, Martial Arts, School, Shounen, Super Power; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Kuroko no Basket; Genres: Comedy, School, Shounen, Sports; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Dog Days'; Genres: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Magic; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Shijou Saikyou no Deshi Kenichi OVA; Genres: Action, Comedy, Martial Arts, School, Shounen; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Danshi Koukousei no Nichijou; Genres: Comedy, School, Shounen, Slice of Life; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Kokoro Connect; Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance, School, Slice of Life, Supernatural; Rating: 6.0/10.0
Title: Oda Nobuna no Yabou; Genres: Comedy, Historical, Romance; Rating: 10.0/10.0
Title: Fairy Tail Movie 1: Houou no Miko; Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, Magic, Shounen; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Hyouka; Genres: Mystery, School, Slice of Life; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Campione!: Matsurowanu Kamigami to Kamigoroshi no Maou; Genres: Comedy, Ecchi, Fantasy, Harem, Magic, Romance; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Bakuman. 3rd Season; Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance, Shounen; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Jormungand; Genres: Action, Adventure, Seinen; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Tasogare Otome x Amnesia; Genres: Horror, Mystery, Romance, School, Shounen, Supernatural; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Sakasama no Patema; Genres: Sci-Fi, Seinen; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Dakara Boku wa, H ga Dekinai.; Genres: Comedy, Ecchi, Romance, Supernatural; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: One Piece Film: Z; Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Shounen; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Hagure Yuusha no Aesthetica; Genres: Action, Ecchi, Fantasy, Super Power; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Hunter x Hunter Movie: Phantom Rouge; Genres: Action, Adventure, Shounen, Super Power; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Jormungand: Perfect Order; Genres: Action, Adventure, Seinen; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Rakuen Tsuihou: Expelled from Paradise; Genres: Action, Mecha, Sci-Fi; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Binbougami ga!; Genres: Comedy, Parody, Shounen, Supernatural; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Psycho-Pass; Genres: Action, Police, Psychological, Sci-Fi; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Little Busters!; Genres: Comedy, Drama, School, Slice of Life, Supernatural; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: To LOVE-Ru Darkness; Genres: Comedy, Ecchi, Harem, Romance, School, Sci-Fi, Shounen; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Naruto: Shippuuden Movie 6 - Road to Ninja; Genres: Action, Adventure, Martial Arts, Shounen, Super Power; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Sakurasou no Pet na Kanojo; Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance, School, Slice of Life; Rating: 10.0/10.0
Title: Zetsuen no Tempest; Genres: Action, Drama, Fantasy, Magic, Mystery, Psychological, Shounen; Rating: 10.0/10.0
Title: Tonari no Kaibutsu-kun; Genres: Comedy, Romance, School, Shoujo, Slice of Life; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Nerawareta Gakuen; Genres: Romance, School, Sci-Fi; Rating: 6.0/10.0
Title: Btooom!; Genres: Action, Psychological, Sci-Fi, Seinen; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: K; Genres: Action, Super Power, Supernatural; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic; Genres: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Magic, Shounen; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Medaka Box Abnormal; Genres: Action, Comedy, Ecchi, Martial Arts, School, Shounen, Super Power; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai!; Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance, School, Slice of Life; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Ixion Saga DT; Genres: Action, Comedy, Fantasy; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Yahari Ore no Seishun Love Comedy wa Machigatteiru.; Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance, School; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Maoyuu Maou Yuusha; Genres: Adventure, Demons, Fantasy, Historical, Romance; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Boku wa Tomodachi ga Sukunai Next; Genres: Comedy, Harem, Romance, School, Seinen, Slice of Life; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Kami nomi zo Shiru Sekai: Tenri-hen; Genres: Comedy, Harem, Romance, Shounen, Supernatural; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Code Geass: Boukoku no Akito 2 - Hikisakareshi Yokuryuu; Genres: Action, Mecha, Military; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Mondaiji-tachi ga Isekai kara Kuru Sou Desu yo?; Genres: Comedy, Fantasy, Supernatural; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Gintama Movie: Kanketsu-hen - Yorozuya yo Eien Nare; Genres: Action, Comedy, Historical, Parody, Samurai, Sci-Fi, Shounen; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: High School DxD New; Genres: Action, Comedy, Demons, Ecchi, Harem, Romance, School; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Date A Live; Genres: Comedy, Harem, Mecha, Romance, School, Sci-Fi; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Senyuu.; Genres: Action, Comedy, Fantasy, Parody, Shounen; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Hataraku Maou-sama!; Genres: Comedy, Demons, Fantasy, Romance, Shounen; Rating: 10.0/10.0
Title: Zettai Karen Children: The Unlimited - Hyoubu Kyousuke; Genres: Shounen, Supernatural; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Kamisama no Inai Nichiyoubi; Genres: Fantasy, Mystery; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Tokyo Ravens; Genres: Comedy, School, Shounen, Super Power, Supernatural; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Nagi no Asukara; Genres: Drama, Fantasy, Romance; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Shingeki no Kyojin; Genres: Action, Drama, Fantasy, Shounen, Super Power; Rating: 10.0/10.0
Title: Devil Survivor 2 The Animation; Genres: Action, Demons, Supernatural; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Suisei no Gargantia; Genres: Action, Adventure, Mecha, Sci-Fi; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Danganronpa: Kibou no Gakuen to Zetsubou no Koukousei The Animation; Genres: Action, Horror, Mystery, Psychological; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Kami nomi zo Shiru Sekai: Megami-hen; Genres: Comedy, Harem, Romance, Shounen, Supernatural; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Kuroko no Basket 2nd Season; Genres: Comedy, School, Shounen, Sports; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Gin no Saji; Genres: Comedy, School, Shounen, Slice of Life; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Machine-Doll wa Kizutsukanai; Genres: Action, Ecchi, Fantasy, School, Seinen; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Log Horizon; Genres: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Game, Magic, Shounen; Rating: 10.0/10.0
Title: Mushibugyou; Genres: Action, Fantasy, Historical, Martial Arts, Samurai, Shounen, Super Power; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Grisaia no Kajitsu; Genres: Drama, Harem, Psychological, Romance, School; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Inu to Hasami wa Tsukaiyou; Genres: Comedy, Supernatural; Rating: 6.0/10.0
Title: Golden Time; Genres: Comedy, Romance, Seinen; Rating: 10.0/10.0
Title: Magi: The Kingdom of Magic; Genres: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Magic, Shounen; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Servant x Service; Genres: Comedy, Slice of Life; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Kyoukai no Kanata; Genres: Fantasy, Slice of Life, Supernatural; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Yowamushi Pedal; Genres: Comedy, Drama, Shounen, Sports; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Little Busters!: Refrain; Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance, School, Slice of Life, Supernatural; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Strike the Blood; Genres: Action, Ecchi, Fantasy, Harem, School, Shounen, Supernatural, Vampire; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai! Ren; Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance, School, Slice of Life; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Kill la Kill; Genres: Action, Comedy, School, Super Power; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Nisekoi; Genres: Comedy, Harem, Romance, School, Shounen; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Date A Live II; Genres: Comedy, Harem, Mecha, Romance, School, Sci-Fi; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Outbreak Company; Genres: Comedy, Fantasy, Harem, Parody; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Hajime no Ippo: Rising; Genres: Comedy, Drama, Shounen, Sports; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: No Game No Life; Genres: Adventure, Comedy, Ecchi, Fantasy, Game, Supernatural; Rating: 10.0/10.0
Title: D-Frag!; Genres: Comedy, Game, School, Seinen; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Noragami; Genres: Action, Adventure, Shounen, Supernatural; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Haikyuu!!; Genres: Comedy, Drama, School, Shounen, Sports; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Hamatora The Animation; Genres: Comedy, Mystery, Super Power; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei; Genres: Magic, Romance, School, Sci-Fi, Supernatural; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Black Bullet; Genres: Action, Mystery, Sci-Fi, Seinen; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Baby Steps; Genres: Romance, School, Shounen, Sports; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Bokura wa Minna Kawaisou; Genres: Comedy, Romance, School, Slice of Life; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Ryuugajou Nanana no Maizoukin (TV); Genres: Comedy, Supernatural; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Shingeki no Bahamut: Genesis; Genres: Action, Adventure, Demons, Fantasy, Magic, Supernatural; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Mangaka-san to Assistant-san to The Animation; Genres: Comedy, Ecchi, Harem, Seinen, Slice of Life; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Sword Art Online II; Genres: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Game, Romance; Rating: 10.0/10.0
Title: Soredemo Sekai wa Utsukushii; Genres: Adventure, Fantasy, Romance, Shoujo; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Ping Pong The Animation; Genres: Psychological, Seinen, Sports; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Amagi Brilliant Park; Genres: Comedy, Magic; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Akame ga Kill!; Genres: Action, Adventure, Fantasy; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works; Genres: Action, Fantasy, Magic, Shounen, Supernatural; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Tokyo Ghoul; Genres: Action, Drama, Horror, Mystery, Psychological, Seinen, Supernatural; Rating: 10.0/10.0
Title: Kiseijuu: Sei no Kakuritsu; Genres: Action, Drama, Horror, Psychological, Sci-Fi, Seinen; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Barakamon; Genres: Comedy, Slice of Life; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Rokujouma no Shinryakusha!? (TV); Genres: Comedy, Harem, Romance, School, Supernatural; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance; Genres: Action, Comedy, Ecchi, Fantasy, Harem, Romance, School, Supernatural; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: M3: Sono Kuroki Hagane; Genres: Action, Drama, Mecha, Mystery, Psychological, Sci-Fi; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Durarara!!x2 Shou; Genres: Action, Mystery, Supernatural; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso; Genres: Drama, Music, Romance, School, Shounen; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Saenai Heroine no Sodatekata; Genres: Comedy, Ecchi, Harem, Romance, School; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Psycho-Pass 2; Genres: Action, Police, Psychological, Sci-Fi; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Zankyou no Terror; Genres: Psychological, Thriller; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun; Genres: Comedy, Romance, School; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Garo: Honoo no Kokuin; Genres: Action, Demons, Fantasy, Magic, Supernatural; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Log Horizon 2nd Season; Genres: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Game, Magic, Shounen; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Re:␣Hamatora; Genres: Comedy, Mystery, Super Power; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Nanatsu no Taizai; Genres: Action, Adventure, Ecchi, Fantasy, Shounen, Supernatural; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Yahari Ore no Seishun Love Comedy wa Machigatteiru. Zoku; Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance, School; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Taimadou Gakuen 35 Shiken Shoutai; Genres: Action, Ecchi, Fantasy, Harem, Military, Romance, Supernatural; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Yowamushi Pedal: Grande Road; Genres: Comedy, Drama, Shounen, Sports; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Kuroko no Basket 3rd Season; Genres: Comedy, School, Shounen, Sports; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Kekkai Sensen; Genres: Action, Fantasy, Shounen, Super Power, Supernatural, Vampire; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Madan no Ou to Vanadis; Genres: Adventure, Ecchi, Fantasy, Harem, Romance; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: High School DxD BorN; Genres: Action, Comedy, Demons, Ecchi, Harem, Romance, School; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Akatsuki no Yona; Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, Romance, Shoujo; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Trinity Seven; Genres: Action, Comedy, Ecchi, Fantasy, Harem, Magic, Romance, School, Shounen, Supernatural; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Gangsta.; Genres: Action, Drama, Seinen; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Kuusen Madoushi Kouhosei no Kyoukan; Genres: Action, Drama, Fantasy, Magic, School; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Absolute Duo; Genres: Action, Ecchi, Harem, Romance, School, Supernatural; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Owari no Seraph; Genres: Action, Drama, Shounen, Supernatural, Vampire; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Danna ga Nani wo Itteiru ka Wakaranai Ken; Genres: Comedy, Seinen, Slice of Life; Rating: 7.0/10.0
Title: Baby Steps 2nd Season; Genres: Romance, School, Shounen, Sports; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Plastic Memories; Genres: Drama, Romance, Sci-Fi; Rating: 10.0/10.0
Title: Durarara!!x2 Ten; Genres: Action, Mystery, Supernatural; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Tokyo Ghoul √A; Genres: Action, Drama, Horror, Mystery, Psychological, Seinen, Supernatural; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: K: Return of Kings; Genres: Action, Super Power, Supernatural; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Dungeon ni Deai wo Motomeru no wa Machigatteiru Darou ka; Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, Romance; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Shokugeki no Souma; Genres: Ecchi, School, Shounen; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Death Parade; Genres: Drama, Game, Mystery, Psychological, Thriller; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Arslan Senki (TV); Genres: Action, Adventure, Drama, Fantasy, Historical, Shounen; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Joukamachi no Dandelion; Genres: Comedy, Seinen, Slice of Life, Super Power; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Rokka no Yuusha; Genres: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Magic, Mystery; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Koutetsujou no Kabaneri; Genres: Action, Drama, Fantasy, Horror; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works 2nd Season; Genres: Action, Fantasy, Magic, Shounen, Supernatural; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Haikyuu!! Second Season; Genres: Comedy, Drama, School, Shounen, Sports; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Gate: Jieitai Kanochi nite, Kaku Tatakaeri; Genres: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Military; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Charlotte; Genres: Drama, School, Super Power; Rating: 10.0/10.0
Title: Grisaia no Rakuen; Genres: Drama, Harem, Psychological, Romance; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Overlord; Genres: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Game, Magic, Supernatural; Rating: 10.0/10.0
Title: Ushio to Tora (TV); Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Demons, Shounen, Supernatural; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: ReLIFE; Genres: Romance, School, Slice of Life; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Chaos Dragon: Sekiryuu Seneki; Genres: Action, Fantasy, Supernatural; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: One Punch Man; Genres: Action, Comedy, Parody, Sci-Fi, Seinen, Super Power, Supernatural; Rating: 10.0/10.0
Title: Rakudai Kishi no Cavalry; Genres: Action, Ecchi, Fantasy, Romance, School; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Noragami Aragoto; Genres: Action, Adventure, Shounen, Supernatural; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Kono Subarashii Sekai ni Shukufuku wo!; Genres: Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, Supernatural; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Boku dake ga Inai Machi; Genres: Mystery, Psychological, Seinen, Supernatural; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Re:Zero kara Hajimeru Isekai Seikatsu; Genres: Drama, Fantasy, Psychological, Thriller; Rating: 10.0/10.0
Title: Gate: Jieitai Kanochi nite, Kaku Tatakaeri 2nd Season; Genres: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Military; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Kiznaiver; Genres: Drama, Sci-Fi; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Hai to Gensou no Grimgar; Genres: Action, Adventure, Drama, Fantasy; Rating: 9.0/10.0
Title: Boku no Hero Academia; Genres: Action, Comedy, School, Shounen, Super Power; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Tanaka-kun wa Itsumo Kedaruge; Genres: Comedy, School, Slice of Life; Rating: 8.0/10.0
Title: Mob Psycho 100; Genres: Action, Comedy, Slice of Life, Supernatural; Rating: 8.0/10.0 | anime |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Ramada by Wyndham Trenton; City: Trenton Quinte West Ontario; Review: We stayed at this location because we had a family wedding 15 minutes away. The bride & groom had blocked off 30 rooms for the occasion back in January for the wedding weekend of July 29-30th. When the rooms were reserved for this weekend the staff had no clue what was going on. They tried to up-charge more for the rooms than was quoted to the bride & groom when the rooms were blocked off and were adamant that there were no rooms available at the quoted rate. After several phone calls and much discussion they finally figured out that there were in fact 30 rooms available. Finally! Because of this nonsense we called to confirm the weekend prior and it still took a while for them to figure out that we indeed had a reservation! Would have thought that this process is taught in Hotels 101 for anybody that went to hospitality school. Upon arrival at check-in time of 3:00 pm along with several other family members we were told that the rooms weren't ready yet, but we finally got in to our rooms. We were fortunate that our room was ok. Other members of our party had to change rooms 2 or 3 times as rooms were still awaiting cleaning, toilets wouldn't flush, etc. We had 4 family members on the fist floor that had ants in their rooms, on their beds, on night tables etc. Front desk staff were indifferent to these problems. Because this was a wedding, we had a rehearsal scheduled that we all had to attend and spending time running around changing rooms on Friday night was a stress we didn't need! The best man for example went to his room, dropped off his luggage just inside the door, left for 5 minutes, came back and couldn't get into his room. He went to the front desk, had his key re-programmed, entered his room only to realize that it hadn't been cleaned yet. He then went back to the desk, was given another room, left a key at the desk for his girlfriend with her name on it because she was arriving later. When he arrived at his second room, it was also not cleaned yet! He went to the front desk yet again and was told that they would straighten it out. Meanwhile, he had to leave to go to the rehearsal and was told that the room situation would be dealt with before his return. When we got back to the hotel around 10:00 pm the front desk had no idea what room he was supposed to be in...gave him a key for what they thought was the right room, he went to the room and walked in on a couple having sex in the room! A little traumatic for all involved! He then went to the front desk and was told oops, our mistake you are actually in a different room, that's where we put your luggage. He went with the desk clerk to that room and the staff member knocked on the; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Jewel Dunn s River Beach Resort Spa Ocho Rios Curio Collection by Hilton; City: Mammee Bay S; Review: Just returned fom a week at the Jewel Dunn's River Resort and was very impressed. First time in Jamaica but won't be our last. Flew with Sunwing from Toronto to Montego Bay. A decent flight overall. Breezed through immigration quickly and got out to the bus to the resort. Had to wait for an hour before the bus left the airport and then had a 2 hour bus ride to the resort. Makes for a long day. Finally arrived at the resort around 9:00 pm. Greeted at the Front desk with a welcome drink & cool towel. Filled out some paperwork & checked in. (Had to leave a credit card number as an "incidental" hold first time I have ever had to do that at a resort) No big deal. Quickly showed to our room by the Bellman and it looked OK...a little tired maybe but functional. Went down to the courtyard for some refreshment and met with other new arrivals. Very nice to start with real Jamaican Jerk chicken & pork Back in the room for around11:00 pm and found it very loud as our balcony was over the roof of the disco. Next morning we met with our Sunwing rep. Jodi...the best Rep I have had in any country at any resort. Jodi was outgoing, funny and very concerned with making sure everybody enjoyed their stay. She wasn't just all about selling excursions (though she did that as well) but genuinely made the vacation about us. Jodi was a key in getting our room changed to a different, quieter location and was constantly going to the desk & reporting feedback for us. Jodi also made sure that all Sunwing guests received a welcome bottle of rum & a cheese platter. She was an integral part of this trip and allowed us to just enjoy the vacation. Room - Nice. King size beds, seemed soft at first but turned out to be very confortable. Bathroom is small, but plenty of room at the counter outside of the bathroom. Room has a balcony, mini-fridge & a couple of chairs as well. Typical hotel room. AC worked great and was never too loud. We did find it could be loud in the room around 4:00-6:00 pm when people were going back to their rooms and a lot of laughing & door slamming, but, overall not a big deal. Food - Excellent in all restaurants including the buffet. There was a wide assortment for all three meals and it changed up a lot over the week. Only needed to make a reservation at the Japanese restaurant as it was a Teppanyaki restaurant that could only serve 40 people at a time. The other a la carte restaurants were first come first served and never had a long wait. Service in all was great and the food was better. The resort also put on a beach buffett dinner on Tuesday & a Dinner (a la carte - fixed menu- 6 course meal) on the pier on Thursday night. Thursday night also had the Manager's cocktail; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Homewood Suites by Hilton Calgary Airport; City: Calgary Alberta; Review: Flew into Calgary late. Called the hotel for a shuttle and was told 10-15 minutes. It was there in 2 minutes. A great first impression. Dropped off at the hotel and the driver didn't act like he was waiting for a tip, just got back on the shuttle and wished us a good night. I actually had to get back on to hand him his tip. A great second impression. Check in was smooth, got to our room and it was great. Very spacious, clean and impressive. Room was comfortable as it had a couch, dining table and 2 chairs, full size fridge, dishwasher, microwave and dishes. A very nice set-up. The bed was a very comfortable king size and after a full day of travel very welcome. The morning brought us to the complimentary continental breakfast. A fantastic variety of both hot and cold choices. Literally something for everyone. The staff was courteous and efficient and very quick to replace empty food choices. The only thing I would complain about is there is limited seating and many of the seats are large club chairs that don't get close enough to the tables and restrict the number of people that can sit down. All in all an excellent stay. I would definitely return to this hotel.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Qualicum Beach Inn; City: Qualicum Beach Vancouver Island British Columbia; Review: We were visiting family in Qualicum Beach and wanted to go out for dinner. We reserved on a Sunday night at 7:00 pm. (We were not staying at the hotel) From the time we stepped into the restaurant until we left the staff was friendly and courteous. The food was great quality and presented very well as well as being very tasty. Turns out Sunday is Prime Rib night and they were very generous with the portions. Probably the best Yorkshire pudding I have ever had in a restaurant and I take that very seriously as my wife's Yorkshire pudding is the best I have ever had and this came in a very close second. There were 5 of us in our group and the consensus was that everything wa excellent. I would recommend this restaurant to everybody and will definitely go back whenever I am in the area.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Paul s Motor Inn; City: Victoria Victoria Capital Regional District Vancouver Island British C; Review: A fairly affordable hotel for visitors to Victoria. The rooms are in need of some TLC as they are older and starting to wear out. The beds were a little below average as well. The bathrooms are very small but the sink and vanity are outside of the bathroom. The shower must have been installaed for very small people as I am only 5'9" and after adjusting the shower head up as far as it would go (straight out) it would only spray as high as my chin so it was almost useless. The location was ok though as it was only a short walk to Chinatown and downtown. I wouldn't go back though. I would find something a little nicer.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Econo Lodge Inn Suites Drumheller; City: Drumheller Alberta; Review: After a busy day in Drumheller we went to the hotel to check in and could see it was a little run down. First room we had smelled musty and "sour". We weren't all that impressed and asked for a refund but were told that if we didn't want to stay we would be charged for a night. (Even though we were on the property less than 5 minutes). We finally settled on a room change to a less smelly room. The beds were so-so on the comfort level but we managed a least a few hours sleep. Outside was very noisy and the walls are paper thin. Way too expensive for what we got. Would not recommend this to anyone; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Cactus Tree Inn; City: Oliver Okanagan Valley British Columbia; Review: The room was very clean and the beds were comfortable. $108.00 is pretty average for a night but the place filled up. Had a ground floor room. Not crazy about the door opening right to the bed (room was a little small for 2 queen beds). Overall it was decent enough for an overnight stay. I would recommend this as a quick stopover.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Days Inn by Wyndham Canmore; City: Canmore Kananaskis Country Alberta; Review: Room was clean and comfortable with no issues. Pretty average as hotel rooms go. Our room was on the second floor...no elevator so carrying a bunch of suitcases up a flight of stairs wasn't all that much fun after a very tiring day walking the trails in the area. All in all it is ok. No problem recommending this hotel; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Quality Inn Suites 1000 Islands; City: Gananoque Ontario; Review: Stayed in the hotel about 10 years ago and decided to go back based on that experience. A big mistake. I don’t think that any work has been done on the place since then. I don’t think it warrants the title of “Quality” or “suite”as it doesn’t seem to be either. The room was a little run down and looked worn and dirty. The shower was ok if you are shorter than 5’ tall...useless if you are taller. No fan in the bathroom so the steam after a shower takes forever to clear. The check-in was fairly straight forward as I had paid when I booked but the front desk person wasn’t overly friendly or helpful. He didn’t welcome me or tell me where the complimentary breakfast would be served or where the ice machine was. Had to figure all this out myself. The bed was ok. Not comfortable but not the worst I have experienced in a hotel either. The room was a little drafty and the heater was noisy and hard to control the amount of heat that it put out. Either too much or too little. Not a great nights sleep anyway. The free continental breakfast was below average and not worth mentioning. All in all I was disappointed with my stay and will not go back until it either has a management change a complete renovation or better yet both.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Courtyard by Marriott Boston Logan Airport; City: Boston Massachusetts; Review: After a very long travel day of approx. 12 hours this hotel was a welcome respite. Check in was a breeze as the room was paid for in advance. Front desk staff was very friendly and knowledgeable. They have a shuttle to the airport which guests can take to the airport subway station to make getting into the city a breeze. This is your best bet because driving around the city is a nightmare. The hotel offers free parking so take advantage of it. Free tea & coffee in the lobby 24 hrs a day and it actually is quite good. A restaurant on site just off the lobby. The food was good but a little on the pricey side. We had 2 different experiences in the restaurant. The dinner service was horrible. The server kept disappearing and never once came by the table after we got our meals. We were not offered another drink nor was our water glass filled up. Twenty minutes after we finished our meal we were able to snag another server to track down our bill. Needless to say we left no tip this time. The next morning the server for breakfast was spectacular. She was friendly, knowledgeable and very attentive even though the place was very busy. We never had to wait for her to do anything. She actually got a very large tip as she far exceeded our expectations. The food was pretty good too. Our room was on the second floor and was very clean and spacious. A comfortable king size bed, love seat, fridge, coffee maker, microwave and large bathroom. All in all a very nice stay. I would highly recommend this hotel.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Days Inn by Wyndham Tannersville; City: Tannersville Pocono Mountains Region Pennsylvania; Review: Last minute booking on hotels.com and got a cheap rate....now I know why. Full disclosure....I didn’t read the small print when I booked the room and booked a smoking room unintentionally. Arrived at the hotel after being on the road all day. Was told that my reservation was for a smoking room with a king bed. I stated that no I didn’t want a smoking room but was told too bad. I booked through hotels.com so I had to take it. The hotel was 90% empty by the way. The front desk clerk was not helpful at all and didn’t care that we had to take this room. I think he was secretly laughing at us. Went to the room and opened the door...the stink almost knocked us over. This was bad. Old stale smoke smell that got worse when the heater came on. Which was constantly because the room was very drafty. The room was also supposed to be wheelchair accessible but not sure how anyone would ever get a wheelchair in this cramped space. The room was dirty, smelled dirty, looked dirty, had an uncomfortable bed, a lousy toilet, and a very cramped feel. It was so disgusting that my wife refused to take off her socks because she didn’t want her feet to touch the gross floor. The door latch was loose and you could see where they had patched the door from where it was broken before. Went to the front desk to ask where the ice machine was....turns out is is in another building behind the one we were in, across the dark parking lot, up a hill inside another building. Room was noisy as well as it faced the highway and all you could hear all night was trucks going down the highway, when you weren’t being kept awake by the noise of the heater. I would not recommend this place to my worst enemy. I would rather sleep in my car than return to this dump. Days Inn should be mortified to have their name associated with this place. Avoid it at all costs.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Riu Palace Paradise Island; City: Paradise Island New Providence Island Bahamas; Review: Just came back from 11 nights at this "resort" and I was very happy to be home. The resort isn't a particularily bad place, just not what I would expect a 5 star facility to be like. This is not really a resort....more of a large hotel as it lacked the resort feel. There are virtually no grounds to walk around other than down to the beach, no gardens to wander and the 2 pools are about 40' apart. Check-in was fairly simple and quick and after a fairly late arrrival on Sunday night (9:30 pm) they allowed us access to the buffet to get a quick bite to eat. Both pools were heated to about 80 degrees and more like bathwater. This isn't all that refreshing when you are baking in the sun. The smaller infinity style pool was also the swim-up bar and was always very crowded. The pools have tiles falling off them and are in desparate need of some maintenance. There are plenty of loungers both under canopies and open and the towel exchange was probably the best I have ever seen.They always had plenty of dry towels on hand & you could exchange them as often as you wanted. Beach - A little on the small side. The sand was raked every morning but was so soft it was difficult to walk on. There is a large amount of undertow in the water so caution is advised, especially when the yellow/red caution flags are out. The ocean is very refreshing though and very beautiful to look at. Rooms: First night - 2 single beds pushed together (and made separately) to form a "King-Size" bed. A leak in the AC left a large puddle on the floor which when making a middle of the night bathroom trip provided an unwelcome slip & fall hazard. The pool side is very noisy during the day. There was no peace at all during the day as we were only on the 4th floor. Night 2-11 - We switched rooms after night 1 due to the leak & the noise from the pool. The room (directly across the hall) was much quieter and had an actual King Size bed. The AC worked but left the room feeling damp for the entire trip. Clothing & sheets always felt damp. Beds are not comfortable at all and are way too soft. Both of us had sore backs every morning. Bathroom was large, with a large shower but the lack of shower doors and the lack of a fan also contributed to the overall dampness in the room. A towel needed to be placed on the floor after a shower or the floor was too slippery to walk on. Maid service was fantastic and they would provide you with whatever you may need (extra pillows, blankets, towels, etc.) and the mini bar was fully stocked every day. Buffet restaurant - The only option for breakfast and the selection was typical of every resort I have been to (Omelette station, fresh fruit, bacon, sausage, pancakes, etc.); Rating: 3.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Killing Kennedy: The End of Camelot; Author: Visit Amazon's Bill O'Reilly Page; Review: I was 12 when Kennedy was killed, so I found it very interesting to read about now. Worth taking the time for.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Killing Kennedy: The End of Camelot; Author: aa; Review: I was 12 when Kennedy was killed, so I found it very interesting to read about now. Worth taking the time for.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Gate House; Author: Visit Amazon's Nelson DeMille Page; Review: well written. couldn't wait to see what happened. humorous.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Sister: A psychological thriller with a brilliant twist you won't see coming; Author: Visit Amazon's Louise Jensen Page; Review: A story of friends through childhood to young adults. Jealousy, love, friendships, it's all there. And the unknown, riveting, can't put it down suspense. Read it, you'll like it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The House by the River; Author: Visit Amazon's Lena Manta Page; Review: Definitely a book for women. Its all about women, mothers, daughters, grandmothers, sisters and their different relationships with each other and their men. Long story, but a good read.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: The Spencer Quinn Reader's Companion: A Collection of Excerpts from the Chet and Bernie Mystery Series - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Spencer Quinn Page; Review: This dog is articulate and smart and has the adorable habit of forgetting the story he was about to tell. As a drop out from k9 school, thanks to the intrusion of a darned cat he has partnered with his former trainer for a great career saving lives and solving crimes.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: How to Make Cold Espresso Drinks Like A Pro: A Beginner's Guide to DIY Iced Lattes & Frappes; Brand: Visit Amazon's Bethany Dasko Page; Review: I haven't tried any of the recipes yet, but after the holidays are over and as soon as spring comes I hope to start at page one and work my way to the end.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Vertical Gardening and Container Gardening - Ideas for Growing Vegetables and Herbs In Small Vertical Places Outdoors and Indoors; Brand: Joe Marshall; Review: I am looking forward to spring to plant in containers on my deck. I can almost taste the tomatoes now; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Queen Elizabeth II; Brand: Mark Black; Review: I'm a history buff and I have learned some thing new in each of the brief history series. I look forward to reading many more; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Whiskey Tide - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's M. Ruth Myers Page; Review: I have enjoyed Ms Myers other novels but was amazed at the locale of this one, set in my home area of North Shore of Massachusetts. The research she did about the area around Salem and the Willows as well as her wonderful characters make me wish I could give it six stars. I can't imagine any one not enjoying this adventure/thriller; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ardor - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Elena M. Reyes Page; Review: 's Reyes hasn't learned that it's not necessary to be so explicit to write a sexy novel. Sorry I downloaded it.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Fruit Infused Water: 101 Recipes: Your Natural Vitamin Water - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Liz Harper Page; Review: I have down loaded dozens of recipe books, but I can't wait to try these recipes. They all sound delicious as well as healthy..; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Place Of Our Own (Contemporary Cowboy Romance) (Texas Heat Book 3) - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Amelia Rose Page; Review: A simplistic book for adolescents. A wimpy, not too capable cowboy is changed in the length of time it takes to knock his brother out and overnight becomes a strong shoulder for our heroine to lean on. She is going to give up her teaching position to become a carder and fleece spinner as well as a cheese maker. If that's not enough she digs up a box of gold! Please! A good romance should have some basis in reality. I would have given it one star, but it was not filled with graphic sex scenes.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: One For The Holiday: A Christmas Novella - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's S. Donahue Page; Review: Was poorly written and edited. The author writes like an adolescent, who failed spelling and basic grammar. I really don't like to give a free book a poor ratings, but I can't honestly recommend this book.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Penny (Women & War Book 2) - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Ellie Keaton Page; Review: I really liked Penny, she was brave and intelligent and not just a pretty character used for sex interest.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Her Tiger Billionaire (Supernatural Billionaire Mates Book 2) - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Lizzie Lynn Lee Page; Review: The usual strong, handsome rich but of course unhappy man, the struggling, honest but of course unhappy woman. This book has been written a dozen times under different titles, but it never changes.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: 1964 (Made in Yorkshire Book 1) (Made In Yorkshire Saga) - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's James Farner Page; Review: This book was offered for free and I really had no idea of what the book was all about. And a story about a farm boy really didn't sound promising. Boy was I surprised. I had expected dull parents, and hayseed kids instead of the thoughtful family that I found. I really enjoyed it and will read the rest of the series.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Psychopath Or Sociopath: Know The Difference, Stay The F**k Away, And Always Check Your Back Seat (Psychopath, Sociopath,; Brand: Visit Amazon's Alex Rice Page; Review: As a psych nurse who also worked on assignment for several years to our local house of correction, I found the book to be accurate and my only criticism is that is might be a little dry for people not in the field.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Waking Kate eBook; Brand: Visit Amazon's Sarah Addison Allen Page; Review: I felt very frustrated at the abrupt ending and hope there going to be another book tying up all the ends of this story. I really feel like the author just ran out of ideas and closed her laptop rather than tying up the loose ends of what had the potential to be a great story.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Essential Oils: Essential Oils for Healing : The Ultimate Guide to the Miraculous Healing Qualities of Essential Oils (Essential; Brand: Visit Amazon's Janie Sanders Page; Review: Nothing new here, could find all the information on one of the life hack sites. I have already deleted it from my kindle and from the cloud.; Rating: 1.0/5.0 | amazon_Kindle_Store |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Royal Valentia Hotel; City: Knightstown Valentia Island County Kerry; Review: Pros to this hotel Friendly staff - very helpful Location - couldn't be better really Beds - very comfortable Breakfast - good Irish breakfast served Bar - nice bar with great views Cons Rooms - only the show rooms are on the website, our rooms looked nothing like what we'd expected Cleanliness - although a very tidy hotel seats in the restaurant were black with dirt/overuse - needs badly refurbished. Overall - for the cost this was satisfactory.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Murphy s Law; City: Athlone County Westmeath; Review: There are pros to this place. Firstly, it's cheap. Don't be expecting the Hilton - you get what you pay for. Secondly - it's bang in the centre of everything, the castle is practically next door. Everything is within walking distance. Thirdly - the staff are very friendly and there's a bar/restaurant downstairs. There are also cons too. It's EXTREMELY noisy. I was in room number one. You can hear every noise from the bar until the early hours of the morning. The kitchen is on the first floor so it's very noisy during the day. Lots of traffic going by outside is noisy too. For the money I don't expect very much, but I expect to be able to sleep - this was not the case.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Laune B B; City: Killarney County Kerry; Review: This place isn't too bad - but it is a bit overpriced for what you get. Pros: Bang in the centre of town Bed reasonably comfortable Showers was strong and clean Cons: No tea/coffee facilities. For a place that charges €75 per night you would expect a small kettle and a few sachets of coffee. Noise - I stayed in room 11 and an outside extractor fan kept going all night. Was told there was nothing they could do. View - had a fantastic view of a massive extractor fan (see photos); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Citybox Oslo; City: Oslo Eastern Norway; Review: We had three rooms here in November and had a great stay. Pros: The rooms were basic, comfortable and warm. The communal area in reception was great - sofas, TV, vending machines. Location was bang in the centre of town - handy for everything. Cons: There was no where to hang clothes - no hangers or wardrobes. We had to live out of our suitcase.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Watson Hotel; City: New York City New York; Review: There are pros and serious cons to this hotel. Pros: Location - just a few minutes walk to Central Park, and within walking distance to Times Square. Beds are comfortable and there's a nice bar area. Cons: Rooms are cold - each room has individual fan heaters. We had 4 rooms, and all were cold. We had to order extra duvets. Decor - very dated. Badly in need of refurbishment.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Isaacs Hostel; City: Dublin County Dublin; Review: We booked a private twin room to avoid noise etc. Wrong! This hostel is so noisy that they advertise the fact that they sell ear plugs - and they charge you for them. The shower the following morning was also cold. On the up side - location is great, very central. The beds are comfortable.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Hostal El Tambo; City: Aguas Calientes Machu Picchu Sacred Valley Cusco Region; Review: The accommodation is in a good location, just around the corner from where you get the bus to Machu Picchu, as well as lots of restaurants. The room was clean and staff were friendly. Breakfast was ok too - some fresh food, scrambled eggs, bread etc. Noise is an issue though - especially street noise, but I don't think the hotel can do much about that.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Park Silver Obelisco; City: Buenos Aires Capital Federal District; Review: Staff very friendly, location is great, beds are comfortable, and lots of attractions are within walking distance. The rooms are large, quite comfortable , and well equipped. The only downside is the traffic outside your window. It's like you're sleeping on a road. It can be quite noisy.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Calla Villa; City: Hoi An Quang Nam Province; Review: The location is great. Just a few minutes walk from main Street with bars, restaurants, and sights. The rooms are large, clean, with the usual amenities you would expect in a hotel. Staff very pleasant. Negatives - no iron (you have to pay them to iron your clothes. Ridiculous). They play music around the hotel from very early in the morning. The call your room to get you up for breakfast, and knock the door.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hanoi Prime Center Hotel; City: Hanoi; Review: Great hotel with very friendly staff. The hotel is a short distance to the most popular areas, which are very noisy. Thankfully, the hotel is in a quieter area. The breakfast was lovely - especially the omelettes and the noodle soup. Rooms are comfortable, air conditioned, and have most things you would expect from a hotel. The only negative - the beds are very firm, maybe a little too firm for some people.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: MIU France Stainless Steel Professional Mandoline Slicer; Brand: MIU France; Review: Don't know why I did not purchase one of these years ago. This product makes slicing and dicing so much easier.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: John Boos Block 215 Chop-N-Slice Maple Wood Edge Grain Reversible Cutting; Brand: John Boos; Review: This is a nice size cutting board. I have used it exclusively since I have purchased it. I would recommended it; great board!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hamilton Beach 2-Slice Toaster - Brushed Metal; Brand: Hamilton Beach; Review: Works great, can not hear when the toast pops up.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: SureFit Stretch Leather 1-Piece - Recliner Slipcover - Dark Brown (SF37162); Brand: Surefit; Review: Gift, it looks ok; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Cottage Mills Quilt Clips, 4-3-Inch Clips; Brand: Cottage Mills; Review: I like the way the clips hold my material.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Two Cubic Foot Bean Bag Chair Single Refill Pack Pure Bead Stuffing (Free; Brand: Spenser Packaging; Review: this is the product that I was looking for; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Innovative Textile Solutions 815632019692 Plush Recliner Wing Chair Liner, Chocolate; Brand: Innovative Textile Solutions; Review: The chair cover works well on my recliner.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: All-Clad E86199 Stainless Steel Specialty Cookware Tea Kettle, 2-Quart, Silver; Brand: All-Clad; Review: gave as a gift; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cotton Craft - 4 Pack - Basket Weave Kitchen Towels - Black - 100% Cotton - Oversized 20x30; Brand: Cotton Craft; Review: They're very nice, although I thought they would be thicker.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Presto Cooking/Canning Rack for Pressure Canner; Brand: Presto; Review: It is fine.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Aluminum Steam Canner with Temperature Indicator by VICTORIO VKP1054; Brand: Victorio; Review: I have not used it yet, although I have had many friends that love theirs.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Zellwin Farms 12ct Red & Green Design Egg Cartons - 100pcs; Brand: Zellwin Farms; Review: Just what I needed.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fiskars Heavy-duty Butcher Shears (9 Inch), 510011-1001; Brand: Fiskars; Review: I like the size and the way they cut.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: OXO 1126980 Good Grips Egg Beater, NO Size, White/Black; Brand: OXO; Review: gift; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Kilner Glass Butter Dish; Brand: Kilner; Review: purchased for a gift; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: US Stove CS-01 Chicken Steamer, Black; Brand: US Stove Company; Review: gift; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Home-Complete HC-7002 Heat Powered Fan for Wood Burning Stoves or Fireplaces-Quiet and Low Maintenance, Disperses Warm Air Through; Brand: Home-Complete; Review: purchased for a gift; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cuisinart DFP-14BCWNY 14-Cup Food Processor, Brushed Stainless Steel, White; Brand: Cuisinart; Review: awesome machine; I use it all of the time; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Rubbermaid Comfort Grip Bottle Brush, Bottle Brush (FG6C1900); Brand: Rubbermaid; Review: works well in my canning jars; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Flash Furniture HERCULES Series Premium Curved Triple Braced & Double Hinged Burgundy Fabric Metal Folding Chair; Brand: Flash Furniture; Review: purchased for quilting quild; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sunbeam Steam Master 1400 Watt Large-size Anti-Drip Non-Stick Stainless Steel Soleplate Iron with Variable Steam control and 8' Retractable; Brand: Sunbeam; Review: purchased for quilting quild; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Flash Furniture Contemporary Lavender Vinyl Kids Recliner with Cup Holder and Headrest; Brand: Flash Furniture; Review: purchased for grandchildren; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mohawk Home New Wave Rainbow Printed Rug, 1'8x2'10, Multicolor; Brand: Mohawk Home; Review: thinner than I thought although I like the colors; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Silicone Stretch Lids (7 pack, includes EXCLUSIVE XL SIZE),; Brand: ModFamily; Review: I like the way they cling to the dish.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Home_and_Kitchen |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Enslaved (Eternal Guardians); Author: Visit Amazon's Elisabeth Naughton Page; Review: Elisabeth is one of the few authors that can catch your attention in the beginning of her stories and keep it all the way through. The emotional roller coaster that you experience is absolutely uncanny, something I've loved in her story telling. Once again she has captured me and pulled me into her story, I couldn't wait to find out what was going to happen next. If you love the thrill, excitement, passion you will love not only this book, but this series.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Death's Angel (Lost Angels, Book 3); Author: Visit Amazon's Heather Killough-Walden Page; Review: When HKW puts pen to paper you know you are going to love the finished piece of work. She carries a freshness about her writing that I love. Her style captivated my imagination and didn't let me go until THE END."; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Warlock King (Kings); Author: Visit Amazon's Heather Killough-Walden Page; Review: Heather is one of the few authors that can catch your attention in the beginning of her stories and keep it all the way through. When Heather puts pen to paper you know you are going to love the finished piece of work. She carries a freshness about her writing that I love. Her style captivated my imagination and didn't let me go until THE END." The emotional rollercoaster that you experience is absolutely uncanny, something Ive loved in her story telling. Once again she has captured me and pulled me into her story, until I cant wait to find out what is going to happen next. If you love the thrill, excitement, passion, youll love not only The Kings series but every one of Heathers books. Until we meet again happy reading; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Influential Magic; Author: Visit Amazon's Deanna Chase Page; Review: I was introduced to Deanna through the "Jade Calhoun Series". And Deanna has proven to be one of the few authors who could catch my attention in the beginning of her story and could keep it all the way through. Not only was I captured and pulled into her story, I found I couldn't wait to find out what was going to happen next. If you love excitement, passion, and a good mystery you'll love not only "The Crescent City Fae" series but the "Jade Calhoun" series. Deanna has put a new twist on a good mystery shall we say. Well Done Dianna.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: A Moment: Moments Series (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Marie Hall Page; Review: I usually read paranormal books but it was a suggestion by one of my favorite authors (Deanna Chase) to check it out. I was totally surprised that I found myself enthralled by this book. There was no need to catch my imagination because this story hits home, well done with this book Marie. This kind of situation could happen everyday which makes it all the more life like, the story line pulls you in and takes you to that moment in time, the emotional rollercoaster I was on was uncanny and I found myself wanting to find out what happens next, if you have love for passion, excitement, and the thrill you will love this book as I have. It reminds me of a Nicholas Spark story once again "Well Done". I would definitely recommend this book and its a reread.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Falling Into You; Author: Visit Amazon's Jasinda Wilder Page; Review: There is so much to say about this book. Talk about captivating and pulling me into a story, "WOW" I was on an emotional roller coaster till the very end, you will laugh, you will cry, you will be pulling into a realm of emotions you may not of known existed unless you have experienced first hand the darker side of you. I cannot say enough good things about this book, I was so surprised. I normally read paranormal and I have been blown away. Not only was I captured and pulled into the story I found I couldn't wait to find out what was going to happen next. Very few authors has the ability to catch my attention in the beginning and keep it all the way through, well you did Jasinda, "Well Done". I would not only recommend this book but it is also, a reread.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Goblin King (Kings); Author: Visit Amazon's Heather Killough-Walden Page; Review: Heather really took me by surprise this time. I didn't want to put this book down (like always). If you like an adventure you will love this book alone with all of HKW books. Heather captivated my imagination and didn't let me go (she still has me, you'll have to read the book to find out why). The emotional roller coaster and I mean emotional that you experience is absolutely uncanny, something I loved in her story telling. Once again she has captured me and pulled me into her story, until I can't wait to find out what is going to happen next. Heather spills thrills, excitement, passion and love into her stories, you will love not only The Kings series but every one of Heather's books. Until we meet again happy reading.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Angels of Bourbon Street (Jade Calhoun Series) (Volume 4); Author: Visit Amazon's Deanna Chase Page; Review: Well done Deanna. There are some twists in this story I did not expect, taken me by surprise made me now wonder were are we going with this then she takes me there. You'll love this series I have fully enjoyed them. Can't wait till the next one is out. This whole series is a reread. Thanks again Deanna for taking me to a world where I enjoy going.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: A Patriotic Whore (The Cathouse Series) (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's K.D. Matthews Page; Review: The first chapter takes me by surprise, gives you an idea of what this plot is all about then, the second chapter goes into the story. M.J. captured my imagination, has pulled me into the story, which is quite a fascinating story. It is a realm of emotions you may not of known existed unless you have experienced first hand the darker side of you. There are quite a few interesting twists. If you love the thrill, excitement, passion, for the love of the game shall we say, you will love this book.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: A Patriotic Whore (Cathouse Series Book 1) eBook; Author: Visit Amazon's K.D. Matthews Page; Review: The first chapter takes me by surprise, gives you an idea of what this plot is all about then, the second chapter goes into the story. M.J. captured my imagination, has pulled me into the story, which is quite a fascinating story. It is a realm of emotions you may not of known existed unless you have experienced first hand the darker side of you. There are quite a few interesting twists. If you love the thrill, excitement, passion, for the love of the game shall we say, you will love this book.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ruined By You; Author: Visit Amazon's Kelly Harper Page; Review: I had a huge cheesy grin on my face while I read this book. It was romantic and funny. Plus, it had just the right amount of sweet and sexy. I loved this story, great story line easy read, good beach book...I enjoyed the characters really believable. This was a wonderful, romantic story with just the right amount of angst and suspense to make the love story sensual and endearing. I can't wait for the sequel.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Firebrand; Author: Visit Amazon's Elisabeth Naughton Page; Review: If you like an adventure you will love this series. Elisabeth captivated my imagination and didn't let me go (you'll have to read the book to find out why), she has taken me places I've would of never gone otherwise, well done. It's about three brothers who find there soul mates in a very different kind of way, amazing. Each of them are very special but completely different kind of stories. Each of them have a very touching tale to tell. Elisabeths fantastic ability to weave a wonderful, and heart-felt story, how could you expect anything less..Let me assure you all right now....you will never ever be sorry that you decided to pick this boxed set up, and hey...the $.99 price tag for three full length novels, is way to good to pass it up..; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Mating: The Original Law of the Lycans story; Author: Visit Amazon's Nicky Charles Page; Review: This story has just the right amount of sweet and sexy. I loved this story, great story line easy read, a good beach book...I enjoyed the characters, really believable. This was a wonderful, romantic story with just the right amount of angst and suspense to make the love story sensual and endearing. With just enough twists that you find yourself saying WoW I didn't see that coming, and surprising me is not easy. Very easily a read again. Well done Nicky.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Keeping (Law of the Lycans) (Volume 2); Author: Visit Amazon's Nicky Charles Page; Review: "WOW" I was on an emotional roller coaster till the very end. Talk about captivating and pulling me into a story, there are some twists in this story I did not expect, taken me by surprise made me now wonder where are we going with this then she takes me there. Once again I enjoyed the characters, really believable. It has just the right amount of sweet and sexy.... The right amount of angst and suspense. A wonderful story. Well done Nicky, well done. This series is captivating me I can't wait to read the next one.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Finding (The Law of the Lycans); Author: Visit Amazon's Nicky Charles Page; Review: Once again I enjoyed the characters, really believable. The right amount of angst and suspense, great story line easy read. If you like an adventure you will love this book. Once again she has captured me and pulled me into her story, until I can't wait to find out what is going to happen next. A wonderful story. Well done Nicky, well done.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bonded (Law of the Lycans) (Volume 4); Author: Visit Amazon's Nicky Charles Page; Review: I didn't want to put this book down. If you like an adventure you will love this book. Nicky captivated my imagination and didn't let me go (she still has me, you'll have to read the book to find out why). The emotional roller coaster and I mean emotional that you experience is absolutely uncanny, something I loved in her story telling. Once again she has captured me and pulled me into her story, until I can't wait to find out what is going to happen next. Once again I enjoyed the characters, really believable. It has just the right amount of sweet and sexy.... The right amount of angst and suspense. A wonderful story. Well done Nicky, well done.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Betrayed: Days of the Rogue (Law of the Lycans); Author: Visit Amazon's Nicky Charles Page; Review: Nicky picked up where she left off (sequel to Bonded) WoW.... I love the adventure Nicky has taken me on. The emotional roller coaster and I mean emotional that you experience is absolutely uncanny, my heart broke, she has now pulled me into her story. And that's just within the first chapter or so. I have noticed the more Nicky writes she has put spills thrills, excitement, passion and love into her stories, you will love not only Betrayed but every one of Nicky's books, as I have. Found myself not wanting to put it down. This is a very easy read. She has left me hoping there will be another story that is how good this is. Well done Nicky. Her series is an easy reread as well. Well done Nicky.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Demon's Promise (Soul Savers) (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Kristie Cook Page; Review: I was totally surprised that I found myself enthralled by this book. It had just the right amount of sweet and sexy. I loved this story, great story line easy read... I enjoyed the characters really believable. This was a wonderful, romantic story with just the right amount of angst and suspense to make the love story sensual and endearing. Well done Kristie. I can't wait to read the rest of this series.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Pleasure Room; Author: Visit Amazon's D.N. Simmons Page; Review: First of all I would like to say Well Done D. I have to say I was so enthralled with this story and it truly has blown me away, WoW! I love this story, great story line, easy read, I didn't want to put it down. There is so much to say about this book. Talk about captivating and pulling me into a story. I was on an emotional roller coaster till the very end. You will be pulled into a realm of emotions you may not of known existed unless you have experienced them first hand (the darker side of yourself, Felicity discovered a little more than she may have bargained for). If you love the thrill, excitement, passion, this is a book for you. It will not disappoint. At times you may even find yourself breathing harder than you think. Alistair is HOT HOT HOT!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: My Sister's Grave (Tracy Crosswhite); Author: Visit Amazon's Robert Dugoni Page; Review: First I'd like to thank Amazon Prime for gifting me this book. Robert has a great story line, it's an easy read. There is so much to say about this book. Talk about captivating and pulling me into a story, "WOW" I was on an emotional roller coaster till the very end. I enjoyed the characters they are really believable. At one point I found myself rooting as if I were on a team. You'll enjoy and won't be disappointed.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Guardians of the Night (A Gideon and Sirius Novel); Author: Visit Amazon's Alan Russell Page; Review: First I'd like to thank Amazon prime for gifting me this book. Alan has a great story line, and is very easy to read. The characters are very believable. Alan captivated and pulled me right into his story and when I thought I had it figured out bam he threw me a curve. Can't wait for book 3. You'll enjoy and will not be disappointed.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ravaged (1001 Dark Nights); Author: Visit Amazon's Elisabeth Naughton Page; Review: First Id like to thank you for ARC Elisabeth. I Love the Eternal Guardian series and I was not disappointed. I was enthralled by this book and found I was having a hard time putting it down. The emotional roller coaster is uncanny. You captured me and pulled me right into to this story. Ladies you will not be disappointed at all, the thrill, excitement, passion, youll become part of the story. Well done Elisabeth, Well Done.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fatal Pursuit (Aegis); Author: Visit Amazon's Elisabeth Naughton Page; Review: First I'd like to thank Elisabeth for my ARC. "WoW" she never fails me, never disappoints me. Lady's you will not be disappointed. The emotional roller coaster you're on is uncanny. You will laugh, you will cry I even caught myself becoming angry a time or two. However, I will tell you I did not figure this one out at all I was on my seat till the very end. There is just enough angst, suspense and Love to make you, not want to put this book down. If you have not taken the adventure and travel the world with Aegis Security I suggest you pull up a chair and grab a book you'll go on a ride of a life time!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Dark Lure; Author: Visit Amazon's Loreth Anne White Page; Review: I was enthralled by this book and found I was having a hard time putting it down. The emotional roller coaster is uncanny. You captured me and pulled me right into to this story. Just enough agnst, thrill, excitement, passion, youll become part of the story. The characters are life like. You'll find yourself second guessing yourself!! Well Done Loreth!! You will not be disappointed.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lethal Consequences (Aegis); Author: Visit Amazon's Elisabeth Naughton Page; Review: Well done. You never disappoint me. You pulled me into this story like I was passenger, buckle up baby you're going for a ride. I needed to find out what was going to happen next. At times I was on the edge of my seat, then a gasp, you will not be disappointed. The aegis series is awesome story line don't miss out.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Unchained: An Eternal Guardians Novella; Author: Visit Amazon's Elisabeth Naughton Page; Review: I'd like to thank you Elisabeth for the ARC. You never disappoint me, even with the novella. This can be read as a stand alone but I'd suggest for you to read the eternal guardian series, excellent series. The webs we weave as we deceive may just bite you right back. I found myself anxious, smiling, already judging, to realize this roller coaster I was on already sucked me right in I didn't want to put it down. The characters are life like. "Where's my Guardian". I recommend this entire series.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: All the Missing Girls: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Megan Miranda Page; Review: This is an amazing book. Thank you for ARC. The plots, plans, the ideas! The webs we weave when we deceive. The style was refreshing, breath taking. The roller coaster ride or should I say Ferris wheel ride is very emotional. Right when you think you got it, solved it you realize you've been sucked in by another deceit. I loved it. Will recommend it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Repressed (Deadly Secrets); Author: Visit Amazon's Elisabeth Naughton Page; Review: First I'd like to thank you Elisabeth for the ARC. You never disappoint me! Talk about deceits , the webs that are woven, the twists and turns, the plots. It sucks you in and places you on a roller coaster ride you won't forget. I found myself not wanting to put this book down and I was very wrong about the "little SECRET." Well done! I will be recommending.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Born Mobster; Author: Paige Dearth; Review: Amazing storyline. I was captured and pulled right in. Just the right amount of angst, suspense, violence, love. Written so well it has left me wondering was this possible a true story. My emotions were on a roller coaster ride that I've enjoyed so much not only wil I be recommending this to my friends and family I'm gonna check out One Among Us to see what else Bruno's up to. Well done; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Walk Into Silence (Jo Larsen); Author: Visit Amazon's Susan McBride Page; Review: The characters are very realistic. The webs we weave when we deceive. Buckle up because you're definitely going on a ride. I found myself not wanting to put this book down. Well done. I will be recommending to my family and friends.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Scar Tissue; Author: Visit Amazon's M C Domovitch Page; Review: First thank you for the ARC. I was quite intrigued, I found myself not wanting to put this book down. The roller coaster ride has been quite amazing, just when I've decided I've figured out who's the one my ride took a dip. I will be recommending this book. Well done.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Every Dead Thing; Author: Visit Amazon's John Connolly Page; Review: This is an intense story. Keeps you on the edge of your seat. Buckel up because you're on a ride of a life time. Characters are life like along with this amazing story. Have already been recommending this book to my family and friends.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Idea of You; Author: Visit Amazon's Amanda Prowse Page; Review: First of all I'd like to thank you for the ARC. Amazing story very life like now I know why. I seen God shining all through the "Idea of you", the amazing strength, unconditional love, the crossroads that was crossed and all the while building a stronger relationship in many ways that I didn't recognize until we were almost at the end. I was heart felt for this woman and family, but I kept having a hint of unconditional love being built. I've already been recommending this book to my family and friends.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mean Little People; Author: Visit Amazon's Paige Dearth Page; Review: Amazing storyline. I was captured and pulled right in. Just the right amount of angst, suspense, violence, love. Written so well it has left me wondering was this possible a true story. My emotions were on a roller coaster ride that I've enjoyed so much not only wil I be recommending this to my friends and family I'm gonna check out One Among Us to see what else Bruno's up to. Well done; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Reason to Breathe: The Breathing Series (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Rebecca Donovan Page; Review: My heart just sank, the more I read the more it pulled me in. An amazing story line. I will be recommending this book to my family and friends.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: A Merciful Death (Mercy Kilpatrick); Author: Visit Amazon's Kendra Elliot Page; Review: Amazing story line. You grabbed me and pulled me right in, I found myself on the edge of my seat not only waiting but wanting more. Well done I will be recommending this book to my family and friends.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Protected (Deadly Secrets); Author: Visit Amazon's Elisabeth Naughton Page; Review: Thank you Elizabeth for ARC. You never disappoint me. Sit back and buckle up. There are some twists and turns, ups and downs, edge sitting moments. The fire is still smoking. Well done Ill be referring to my family and friends.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Forbidden (House of Sin); Author: Visit Amazon's Elisabeth Naughton Page; Review: Thank you Elizabeth for the ARC. You really never disappoint me. Dear friends this series is alluring, exciting, dark, mysterious, edge sitting, wanting to know what next, now I cant wait for the next book and I haven't finished with this one. I find my heart racing, with excitement, then fear. You don't want to miss this.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Deceived: Mass Market Paperback (House of Sin) (Volume 2); Author: Visit Amazon's Elisabeth Naughton Page; Review: Thank you Elisabeth for my ARC. You have done it again, well done. Kept me on the edge of my seat, twists, turns, happiness, the excitement, dread, even the anger I was feeling it all, the suspense is about to kill me I cant wait #3, Undone. Already recommending.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with movies/shows as follows:
Title: One True Thing (1998); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: About Schmidt (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Real Women Have Curves (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Out of Time (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Son of the Bride (2001); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Pauline and Paulette (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Tears of the Sun (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Anger Management (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Something's Gotta Give (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Vanilla Sky (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: S.W.A.T. (2003); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Magnolia (1999); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: The Color of Paradise (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Just Married (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Under the Tuscan Sun (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The House of Mirth (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Cast Away (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cries and Whispers (1972); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Sweet Home Alabama (2002); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: House of Sand and Fog (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Identity (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Missing (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Whale Rider (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Not One Less (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Calendar Girls (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Scary Movie 3 (2003); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Radio (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Big Fish (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Lost in Translation (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Grave of the Fireflies (1988); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Children of Heaven (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Enemy at the Gates (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Wonder Boys (2000); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Pieces of April (2003); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Secondhand Lions (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Buster Keaton Rides Again/The Railrodder (1965); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Cheaper by the Dozen (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Cold Mountain (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Quiet American (2002); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: 50 First Dates (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Commitments (1991); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Harrison's Flowers (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Passion of the Christ (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Touching the Void (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: In the Bedroom (2001); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Divided We Fall (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Steamboat Bill (1928); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Mostly Martha (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Ice Storm (1997); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Seabiscuit (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The King of Masks (1999); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Station Agent (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Antwone Fisher (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Welcome to Mooseport (2004); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Bicycle Thief (1948); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Miracle (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: In America (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Road Home (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Unfaithful (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Mystic River (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Barbarian Invasions (2003); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: The Shape of Things (2003); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Shattered Glass (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Our Hospitality / Sherlock Jr. (1926); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Butterfly Effect: Director's Cut (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: 13 Going on 30 (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Confessions of a Dangerous Mind (2002); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: A Family Affair (2003); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Along Came Polly (2004); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: A Cinderella Story (2004); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Frida (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: La Strada: Special Edition (1954); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Amelie (2001); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Twister (1996); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Spider-Man 2 (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Terminal (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Sum of All Fears (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Rainmaker (1997); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Elf (2003); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Around the World in 80 Days (2004); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Shrek 2 (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Alaska: Spirit of the Wild: IMAX (1997); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Doctor Dolittle (1967); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Lover (1992); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Day After Tomorrow (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Man Who Wasn't There (2001); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: TCM Archives: Buster Keaton Collection (1929); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Shaun of the Dead (2004); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Nowhere in Africa (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: I (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Wit (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Truly (1991); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Great Barrier Reef: IMAX (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Whole Wide World (1996); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Core (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Get Over It (2001); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Bread and Tulips (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Secret Window (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sleepless in Seattle (1993); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Liar Liar (1997); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ghost (1990); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Steel Magnolias (1989); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Erin Brockovich (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Nutty Professor (1996); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Pretty Woman (1990); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Top Gun (1986); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Caddyshack (1980); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Rock (1996); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Men in Black (1997); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Patriot (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Lethal Weapon 4 (1998); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Raising Arizona (1987); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Waterboy (1998); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Titanic (1997); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Miss Congeniality (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Mickey Blue Eyes (1999); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Notebook (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Motorcycle Diaries (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Manchurian Candidate (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Ray (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Barton Fink (1991); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Vanity Fair (2004); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Flight of the Phoenix (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mean Creek (2004); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Bounce (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Adventures of Milo and Otis (1989); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: National Lampoon's Van Wilder (2002); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Bourne Supremacy (2004); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Finding Neverland (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Shall We Dance? (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Collateral (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Wings of Desire (1987); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Troy (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ladder 49 (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Chasing Amy (1997); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Seven Samurai (1954); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hell's Angels (1929); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Central Station (1998); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Real Genius (1985); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Before Sunrise (1995); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Way Home (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Swimming Pool (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: National Treasure (2004); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: What Women Want (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Pearl Harbor (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Are We There Yet? (2005); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Stepford Wives (2004); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Independence Day (1996); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Bend It Like Beckham (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Bruce Almighty (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Gangs of New York (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Incredibles (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hidalgo (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Aviator (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Chicago (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Phone Booth (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Sylvia (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Onion Field (1979); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: North by Northwest (1959); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: A Streetcar Named Desire (1951); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Braveheart (1995); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sideways (2004); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: The Village (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Finding Nemo (Widescreen) (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bowling for Columbine (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Cool Hand Luke (1967); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Raising Helen (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Rear Window (1954); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Citizen Kane (1941); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Deliverance (1972); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Philadelphia Story (1940); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Forrest Gump (1994); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Sound of Music (1965); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Shrek (Full-screen) (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Vertigo (1958); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Green Mile (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: West Side Story (1961); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Some Like It Hot (1959); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Sixth Sense (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Network (1976); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Timeline (2003); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Bang the Drum Slowly (1973); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: I'll Sleep When I'm Dead (2003); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous (2005); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Spanglish (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Northfork (2003); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: An American Rhapsody (2001); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Sandlot 2 (2005); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: A Very Long Engagement (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Rory O'Shea Was Here (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ned Kelly (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Machinist (2004); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Office Space (1999); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Raging Bull (1980); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Love Me If You Dare (2003); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Les Miserables (1998); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: A Love Song for Bobby Long (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Being There (1979); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: A Soldier's Story (1984); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Happenstance (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Million Dollar Baby (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Assisted Living (2005); Rating: 3.0/5.0 | netflix |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Lemon Tree Hotel Udyog Vihar Gurgaon; City: Gurugram Gurgaon Gurgaon District Haryana; Review: A good budget hotel in Gurgaon. Room is really tiny but neat and clean. Over all experience is not bad. No hot water in the sink. However the shower does run hot water. Noisy at night due to the construction happening next door. Breakfast is good and the staff is helpful and friendly.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ajit Bhawan; City: Jodhpur Jodhpur District Rajasthan; Review: This is a Heritage Hotel. The rooms / cottages have been done up traditionally and looks good. However room service is really slow.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ma In Hot Springs; City: Ma in Ma an Governorate; Review: The view is amazing. Good holiday destination...........................worth the experience!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Amaya Hills Kandy; City: Heerassagala Kandy District Central Province; Review: The location of this hotel is awesome. The scenery is beautiful and absolutely breathtaking. However the room's are not spotless clean. The decor is basics and the amenities are also old. There is no duvet provided by the hotel. You get a dirty wool blanket which you won't even feel like touching.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Jianguo Hotel; City: Guangzhou Guangdong; Review: Rooms are very neat and clean. However the staff lacks in understanding English; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Keystone Motel; City: St Pete Beach Florida; Review: We stayed there onltyfor one night, the lady who checked us in was an elderly lady and we being from uk, loved our ma'am (meaning our late queen mother) she was a really nice helpful lady and we loved our stay there, the rooms were spotless, the following year we tried to book in there, but unfortunatly we couldn't, we are visiting florida again january 2009, and the keystone motel is definatly on our list.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Occidental Costa Cancun; City: Cancun Yucatan Peninsula; Review: We have just returned from a week at the Barcelo Costa Cancun. It was so lovely that it was hard to drag ourselves away from the beach through the day, the weather was perfect. The hotel is spotless and clean, we were a group of 14 ladies and had 4 rooms between us, we were delighted when we were given rooms together. We were on the ground floor which we thought was very convienient, right oppersite the white podium where you could take a 5 minute free massage (1 per stay) and i believe the podium is where marriages take place. Our room was cleaned very well and the inroom bar was restocked daily. Overall I would say this is probably the best hotel we have ever stayed in on holiday and will definatly return. There was plenty of choice for food, and the staff were very helpful.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hera Apart Hotel; City: Didim Turkish Aegean Coast; Review: We have been to many places in Turkey and also been to Altinkum quite a few times, but i can honestly say the Hera apartments are the best. They are spacious, clean, air conditioned, staff very friendly and helpful, views from the seaview rooms are spectacular, (take your binoculars, lots of boats to see). Hera has its own private beach with free sunbeds, umbrellas and bean bags. It is at one end of the main beach so 5 mins walk from 2nd beach. LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION, for beach, bars, resturants, it a fabulous place to stay. Hopefully we will return next year.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sindbad Club; City: Hurghada Red Sea and Sinai; Review: Just arrived back from the Sindbad Aqua Resort, there are three hotels which can be used as part of the all inclusive. The resort is huge, took us a few days to find our way around. We found the food to be very nice, althought the breakfast was a bit repetative, but hey, there were always toast and eggs on as well as fuit and cerial. There are Greek, Lebonese and Italian resturants which can be used as part of the AI and no need to book them either, and visit as many time as you like during your stay. There are 4 buffet resturants and a BBQ area in a large marqui which also has shows and a childrens disco. The water park is fab, its got a man made beach around the large wave pool and lots of slides to keep you busy. there is also a small water park for the younger children. We found the staff at the resort were very friendly and helpful, they are a credit to the resort hotels. The nightlife isn't buzzing but if you want a quiet drink its fine. A couple of night for a bit of life we visited Hard Rock Cafe and Papa's bar which are only a short taxi ride away, the taxi's are very cheap too. All in all its a great Hotel/Resort and perfect for families, couples.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Popi Star; City: Gouvia Corfu Ionian Islands; Review: We stayed here with my family and grandchildren, the location was spot on, only a short walk to the pebble beach and even shorter walk to restaurants and a few bars. There is a swimming pool at Popi Star which my grandchildren loved after spending a few hours at the beach. The staff are lovely, helpful and friendly. The rooms are very basic but clean and adequate, the breakfast was continental and consisted of bread rolls, jam, cheese, ham, cake and cereal. It is a 2 star so don't go expecting it to be more, but, I would certainly visit again.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Costa Caleta; City: Caleta de Fuste Antigua Fuerteventura Canary Islands; Review: We went for New Year, and what a lovely break it was. The hotel was lovely, spotless and clean, we requested a low floor overlooking the swimming pool and that is exactly what we got. The food was not the best we have ever had but certainly not the worse, breakfast consisted of cereal, fruit, bacon, fried eggs, scrambled eggs and boiled eggs, baked beans, tomatoes, toast, cheese, ham, and more. Lunch had a variety of dishes and better variety on an evening. There were snacks available between lunch and dinner eg (chips, burgers, hot dogs). Drinks in the day were self service from the pool bar and the bar on the roof top (where there was a splash pool and jacuzzi and sunbeds). From 6pm the bars were manned. We found the staff to be pleasant and helpful. The hotel was in a brilliant position, a short walk from the beach and resturants and bars. I would definatley stay here again.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Angel Hotel; City: Whitby Scarborough District North Yorkshire England; Review: The rooms at The Angel Hotel are spotless and clean, lovely white fluffy towels, the bedrooms are quite large, much larger than we expected. We had a lovely view looking towards the Abby. There was a kettle and tea, coffee and milk and biscuits, also an hairdryer. There is a lift which we found useful as we were on the 4th floor. The food is really good value and well cooked. We would defiantly stay here again.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Honeywell RTH7500D Conventional 7-Day Programmable Thermostat; Brand: Honeywell; Review: Haven't had it that long, but have had no problems with it. It was easy to install & easy to program. I especially like it switching between heating & cooling automatically when needed which saves having to go to the thermostat when it needs to be switched.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Filtrete AD02-6PK-1E Air Filter, 20 x 20 x 1, White, 6 Pack; Brand: Filtrete; Review: Fits perfectly. Works great in my central heat/cooling unit.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: COAST G19 Inspection Beam LED Penlight with Adjustable Pocket Clip and Consistent Edge-To-Edge Brightness,; Brand: Coast; Review: Quick delivery. Just what I was looking for. Works great.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Streamlight 66118 Stylus Pro LED PenLight with Holster, Black - 100 Lumens; Brand: Streamlight; Review: Works great. It is exactly what I was looking for & does everything I want it to.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: OK LIGHTING OK-816BK Table Touch Lamp, 15" x 8" x 8"; Brand: OK Lighting; Review: It works fine. Have no problems with it other than wishing it would take a little bit bigger bulb.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_Tools_and_Home_Improvement |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Hersonissos Village Hotel; City: Hersonissos Crete; Review: We spent a week in this hotel in May 2016. The staff was extremely friendly, rooms clean and newly refurbished, well maintained grounds. We enjoyed the view from the swimming pool area. We went on all inclusive basis and food variety was really good, only selection of drinks was a bit limited. Overall, a great hotel with lovely staff. Would definitely come back!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Riu Tikida Dunas; City: Agadir Souss Massa Draa Region; Review: We really enjoyed our stay in Riu Tikida Dunas. Although the weather in January wasn't too warm (as you should expect visiting Agadir at this time of the year), we were very pleased with the hotel. The staff was great, reception/restaurant/bar/entertainment teams were amazing, easy-going, friendly, helpful. Rooms very spacious and modern. A good variety of food and drinks. Big swimming pool area for sunbathing. We used the indoor swimming pool and we and our 1 year old daughter really enjoyed it. The hotel is on the seaside and the beach is a lovely sandy beach. My husband organised me my birthday celebration: flowers in the room, birthday dinner in the Moroccan (one of the hotel's restaurants) which was fantastic. I also went to the hotel's spa and really enjoyed the massage and moroccan sauna. We had a great time here and would definitely come back again!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Las Olas; City: Playa De Los Cancajos La Palma Canary Islands; Review: We just got back from a seven night holiday in Las Olas hotel. We had a great time and enjoyed every day. Check-in was very speedy and welcoming (with some wine and snacks at the reception). We were given a sea view room which was a lovely surprise as we booked a basic room. The room was good with a great view but no balcony. It was cleaned well every day except one day when the bed was left undone. Cooking facilities in the room were good. We stayed with our 19 month old and cooked lunch for her most of the days and found it convenient. We opted for half-board. The hotel offers a good selection of food. Maybe breakfast buffet was not that great as dinner. Affordable prices of drinks (2 euros for a glass of wine/small beer). The hotel has 3 pools two of which (including the kids pool) were too cold to swim so we enjoyed the swim in the heated one. The hotel is very well located. It is 15min walk from the lovely beach. There are plenty of cafes and restaurants nearby and two supermarkets 5mins walk. We also saw a few car rental shops. The hotel is very close to the airport and you can see (and hear) the planes but we did not find it any disturbing. The ladies at the reception were very friendly and willing to advise on trips/best places to see etc. Restaurant staff was great too. There were some live music evenings at the hotel's bar. This hotel is great for its location and quite atmosphere.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Dolphin Bay Family Beach Resort; City: Galissas Syros Cyclades South Aegean; Review: We came to Syros for our friends wedding and the reception took place at this hotel. We spent 5 nights at the hotel. We booked a triple room. The room was nice and clean with spacious balcony. The only downside was that the single bed was very small and not really comfortable for an adult. The hotel is very close to the lovely sandy beach, has a pool and kid's pool, nice lobby/bar area. There are a few nice restaurants and places to eat nearby. We had breakfast meal option. Buffet breakfast was good but a little bit limited. The best way to explore the island is to rent a motorbike or quadruple which is also a good fun. Most importantly, friend's wedding party was amazing!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Solomou Athens; City: Athens Attica; Review: We stayed 1 night at this hotel in September. We had to spend a night in Athens before our flight so we decided to choose a centrally located hotel. Although the hotel is not far from the central station, the location is noisy and looked unsafe in the evening. We had a room on 6th floor and had to use elevator which was scary and like 100 years old. The room was basic but clean. Breakfast buffet very poor and the food didn't look fresh. To sum up, very basic hotel but probably not the worst to spend a night.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Philia; City: Podgorica Podgorica Municipality; Review: We stayed at Philia hotel at the beginning of November for 3 nights. We booked a triple room for 2 parents and a child. The hotel is not in the best location (not tourist area) although it is 15 min drive from the airport. The hotel is very small, no lobby area, only reception and corridors leading to rooms The room was really nice, spacious and clean. Receptionists were helpful. As we stayed there in November which is not the season time, the hotel was very quite and empty. We had half-board. Breakfast buffet and a la carte dinner. As only a few people were staying at the hotel at that time, breakfast buffet was not as rich as it is normally at 4 star hotels we stayed before but maybe it was because the hotel was nearly empty. Dinner was very basic. I think breakfast option would work better than half-board. Generally, nice stay but there is a room for improvements.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: PALOMA Foresta Resort; City: Beldibi Kemer Turkish Mediterranean Coast; Review: We stayed at Paloma hotel at the end of April - beginning of May and had a great time. The rooms were fabulous, comfortable beds, terrace, mini bar, very cosy and modern. Very good selection of food in the main buffet. Very fresh and nice. I am vegeterian and had plenty of options to choose from. We only managed to get 1 dinner in a la carte restaurant as they were very busy and not open every day. Bare in mind that if you want to try different restaurants. Lovely beach (gravel though) and fabulous Sunset bar with beautiful views. Stayed with our 2 years old and she liked the play area and kids disco. There is also kids' pool but could be more water activities for the little ones. Good entertainment in the evenings, disco,live show etc. A big variety of coctails, but the best were made in the main bar. We mainly travelled using public transport, the bus stop is just across the road.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: TonyResort; City: Trakai Vilnius County; Review: Stayed 1 night in this hotel with my husband. Booked a double room. The room was very basic for a 4 star hotel (comparing it to other 4 star hotels in europe), first floor, no balcony or terrace. It was very hot in the room, we could open only one window, no air-con (athough it was stated "all air-conditioned rooms"). Beautifull surroundings, hotel located in the forest with lovely sandy beach, small pond. It offers various activities such as cycling, fishing etc. Food was great. We had a lovely dinner, fresh and good breakfast. Nice stay but the hotel is a little bit over-priced.; Rating: 3.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Bahco Ergo Bypass Pruner PX-M2; Brand: Bahco; Review: I work as a vintner and have used both Felco and Corona sheers in the past. These pruners are in a league all their own. If you use pruners for 12+ hours a day like I do you will thank yourself after purchasing these. A must have in the vineyard.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: HydroDynamics Clonex Rooting Gel, 100 ml; Brand: Clonex; Review: Easily the best rooting hormone on the market.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Atopsun Full Spectrum Led Grow Light Bulb UV IR 30W E27 For Plants Vegetables Flower Hydroponic System Grow Tent AC85-265V; Brand: Atopsun; Review: I got the 30 watt bulb. It is extremely compact but does a fantastic job with my plants.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: UNIFUN LED Grow Light E27 Bulb Greenhouse Light Plant Grow Lights Growing Lamp for Garden Greenhouse (24w); Brand: UNIFUN; Review: Incredible bulb. Gives off no heat and uses almost no power. My plants love it too. A great alternative to expensive and dangerous hps.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lemontec LED Grow Light Bulb, High Efficient Hydroponic Plant Grow Lights System for Garden Greenhouse and Hydroponic Aquatic,12W; Brand: Lemontec; Review: This bulb is fantastic. As far as I can tell it has made no difference in my energy bill and gives off almost no heat. A better alternative to hps.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Patio_Lawn_and_Garden |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Arenal Springs Resort and Spa; City: La Fortuna de San Carlos Arenal Volcano National Park Pro; Review: We stayed here for 3 nights in room 503. The room was decent, but nothing special. What makes this resort is the hot springs! It was great getting back from the day tours and jumping into the springs at night... There are a number of springs so you could easily find one for yourself! The main pool has a bar which is awesome and they serve snacks and sushi! Was great ending the day having some lovely cocktails and snacks here! There is a tour desk and they are very helpful in organising tours, giving you good advice based on the weather. We did waterfall rapelling and zip lining on the wet day, and volcano hike and atv tour on the dry and sunny day. The food in the restaurant is decent but probably overpriced. Breakfast buffet is good. When we arrived it was wet and cloudy. But on our last day the sun was out and we could see the volcano from our doorstep! We enjoyed our stay here, it was the largest resort we stayed it and I'm glad we went when it wasn't fully occupied!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Issimo Suites Boutique Hotel and Spa; City: Manuel Antonio Province of Puntarenas; Review: We stayed in room 101 at issimo which is the penthouse suite. pros: - We had booked 3 nights in a junior suite and 2 night in the penthouse but we were upgraded throughout.The room layout was fantastic - Floor to celeing windows on 2 walls and the views are great! - Jacuzzi in room was a nice feature - adult only hotel so it's a very peaceful hotel, no kids running around shouting. - service from staff was good, booked all tours and very helpful with advise etc - wife had massage and although the room was nothing specoal, it was one of the best massages she had - regular visits of wildlife on balconies Cons: - if you don't have a car it's a little far from everything. Although you can get hotel to call taxi and its quick. We preferred to walk and it was challenging in the heat - shower in the room needed upgrading. Water would never stay same temperature and the water pressure was never good..Water just trickled out - toilet should be changed. I am ok with the layout as we've stayed in similar setting before, however given the number of comments about this it should be changed! - provide cups and coffee but nothing to make it with? - food was average at hotel and we ate out most nights of our 5 night stay - bed was very creaky! I am glad I stayed here as we enjoyed our time..but I would try somewhere else if I returned!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Katharina House; City: Foz do Iguacu State of Parana; Review: We didnt enjoy our stay here. We were put in a very large room (good in some circumstances) but it was quite cold outside and raining and the room took forever to heat up...in fact it didnt. The hostel is reasonably clean, but there was no life to it... i would stay somewhere else if i returned. but i guess you get what you pay for!; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Amertha Bali Villas; City: Pemuteran Gerokgak Bali; Review: We headed to pemutran to get away from the hussle and bussle of the more popular cities and also becusse it was a good spot for diving! Amertha Bali was a great hotel. We loved out room and the swimming pool outside! The pool is shared with the adjacent room, but it wasn't occupied! The restaurant is good and if you don't fancy anything on the menu you can walk along the beach to an adjacent hotel! Overall enjoyed our stay but not sure we'd come back to pemutran; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Disini Luxury Spa Villas; City: Seminyak Kuta District Bali; Review: We stayed at this villa and it was amazing! We had a one bed villa and didn't want to leave. It's a good location in seminyak....most things walking distance! We took a taxi one day to a slightly busy area, and returned almost immediately! Would love to go back!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: King s Joy Hotel; City: Beijing; Review: We moved to this hotel after staying at a nearby hostel. We were pleasantly surprised with the hotel (for the price we paid). It was very clean, breakfast was reasonably priced. We had our own bathroom (which was a relief as the shared one we had at previous hostel was shabby) The location was great close to many attractions and metro stations, the service was good too, prompt and almost all staff spoke english. They helped by writing instuctions for taxi drivers if we were using a taxi. The staff also helped book any tours we wanted to do too. The only thing i saw that was disturbing was some of the guests spitting in the lobby - i mean fully clearing their throat!! Worth a stay if you want a bit of luxury (for backpacker standards) on a budget; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Marcopolo Inn Iguazu; City: Puerto Iguazu Province of Misiones Litoral; Review: you get what you pay for. This isnt a glamaous hotel by any means, but its a decent palce for the price you pay. We stayed in Iguassu in both Argentina and Brazil, and by far preferred our stay on the Argentina side. The area is much nicer and there are some nice places to eat not too far from this hostel. We had a room on a higher floor and it wasnt too noisy but was out dated. this place could do with some modernisation; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Posada Amazonas; City: Tambopata National Reserve Madre de Dios Region; Review: We booked our tour Via G Adventures and it was a delightful experience! Upon arrival at Puerto Maldonado we were met by our guide. Our guide took us to the Rainforest Expeditions office to sort out our bags as we were only allowed to take a small duffel bag with us for the four days. Soon we were on the boat riding up Tambopata River to Posada Amazonas Eco Lodge. A delicious eco-lunch was provided on the boat; stir fried rice served in a biodegradable corn leaf. A good sign of things to come! Along the way the guides would signal to the driver to stop the boat as they pointed out various wildlife. Within 20 minutes, we encountered the highlight of our trip. The guides were waving their arms about to each other and jumped around the boat in excitement – we turned around to see we were metres away from an Anaconda. It was huge and we are glad we saw it from a distance! It was the first one the guide had seen in 3 years; it seems like our luck was in and we hadn’t even reached the lodge yet! Upon arrival at the Eco Lodge we were pleasantly surprised. It was excellent! Comfy beds, hammocks, hot water and even a cosy bar! It might only have 3 walls that don’t even go all the way to the ceiling, but at least it was clean and comfortable! We spent evenings at the bar because there was only electricity for a few hours a day. This is used in the main dining / bar area after dark (6pm!). Bedrooms were lit with candles but we had to still use our head torches to walk around because it was still pitch black! Nights in the lodge was a whole different experience. First there’s the noise. The jungle is one loud arena! Secondly, from the moment we entered our pitch black room we were gripped with fear of what would be sitting there to welcome us. The first night we found a cat sitting on our bed (paranoid, we had no idea if it was a house cat or a wild cat that had strayed into our room from the Jungle! We certainly weren’t expecting the lodge to have house pets when they are located in the Amazon Rainforest!). Sleep was continuously disturbed and we’d lie awake in silence and anxiousness listening to the flapping of wings over our heads (birds or bats!), squeaking noises under our beds, rustling and scratching of the floor boards and neither of us wanted to know what these animals looked like so we didn’t turn on our torches! Somehow I felt safe inside the mosquito net! We spent our days doign various tours that had been arranged for us.. it was an amazing experience and i would love to do it again... maybe visiting the Amazon from Brazil!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Cruz de los Andes; City: La Paz La Paz Department; Review: We arrived at our hostel after an excruciating journey from Uyoni. The journey felt like you were sitting on a washing machine for 12 hours! The hostel was good, which was well needed after the Salar trip and we spent the sunny and warm days strolling the markets, eating lots of different types of food (Bolivians have been the most veggie friendly so far!) which was all walking distance The rooms was clean and the walls were colourful, we had a balcony in our room so we could stand and watch people get on with their every day life We enjoyed our stay here, and would recomend this hostel for travellers on a budget, but wanting to be in a central location! Restarants were a short walk away on the main road, and the markets are just a further 5 mins walk. Everything is walking distance, but be prepared, the roads are steep!!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Feel Inn; City: Beijing; Review: We arrived in Beijing after a long haul flight from New York. It wasn’t the best start to our Asia trip as the airline managed to lose our back packs in shanghai during our layover, and the taxi driver was practically asleep on our way to the hostel. When we arrived we were greeted by friendly staff who spoke English (not all of them do) and shown to our room. The room was simple (nothing much to it) and the showers were shared and smelt of guttering. Pros: 1. Good location – walking distance from many attraction points; Forbidden City, Tian’anmen Square 2. Restaurant served good breakfast, didn’t really eat lunch/dinner there, but everything was reasonably pirced 3. Some toiletries provided, which helped us given our bags went missing! Cons: 1. Shared bathroom and smelt of guttering 2. Air con was very noisy and it was really humid so had to leave it on We stayed here for 3 nights but moved to another hotel with more comfortable amenities! We needed it!; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Z Bra Hostel; City: Rio de Janeiro State of Rio de Janeiro; Review: We were a couple staying in z.Bra Hostel and stayed in room 13. Not sure if this was a bad omen from the start but our room was quite literally a prison cell. We had no day light, the walls were grey with no decor (not that i would have expected it in a hostel) and the only window we had, opened up into a.....cleaning cupboard!!! Amazing view ;) we had 2 single beds side by side with the sides of the bed touching the wall (see pics)... Having said that, we were only in our room to sleep, so it didn't affect us much! rest of the hostel seemed clean, although the bathrooms could have been cleaned a bit more frequently. Location is great in Leblon, although the area can be a little pricey.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Apple Hostel; City: Hong Kong; Review: This hostel is in a strange building with many stalls at the bottom. The rooms are very tiny and very basic, but thats what you get for the price in an expensive city. The shower is practically above the toilet so if you're efficient you could do both at once :) The location is great.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Fatima Macintyre House; City: Rio de Janeiro State of Rio de Janeiro; Review: We moved into this BnB after staying at a nearby Hostel in Leblon which we didnt like. We booked it last minute and upon arrival we were delighted with this place. Fatima was a great host, told us everything that was good to see nearby and left us to it. She didnt really intrude in anything we were doing... You can use the kitchen and the shower is great, the room was really nice too. Price isnt cheap but you are in an expensive part of Rio. Location was good and walking distance to most things of interest; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: West Lily Hotel; City: Yangshuo County Guangxi; Review: The hostel was reasonably priced and was very clean. It is in a good location to explore the town! It is located off the main street so you dont have much noise in your rooms... We walked to the town centre and the staff are very friendly and help arranging tours/shows We also rented bikes and explored the area by ourselves which was really fun, would recommend doing that! Overall great value, would return here if i ever returned; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hostel San Jorge; City: Salta Province of Salta Northern Argentina; Review: We stayed in a room where the door didnt shut upon arrival. Not sure how anyone would have stayed here before us, we asked for this to be fixed and it was, but it wasnt what we expected. The Hostel isnt a far walk from anything, and the town is small so it was all walking distance.. Would find somewhere else to stay if i returned!; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Sapa Paradise View Hotel; City: Sapa Lao Cai Province; Review: Sapa was our favourite part of our time in North Vietnam. We took an overnight train to get there and spent two days hiking around the gorgeous green mountainous area. We stayed at this hotel which was arranged by our hotel in Hanoi. This hotel was beutiful, clean and cosy! We had an amazing view from our room balcony of rice fields and we could watch the sunset on a daily basis! We arranged our hikes from the hotel and they were good. Great fun and a great way to interact with locals! Loved every minute of it; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: El Mangroove Autograph Collection; City: Playa Panama Gulf of Papagayo Province of Guanacaste; Review: This hotel is funky and very modern. We stayed for a few nights at the end of our trip in Costa Rica and it was a fantastic way to end the trip. We visited just before the hotel started filling up and it was perfect! It was my wife's birthday a few days before we got there and upon arrival in our room there was a cake waiting for my wife! The pool area was great and we were able to get seats easily so didn't try any of the cabana available! The beach just off the back of the hotel was really nice too...full of locals playing football etc! Jumping in the sea was nice too, it does get deep fast but it's good for a little swim! We had a room in building one and it was lovely, you have your own living room and a decent sized bedroom and balcony with hammock! The turn down service is nice too, you get little desserts/ chocolates everyday! The restaurant served tasty food and there was a great variety. We preferred the lunch menu in the beachside restaurant. Had great grilled fish and tacos, and the mediterranean sandwich was lovely too. The service of the staff is really good for a new hotel. Everyone is willing to go out their way to help you, from staff at ehe reception, pool side staff and even the chef would pay a visit to ensure there is nothing more he can do! We took the transport to the airport from the hotel and at $60 I thought it was a little pricey, esp as its only a 15m ride to Liberia airport. As we were departing my wife realised she had left her phone in the bedroom. We callled the hotel and as soon as they found it they sent someone go drop it off to us. Luckily we hadn't gone through security had just checked in! Would recommend this hotel!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel le Tremplin; City: Morzine Portes du Soleil Haute Savoie Auvergne Rhone Alpes; Review: Didn't stay at hotel but the bar is right at the bottom of the pleney lifts. Good spot for a beer or mulled wine after a day of skiing. They had a live band one day and the second day some funky music playing. Nothing spectacular but worth a visit at the end of day skiing; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Riad El Mezouar; City: Marrakech Marrakech Tensift El Haouz Region; Review: Riyad el Mezouar has recently changed ownership and some rooms were still being renovated when we stayed over Easter. The Riad itself is located in the North-East of the Medina and a short 5-10min from the edge of the Souks. it is an ideal location for exploring medina. The Riad has 5 rooms (2 of them being Suites). There is a roof terrace with stunning views over the medina and all the way to the Atlas mountains. The pool in the middle is small but refreshing. We stayed in the Ambassador Suite and it was a lovely room. It was spacious with lots of light and you would wake up to bird chirping in the morning! The amenities provided were great in the room too (nice towels, soft bathrobes, nice scented shower gel/shampoo etc). The staff here are great too. Romaine (the owner) is a lovely lady who would stop over and have a chat with us and ask how we are getting on, offer any tips and advise on where to visit/stop for a bite to eat. She emailed be before arriving to give advise on how to get there from the airport, informing about the transport they offer (at 200dh - a little expensive for Marrakech but we thought it would be worth it upon arrival so we could get to the Riad quickly and hassle free) and also advised us on the weather conditions. I thought this was great service! Nadia was also very helpful in this sense - so its worth asking her for her advise of the local area! Youssef was friendly in the evenings and good to talk to... you feel that nothing is ever too much for the staff and it is the greatest asset for this Riad in my opinion! We dined in the Riad one night and the setting was very romantic. We pretty much had the Riad to ourselves for a couple of days and a table was set out by the pool, with candles, rose petals etc. the food itself was nice and very large portions - we should have got one meal to share between us! breakfast is also plentiful and was served to us on the rooftop by Nadia All in all a great Riad to stay at. Shame there was some work going on when we were there, as we would have loved to use the pool to dip in on the hot afternoons. other than that, I would stay there again without a doubt!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Gatwick Corner House Hotel; City: Horley Surrey England; Review: We just stayed here before our flight out from Gatwick. The hotel is good value for money and I would stay here again. The staff were personal and had a good sense of humour! We got transfers from horley station as it was raining and to the airport in the morning and it was reasonably priced! The only issue we had was the traffic noise...Which didn't stop all night! You could hear every car go past and I didn't sleep well! This was in room 25; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Kasbah Angour Atlas Mountains Hotel; City: Asni Marrakech Tensift El Haouz Region; Review: We arrived at Kasbah Angour with very hish expectations after reading the amazing reviews it had. The rooms aren’t cheap and for the price one would expect very good facilities and service. In my opinion it doesn’t quite deliver. Angour does have many nice features such as - Nice grounds and gardens - Excellent views and access to the mountains - Excursions available to book (in our case we were able to book the same morning) - Clean rooms - Swimming Pool (although we were unable to use it because of the weather) However we feel there could be some very simple changes that could make the experience much better… You are not in Marrakech where naturally you would expect things to be much more expensive, so for the price paid I would have expected: - TV in the room - Telephone in the room - Room service - Complementary water in the room - Mini bar - Drink facilities in the room - Bathrobes or slippers - Quality Soaps/shower Gel - Late night service - An extensive lunch/dinner menu - Good Wifi (but this is weather dependent!) The staff are friendly here – you can’t fault them and the owner Paul is very nice too. We went on a tour which took us around local villiages. The villages were good to see, but the tour guide kept talking to the driver over us. So it seemed like they were having more of a catch up at our expense. Something I have read before on the reviews so it definitely isn’t a one off occurance! The lunch menu was very limited and I would have expected more, same as the evenings. We were vegetarian and found the options very limited. The food was very good however wasn’t cheap. As the portions in Morocco are quite large for us, we shared a 3 course meal one night, and the second night we shared a 3 course meal and ordered an additional soup starter. (The extra soup ordered cost us about £15 – which was charged as a single course meal – absolutely shocking value) On departure, the bill was correct. The prices were added up in Dirhams and converted to GBP using an incorrect conversion rate. I checked this with the “accountant” and he took it away to correct it. This seems like something that could easily be missed by guests and I wonder how many times this would have happened previously – I would check the bill very carefully!! I wouldn’t return to Kasbah Angour in a rush, nor would I recommend it. I have stayed in far better places for the same amount of money.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Chedi Muscat a GHM hotel; City: Muscat Muscat Governorate; Review: We stayed here for a few nights after spending time at Shangri-la. The room we stayed in was much better, really modern. The pools at the hotel were lovely and the long pool was funky day and night! The main restaurant is great and they made for especially for our needs... We felt the service more personal at Shangri-la but we would have thought chedi was amazing if we hadn't just stayed there! The beach isn't great, but the hotel and grounds certainly make up for it... Even though it is a maze to get around! If I returned to Oman if stay at AL husn but that's just our preference!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Golden Tulip Seeb; City: Seeb Muscat Governorate; Review: We stayed here ONLY because of its proximity to the airport and no other reason. We stayed at some pretty good hotels and wanted to stay near the airport as we had an early flight and couldn't justify the extra pounds we would spend just to sleep for a few hours where we were before. In hindsight I wish we stayed on at previous hotel As we stepped into the lobby...the cleanest and best part of the hotel...we thought it might be ok...but dont be fooled. Once you get onto your floor you can immediately tell from the dusty corridors that it needs a complete make over... Step into our room and it wasn't any better. Uncomfortable beds, dingy the bathroom, dirty balcony overlooking nothing...know you get what you pay for...but this is nothing like the 4* hotels I have ever stayed at.... Would I go back? Never.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Blue Palace a Luxury Collection Resort Spa Crete; City: Elounda Lasithi Prefecture Crete; Review: This was our first family holiday with out 6 month old baby and it couldn't have gone better! Before arrival I emailed the hotel asking for additional things which could help our stay with a baby easier. Things like Steriliser, baby monitor, baby bath, changing mat and a baby cot...these were all available in our room when we first entered! the only flaw was they couldn't guarantee any of it, so we ended up packing things we didn't really need. The room was very spacious with fantastic views of Spinalonga island from our balcony. We would often get up and watch the sun rise! was a great way to start the day. We stayed in room 226 which didn't have a private pool, we purposely chose not to get one as we read previous reviews about them rarely being used, and to be honest I don't think I saw anyone in their private pool throughout our stay (note some of them are not so private!) The breakfast was nice but not the best I have had, however it did the job very well...there are plenty of options and the staff are all great. As we are vegetarian, we didn't dine at the Flame restaurant (steak house) but the Italian, Asian and Greek restaurants were all really nice...although it does get a little repetitive after 9 nights! We did order room service a couple of nights when our baby went to sleep early, the service was prompt, although the options are limited (esp for veg) Upon arrival we met with the food and beverage manager to discuss food we wanted for our baby and they were able to arrange almost anything we wanted. We just need to let them know where we would be dining for lunch and dinner and they would have fresh puree made with which ever ingredients we had agreed. The pool areas area is very nice, although the water was a little cold for our baby, so we ended up using the downstairs pool in the spa between 9-12 (when kids are allowed). The beach are is very clean and offers great views. The only issue we had was the lack of shade anywhere, which isn't ideal with a baby. I think other guests had similar issues. We were lucky one day when we were offered a cabana to use for the day as we mentioned the lack of shade...this was subject to the villas not being fully occupied as they are reserved only for those guests... we would have paid for it each day if it was an option! Lastly, the thing that makes this hotel great is the staff. The are all amazing and very welcoming! They always used to approach with big smiles, always make the effort to make our baby smile and sing greek nursery rhymes to him... I would recommend a stay at Blue Palace; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: OUTBAGS USA NSC02 Nylon OWB Outside Pants Carry Holster w/ Mag Pouch. Family owned & operated. Made in USA; Brand: OutBags; Review: Was very tight at first but with some adjustments it is a nice holster.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: CRKT Ruger 2-Stage EDC Folding Pocket Knife: Heavy Duty Everyday Carry, Black Tanto Blade, Flipper Open, Frame Lock, Steel; Brand: Columbia River Knife & Tool; Review: First question you should ask yourself, "why do I need a knife" Is it to whittle around a campfire? This isn't the knife for you. Is it to cut rope/string/twine? This knife is not for you. Is it to open boxes? Not the knife for you. If you need an all around utilitarian knife that will last this is the one. If you need a light weight {plastic} knife look elsewhere. This is a solid thick knife that so far handles things well. Opens easily, locks securely. Nothing rattles or is loose. Last few knives have fallen apart after a few years of use. I'm looking at this one lasting. Very happy I bought it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Walker’s Razor Slim Electronic Hearing Protection Muffs with Sound Amplification and Suppression. “Protect It Or Lose It!”; Brand: Walker's Game Ear; Review: Works great. 200 rds at the range and they worked flawlessly. Will buy again; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 18" 1800cu.in. Military Molle Tactical Gear Duffle Range Shoulder Strap Travel Bag TF118 TAN; Brand: Nexpak; Review: Bag is plenty big for a day at the range. Lots of storage for stuff. No padded compartment. Cut a piece of thin wood and glued it to the flimsy plastic "bottom". Now I can carry it and not have it 'fold' when I pick it up; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ontario Knife 1064206 Co OKC Kukri Knife; Brand: Ontario Knife; Review: Knife came two days early, wonderful! Sturdy, somewhat sharp. Tested it on a few logs for a fire last night. Comfortable to use. Hand grip is comfortable and sturdy. A little thinner then I would like but better than a "store bought". One question/complaint I have. What's up with the shoe laces?? I appreciate the leg 'strap' and the hand 'strap' but really? Shoe laces? Tossed them out and used leather strips.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ontario SP8 Machete (Black); Brand: Ontario Knife; Review: Thick blade, love that. Small, more useful than a full size machete with what you can do with it. Out of the box it had a useful edge. Sheath is useful to carry the blade even if it's an over the top design. The leather is low grade and if cleaned with saddle soap the dye comes out of the leather. It's used mostly when camping. Makes the kindling easy to gather, splits bigger logs nicely.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Northbound Train First Aid Kit, Fully Stocked - IFAK - Premium Contents for Tactical First Aid, Camping,; Brand: Northbound Train; Review: Bought two. Took both camping with the grandson. One for my pack, one for his. We used his. Not long after getting to the camp grounds he crashed on his bicycle. SO GLAD I had this first aid kit with me. VERY useful in my time of need. Took care of a badly scraped chin and knuckles with time to go for a hike (and a little fishing); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Coast Athletic Brands Football Kick Off Tee | 1" and 2" Available; Brand: Coast Athletic Brands; Review: This and a football made a 7 year old very happy. Not much to say. Easy to use? No batterys required.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Wise Food 5-Day Survival Backpack; Brand: Wise Company; Review: Good starter set. Plenty of room to add items of your choice. I added more dehydrated foods, mess kit, spoorks, ,toothbrush, baggies, TP and so on. The bag is OK but not quality, lasting material.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Sports_and_Outdoors |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: The Horror Show Guide: The Ultimate Frightfest of Movies; Author: Visit Amazon's Mike Mayo Page; Review: I like this collection of horror movie reviews. It spans all the years of horror related films from the silent era to the present. The reviews are very brief but informative and helpful to the reader. I enjoy Mayo's assessment of film families such as Friday the 13th and Freddy/Nightmare on Elm Street. No formulaic franchise is left unscathed. Nice work.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: These Are the Voyages: TOS: Season One; Author: Visit Amazon's Marc Cushman Page; Review: Very informative, behind the scenes look at the creation of the episodes for the Star Trek original series circa Season 1. The actors, writers, and production staff provide commentary on just how complicated it was to produce a weekly network series. Well worth reading!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dream Year: Make the Leap from a Job You Hate to a Life You Love; Author: Visit Amazon's Ben Arment Page; Review: This is a very inspiring book. It may provide the final nudge to action to those who have wanted to pursue a dream of career and financial independence. The book has definitely motivated me!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Claws &Saucers: Science Fiction, Horror, And Fantasy Film: A Complete Guide: 1902-1982; Author: Visit Amazon's David Elroy Goldweber Page; Review: Great book of reviews. Very knowledgeable and thorough. I love it.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Choose Yourself!; Author: Visit Amazon's James Altucher Page; Review: Very inspiring text filled with real life examples of those who exemplify Altucher's approach to taking control of your life through disciplne and belieiving in your own unique contribution to the betterment of the world. Go read it!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Choose Yourself Guide to Wealth; Author: Visit Amazon's James Altucher Page; Review: This is another great book by James. I love his examples and humor. Always an informative and engaging read. I have been inspired anew! Thanks, James, for the upbeat message.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: var aPageStart = (new Date()).getTime(); var ue_t0=ue_t0||+new Date(); window.ue_ihb = (window.ue_ihb || window.ueinit || 0) + 1; if (window.ue_ihb; Brand: ; Review: Odd that my nearest Kohl's doesn't carry my size at all in Levi's- not even on their website! I had to order 44x30s from their website and had to pay a few dollars more for baggier jeans. I wish I'd have thought of ordering here first.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Levi's Men's 550 Relaxed-fit Jean; Brand: ; Review: Odd that my nearest Kohl's doesn't carry my size at all in Levi's- not even on their website! I had to order 44x30s from their website and had to pay a few dollars more for baggier jeans. I wish I'd have thought of ordering here first.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: CASIO Men's MW600F-2AV Sport Watch with Black Resin Band; Brand: Casio; Review: nice watch, if the 10 yr battery indeed holds up for at least 5 years, this may be the best deal of the year!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Forum Novelties Men's Creepo The Clown Costume; Brand: Forum Novelties; Review: i'm 5'9" but 250, it's an XL but is WAY too small. I bought 2 other makers XL clown suits (from Rubies thru Amazon) that fit me very well- with enough room to move around in!; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Fun World Killer Clown Plus Size Costume; Brand: Fun World; Review: my Halloween costume this year! Plus size fits well - I'm 5'9", 250, got room to move. was afraid it might be a little snug but no siree!; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Clothing_Shoes_and_Jewelry |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Coconuts Caribbean Resort; City: San Pedro Ambergris Caye Belize Cayes; Review: We stayed here in San Pedro for two days in May 2006 for our wedding anniversary, and the remaining time on the other side of the island at the Salamander Hideaway. The rooms were simple, clean, and ok overall. It's basically a room with a T.V., refrigerator, microwave, coffeemaker, a bathroom that consists of a toilet and sink. The shower stall is in another area of the room, and stepping out of your shower stall, you are literally stepping right back into your room with the bed. There is also a locking closet with an optional safe. You are in walking distance to town, great location. Definitely not luxury accommodations, but safe and simple enough if you are budget-minded. Cons are that the water water temperature was cold in the showers, and never warmed up. The air conditioning was really loud and made intermittent noises - I had to sleep with a pillow over my head. There is not a screen door so that you can keep your room open during the day/night. The setup is more like a "motel" in that you have to keep your curtains drawn because people are walking past your windows all the time just two feet away from you. In that sense, it didn't provide a whole lot of privacy. We also had a power outage on the island while we were there, not the fault of the resort, but also keep in mind they don't have a backup generator for power outages. No power means no running water. We had to wait hours to be able to flush our toilet. Imagine that. Beach was small, but nice. Nothing fancy. Neighboring properties appeared to be under construction, and it was a bit noisy during the day. The staff was always very friendly and pleasant. Food was ok. The shoreline in San Pedro overall is just beautiful. I'm a regular vistor to Cozumel each year, and the shoreline in Cozumel is no comparison to San Pedro. For one thing, you can walk for miles along the shore - just wonderful.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Arenal Observatory Lodge Spa; City: La Fortuna de San Carlos Arenal Volcano National Park Prov; Review: We drove from the airport to the lodge, but I wouldn't recommend this to those who are faint hearted. Driving those small winding roads with dangerous cliffsides is not an easy undertaking. Luckily, I didn't drive, but I would recommend a driver for those not comfortable traveling foreign roads, it's a long drive. The resort is off the beaten path, but well worth it. This was our first trip to Costa Rica, my husband and I traveled with our parents. We split our vacation between Arenal and Manuel Antonio. I'd say between the two, this was by far the best part of our trip. We rented the Smithsonian Rooms....ahhhh....what wonderful views. At night, we could see the glow of the hot lava rocks spewing down the side of the volcano from our bed, and during the day you could hear the rocks falling down the volcano and see the billowing plumes of smoke. The rooms are decent sized, but overall pretty basic - don't expect luxury amenities. No t.v., no radio, no air conditioning, and no refrigerator, but a ceiling fan is available and king size beds which is nice. There was also an in-room safe. We had to ask for an ice bucket, and had to go to the bar for ice, and if the bar was closed (which is usually pretty early), you're out of luck. We brought our own snacks with us, and glad we did because I don't think they had any type of snack bar per se unless you were willing to purchase candy from the front desk, if my memory serves me right. During the day, there are hummingbirds galore off our deck, and some of the most magnificent views you can imagine. We heard howler monkeys in the distance, and then observed a family of monkeys traveling through the canopy of the trees, passing by the resort, from one area of the jungle to another, it was simply amazing. We went on eco tours of the jungle, and spent some nights in the quiet pool and hot tub situated next to the jungle along winding paths. If you are looking for nightlife, this is not the place. If you are looking for "fun in the sun", this is not the place. It's very quiet, laid back and serene, with not much to do besides enjoy your surroundings and collect your thoughts. The restaurant is pleasant with nice views of the volcano and situated next to the observation deck, and good service. The food was pretty good, and the breakfast buffet had food plentiful, which is nice given that you aren't close to any other restaurants. We also took an evening tour which included exotic species of frogs. Interesting. We opted for a day trip on a whitewater rafting tour with La Fortuna de San Carlos Canoa Aventura -- I highly recommend for those who like water sports and adventure. Ask if you can perch on the front peak of the boat as you go through rapids and float down the river - an adrenaline blast!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bruce Bowker s Carib Inn; City: Kralendijk Bonaire; Review: We lodged elsewhere, but booked our diving through Carib Inn based on our own pre-travel research. Can't say enough nice things about them. They were attentive, safe, and their service was impeccable. We hadn't been in the water diving for a number of years, so we booked a refresher course through the resort. Gary, our divemaster, and Melanie, a divemaster in training, were very thorough and attentive to our needs. We hadn't had to assemble our equipment in years, so their thoroughness with us gave us the confidence we needed to get back in the water, feel comfortable and enjoy diving again. They were very good in terms of focusing on our individual needs. We did shore dives with them right out front (Calabas I & II), and also a boat dive to Bonaire Klein. Another couple we had met from our home state decided to join us on a couple dives -- they were also impressed with the dive shop and their operations (they mentioned Carib Inn was far superior than the dive op they had chosen through their condo rental at the Sand Dollar). My husband and I "volunteered" for a quick pool training session with the divemaster in training as part of her certification requirements, and in turn they gave us a free tank rental, and guided shore dive. Both Gary and Melanie were a wealth of information, providing many tips to benefit our future dive excursions. We couldn't have been happier in our choice to book with them. We saw our first squid in formation on the Calabas reef, Tarpon, and Baraccuda. Their pricing is not only competitive, but at the end of the week they will add up all your rentals and offer you the lowest package deal based on your overall usage. A safe dive op is our number one priority (having had a bad experience in the past), so we were quite pleased in our choice to go with Gary (and Melanie) at Carib Inn.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Aeropuerto; City: Quito Pichincha Province; Review: I don't know how to compare rates to what else Ecuador has to offer, because we were only here for one night from the U.S. on our way to Bonaire. Our original flight from our hometown was cancelled, so Quito, Ecuador was a detour and our only option. We were supposed to be in Bonaire at 1 pm that afternoon, but arrived in Ecuador very late evening as a result of rebooking the only available flights to get to our intended destination. Getting through customs was pure insanity. It took us three hours, moving literally an inch at a time. There was no rhyme or reason. Cancun is like a cakewalk compared to this. People were massing together, skipping to get ahead. No semblence of organization whatsoever. It made me think of what India might be like (having never been there). Finally, after three hours of this chaos, in the wee hours of the morning, someone finally opened another "line" (which is really just a mass of people) and let us through. We get through customs, and there are no ticket agents available at this time of night. We should have been comped a room somewhere, but no ticket agents at the airport. So, we sat there contemplating what to do. There were others from our hometown, also trying to figure out where to go from here. Someone finally located an English speaking rep at the airport, and they arranged a cab ride to a Hilton hotel. We waited, waited and waited and by this time (it's now 3 am) we are dead tired and want nothing more than to just lay down and sleep. A couple guys walked across to the airport hotel (it's just across the street, conveniently located), asking about the rates and trying to check out the place. It's no five star accommodations, and we knew that going in. Finally, my husband and I, and another couple, decided to just try our luck and booked rooms here (we had only three hours before we had to return to the airport for our departure flight), instead of waiting for transportation to the Hilton. Rates per couple were $55 plus tax. All I cared about was that the rooms were safe and clean. The reception at the front desk didn't speak English, but he was very nice and professional. If you have to ask for a receipt, show him a copy of another receipt and he'll understand. Our only major complaint is that even though we booked two separate rooms (we just met this other couple as they were on the way to Bonaire as well), the front reception would only give us ONE receipt for the total amount of both rooms. We needed the receipt for reimbursement for our travel insurance for the trip delay. They helped us with our luggage to our rooms, but there are stairs to negotiate. I didn't see elevator access. The rooms were clean - the first thing we did was check out the bathrooms and the beds - I checked out the linens; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Acorn Ridge Motel; City: Princeton Wisconsin; Review: The lodging is pretty basic and rooms are definitely outdated, yet clean and comfortable. A little on the pricey side for what you get in my opinion, then again you are out in the country and I'm from the city. But the staff is accommodating, and it was an overall pleasant stay. Rooms are equipped with air conditioning, refrigerator, t.v., alarm clock/radio and we received a care packet from the front desk - more geared towards men (snore strips and the likes). A walk across the street will take you over to Bernie's Steakhouse - great food and after bar, though don't expect them to be open until bar close. I've stayed here a couple times during visits to Princeton, and would stay here again.; Rating: 3.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Stella Di Mare Beach Resort Spa Makadi Bay; City: Makadi Bay Hurghada Red Sea and Sinai; Review: we visited this hotel from 5th March - 19th March... it was a relaxing and enjoyable experience, there was not many English there but we prefer it that way, lots of Russians Italians and Dutch... all really friendly. the arrival from the airport to the hotel was quick and efficiently dealt with , our room was located facing the fountain pool with the entrance to our room facing the wave pool which we thought was an ideal location. the room cleaner Samer was fantastic and was available all day should you need any thing. There were 4 A la carte restaurants but we only used the Lebanese,we got to know several waiters Mohammed and Ali , who made our meals special every time. we spent a lot of our time sun bathing round the heated pool which has a bar where Mohammed made yummy cocktails for us .... and plied us with coffee.... the animation team were nice ... especially Fox and Manos he was crackers but in a nice way... the sales people were pleasant and most excepted when you said no thanks... Mostly this place was calm and relaxing and Hot ... just what you want for a holiday... we would defiantly return to this resort....; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Stella Di Mare Beach Resort Spa Makadi Bay; City: Makadi Bay Hurghada Red Sea and Sinai; Review: This is our 2nd trip to Stella Makadi Resort & Spa, we stayed at the Gardens in March 2013 and this time at the beach. Once again this resort was top notch... the staff (mahmood pool bar, Ali restaurant, siad waiter) and may others,entertainment team (Holly) all made our stay entertaining they were all friendly and couldn't do enough for you to make our stay memorable.. we were returners which meant we were issued with gold bands, the advantage of this was fruit and wine on arrival in your rooms plus free mini bar, plus slippers and free wifi. the sellers who walk around the pool was fun to chat to even if you didn't buy any thing, infact we were taught some basic Arabic by Lilaa who runs the fish spa on the beach... such a beautiful person. we used the spa several times having facials, threading and foot masks this did cost extra, but was relaxing and well worth it. the quad biking which starts from the beach was the best, you drive up the main roads into the desert, we did the 3pm track so were quading as the sun was going down... we used the warm pool which had a swim up bar there is a quiet pool with a swim up bar but that was freezing ... only had one drink there.... but lost count of the drinks at the other swim up pool bar.... the room was cleaned daily and sheets changed daily... water was left in your room and there was always a towel display done.... from crocodiles to peacocks, our room faced the gardens which was lovely as it quiet... the hotel is constantly being maintained but it is not intrusive. the evening entertainment was often funny but very focused on Russians and Germans who were the main guests which we love as we find it interesting to learn different cultures. children's entertainment starts at 8pm and can be a bit irritating for people with out children how ever we got into a routine of having our evening meal while this was on, luckily its only 45 mins..... we have booked again to go in May 2015 with some of our family so looking forward to chilling out and being pampered again...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Stella Di Mare Beach Resort Spa Makadi Bay; City: Makadi Bay Hurghada Red Sea and Sinai; Review: On arrival it was like returning home, as staff welcomed us back. a lot of staff had been laid off due to the under occupancy due to the lack of Russians this hotel is normally full of German Russian's Austrians which we like. We missed Mahmoud who normally runs the warm pool bar :( But Ali was still in the restaurant as smart and helpful as ever always saving us a sit in a nice area. The restaurants were freely available.. the Chinese was the nicest for food but the Indian was nicest staff wise but all including the Italian and Lebanese were lovely. The animation staff and quality of evening entertainment were so much better this time which I expressed to Chocolate and Islam.... they were so friendly and welcoming and worked tirelessly to involve every one in all the entertainment. Rooms were cleaned every day and nothing was too much trouble. The sellers around the pool were always friendly and understood when you weren't interested but they stayed for a chat anyway. most had a good sense of humour. We will always return here its like home :); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Serenity Makadi Beach; City: Makadi Bay Hurghada Red Sea and Sinai; Review: This hotel is located 40 mins from the airport . We arrived very late at night and were offered a late night snack and drinks. Our room was on the ground floor over looking the lagoon pool it was very clean but had a little wear and tear to it this didn't cause any problems to our stay, the room was cleaned and sheets changed daily by a lovely chap who was very helpful he was always cheerful and nothing was a problem for him. The salt pool( relax pool) was lovely again some minor repairs needed to be done but the pool staff Ali and Mo were really friendly and chatty. The food was excellent especially the cakes section if you like honey you'll love this hotel . the manager Aladdin was very friendly and visible and spoke on a daily basis he seemed very hands on. The staff were polite and helpful in all areas of this Hotel, Teri the guest relations manager even arranged complimentary room extension as our flight didn't leave until late evening. The beauty salon is close by and we used this for massages hair colouring and the men had shaves every 3 days for a good price recommended.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: HSM Lago Park; City: Playa de Muro Majorca Balearic Islands; Review: on arrival at the hotel the staff were very helpful and explained the routine of the hotel .. our room was on the third floor of Lago park 1 it was studio room it was a little tired looking and dated and the bed was a fold up bed which was very uncomfortable having said that , that was our only complaint. the maids cleaned our room every day except Wednesdays and Saturdays. our room over looked the main street but this was nice because you could watch the busy life style of every one. the pool was nice and plenty of sun loungers the bar staff were efficient and cheerful, and the entertainment was available most nights. the surrounding area there were lots of shops if your self catering and many restaurants to eat out. the main event of this holiday was the beach and the walks, the beach although busy had a fabulous atmosphere plenty of sun loungers which cost daily, we choose to use towels and buy and umbrella and mould the sand to our liking.. the sea is clean and a beautiful blue and green colour and there were plenty of beach bars to quench your thirst serving bear and cocktails. the main strip in Alcudia was a 15 -20 min walk from the hotel but a taxi was only 5 euros but its worth walking along the beach to see the port and old town.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Blue Bay Resort Hotel; City: Agia Pelagia Crete; Review: Beautiful hotel with exceptional décor, we stayed in room 528 it was a an average hotel room but it has an exceptional shower, it was located on the same corridor as the spa and Gym so smelt gorgeous all the time. the cleaners were very efficient and cheerful. The hotel in general was very clean, receptionist were always helpful and the bar staff all seemed to have a GSOH. the restaurant was beautifully laid out and the food was delicious especially the desserts .. lots of baklavas and honey based items , lots of choice for main courses fish lamb beef chicken etc and an abundance of salad,also plenty of beer and wine and soda drinks on offer. there is a small balcony to dine on for smokers ... the location is beautiful with amazing views from every angle, the sun rise every morning was stunning, how ever were had fabulous storms with amazing thunder and lighting for 3 days of our stay and the views of the storm were spectacular over the sea. be warned its very hilly... the road to the beach is very very steep as is the 2K walk to the local village, again a beautiful place with a little bay with lots of local boats docked. you will need to bring your own beach towel we didn't as normally all inclusive includes this. one tip is to buy your towel from the little shop down the hill they were only 8 euros instead of the 18 euro's we paid at the hotel shop. the pool area was keep immaculate and the pool maintained daily, there are 3 pools 1 with slides, there is a bar that opens 10am with snacks and coffee etc. there was also plenty of loungers. I would recommend this hotel its friendly ,clean and only about 30mins from the airport.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pride Sun Village Resort and Spa; City: Arpora North Goa District Goa; Review: we nipped over to see family while in Goa .. the guest relation lady was very helpful and offered us a mango juice while she hunted my brother down for us. she then invited us up to see him as he was sat near the pool bar. we stayed for an entire day all inclusive using the facilities for a nominal fee, having lunch and dinner there, the food was ok nothing special but the staff we friendly and helpful.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Whispering Palms Beach Resort; City: Candolim Bardez North Goa District Goa; Review: On arrival we were greeted by Tom who played the violin and was helpful for local knowledge. The room we were in the main building .. it was a good size room with fab air con … the room was clean and cleaned daily.. it had a decent shower … looked a little dated and could do with a touch of paint but over all satisfied . the room had a mini fridge with soft drinks and beer and an assortment of chocolates and crisps at extra cost but were peanuts in cost. the pool was a decent size and clean … the sunbeds were ok but really needed a few more available .. you had to be up before the larks to get one. the pool bar was ok .. very attentive staff you could can get snacks etc and any cocktail you want. towels were available for the beach and pool side. the food was delicious ... curries and european foods available you could eat inside with air con or out side on the terrece and staff again were very attentive. there were 2 Bars the pool bar and an inside bar open all day .. there are lots of places to eat if you want to eat out. the beach shacks and the main road both a short walk .. i would come back here one day it was a overall pleasent experince; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Tonka Chuck and Friends Fold and Go Tumble Tower; Brand: Tonka; Review: I gave this to my three year old, and he played with it for hours. It actually seemed better that the toy was not perfect, because when Chuck made it all the way down all the ramps, it was an achievement. Chuck had to go up the elevator...but wait, where was the voice coming from? If you are a three year old, you hold the toy to your ear and you listen, and the voice isn't coming from the truck, it is coming from the tower.Then he folded it all up and made sure chuck was put away (chuck had to be facing out so he could see) and he took it to bed with him.It seems like such a simple toy, but the kid was telling himself stories about what chuck was doing (they were simple, that is not the point) and also putting himself into the action, learning coordination since it is not automatic, and having a great time.Frankly, this is all I can ask for from a toy.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Chuck Race Along Chuck; Brand: Tonka; Review: My three year old grandson is real happy that I am a member of Amazon Vines, because he gets to playtest the toys that I get from them. The last toy he playtested was theTonka Chuck and Friends Fold and Go Tumble Tower, which was a toy that I had to give great ratings because of how long he played with it, the fact that he still plays with it, and how much he loves it.He had the first Chuck toy, which is kept at Nana and Grandpa's house. We hid it so that he could play with this one without confustion.First problem. We don't have a big house, and when Chuck went into race mode, it kept crashing into things.We tried taking it outside where there was more room, but it would jam, mostly by picking up rocks.The little guy finally started playing with it with the truck turned off. He would make the sounds himself, and push it along himself, and load it with things and so forth. He liked the truck, but he is basically a nice kid. He would never tell his grandpa that he didn't like a present I got him. But he slept with his tumble tower the night he got it, and this got left in a corner somewhere.He insisted on taking his tumble tower home with him, and this got left here.He has a big old school off brand plastic truck at home, and he ended up playing with this truck just like that one. Push it along and use it to attack the green goblin from. Turn it off and make the truck sounds (and other sounds) with your mouth. Use your muscles and imagination. So the toy was not a complete failure, but nothing about it's special properties, the races or the self propelled games or such was a success.Another problem was that he had the original Chuck the Truck, and this one has a different interface. It is similar, but not exactly the same.I would only get this one if you have a large, clear space to play in, and a kid who never had the original Chuck.And consider, as an alternative,Tonka TS4000 Steel Dump Truck. This is a very durable truck, but the TS4000 can probably be run over and still be playable.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Chuck Race Along Chuck; Brand: Tonka; Review: My three year old grandson is real happy that I am a member of Amazon Vines, because he gets to playtest the toys that I get from them. The last toy he playtested was theTonka Chuck and Friends Fold and Go Tumble Tower, which was a toy that I had to give great ratings because of how long he played with it, the fact that he still plays with it, and how much he loves it.He had the first Chuck toy, which is kept at Nana and Grandpa's house. We hid it so that he could play with this one without confustion.First problem. We don't have a big house, and when Chuck went into race mode, it kept crashing into things.We tried taking it outside where there was more room, but it would jam, mostly by picking up rocks.The little guy finally started playing with it with the truck turned off. He would make the sounds himself, and push it along himself, and load it with things and so forth. He liked the truck, but he is basically a nice kid. He would never tell his grandpa that he didn't like a present I got him. But he slept with his tumble tower the night he got it, and this got left in a corner somewhere.He insisted on taking his tumble tower home with him, and this got left here.He has a big old school off brand plastic truck at home, and he ended up playing with this truck just like that one. Push it along and use it to attack the green goblin from. Turn it off and make the truck sounds (and other sounds) with your mouth. Use your muscles and imagination. So the toy was not a complete failure, but nothing about it's special properties, the races or the self propelled games or such was a success.Another problem was that he had the original Chuck the Truck, and this one has a different interface. It is similar, but not exactly the same.I would only get this one if you have a large, clear space to play in, and a kid who never had the original Chuck.And consider, as an alternative,Tonka TS4000 Steel Dump Truck. This is a very durable truck, but the TS4000 can probably be run over and still be playable.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Chuck Race Along Chuck; Brand: Tonka; Review: My three year old grandson is real happy that I am a member of Amazon Vines, because he gets to playtest the toys that I get from them. The last toy he playtested was theTonka Chuck and Friends Fold and Go Tumble Tower, which was a toy that I had to give great ratings because of how long he played with it, the fact that he still plays with it, and how much he loves it.He had the first Chuck toy, which is kept at Nana and Grandpa's house. We hid it so that he could play with this one without confustion.First problem. We don't have a big house, and when Chuck went into race mode, it kept crashing into things.We tried taking it outside where there was more room, but it would jam, mostly by picking up rocks.The little guy finally started playing with it with the truck turned off. He would make the sounds himself, and push it along himself, and load it with things and so forth. He liked the truck, but he is basically a nice kid. He would never tell his grandpa that he didn't like a present I got him. But he slept with his tumble tower the night he got it, and this got left in a corner somewhere.He insisted on taking his tumble tower home with him, and this got left here.He has a big old school off brand plastic truck at home, and he ended up playing with this truck just like that one. Push it along and use it to attack the green goblin from. Turn it off and make the truck sounds (and other sounds) with your mouth. Use your muscles and imagination. So the toy was not a complete failure, but nothing about it's special properties, the races or the self propelled games or such was a success.Another problem was that he had the original Chuck the Truck, and this one has a different interface. It is similar, but not exactly the same.I would only get this one if you have a large, clear space to play in, and a kid who never had the original Chuck.And consider, as an alternative,Tonka TS4000 Steel Dump Truck. This is a very durable truck, but the TS4000 can probably be run over and still be playable.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Chuck Race Along Chuck; Brand: Tonka; Review: My three year old grandson is real happy that I am a member of Amazon Vines, because he gets to playtest the toys that I get from them. The last toy he playtested was theTonka Chuck and Friends Fold and Go Tumble Tower, which was a toy that I had to give great ratings because of how long he played with it, the fact that he still plays with it, and how much he loves it.He had the first Chuck toy, which is kept at Nana and Grandpa's house. We hid it so that he could play with this one without confustion.First problem. We don't have a big house, and when Chuck went into race mode, it kept crashing into things.We tried taking it outside where there was more room, but it would jam, mostly by picking up rocks.The little guy finally started playing with it with the truck turned off. He would make the sounds himself, and push it along himself, and load it with things and so forth. He liked the truck, but he is basically a nice kid. He would never tell his grandpa that he didn't like a present I got him. But he slept with his tumble tower the night he got it, and this got left in a corner somewhere.He insisted on taking his tumble tower home with him, and this got left here.He has a big old school off brand plastic truck at home, and he ended up playing with this truck just like that one. Push it along and use it to attack the green goblin from. Turn it off and make the truck sounds (and other sounds) with your mouth. Use your muscles and imagination. So the toy was not a complete failure, but nothing about it's special properties, the races or the self propelled games or such was a success.Another problem was that he had the original Chuck the Truck, and this one has a different interface. It is similar, but not exactly the same.I would only get this one if you have a large, clear space to play in, and a kid who never had the original Chuck.And consider, as an alternative,Tonka TS4000 Steel Dump Truck. This is a very durable truck, but the TS4000 can probably be run over and still be playable.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Squishy Baff Bath Kit (Colors Vary); Brand: SpinMaster; Review: 1. We never achieved the jello like goo you see on TV. We added the second packet of goo to one bath, and it sort of jelled a little. The instructions say 8 gallons - that is not enough water to bathe a kid, and if you use too much water it does not jell. We estimate that four packets would have been enough.2. The kids immediately started splashing each other with the goo, after all, they watch Nickelodeon, and it burned their eyes like an adult shampoo. This required a pause to rinse off - and they they splashed each other again.3. The stuff that makes the jell dissolve didn't work as well as described, although the goo did go down the drain, but it would go down the drain before the dissolve stuff was added.Complete waste of money, the kids didn't really have fun, but the older one is so addicted to commercials that he wants another box, because he is sure that the next one will work just like it shows on TV.DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY!; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Squishy Baff Bath Kit (Colors Vary); Brand: SpinMaster; Review: 1. We never achieved the jello like goo you see on TV. We added the second packet of goo to one bath, and it sort of jelled a little. The instructions say 8 gallons - that is not enough water to bathe a kid, and if you use too much water it does not jell. We estimate that four packets would have been enough.2. The kids immediately started splashing each other with the goo, after all, they watch Nickelodeon, and it burned their eyes like an adult shampoo. This required a pause to rinse off - and they they splashed each other again.3. The stuff that makes the jell dissolve didn't work as well as described, although the goo did go down the drain, but it would go down the drain before the dissolve stuff was added.Complete waste of money, the kids didn't really have fun, but the older one is so addicted to commercials that he wants another box, because he is sure that the next one will work just like it shows on TV.DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY!; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Squishy Baff Bath Kit (Colors Vary); Brand: SpinMaster; Review: 1. We never achieved the jello like goo you see on TV. We added the second packet of goo to one bath, and it sort of jelled a little. The instructions say 8 gallons - that is not enough water to bathe a kid, and if you use too much water it does not jell. We estimate that four packets would have been enough.2. The kids immediately started splashing each other with the goo, after all, they watch Nickelodeon, and it burned their eyes like an adult shampoo. This required a pause to rinse off - and they they splashed each other again.3. The stuff that makes the jell dissolve didn't work as well as described, although the goo did go down the drain, but it would go down the drain before the dissolve stuff was added.Complete waste of money, the kids didn't really have fun, but the older one is so addicted to commercials that he wants another box, because he is sure that the next one will work just like it shows on TV.DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY!; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Squishy Baff Bath Kit (Colors Vary); Brand: SpinMaster; Review: 1. We never achieved the jello like goo you see on TV. We added the second packet of goo to one bath, and it sort of jelled a little. The instructions say 8 gallons - that is not enough water to bathe a kid, and if you use too much water it does not jell. We estimate that four packets would have been enough.2. The kids immediately started splashing each other with the goo, after all, they watch Nickelodeon, and it burned their eyes like an adult shampoo. This required a pause to rinse off - and they they splashed each other again.3. The stuff that makes the jell dissolve didn't work as well as described, although the goo did go down the drain, but it would go down the drain before the dissolve stuff was added.Complete waste of money, the kids didn't really have fun, but the older one is so addicted to commercials that he wants another box, because he is sure that the next one will work just like it shows on TV.DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY!; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Squishy Baff Bath Kit (Colors Vary); Brand: SpinMaster; Review: 1. We never achieved the jello like goo you see on TV. We added the second packet of goo to one bath, and it sort of jelled a little. The instructions say 8 gallons - that is not enough water to bathe a kid, and if you use too much water it does not jell. We estimate that four packets would have been enough.2. The kids immediately started splashing each other with the goo, after all, they watch Nickelodeon, and it burned their eyes like an adult shampoo. This required a pause to rinse off - and they they splashed each other again.3. The stuff that makes the jell dissolve didn't work as well as described, although the goo did go down the drain, but it would go down the drain before the dissolve stuff was added.Complete waste of money, the kids didn't really have fun, but the older one is so addicted to commercials that he wants another box, because he is sure that the next one will work just like it shows on TV.DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY!; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Squishy Baff Bath Kit (Colors Vary); Brand: SpinMaster; Review: 1. We never achieved the jello like goo you see on TV. We added the second packet of goo to one bath, and it sort of jelled a little. The instructions say 8 gallons - that is not enough water to bathe a kid, and if you use too much water it does not jell. We estimate that four packets would have been enough.2. The kids immediately started splashing each other with the goo, after all, they watch Nickelodeon, and it burned their eyes like an adult shampoo. This required a pause to rinse off - and they they splashed each other again.3. The stuff that makes the jell dissolve didn't work as well as described, although the goo did go down the drain, but it would go down the drain before the dissolve stuff was added.Complete waste of money, the kids didn't really have fun, but the older one is so addicted to commercials that he wants another box, because he is sure that the next one will work just like it shows on TV.DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY!; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Squishy Baff Bath Kit (Colors Vary); Brand: SpinMaster; Review: 1. We never achieved the jello like goo you see on TV. We added the second packet of goo to one bath, and it sort of jelled a little. The instructions say 8 gallons - that is not enough water to bathe a kid, and if you use too much water it does not jell. We estimate that four packets would have been enough.2. The kids immediately started splashing each other with the goo, after all, they watch Nickelodeon, and it burned their eyes like an adult shampoo. This required a pause to rinse off - and they they splashed each other again.3. The stuff that makes the jell dissolve didn't work as well as described, although the goo did go down the drain, but it would go down the drain before the dissolve stuff was added.Complete waste of money, the kids didn't really have fun, but the older one is so addicted to commercials that he wants another box, because he is sure that the next one will work just like it shows on TV.DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY!; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Squishy Baff Bath Kit (Colors Vary); Brand: SpinMaster; Review: 1. We never achieved the jello like goo you see on TV. We added the second packet of goo to one bath, and it sort of jelled a little. The instructions say 8 gallons - that is not enough water to bathe a kid, and if you use too much water it does not jell. We estimate that four packets would have been enough.2. The kids immediately started splashing each other with the goo, after all, they watch Nickelodeon, and it burned their eyes like an adult shampoo. This required a pause to rinse off - and they they splashed each other again.3. The stuff that makes the jell dissolve didn't work as well as described, although the goo did go down the drain, but it would go down the drain before the dissolve stuff was added.Complete waste of money, the kids didn't really have fun, but the older one is so addicted to commercials that he wants another box, because he is sure that the next one will work just like it shows on TV.DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY!; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Squishy Baff Bath Kit (Colors Vary); Brand: SpinMaster; Review: 1. We never achieved the jello like goo you see on TV. We added the second packet of goo to one bath, and it sort of jelled a little. The instructions say 8 gallons - that is not enough water to bathe a kid, and if you use too much water it does not jell. We estimate that four packets would have been enough.2. The kids immediately started splashing each other with the goo, after all, they watch Nickelodeon, and it burned their eyes like an adult shampoo. This required a pause to rinse off - and they they splashed each other again.3. The stuff that makes the jell dissolve didn't work as well as described, although the goo did go down the drain, but it would go down the drain before the dissolve stuff was added.Complete waste of money, the kids didn't really have fun, but the older one is so addicted to commercials that he wants another box, because he is sure that the next one will work just like it shows on TV.DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY!; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Squishy Baff Bath Kit (Colors Vary); Brand: SpinMaster; Review: 1. We never achieved the jello like goo you see on TV. We added the second packet of goo to one bath, and it sort of jelled a little. The instructions say 8 gallons - that is not enough water to bathe a kid, and if you use too much water it does not jell. We estimate that four packets would have been enough.2. The kids immediately started splashing each other with the goo, after all, they watch Nickelodeon, and it burned their eyes like an adult shampoo. This required a pause to rinse off - and they they splashed each other again.3. The stuff that makes the jell dissolve didn't work as well as described, although the goo did go down the drain, but it would go down the drain before the dissolve stuff was added.Complete waste of money, the kids didn't really have fun, but the older one is so addicted to commercials that he wants another box, because he is sure that the next one will work just like it shows on TV.DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY!; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Squishy Baff Bath Kit (Colors Vary); Brand: SpinMaster; Review: 1. We never achieved the jello like goo you see on TV. We added the second packet of goo to one bath, and it sort of jelled a little. The instructions say 8 gallons - that is not enough water to bathe a kid, and if you use too much water it does not jell. We estimate that four packets would have been enough.2. The kids immediately started splashing each other with the goo, after all, they watch Nickelodeon, and it burned their eyes like an adult shampoo. This required a pause to rinse off - and they they splashed each other again.3. The stuff that makes the jell dissolve didn't work as well as described, although the goo did go down the drain, but it would go down the drain before the dissolve stuff was added.Complete waste of money, the kids didn't really have fun, but the older one is so addicted to commercials that he wants another box, because he is sure that the next one will work just like it shows on TV.DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY!; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Squishy Baff Bath Kit (Colors Vary); Brand: SpinMaster; Review: 1. We never achieved the jello like goo you see on TV. We added the second packet of goo to one bath, and it sort of jelled a little. The instructions say 8 gallons - that is not enough water to bathe a kid, and if you use too much water it does not jell. We estimate that four packets would have been enough.2. The kids immediately started splashing each other with the goo, after all, they watch Nickelodeon, and it burned their eyes like an adult shampoo. This required a pause to rinse off - and they they splashed each other again.3. The stuff that makes the jell dissolve didn't work as well as described, although the goo did go down the drain, but it would go down the drain before the dissolve stuff was added.Complete waste of money, the kids didn't really have fun, but the older one is so addicted to commercials that he wants another box, because he is sure that the next one will work just like it shows on TV.DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY!; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Squishy Baff Bath Kit (Colors Vary); Brand: SpinMaster; Review: 1. We never achieved the jello like goo you see on TV. We added the second packet of goo to one bath, and it sort of jelled a little. The instructions say 8 gallons - that is not enough water to bathe a kid, and if you use too much water it does not jell. We estimate that four packets would have been enough.2. The kids immediately started splashing each other with the goo, after all, they watch Nickelodeon, and it burned their eyes like an adult shampoo. This required a pause to rinse off - and they they splashed each other again.3. The stuff that makes the jell dissolve didn't work as well as described, although the goo did go down the drain, but it would go down the drain before the dissolve stuff was added.Complete waste of money, the kids didn't really have fun, but the older one is so addicted to commercials that he wants another box, because he is sure that the next one will work just like it shows on TV.DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY!; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: FurReal Friends Hop `N Cuddle Tan Bunny; Brand: Hasbro; Review: I have had this toy for some months now. I have waited to write a review because I have repeatedly tried to introduce the toy to my two year old. Now, she plays with the family dog, who weighs about 85 pounds, but she is completely scared of this rabbit toy. I have tried to introduce the toy to her three times - and she is completely scared of it every time. As soon as it moves she starts to cry, hides and won't go near it. This mistrust extends to when it is turned off - if it does not move, she will walk past it warily.She has plenty of toys that light up, talk, etc. I think that this one just looks too real for her.I suspect that my granddaughter has a reaction that is way out of the ordinary, but it might be one that someone else would have.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: FurReal Friends Hop `N Cuddle Tan Bunny; Brand: Hasbro; Review: I have had this toy for some months now. I have waited to write a review because I have repeatedly tried to introduce the toy to my two year old. Now, she plays with the family dog, who weighs about 85 pounds, but she is completely scared of this rabbit toy. I have tried to introduce the toy to her three times - and she is completely scared of it every time. As soon as it moves she starts to cry, hides and won't go near it. This mistrust extends to when it is turned off - if it does not move, she will walk past it warily.She has plenty of toys that light up, talk, etc. I think that this one just looks too real for her.I suspect that my granddaughter has a reaction that is way out of the ordinary, but it might be one that someone else would have.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: FurReal Friends Hop `N Cuddle Tan Bunny; Brand: Hasbro; Review: I have had this toy for some months now. I have waited to write a review because I have repeatedly tried to introduce the toy to my two year old. Now, she plays with the family dog, who weighs about 85 pounds, but she is completely scared of this rabbit toy. I have tried to introduce the toy to her three times - and she is completely scared of it every time. As soon as it moves she starts to cry, hides and won't go near it. This mistrust extends to when it is turned off - if it does not move, she will walk past it warily.She has plenty of toys that light up, talk, etc. I think that this one just looks too real for her.I suspect that my granddaughter has a reaction that is way out of the ordinary, but it might be one that someone else would have.; Rating: 3.0/5.0 | amazon_Toys_and_Games |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Mean Streak; Author: Visit Amazon's Sandra Brown Page; Review: I didn't want to put it down; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ellies Story; Author: Visit Amazon's W. Bruce Cameron Page; Review: Just like the rest of his books this one was hard to put down; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hostage Taker: A Novel (Eve Rossi); Author: Visit Amazon's Stefanie Pintoff Page; Review: Once you start you will not want to put it down; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Collector; Author: Visit Amazon's Nora Roberts Page; Review: Great story line; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Repo Madness: A Novel (Ruddy McCann); Author: Visit Amazon's W. Bruce Cameron Page; Review: Awesome just like the others in the series; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sting; Author: Visit Amazon's Sandra Brown Page; Review: Another great story by Brown; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Murder House; Author: Visit Amazon's James Patterson Page; Review: Great reading; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: End of Watch; Author: Visit Amazon's Stephen King Page; Review: Great suspense; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: BodyJ4You 28PC Gauges Kit Ear Stretching 12G-0G Surgical Steel Tunnel Plugs Tapers Piecing Set; Brand: BodyJ4You; Review: Shipping great, but was missing the size 10 gauges.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Crazy Girls Womens Boyfriend Pocket Cardigan Jersey Shrug; Brand: Crazy Girls; Review: I saw many bad reviews on this produc, but I was actually pleased. I ordered this product and was expected to recieve it a month later, but actually recieved it 3 weeks earlier than expected! Yay for that. Also,I am 5,4' & 120lbs, I ordered a size M/L because I don't like these types of sweaters to be tight, and it fits great!! The length on arms and everything is perfect. I wouldn't reccomend putting it in the dryer if you are happy with the size. I would hang it up to dry, just because it is a type of material that will shrink.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Crazy Girls Womens Boyfriend Pocket Cardigan Jersey Shrug; Brand: Crazy Girls; Review: I saw many bad reviews on this produc, but I was actually pleased. I ordered this product and was expected to recieve it a month later, but actually recieved it 3 weeks earlier than expected! Yay for that. Also,I am 5,4' & 120lbs, I ordered a size M/L because I don't like these types of sweaters to be tight, and it fits great!! The length on arms and everything is perfect. I wouldn't reccomend putting it in the dryer if you are happy with the size. I would hang it up to dry, just because it is a type of material that will shrink.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: CLPP'LI Womens Twin Button Fully Fur Lined Waterproof Winter Snow Boots; Brand: CLPP'LI; Review: Very pleased! They are perfect!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Plaid Blanket Scarf Women Big Square Long Scarves Warm Tartan Checked Shawl; Brand: Dimore; Review: Absolutely love this scarve! It is not quite as long as it seems to be in the photo but pretty close. Its is very well made overall I love it.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: DOINSHOP Women's Lantern Long Sleeve Round Neck High Low Asymmetrical Irregular Hem Casual Tops Blouse Shirt Dress; Brand: DOINSHOP; Review: I really like the shirt. Nice material, and nicely made for the price. I usually wear a size small or medium in shirts, but I ordered a large and fits perfect. So I suggest ordering a size up!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: MiCoolker Womens shoulder; Brand: MiCoolker; Review: I got it a little earlier than expected. really cute :); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: PanDaDa Baby Boys Striped T-shirt Tops Red Pants Outfits Sets Casual 5pcs Summer; Brand: PanDaDa; Review: I ordered size 2-3 years in the red anchor outfit, and it is WAY too big. It could a 5 year old.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Leveret Kids Christmas Pajamas Boys Girls & Toddler Pajamas Red White Green 2 Piece Pjs Set 100% Cotton; Brand: ; Review: Great set. True to size. Doesn't fade when washed.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: LMB | Lush Moda | Seamless Capri Leggings | Variety of Colors | One Size; Brand: LMB; Review: I wear a size small, and the free size fits fine. Honestly the free size could probably stretch enough to fit an XL. Very stretchy material. If you wear an XS the free size leggings might be a little loose. Very good quality for the price. Not see through at all. Look forward to wearing them to the gym!; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Clothing_Shoes_and_Jewelry |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Rico MLB #1 Fan Metal Auto Tag; Brand: Rico; Review: As a long time Yankees fan I couldn't be happier with this metal tag. Love it! Great quality!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Husky Liners Front Mud Guards Fits 11-18 Grand Cherokee Laredo/Limited/Overland; Brand: Husky Liners; Review: These front mud guards fit my 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo perfectly. I also purchased the rear guards as well and I must admit they are quality mud guards. I just wish they were a little smoother on the texture, but, overall I'm happy with them. They perform their purpose.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Husky Liners Rear Mud Guards Fits 11-18 Grand Cherokee Laredo/Limited/Overland; Brand: Husky Liners; Review: These are great, quality rear mud guards. They fit my 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo perfectly. I just wish they came in a smoother texture. The texture it has is somewhat on the rough, coarse side, but, overall I'm happy with this purchase.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: APS iBoard Running Boards (Nerf Bars | Side Steps | Step; Brand: APS; Review: I could not be happier with these running boards. Besides looking great they perform as needed. I found getting in and out of my 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo a little uncomfortable due to the height of the vehicle and these runners make it a lot easier. They seem to be well made and durable. I had a mechanic install them for me since I did not have the proper tools and he did a great job. I highly recommend these running boards.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Seat Armour Officially Licensed Custom Fit Center Console Cover with Jeep Embroidered Logo for Select Jeep Grand Cherokee Models(2011-2017); Brand: Seat Armour; Review: I love this center console cover. It fits the center console in my 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo like a glove. I had to purchase this product because the center console in my previous Jeep became noticeably dull, worn and ugly within time and I didn't want this to happen to my new Jeep. I'm glad I came across this cover. It is made of some sort of terry cloth, which is nice to the touch, with a little pouch and the Jeep logo. The good thing about this cover is that it can be removed to be washed. I recommend this product.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Upgrade Your Auto Jeep Grand Cherokee on Black Teardrop Keychain - Officially Licensed; Brand: Upgrade Your Auto; Review: This is a decent key chain. I would have liked the lettering to be a little more clear; Especially the 2 letter E's at the end of Cherokee. I think the silver key chain is nicer. They seem to be well made.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Jeep Grand Cherokee License Plate Frame; Brand: Jeep; Review: I really like this license plate frame. It is made of quality polished metal and looks great on my Grand Cherokee. I recommend this product.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Automotive |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Pawkin Cat Litter Mat - Patented Design with Litter Lock Mesh - Durable - Easy to Clean - Soft; Brand: Pawkin; Review: I've had the mat just a few days, but it has already made a big difference. There is a LOT less scattered litter to clean up now, because the mat catches almost all of it. I just lift up the mat and gently shake the scattered litter back into the box when I'm doing the regular scooping. Pawkin's emailed suggestion to face the litterbox opening toward the wall helps a lot, too, but the mat itself "purrfectly" captures the litter scatters, too. The area around the litterbox is much neater, thanks to this mat. This company really cares about their product, and part of the price you pay is donated to animal-related charity. What a nice touch!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hill's Science Diet Cat Hill's Science Diet Sensitive Stomach; Brand: Hill's Science Diet; Review: I buy this food regularly. It was originally for a cat I used to have who barfed a lot. This food seemed to reduce the frequency of his barfing. I continue to buy this variety because both of my other cats love it. The ingredients look healthy, too.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Purina Fancy Feast Grilled Collection Wet Cat Food Variety Packs; Brand: Purina Fancy Feast; Review: One of my two cats will eat only this variety of wet food. It's not carried, while other varieties are, at my local grocery store, and the price for it on Amazon is reasonable.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: PetSafe Drinkwell Multi-Tier Dog and Cat Water Fountain, Automatic Drinking Fountain for Pets, 100 oz. Water Capacity - PWW00-13708; Brand: PetSafe; Review: Update: Rating upgraded to 5 stars. The cat that thought the fountain was possessed by the devil has finally started drinking from it! This rating is likely to go up, as I and my cats are still getting used to this fountain. I got it about 4-6 weeks ago. I almost returned it after two weeks, because I thought that neither of my two cats was using it, but I happened to see one of them drinking from it. I am hopeful that my other cat will soon decide that this contraption is not possessed by the devil! I like the idea of them having fresh, clean water all the time.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Purina Friskies Pate Wet Cat Food - (24) 5.5 oz. Cans; Brand: Purina Friskies; Review: Well, she's a cat, so I abide by her wishes so as not to suffer the consequences. She has decided that this (and the turkey pate flavor) are what she will eat. So, this is what I buy.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hill'S Science Diet Senior Cat Food, Adult 7+ Active Longevity Chicken Recipe Dry Cat Food, 16 Lb Bag; Brand: Hill's Science Diet; Review: Love Hills Science Diet brand! I had been feeding my 2 cats the Sensitive Skin & Stomach variety, which a former cat needed, and worried that a new variety would not be to my other two cats' liking. No worry needed. They like this one, too!; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Pet_Supplies |
Given the interaction history of a user with movies/shows as follows:
Title: Something's Gotta Give (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Deer Hunter (1978); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls (1995); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: High Fidelity (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Pay It Forward (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Rush Hour 2 (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: American Beauty (1999); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Mean Girls (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Ray (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Uptown Girls (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Training Day (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Fried Green Tomatoes (1991); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: A Beautiful Mind (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dr. Dolittle 2 (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Look Who's Talking Too (1990); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Hook (1991); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Recruit (2003); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: American Wedding (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The American President (1995); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Casino: 10th Anniversary Edition (1995); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Grumpy Old Men (1993); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ever After: A Cinderella Story (1998); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: 50 First Dates (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Liar Liar (1997); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Identity (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Being John Malkovich (1999); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: What Women Want (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Aladdin: Platinum Edition (1992); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Super Size Me (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Bourne Supremacy (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Along Came Polly (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: When Harry Met Sally (1989); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Emperor's New Groove (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Braveheart (1995); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Serendipity (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Silence of the Lambs (1991); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Lion King: Special Edition (1994); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Napoleon Dynamite (2004); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Sideways (2004); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Godfather (1974); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: About a Boy (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Village (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Family Man (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Last Samurai (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: About Schmidt (2002); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Bruce Almighty (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Shrek 2 (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Finding Nemo (Widescreen) (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Passion of the Christ (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Sixth Sense (1999); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: In Good Company (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Road to Perdition (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Italian Job (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Love Actually (2003); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Grumpier Old Men (1995); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Erin Brockovich (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Heat: Special Edition (1995); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Runaway Jury (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Gone in 60 Seconds (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Seabiscuit (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Longest Yard (2005); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Miss Congeniality (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Tommy Boy (1995); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Guess Who (2005); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: I (2004); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Rocky (1976); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Manchurian Candidate (1962); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Nutty Professor (1996); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: GoodFellas: Special Edition (1990); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Scent of a Woman (1992); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Bourne Identity (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Starsky & Hutch (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Stuck on You (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Collateral (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Scarface: 20th Anniversary Edition (1983); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Big Momma's House (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Spanglish (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Murder By Numbers (2002); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Billy Madison (1995); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Armageddon (1998); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Usual Suspects (1995); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Whole Nine Yards (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Austin Powers in Goldmember (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Men of Honor (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Top Gun (1986); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Apollo 13 (1995); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: O Brother (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Cruel Intentions (1999); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Super Troopers (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Punch-Drunk Love (2002); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Antwone Fisher (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Finding Forrester (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Enemy at the Gates (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Seven (1995); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Catch Me If You Can (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Happy Gilmore (1996); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Good Will Hunting (1997); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: There's Something About Mary: Special Edition (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Friday (1995); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Rocky II (1979); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Mr. Deeds (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Basic (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Shallow Hal (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Monster-in-Law (2005); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: American Pie 2 (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Girl Next Door (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ocean's Twelve (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: My Best Friend's Wedding (1997); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Road Trip (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Cold Mountain (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The School of Rock (2003); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: We Were Soldiers (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Gangs of New York (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Just Married (2003); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1994); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Incredibles (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Fahrenheit 9/11 (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Radio (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Pulp Fiction (1994); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Meet the Fockers (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Monsters (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Honey (1989); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Forrest Gump (1994); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Manchurian Candidate (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Rules of Engagement (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: American Pie (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Aladdin and the King of Thieves (1996); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Rwanda (2005); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Million Dollar Baby (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Adaptation (2002); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Kate & Leopold (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Spider-Man 2 (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Lost in Translation (2003); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: 40 Days and 40 Nights (2002); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Godfather (1972); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Rock (1996); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Spy Game (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mystic River (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: John Q (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Interpreter (2005); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Thelma & Louise: Special Edition (1991); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Schindler's List (1993); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Two Weeks Notice (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Troy (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Coyote Ugly (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Crash (2005); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Chicago (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The General's Daughter (1999); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Jersey Girl (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Air Force One (1997); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Toy Story (1995); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Gladiator (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The First Wives Club (1996); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Jerry Maguire (1996); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Notebook (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Patriot (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: What a Girl Wants (2003); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Shawshank Redemption: Special Edition (1994); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: You've Got Mail (1998); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Stepford Wives (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Matrix (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Team America: World Police (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Without a Paddle (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Monster (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Ocean's Eleven (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Independence Day (1996); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Walking Tall (2004); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Big Daddy (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Eurotrip (2004); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Man of the House (2005); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Phone Booth (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: She's All That (1999); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Mona Lisa Smile (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Black Sheep (1996); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Sweet Home Alabama (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Amadeus (1984); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Remember the Titans (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure (1989); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: 13 Going on 30 (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Hide and Seek (2005); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Green Mile (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Birdcage (1996); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Wedding Singer (1998); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Shall We Dance? (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Closer (2004); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: A Few Good Men (1992); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Old School (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Blow (2001); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Titanic (1997); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Anger Management (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Meet the Parents (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Philadelphia (1993); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Saving Private Ryan (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: National Treasure (2004); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Me (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Hitch (2005); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Metropolis (1927); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Terminal (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Requiem for a Dream (2000); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Richard Pryor: Live on the Sunset Strip (1982); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Reservoir Dogs (1992); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: National Lampoon's Van Wilder (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Nine Months (1995); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Captain Corelli's Mandolin (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Importance of Being Earnest (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Bad Boys (1995); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Pianist (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Rundown (2003); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The English Patient (1996); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: 10 Things I Hate About You (1999); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Odd Couple (1968); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: 25th Hour (2002); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Barbershop (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Club Dread (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bringing Down the House (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Martin Lawrence Live: Runteldat (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Vertical Limit (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Bad Santa (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Godfather (1990); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Win a Date with Tad Hamilton! (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Snatch (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Fight Club (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Unfaithful (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Black Hawk Down (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Richard Pryor: Here and Now (1983); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Dave Chappelle: Killin' Them Softly (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Driving Miss Daisy (1989); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: 3000 Miles to Graceland (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Mr. 3000 (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Analyze This (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ghost World (2001); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Cool Runnings (1993); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Daddy Day Care (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: As Good as It Gets (1997); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Die Hard (1988); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Twister (1990); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Chris Rock: Never Scared (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Groundhog Day (1993); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ali (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Down to Earth (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Quiet American (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Chris Rock: Bigger & Blacker (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Big Fish (2003); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Heaven Can Wait (1978); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Swingers (1996); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Suicide Kings (1997); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Robin Williams: Live on Broadway (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Thomas Crown Affair (1999); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: DysFunktional Family (2003); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: One Fine Day (1996); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Firm (1993); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Zoolander (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ransom (1996); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Great Expectations (1998); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Jerry Seinfeld: I'm Telling You for the Last Time (1999); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Simone (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Cookout (2004); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Final Cut (2004); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Shark Tale (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Be Cool (2005); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Alfie (2004); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Eulogy (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Minority Report (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Primal Fear (1996); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Down With Love (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Daily Show with Jon Stewart: Indecision 2004 (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Vanilla Sky (2001); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Man on Fire (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Wag the Dog (1997); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Out of Time (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Fifteen Minutes (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Saint (1997); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Four Rooms (1995); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Hart's War (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Jackal (1997); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Tears of the Sun (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: 12 Monkeys (1995); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Narc (2002); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Hurricane (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc (1999); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Birth of a Nation (1915); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Fifth Element (1997); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Speed (1994); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: U.S. Marshals (1998); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Don't Say a Word (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Mission: Impossible (1996); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: A Bug's Life (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Entrapment (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Hunted (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Great Dictator (1940); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Pearl Harbor (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Men in Black (1997); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Shrek (Full-screen) (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: K-Pax (2001); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Star Trek: The Next Generation: Season 1 (1987); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Final Destination 2 (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Final Destination (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bush's Brain (2004); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Notting Hill (1999); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The O.C.: Season 1 (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The O.C.: Season 2 (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Back to the Future (1985); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Entourage: Season 1 (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Seinfeld: Seasons 1 & 2 (1989); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Seinfeld: Season 3 (1991); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sleepless in Seattle (1993); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: City Slickers II: The Legend of Curly's Gold (1994); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Last of the Mohicans (1992); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Whole Ten Yards (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: City of God (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Hunting of the President (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Kicking & Screaming (2005); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Hackers (1995); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Net (1995); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Grudge (2004); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: The Ring (2002); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Good Morning (1987); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Back to the Future Part II (1989); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: What the #$*! Do We Know!? (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Autumn in New York (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Coach Carter (2005); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Wayne's World (1992); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: America's Sweethearts (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Police Academy: Special Edition (1984); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Grosse Pointe Blank (1997); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Boogie Nights (1997); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Coming to America (1988); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Analyze That (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Back to the Future Part III (1990); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Eagle Has Landed (1976); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: After the Sunset (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Crouching Tiger (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Good Girl (2002); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Sneakers (1992); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Joe Dirt (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0 | netflix |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Town Food Service 14 Inch Steel Peking Style Wok; Brand: Town Food Service; Review: With my last one being stolen and no stocking this anymore, this has been the perfect replacement.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: GreenLife Soft Grip 16pc Ceramic Non-Stick Cookware Set, Black; Brand: GreenLife; Review: With everyone switching towards ceramic coating, this set provides everything that I was searching for. I like the color because it matches the decor in my home.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cuisinart C55-01-12PCKS Advantage Color Collection 12-Piece Knife Set, Multicolor; Brand: Cuisinart; Review: Perfect for my usage. These aren't heavy-duty commercial knives, they do well for what I use them for.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 49.2FT Cool White LED Flexible Rope Light Kit For Indoor / Outdoor Lighting, Home, Patio, Garden, Shop Windows,; Brand: Izzy Creation; Review: Really good for everyday use, it's still put to use every night and the cool color comes across clear and not overpowering.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Thunder Group GLTWSY014 Syrup Dispenser with Cast Zinc Top, 14-Ounce; Brand: Thunder Group; Review: It's exactly what I was looking for. Keeping the maple syrup in a smaller dispenser makes it easier for little ones to use.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_Home_and_Kitchen |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: 14k Gold-Bonded Sterling Silver Two-Tone Huggie Hoop Earrings; Brand: Amazon Collection; Review: I'd been searching for a good pair of huggie earrings for awhile. These are the perfect size and are most comfortable. They give just a bit of bling, and the two tone of gold/silver works so nicely, as I like to mix those metals.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bezel Set Round CZ Rose Gold Plating Sterling Silver Stud Earrings 5mm; Brand: ; Review: Earrings came quickly; just as I thought they'd be, and are very comfy, even to sleep on! In addition, they do not bother my ears like some do!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Jambu Women's Brooks Flat; Brand: Jambu; Review: Very comfy; right out of the box; with or without sox!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sterling Silver Celtic Knot Stud Earrings; Brand: SilverCloseOut; Review: Very cute/comfy for my second hole.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: RIBBONXSSS Ribbon Earrings extra short Sterling Silver; Brand: Harry Mason; Review: Perfect earrings! The length, style, design just what I wanted. I have had them in my ears since I received them.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 925 Sterling Silver Rope Chain 1.5MM-3.5MM For Women & Men 7-36 Inch; Brand: Designer Sterling Silver; Review: Very sparkly and attractive. Sturdy for my charms as well.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Vera Bradley Little Crossbody, Signature Cotton; Brand: ; Review: Love the strap length! Cute bag.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sterling Silver Vertical Bar Dangle Earrings; Brand: Amazon Collection; Review: Beautiful and elegant!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Amazon Essentials Plated Sterling Silver Polished Ball Stud Earrings; Brand: ; Review: Just what I wanted!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Created Black Onyx 925 Sterling Silver Celtic Knot Leverback Dangle Earrings; Brand: Silvershake; Review: Great earrings and very pretty.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Clothing_Shoes_and_Jewelry |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Best Western Plus Victor Inn Suites; City: Victor Finger Lakes New York; Review: We travel to Rochester frequently but had never stayed at Victor as we thought it was too far away from amenities.This trip we obtained the managers rate of $84.95 per night for a non smoking room with two queens, fridge and microwave. Rooms are large and well decorated. The staff are pleasant and seem to work well together.They are customer focused and provided us a welcome bag with brochures of nearby attractions and some snacks. Nice touch. The hotel has a pool and hot tub and is located near Eastview Mall and other power centres and you can be in downtown Rochester in about 20 minutes. Hot and cold breakfasts are inluded and the breakfast area was clean. We plan to use this hotel in the future; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mercure Beaune Centre; City: Beaune Cote d Or Bourgogne Franche Comte; Review: The hotel is part of the Accor hotel group and is modern, clean with amenities like restaurant, pool and free WIFI is available. It is a 7 euro cab ride from the train station and 10 minute walk from the old city, with its many wine caves, Hotel Dieu hospice and the main tourist office. The hotel rooms were available by noon and staff at the front deak were helpful and spoke English though we tried to speak French Rooms are simple but modern and clean but there were no room safes available. For breakfast, we chose to walk a block to the Carrefour store restaurant which is styled like a Marche restaurant in the way it handles food. To fit in with Beaune being the center of Burgundy, they have a mini vineyard just outside the main door; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Stuecki Basel; City: Basel; Review: We chose this hotel as the one in closest walking distance of the dock where we were going on an Avalon river cruise. This hotel is in an industrial area near the port but also a short walk from the end of the tram line that takes you directly downtown Rooms are spacious, modern and designed for the business traveler. It adjoins an enclosed shopping mall (not open Sundays) and has a steak house restaurant on premises with a large outdoor area. Staff are friendly and provide you with a pass to use the Basel transit system for free My only concern was the 8CHF charge for internet which is free at most hotels today The tram is a 5 minute walk and a quick trip downtown; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Four Points by Sheraton St Catharines Niagara Suites; City: Thorold Ontario; Review: My experience with Four Points Hotels is you never have to worry about quality. In this case we had a last minute function in Niagara on the Lake and rooms there were extremely expensive as it was Canadian Thanksgiving weekend. The choice based on availability was Niagara Falls or this suite hotel at the south end of St. Catharines in Thorold. Since you can reach Niagara on the Lake by crossing Glendale Ave. , we stayed here and were not disappointed. The hotel is clean, all suite with indicidual room thermostat controls. There is a restaurant on site and a number of amenities in the hotel which we did not use. The hotel was nearly full but we were given a nice suite on the Starwood floor. Check in/checkout was efficient and pleasant and coffee was available at the front desk early in the morning; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Best Western The Inn At Rochester Airport; City: Rochester Finger Lakes New York; Review: This hotel is right across the street from the Rochester airport exit and allows you parking for the time away at no cost as long as you stay there one night which can add up to big savings. The staff are pleasant and welcoming, but we did find the room with the king size bed a bit cramped with a small washroom. We did notice across the hall the rooms with two beds were larger. I would ask for one of these rooms next time Breakfast items were varied each day and cookies and coffee available during the day.. We had a small problem with the tv and that was handled promptly even thoug it was late.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Fairfield Inn and Suites Rochester East; City: Webster Finger Lakes New York; Review: The Fairfield Inn is just south of Highway 104 beside the Dairy Queen which is very visible from Hard Road, just south of 104. We visited here the week before Christmas so it was quiet. Staff were all extremely friendly and helpful and provided us with a list of restaurants in the area. Rooms are a bit small but airy, clean and have all the amenities you need. WIFI is free and works well. The breakfast was better than many we have seen in that they provided fresh cut fruit and the hot options , scrambled eggs and bacon or sausage are made in smaller portions and refreshed more so they are laways hot and fresh. Staff greeted you in the morning and checked to see if all was good. A very pleasant stay with competitive pricing.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sheraton Hong Kong Hotel Towers; City: Hong Kong; Review: The Sheraton Hong Kong Hotel and Towers is located near the foot of Nathan St in Kowloon where all the activities are. It is also just a block from the Star Ferries to the main island of Hong Kong and where you can watch the lights of Hong Kong island and watch and listen to the night choreographed light /laser show across the bay. You can within blocks find all types of Asian food or North American food... and even a McDonalds one block north on Peking Street.. The hop on bus location is around the corner, the MTR transit is just outside and easy to use, and the night markets are two stops north on the MTR. Hotel services are eager to please and assist you and room are spacious, clean and have a huge safe to put your valubles/camera/pc in. This hotel will be our choice when we return. This hotel would be my choice to return to in Hong Kong; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hampton Inn Suites Rochester Henrietta; City: Henrietta Finger Lakes New York; Review: This hotel is well located just off Jefferson Road with easy access to Hwys 390, the Thruway and 590 to downtown as well as its proximity to Monroe Community College and RIT. Marketplace mall is just down the street. Our online reservation had resulted in a different location but the front desk quickly made the corrections and provided the second room as a suite upgrade. The hotel seems relatively new, was clean, a good breakfast and staff were very customer focused. A very pleasant stay and recommended .; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Residence Inn Rochester Henrietta; City: Henrietta Finger Lakes New York; Review: We wanted to try another location in Rochester near the highways and close to the shops by Marketplace Mall along with the many restaurants in the area. Designed, I believe as a hotel for business people who might need more room, this facility is new for the most part.. There is a meeting place with snacks late afternoon, a full complimentary breakfast in a very nice setting and a large pool and fitness facility. We ordered the one bedroom suite( you can also get a studio or two bedroom suite ) in the tower and were very pleased. Up to date, spacious, modern and clean--- and in our room we had a kitchenette with full size fridge, dishwasher, 2 burner stove. A great deal and easy drive to wherever you need to go in Rochester.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Courtyard Rochester East Penfield; City: Penfield Finger Lakes New York; Review: We travel to Rochester every six weeks or so, and as a result try different hotels to see which is best. The hotel is a bit hard to find, on a small road off Paramount Dr., and the hotel is older but well maintained. Staff are excellent and willing to help, but given alternative Marriott hotel brands in Rochester and competitive brands, this hotel is expensive in comparison. They do have a small bistro/bar in the lobby but its menu is limited and expensive. Again, great staff who are most helpful. Marriott has other great options in the Rochester area as well.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Fairfield Inn and Suites Rochester East; City: Webster Finger Lakes New York; Review: We were in Rochester, NY this week for family visits and stay here often.. Over the past couple of months , the lobby area, and breakfast room have been nicely renovated and our room with two queen beds was excellent. When we arrived, we found a welcome note in the room and as usual everything was great. The complimentary breakfast was hot, has a good selection of items and was watched closely by staff for any replenishment needs. This was a very stormy day that ended up in the 24 hour period of approx. 28 inches of snow and staff had been outside cleaning off cars. That and a positive attitude of staff shows a hotel who is very focused on the customer and their staff as well; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with businesses as follows:
Title: Hemline; City: Nashville, TN; Review: Love the dresses, cute store but a little small. Prices range from $200-$400 average. I would buy the dresses there, but salesgirls can be a little more friendly. The younger blonde is cute and friendly, but the older brunette was a little standoffish. Worth checking out the dresses though.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Posh Boutique Green Hills; City: Nashville, TN; Review: This store is a lot better than the one in the Hillsboro Village. They have a great selection of clothes, layout is much better and not as tight and "flea market-ish" as the other store, but they are overpriced still. I can find the same styles and same brands elsewhere for about 30-40% less than what they're selling in Posh. Most of the salespeople are very standoffish and competitive. They don't like it when people who look or dress better than them walk in the store, they tend to give us the "eye". I wonder how they sell clothes, but thank goodness for the cute bubbly little blonde that helped me and was quite friendly. I don't buy clothes here, but I do stop by occasionally to see what they have.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: H Audrey; City: Nashville, TN; Review: I LOVE this store. It's very underground LA/NY feel with a twist. Love the clothes, love the decor, love it period. Clothes are pricey, but great quality and great style. Worth checking out. Ms. Williams has taste. I love the vintage touches she implemented in her store, and the pics allover the walls are amazing. She's got history and personality and it shows in her store.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: YN; City: Nashville, TN; Review: I like this store. It's open and friendly. Ed, the owner is great. He's very knowledgeable about wine and his salespeople are trained well. He's got a nice selection of wine. Small place, but it has great potential and looks like he's adding more wine inventory. Ed is very sweet and accommodating. You guys should visit him and buy his wine! We bought a couple of Reds, although the one I was looking for was not available, he suggested alternatives. I've only tasted 1 of the 2 we bought, so far so good. Not a bad substitute.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Virago; City: Nashville, TN; Review: Sushi's good. But if you've been to Tao (Vegas & NY), Nobu (Vegas & NY), your taste bud gets a little spoiled. But I like it and I would eat there again. You know once you go to places like this, yeah it's a seen-and-be seen-wanna' bes-whatever, but I don't let that bother me. If I like the food and the company is good, I'll keep going. I like Virago, just don't plan on having a romantic date here, it gets really loud, but fun enough to go now and then. The hostesses can be a little more friendly though, they need to get over themselves, there's a lot of pretty women in this world and you're just some of them. I'm proud of my city and how far it's come along, so those of you who just got here, don't knock it, live with it or leave.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sambuca Restaurant; City: Nashville, TN; Review: I like this place. The music Thursday nights is my favorite. The blond chick with the AA male band can sing and the band is great. The food is not bad as long as you don't go too far off the basic known menu like the lamb, salmon, seabass, steak, not the weird names. They can't seem to get that part right. The appetizers aren't the greatest, but the drinks and atmosphere makes up for it. I love the decor. I hope this will last a little longer. Great for dates. Dinner for 4 can run to $225 total bill depending on what you order.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Watermark Restaurant; City: Nashville, TN; Review: Watermark is nice . . . menu not too big. Food not too bad. Lamb is great, wine great, service a 7 1/2, size of restaurant not bad. Been here a couple of times and will probably go again. I like sitting outside upstairs, you get to see a nice view of downtown. I like it enough to go back. Dinner for 2 can run $80-$115 depending on what you order.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Radius 10; City: Nashville, TN; Review: Menu is too small and honestly getting boring for me. Been here about 3 times and haven't been back in a while. Great for after work or group setting at the bar area or outside. It's another "trendy" spot, I just hope they will last. It doesn't matter how good the atmosphere is, but when you are a restaurant, it boils down to the food. If the food is not outstanding, the life of a restaurant is numbered.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Stoney River Steakhouse and Grill; City: Nashville, TN; Review: Good place for business and family gatherings. Dressy place, but I've seen people in jeans here too. Servers are well trained. Food is not bad. I expected more from the Steak, but it's okay, I've had better steaks. I came here to see what all the hoopla was about. So I tried the Filet Mignon and was not fully impressed. I have had better steaks, but not to say that I wouldn't be back. I would go to Fleming's again before I would come here though. For this price, I would prefer Fleming's.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar; City: Nashville, TN; Review: I like Fleming's very much. The steak is outstanding, the wine is superb and the service is top notch. Great place for special occasions, business dinners and dates with my husband. I will be coming back here no doubt. It's one of those come back to places. They do a good job keeping up the reputation of their "brother/sister" restaurant Prime in Vegas. Classy place. That sounds so simple, but it is that simple.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Monkee's; City: Nashville, TN; Review: Very cute store. Friendly atmosphere. Owner is soooo sweet and down to earth. Awesome "Gucci" sunglasses. They have lingerie, shoes, robes, costume jewelry. Would come back to shop for the jewelry and sunglasses and just for the friendly conversation.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Unique Flavors Cafe; City: Nashville, TN; Review: Great sandwich and soup shop. Healthy and fast. Lisa the owner is great. Lunch here quite a bit and she also does catering. Great place to go for homecooked soups and tasty sandwiches.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bistro 215; City: Nashville, TN; Review: Great place for brunch. We frequent this restaurant for Saturday or Sunday brunches. Great service! Good food.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Yellow Porch; City: Nashville, TN; Review: Good food. Healthy choices. Great tea. Great cup of tomato basil soup and salmon salads. One of the best places to eat in the Grassmere/Thompson Lane area. There's Zoe's, Baja Burrito's, Calypso Cafe and Rafferty's here and that's about it. We frequent this restaurant for interviews, lunches, small groups. Small place, but has a nice outside area during nice weather. VERY tight parking.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Gold Skin Care Center; City: Nashville, TN; Review: This is one of Dr. Gold's establishments and located in the same building as his Dermatology Clinic and Aesthetics Center. The spa is actually called Gold MediSpa. Great skin care products, great facials and even great mini massages. It's not anything like Essential Therapy when it comes to the European Spa feel, but it gets the job done. The service here is good too. They're very flexible with the schedule or last minute changes.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Blue River Canyon Day Spa & Store; City: Brentwood, TN; Review: I still favor Essential Therapy over Blue River. Although, they have great massages, large tubs, great facials, but it's still not as high end as Essential Therapy. Their "serene" waiting room tends to be crowded and you have to look at the other clients in bright lights in your robes while waiting. Parking is also a problem most of the time.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Thai Taste Restaurant; City: Nashville, TN; Review: I love this place. I used to come here when it was a hole in a wall, then they had new management and remodeled and it's so cute now. I've been coming here for lunch for about 5 years now. The food is great, price is good, servers are soo sweet. Great for lunch.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Fulin's Asian Cuisine; City: Brentwood, TN; Review: This is actually a nice Chinese Restaurant that also serves Sushi. They are in the new Target Center at OHB and I-65S exit. I like the decor. Their food taste pretty good and I'm never disappointed when I go there. However, I think they're trying to be upscale, which doesn't exactly work exactly? They're priced accordingly. Lunch can run you between $20-$40 depending on what you eat for 2, dinner $40+ depending on what you order. I come here about once or twice every other month. I must like it, but I can't seem to give it a 4 star... I hope that makes sense.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Batter'd & Fried Boston Seafood House; City: Nashville, TN; Review: I took the kids here for a late lunch over the weekend. I had the oysters, great! fresh! and kids had the fried shrimp/onion ring and fish and chips. It was decent for a late lunch around 3pm before the night crowd. Jason our server was great and the Sushi chef gave Alex a roll of crunchy shrimp which she chowed down. It seems like a great laid back type of bar/dive. Decent food if you're looking for something to eat. Priced well. Definitely not a kids place after 5.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Joe's Crab Shack; City: Nashville, TN; Review: I took my family here Saturday night. Fun atmosphere, very casual. Servers looked like they're all having a great time. Food is decent. Crab legs were pretty good, corn delicious, potatoes good. My hubby loved the crabcakes and Chris loved the chicken fingers. The garlic Mussels were really good, we killed it. Can get a little pricey, for 4, our bill came to around $120. Great frozen Margaritas! The 6 layer chocolate cake was okay, not the greatest. Worth going back, just watch what you order. Parking after 6pm is $10 next to the building.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Stockyard; City: Nashville, TN; Review: Great steaks, great lobster tail, delicious chocolate cake w/raspberry sauce. Mashed potatoes are ok, Stoney River's is better. Cream of spinach is just okay. Service was great, our girl was knowledgeable and very nice. Wine was delicious. I had the filet mignon and my hubby had the ribeye. We have to say it's some of the best steaks we've ever tasted. Not a great place for twosomes, the place gets really loud. A lot of group dining taking place while we were there. This place is definitely better for group dining. The rooms are cut off, very hard to have a romantic dining experience. Good for the history, and worth visiting at least once. Not sure if we would make this a place to come back to, probably not. I still prefer Fleming's. Pricey, about $300 for the two of us.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Lizzi's Grille; City: Antioch, TN; Review: Great neighborhood diner in Antioch/Nashboro Village area. Serves everything from cheeseburgers and fries, to wings and middle-eastern foods (gyros, kabobs etc). We come here weekly and never been disappointed with the food. The owners are nice folks and price is decent. Great after work spot too, they have a friendly bar menu.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Raz'z Bar & Grill; City: Nashville, TN; Review: Great Neighborhood restaurant in the Antioch/Nashboro Village area. Raz is cool. Great secret recipe french fries. All dishes are pretty good and very friendly service. Cheeseburgers, traditional American dishes with a little twist and personality from Raz. Priced well. They've been around for a few years now, and we still don't get tired of them. A change from your typical O'Charleys menu.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Baja Burrito; City: Nashville, TN; Review: This place is close to my office. We frequent this eatery. Burritos and tacos are great. It's quick, good, filling and won't break the bank for lunch. The only complaint I would have - tight corridors, and maybe it's not as clean during lunch. They can't keep up with the clean up during rush times. Even a cool place to swing by during the weekends for a quick lunch. Can't get enough of the burritos!; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: J. Alexander's Restaurant; City: Nashville, TN; Review: I've been to the one on West End a handful of times and the one in Cool Springs a couple of times. It is a chain, but it doesn't give you that "chain" feel. Even though they don't have a huge menu selection, they are surprisingly consistent. I've ordered their Roast Chicken time and time and never been disappointed. They have the best Croissant and honey butter ever, be careful not to fill up on those. They also have good Ahi tuna and great garlic mashed potatos. They do normally take a little longer when it comes to bringing your food, so be prepared for 1 hr to 1 hr 20 min lunches. Service is usually on par. The reasons why I can't give it more than 3 stars are simply due to the limited menu and longer than normal service time, other than that, they're more than "basic" good. :); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Valentino's Ristorante; City: Nashville, TN; Review: After 20 years+ of living in Nashville, I finally went to Valentino's. My hubby and I asked to sit in the wine cellar downstairs. It was dark and romantic I suppose, except that our table was a little shaky. We sat right in front of the doors to the cold room where they keep the champagne. But they gave us a table for 4 for the 2 of us, so that's good b/c my hubby is 6'2" and 245 lbs, so he needed the room. Anyway, the food was no doubt very good. We ordered pasta dishes of course, and neither one of us was disappointed. The seafood linguine and lasagna were both delicious. We ordered Moet to celebrate Saturday night :) and had a great time. Our server was killer, and will ask for him again, if I can remember his name! Yikes, too much champagne. The only complaint I could have, but I'm not really, is when you walk in, you're 6' away from the 1st dining area and all eyes are on you....a little strange, but! I guess I can get used to it. The food is worth the trip. They were not disappointing.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Chappy's On Church; City: Nashville, TN; Review: We visited Chappy's last week at 9pm on a Friday night, when my hubby and I were driving around hungry. Saw the restaurant, been meaning to go, jumped in and asked if they can seat us, but we were dressed casually (casual chic of course), and the sweet lady gladly welcomed us. They even sat us in one of the cozy side rooms w/the curtains. The server was great, very knowledgeable of the food and wine selection and very friendly. We ordered steak and grouper. My hubby's steak was the bomb, I tasted it, my grouper was okay I guess. However the toppings for the grouper was delicious (mushroom brown sauce type of topping). Wine selection was awesome, bread and exclusive butter selections were delicious. Appetizer - delicious, some type of crab dish. They are pricey, but we'll visit again, except next time, I'll get the steak or seafood dish. GREAT music. Awesome awesome Chocolate Godiva martini, my gosh! I'll go back just for the martini and music. All the feelings of New Orleans in there....; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Knock Out Wings; City: Nashville, TN; Review: If you want some real down home soul food type of Chicken Wings, then I would suggest that you venture out to where everybody from Fisk University or TSU go to eat wings! They have great fries and great wings. They give WingStop, Wing Zone and every other wing shops a run for their money. Knock Out Wings offers a lot of flavors, I can't rememer how many and some pretty HOT wings! I can't take the hot ones, but the mild ones are the bomb. No it's not in the "best" part of town, but it's worth going with a group of friends, ordering your wings and take it home to pig out in the comfort of your home. You'll love it!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Swett's Restaurant; City: Nashville, TN; Review: Swett's belongs to the Swett family, which one of the sons went to high school with me. This place has been around for so long and it's grown to a 3rd facility in the airport. I'm never disappointed when I eat here, usually I take it to go. 1 of the Best Fried Chicken in town. Can't beat the corn bread, roast chicken, sweet potatoes and greens. We eat here about once a month b/c we don't want to gain 100lbs if we eat it every week, but once a month is not so bad. Great desserts too! You gotta' check it out at least once. It is cafeteria style, and can be a very long line on Sundays after church, so pick another time.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Acorn; City: Nashville, TN; Review: So I finally went to Acorn to see for myself what it was all about. I've heard good and bad about this restaurant and I wanted to make the decision on my own. We had the calamari for appetizer and I had the salmon as the entree. Overall, it was just OKAY. Nothing spectacular, nothing special. It was a quiet night at first, then by 9 pm the place started to fill. I was not impressed and it really wasn't a memorable dinner. The most I remembered of the place, were the lovely paintings on the walls. That's about it. Short and sweet, I probably will not frequent this place. The menu was very short and selective and I was hoping it was more than it was....; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Siam Cafe; City: Nashville, TN; Review: I've been here a couple times, last time I brought my sales team to eat lunch here. Everyone liked it. It wasn't too busy and the food was pretty good according to everybody. My garlic shrimp actually was just okay, but everyone else (there were 8 of us) liked their food. Someone had the red curry duck and I tried it, it was delicious, I should've gotten that dish. The 2 times I've been here it seems I keep ordering the mediocre dishes while everyone else ordered the right ones. Ohh well, I wouldn't knock it, if you want decent authentic thai food. Eat in the restaurant part and order from the menu. I still prefer Thai Taste on Haywood, but this would be 2nd choice of the 2 for lunch near my office. The lady servers are very nice and accommodating.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Radius 10; City: Nashville, TN; Review: So I went back to Radius 10 on my birthday yesterday. Yes July 1st birthday just like Pamela Anderson and was Princess Di's. Any how, had the Halibut and my girlfriend had the filet mignon. Hers was delicious, mine was Not bad. Atmosphere's good, Mojito, not so great. We ate on the patio, great weather, great night. I don't know, I can't make up my mind on this place. I came here because my girlfriend has never been here, she liked it. Me, still just Okay gang..... :}; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Sushi O Sushi; City: Nashville, TN; Review: I have driven by this place a gazillion times, and I finally broke down and tried it last week. I was not disappointed, in fact, I liked it. After eating sushi for almost 9 years now, and tasting some of the best sushi in the country, not bad for a neighborhood sushi joint. The sushi was fresh and service was good. I'll come back again. Good place for lunch I would say. Before I give 4 stars to a restaurant, I would have to try it at dinner time as well. Sometimes lunch and dinner can be a big difference. I would recommend it for lunch though.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Zackie's Original Hot Dog; City: Nashville, TN; Review: Great hot dog place. Very clean, great selection. My hubby talks about this place all the time and I finally went with him (of course Zackie knows him by name). You can order any and all kinds of "dogs". Great selection of not-so-local type of bottled sodas too. Check the times though, they're not open all the time.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: BrickTop's; City: Nashville, TN; Review: Finally made it to Bricktops with a friend for lunch today. We wanted the Lobster sandwich special but they were out. I went for the trout. It was very good. I don't get to eat a lot of trout in Nashville, and I have to say I liked it. Very cute inside, spacious bar. We came at 12:30 and the place was packed so we ate at the bar. They serve my favorite "orange crush" in a bottle. (lol) The sauteed corn was really good too. I'll be sure to be back another time for dinner. I'm glad I came, would love to try the different Martinis on the menu and the Lobster next time. Lunch for 2 was about $48 so I'm sure dinner will be a lot more. Worth a try. I think I'll like this place. The only negative experience was the bartender server, I asked for a to go box and she just kinda' threw it at me and didn't offer to put my food in the box or anything. Nottt very niceeee!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Lime; City: Nashville, TN; Review: I read some of the reviews and honestly, the words "fly" and "bangin" started years ago on the streets of New York and it worries me when people say those words and don't really know how, it sounds kind of awkward. . . now that I got that out of the way. I have to agree with Caitlin that it is one of the most pretentious places that I've ever been to. One after another of girls trying to outdo each other, it was definitely entertaining. It's sure to be one of the best places to watch people. I finally checked this place out this week on a Wednesday night and it was a hoot. We had no reservations, but was seated in less than 35 minutes at one of the tables next to the bar. 1 hostess was nice, the other a little on the "not so nice" side. I'm sure she doesn't own the place or else she would be kissing everyone's asses to make sure we all come back. I have to say the food was very good. I had the shrimp/coconut/rice entree and it was delicious. My drink - Raspberry Cosmo - was very good. For now, that is my new drink. The place was so loud and so packed, I think it's b/c the Titans played that night and people were coming to eat after the game. Would I come back again? Yeah, I'll give it a 2nd try, but only if it's not this packed. I would sit outside on the deck next time, it's more intimate and seems a lot more quiet. I am just still getting over the fact that sooo many people were trying to make an impression on each other that I really thought I was in Hollywood with a bunch of wanna' bes. My gosh. I am still a little shocked over it. Like I said, it was entertaining. :); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Nero's Grill; City: Nashville, TN; Review: Came here today for Brunch. They had a brunch buffet, but we decided to eat something else. I had the Steak and Biscuit (medallion size) and cole slaw and fries. The Steak/Biscuit was delicious, they made it perfect. We also had the Mimosas and it was really really good. The crab cakes, WOW, I have to say it was delicious. My hubby loves crab cakes and we order it almost every where we go and theirs is perfectly cooked, very light. The Corn Bread/Grits thing they serve in the beginning, was sooo good! We came here because Noshville looked packed and so since this is next door, we pulled right in and was glad to do so. Service was also very good. Nice people, after church crowd and a lot of families and older people. Quiet and quick.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bricks Cafe; City: Nashville, TN; Review: This restaurant reminds me of our favorite little Italian restaurant in Harlem. It's quaint, quiet, small and has a great menu. My hubby had the filet and I had the cheese lobster ravioli. It was DEELICIOUS! We also had the shrimp appetizer, it was spicy and very tasty. We will definitely come back and may even make it one of our regular dining places. I like the atmosphere, but it was early . . . we went at 4:30-5pm ish, so there weren't very many people yet, which we liked. Our server was Awesome! He's very attentive and well trained. Really like this place. Great 1st experience and we will be back.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Aquarium Restaurant; City: Nashville, TN; Review: So last week was the 2nd time that we've been to the Aquarium since it opened. Nothing's changed. The aquarium still looks clean and beautiful with lots of beautiful fish and sharks. Great to look at and a fun place to eat. The food is good. Great fish selection, everything is good. The server "Carleton Bam" was AWESOME! You guys have to ask for him. He's great. I can't seem to give this restaurant more than a 3 Star, b/c I think it's a little high for what they serve. I don't know, everytime I eat here my bill comes to over $150 or this time over $200. I know there were more people, but it seems like it's pricing itself like an upscale restaurant when it's more like a "gimmicky" restaurant like Rainforest or something? I don't know. I haven't had a bad experience or anything, and the food is definitely decent, I just don't get the pricing. Of course we'll come back again when people from out of town wants to see something different while they eat. Obviously Opry Mills is an attraction here.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Sam Kabob Gyro; City: Nashville, TN; Review: We've all waited long enough for this Gyro place to open. Since it opened last week, my hubby and I have frequent it 4 times. I have the Gyro Beef Sandwich and Fries every time. Fresh and yummy. The fries are really good too. Especially when hot and seasoned with their seasoned salt. They're cool guys, I think they have 2 other locations in Nashville and Cool Springs. So glad they are near me now. Yes, it's good! We're a regular. :); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Neely's Barbeque; City: Nashville, TN; Review: So I frequent Neely's occasionally on the weekends when my hubby and I feel like eating ribs and wings. We normally get the full slab of beef ribs and 20 wings. They're good and they are consistent. Wish I didn't have to drive across town for them, but we do now and then. I've had worse and I've had better. They have their own taste, that's for sure, and it keeps us coming back for that special Neely's taste. I hope they stay around for a long time. We always order take out.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Stump's Supper Club & Howl At the Moon; City: Tampa, FL; Review: Great place for fun, drinks, karaoke, music, atmosphere, mingling, partying etc etc etc . . . what can I say, check it out when you're in Tampa. It's at the center of the happenings on Channel Side...; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Whiskey Kitchen; City: Nashville, TN; Review: Wow, it's been over a year since I've done a review. Too many reviews to catch up on, so I'll take it slow. What can I say about Whiskey Kitchen, another successful restaurants by M Street and Chris Hyndman group. Good food, good drinks, Great sweet potato fries. The usual trendy spot brought to Nashville. If you want to have a romantic or quiet evening, def' not the spot. If you want to have lunch - great once every 3 weeks or so. If you want scenery & drinks - great spot to start or end the night. If you know about M Street - you know it's not "inexpensive". I like it though. I didn't give it a 4 star because, if I go there too much, I'll get bored w/it pretty quickly.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Kobe Asian Restaurant; City: Nashville, TN; Review: I've probably eaten at almost every Thai restaurants in Nashville to find the best Pho. I came across this restaurant sometimes in the fall of 2010 and have been there 5 times now probably. Every time, I would order the Pho Beef Noodle Soup and Sushi. I have not been disappointed yet. Thus the 4 Stars. The soup is VERY flavorful and the Sushi is quite fresh every time. The price --- wow, you can't beat it. Great for lunch or dinner! You'll never have to worry about waiting for seating. This place may look like a hole in the wall from the outside, but, it's not that bad at all. Don't expect luxury or anything near that, but it's nice and clean enough that I will keep coming back until otherwise. I have been there with various people and all of them have liked it. None of them ordered what I ordered and have said they liked it. So no complaints so far.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Wine Loft; City: Nashville, TN; Review: 3rd time's a charm they say, but in my case, 1st/2nd/3rd times were/are all charming. Can I say I love The Wine Loft? Starting w/the warm plush decor to the Live Local Music Thursday Nights to the Wine Selection available. Not too big, not too loud, not too quiet - just right. Why not a 5 star? I very rarely give 5 stars because I think most establishments have room to grow, but this place is my current Crush. I love the comfortable atmosphere and the decor makes me feel at ease. Maybe because it reminds me of my home decor?? hmmmm The appetizers haven't let me down yet either, so I really don't have anything bad to say about this place. I would frequent this place once or twice per month consistently on Thursday Nights. Pricewise? I mean it's in the Gulch....what do you expect?; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Southside Grill; City: Nashville, TN; Review: For a neighborhood restaurant, this one is worth going to regularly. It's in "East" Brentwood (Nolensville/Concord) area. Since they closed Bistro 215, unless you want to venture to iHop, we haven't found a good brunch place, and a nice one at that, until yesterday. I've been to Southside Grille a couple of times for dinner, and liked it. Service is good, food is nice, small, can be very noisy though, but yesterday was the 1st for Brunch. Needless to say, we will be a regular "bruncher" there. Close to home, easy access from Burkitt. Call ahead for reservations tho', the place is small, so limited seating. The mimosas were great, I had the Scarlett O'Hara (peach shnapps, cranberry and champagne). They have different specials apparently, so I had the Blueberry Pancakes & Bacon and the other 3 peeps w/me had the Omelette and Eggs Benedict. We were all happy campers. All was yummy and the server was stupendous. So, yes I'm a Fan so far. Price for 4 around $70 w/tips, so yeah, it can be pricey for breakfast, but it's worth it. :); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Cantina Laredo; City: Nashville, TN; Review: So I've been here a few times for late lunch, early dinner and late dinner. All have been good experiences. They do have 1 of the best guacamoles I have EVER tasted and I'm not even a fan of guacamole. So, get it - they mix it right there by your table. They also have an AWESOME Pomegranate Margarita - watch out tho' it will sneak up on you especially for lightweights like me. I'm not a huge fan of Mexican food, but Cantina is more American/Mexican, so - I like. They have this great apple pie/ice cream dessert that is to die for. Try it! They bring it in a hot pan so it's still sizzling while it's served. I also like the Ceviche, not bad at all. Anyway, nice scenery, fun place. I was going almost every other week it seems for a while, but haven't been in a couple of months though, so I think it's time to go back. Oh yeah, dinner for 2 - could easily be in the $40-$50 range w/tips, depending on what you order. Nothing's cheap these days!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Urban Flats Flatbread & Wine Co.; City: Nashville, TN; Review: I really wish there were 1/2 stars we could give. I would say 3 1/2 stars for this restaurant, but I'm bias or else I would give it a 4. I'm not a huge fan of Flat breads, so my review is already tainted. However, the pizzas were good, the Hummus appetizer was delicious - try it. You get several types of Hummus to experience. Great wine selection. The interior/decor - very nice Servers - very nice and knowledgeable The ambiance - can be loud, locals to business to regulars Dress - casual to chic to business Good for party of 4. Will I go back again? Sure if other people want to go there. Would I take the initiative of going there? Probably not. I would choose Cantina & Sambuca over this restaurant if dining in this area. But if you've never been here - I would recommend you try it at least once. You may love it.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Virago; City: Nashville, TN; Review: I suppose it's time to write an update on the "new" Virago. My first visit was the day Virago opened for the Nashville Lifestyles MBP party in 2010 and I've been back a few times since. Needless to say, it's impressive. I have to say, so far, the service has been consistent. Food is good, service is good, atmosphere is good and place is pretty amazing. Chris and his team are doing their thing. The place is beautiful and they're definitely taking over M Street, and in my personal opinion made a name for themselves in Nashville. What can I say about the food? Sushi's great - some of my fav' dishes are the hot stone kobe beef entre, yellowtail/jalapeno, fried asparagus dish (forgot what it's called exactly), dragon rolls and the rest of the special rolls. Definitely great place to have group gatherings. If you want to talk, go early. The bar area I love, with ultra hip lounges and bi-level areas. So watch your step. The bar upstairs on the veranda is nice, great night view of the city. The vibe is def' "see and be seen" still, but it's cool as long as you're in the mood. I'm kinda' a simple girl at heart. Love to go out and get cute and have great food and all, but I am who I am, I can do without all the pretentiousness. Best to RSVP, but you can also call ahead and may get lucky. Otherwise, go to the bar area, you'll find a seat soon enough. Overall - yes I'm a fan. Great place to bring friends and have a great time and eat good food and drink. The male bartenders are sweet and pretty hot too. ;) p.s. It's going to be interesting when Lime opens next door.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Angelo's Picnic Pizza & Italian Restaurant; City: Antioch, TN; Review: I can't believe I haven't reviewed Angelo's Pizza. I oughta' be shot for this. I love this place. They got the BEST mushroom sicilian pizza in town. OMG! and Nick (the owner) is da' bom! Don't expect a lot when it comes to the place. It's a pizza joint. These guys are from NY (ok, don't kill me - it's either Queens or Brooklyn), but my hubby found this place while he was searching for the best pizza place in town. He's born and raised in NY, so he knows about pizza. He hit it off with the owners right away and we've been fans for over 4 years now. He says the best pizzas are the ones that you can fold in half and eat sideways....? I don't know, it's a New York thing, but my fav' is still the sicilian square slices. Hubby calls it a "pie" and says it's all in the dough and the sauce. I never had the buffet, but I hear a lot of people like it. Price is definitely great. There you are. You gotta' check out Angelo's and ask for Nick. Tell them the Jacksons sent you and don't forget to try the energy drink while you're there. ;); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mai; City: Nashville, TN; Review: I had to do a review on Mai, since we were just there this week. When you think of "dance clubs" in Nashville for the 20 somethings and some 30 somethings - What else is there other than Mai? I mean how many can you count in your hands? I now only go to nightclubs for business purposes only, and the last 4x that I've been to Mai since October (all for different events), I had a good time and I believe, so did the crowd. In my opinion, OTHER THAN the upscale private clubs - Mai is still the #1 Dance club in Nashville. I think Doug does a good job of using his promoters to bring in different flavors and events to his club. My only complaint would be that they should carry another energy drink as an option. You know, Lotus Energy Drink. I mean people want options!!!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: La Paz; City: Nashville, TN; Review: What can I say about LaPaz? I love Dennis and his family. The fact that they carry Lotus Energy Drink is a MAJOR plus! Love Chris - Beverage Manager. That guy can make any drink tastes good! Best fish taco in town. Love the guacamole. I like salt, so I have to admit that I have to add salt to my food. I have to be honest, every time I come here, I order the Fish taco, so other than that and the drinks - I may not be the best person to ask about the rest of the food. However, the atmosphere and the decor is really nice. It's definitely a different type of Mexican restaurant vibe. More on the Modern American / Mexican side. Give it a try, price is great. Service is great. Location is great. Drinks are great and the Fish Tacos are awesome!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Cupcake Collection; City: Nashville, TN; Review: Hands down, best cupcake in town. Mignon and her family are amazing people. The service is great, the cupcakes are just the right portion. The icing is not too much and not too sweet. I love the options they have: upside down pineapple, carrot, red velvet, key lime, strawberry and strawberry vanilla (TO DIE FOR!!) And the best part, it's only $1.50 per cupcake. If you haven't been here yet, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR???; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bombasha Brazilian Steakhouse; City: Nashville, TN; Review: If you are a "meat" lover, this is the place for you. Great steaks served every possible way you could think of. Service - amazing Atmosphere - Can be very romantic. You can sit right by the front window and people watch while you eat if you want. Good for couples, good for groups. You can request private rooms for bigger groups. Location - Hillsboro Village on Belcourt Ave. Easy to get to and Valet parking available. GM - Fabiano is the best. He knows Brazil. He knows about wine and cocktails. Ask for Lotus Energy Drink and Veev Acai Cocktail. Delicious. Price - $50 to $75 easily per person. What you normally expect from an upscale steakhouse. My 1st experience was pretty amazing, thus the 5 stars. I don't remember which meat I liked better, but it seems like every time they came back with more, it got better and better. All you have to do is turn your little card to the "red" side if you're done. Love it. Just be ready to eat. You definitely want to come with an empty stomach. :); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Tavern; City: Nashville, TN; Review: I'm torn between a 3 and a 4. I like Tavern, I'm just not sure why they changed it from Lime. I thought it was supposed to be much more casual and targeted more towards the college crowd like the rest of the establishments on Division. After visiting there a couple of times, it's very similar to Whiskey Kitchen, just a different name. So, yes I like it. Crowd's fine, just not sure what the fuss was about changing it from Lime to make it more casual.....? I prefer Virago of the 3, but maybe when Lime reopens it will make sense for a Tavern. It's another M Street production - so, what can you say. It works so far.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Catbird Seat; City: Nashville, TN; Review: So much to say about this place...I'll be as detailed as possible, because I think it's worth taking the time to explain everything. I'll try to remember as much as I can. It is a minimum 30 days wait for a reservation, however, luckily bc my hubby is a friend of the owner & member of his club, he was able to get us in with few days notice for our Anniversary. Once you valet, you will be directed to the left side of the steps of Patterson House, to a private door, where the Hostess will open door, address you by name, and escort you inside to the elevator and take you upstairs. She then will take you straight into the dining area straight to your seats. The room is small, square and intimate. Square U bar height table for 20, 2 small corner booths and 2 Chefs/2 Assistants in the middle of the U table. Everything was meticulously thought of. From the menu to the service to the pairings to the dishes to the bill. Prepare to be there for 2 1/2 hrs exactly (creativity takes time, requires patience), 9.5 Courses and spend a minimum of over $300 for 2. The menu changes constantly. They are only open Wed-Sat for dinner. The Chefs were awesome, talented and super cool. The servers were very sweet and attentive. If you count the Oreos at the beginning and at the end, it would be 11.5 Courses. Teaser: Tiny Oreos - mushroom flavor filling 3 Appetizers: Oyster/Chip/?, Tartare, Egg/Bacon 3 Entrees: Halibut, Chicken, Lamb 3.5 Desserts: Cucumber Ice Cream, 3 on a wood platter, 1 other dish & Custard in an Egg shell. Ending: Tiny Oreos - ? cream filling Pairings: 9 in total. Mostly wine. I loved the Honey Wine and the Ginger Cocktail. Those were the 2 that stood out the most for me. They were so delicious! 1 beer...was a little odd for me, because I'm not a beer drinker. My favorites: Oyster, Tartare, Egg/Bacon, all 3 Entrees. This was definitely an experience. It was actually romantic and intimate, even tho' you're sharing a table with 18 others, it didn't feel like it. We were able to have a beautiful dinner and it felt like it was just the 2 of us. As a special touch to a wonderful experience, they give you the handwritten menu and matching bill. Very cool.... For me, it's not a place that I would experience on a weekly or monthly basis, but def' special occasions. It's worth every penny especially when the only other place I've been to similar to this is the Alex at the Wynn/Vegas, it was twice the price for 2 and quite more formal. People were dressed from casual chic to suits. Put this on your list of to go places. You have to experience it at least once. Simply exquisite. I believe they made Top 10 Restaurants in the US and Max is going to be featured in GQ or Esquire...one of those magazines. Hope this helps...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Kohana Japanese Restaurant; City: Nashville, TN; Review: Had lunch here a few weekends ago. Love the decor. The deep violets, black trimming, chandeliers - so chic. Great sushi, great service, great price. Best Udon Soup I've had in town I think. Nothing much to say except it had a great selection of sushi and soups on the menu. Go try it. You'll love it!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Southern Steak & Oyster; City: Nashville, TN; Review: So my hubby took me here for my birthday earlier this month. We're trying to try new places around town whenever we can especially on special occasions. We both love oysters and he's a steak man. We tried the Bellini and Kumimoto Oysters. I've had the Bellinis before, but hubby hasn't and we both were told the Kumimotos were the best. I guess at $4 per Oyster, it should be. No question hands down, the Kumimotos were the best, at least to me. Hubby liked the Bellinis better. The Kumimotos tasted so fresh, it was pretty incredible.My personal opinion, the Bellinis are really good, but it's a little tougher and more "fresh water" taste than ocean. Does that make sense? If you've never had Kumimoto, try it, you won't regret it. He had the steak, I had the jambalaya. Note, he's a steak connoisseur and I'm not a big jambalaya fan, but wanted to try it. Needless to say, they were both ok. We'll leave it at that. Don't expect a romantic dinner here. Inside is quite big, very noisy. Great for big groups I think. We had a "quiet" booth on the side, but it's still noisy. Really nice atmosphere, great looking restaurant, great service. We shared the Chocolate Rum cake, it was quite good. Very yummy. I probably would've given this place a 3 for the "okay" entrees, but the oysters were so good and we liked the place, that it deserves a 4. We'll be back! About $150 without cocktails.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Urban Grub; City: Nashville, TN; Review: I finally got to check out this little hot spot on 12 South and I must say, I Like. My friend and I sat at the bar, ordered wine and decided to have dinner at the bar. It was mildly busy, so it was perfect. The bartender was so sweet and helpful, gave good advice on the wine and food. Love it when bartenders are good like that. I had the Shrimp & Grits and sparkling wine from France. It was a great combination for me. The only thing I would suggest with the Shrimp & Grits - is hold the onions if you're not a fan of onions. I didn't realize it had that much onions in it, other than that it was very tasty. I'll order it again w/out the onions please! The atmosphere, we went during the after work hours that 5:30-7ish time zone, so there were quite a 'bit of suits, biz folks, entrepreneurs and locals. It was perfect for us. The decor was dim, upscale, valet - very nice (sorry, I know that's a weird description). You just have to see for yourself, but it's worth giving it a try. I'm sure you'll be a regular like I'm sure I will be. So close to me, so I love it.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sinema; City: Nashville, TN; Review: Last night was the grand opening of Sinema and I'm so glad I went with my friend. First impression, beautiful. When I walked in, it definitely reminded me of any 1 of the upscale gorgeous themed Vegas restaurants, without being obnoxious. Loved it immediately. The decor was a mixture of old Hollywood glamour with a modern twist. Hope that made sense. I'm not an interior designer! Downstairs was the dining area and up the grand stairs was the lounge/bar/movie area. Very spacious and intimate at the same time. Looks like you can have private dinner parties upstairs. Loved all the seating treatments. Great booths. Beautiful. The food: Simple menu. Looks to be easily updated when the Chef feels like it. We both had CAVA to start the night. Yummy. Then we shared the soft shell crab appetizer. To DIE for. The sauce Chef used was AMAZING. We cleaned the plate. For the entree, I had the lamb and my friend had the chicken. Both were delicious. Of course we had to take a bite of each other's dishes for a taste. Again, Chef really knows how to dress the meal with its sauces. Whatever it is, it enhanced the meats so amazingly. We cleaned our plates again. My only suggestion on the lamb, have it medium rare. I didn't listen to our server and asked for Medium instead. For dessert: we shared the Chocolate fudge, 1st on the list. AH-MAZING! You have to try it. The gourmet handmade yogurt was soo good. I'm so impressed. Price is your typical upscale range, but surprisingly not over the top at all. It's still less expensive than Morton's or Ruth's Chris. Surprising hmmh? Thumbs up for that. This will pay off well for them. Smart move. The drinks on the other hand....lol Congrats to the owners. Great meeting Q-Juan, thanks for stopping by our table. Let's just say I will be back. Next one with my hubby and for my bday next week!! Plus it's in my neighborhood! Yeay.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sole Mio; City: Nashville, TN; Review: After reading all the reviews tonight, I have to write my review. I'm not understanding the below 3 stars reviews. My husband and I have been going to Sole Mio for 10 yrs, probably 3x/year. It's our go to authentic Northern Italian Restaurant. We consider this restaurant a staple. Always consistent. At its worst night maybe a 3 bc of slow service, but we have never had a bad meal or bad service. We come here for good food, good conversation, good service, not for a "seen and be seen" ambiance. If you're looking for trendy or new Nashville, you won't find it here. If you're looking for linen service, authentic, quaint, where a "Godfather would go to just like in Chicago or New York", come here. They know good Italian food. I had dinner tonight with a party of 6 and we stayed until 11pm, when the restaurant closed at 10pm. Not once did we feel rushed. We had 2 large appetizers, drinks, 5 different entrees and shared 3 desserts and everybody was happy and couldn't stop raving about the food. Every time I come here it is always a 4-5 star experience, no less. I gave 4 tonight, bc they stopped serving my lamb and mussels appetizer. Still, GO!; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | yelp |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: North Star Mohican Casino Resort; City: Bowler Wisconsin; Review: Very nice rooms, great restaurant. Bands every weekend. We went here to go for a snowmobiling overnight, plenty to do when you are there. We are not big gamblers, but with the couple bars and entertainment, we had plenty to choose from. Everyone was very friendly. I was even able to get a room with only one week in advance.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Courtyard Chicago Schaumburg; City: Schaumburg Illinois; Review: We stayed for a shopping weekend, it was blocks away from the Woodfield Mall. We did not eat or drink in the Bistro area. It was not a restaurant/bar, it was just an open area in the lobby, but still looked okay. The food offerings looked mostly pre-packaged. The room was nice. Overall I would stay there again.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: CopperLeaf Hotel; City: Appleton Wisconsin; Review: Downtown Appleton at it's best. Walk right out the door and College Avenue is right there, you are in the center walking distance from everything, bars, restaurants, the Performing Arts Center, or shopping. We stayed for New Year's Eve festivities and walked from place to place enjoying music, food, and beverages.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sheraton St Paul Woodbury Hotel; City: Woodbury Minnesota; Review: Enjoyed our stay. We had the club floor, so hot hors derves when we arrived, and breakfast in the morning. Ate dinner at the Red Grill, loved the menu, food was great. Room was nice, walk in shower, bathroom amenities. Very nice area and scenery.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sofitel Sydney Wentworth; City: Sydney New South Wales; Review: The hotel is located in a central location that is easy to walk all around the downtown. We also were so close that we walked with our luggage to the cruise pier to board our ship. Our room was very nice and updated. Loved the convenience.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Radisson Blu Mall of America; City: Bloomington Minnesota; Review: We stayed three nights for shopping. The convenience can’t be beat, but with the name of Radisson Blu I had higher expectations for our room. It was a little tired. The heat did not warm our room, we had it up to 76 and it was still chilly. We also had an issue in the bathroom, a light was hanging by wires from the ceiling. I notified the front desk about these things and the said they would get it taken care of. The light was fixed by the time we came back, but apparently there was nothing they could do for the heat. Also the cleaning in the bathroom was not very thorough, every day the floor was full of debris and cups were not changed. We just really had higher expectations, but loved the convenience of not having to drive each day to go to the Mall of America.; Rating: 3.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Gaylord National Resort Convention Center; City: National Harbor Maryland; Review: was here during convention season. the hotel is very clean and immaculate. beautiful open area lets the light in. location is up and coming, with beautiful views of the Potomac, a ferry to Mt. Vernon, and shopping nearby. DC is about 20 min via taxi/Uber.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Rosehaven Inn Bed and Breakfast; City: Haines Falls New York; Review: Cannot say enough great things about this B&B. Stayed there Kelly was extremely friendly and warm, and her cooking was par excellence! Her scones were incredible. She was great in helping us find things to do in the area. Stayed in room #3, which has a fireplace and a hot tub. Everything was nice and homey and clean, and the bed was unbelievably comfortable! The B&B is furnished with comfortable furniture in the common area, and has plenty of quiet spots for some R&R. There is a beautiful deck, and i could see returning here during the warmer months.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Abaco Altea; City: Altea Costa Blanca Province of Alicante Valencian Country; Review: My girlfriend and I stayed for only one night unfortunately, but we couldn't be happier!!! The hotel is a bit of a hidden gem at the north end of Altea.The hotel is a short walk to the beach, and is near some awesome viewpoints. The owners/staff were wonderful, warm, and welcoming. They happily pointed us to the beach, and suggested restaurants to try (thanks for the recommendation for Xef Pirate!).; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Georgette; City: Paris Ile de France; Review: This hotel is an awesome find. Located in Le Marais, it is close to 2 metro stops, tons of shops and restaurants, and is a quick walk (30 min or less) to a number of sightseeing locales - Notre Dame, Louvre, Opera house, just to name a few. Decent breakfast selection (continental), and a good selection of free coffee/espresso. The staff was warm and friendly, helping us find our way around, and helping with some restaurant reservations. The only (minor) downside is that this is a small, boutique hotel, with rather small rooms (even by Euro standards), and since the rooms are so close together, some unwanted noises are bound to be heard - we heard our neighbors shouting at something (or each other) one of the nights.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Leonardo Plaza Hotel Eilat; City: Eilat Southern District; Review: The hotel is in a fantastic location on the North Beach of Eilat, with a nice pool, direct beach and promenade access. Very close to the airport, shops and restaurants. this hotel is an older property, as mentioned in other reviews, however i did not realize how much so. i am glad i heeded the reviews that suggested paying extra for a premium room... BUT even though we paid for a premium room with sea view, we were given a very dated room that smelled musty, the bathroom smelled of chlorine, and the room was just in very bad shape. where the staff did shine, was after my complaint to the front desk about the room condition, we were "upgraded" to another premium room a few doors down, which was in significantly better shape and did not have any issues of our first room. the hotel staff also added spa access and business lunch to our stay, though we did not use these features. the staff was also helpful with accommodating us for late checkout. Kai at the front desk was able to arrange for us to check out at 4PM instead of the usual 11AM, as our flight was at 5:30PM. we were able to enjoy the beach/pool, and still have a shower available to us.; Rating: 3.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Divergent; Author: Visit Amazon's Veronica Roth Page; Review: Better than the first I didn't want to put it down got to know the characters much better can wait to get into the next one; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Allegiant; Author: Visit Amazon's Veronica Roth Page; Review: Loved it! It kept me involved in the story Don,t want to ruin the end for those who haven't read it so I won,say more.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Maze Runner (Maze Runner, Book One) (The Maze Runner Series); Author: Visit Amazon's James Dashner Page; Review: I enjoyed .maze runner It kept me reading UNfortunately saw the movie first. I guess I was comparing the 2. I will be reading the next one without the influence of seeing the movie but I really enjoyed.it; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Maze Runner. Correr o Morir / Maze Runner, Run or die (Spanish Edition); Author: Visit Amazon's James Dashner Page; Review: I enjoyed .maze runner It kept me reading UNfortunately saw the movie first. I guess I was comparing the 2. I will be reading the next one without the influence of seeing the movie but I really enjoyed.it; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Subterranean; Author: Visit Amazon's James Rollins Page; Review: This is a book picked out by Amazon a one they thought I would like. They were right. I really liked it. It was engrossing and it kept you reading. I liked the characters and I will miss the mimi'swee. You need to read the book to get them.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Forgotten Room (Jeremy Logan Series); Author: Visit Amazon's Lincoln Child Page; Review: A page Turner from the beginning . It kept me engrossed in till the very end. Another great book. Congrats!; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Country Inn Suites by Radisson St Cloud West MN; City: Saint Cloud Minnesota; Review: (Sat. eve. early Feb. 2005 stay in a suite.) Reasonable price and value with a major auto club rate; not a low-price "bargain." Friendly, seemingly competent young staff. Hotel was pleasantly quiet despite being all or mostly booked and with a high percentage of families. Free newspapers (incl. local Sunday paper!) and decent continental breakfast, incl. cook-your-own waffles. Pool/hot tub areas clean, with many pool-area towels available. Deductions for unresponsive heat control in sitting area (too hot; bedroom had good temperature) and suite layout (bathroom could be closer to main bedroom area). Thumbs-down to the family who either couldn't read or ignored the obviously posted rules of food prohibited in pool area.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Days Inn Suites by Wyndham Wausau; City: Wausau Wisconsin; Review: While staying 2 weekend nights in Aug. 2005, we had an all right stay; nothing terribly exceptional nor horrific. Our 2-queen suite was clean (except for small liquid stain on one box spring's side) and acceptable. Room was recently repainted, but a bit sloppily. Some wallpaper border, plastic moldings, and the counter showed mild peeling or damage. One side of the hotel is barely across from freeway and its on-ramp, but noise didn't seem bothersome. Breakfast buffet was slightly better than basic and well-supplied. Think carefully before impulsively buying microwave popcorn from the vending machine. Those w/o microwaves in their rooms might have to pay 25 cents for the using the adjoining microwave oven. Staff was calm and helpful to us. Lots of families and vacationing couples of all ages, seemingly drawn by the amenities for moderate prices. On the second night, it seemed hotel operations were bordering on chaos. The place was full, and the desk went intervals w/o staff. Pool got shut down, and the person ahead of me checking out was complaining/asking for better compensation for being given a dirty/unclean room.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Country Inn Suites by Radisson Ames IA; City: Ames Iowa; Review: We had no problems or complaints during our mid-May 2005 stay, nor did family members staying across the hall. We stayed in a first-floor suite and it was quite roomy. Room was clean and, as far as our use, in order. Cookies and coffee were always available in the lobby for those who need or want them. Breakfast buffet included hot items, though some seemed a bit wilted from sitting for a long time. Afternoon happy hour, held in the same room as breakfast buffet (sort of a weird conversion in which alcohol is plopped on countertops), is available. Note: drinks (including soft drinks) were not complimentary, but not unreasonable. We did not use the pool or rec areas. Typically satisfactory Country Inn experience. We'd stay again if in town and it had available n/s rooms.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Red Roof Inn Ames; City: Ames Iowa; Review: Stayed with wife and 3-year-old son in a "king mini-suite." Decent rate/value with an auto club rate. Property is pretty new. Calling room "suite" is a slight stretch... it was a larger room with desk and pull-out couch. Room was clean and neat, but oversprayed with scented deodorizer. Staff was friendly and helpful and most common areas were kept fairly neat (see pool-area comments in next paragraph). For full occupancy with lots of family and a college volleyball team, things were pleasantly calm and quiet. Small-sized workout room (machines leave little room for stretching or floor-based exercises). Breakfast was decent, with choices typical for continental breakfasts. Only the sweltering eggs and biscuits/gravy seemed unappealing. Fresh-fruit salad seemed to run out quickly. Though I appreciate having the pool in a separate area to minimize noise, my only downgrades were related to this area... walls had cracked or missing drywall and tile. Seemed as if cheaper construction and planning were done. Pool water was fine and cleanliness was not an issue. Flooring wasn't sloped properly and some water pooled on the deck rather than drained. Towels were not cleaned up and replaced between closing and re-opening the next morning. Staff did get us fresh towels for a morning swim. Overall good experience and value, but pool-area deficiencies lower my rating.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Howard Johnson by Wyndham Middletown Newport Area; City: Middletown Rhode Island; Review: Stayed in a "deluxe" non-smoking room (230's) that included a microwave and 'fridge; things were new or updated (except 1 of 2 phones, though it worked). Price was certainly satisfying given typical Newport-area rates. Only thermostat and sliding glass door control temperature... not buttons/fan levels on register. Staff allowed late check-out, though I did request it 2.5 months earlier at time I reserved. When I checked in, those asking for late checkouts were denied... but were offered use of pool/hot tub shower. (A group was there for a distance-running event.) Did not use pool or hot tub, so cannot comment on their conditions. Nice touches of cookies, microwave popcorn, and bottled water upon arrival. Property was quiet at night.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Red Roof Inn Huntington; City: Huntington West Virginia; Review: While not brand-new nor featuring big food spreads or many ancillary features, the Huntington Red Roof was clean, neat, and quiet... all that I asked for during a one-night stay. Kudos for generous check-in/checkout periods (1 pm/noon). Had a second-floor "executive king" (king bed with shelving/narrow desk against wall) for $60. Sink/counter outside tub/toilet area, a plus for many. A few minor gripes: finish and trim of paint/wallpaper/fixtures seemed a little slap-dash and some corners had acculated dirt/dust. Encounters with staff were smooth.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Econo Lodge Inn Suites; City: Bloomington Bloomington Normal Illinois; Review: Stayed based on AAA listing. Neutral-to-reasonably satisfied with room, breakfast choices, facilities, stay (quiet-- but it was near-empty), rate ($56 for queen), and staff. Unhappy with the attempt to extort another dollar for room safe/safe insurance. Room was recently redecorated, but fit/finish of paper and border wasn't professional grade.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Country Inn Suites by Radisson St Cloud East MN; City: Saint Cloud Minnesota; Review: Stayed here for business in mid-February 2006. Things are pleasant and amenities are nice, typical of my Country Inn and Suites stays to date. Country Inn St. Cloud East's staff were quite helpful and adaptive to our company's screwup of having too small a meeting space. Motel staff were very accomodating in allowing us to use the common spaces and facilities for breaks and post-meeting mixer. Stayed in a non-smoking 2-queen standard room on third floor. Things were clean and new, though it seems bathroom wallpaper was already starting to peel at corners because of moisture. (The bathroom lacked a fan.) There is no third-floor staircase in the middle of the corridor-- only at the ends. An elevator is present, nearer to one end.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Best Western Holiday Lodge; City: Clear Lake Iowa; Review: Stayed one night of Memorial Day weekend 2006. Our family (2 adults, 1 pre-schooler, 2 seniors) had fourth-floor rooms near elevator across from each other. Things were clean and reasonably up to date or in serviceable shape. AC/heat vent was near the rooms' ceilings near the entry. Ours was initially loud, but settled to a normal volume level; my in-laws' AC was louder, with more rattling. Pool was slightly cool and had a few insects in it, perhaps from guests leaving the sliding glass doors (admittedly large and tough to move) open. Breakfast buffet had reasonable choices of cereals, breads, pastries, and fruits. Adjoining Bennigan's chain restaurant nearby, which has choices that most can palate and a children's menu. Best Western desk staff was friendly. Satisfied with stay and value of AAA rate, but can't say anything was exceptional.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Cold Spring Resort; City: Ashland New Hampshire; Review: Stayed 2 weekend nights in late September. We made a rental request in June and got a call back in late July offering a unit at just under $131/night for a 2-BR unit in a fourplex located on the golf course. We chose this because of the value, amenities, and flexibility it offered for a family with small children, especially in fall season. It is in a good place to visit both the lakes and the mountains. Staff was friendly and helpful. Our unit was clean but had a few minor problems-- the flourescent light coverings in the kitchen were warped and drooping and one of the stove burners didn't work. Our property provided little more than truly the basics (no paper towels, salt and pepper, hotel-sized shampoo, etc.) Indoor pool and hot tub were fine, but a long walk/short car drive away. Beware: cell phone coverage there can be spotty and the resort nickels-and-dimes you for use of the unit's phone (even with your calling card). Also read the fine print on their rules (must burn only sterno logs in fireplace, no floatation devices in pools, etc.); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: La Quinta Inn Suites Boston Andover; City: Andover Massachusetts; Review: Stayed a weeknight in late Sept. 2006; booked this because of location, the hotel web site's rate, continental breakfast, and an indoor pool. Hotel was reasonably quiet despite having a tour group and property approximately half-full. Competent but not enthusiastic check-in help at 9:30 pm. Nice touch having photocopies listing local restaurants. (BTW, I recommend Carleen's Coffee Shop down River Road in Lawrence if the La Quinta's continental breakfast isn't enough for you or to your liking; it also serves lunch stuff and ice cream.) Relatedly, the contintental breakfast had several selections and reasonable freshness, average to slightly better than average. Pool and hot tub were closed because of cloudy water, strongly disappointing my preschool son. Luckily the manager was understanding and took some off the bill when I expressed how that letdown affected our stay. We felt safe in the area and had no parking/towing issues, as some previous reviewers stated.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Country Inn Suites by Radisson Baxter MN; City: Baxter Minnesota; Review: Stayed there one night in mid-Dec. 2006 as part of business trip. Staff was friendly and helpful. My boss' reservation request was somehow not listed, but we did get our needed rooms. Breakfast items were all right and included make-your-own waffles. I do wish they'd provide adult yogurts instead of only the multi-colored, overly sweet Trix Cereal flavor. I did not visit the pool area. My room (a non-smoking room in the 220s) was tidy and the bed was comfortable. But through the carpeting I could feel ridges and bumps of the underflooring, and some of the room's corners and low-traffic areas had not been recently vacuumed. There were two pieces of litter in one stairwell. This stay was a slight let-down from other Comfort Inn & Suites stays at other Minnesota and Iowa locations.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Orchid Tree Bed and Breakfast; City: Hilo Island of Hawaii Hawaii; Review: We chose the Orchid Tree (nights of 3/17 & 18, 2007) because of previous reviews here and the layout and amenities. The owners pulled off the amazing triple of being very engaging, small-child-friendly, and unobtrusive. It was as accomodating to a 4-yr-boy as a b-and-b could possibly be. The place offers a great view of the ocean, and we did see whales from it. There were some toys (blocks, truck, army-men-style firefighters) available for kids; definitely no delicate, cutesy look or feel to the place. There was a list/menu for several recommended restaurants. Steve and Su Welsh were very, very generous and did things above and beyond-- showing lizards and a pet bird to our son, asking if we wanted to try soursop in addition to our abundance of other tropical fruits during breakfasts, and offering well-discounted lava/volcano photos from a photographer friend of Steve's. Steve even presented me with a medal (a '98 surfing medal his son had won) upon completion of a marathon. He'll offer refresher or beginner surf lessons, depending on how much time you'll have to spend and your ability level; you're just up the hill from a surfing area. Re: facilities. It was one (and only one*) suite that fit four well; however, the bathroom was a bit tight for that number. (There is, however, adequate room in the rest of the unit for your shave kits and the like.) Just like the rest of Hilo, it's wet and dampness and mildew are present, but it's not disgusting; the place is maintained well. When we were there, both dusks and dawns mosquitoes were present. If you need absolute quiet , then you might not like Orchid Tree because of coqui frogs, the periodic whoosh of cars from the nearby highway(neither bothered us), and-- on Monday morning-- yard equipment in the neighborhood (for which Steve was apologetic). * A second suite was nearly completed (as of 3/19/07) and they are booking it. Pros are ability to book a larger family/friend group at this positive place; negative is having to share the grounds and hosts.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Kona White Sands Condos; City: Kailua Kona Island of Hawaii Hawaii; Review: Rented White Sands Village #307 (2br/2ba)via owner through a popular owner-rental web site. Liked the location and, even better, the price-- less than $100 night for a week (pre-tax and w/o deposit; no high-season premium). Most of the unit and complex have been updated and/or are maintained well; things were clean. Good communication with owner. A cooler, beach equipment, two 4-person tables on the lanai are there, along with washer and drier in master bath. The elevator opens just outside the unit's door. Sunsets are best experienced from the pool lawn or on the outside railing nearer units 305 & 306. During our weeklong March 2007 visit there was a reasonably friendly, tolerant mix of seniors, couples, and families-- the place was by no means full. It is definitely not for partiers. One unexpected wildlife sighting was feral pigs living the the adjoining vacant lot. It's close to a shopping center and a few miles down Alii from downtown Kona. It's right across from Magic Sands beach and in a great local for walking, running or biking along the same route as the marathon portion of the Ironman and the Kona Marathon.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Residence Inn Houston Sugar Land; City: Stafford Texas; Review: (Writing for experience of my senior in-laws.) Our son/nephew booked us at this Residence for a week in May 2007. The staff was wonderfully friendly. The well-equipped rooms made for a nice base for all the auto traveling we had to do and was laid out well for one of us who has lessened mobility. The daily breakfasts and weekday happy hours provided great food and variety. And if that weren't satisfactory or you needed other meals, the rooms kitchen facilities in the room allowed you to prepare basic meals. It was a great stay.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Magnuson Grand Hotel; City: Madison Wisconsin; Review: There for a Univ. of Wisconsin graduation weekend; party was 2 adults and pre-school child. The time of stay forced us to go a little further from campus than we would've liked, but it was convenient by car to everywhere we wanted to be. Stay at the Wingate was good to very good in all regards-- rooms, cleanliness, service, rate (AAA), breakfast, and common areas. Only minor complaint was condition of pool area, as some tiles were starting to crack and some metal surfaces were rusted. Pool water was fine, however.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Super 8 by Wyndham South Bend; City: South Bend Indiana; Review: (Stayed one night first weekend of June 2007.) Because it was a busy weekend when I was in town, this Super 8 was a second-tier choice, selected mainly because of AAA rate and close-as-I-could-get location between home and my event. It turned out to be just fine, despite the driving time to downtown South Bend. I was given a quiet first-floor end room and my request for a late checkout was accepted without problem. Room was clean and reflected the comparative newness of the property. Despite the hotel's nearness to a freeway on-ramp, I didn't notice road noise. Pool and vicinity were clean and had a supply of towels on hand. I had only juice from the continental breakfast; it was the standard concentrate-from-a-machine. Only minor complaints were the fairly loud, always-on lobby TV and the lack of staffing at the front desk when I wanted to check out... front-desk clerk appeared 5 minutes later and apologized.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: McGovern s Motel and Suites; City: Sun Prairie Wisconsin; Review: McGovern's does a great job in providing a clean, comfortable stay. The outside appearance of this mid-20th-century motor hotel belies the property's renovations and upkeep. Don't expect terrific views, irons, free local calls, hair driers, or pool, but expect a clean, basic room with some nice touches... and wonderful staff. I was issued a first-floor-teens room (11x) at the back of the property in the newer wing (built 1960). This section has locked interior corridors, unlike the originally built section. My room faced toward the parking lot, so I heard some of the restaurant/bar noise (which ended before 10) and overlooked a parallel-parked car, and, across the driveway, a collection of rental cottages. The rooms opposite (as well as the back window of front-section rooms) face a residential street and/or a declining strip mall, providing less potential for noise. Notice: while the whole rear section is non-smoking, some rooms in the original section are adjacent to smoking rooms. The light switches were a bit funky (master switch had be be on for any of the other lights to work, including the bathroom) and the bathroom was a bit tight. The sink was outside the shower stall and toilet. There was a combination fan/light for the bathroom. Rates are very good-- my single was, with a AAA rate, under $42. Coffee, orange juice, and donuts were available and in a clean, appealing display. The owners and staff are dedicated to keep this older property in inviting shape.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sleep Inn Suites Conference Center; City: Eau Claire Wisconsin; Review: As of this writing, this Sleep Inn is a newer property and a decent option for either the Chippewa Falls or Eau Claire areas. It is a part of one of the currently in vogue "travel plazas"-- motel, combined truck stop-convenience store, and restaurant-bar. Our second-story king suite room overlooked the truck parking area; not scenic, but not terribly noisy. Staff was friendly and helpful on the quiet weekday evening of our stay. Continental breakfast was the fairly standard 1-2 types of fresh fruit, cereals, juice from concentrate, pastries, bagels/English muffins, and hard-boiled eggs. We got a discount coupon for the adjoining restaurant-bar, but arrived too late in the evening to use it. Room and hallways were well-kept, but the the carpeted stairway vacuuming had been neglected for a while. The exercise area and pool appeared to be in good repair and reasonable cleanliness.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: West Bay Camping Resort; City: Rhinelander Wisconsin; Review: Our family group rented two lakeside cabins (#1-2) for an August weekend. West Bay was one of the few options that had some expanded facilities and still had 2-night rentals available when we checked in April. Website (westbaycampingresort.com) and communication were good. All in all, we had a good time of the old-time northwoods cabin variety. We liked the location, layout, and reasonable amount of available amenities and thought the cabins were OK for the price ($120/nt). The resort has spaces for RVs and tent camping apart from the cabin/cottage areas, and we never were impacted by the other area's noises, sights, or smells. Even the two other "uphill" cabins are set apart from the other camping areas. This facility has a pool and a main building that has rentals (boats / canoes / etc.) and sales of convenience and site-use items (firewood, laundry room, etc.) There is an old slide constituting the "playground" and a horseshoe pit. West Bay is a short drive from the main commercial area of Rhinelander, but isn't impacted by it. West Bay has a nice (but smallish if more than appx. 10 people are in the water) sand beach on the western portion of Thompson Lake. A concrete-planked boat launch is also there, as well as two piers for both boat-tying and fishing / viewing / jumping into the water. The lake was nice for swimming, but there was a fair amount of jet-ski and waterskiiers buzzing past (but safely far away) from 1000-1930. We loved the dawns, dusks, and evenings for swims and lake views. The cabins were a bit old (and rotting in spots on the exterior), but interiors were well-kept and supplied with kitchen items and paper towels. Appliances were reasonably new. Each cabin had a fire pit and a small charcoal grill (charcoal or lighting matls. not provided). If it's warm, there is one box fan, which we found inadequate for the whole 2-BR cabin; I'd recommend bringing a second one from home (even a table fan would suffice). Linens and bath + kitchen towels (which you could exchange daily) were provided, but not beach towels. There are periodic events in which you can participate, such as a bingo night.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Sheraton Madison Hotel; City: Madison Wisconsin; Review: Stayed one weekend night in mid-October 2007. Had a two-bed room on fifth floor. Room was in good shape, was satisfactorily clean, pool/spa/small workout area area were fine, and desk staff were friendly. Did not eat at the restaurant or use wireless. Complimentary Madison Sunday newspaper, which was an unexpected treat. No huge campus or arena events that weekend, so hotel was only partially full and nicely quiet. Only minor complaint was staff weren't quick to clean the entry area of cigarettes and beer containers after the previous evening's dinner/reception. Chose this room because of its location relative to a family gathering and because of a sub-$60 Priceline bid (just over $70 total w/fees and taxes added). I'd stay here again if I needed a room under the same circumstances (sharing room w/adult sibling and had no need for breakfast or plentiful space) and could get a similar price.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Comfort Suites Rapid River Lodge; City: Baxter Minnesota; Review: Two-night weekend stay late February 2008. Originally booked a AAA rate, but was able to switch it last-minute to a special weekend package rate ($50 cheaper, but had to forego Choice Hotel points). We had a satisfactory stay at Comfort Suites. If you plan and realize this place's assets are its included waterpark (no actual, dedicated swimming pool for laps), larger rooms, and multi-faceted breakfast, you'll be happy. Family and team (hockey, dance competition, soccer, gatherings route to camps, etc.) groups frequently fill this place. We had a room with 2 queen beds on the third floor. Certainly no view, as it's solidly in the commercial area bordering Hwy 371. Considering the place was booked solid both nights, there was no parking problem and noise level wasn't too bad. Be prepared for loud kids' voices, running feet, and slamming doors. Luckily, during our stay, things were quiet from 10 pm-7 am. Rooms and common areas are done in a northwoods lodge theme, and there is much knotty pine furniture in the rooms. The waterpark's two areas provided more than enough choice for our 5-year-old. It did get borderline overcrowded (8+ people waiting for tube slide, spray hoses in kiddie areas hitting people at tables) at times, and enforcement of age requirement for hot tub was non-existent. The second-floor exercise room-- overlooking the waterpark-- had two treadmills, one elliptical machine, and one recumbent bike, plus enough room for floor stretches or exercises. Towels and water were supplied, and a TV was there. All machines worked at the time of our visit. Lots of breakfast items were available, but space in the breakfast lobby sometimes isn't; be prepared to take items back to your room, particularly from 7-8:45. The make-your-own waffle machine had a wait most of the time. The facilities were kept in seemingly good shape despite heavy use, but some finer-detail things were neglected. I had to contact the front desk to 1) open the exercise room (10 min after it was listed as open), 2) replenish exercise-room towels, and 3) fix a squeaky door hinge and loose door lock, but the staff did attend to my requests quickly and cheerfully. There is a single computer available for guest use. While I wouldn't book this place for the complete or quintessential Minnesota northwoods lake experience, it provides a lot of modern conveniences and is a good base for trips to Brainerd-area activities, shopping, and sights. Lots of restaurant choices-- many familiar chains-- nearby.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Kelly Inn and Suites Mitchell; City: Mitchell South Dakota; Review: For our group, Mitchell, SD was a good stopover point during our Black Hills trip. Chose the Kelly Inn over similar nearby motels because of a rate special (May Sunday nights $68). Things were clean and tidy throughout, though the entrance garbage bins were filled to the top. I chuckled at the log cabin/bear theme in a place in the middle of grasslands and cattle. We had a 2-bed room, and it was reasonably roomy. It was in the odd-numbered low 200s and faced north toward the parking lot and freeway, but road noise wasn't noticeable. The bathroom sink was outside the toilet and shower room (good for our party of four), but lack of a partition made the sink area a little louder and less private than other outside-sink layouts. I had a similar pool experience to reviewer "rapidbeck"-- tweens and teens whipping a ball around the entirety of the pool, while tippling adults lounged around on the surrounding chairs or the hot tub. Granted, it is a common area and is meant for unwinding, but courtesy and sharing seemed in short supply. (I was bumped into by a lumpy teen boy and almost hit by their ball, and the "adults' either laughed or gave me a "that's kids" shrug.) At least common areas were quiet at night. Breakfast was what is typically offered at mid-ranged properties-- coffee (not that good), reconstituted juices, make-your-own waffles, a few varieties of cold cereals and instant oatmeal, milk, a few whole fruits, and bread or bagels to toast. Some staff were cordial and others were very nice. They reacted professionally at check-out when I apologetically alerted them that my son scratched off a scab and bloodied some of the bedding. (Housekeeping got a big tip.) Despite some minor negatives-- almost all generated by the discourtesies of other guests-- we'd consider staying there again if we got a good rate.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Quality Inn And Suites; City: Sioux Falls South Dakota; Review: Stayed on a holiday weekend night. Good location for easy on-off to both I-90 and I-29 freeways, but, as others have said, it's just near the airport and a truck stop... not much else interesting or useful within a mile. It's a good stopover motel and the 2-queen-bed room (3rd floor, facing highway) was fine for our family. Property still was clean and was relatively new. Seemed as if staffing was fairly minimal and wanted ease of check-out by having a minimal presence and "drop card keys in basket" setup for convenience. Minor quibble was that both treadmills in the fitness area weren't functioning properly-- one would shut off without warning and the other ran much more slowly than speed indictor stated. Included continental breakfast was the standard 2.5-3 star fare; neither disgusting nor wow-worthy. Lots of families in town for a high school sporting tournament.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Quality Inn near Mount Rushmore; City: Hill City South Dakota; Review: Stayed one night during a holiday weekend. Place was busy but not crowded. Great locale because it's close to many Black Hills attractions and not far from "town" (Rapid City, SD). We chose Comfort Inn because it abuts the Mickelson Trail. Our 2-queen-bed room (even-numbered 220s, which face the main road, but road noise wasn't noticed) was quite roomy and there were no problems with maintenance or cleanliness. The sink was outside the other portion of the bathroom and partitioned away from the rest of room...a good layout. The continental breakfast was typical mid-range property fare (a few types of cold cereal, make-you-own waffles, coffee, juices from concentrate, hot water for teas and instant oatmeal, pastries, bagels and bread, apples/bananas/oranges for fresh fruit); adds value and convenience, but these breakfast items weren't wow-worthy. There are tables (and non-smoking ones at that!) on a patio on which to eat breakfast, which made the dining area less crowded than many others. The pool area seemed clean and reasonably maintained (had to cut our family's pool time short). The lobby has a computer for guest use and decently priced snacks (50-cent candy bars and small bags of chips) and postcards. A convenience store, with attached Subway fast-food sandwich shop, adjoins. Staff was competent and ranged from quiet-but-cordial to nicely friendly. The night staff person gave incorrect information about Mickelson Trail regulations when I asked where I could buy trail passes. He replied the trail takes voluntary donations and I wouldn't need to buy one, which might seem the case but isn't quite true. Copied from SD Game/Fish/Parks Mickelson Trail section: "All trail users age 12 and older are required to purchase a...daily or... annual trail pass. A fee is not required within the city limits of towns along the trail route." For short trips starting from the Comfort Inn, you would be in city limits and not need a pass, but longer runs and bike rides get you outside Hill City's boundaries fairly quickly. If we stayed in Hill City again, we'd probably return to the Comfort Inn.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Timber Creek Chalets; City: Estes Park Colorado; Review: Our group stayed at Timber Creek Chalets, in unit #7, the first half of June 2008. Our major reason for selecting this place was that it offered a lot at shoulder-season rates, unlike most other places we were considering. The cabin and its furnishings were reasonably new or refinished. There was a welcome offering of chocolates. A few things were dinged or cracked (such as blinds and the wooden picnic table on the patio, which was warped). The 3/4 kitchen (no stove) was clean and reasonably appointed with utensils and cooking items, including packets of coffee, hot chocolate, and cider. The Target discount store brand of stonewear (mugs and bowls) were ridiculously oversized. There was a patio, which had a gas grill (w/utensils) and a plastic patio furniture in addition to the iffy wooden picnic table. There are cable-carrying TVs and DVD players in the units. The grounds were snug but nice. Adjacent to the office is a lounge area with pool table, books, board games, and free post cards and fruit. There was a small outdoor pool that, at the time of our stay, was a nice temperature. A small, fenced-in play structure probably is present and most suitable for children under age 6. This place is on Fall River Road, a few miles out from downtown but a good location between town and Rocky Mountain National Park.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Wild Rose Cottages; City: Homer Alaska; Review: The 3-BR, 3-BA Kelly House of Wild Rose Cottages was a smart choice for our 5-person family group. Communications throughout were great with Ann Hayes; it was quite refreshing to not be given lotsof rules, policies, and dictates regarding deposits, check-in/-out procedures, and guest behavior. She was always willing to offer advice on things to do (though much of it was the typical majority advice). As others have said, the view and the distance from the commercial clutter make the locale worth the drive up the hill from town. The location is a short drive to the Wynn Nature Center Trails and we saw a moose en route. The property was well-kept and had new or recent furniture and supplies. Kitchen supplies were plentiful, though some were leftovers from previous guests (but of the long-shelf-life kind). An added bonus was being given a discounted rate upon checkout. Even at full rate ($250/night in summer '08), it was a good value. Would agree with the minor demerits for clutter/knick-knacks and owners' dogs. The latter were friendly to the point of being slightly pesky, so you have to be at least dog-tolerant.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Quality Suites Historic Downtown; City: Anchorage Alaska; Review: We chose this for our 3 nights in Anchorage based on a combination of features, location, and price. Our two-adult/one-child party had a good experience. A good start was being able to check in 1.5 hours early and being given a choice of floor-- we chose top floor. Clarion's locale allowed us to walk everywhere downtown and easily access places by car. Our suite was large enough to have extra family members visit during the day, and the room was designed to allow conversation/TV watching while our child slept behind closed doors. Blinds were sufficiently dark for Alaska summer daylight. We found the staff to be friendly and accomodating; even the mechanical guys offered friendly greetings when we passed. Daily room upkeep was fine and flexible. There was extended selection of breakfast items at the continental breakfasts. At times, the breakfast area was crowded, but down the hall a meeting room was open for overflow. In our room, there were a few small dents in walls, but otherwise things were cleaned and maintained well. There were both a 'fridge and microwave. The only noise problem was Saturday, when the bar down/across the street had live outdoor music from afternoon well into the evening. Rooms facing away from downtown would likely be more shielded from this noise. We had no problems finding parking in the hotel lot any of our 3 nights/four days, but it seemed many fellow guests were bussed there (as part of a cruise packages). The small indoor swimming pool and exercise room were fine, and the lobby better-appointed than most Choice Hotel properties. A second-floor computer offered free airline boarding-pass printout (but charged for other computer uses).; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Harbor 360 Hotel; City: Seward Alaska; Review: During our one-night stay in a 2 queen-bed-room, things were fine. It IS a great locale for walking to most things in the boat harbor area. We didn't pay the premium for the harbor view, but on the second floor our sighline was into the mountains more than onto the parking lot and main road. A bonus during our stay was having first-floor rooms directly below us closed for renovations... no noise from neighbors. Our room and the rest of the motel were decently cleaned and maintained, though slightly cluttered with carts and supplies in the hallway (a result of the room renovations, I'd suspect). Staff were friendly, and the standard American hotel continental breakfast choices at least filled you up. Don't expect high-grade coffee or a variety of fruits or complex carbohydrates. The pool-- our primary reason for choosing this property for our family-- was clean and operable, but postage-stamp sized, and the adjoining hot tub would be crammed-full if more than two are in it. Stay here if a pool and being smack-dab in the harbor area are priorities, or if accruing Holiday Inn loyalty stays.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Fairfield Inn Suites Anchorage Midtown; City: Anchorage Alaska; Review: Nothing really wrong with our stay, but nothing stood out. If I could offer a 3.5* rating, I would. One slight positive is this property's closeness to the main roads, shopping, and restaurants. I think most other guests in the place-- as we did-- chose it because of amenities and closeness to airport. Room and facilities were clean, continental breakfast was fine, and free internet (w/2 computers) helped. (We had no issues w/busy computers.) Pool was postage-stamp sized, so it wouldn't be pleasant if more than 6 people were using it. I'd agree the walls seemed thin/the upstairs neighbors moderately loud. As of August 2008, construction (new hotel being built?) still ongoing between the Fairfield and International Airport Rd. Was present for an awkward front-desk moment: A guest expressed concern another guest had an RV parked in front of complaintant's room and its occupants were "staring inside (the complaintant's) room." I feel the staff could have handled the situation better, and fortunately the "offending" party happened by and things were settled.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Great Wolf Lodge; City: Wisconsin Dells Wisconsin; Review: Stayed during a Dec. '08 weekend in a Royal Bear Suite with the "More Fun For Less" package/rate. Room rate was decent, as it included waterpark passes, but certainly no bargain/not a choice for the budget-conscious. Great Wolf turned out to be a good choice for our family's "only time to get together for the holidays" vacation. Three groups were able to get 270s-locale rooms within 3 doors of each other (2 rooms adjoining). At the time we stayed, things were moderately busy, but the sprawling complex absorbed the numbers so even at critical times/locations (such as check-out or 0900 waterpark opening), things weren't a crowded hassle. Will concur with majority opinion-- the 3 indoor waterpark sections are nice... the wave pool section opened a half-hour later than the other two sections. The self-contained complex has the typical benefits and downsides... sometimes a ways to walk (but with reasonable signage), overpriced foods and convenience items, parking lots that are crowded if you come at inopportune times, and typical gift-shop and arcade junk. The place is definitely better suited for children under 11. Great Wolf has enough things other than waterpark/impulse junk to make an OK stay w/o leaving the complex... appreciated during a snowstorm. The fitness center was reasonable in size, machine options (1 of 3 treadmills was broken, though), and ventilation. There's a spa, and a sale brought prices to reasonable levels. Meal options at the grill/bar were OK but typical; kudos that there were several microbrewed beers on tap in addition to typical SAB-Miller Brewing Co. draft options. The playpark (Wiley's woods) is now little more than a glorified Nerfball-shooting gallery, with a few slides and climbing ropes/platforms. My opinion: not a pleasant place to enjoy the Pizza Hut pizza for sale there. Staff were friendly and helpful. There seemed to be other activities, such as the lobby's story times and cheesy clock-tower animatronic shows. A lower hallway and conference rooms had Santa and chances for kids' craft-making. A Sat. night harp concert by the lobby clock was an unexpected adult-friendly treat. Great Wolf's location allows several decent shopping and dining options with short-to-moderate walks.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Edge o the Woods Motel; City: New Lisbon Wisconsin; Review: If I could, I'd rate this a 2.5-- not poor, but just below average. The place is nicely convenient between Wisconsin Dells and the split of Interstates 90 and 94, and its "edge o'the woods" placement is inviting. But two downfalls of the motel's location, lack of upkeep of a spot-lighted amenity, and in inflexible rate policy left me with a less-than-glowing opinion of my one-night stay. Pluses: even at full rate, it was inexpensive-- sub-US$50 for a single. Making a phone reservation was no problem. The much of the room was in new or in good repair. There were a few scuff marks on walls, base boards, and doors, but nothing appeared too shabby. The location is convenient for getting on/off the highway. There were picnic tables and park-style charcoal grills in several places throughout the property. The property is pet-friendly if that's a priority in your lodging choice. The small TV atop the dresser worked and had a reasonable slate of cable channels. Minuses: innkeeper wouldn't honor a AAA rate, claiming an "event weekend," It turned out the motel was one-quarter full and there was no evidence in/around town of any event. The outdoor pool wasn't yet filled during the last weekend in June. The non-smoking room was obviously a former smoking room, as I could get faint but noticeable smells of stale smoke when I ran the AC. The doors face the freeway and you get the semi-constant whoosh of traffic. Finally, though it's tough to notice from most angles, the back side of the Edge O'the Woods is next to the 500-cell, medium-security New Lisbon Correctional Institutional Institution (a.k.a. a prison). While I didn't feel unsafe, I did feel a diminished experience.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Grand Lodge Waterpark Resort; City: Rothschild Wisconsin; Review: Our two-family group stayed one August Friday night, sharing a third-floor loft suite. The place was maybe one-quarter full, which meant no real lines or noise. And, luckily, a wedding was being prepared for the night after we checked out. A weekend auto club rate was neither a bargain find nor a rip-off. The desk and waterpark staff were all fine-- helpful but not of the bubbly, jump-to-help-you type. I didn't see anyone patronizing the restaurant/bart. Room condition was all right-- a few small scrapes on walls and a tiny amount of dust in two out-of-the-way corners. Microwave and 'fridge worked. Will echo other reviewers' disappointment a room coffeemaker wasn't provided. The waterpark won't blow you away with excitement, but has three tube slides and two body slides, among other places to splash, wade, climb, and wallow. It was a mix suitable for all age groups. We weren't bothered by the "no outside food inside water park" policy; the place isn't huge, so trips back to the room for snacks or shelling out for their snack bar aren't difficult. Note that, for one-night stays, the waterpark opens at 10 a.m. and check-out is at 11, so you can get a little more use of the main attraction, but not much more. "Extras": free coffee and a few copies of the local paper available in the lobby, a buy-one-get-one drink coupon for the bar/grill given at check-in, cookies-and-milk storytime for the kids. Naturally, there's a gift/snack shop. (Mild) detractions came from selfish/rules-flouting guests rather than hotel conditions or staff-- mostly kids who were unruly or without supervision or direction to follow the rules. A new but already vacancy-pocked strip mall (including movie theater and grocery store) and multiple dining and shopping options are within a walk or short drive.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Comfort Suites; City: Green Bay Wisconsin; Review: We chose this motel because of its location, reviews, and Choice Hotels frequent-stay program. Our stay (2 adults, 1 child in a 190's-numbered king suite) went well and we were glad we chose this property. This Comfort Suites is easily accessed from the main freeway (US 141), but the noise isn't bad. The view isn't great-- acres of parking lot, the highway, an RV lot, a small natural gas terminal-- but it isn't horrible given this is a commercial zone. The orientation and proximity to the main roads make it easy to get to most Green Bay attractions. The staff and operations were all very good to excellent, allowing us early check-in and slightly late check-out. The room and facilities were clean and up-to-date. There are a restaurant and banquet facilities attached. The continental breakfast area was kept well-stocked and clean; at the late hour we ate, it wasn't crowded or depleted of offerings. The sheer size of the complex (and consideration of the guests) was such that a wedding, several stock car drivers, and families there to take advantage of the mini-waterpark didn't cause noise or hassles. Two caveats: though-- many of the even-numbered rooms in the 170s through 190s have windows facing the waterpark/pool-- request other rooms if you don't want that noise potential. And, related to the waterpark, there is a bar inside the water attraction. Unless we plan to do most activities in different portions of the area, we plan to use this as our Green Bay base in the future.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Comfort Inn Suites Madison Airport; City: Madison Wisconsin; Review: Our family Stayed here because of convenient locale, pool-and-breakfast combo, and loyalty program. Check-in went smoothly and quickly, and we got a low, odd-numbered 200s king suite room that faced the highway and frontage road; road noise wasn't a problem. Luckily, the room was in a totally non-smoking section, unlike some sections and floors further down (toward the pool), where smoking and non-smoking rooms are near each other. Nice, long hours for pool/whirlpool and exercise areas, when clean towels at the pool were out, staff responded quickly to my call. Room value wasn't great compared w/many other Comfort Inns (fridge and microwave not in room), but Madison market can charge those rates. Because it was a football weekend (we stayed on a Saturday, after the UW game), the place was nearly full and we endured minor crowd hassle at check-out and a very crowded breakfast area-- saw many people bringing stuff back to their rooms. There was moderate pipe noise/water hammer from the plumbing, but it wasn't too early or late to bother us. The only real issue with our room was the pull-out couch was bent or broken so that it took much effort to get it open; otherwise the room was updated and reasonably clean.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Quality Inn; City: Tomah Wisconsin; Review: Because of a snow storm, I wanted to stay overnight between Milwaukee and Minneapolis. I chose this Comfort Inn because of its location and my Choice Hotels Privileges membership. Will echo what others say: hotel chain provides a known quantity at a decent price, staff was friendly, and service was competent. My second-floor room seemed new/updated and there were no problems related to cleanliness or age. Staff was smart to have multiple large, hard-to-miss printouts notifying the pool and hot tub were not operating; I had no need/desire to use them, so this wasn't an issue. Only minor ruffle was that it seemed the entirety of the hotel wanted to get on the road early, so the smallish breakfast area was crowded (most of which was associated with Fort McCoy) and there were no open tables at 6:30 a.m. If you need them, several chain restaurants and a truck stop are within walking distance.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Residence Inn San Antonio Downtown Alamo Plaza; City: San Antonio Texas; Review: We wanted an extended-stay-style lodging for doing a typical family-tourist visit to San Antonio. We chose this Residence Inn based on location and an appealing internet rate. Everything was wonderful, most notably the friendly staff, the food availability, and the location. The free Happy Hour food and drink allowed us to use money planned for dinner on River Walk treats and boat ride instead. We encountered no problems with untidiness/mess in the common area and with our 10th-floor king suite, except for two sets of guests leaving bags/boxes of garbage outside their rooms. I felt safe while doing early morning-runs within a 3-mile radius of the motel. A new Marriott property was being built across the street. When it's completed, it might feel a little claustrophobic if your windows face that side, but the new construction will block out only the freeway and the Alamodome. Our positive experience was partly due to staying before high season and on a weekday.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Quality Inn Suites Denver Stapleton; City: Denver Colorado; Review: I wanted reasonably priced Denver lodging fairly near the airport and City Park/Congress Park neighborhood... the Best Western Plus fit the bill nicely for two weekend nights in May. Got a fourth-story room facing the rear, and it was quiet despite being next to the elevator. Parking was adequate, even on a busy night (when I had to park in the rear lot); a Mexican restaurant adjoins the hotel. Room and common areas were clean, and front desk service was great. They allowed me a late check-out and I saw other guests were allowed to keep their bags behind the counter. A shuttle runs appx. 7:30 am to 9 pm to both airport and downtown. Typical mid-level-property breakfast choices. Across the street (hotel is on 37th Ave.), slightly down the road (29th Ave. & Quebec), and a couple miles northeast are shopping/dining complexes. This was a good choice for my Denver travels.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Quality Inn near Mount Rushmore; City: Hill City South Dakota; Review: Returned to the Hill City Comfort Inn in April 2012 after a good stay four years earlier. Things were similar-- very good AAA rate, laid-back atmosphere, property in overall good condition. Motel very quiet because it was early in the season and weather was lousy-- upstairs rooms hadn't been readied b/c of low occupancy. My room faced the rear of the property (by request) and was near the side parking lot. Breakfast included hot items such as eggs, biscuits and sausage. Only demerits were carpet was thin in spots and shower-bath has a few small moisture blisters and rust spots. Otherwise, things were in good shape or recently updated. I like the location of this motel because it's slightly off the main drag and is adjacent to the Mickelson Trail.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Balsams Resort; City: Saint Ignace Mackinac County Upper Peninsula Michigan; Review: Stayed in Cabin 8 (1 br & futon in living room). Liked the price, flexibility (could book two nights, not tied to a whole week), staff responsiveness, and location. Cabin was old, but serviceable; loved being nestled in the cedars. Some utensils, but not exhaustive supply, in kitchen (could use a bottle opener and tongs). Had to ask staff for napkins and light bulbs. Screens were mostly intact and, thankfully, enough fans were provided to circulate air. Wouldn't want to rely on them during the hottest days of summer, though. Fire pit with chairs (and old, somewhat wobbly picnic table) and charcoal grill made it nice sitting next to the small creek. Kitchen was small but had all the major appliances. Fun and funky old concrete sculptures and several walking trails; won't reveal which trail leads to a small, old dump. We liked the proximity to downtown St. Ignace but distance away from the densest tourist traps. The location provided a better-than-expected access to walk/jog on Pointe LaBarbe Road. It was nice having the sand beach within walking distance, and the beach items available-- chairs, volleyball, buckets/shovels/boogie boards, etc.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Main Street Inn; City: Crandon Wisconsin; Review: On a return trip from central Upper Michigan to Minnesota, I wanted something clean, basic, and with a 'fridge, as I knew I'd need cool storage and would be grungy from outdoor activities. The Main Street Inn fit the bill. (Speaking of the bill, check-in uses the honor system; the owner(s) aren't always on premises, and, luckily, the owner said have been honest in checking out.) My room was at the end of the main building. New wall coverings and the basics were fine. Room did come with a kitchenette (small sink, small refrigerator, and microwave-- with sufficient towels.) As with Greg F's review, I found there were a few too many stuffed animals and pillows for my taste. The major parts of the room (plumbing, bathroom fixtures, windows) were clean and functional but showing appx. 50 years of wear. Bathroom had soap but lacked shampoo. Certainly plenty of towels for one person. I'd stay there again if I was in the area and needed simple, solo, non-fussy lodging.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: AmericInn Lodge Suites Menominee; City: Menominee Upper Peninsula Michigan; Review: Wanted to have a good combination of quality and value for staying one weeknight in the Marinette-Menominee area, so picked this based on reviews and previous positive experiences with AmericInn properties. It was a good decision. We had a suite (room 20x?) that was right above the open lobby and check-in desk, but there was no noticeable noise, and curtains were solid. View was of a patch of grass and woods and a tree-screened view of the next-door business' lot. We had plenty of access to the backyard viewing and picnic on the lake. Note the "beach" is rock/broken concrete, so don't expect a nice area for splashing, making sand castles, etc. There is a pool on-site, though, which is better than lake temperatures most of the year. Room was in good shape, but not brand-new. Staff was friendly and, in front, there appeared to some cruiser bikes that could be checked out. Checking some of the old-downtown Menominee neighborhoods would be worth it, either with these bikes, or on foot (as we did). Breakfast-buffet options are the standard mid-level-motel fare... can get enough to get you by, but nothing truly A1 or healthy. Location is on the main highway, but you're not talking packed traffic at high speeds. Most other guests were there for work... Navy contract workers, telecom employees.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Quality Inn Wausau; City: Wausau Wisconsin; Review: This is one of our two Wausau, WI options (the other being Country Inn). A mid-July 2017 trip was our third stay. Staff were friendly and responsive. The property is an old Holiday Inn "Holidome" motel. Pluses are a normal-sized pool, whirlpool and big area for kids and adults/families to hang. Downsides are the echo chamber of that courtyard if you'd prefer quiet. (Area is open until 11 pm) It is a bit maze-like-- but good because there's room to a wing away from the poolside rooms. Typical mid-level free-breakfast options-- waffle-maker, cereals, breads, yogurts, and 1-2 warm options (e.g. eggs, cubed potatoes, commercial biscuits-gravy, etc.) Oranges and apples for fresh fruit. There is a bar of the old Hoffman House restaurant. Rooms were recently remodeled, but halls and some room aspects still old-- no bathroom fan in our room. And we had a toilet clog after a normal use, but were able to get a plunger and an apology from the evening-desk staff (who said it's not uncommon). Attaboys for blinds and curtains that completely closed, and walls/windows that sealed highway noise (our room faced the main freeway) Decent price, and we like the location.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Flat Creek Lodge; City: Hayward Wisconsin; Review: Stayed on vacation one weekday night in June 2017 on credit-card points... was treated as well as a full-paying customer. Stayed in a first-floor room that overlooked the patio outside the pool. Room was clean and kept up well. Majority of guests seemed to be traveling workers; motel was nowhere near full, though bigger and/or rigs with trailers sucked up more parking lot relative to number of people. Breakfast was either grab-and-go stuff in the lobby before restaurant opened, or presenting proof-of-stay for a simple combination of basics (pancakes and milk-or-coffee, eggs, toast and milk/coffee, etc.). That might seem a little meager for some used to ad libitum buffets, but my add-on of hash browns upped my bill by less than $3. I'd consider this my first option for future stays in Hayward; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Acorn Ridge Motel; City: Princeton Wisconsin; Review: We were going to that part of Wisconsin on a vacation, and didn't need a lot of amenities, so decided to stay here. Good decision. This older motor-court property is nicely situated, on the main highway but buffered enough by space and well-maintained greenery. Owners were very friendly and take pride in their place and their guests' experiences. They nicely updated the property, working to keep the old-style feel but made things clean and in working order. When checking in and checking out, they treat you as a friend or trusted face. This is a great example of how these types of old motels should be renewed and run.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Whitmor Rattique Storage Tote Basket - Espresso; Brand: Whitmor; Review: The baskets are great!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Umbra Metalla 4.5-Gallon Waste Can, Metallic Bronze; Brand: Umbra; Review: Looks great in our reception area. Love it!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Green Floral Crafts DIY Curly Willow with WHITE Sword Lilies - Vase NOT Included; Brand: Green Floral Crafts; Review: Love them. I received a lot of compliments. They look great in our reception area.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Green Floral Crafts 27" Bamboo Cylinder Floor Vase - Cocoa Brown & DIY Botanicals Kit; Brand: Green Floral Crafts; Review: I love it. I received a lot of compliments. Great accent to our reception area.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Stylemaster Elegance Sheer Voile Scarf, 40" x 216”, White; Brand: Style Master; Review: Great valances... looks great in my kitchen with the cream color walls. I did not add any bottom curtains. I tend to like the my kitchen windows fully viewable so that I can see in my backyard along with the trees and grass.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Stylemaster Sheer Voile Elegance 60" X 95", Panel White; Brand: Style Master; Review: Great valances... looks great in my kitchen with the cream color walls. I did not add any bottom curtains. I tend to like the my kitchen windows fully viewable so that I can see in my backyard along with the trees and grass.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Kashi Home Hailey Collection Slice Style Bath Rug, 18" x 30" Decorative Bathroom Rug, Orange; Brand: Kashi Home; Review: I love the color. Great fit!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 7 Pieces Luxury Coral Orange, Grey and White Quilted Linen Comforter Set / Bed-in-a-bag King Size Bedding; Brand: Grand Linen; Review: I expected the "orange" in the comforter to be orange. It's more of a peach color. The picture projected a deeper orange. But other than it's okay.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Creative Home Ideas Ombre Textured Shower Curtain with Beaded Rings, Lime; Brand: Creative Home Ideas; Review: My bathroom looks charming. Love the color. And I blended in with a beige liner. ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Modern 7 Piece Bedding Burgundy / Brown / White Pin Tuck / Ruffle King Comforter Set with accent pillows; Brand: Grand Linen; Review: I expected the "orange" in the comforter to be orange. It's more of a peach color. The picture projected a deeper orange. But other than it's okay.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: 1500 Thread Count Egyptian Quality Bed Sheet Set-Queen-HUNTER ORANGE-Deep Pocket-4Pc; Brand: JC COLLECTION; Review: These sheets are GREAT! They fit my queen-size pillow top mattress. Love the color and the softness. I have to order more.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Home_and_Kitchen |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Drained (An Agent Hank Rawlings FBI Thriller Book 1) eBook; Author: Visit Amazon's E.H. Reinhard Page; Review: Fairly well written. Good plot line. Moved well. Some minor inconsistencies but I enjoyed it and went on to read Malevolent - another good story.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: I Am Sal: A Mystifying Crime Thriller; Author: Visit Amazon's Abraham Falls Page; Review: Loved the premise. Good pace. A couple of repetitions I felt were unnecessary but over-all a great read. 4.5 stars all the way.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Wreckers Gate: Book One of The Devastation Wars; Author: Visit Amazon's Eric T Knight Page; Review: This has the makings of a good story. I am definitely looking forward to the next. The only strange thing I believe was how we started in Quarath, then moved to the Haven but never tied back. It just seemed that maybe this book should have been a little longer to tie back but I'm sure we will go back in the second. Just seemed to end leaving a little too much. Having said that, I like the writing, it moves well and keeps your interest. Again, looking forward to the next one.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ace Lone Wolf and the Lost Temple of Totec (Lone Wolf Howls) (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Eric T Knight Page; Review: This book was a blast. At first I thought oh no... here come all the cliches. Well Eric has woven a great story that has the pace of an Indiana Jones movie, a Forest Gump weave of characters and situations, all involving a "hero" that has you chuckling incessantly. Great fun.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Quantum Tangle (Targon Tales - Sethran) (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Chris Reher Page; Review: Really enjoyed this book. Great writing, good story, incredible pace. Looking forward to reading the rest of the series.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sold Out; Author: Visit Amazon's Stan R Mitchell Page; Review: Good story, fast paced. Nick is both hard and easy to like. A good man with a history that bread demons that are very believable - more common than many know. The story moves like lightning. Looking forward to the next one.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Nomad (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Matthew Mather Page; Review: I really liked the science. Not your typical doomsday move the asteroid or die scenario. The whole concept of the solar system being re-arranged by something so massive and yet small was a refreshing approach.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Open: An Autobiography; Author: Visit Amazon's Andre Agassi Page; Review: Very entertaining.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Redeemer; Author: Visit Amazon's Jo Nesbo Page; Review: I enjoyed it very much.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Snowman (Harry Hole Mysteries, No. 7); Author: Visit Amazon's Jo Nesbo Page; Review: Very good read. I liked the plot and it moved along at a pace. I recommend it as a great read.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Leopard; Author: Visit Amazon's Jo Nesbo Page; Review: Very good read.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Son (Vintage Crime/Black Lizard); Author: Visit Amazon's Jo Nesbo Page; Review: Very good plot. Keeps you guessing right to the end.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: In the Electric Mist with Confederate Dead; Author: Visit Amazon's James Lee Burke Page; Review: couldn't put it down. very good read.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Killing Floor (Jack Reacher, No. 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Lee Child Page; Review: very well done.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: CROW GIRL, THE; Author: Visit Amazon's Erik Axl Sund Page; Review: .very good read.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Dunmore House Hotel; City: Clonakilty County Cork; Review: My husband and I stayed here several times and it's always been lovely. The staff are helpful and friendly. The food is lovely in both the bar and restaurant. The views are beautiful and we've always been lucky enough to get a sea view. The reception area is lovely when the fire is lit for a drink.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dunmore House Hotel; City: Clonakilty County Cork; Review: Myself and my husband have stayed here a number of times and I must say it is definitely one of the best hotels in the west of Ireland. From the moment you check in usually with receptionist Anne Marie who is really lovely and very friendly and helpful to the moment you leave it is a truely enjoyable experience. The food both in the bar and in the beautiful restaurant with stunning views of the sea is delicious. The rooms are very tastefully decorated, very comfortable and spotlessly clean. Breakfast in the morning is also delicious with plenty of fresh fruit and freshly baked breads.We definitely will be back there very soon, can not wait!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Celtic Ross Hotel; City: Rosscarbery County Cork; Review: Myself and my husband have just come back after another very enjoyable stay in this hotel. The staff were all very friendly, dinner in the restaurant was beautiful, could not fault any of it and breakfast this morning was also first class! Though I must admit that we have stayed in this hotel several times and I was a little disappointed with breakfast but has definitely greatly upped its game now, So well done!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fernhill House Hotel; City: Clonakilty County Cork; Review: Just came back from Fernhill House Hotel,. Had a very nice stay from the very friendly receptionist Niamh to the staff in bar and restaurant. Our room was lovely with a little balcony so we could sit out and admire the stunning view of the beautiful gardens and surrounding countryside. We ate in the the dining room that night and had a beautiful meal that neither myself or my husband could find fault with and the service was excellent too. Breakfast in the morning was equally as good, so all in all a very pleasant stay. Another of west Corks hidden gems!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Tivoli Carvoeiro Algarve Resort; City: Carvoeiro Faro District Algarve; Review: This was our second time coming to this hotel and thankfully it was just as good second time around. Hotel and setting is beautiful. Rooms very clean and comfortable and staff friendly and helpful. Will definitely be back!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dunmore House Hotel; City: Clonakilty County Cork; Review: Just back from another very enjoyable stay at Dunmore House in Clonakilty. As always the service was excellent ! Staff are very friendly and helpful and the rooms are very tastefully decorated. They are spotlessly clean with lovely comfortable beds. The hotel is overlooking the sea and the views are stunning. We ate in the bar and the food was just delicious. Breakfast the next morning was equally as good with an amazing selection of fruit, home baked breads and wide selection of cooked dishes. We can not wait for a return visit.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fernhill House Hotel; City: Clonakilty County Cork; Review: Just back after an overnight stay in this lovely hotel. From the word go every thing was excellent. Reception staff were lovely and very helpful as were bar staff,. We eat in the restaurant that night and food and service were excellent. Breakfast the next morning was equally good. We had a lovely warm room and everything was spotlessly clean. The grounds are stunning, all in all I would give this hotel 10 out of 10.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dunmore House Hotel; City: Clonakilty County Cork; Review: Myself and my husband just back from Dunmore House and after being there quite a few times and had a great time, this stay was no different we certainly were not disappointed. It must be one of the friendliest hotels. Annmarie and Donna in particular make you feel very welcome and special from the word go. The bedrooms are all very tastefully decorated with breath taking sea views. They are also spotlessly clean and cosy. Food in the hotel is also excellent, and breakfast in the morning is a treat with a hugh selection. Can not wait to return!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dunmore House Hotel; City: Clonakilty County Cork; Review: Had another lovely night in Dunmore House. As usual everything was to a very high standard from the very tastefully decorated rooms to food, we had dinner there and breakfast the next morning. The entire staff are really friendly and helpful and even the owners are very much in presence and are very hands on. Again can not wait for a return visit; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Celtic Ross Hotel; City: Rosscarbery County Cork; Review: Had very enjoyable night here last weekend. The rooms have all been newly painted and bathrooms newly tiled. Cleanlinesss was top class as usual, food in restaurant beautiful and staff on reception Maxine, Sophia and Nora very friendly as usual, also Pia who served us dinner exceptionally nice and even staff in breakfast room in the morning. The views from hotel are breathtaking and we can not wait for a return visit.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Sleeperz Hotel Cardiff; City: Cardiff South Wales Wales; Review: Booked last minute to do some Christmas shopping. It's got all you need facility wise, it's clean and well managed. The bathroom is basically a wet room so careful once you've used the shower...but the stand out point for this hotel is its location. You couldn't be more central if you decided to kip on the high street. Great base for a weekend in Cardiff. Multi story car park and train station opposite, clubs pubs and shops right on your door step. Price is good too.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Pullman Berlin Schweizerhof; City: Berlin; Review: You don't get many city centre hotels with swimming pools....and this one ain't bad. Nice location convenient for shopping/ eating out and exploring. The rooms are smart and kitted out with all you need and have lovely views over looking the zoo and city skyline...staff are friendly and helpful. Room service is top notch too...even after a few beers they are happy throw you something together at 4 in the morning. Throughly enjoyed my stay...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Occidental Costa Cancun; City: Cancun Yucatan Peninsula; Review: Fantastic staff and hotel. Can't do enough for you,great variety of food and alcohol available. The beach bar is a nice touch. Mini bar is restocked every day with corona and water. Had to move halfway throughout our stay due to the air con being broke but got moved to the top floor honeymoon suite with amazing views. Great beach area at the mouth of the lagoon(no passing traffic of beach goers) but far to walk for the main strip but buses run very frequently and are cheap, if somewhat of an experience(they don't hang about) would go back no doubt; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Generator London; City: London England; Review: Stayed a couple times now as it offers great value for money...it's no thrills but tidy and modern. Rooms are basic but you don't come to London to sleep(well we didn't anyway) there's a bar/night club and pool area. It caters for all ages and the staff are on hand to help. Decent location for the tube. Good base for a weekend in the big smoke or somewhere just to get your head down.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Europe Saint Severin; City: Paris Ile de France; Review: Staid here as a surprise birthday treat and it didn't disappoint. If you don't want to stay in a standard boring hotel than look no further than this place...bags of character and charm about this place. Rooms are a bit small but quirky and nicely decorated. We had a balcony which just added to the charm. Overall great stay and also in a very nice area. Would definitely stay again...oh and keep an eye out for the house cat; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: GD GRIP Pro-70 Adjustable Hand Grip Strengthener (55 to 154 lb); Brand: GD; Review: Great product for a great price... took a while to arrive, but packed well.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Heavy Grips Set - Grip Strengthener - Hand Exerciser - Hand Grippers for Beginners to Professionals; Brand: Heavy Sports; Review: Great Grips, built solid, work as advertised.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Newport Vessels 62lb Thrust Electric Trolling Motor Saltwater; Brand: Newport Vessels; Review: Works great for my 21' Magregor Venture. I have a 100AH battery and the motor uses very little power.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Newport Vessels Trolling Motor Smart Battery Box Power Center Black; Brand: Newport Vessels; Review: Battery indicator is nice works great. They could however put in some instructions on what the indicators indicate when they are blinking. I had to call the manufacturer to figure out what the blinking was about.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: RJ Sports Typhoon Mini Stand Bag; Brand: R J Sports; Review: Nice bag for the money. Rain hood is handy here in Maui.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: PADI Divemaster Crew Pack Training Materials for Scuba Divers; Brand: Padi; Review: Its all there.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: McNett Saturna Blunt Tip Outdoor and Dive Knife; Brand: McNett; Review: Good knife stays on belt and stays holstered till you need it; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Trident Mini Water Activated LED Clip-On Flashing Light For Scuba Diving and Water Sports; Brand: Trident; Review: Works well... but for how long. You cannot change the battery so you don't know when it's going to fail. other than that.. attaches well and works great.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Trident Lobster Measurement Gauge, Aluminum; Brand: Trident; Review: works well.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: LaserLyte universal laser BORE SIGHT kit fits .22 to .50 caliber rifles and; Brand: LaserLyte; Review: Works great. lined up my sights.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: TALON Grips for Glock 43; Brand: TALON Grips; Review: Nice grips. Easy to install.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Sports_and_Outdoors |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: The End of Normal; Author: Visit Amazon's Stephanie Madoff Mack Page; Review: Bought this as an audio book after seeing Stephanie Mack on 20/20 and being moved by her story. Of course it is terrible that so many people were defrauded by Madoff, but surely it's also okay to think Mark's suicide was a tragedy. Although, to date, nobody has proven that the sons did or didn't know about the father's Ponzi scheme, this is certainly a tale of how a relentless press can try and convict somebody without an actual trial. The book could have been a lot tighter, but it is still a compelling story. Somebody other than Stephanie should have read the audio version though. She comes across as whiney, she badly and cruely mimics Ruth Madoff, and she puts down virtually everyone connected with this sad tale. There were parts of her story that did seem self-centered and childish, as other reviewers have noted--such as her incomprehensible fury at Mark's ex-wife, Susan, for not telling her Ruth was visiting Susan and Mark's children. I don't condemn Stephanie for living a privileged life. So did most of Madoff's victims. By the end of the audio book, though, I was rather tired of her.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Impossible Odds: The Kidnapping of Jessica Buchanan and Her Dramatic Rescue by SEAL Team Six; Author: Visit Amazon's Jessica Buchanan Page; Review: Bought this book after seeing Jessica and Erik interviewed on "Charlie Rose" and "Sixty Minutes," in truth primarily because they were likable and so obviously dedicated to NGO work. They seemed symbolic of all the NGO men and women who risk their own lives while trying to help people who live under desperate circumstances. Was therefore pleasantly surprised at what a well-written page-turner it is. Highly recommend it. One thing I did find puzzling was how little we learn of her co-hostage, Poul Thisted, or of his own country's efforts to secure his release. This omission is so obvious it doesn't seem accidental. Did they have a falling-out? Did they agree that he would write his own account? Is she still peeved at his perceived nonchalance re. their safety that she relates early in the book? I sense there's a story behind the omission of his story. Still, a great read.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: When Breath Becomes Air; Author: Visit Amazon's Paul Kalanithi Page; Review: Like others, I couldn't put this book down, and stayed up all night reading it. Sometimes I regret buying a book in Kindle form because a hardbound/softbound is easier to flip back through to reread important passages. This is one of those instances, and I may still purchase the hardbound. It's hard to imagine Paul pushing through to write this book while undergoing the horrors of cancer and the terrible tolls of cancer treatment. Others have thoroughly covered my same thoughts about this book--especially how it stays with you and creates such an aftermath of contemplation about life and death. The epilogue was as well-written and moving as the book itself--almost a seamless extension of it. There were a few things more I would have liked to have seen in the book or epilogue (not in any way negative criticisms, just mysteries that came to mind): If I remember correctly, Paul's wife, Lucy, worked some miles away at the beginning. Did she get a job closer to home or quit her job altogether to take care of him? This is not a "how-to" book on dying, but an illness of this magnitude often creates great challenges as families must balance care-giving with economic realities. How did they survive financially? Speaking of family, although he says he decided not to take the job in the east partly because her family was in California, there is very little about her family--possibly only a brief reference in her epilogue about her siblings being there at a private service for Paul. Only his family attended the birth of their daughter? Thirdly, the Kindle version had no pictures at all--perhaps they are in the hardbound version. Pictures in autobiographies/biographies add important context. Solving this problem: there is a Katie Couric interview with Lucy Kalanithi now on Yahoo. It must have been done as a companion piece to the book because it includes videos of Paul at various stages of his illness and pictures of Paul and Lucy together. Perhaps most importantly, there are photos and videos of their precious daughter, Cady, with Paul. They made me smile and happy that they decided to have this child. She surely brought great joy to him.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Siracusa; Author: Visit Amazon's Delia Ephron Page; Review: This is a fast and light summer read. Sort of a "poor man's" Gone Girl, but with 4 narrators rather than 2. The plot idea and narrative approach were promising, but the character development seemed weak and the surprise ending was no surprise. In the acknowledgments at the end, Ms. Ephron gives credit to many who assisted with details about Italy and food but, for this reader, the detailed references to both throughout the book seemed like padding and didn't further the story line. That said, with more character and plot development and good actors, Siracusa could become a much better movie than book, and gorgeous food and travel shots would be very visually in context.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Waste-Free Kitchen Handbook: A Guide to Eating Well and Saving Money By Wasting Less Food; Author: Visit Amazon's Dana Gunders Page; Review: I've had this book for a year or two and refer to it constantly. Great information on how to use or easily preserve specific leftover fruits, vegetables, herbs, meats, milk etc.--especially little bits of things that can be used later. There's been an answer for virtually everything I've ever looked up. It's in a very easy-to-access, attractive and useful format with an excellent index so you can quickly find the exact food for which you want information. Book also includes recipes for using up excess food and lots of helpful information on how to avoid wasting food. Highly readable, although I use it primarily for reference.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Nomadland: Surviving America in the Twenty-First Century; Author: Visit Amazon's Jessica Bruder Page; Review: Although a big reader of non-fiction, I often don't finish books--feeling I've gleaned the essence of them in the first chapters. As others have mentioned, however, this was a page-turner from beginning to end. Jessica Bruder tells the stories of her "nomads" with great compassion without ever being condescending. She decided she needed to spend some time over 3 years living and working with them to truly understand their lives instead of coolly observing from afar. She masterfully weaves their stories in with compelling background information about our social and economic history. I lived for many years in a posh California coast town that worked very hard to keep campers from spending the night in their golden community. Thought it was snotty then and even more so now. I'll never see an obviously-occupied van parked on a street at night again without wondering about the people inside. Never marvel about the speed and efficiency of Amazon again without considering the people who make that happen. Never meet a campground "host" without understanding this isn't a romantic holiday for them. There is much about the economic, physical and social realities for most of the people Ms. Bruder features that makes one sad, and angry, about our society. Given better circumstances they would not choose to be "nomads." There but for the grace of God.... Yet, this book is not a total downer because of the resilience and ingenuity of those who live this life. They read and share books. They build friendships and community. I loved how the author, without ever making this a book about her, showed how much she cares for them. This is not a mushy "inspirational" book, but it is beautiful and beautifully written.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with movies/shows as follows:
Title: Pay It Forward (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Wedding Planner (2001); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: S.W.A.T. (2003); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Sleepless in Seattle (1993); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Lethal Weapon (1987); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Village (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Lethal Weapon 3 (1992); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Pretty Woman (1990); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sister Act (1992); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Dirty Dancing (1987); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Top Gun (1986); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Royal Tenenbaums (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Stepmom (1998); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lost in Translation (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Rock (1996); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Air Force One (1997); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Donnie Darko: Director's Cut (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: I Heart Huckabees (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Patriot (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: You've Got Mail (1998); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Die Hard With a Vengeance (1995); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Day After Tomorrow (2004); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Sweet Home Alabama (2002); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Felicity: Season 3 (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Death to Smoochy (2002); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: American Beauty (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Talk to Her (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Napoleon Dynamite (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Garden State (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Italian Job (2003); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: True Romance (1993); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sleepers (1996); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Seven Years in Tibet (1997); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: GoodFellas: Special Edition (1990); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Memento (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Legends of the Fall (1994); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: O Brother (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Interview with the Vampire (1994); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Seven (1995); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Score (2001); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Cold Mountain (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Adaptation (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Godfather (1972); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Spy Game (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Troy (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ocean's Eleven (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Traffic (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Mask of Zorro (1998); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Red Dragon (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Meet Joe Black (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Kalifornia (1993); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Cool World (1992); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: A River Runs Through It (1992); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Forever Young (1992); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Best in Show (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Annie Hall (1977); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: My Best Friend's Wedding (1997); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The First Wives Club (1996); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Say Anything (1989); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Father of the Bride (1991); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Hours (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Titanic (1997); Rating: 4.0/5.0 | netflix |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Coleman 5-Gallon Solar Shower; Brand: Coleman; Review: Perfect, fill it out halfway and in a one hour in the sun you have hot water to take a shower. Just bring a long rope to hang it high above your head. And if you can, bring a false wood floor so the water drains down otherwise, you'll be standing on a puddle of water.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Himal [Camping Essential] Waterproof Sunshade Tent Rain Fly Tent Tarp; Brand: Himal; Review: Perfect with my set of Kelty Staff Tarp Poles. I was able to used it this past weekend when doing primitive camping. First, I thought the cover was too long, but I am using to my benefit to put the poles inside.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Kelty Staff Pole; Brand: Kelty; Review: They are great. I was able to use them with the Himal Sunshade. These pools are light and long enough so I can walk under the cover. It gives more room to move around and breeze.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Trekology YIZI Go Portable Camping Chair Adjustable Height - Compact Ultralight Folding Backpacking Chairs in a Carry; Brand: Trekology; Review: Wow... I was very surprised about it. I'm 5' 8" and 240 pounds, so I needed something that it will hold me. I have used it few times when I go primitive camping. It is very compact and light for what it is. It does wiggle a little, but again, you are not supposed to treat it like a regular chair. It is pretty comfortable because of the high back and surprisingly it is about the same height as a regular camping chair. This is good because I didn't want to feel that I am very close to the floor and it would hard to get on and off from it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Heavy Duty PRO Lifting Dowel Straps Neoprene Padded Wrist Wraps Power Weight Lifting Training Gym Grips Straps Wrist Support Bandage; Brand: Grip Power Pads; Review: They are very comfortable in the wrists. I do feel the difference in my hand palms and grip on heavy weights. If I could put my 2 cents to improve it, there 2 minor points: 1. the length of the strap should be adjustable at least 1 or 2 inches of play; In my case, it is short by less than an inch for a more comfortable position with the bar. I could wrap the strap closer to my wrist, but then I feel that interferes with my wrist movement. I have small hands,so I am sure that someone with longer fingers, the straps ends closer to their palms. 2. This is wish list item, it would be great if there a way to hold the dowel straps back, out of the way, when not being used so I don't have to remove the straps completely.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Strength Squats PAD - Olympic Barbell Squat Shoulder Sponge Pads - Perfect for Hip THRUSTS - Provides Neck Pain; Brand: Strength; Review: Good size and thickness. Now my back does not hurt when doing heavy squats; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Sports_and_Outdoors |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Morton Salt Iodized Sea Salt, 26 oz, 2 pk; Brand: Morton Salt; Review: I have a friend who would be thrilled if he received a salt block for Christmas. Well, THAT ain't gonna happen - but this is the next best thing. Much healthier for a man who needs to cut back somewhere.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bacon Flavored Textured Vegetable Protein TVP - 2 Pound Can; Brand: Honeyville; Review: I'm not sure what I was expecting, but what I got was Bac-Os. I'll pass in the future.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Harmony House Foods Soup Mix, Dried Vegetable, 12 Ounce Quart Size Jar; Brand: Harmony House Foods; Review: Not really a soup mix, unless you add soup. And be warned - they HAVE to be fully re-hydrated. But they are a very nice addition to any number of main or even side dishes.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mushroom House Dried Sliced Shiitake Mushrooms, Premium, 1 Pound Bag, 16 Ounce; Brand: Mushroom House; Review: Awful - even soaked overnight (so to let them "bloom") they were rubbery. Fortunately they aren't a total waste. I add some to a food processor, chop them up very fine, and add them to slow-cooker meals. Not too bad then, but still, not for easy use.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Cello Whisps Parmesan Cheese Crisp, 9.5 Ounce; Brand: Cello; Review: Man, these things are primo! But the price at the warehouse club is too high. This is better.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Nut Harvest Deluxe Mixed Nuts,2.75 oz,16 Count; Brand: Nut Harvest; Review: Actually, it was a Christmas gift to a friend, and he loved it. By the end of January it was gone.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Grocery_and_Gourmet_Food |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Mercure Hotel Residenz Berlin Checkpoint Charlie; City: Berlin; Review: Arrived at 10.30 pm, but the staff were very helpful and friendly. No food available at the hotel at that time, but did point us in the right direction into Berlin. The room was light, airy and comfortable All in all a very pleasant stay. Steve Hanson Swadlincote Derbyshire; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sundene House; City: Northam Bideford Torridge Devon England; Review: Very clean and tidy, a selection of different tea and coffee in the spacious room. Harry was a real gent and breakfast was fantastic. We were made to feel very welcome. Just 15 mins walk from the town Very comfortable Very recommended And why are they only charging £50 per night? Very good value. Thank you for your wonderful hospitality. Steve Hanson Swadlincote Derbyshire; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Holiday Inn Express Birmingham Castle Bromwich; City: Birmingham West Midlands England; Review: Reception area clean and tidy, but they were under staffed as only one person was checking guests in and serving in the bar! the room was small but clean, but my major gripe was the total lack of hot water! I mentioned it to reception and tidy told me they'd see to it the next day as the maintenance man was off. . . The next day came and went and still no hot water. . . . I checked out after two nights having had cold showers See my review of holiday inn Warsaw as to how it should be done! Shame on you castle Bromwich Steve Hanson Swadlincote UK; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Holiday Inn Express Warsaw Airport; City: Warsaw Mazovia Province Central Poland; Review: Arrived a couple of hours before I was allowed to check in, but I was still allowed the room as it was ready. The room itself was light and airy, air conditioned and clean. Reception area very organised and staffed by friendly, competent staff. The bar was a pleasant place to be and everything was fantastic - even a cash machine in the main lobby. Well done holiday inn Warsaw. Steve Hanson Swadlincote UK; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bratislava Hotel; City: Kiev; Review: This was my 2nd trip to this fascinating city in 4 months. The hotel is far better than three stars - breakfast is a real feast! The lifts aren't the best but they work fine, very helpful staff and all in all everything was clean and tidy I hope to visit again one day!; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Catit Style Ceramic Dish; Brand: Catit; Review: These are the most adorable bowls that I have found! Even though my cats are fat and they need to be filled often thats fine I still think that they're adorable!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Nylabone Dental Dinosaur Chew; Brand: Nylabone; Review: This is amazing for the puppies but I think that is may hurt a little more for them since there are so many ridges. Also pretty hard to clean if anything gets on it while in the kennel but hey thats exactly what I ordered!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Nylabone Puppy Starter Packs Puppy Chew Toys; Brand: Nylabone; Review: This is great just hard to get any poo off if it happens to get on it. Easy to soak off though!!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Cloud Star Buddy Wash Lavender and Mint; Brand: Cloud Star; Review: Love this shampoo so much! It's all I'll use on my dog who has SEVERE dandruff if I use anything else as it drys her skin out. She's got allergies as well and this doesn't bother her a bit! You can also use it on puppies it's so gentle. Highly recommended!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Zuke's Mini Naturals Dog Treats; Brand: Zuke's; Review: Perfect for training at any age! I use these for my adult dogs as well as my puppies and fosters! If you have a small puppy and want to use it as a quick reward and something they don't have to take the time to chew - I like to cut them in half with a pill cutter so they can keep focused on you when training instead of taking the time off focus to chew!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Tomlyn High Calorie Nutritional Gel for Puppies, (Nutri-Cal) 4.25 oz; Brand: Tomlyn; Review: This is a really healthy alternative for syrup. Both do a similar job - the only thing about this that is a little off is that if you don't shake it it is very oily. It doesn't dissolve in water either which I would have liked but something so fatty would make me think that the puppies would get diarrhea. I haven't given too much of this to any of the puppies but I would watch for the carefully because diarrhea may be more harmful to a puppy who needs this in the first place. I stuck with the puppy replacement formula and added a little bit of syrup to keep sugars up?; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Taste Of The Wild Grain Free High Protein Dry Dog Food Wetlands - Roasted Duck; Brand: Taste of the Wild; Review: My dogs love this food!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Nature’s Miracle Laundry Boost 32 fl oz; Brand: Nature's Miracle; Review: This stuff is amazing!!! We have a littler of six labrador puppies right now and have been washing towels and blankets like CRAZY!! Once we got this stuff there was NO QUESTION that the laundry had a leftover odor of a "puppy smell".; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pro Select ProSelect Stainless Steel Puppy Dish; Brand: Pro Select; Review: This dish worked well and how is was supposed to but having a larger breed litter (labs) it was hard to make sure that they were all eating an amount. I would love to see some sort of stand that is can sit on so the puppies don't get inside the dish as well as some sort of divider so each puppy can have it's own section??; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Buddy Biscuits Buddy Rinse Original Lavender & Mint Conditioner 16 fl. oz.; Brand: Buddy; Review: Love!! Gives longer haired dogs that extra sent boost as well as keeping their coat looking perfect!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: EZwhelp 49" (Round, Circular Shape) Machine Washable, Reusable Pee; Brand: EZwhelp; Review: This was helpful only when they were REALLY YOUNG. The pee goes right through it and is soaked as soon as two or three puppies pee.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Taste Of The Wild Grain Free Premium Dry Dog Food Pacific Stream Puppy - Salmon; Brand: Taste of the Wild; Review: This food is great! I love that it's first ingredients have nothing to do with any sort of CORN! Also love that it's a gran free food. High quality and not that expensive for how much you get! Costco food (comparable in ingredients) has 15 lb bags for 20 bucks!! You'll get less food and pay a little more not to mention you have to get three bags instead of one to lug out to the car! This is delivered right to my door!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Beaver dog toy; Brand: KONG; Review: My dog loves this stupid thing! I like that it doesn't have fuzz inside too! But easier for the dog to find the squeaker,; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: JW HOL-ee Roller Original Treat Dispensing Dog Ball - Hard Natural Rubber - Assorted Colors; Brand: JW Pet; Review: This is the tiniest ball I've ever seen; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Aspen Pet Products Adjustable Take Two Lead, 1", Black; Brand: Petmate; Review: Wish there would be a handle built into the spot where the two leashes break off. I like my dogs to walk next to me so that's where I hold their leash.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Taste Of The Wild Grain Free High Protein Dry Dog Food Wetlands - Roasted Duck; Brand: Taste of the Wild; Review: I love this food! It's amazing and with one dog who has allergies it's perfect for her. It's actually such a good food that it made my puppy grow too fast so my vet said to stop until he was an adult and fully grown but that says a lot that it's such a great food!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: PoochieBells the Original & Trusted Housetraining & Potty Time Dog Doorbell for Loving Dog Families Since 2005. A; Brand: PoochieBells; Review: I used to think that these were SO stupid but they work so well! My puppy was trained in 4 days when he was 7 weeks old!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pet Naturals Hip & Joint for Dogs; Brand: Pet Naturals; Review: Love these and my dogs think that they're just great!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: SNOOZZY BROWN 35X21.5 QUILTED MAT; Brand: Petmate; Review: It's fine but when you wash it the backing falls all over the place; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Grizzly Pollock Oil Supplement for Dogs; Brand: Grizzly Pollock; Review: My dogs love this, the bottle itself leaks and gets the oil on it but I haven't been able to smell it when I open the fridge.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: JW HOL-ee Roller Original Treat Dispensing Dog Ball - Hard Natural Rubber - Assorted Colors; Brand: JW Pet; Review: This is the tiniest ball I've ever seen; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: JW HOL-ee Roller Original Treat Dispensing Dog Ball - Hard Natural Rubber - Assorted Colors; Brand: JW Pet; Review: This is the tiniest ball I've ever seen; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Pet Naturals of Vermont K9 Slim Down Bone Shaped Chews, 60-Count, 10.58-Ounce; Brand: Pet Naturals; Review: Compared to the joint ones, my dog seems to chew and smack her mouth when she eats these but she doesn't refuse to eat them. Haven't noticed a huge change in her weight but it's only been a month.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Pet_Supplies |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Mohawk Home Free Flow Free Flow Artifact Panel Printed Rug, 8'x10', Multi; Brand: American Rug Craftsmen; Review: This rug is perfection!!! Just as pictured. It has a nice weight and rubber backing so it never slides on my hardwood. It definitely isn't scratchy... not the softest, but a comfortable plush, similar to a standard carpet. And very durable. My cat scratches his claws on it daily and no wear-and-tear has shown :); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: simplehuman Semi-Round Step Trash Can, Stainless Steel, 40 L / 10.5 Gal; Brand: simplehuman; Review: This is the perfect trash can! I love that the bag can be easily tucked so not seen when closed. Also the hole so that air does not get trapped and keep the trash bag from conforming to the trash can is great! Love the slow-closing lid and it looks great! Everything you could want in a trash can!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Corelle Embossed Bella Faenza 16-Piece Dinnerware Set, Service for 4, White (1114995); Brand: Corelle; Review: I love these dishes! Simple but elegant, light and shatter-proof. They were well packaged. I ordered two sets and both arrived safely. The mugs are thicker and have a slight gray tint... Wish I could have opted out of those, but still a great product at a great price!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: OXO Good Grips Solid Stainless Steel Ice Cream Scoop; Brand: OXO; Review: Best ice-cream scoop! Doesn't chip or show any wear. Great for getting along edges and easy scooping!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: OXO Good Grips Adjustable Measuring Cup, 1 Cup; Brand: OXO; Review: I love this measuring cup! The suction is good so it stays at set measurement while filling. It is easy to use, wash, and store. No complaints. Love this brand!; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Home_and_Kitchen |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Down These Strange Streets; Author: George R. R. Martin; Review: I bought this book because I follow the work of one of the author's who contributed, and have been really enjoying most of the short stories. Some of the stories I have enjoyed so much I was disappointed when they finished, I wanted to know what happened next, which is the mark of a good tale. Another thing I have enjoyed about this book is that it has got me reading a style of book(fantasy) that I don't generally read unless they are blockbusters such as Tolkien, the Harry Potter series or Twilight. There were some stories I felt was missing some information because things were happening and there was no lead up to the event. Like taking a loo break while watching watching a movie, such as "Inception", and getting back to find you are totally lost. Also sometimes there was background information I was missing because I hadn't been following the series - which I didn't mind because it really annoys me when authors of sequels feel the need to bring the reader up to speed on the histories of each and every characters and event based on the assumption the reader hasn't read any previous books in the series. Why can't novels have footnotes or references with all these facts that readers would know if they had been following the story from the beginning (or for the perennial forgetful)? This would be really easy with the advent of electronic books - click on something to take you to the history, it could even reference which chapter of which novel so the reader could go back and have a refresher - if they WANTED to, and then click back to the story. Overall, an enjoyable mixed bag.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Lost Dog: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Michelle de Kretser Page; Review: be aware there is no neat wrapping up of questions raised by the book. Also I didn't 'like' any of the characters. Normally that would be pivotal to my enjoyment, however I really enjoyed Michelle's character development, she made them believable and gave them substance. I have met all the characters in this book in real life. This book reminds me of two different phases in my life, when I was in my early 20's hanging out with an arty crowd in an old warehouse in Melbourne, and then when I lived in Richmond. We read this book for my Book Club and it wasn't everyone's cup of tea.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Foal's Bread; Author: Visit Amazon's Gillian Mears Page; Review: I found this book tough to review and gave it 4 stars = "Liked It" (3 stars = "It's OK"). It was a tale set in the Australian bush starting some time after WWI, a time and place guaranteed to produce hardship and heartbreak. I felt the book was true to the locale and era. When I picked the book up I found it hard to put down because I wanted to find out what happened next. However when I put it down I didn't want to pick it up because I just knew something terrible would happen. I would force myself to pick it up and then be gripped by the story and unable to put it down. I found myself wanting it to end happily, but at the same time hoped it wouldn't because that wouldn't have stayed true to the time, the place or the theme. I loved the ending as I felt it was an appropriately poetic finish that didn't shy away from the theme. Will I liked this book, I would not necessarily recommend it to many if any of my friends and family.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Wolf Hall (Thomas Cromwell); Author: Visit Amazon's Hilary Mantel Page; Review: Beautifully written. Quite a gripping story bringing to life of a figure (Thomas Cromwell) of whom I had little knowledge, and would now like to know more, however from an accurate historical point of view. This would not be everyones cup of tea and would mainly appeal to persons like myself who love history. I ought to point out that my rating ("I like It") is somewhat diminished because I found the characters confusing. Everyone at that time appeared to be named 'Thomas', and Henry VIII went around handing out titles and I struggled to remember where everyone fitted in. This was largely of my own making because I overlooked the Cast of Characters and the Family Tree sections - a disadvantage of reading a book on an e-reader, not a hardcopy..... I would recommend this book to my history loving family and friends.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Happiest Refugee: My journey from tragedy to comedy; Author: Visit Amazon's Anh Do Page; Review: This is a book I would actually recommend. The Do family are so lovely and the book was interesting and well written. There are thousands of stories similar to this one, however the Do family made a real fist of embracing Australia, learning the language and trying to fit in to a wildly different culture and country than their own. It was heartwarming and inspirational.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bill the Bastard; Author: Perry Roland; Review: I gave this book 5 stars (I love it) because I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to practically anyone; not just horse lovers, but people who are into history or war. The book is a bit like Black Beauty in the fact the horse; Bill, changes owners/handlers and therefore the story is like a series of shorter tales all laced together by a common thread. The different lives and personalities of the people who cared for Bill. It would make a cracking movie.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Swords and Crowns and Rings; Author: Visit Amazon's Ruth Park Page; Review: I gave this 5 stars because I loved it and would recommend it to almost anyone. It was so beautifully written, sensitive and insightful. Reading it you would imagine that Ruth Park had first hand knowledge of what it was like to be a dwarf in country Australia in the early 1900's. It covered the Great War from a child's perspective and the misery of living through the Great Depression in country Australia and later Sydney. I was so impressed with this book that I think is should be studied in Australian schools; Years 10 or 11 - due to the adult concepts.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Salmon Fishing in the Yemen; Author: Visit Amazon's Paul Torday Page; Review: I really enjoyed the first half of the book, but then it sort of fizzled out. Everything was tied up neatly by the end of the book, I just felt let down and I'm not sure why. All the characters were well written and you could imagine them quite clearly; The character of sheik was delightful - a person you might want in your life. I have met scientists like our unlikely hero. The PM his spin master were straight out of Yes Prime Minister. There was so much I liked about the book, that I can't quite put my finger on why it left me flat in the last half. I would recommend this book to people who have had to deal with scientists or politicians because these characters are quite recognisable. Anyone who is after an easy read.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Burial Rites: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Hannah Kent Page; Review: I couldn't stop thinking about the story. Hannah spun a beautiful tale, threaded together recorded facts with plausible fiction. None of it seemed like fantasy. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a more meaty read. Not for people who are after some light entertainment or escapism.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Rosie Project; Author: Visit Amazon's Graeme Simsion Page; Review: I loved this book. It was light hearted entertainment. I really enjoyed the characters and I sped through the book. I'm not sure it would be everyone's cup of tea. One lady at our book club couldn't stand the main character, but I found him delightful, so it just goes to show that one person's pleasure is another's pain. I would recommend this book to quite a lot of my family and friends.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mallawindy; Author: Visit Amazon's Joy Dettman Page; Review: This book was a punchy from start to finish. There were a lot of unlikeable characters, and I really like the way Joy got you to hate a character then you would hear about their life and suddenly you felt sympathy for why they were like they were. For me the hero was a smelly fat alcoholic schoolmaster. There was a couple of highly implausible scenarios, but on the whole I found it a really enjoyable read. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a book to get their teeth into. This is not a light-hearted read. There was a lot of misery.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Last of the Mohicans (Leatherstocking Tale); Author: Visit Amazon's James Fenimore Cooper Page; Review: An American boys own classic. One of the downsides of this e-book were that there are loads of typos from when it was scanned from hard copy to soft. The other problem for me is that not being an American I had no idea what the territory was and how far was travelled. So for me it would have benefitted from a map, or better still a faithful movie. I would recommend it to anyone who is interested in American history or classics; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Housekeeper and the Professor; Author: Yoko Ogawa; Review: This was one of my favourite books for the year. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys a heartwarming well crafted tale.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Jasper Jones; Author: Visit Amazon's Craig Silvey Page; Review: I really enjoyed this book. I have bought copies and given them to friends I enjoyed it so much.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lord John and the Brotherhood of the Blade; Author: Visit Amazon's Diana Gabaldon Page; Review: Another enjoyable encounter with familiar characters. It probably won't change your life, but it was thoroughly enjoyable. If you are a fan of Diana Gabaldon and Lord John, you should enjoy this book.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Aquaponic Gardening: A Step-By-Step Guide to Raising Vegetables and Fish Together; Author: Visit Amazon's Sylvia Bernstein Page; Review: Very very useful. Only I wish I had got a hardcopy, not an e-book as it's not as easy to flick back and forth. I found it so informative I will buy in hardcopy form as I don't think I can follow the instructions to build a sump tank.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: I Curse the River of Time: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Per Petterson Page; Review: Bought this book because I loved his book, Out Stealing Horses. Big disappointment as I didn't enjoy this book. I didn't like the characters. I would hesitate to recommend this to anyone.; Rating: 2.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with news articles as follows:
Title: Former President Jimmy Carter suffers pelvic fracture after falling in Georgia home; Abstract: Former President Jimmy Carter was taken to the Phoebe Sumter Medical Center for "observation and treatment," according to the Carter Center; Category: news
Title: Which Royal Wore It Best?; Abstract: Consider this classiest version of "who wore it best?" you've ever read.; Category: lifestyle
Title: Robert Evans, 'Chinatown' Producer and Paramount Chief, Dies at 89; Abstract: Robert Evans, the Paramount executive who produced "Chinatown" and "Urban Cowboy" and whose life became as melodramatic and jaw-dropping as any of his films, died on Saturday night. He was 89. Even though Hollywood history is filled with colorful characters, few can match the tale of Evans, whose life would seem far-fetched if it were; Category: movies
Title: Felicity Huffman Smiles as She Begins Community Service Following Prison Release; Abstract: The 56-year-old actress was released from prison last month.; Category: news
Title: Tom Brady explains why he's angry at this point in the football season; Abstract: New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady wasn't happy on Monday morning. That much was clear when he logged on for his call with WEEI sports radio. But he wasn't sad, even if he sounded a little down after his team's 37-20 loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday night. "I'm more angry. I'm just an angry football I'm like an angry during football season. It's always kind of at a boil just below boil. It doesn't take much to push me over the...; Category: sports
Title: House where J.R.R. Tolkien wrote 'Lord of the Rings' is on sale for nearly $6 million look inside; Abstract: The Oxford, England home where J.R.R. Tolkien lived from 1937 to 1940 and wrote "The Hobbit" and parts of "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy is for sale for 4.58 million euros, or nearly $6 million.; Category: finance
Title: Kodak Black Sentenced to Over 3 Years in Prison in Weapons Case; Abstract: Rapper Kodak Black has been sentenced to more than three years in federal prison after pleading guilty to weapons charges stemming from his arrest just before a scheduled concert performance in May.; Category: music | mind |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Black & Decker EK 700 Slice Right Electric Knife; Brand: BLACK+DECKER; Review: Makes carving easy for both a novice and well seasoned chef. Using this knife allows the best cuts from a steak or turkey/chicken every time leaving you with evenly sliced mouth watering meat. The blades are easily removed for cleaning or sharpening. Would recommend this in a heart beat to anyone.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: EZ Off Jar Opener For All Jar Sizes, White; Brand: EZ Off; Review: Got one for our home and made my wife very happy. She's small framed and had a hard time opening jars before this. Just make sure mounting surface is thick enough for screws.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: ‘Ove’ Glove, Heat Resistant, Hot Surface Handler Oven Mitt/Grilling Glove, (Pack of 2) Perfect For Kitchen/Grilling, 540 Degree; Brand: Ove Glove; Review: Works great. It allows more dexterity than a regular oven mitt. Only problem is forgetting where I put it when needed.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sleep Innovations Classic Memory Foam Pillow with Microfiber Cover, Made in the USA with a 5-Year Warranty; Brand: Sleep Innovations; Review: Best pillow I've evey had. Makes a good nights sleep posable.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Shenzhen Knives 5" Ceramic Slicing Knife; Brand: Shenzhen Knives; Review: Very sharp and works well. Chipped the end easily but that's normal for ceramic knive. Makes fast work out of tomatoes.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Dairy Shoppe 2 Qt Heavy Glass Milk Bottle with Handle & Cap, 64 oz, 1/2 gallon; Brand: The Dairy Shoppe; Review: Decent milk bottles. Very easy to carry and pour, much better than using regular old half gallon mason jars. A little hard to clean because of the size of the opening on top.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_Home_and_Kitchen |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Platinum or Gold Plated Sterling Silver Swarovski Zirconia Antique Ring Set; Brand: Amazon Collection; Review: Beautiful ring it's a little bit I have a size 6... Worth it and beautiful details !; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fashion-Plus Fashion 3D Hip-Hop Style Imperial Lion Print Men's Casual Hoodies; Brand: Fashion-Plus; Review: This product is a large but it fits tight ... Overall great product just wish I knew how tight it was so I could've ordered the correct size . Great colors and image ! Purchased for my husband fits for a female so I wear it . Sleeves are too short for him slim he is athletic build .; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Lolli Couture Forever Link Faux Leather Lace up Long Combat Style with Heel Knee High Long Boots; Brand: Lolli Couture; Review: Beautiful boots ! I wear a size 8 I ordered a 8.5 . Very comfortable; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bride Women's T-Shirt; Brand: Tcombo; Review: Great vibrant colors was expected something more fitted buy still a really nice shirt . Great quality .; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: FLATSEVEN Mens Premium Slim Fit Casual Shirts; Brand: FLATSEVEN; Review: Husband loved it; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Living Water fashion Men's Christian Novelty T-Shirt POWER IN THE NAME OF JESUS-XL; Brand: Living Water Apparel; Review: Bold!; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Clothing_Shoes_and_Jewelry |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Household Essentials 7347 Replacement Pad and Cover for Wide-Top Ironing Board | Natural Cotton Canvas; Brand: Household Essentials; Review: I was looking for a European cover size and this barely fit on my board, and within one week it had burn stains on it.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: LUCID 2 Inch Ventilated Memory Foam Mattress Topper - 3 Year Warranty - Full; Brand: LUCID; Review: My mattress was hard and I could feel pressure on my hip bone when laying on my side. This cushions pressure points and makes your sleep a lot more comfortable.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Jiffy Steamer 1042 lint brush.; Brand: Jiffy Steamer; Review: For the money this is a great item to have available around the house. It also had two lint remover sides... one side is not just hard plastic.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hamilton Beach 49983 2-Way FlexBrew Coffeemaker; Brand: Hamilton Beach; Review: I have the older version of this and although it does not take the plastic pods (it takes the soft pods), it is much better. The older version (49980) has two separate water reservoirs (one for each side) and brewing is separate. This one has one reservoir and the plate on the carafe side gets hot even when you are brewing from the single cup side. What do you have to do, pull the glass carafe off each time when you are using the single serving side.. no idea if the glass carafe was left on the hot plate empty if it would break? Or, if you take it off, it's a hot plate while brewing the single cup. Crazy. I'll search for soft pods if I want variety with the older version... at least I won't be adding to polluting the earth will all those plastic pods.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Cotton Craft Reversible Step Out Bath Mat Rug Set 24x60 Charcoal, 100% Pure Cotton, Super Soft, Plush &; Brand: Cotton Craft; Review: Large heavy duty rug; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Oster 108132.03 Steamer, 1, Stainless Steel; Brand: Oster; Review: For the price this works great for steaming a lot of vegetables all at once.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Home_and_Kitchen |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Scopecoat Eotech Sight Cover For XPS and EXPS 2 Or 3; Brand: Scopecoat; Review: This protector works very well for the Eotech holographic weapon sight. It fits very snugly and well protect it from bumps, scratches and dings.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Trijicon TA31-ECOS ACOG 4x32 Flat Dark Earth Scope, Dual Illumination Crosshair Reticle with 3.25 MOA RMR Sight; Brand: Trijicon; Review: Trijicon makes excellent scopes. This one is no exception. It looks great on my tan rifle as well. I would recommend the red reticle over the green, however.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Trijicon ACOG 4 X 32 Flip Cap Set; Brand: Trijicon; Review: This set is nice for your Trijicon ACOG. You have to have a kill flash for it to fit, though. Also, on some, if you have an RMR mounted the eyepiece cap may not fit.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Trijicon TA91: Tenebraex killFlash Anti-Reflection Device with LFU for 4x32 RCO ACOG Scope; Brand: Trijicon; Review: This little piece fits into your ACOG to help prevent flash from your scope. If you are not sure which one you need, head to Trijicon's website to check compatibility. The fit is not great, at least on mine, (it was a little loose) which is why I gave this 4 out of 5 stars.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Butler Creek Flip-Open Eye-Piece Scope Cover; Brand: ; Review: These scope covers are not bad, and it is always important to protect your glass, but these just never seem to fit 100% correct for me.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Magpul Extended Rubber Butt Pad; Brand: Magpul; Review: This buttpad installs very quickly. I like it because it helps cut down on felt recoil from my rifle. It fits my UBR, make sure it will fit your stock before buying, they are not universal.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Vitalsox Italy, VT1211 Patented Graduated Compression Socks Carbon Series- One Pair; Brand: Vitalsox; Review: These were a gift for my wife. She absolutely loves them. They keep her feet comfortable and dry, and would probably be good for people with swelling issues.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Magpul PRS Extended Rubber Butt Pad, 0.80"; Brand: Magpul; Review: This buttpad installs very quickly. I like it because it helps cut down on felt recoil from my rifle. It fits my PRS, make sure it will fit your stock before buying, they are not universal.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Trijicon RMR 7 MOA Dual-Illuminated Amber Dot Sight; Brand: Trijicon; Review: These MRDs are very solid, they do not require batteries, they work in daylight or night and will last 10 years + according to the manufacturer. My only word of advice is to think about what size you get- even 7.0 MOA is fairly small, depending on your application/eyes !; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Trijicon RMR 3.25 MOA Adjustable LED Red Dot Sight; Brand: Trijicon; Review: This is a great MRD with a solid mount for an ACOG, but beware as the 3.5 MOA dot is fairly small, so shop accordingly to your application/eyes. This RMR uses a battery, and turns on/off with the brightness controls.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Nikon P-223 BDC 600 Riflescope with Rapid Action Turret, Black, 4-12x40; Brand: Nikon; Review: Great scope, doesn't have parallax adjustment, but very clear glass, lets in good amount of light. It DOES NOT come with very good instructions, as far as dots vs turret usage but if you do not understand you probably should question your reasons for buying it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Sports_and_Outdoors |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Two Tears in a Bucket (The Kennards, #1); Author: Traci Bee; Genres: romance, fiction; Review: When this title said Two tears in a bucket it def wasn't wrong.This book had me laughing and crying.I really enjoyed this book even though a few of the parts mad me mad but at the same time its really people that go through these things in everyday life.I really related to every person in this story, I'm going to ask Traci bee have she been in my life before lol.But if you want a book that will have in touch with all your emotions this is the one you need to go get right away!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Corrupt City; Author: Tra Verdejo; Genres: thriller, crime, mystery, fiction; Review: I really enjoyed this book Tra Verdejo really did a good job.From the first page to the last this book really kept my attention and once I started there was no way I stopping until I was finished.I can't wait until April 26 to go and get part 2. Go in side the life of Donald lucky Gibson as he tell the truth about a young innocent black man getting killed by white officers in his police department.Lucky gives the story raw and uncut and leaves no details out including what he has done in the police force.If he's going down he is making sure everybody goes down including city officials.This story will really have you wondering is corruption going on in your city????; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hidden Secrets, Hidden Lives; Author: J. Leon Pridgen II; Genres: thriller, crime, mystery, fiction; Review: I really enjoy this book.It had me on the edge of my seat.I couldn't believe the twist and the turns the story had.Mr.Pridgen did his thing.This is 5 stars hands down. Go into the life of Travis Moore a ex-dope boy going to a new city to start college. After 12 years later he thinks he can go back to his old city and his past life will be forgotten big mistake. Bone is in the the background ready to expose everything.I guess the saying is true you can run but you cant hide all secrets come out eventually.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dirty Money Honey; Author: Erica Hilton; Genres: fiction; Review: Soon as you pick up this book you can already tell that's it gone be a wild ride and I'm here to tell you that the main character Is one smart bad B*****.When I say I couldn't put this book down,I really couldn't.If you looking for an all nighter look no more.This is my first time reading a book where three different authors write one story.I'm also loving the fact that you can tell in the different writing styles as you read the book.Don't know if its gonna be a part 2 but with a ending like that I'm sure of it.KUDOS to you 3 Ladies!!!!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bad Apple - The Baddest Chick; Author: Nisa Santiago; Genres: young-adult, thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: Twins Apple and Kola have it out for each other since day one.Feeling one always has to beat each other always gets them in trouble.When a tragic event happen in they life blood turns against blood and each are out for themselves.What will happen when both twins find out that both can't be on top?????? Bad Apple is just the name for this book.I love love loved it.it even got to the point where i wanted to cry and throw the book against the wall.This is treachery at its best.I loved the story line and how I connected with all the characters on a personal level.Cant wait for part two.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Raunchy; Author: T. Styles; Genres: fiction; Review: ** spoiler alert ** Harmony Phillps had the life that every little girl dream of,she never wanted for nothing but who would've know she has the mother from hell.Her father Cornell Phillps a known drug dealer is taking to jail & after her mother has a jealous fit and after that,Harmony life has never been the same.Forced to go live with her grandma Estelle you can def see that the apple doesn't fall to far from the tree.With no motherly figure from her mother or grandmother who are both alcoholics Harmony has no choice but to turn to the streets searching for love that she will never find,but when she finds her crush jace she thinks all her problems are solved but they are not lurking back in the corners is her suppose to be best friend Kalive aka Kali who will stop at nothing to get her attention because just like harmony he is searching for love to.As time goes on Harmony Thinks she can get everything she will get everything she need by having sex with everybody no one is off limits not even Jace friends. When Jace come into his own and take over his Father empire money is the only thing on his mind and he will stop at nothing to get it.When he finds out that he has a killer after him he is force to go to LA to find out what is going on and learn the truth of what really happen before he was born.Later finding out that he a weak link he has to find out who it is plus keep the killer off his back,but when he find out the truth to a lot of things it will shock you. Raunchy is not for the weak so be ready for what you read. At times this book had me mad and I had 2 put it down but it was a very good read you wont be disappointed!!!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Raunchy 2: Mad's Love; Author: T. Styles; Genres: fiction; Review: GENERATIONAL CURSES WILL IT END? Raunchy 2 picks right back up where Raunchy left of.Madjesty and Jayden are now in texas and they life there is a living hell.From knowing they are girls to not having clean clothes no food to eat to getting burned and beaten life to them is over.When harmony meets this guy named wagner things start to get better but will it last we all know not with harmony. As time goes on the Harmony Find out that she get the condo she use to live in as a little girl,she is happy to move back home.When Jace finds out shes back he stops @ nothing to get to her and kali for what they done.Problem is Kali is always 1 step ahead of him and madjesty is always in the way. Will things get better or will it continue to be another ride??????; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Quita's DayScare Center; Author: Gina West; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, non-fiction, mystery; Review: A hustler in her own right, Quita has money on her mind and nothing will stop her from getting it.When she lands a job at a doctor office as head manger she is on her A game but doesn't know that her friend is setting up her life for destruction. Hitting rock bottom after losing everything Quita,comes up with the idea to start her own daycare,taking in the baddest kids ever.She turns no child I'm talking bout the baddest of the baddest. Whats happens when you make a promise you can't keep and your life is on the line only to find out that someone you care about the most is behind it all,pick up this banger and see. Gina west did a good job with this story as you know there will be a part 2.I feel that towards the end it was a little rushed,but I still enjoyed the story line and the characters.This book will definitely have you laughing.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Justify My Thug (Thug #5); Author: Wahida Clark; Genres: romance, fiction; Review: Love the series cant wait for more to come.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Even Numbers; Author: Barbara Grovner; Genres: young-adult, fiction; Review: I really enjoyed this book.It was real and I was really able 2 relate to this book on a personal level,by me also having a daughter and me being a young mother mad me to be more aware when it comes to my daughter.Not to trust any one not even her father.This world is really sick and the reality of it is that people are really doing this and its becoming more known.As you watch the news and things it lets you know to dont be trusting any one be very careful who u let in your life thank you very much Barbara.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Wife; Author: Michelle Monay; Genres: fiction; Review: If this book deserve more than 5 stars its off the meter.From page 1 india pulls you in with her story about her and stump.The twist and turns of being a wife to a drug dealer is not what its crack up to be.Yea the gifts are good and the shopping sprees are off the chain but what do you do when you get tired of the lies the cheating and the love is not there anymore do you stay or find happiness. Cop this book to find out def worth every dollar.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Heaven's Hell; Author: Takerra Allen; Genres: romance, fiction; Review: love it heaven got down in this book.Despite it all she truly push forward.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Contract Killer; Author: Jimmy DaSaint; Genres: fiction; Review: A fast paced book and a page turner.Jimmy dasaint is the man; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Put a Ring on It; Author: Allison Hobbs; Genres: romance, fiction; Review: These three women give a whole new meaning to put a ring on it. Vangie Nivea and Harlow are all at this point in there life where they feel nothing will complete them unless they walk down the aisle. Vangie is a single parent wants nothing more but a little financial support for her son Yurgi. For five years she has been holding it down without help of Shawn. When he resurfaced and steps up to the plate for her son she feels her heart opening up for him once again. Will she finally get her family back together and a ring to match? Nivea has it all the wealth, the job her, own everything but she always finds herself incomplete.Willing to lower her standards to walk to alter she takes Eric in. In the eyes of most he is the perfect gentleman but broke and harboring secrets. When this secret reveal its self. Will she have on the dress she always dreamed? After suffering A tragic life Harlow just wants happiness. After finding her prince charming in Drake she can see a bright future ahead. But they both are hiding secrets that can kill their happy ever after. I really enjoyed this book just the type of read I needed. I loved the characters and their stories. The drama was on point and I couldn't stop reading until I finished the last page. I cant wait to read part two.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Street Divas; Author: De'nesha Diamond; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, romance, mystery; Review: Ta'shara & Lashelle are still at it and so is Mason & Python they are back full force and ruthless as ever.The secrets are out and they are out for blood.Nothing will stop them from being on top question is who will it be? These characters are still a trip,but I loved every minute of it.I felt like I was watching a big movie hit.You have to pay attention because I had got lost and had to start over but that didnt stop me from liking the story.You have to read this book cant wait for part 3.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bonded By Blood; Author: Ca$h; Genres: fiction; Review: This book has a great story line.I loved how it had me interested from start to finish.It had a few errors but to me it didn't take away form the story @ all.I hated the way it ended.I can't 4 part 2.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Trina; Author: Darrell Debrew; Genres: thriller, crime, mystery; Review: Darrell Debrew has done it again in this book.Even thought it started off it kind of slow,it finally picked up and I loved it. You haven't found a sexy serial killer until you have met Trina Lattmore.Since her first kill at the age of 15.She knew she had it in her to kill and she would do it again if she have to.After being accused of murder she is taken away from the person that matter most her twin brother troy.Living life as a trained killer she get tied up with the FBI where she is given jobs to kill people who may harm they case.As She get deeper into this crazy life one hit that she has to do might just change her life forever but who is it that can make her change???????; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Still Thicker Than Water; Author: Takerra Allen; Genres: mystery, thriller, crime, romance, fiction; Review: This series is off the chain these characters are a mess lol.It really shows to keep your enemies close and your friends closer cause they might just be out to ruin your life.I really hope part 3 turn out the way I want it to or i'm going to cry.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Thicker than Water; Author: Takerra Allen; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, romance, mystery; Review: THIS BOOK DEF GETS 10 STARS ANYONE WAITING TO READ THIS SHOULD NOW GO AND BUY.I LOVED IT ON TO PART TWO.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Memoirs of a Bitch; Author: Cecelia Robison; Genres: fiction; Review: Go down memory lane with Shantel Williams.One day while watching tv she finds out that it's been reported that she is a missing person when in reality she is well and alive,trying to find out what's going on she calls the lead detective on the case after talking to him she agrees to meet him.Once they meet she tells her story about her life,starting from when she was a child.Her and her twin brother Sean Sean is place in foster care after he has killed his father for beating on his mother from then on the made a pact to always be there for each other no matter what.After meeting Rico a local drug dealer/business owner put's them on buy having them selling and cooking dope.They feel they have everything they heart desires.But everything that glitters ain't gold and the secrets and lies will have you dropping your mouth!!! This book was jut an ok read for me although it will hold your attention til the end,I didn't like the fact that it was short and rushed together at times you really had to pay attention in order to keep up.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Deadly Decisions; Author: Mimi Renee; Genres: fiction; Review: Meet Keisha a go getter who stops at nothing to get what she wants and she gets it by any mean necessary. I'm so glad I stuck with this book just when I was going to put it down it all the action started and I loved every bit off it.This is a 5 star banger and it is a must read!!!!! Cant wait for part 2 next month.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Thirsty; Author: Mike Sanders; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: The best book i have read this far!!!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Dollar Outta Fifteen Cent Part II: Money Talks... Bullsh*t Walks; Author: Caroline McGill; Genres: romance, fiction; Review: Five years later the characters that we have fallen in love with is back. Portia has turned her life around. She traded in her night life shoes as a stripper to become a loving wife ,mother and respected author of 3 books. Life couldn't be better for her and her husband Jay.Once jay received some painful news he has to go back to the life he once knew.Will Jay be able to handle what life has thrown at him or finally succumb to the life he was trying to leave behind? Laila Atkins is trying to get on the right track after a love affair that make her realize she might lose her husband. Things seem to be going well until she find out that her husband has a serious habit that she can not deal with. will Laila decide to stick by him or go back to where she found happiness? Fatima gave up her life of taking care of men when she met one Jays friends. Wise marries her and shows her how a women should be treated.Fatima find out some know that finally makes her fed up but she is no saint herself. Will they be able to mend their broken marriage or will the lies make it to much to repair? This book was off the chain!!!!!!! I couldn't wait to see what was going on with these characters. This book will have you on a roller coaster filled with emotions. I can't believed how it ended. I'm still nervous.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sheisty Chicks; Author: Kim K.; Genres: children, fiction; Review: Loneliness,depression & feeling like no ones love them all these feelings take place at The Waverly,a group home for girls.Here the girls are suppose to be trying to change their lives around but some habits are just to hard to break. Jazzy,Cha-Cha and Maya have formed a bond that is unbreakable.They will do any and everything to make sure the have money to survive at The Waverly.When it is brought to Maya that soon she will have to leave because she is turning 18 the girls all get into grind mode doing all type of hustles from drugs, sex, and stealing.When one night things go extremely wrong they all become The Waverly worst nightmare.Crazy things start to happen including death!!!! I enjoyed this story I like the storyline.The characters were something else I'm.Good job on your first book.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Show Stoppah; Author: Thomas Slater; Genres: fiction; Review: If I could give this book 10 stars I would.From the 1st page Kimpa and Isis capture you with they story.I loved it a few parts even had me stopping to think very hard about what would I do if I was in they situation.This book had a great meaning behind it.Make sure u get this book asap!!!!!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: One Night Stand; Author: Kendall Banks; Genres: thriller, crime, mystery, fiction; Review: This was a great story!!!1; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Next Door Nympho; Author: C.J. Hudson; Genres: thriller, crime, mystery, fiction; Review: Diamond,Essence and Angie is true definitions of nympho's.From page one they get it on and cracking and the saying is true never tell your best friend about your man.They just night have sex with him.The title speaks for it self there is no need to explain just get the book and go on this journey with these girls.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Playground; Author: K.D. Harris; Genres: fiction; Review: Anything goes down at the playground you damn right! Anything you looking for you can get it from sex to pills,But don't get it twisted only the elite can get in thus joint.Its so exclusive that nobody never even heard about it let alone know where its at. Go in to the life of torrie where she is on top of the world only to be brought back down by her suppose to be boyriend only to find out that he is getting married to someone else when she finds out she pregnant with his baby.After crashing his wedding and getting thrown out of his house she has been reduce to the lowest of the low im talking bout a welfare bus pass chick lol.Living with her cousin ,her cousin decide to take her out to the play ground which was a big mistake!!! Imma leave it at that get this book def 5 stars.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lorton Legends; Author: Eyone Williams; Genres: fiction; Review: Even though this book took me almost two weeks to finish,it was on ok book I really liked the ending.At time it got slow and boring to me with all the jail talk,but then at times it got good.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Inconvenient Love; Author: Elizabeth LaShaun; Genres: romance, fiction; Review: Kinji is making her way to the top as a journalist at one of Chicago top news paper company. She has no problem working hard.One day she is asked to go undercover and take on a very serious case. She thinks hard knowing the good perks will out way the bad so her decisions is made,But she has no idea what this road is about to lead to. Mo & his right hand boss is take the drug game by storm. With his thoughtful and calculated moves he is never off his A-game and always one step ahead. Knowing no women can ever have his heart he can't seem to get his mind of Kinji and will stop at nothing to get her. As time go on Both Mo & Kinji Find themselves falling for each other.As the say the calm is always before the storm and things hit the fan. The lies are come to light & neither know how it will turn out. Will they be able to mend each other's broken heart? Elizabeth penned another banger that I enjoyed. I loved the characters. I had a connection to the all.This book had me on the edge that I just couldn't put it down until I was done. I definitely be continuing this series. Good Job!!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: City Lights; Author: George Sherman Hudson; Genres: fiction; Review: Go down to the dirty south streets of Atlanta with Real and Constance as they show you what real living is like.With Real making money in the streets and Constance being a Real estate owner these two want for nothing.When Real is given and ultimatum from the Miami cartel he knows life is not going to be the same for them. Soon they world come crashing down when they find out that a snitch is among them.What would you do when your world is changing and your life is filled with nothing but lies, deceit, and murder and all you can think bout is getting revenge for those who matter most? City light is straight fire from the first page it kept my attention. I could not put this book down.I love the fact that I felt apart of each character life, it was like every situation they were it I was right there front and center.Mr. Hudson you really did you thing in this book and I cant wit to read more in Lights out.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Caught in the Middle; Author: Jennifer Luckett; Genres: fiction; Review: Caught in the middle was a straight banger I enjoyed it from beginning to the end.I felt in touch with all the characters.I was even sad at some points,but through it all the books showed that no matter life throws at you,you can overcome it.Can't wait to read more from this author.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Fire & Flames; Author: CoCo Davis; Genres: fiction; Review: In the streets of Chicago,Twins Fire and Flame will stop at nothing to find their parents killer.Working as strippers to put themselves through college,they finally get their big break.When flame meets the guy of here dreams she really has no idea what she is getting her self into.Little do they know fire has in the killer right in her touch.With lies and secrets in the mix will they be able to pull off what they have been planning since they were lil girls? cop this book and find out. I loved this story from beginning to the end.It was straight to the point and you felt what each character was going through.I also liked that fact that it took place in my city so i had a vivid picture of all the places and areas that were mention.I liked how it ended and no part two is needed.Great job COCO!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Redbone; Author: T. Styles; Genres: thriller, crime, mystery, fiction; Review: Light skin vs dark skinThe cottons are a dangerous family that no one wants to mess with.This was an ok book it was just to long & most Parts didn't make sense. It had potential I. See the message in book.just wish it was better.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Damage; Author: Brandy Echols; Genres: fiction; Review: I loved this book drama on top of drama on top of drama.It had a few misspelled words but that did not take away from the story line at all.These ladies will have you mad and shocked at the same time.It will have you thinking what are friends really.I will be ready more form thus author.Great job on your first book.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Rumble in V.A.; Author: Rayven Skyy; Genres: fiction; Review: A Rumble In V.A is not your normal story.These characters will have you cursing them out I was so heated at them.Overall the story was Great besides a few errors but they don't take away the story,I would recommend this read to anyone that loves to read.Please check this story out.Can't wait for part 2 :); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Beastmode; Author: Joe Awsum; Genres: fiction; Review: Beastmode was good start to finish.This is nit a read that you would expect.The king family was off the chain please check it out!!!!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Another Tear (The Kennards, #2); Author: Traci Bee; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, romance, mystery; Review: 5 Stars hands down.I knew it was gone be a banger.I had to read part 2.It picked right back up from part one and it was just as ruthless as the 1st.Once again the title was right on point because I felt like dropping tears.I was mad to the point where I wanted to jump in and smack a few people around my self.I also loved the heaven scene.Keep up the good work TRACI BEE!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mafia Princess; Author: Deja King; Genres: thriller, crime, mystery, fiction; Review: In a world full of lies birthed Semaj.After losing her mother & her father she has to do what it takes to survive. With dreams of being a actress are just dreams she Makes a life out of robbing hustlers of they big bank. she is living the life so she thinks. Once she meets Quasim he turns her the queen she suppose 2 be but when all the lies catch up 2 them what will happen??? This was a great story with lots of twist and turns i really enjoyed it.cant wait for part 2.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Another... One Night Stand: The Sequel; Author: Kendall Banks; Genres: fiction; Review: Zaira is back at it again wild and crazier then ever!!!! Part two picks right back up where part one left off.She is determined to get those who she owe payback to.When she slowly start narrowing down her list,she doesn't know that the very person she needs to worry about is herself. Hardy will stop at nothing to make sure he get the revenge the that he deserves for his lost family.He sets out with one thing on his mind..... Zaira.From using people to killing people he feel he is almost there until the very person that helps him turns around stabs him in the back. Lies,deceit and secrets will have you on the edge of your seat wondering who will make it in Another one nite stand. I cant wait for part 3.There is so much I want to know,it leaves you wondering whats gonna happen but it dont end on a bad note.I will definitely recommand this to all my avid reads good job Kendall Banks.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Drama... Another Man's Girl; Author: Sydney Lyttle; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, romance, mystery; Review: In one corner we have Eldorus aka EL,who is a successful lawyer and does all he can to for Chassidy aka Chass.He treats her with respect and treats her like a princess,she has not wanted for a thing since they have been together but whats happens when his work hours start to take over?????? In the other corner We have Shane.A top drug dealer who is all about his money and women mean nothing to him until........He meets chass.He don't know what it is about her but he just have to have her no matter the situation,but what happens when feelings go past the agreement??? The middle start player is Chassidy aka Chass.She is every man dream from the look to the attitude.She is a upcoming hair stylist and men isn't even on her radar until El comes along.Things are fine until she stops getting the attention she feels she deserve.You know what they say when you get bored the mouse goes out to play.Once she meets Shane she is attracted to him from the start but tries to do right but once shes to far in she don't know what to do.Will it be the one has had her heart for all these years or the one she just cant seem to stop thinking of? This was a very great story.I loved every moment of it.I zoomed through it so quick I'm mad that its over.This is a winner.I want part two now!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cover Girl; Author: Brittani Williams; Genres: fiction; Review: The streets are friends with nobody....... Meet Brooklyn a pretty confident young girl and she knows it has dreams of making it big as a model despite her home front.With a mom that is nothing but a drunk,she has to do what she gotta to for her two younger brothers.When she meets Sincere,she thought she met the one for life but clearly was wrong.What do a young girl do who has lost her way? Who do she turn to once all her friends have turned they back on her? With a mind blowing revelation will she finnaly be able to turn her life around??? This was a very good book kept my attention from beginning to the end.It has a good story line and plot but at the middle towards the end it just felt rushed and Leave you with some questions.None the less I still liked it tho.A part two is not needed.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bedroom Gangsta; Author: J. Tremble; Genres: fiction; Review: Being greedy will leave you alone and broke lol. Seven, a ex escort and stripper thought once she got married that life would be a piece of cake for her not!!!! When her husband Byrce does all he can to make ends meet Seven makes sure to let him know that he not doing good enough.One day when she get this idea to start a escort service and Bryce agrees he doesn't know he is in for a rude awaking. I liked this story a lot it had everything thing I like drama and betrayal get ready to strap in your seat belts people because you are in for a crazy ride.I hated the way it ended it will have you wanting for more.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Thicker Than Water 3; Author: Takerra Allen; Genres: mystery, thriller, crime, romance, fiction; Review: The crew is back and things are now crazier than ever!!!!! Sasha and Chauncey pick right back up where they left off,but do lonliness make you really turn to someone else or do love concur all? Respect & Tatum are the american dream literally.When the truth finally surface,Will the love they have for each other be strong enough for them to hold on? Jayde wants nothing but to have the man she can't have.She will stop nothing to get him,but how far is to far? Follow these Characters to the end to see if blood is really thicker than water! I'm really in tears because I'm sad to see this series end.It didnt drop the ball not once you felt the emotions you saw the characters it was a live movie in your head.Takerra Allen Congrats this is a banger.All my reader friends are going to read this.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Street Divas; Author: De'nesha Diamond; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, romance, mystery; Review: Ta'shara & Lashelle are still at it and so is Mason & Python they are back full force and ruthless as ever.The secrets are out and they are out for blood.Nothing will stop them from being on top question is who will it be? These characters are still a trip,but I loved every minute of it.I felt like I was watching a big movie hit.You have to pay attention because I had got lost and had to start over but that didnt stop me from liking the story.You have to read this book cant wait for part 3.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hell's Diva II; Author: Anna J.; Genres: mystery, thriller, crime, romance, fiction; Review: Mecca has one thing on her mind and that's to get revenge on the ones that hurt her the most.Problem is her conscious has got the best of here and she don't know which way to turn.Will the right path when or the wrong?? Ruby fresh out of jail is ready to take over the world like she never left,but her past is still hunting her to the point where she don't know what to do and the people she think she can trust all have there own agenda.Will she be able to handle what come her way? Overall I think this was a good book.The twist and turns was good had you wanting for more and i loved how the story wrapped up at the end.To me I don't think another part is needed it ended just right.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Deep Deception 2; Author: Tina Brooks McKinney; Genres: romance, fiction; Review: Deep Deception picks right back up where part one left off. Veronica is trying to pick up this missing pieces after she has her baby,With her real father back in her life she has got to figure out how to balance her family deception and her marriage. Victoria has one thing on her mind after she recovers and thats finding the person who destoryed her family,problem is her father is back in the picture and she don't how to take it. Moses will stop at nothing to make sure that his secret dont get out even if it means finding the person who caused all this drama and killing them but will this infactuation mess up everything he has worked do hard for? You have got to read this book all the drama had me on th edge of my seat waiting for more.You felt each character struggle and the ending is a shocker.Dont miss out on a great read.I will telling all my freinds about this one good job.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Deep Deception; Author: Tina Brooks McKinney; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, romance, mystery; Review: Lies,deceit and deception.........What would you do if this was your all you knew about your life? Victoria,Veronica and Ramon were forced to the states to have a better life,little do they know the real reason is so harm won't come they way.Leaving their father in Columbia their mother takes care of them they best way she can with the little money thats she has.When she gets an unexpected call it changes there life forever. With them all having secrets of their own,they never knew that the people they meet all tie together and play a major part in the destruction thats going on around them. Will they be strong enough to get through this as a family or will the deception break the close bond they have? This story had me hooked from page one.No its not your average hood story but is good nonetheless.I will be reading part two of this amazing ride.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Who Do I Run To?; Author: Anna Black; Genres: romance, fiction; Review: So Anna Black has done it again with this new series!!!!!! I loved the new characters and the new drama.I even mad me think about my own relationship im in lol.I just wished that she realize what she had sooner than wasting precious time.Its ok we live and learn.Great Job can wait to start two.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: What Da Lick Read?; Author: Sevyn McCray; Genres: fiction; Review: It's a cold cruel world and you have to be ready for it by any means necessary.Khalil a single father raises 4 children on his own.He instilled in Honesty,Reality ,Loyalty and Killian the importance of education and protecting themselves.When the streets call you must answer! Honesty and her brother teams up with a childhood friend named gigi and they have the streets rocking,but the good life never last forever.Loyalty and reality are living the great life.Thy both have men that adore them and treat them like the queens that they are.So why so much destruction you ask right.Its simple JEALOUSY!!!!!!!! I loved this story.I hated the way it ended but that just have me more amped for part two.Sevyn brought her A game with dis and know you gained a reader of your work form this story.The names were very unique and had me laughing.Great job!!!!!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Chasing Bliss; Author: Sabrina A. Eubanks; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, romance, mystery; Review: This was a good book from beginning to the end,not a dull moment in sight.I loved chase he made me believe that there are still good men out here & there is a such thing as love @ first sight.Bliss was a great girl a true ride or die wife no matter the problem she was there.Loved the ending.Good job Sabrina!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Pussy Trap; Author: NeNe Capri; Genres: romance, fiction; Review: The next man up in New York is Kayson,he lets no one get in his way of him making the next dollar.Any one in is way can get it.When he is up against his enemy he needs the best in the game to he help him.When his friend introduce him to Koko he knows he has a lot of training to do. Koko ,a young girl a hustler in her own right loves the streets.The thrill she get from being on the block makes her feel like she can take on the world when actually she can,all the guys on the block look up to her and she is not to be messed with.When she meets Kayson for the first time to her he is just like the rest of the guys on the block and will not stop her. As its time to get down to business a lot of secrets will be exposed and a lot of questions will be left unanswered its up to you to figure out the mystery. I like this story.The story had a great story line.The only thing that i didn't like is that I was kind of confused with the characters.Good job on your first novel can't wait to read more.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mind of a Hustler; Author: Tajana Sutton; Genres: fiction; Review: Brandon a street hustler get down how he live.Thinking about nothing but taking care of his sons and pleasing his baby moma he dives head first into the game.Thinking it would be a good idea to partner up with is best friend they take streets over until jealousy has set in.Faced with the hard test that going to come his way do you think he will pass.Go into the mind of a hustler to find out. This story was kind of short and had errors,but I enjoyed it.I felt that with a little more time put into it it would have been a great story to me it just seem like things happened to fast.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Snapped 2: The Redemption; Author: Tina Brooks McKinney; Genres: romance, fiction; Review: hey are back with more drama then we can handle!!! Trying to get past all the hurtful secrets all Merlin wants to do is save his marriage but with all the things that play on his mind will he be able to gain control of his life? Cojo is trying to get back on the right track in her life after all the secrets are out but will she be able to let go what got her there in the first place? Gavin is paying for all the wrong he has done.Will there be a second chance for Gavin? Gina is still harboring secrets and she is stuck in between a rock and a hard place...Will these secrets be the end for her? I love these characters. I was excited to see this book in the kindle store I had to one click.Even though it was a while since i read the story i was able to pick back up with where the story ended.It had more drama and laughs throughout the whole book and I was happy with the ending. Great job!!!!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: He Loves Me, He Loves You Not; Author: Mychea; Genres: romance, fiction; Review: What would you do if you had to step up and be a mother and a father to your little sister? This is the issues to twin sisters Shia and Leigh. Once one of the sisters make a hasty decision to get married they life turns upside down. The people they once thought they knew are now all in question.Trying to find answers they are not ready for whats revealed. A great story and story line. At first I was a bit confused from the way the story started but as you read it will tie in and come together.That's what I like about the story it took a different approached in being told.The characters were good.I loved the action and drama.It also played with your emotions. Can't wait to read more from the author.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Kontagious; Author: Nikki Urban; Genres: fiction; Review: Kandice is a married women who thinks the grass is greener on the other side but could she be right? She loves her husband but what do you do when he doesn't meet up to your sexual standards? Left with no other choice she makes a wild decision.Along the way she finds out secrets that will change her life forever. Kudos to Nikki!!! Good book. Good story line had me from page one.The action and characters were off the chain. Can't wait for part 2.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: A Deeper Love Inside: The Porsche Santiaga Story; Author: Sister Souljah; Genres: history, young-adult, biography, historical fiction, romance, fiction; Review: Porsche is all grown up at least in her eyes and she's back stronger than ever. Follow Porsche on her ride as she weave a story together for you that only she can tell.Growing up and coming from a family that has the best of everything did not prepare her for this life she has to get accustomed to.As time goes on she finds out that she has to fiend for herself in order to make it. With a little help along the way and determination she finds all the answers to her questions. One still remain though will she be able to overcome her obstacles and find a deeper love? So I know a lot of people are wondering if this book is like the previous Midnights. The answer is NO.IMO this book was way better. To be honest I didn't have no expectations reading this book that way I wouldn't be mad if it wasn't how I thought it was going to be. If you are looking for this book to pick up where The Coldest Winter Left off you will be disappointed. This is more like a book from one character point of view with updates from previous characters that were in the last book.I can see why it would be considered an sequel but its just not how we think it would be. Overall I enjoyed this book very much. Yes it does start out slow but once it picks up it was very hard to put down. Does it have some unbelievable parts? For the character to only be 10 a lot of stuff was questionable but hey it's fiction right so a lot of things wont be real in a story.I love how the words were weaved together to create this love story. It had my emotions all over the place even dropped a few tears. I say check out the book I wasn't disappointed.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Nina's Got a Secret; Author: Brian W. Smith; Genres: thriller, crime, mystery, fiction; Review: NIna a young girl trying to make it out the hood and provide for her daughter has made a come up the smart plan...... get married. When she meets larry he is the perfect man for her money wise.In the mist there is a secret brewing and it can take away the only good life she know.This story pulls you right in . I really enjoyed this to the very last page great job.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Naughty; Author: Brenda Hampton; Genres: romance, fiction; Review: Jaylin Rogers is the ideal man,good job,nice car and own house.The only problem is he can't love women no matter how much he might try.When things come crashing down he then looks at his life and his mistakes but is it to late to right his wrongs? Guess the saying is true you don't what you have until its gone!!!!!!! I have been waiting forever for this series to hit kindle and it finally did. I couldn't wait to start and find out who this Jaylin really was and boy did I go on a ride.I was pissed through the who book but it was very good. I can not wait to continue to see what jaylin is up to next.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Secret She Kept; Author: ReShonda Tate Billingsley; Genres: romance, fiction; Review: Can a Secret keep you from staying with the one you love? Lance Kingston a successful magazine executive has it all,Everything but the women of his dreams.Refusing to settle for less he stops looking until he meets Tia. Tia is a women all about her business.Burying her self in tons of work keeps her busy so a love life in not even on her mind.When Lance And Tia bump into each other he feels like he just have to have her and nothing will stop him from getting her.Tia agrees to a date but deep down she knows that the secret she is keeping can run any man away that ever meets, but once she gets to know lance their life just take off.Once Lance find out the secret will he be able to handle all that comes with it or walk away from his true love? Hats off to ReShonda!!!!!! This was my first story by her and I must say that I really enjoyed it.The message in this story was great and very informative.The characters grab you straight in. You can feel every emotion that they are going through. At moments I was laughing and then turning around crying.Cant wait to read more from this author.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Throne; Author: Cole Hart; Genres: mystery, thriller, crime, romance, fiction; Review: a young boy is put to the test to hold his family down.Do you think he will be able to uphold the throne? This was a interesting read although at times I felt that it was unrealistic.It grabs you in right from the first sentence and before you know it you are finished with the book.I will continue to follow this story just because I'm interested in finding out what happen hopefully part two will be more realer.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: A Love 2 Die 4; Author: C.J. Hudson; Genres: fiction; Review: Cherry has the life a life that everyone women wants. A faithful husband & a smart son excelling in school, so what's the problem you say........she's a nympo. Will her ways catch up to her & destory her family? Cj Husdon did a nice job on this story.It did have a few errors & characters mixups but it didn't take away from the story.It had its funny moments that i liked.The ending is not what i expect but did predict it which leaves it open for a part two but one is not really needed.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Innocent's Revenge; Author: Leo Sullivan; Genres: fiction; Review: L.C Miller is back and he will not stop until he get revenge on the person that has taken someone he loved the most. During his journey he will come across some hard situations but will he be able to handle it? Part two jumps right where part one left off. It is filled with action & you feel each character emotion. I will continue reading this series.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: You Get What You Play For: A Novel; Author: Jeff Farley; Genres: fiction; Review: Your dreams can really derailed when living the fast life. Charisse Hawkins had dreams of becoming a doctor at a very young age.On the right track and the top of her class she throws it all away for a guy that is suppose to be her happily ever after. Once she see her life has gotten out of control she would do anything to get it back will she be able to? This was my first book by this author I must admit I really enjoyed it.Filled .with lots of emotions and laughter.I would recommend this book to all.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: (There's Power in the...) V; Author: Takerra Allen; Genres: mystery, thriller, crime, romance, fiction; Review: Everyone wants the bell sisters they are sexy & fly in their own way. This was a great read i loved it from page one didnt see that ending.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: When Baldwin Loved Brenden; Author: Electa Rome Parks; Genres: romance, fiction; Review: This compelling story will have you in a whirlwind of emotions. Meet four friends who called themselves The group since they met in college.Always there to have each others back nothing to could break them apart or so they thought. Lies, mistrust, and hurt cause them to go Separate ways after graduation. When tragic hits the group the all must come bacK together, but will they be able to face the truths that are waiting to be revealed? 5 stars for this great story. I literally cried tears of joy and pain. This author did a wonderful job writing this story. I Loved the bond the characters had for each other. The ending was a beautiful masterpiece. This book is definitely one of my favs. Great job.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Why Me?; Author: Aleta L. Williams; Genres: fiction; Review: What happen to having a mothers love wonders Monica. Monica is a young girl who has dreams of becoming a fashion designer. Living as the ideal teenager she has a boyfriend but life is finna change. Popsicle has so much hate in her heart that she feels its time for her daughter to pay her dues.She will stop at nothing to get her payback. This book here is drama filled. For it to be a short story I was very pleased with it. I was so mad with these characters I couldn't put it down until the end.please check out this banger now!!!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Best of Everything (Reverend Curtis Black, #6); Author: Kimberla Lawson Roby; Genres: romance, fiction; Review: As Alicia was growing up she swore she would never be like her father,but somehow she find out the meaning to never say never. Alicia finds herself in love with a minister & not just any minister but a minister that take leadership under her father.When she get married she finds herself dreaming of the life that her father provides for his wife,only her husband has not made it that far in his ministry. Alicia finds out that the life she thought she was gonna have is no where near it.Being a daddy's girl she was raised where her dad brought her nothing but the best and she ends up with a shopping addiction. Alicia finds herself in deep trouble when she stops at nothing to get the things her husband cant provide for her. Everything is on the line her marriage& her life but will it all be to late? Kimberla did it again with this book Although it was from the daughter life i still enjoyed it. This has been a good series so far and the messages are great. Can;t wait to see what's next.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Dream Girl Awakened; Author: Stacy Campbell; Genres: fiction; Review: Three ladies will realize that the grass in not greener on the other side. On the outside looking in Arba dixon has the life that every women dreams of. She has a nice house and car, a handsome son and a husband.As we all know life is not what it seems.When her husband James loses one to many jobs she is fed up.She is ready for a new life and a a new man. Meet the bourgeois Victoria Faulk.All on her mind is shopping and making sure that her nanny keeps her home and daughter and is straight.So focused on the finer things in life she doesn't realize that she is pushing her husband into another women arms.Once she realize she might lose the best thing that has happened to her,she tries to straighten up her act but will it be to late? The love life has let Tawatha Gipson down so many times she feels she cant go wrong this time.With her eyes on James she think she has finally found not only love but her future husband. Once the truth is finally reveled will she still hear wedding bells? I rated this book a 3.5. Although I enjoyed some parts of the story, I felt mostly that it was slow and somewhat predictable.It started off good fell off between the middle and made a good ending. All is not lost. Even though I wasn't won over with part one. I'm still curious enough to read part two.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Rap Star Wifeys Miami: Season 1; Author: Love N. Lee; Genres: paranormal, fantasy; Review: Follow the lives of the upcoming rap group 5519. Every women want to be with them but their ladies say otherwise. Sonya has the man the man every women dreams of.He is hard working faithful and most of all his heart but all that changes after Sonya let her insecurity take over. Lavisha is your typical hood chick,holding her man down no matter what.When a secret has been told she finally reaches her breaking point. Disney has dreams of becoming a singer and no one will stop her from reaching it. When her time has finally arrived she is not ready to deal with all that comes with it. This book was great. It took right off grabbing your attention and holding on to it until the last page. I cant wait to read part two.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Now You Wanna Come Back 3 - The Finale; Author: Anna Black; Genres: romance, fiction; Review: Anna Black has done it again. She has brought back all our favorite couples and gave us details on their life. This was a great way to tie all the books together to end this sequel. Im sad to see them go but im happy with the outcome.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Demise of Alexis Vancamp; Author: Karen Williams; Genres: fiction; Review: Alexis is every young girl dream she has everything, a great job nice car and her own house. At twenty four she is about her business and the apple of her family eye. After a tragic event takes place she feels indebted to Santana. Alexis starts to fall head over heels for his thugged out ways and nothing will keep her from being with him.When its time to be the ride or die Sanatana is looking for Alexis doesn't know that she is in way to deep. Will she finally meet her demise? Great storyline. Drama soon as you open up the book. This story need to be read bu every teen girl in the world. I definitely enjoyed the message behind it. Good Job Karen!!!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: So Gone; Author: Jennifer Luckett; Genres: fiction; Review: Molaysia Alexander is a great business women.Having a good job with good money is not enough for her she longs for love.When she meets Blunt he sweeps her off her feet.As they say good things come to and end her once prince charming is nothing but the devil in disguise. Jennifer Has done it again.This book captures you from page one.I love the drama and the excitement.Cant wait to read more.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Money Makin' Mamas; Author: Silk Smooth; Genres: fiction; Review: Money is the motivation. Taffy the mother of three girls teach them to use what they have to get what they want.Her only rule is trust no man.Samone, Chyna, and Karrine learn that moma always have they back in all situations despite there secrets but what happens when moma have secrets of her own? This was a pretty interesting short story. There was drama from page one and the contents of this story will have wondering what will happen next. Will definitely continue to part two.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Money Makin' Mamas 3; Author: Silk Smooth; Genres: fiction; Review: Only love family is the motto. Loving men will get you hurt is What Taffy taught her daughters. When she finds out about the secrets relationships that is going on she is determined to prove her point,but will the outcome be deadly? Part 3 came back hard. The drama was really good. I couldnt wait to read what will happen next. This has been a good series so far.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Murders At Gabriel's Trails: An Alexis Bain Love Story; Author: Mirika Mayo Cornelius; Genres: romance; Review: Alexis an underage girl meets the love of her life Bain.She believes all the things he tell her until she see for herself that every man ain't prince charming. How will she react once her heart is broke? This was a good short story with lots of action and drama from the beginning to end. I didnt like the way it ended with unanswered questions.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hail Mary; Author: Karen Williams; Genres: fiction; Review: Coming from A good home sometimes is just not good enough. Since Rhonda has been born she has come out being the problem child,doing things you wouldn't even imagine younger kids her age doing.After being fed up with their daughters disrespectful behavior they put her out her Atl home to her big sisters house in the mean street of Cali. Still not learning her lesson.Rhonda will give you the real deal about her life from behind bars. Follow her on her journey. Good short story. It was short but heard enough drama to make you feel you completed a whole book. Will continue on to part two.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Now You Wanna Come Back 2; Author: Anna Black; Genres: romance, fiction; Review: Great sequal!!!!! It picks right back off from part one.More drama than the last. Rayshon and Lelia just cant seem to enjoy their marriage soon as it get good here come another hurdle being thrown at them.This book really will have you switching emotions ever five minutes.Its also a great romance story to get away from the daily urban fiction but trip it still has all the things we love included.I cant wait for part 3 I have really enjoyed the series and the character so fair and i love how they all tie into each other. good job ANNA!!!!.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Now You Wanna Come Back; Author: Anna Black; Genres: romance, fiction; Review: A great romance story. Not my typical read but I loved it. it was drama filled on a mellow level.The characters made you fall in love with them.I like The messaged alot to what you won't do another man will.It was a love story at it finest.Cant wait to read more from his family.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Never Say Never; Author: Victoria Christopher Murray; Genres: fiction; Review: One Tragic event brings four friends closer than ever but how close is to close? Miriam Has always dream of being a housewife and with the help of her husband her dream came true. With her husband Chauncey have dreams of his own as being a fireman They life seem together. After a tragic event has striked Miriam now has to face life living alone and having to pull it together for the sake of her sons. In steps her best friend Emily and her husband Jamal (Chauncey best friend) to help her get through. Both are grieving and they depend on each other to help each day get better. Certain lines will be crossed and different situations will be brought. In the end will you be left say these true words never say never? As usual Victoria brings that fire and have everything that is needed to have a great read on your hands. In these pages you will go on a roller coaster ride with these characters that will have you on the edge of your seat Filled with so much emotion. Although it was a bit predictable it didn't take away from the story. I enjoyed this book and the message behind it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Who Do I Run To Now?; Author: Anna Black; Genres: romance; Review: This series ended so great.It literally had me on he edge of my seat waiting to see what was going to happen.The drama was still on point in this book like it was in the first.Although i felt like some parts in the story could of went in to more detail I still loved it great way to end the series :).; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Luck of the Draw; Author: Anna Black; Genres: romance, fiction; Review: I am so loving the anna black books.This one stared a little slower than the other but im glad I stuck with.As usual this book didn't stop with the drama and these best friends were off the chain.Jealousy is the root of all evil.Charae will definitely have you wondering if you have this type of friend in your group.In he end if something is meant to be it will happen and you might be surprise how things turn out.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Arrangement; Author: Shay Gray; Genres: fiction; Review: One man,Three women and one crazy arrangement. Terrence Davenport is a successful man that comes with a lot of drama.After learning about a illness he has he comes up with a plan to make sure that his children are taken care of in his absence. Tanya Davenport has been a loving wife to her husband. After becoming pregnant she has put her life on hold.When she finds out about her husband and his illness and his plan dealing with the arrangement she is disgusted. As all this information takes a toll on her he finds herself in the arms of a forbidden man. Portia Jackson is the mother of Terrence Youngest children.She is the worst of them all. Use to living the high lifestyle she is automatically labeled hood rich.When she past catches up to her she finds out the at you can only live the high life for so long you will come down to reality. Which leads her to The arrangement. Amber Sykowski the mother to Terrance oldest son has it all. Coming from a family with money has never been an issue for her.Her family has issues of there own which makes it hard for Terrance to deal with her family. Once Amber puts down her foot down she finds that the arrangement is just whats she needs. When all these ladies get together the drama will be brought. The truths will be told and a bond will be made. Great job on this story.It had just the right drama,twist and turns. I was on the edge.I could not put this books down.The ending could've been better but i'm glad that it left no unanswered questions. Can't wait to read more from this author.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: In His Absence; Author: Elizabeth LaShaun; Genres: romance, fiction; Review: Kelcee Liberman Has finally made the decision to leave her husband Maurice aka Mighty.Her good spirits come to a halt once she finds out that he has been in a terrible accident which resulted in a coma.Her day goes from bad to worst when she finds out she has lost everything. Kelcee finds her back against and the wall and must make the hardest choice of her life but she is determined to come out on top. I enjoyed this book from beginning to the end. It had everything I needed to call this book a 5 star. I LOVED all the male characters and hoping that they will appear it again one day. I'm also happy that this book takes place in my hometown. I knew all the places mention. Great Job can't wait to read more of you work; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hood Misfits (Volume 1); Author: Brick; Genres: fiction; Review: Diamond aka Ray Ray is a sixteen year girl who was living a good life although far from perfect. When a deal that goes bad catches up with her parents she is left to deal with their debt.When she enters this new life will she be able to handle the one task she puts on herself to handle? In the words of Trigga everyone has a sob story.Turned heartless from losing his parents he becomes a stone cold killer.Moving up in ranks he joins Damien team as his right hand man but the thing he find out will have him with one motto E.N.G.A!!!!!! A good short story. Fast paced and action packed from the beginning. Even thought was short it was complete with no missing pieces and it didn't feel rushed as some short stories do.Will continue on to part two.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Perfect Peace; Author: Daniel Black; Genres: history, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, fiction; Review: In the land of the of the south the Peace family weaves an compelling story that will stick with you for years to come. Emma Jean, the mother of six boys wants nothing more than to have a little girl. Stuck in the past from when she was growing up makes her desire even stronger for wanting what she can't have.When it is time for her to deliver, she makes a decision that changes the Peace household forever.In this story you will follow the life of the children.The ups & downs of understanding how no matter what a family always sticks together. This was my first read by this author and I must say it was a very good story. It captivated me from the first page. Although this is not my normal type of genre i'm glad I stayed with it. The dialogue was excellent. I felt like I was right there with the characters. I recommend this book for everyone to read. It definitely shows you the true meaning of family.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hood Misfits (Volume 2); Author: Brick; Genres: fiction; Review: The crew is back and they are on a mission. As the crew set out to completer they plan they all have different reason for seeing it through.The person on they hit list has no idea that they are on to him and he is living his last day. The family come together and show they are truly hood misfits. Part two was better than part one imo. The action was off the hook I had to finish just to see how it all was gonna play out. You are definitely in for a treat with a great shock at the end.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Status; Author: Jordan Belcher; Genres: mystery, thriller, crime, romance, fiction; Review: 22 year old Tyesha is addicted to "The Site",between caring for her daughter and chasing after her child father updating her status is a must.She never knew that in turn she would turn up with a stalker and more than one.When she is face with a tragedy she soon learn be careful of what you post. This was ok book.It did have twist and turn moments but I felt like something was missing. A very quick read. It held my attention and I was able to finish and i'm curious enough to read part two but this is not one of my favorite books.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: My Counterfeit Husband; Author: Carla Pennington; Genres: fiction; Review: All she wanted was they perfect life so how did she end up with the man from hell.Kenya had it set in her mind that she had given up on love.After losing her parents in a tragic accident,myles comes & sweep her off her feet.Shortly after life seems to move at a fast pace for Kenya. With the birth of her daughter and her marriage she notice that things are starting to change.Truths are being reveled and all unanswered questions are being answered. Can she handle it all? Hands Down Carla Killed it. This book was on point from the first page. When I say hate is your main emotion for this book I mean it. The main character was something else. Perfect stand alone.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Let the Church Say Amen; Author: ReShonda Tate Billingsley; Genres: fiction; Review: Simon Jackson ha fulfilled his dream of becoming a pastor.Tending to sheep at Zion Hill church has taken over his life that he fails to see his family has gone astray from lack of attention. 19 year old Rachel is the talk of the family,with her careless decisions and attitude she brings alot of drama to the table. With two kids all she cares about is chasing after her first love and will do nothing to stop until she gets him but little do she know that all she need was her fathers. David the oldest boy had a promising life with a football scholarship on the table he is ready to make his family happy but after a tragic event his life spiraling out of control and the only thing that can save him is the love for his mother. Jonathan is the apple of everyone in his family well most of his family.With his life on track his father has plans for his life that he cant seem to say know to but the secrets he is holding will make life very different for the Jackson family. Last but not life is the women who is as held id down. Loretta first lady and mother has been everything the family needed to survive. dealing with home and church life has taken its toll but she is determined to bring the family back together.But will it be to late? I love me some ReShonda. This story was great.Even though it was about church life it wasn't to churchy and had enough drama to keep your attention.The characters will have you laughing crying mad all in one paragraph.I will be finishing this series.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Everybody Say Amen; Author: ReShonda Tate Billingsley; Genres: romance, fiction; Review: The Jackson are back!!!!!! Seven years has now past and this family is still on the roll.Rachel has turned her life around and became first lady at Zion Hill.Trying to stay on the right path ,she puts her past life behind her.While being a mother of two kids is hard she experience hard time with her son Jordan. She ends up seeking help from the boys father but with her being married and old feelings creeping back.With her father being sick and her brothers dealing with their own problems she realizes she need God more than ever. This was also a great story,With it start starting slow and being that way for most of the book,i enjoyed it. Towards the end it picks up and boy the secrets that come out will shock you.I cant wait to continue on to part three.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Say Amen, Again; Author: ReShonda Tate Billingsley; Genres: thriller, crime, mystery, fiction; Review: Rachel is back with more drama than ever.After finding out so devastating news about her husband Lester she truly at her wits end especially knowing that there may be a baby involved.When Lester finds himself in a troubling situation Rachel realizes its time to take off her first lady hat and bring the old Rachel back. In this compelling novel we will learn whats= is like to really put on the hat of forgiveness. I have truly enjoyed this series. The characters and drama was on point. I forgot this was even a christian novel. ReShonda did her thing gotta read more from this Author.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Temptation; Author: Victoria Christopher Murray; Genres: romance, fiction; Review: Three ladies, Two friends and the ultimate betrayal!!!!!! Kyla Blake has it all. A beautiful daughter a wonderful husband and most of all God. After being married sixteen years they married has been great. Jefferson has started a new business and Kyla has her own committee at church but when you are winning the devil is watching. Jasmine has an agenda of her own. After divorcing her husband she has been lonely every since.Trying to fill a void of being alone she has turned to married men but that doesn't stop the lust she has for best friend husband. Alexis Ward is the perfect example of waiting on God. Saving herself for marriage has ran plenty of men away but when she meets Dr.Brian Lewis she is scared of the new challenge she will face. This story is all about forgiveness trust and depending on the Lord.The characters will have you in a ball of emotions. Even though it was a slow story it held my interest and got better towards the end.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: A Sin and a Shame; Author: Victoria Christopher Murray; Genres: romance, fiction; Review: After running from her past life Jasmine finds herself in New York ready to start over.Now becoming a Christian and a changed women she is ready to live her life on the right path.Giving up on love she finds herself head over hills for a preacher man but as the saying goes the devil never wants to see you happy. Has her past finally caught up with her? This was and fast paced and entertaining read.These characters are a trip from page one. I love that this book came with a nice message forgiveness goes along way. Great Job.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Too Little, Too Late; Author: Victoria Christopher Murray; Genres: romance, fiction; Review: Jasmine is back and boy it just doesn't end. Jasmine bush is trying to repair her marriage from the last set of lies she told but as the saying once a liar always a liar.When her husband get an offer to go to New york Jasmine is afraid that her past will finally meet her future. What she doesn't know is that her husband might have a few secrets of his own. When all truths finally hit the surface it might be a little to late. I have read this series from the beginning and I have been on the edge of my seat. These characters will have you saying every word that saints shouldn't say lol. I loved how is drama filled and keeps you wanting more.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Heroin Heartbreak; Author: Vanessa M. Kirby; Genres: non-fiction; Review: Coping with life is hard to do when your past haunts you everyday. 18 year old Ashley finds herself in this situation. Having no where else to turn she finds comfort in partying & doing drugs to keep her emotions and thoughts at bay nothing will stop them completely.Stuck in between a rock & a hard place Ashley turns to her aunt but will the Kennedy Family be able to handle the heartbreak that's coming there way? I recommend this book to every young person, teen and adult. This was a real eye opener to whats going on in our own homes and don't even know it.From the first page it pulls you in by your heartstrings and don't let go. Your emotions are really tied into the character until the very last page. After this book I think we all will be holding our love ones a little more tighter. Great Job.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hail Mary II; Author: Karen Williams; Genres: fiction; Review: Rhonda is back and nothing has changed but the days. Still devious and only thinking bout her self,she continue her story just for us to enjoy. After almost facing death she ends up in a different jail where there is a therapist that's willing to help her but is there really a cure for the girl that we hate to love? Part two went out with a bang. Still a short story but it tied up all the end to complete it. Great job Karen never Disappoints!!!!!!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Double Dose; Author: Aleta L. Williams; Genres: fiction; Review: Three women find themselves having a double dose. Nivea has a great life with a great husband. She is very happy but one night of comfort gets her in a lifetime full of trouble. Will she be able to live happily ever after CoCo the ghetto babymoma cant seem to keep it together. All she wants is to have her baby daddy love her. Trying everything to get his attention she sees that he will never be a one women man how will she handle the situation. Brandy has a good job, own car and house. Trying to have a two parent home for her son, she find herself unhappy and abused by the hands of her son father.Tried of the drama she finds herself falling for a man that has all these women in a bind. A Deed brother! A good short read. The storyline was very interesting.I must say that it was a few errors and words missing but it didn't take away from the storyline. The ending also just has a sudden cliffhanger. I will continue on to part two.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Joneses; Author: Shelia M. Goss; Genres: fiction; Review: On the outside looking in the Joneses are the family to be, but little do everyone know they are your typical family. Royce Jones is the man that every women would love to have.After inheriting his family funeral business he put his all into making it flourish.When business becomes slow and he finds his self losing money,he realizes he is in serious trouble and is left with no other choice but to break the news to his family. Lexi Jones ,wife to funeral home mogul has just found out the the perfect life that she has become accustomed to has hit a financial strain.When she finds out this news she is determined by any means necessary not to go back to the life she once knew. Lovie, Chasity & Hope,Royce and Lexi children are all battling different situations. When some secrets surface and there family name is on the line they all come together to handle them as a family.Sadly its only a matter before things become uncontrollable.One thing they agree on is what happen with the Joneses Stay with the Joneses. This read was good and fast paced.The drama draws you in from the first page. I also love the shocking twist that took place. I must say that although i enjoyed the story I felt it could've been a little better. I felt sometimes that the story was so fast paced that it skipped from one scene to the next.I also felt that there was no connection with the characters.Overall it was a pretty good novel.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Forgive Me; Author: Stacy Campbell; Genres: romance, fiction; Review: After losing her second husband to Lou Gehrig's disease, Aruba Dixon has hit rock bottom. When she ends up in the hospital from a failed suicide attempt her parents feel its time to call for help. Her ex husband James. Finally James is able to live the life he always wanted After making his dream come true of owing his own hair salons he feel his life is still incomplete but can he keep it all together before it spins out of control? Twatha Gipson is finally free after serving 5 years in prison. She works on getting her life together so day she can reunite withe her only daughter. Once her daughter finds out her mother is free will she open her with open arms? Struggling with letting the past go Victoria Faulk is learning how to deal with her new life. Along the way she meets Emory who is ready to make her his but she know she wont be able to be happy until she faces her past. Will she be able to reopen old wounds in order to heal. In this follow up sequel we will learn how in order to live in the present we must forgive the past. Good read. I liked how everything came together. Although I felt some parts dragged on. I'm glad i stuck with it.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Swag; Author: Angel Santos; Genres: thriller, crime, mystery, fiction; Review: Jasmine has it all planned out and nobody knows the motive but her. Officer Jasmines sets out to take out a top drug ring,once inside she turns friends into foes & love into a big triangle. As her plan comes together she faces another problem Swag. With swag in the mix to bring down the crew as well who will come out on top? This book was the bomb. From the first page you get wrapped up with the characters.With a twisting ending you wont believe.You will definitely be leaving 5 stars for this book.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Too Much of a Good Thing; Author: Kimberla Lawson Roby; Genres: romance, fiction; Review: Pastor Curtis Black is back and more conniving than ever.After losing his first wife and his old church he has to go back to a normal life without all the fame, money, cars and clothes.Once he adjust to his new life the opportunity has approach him to become pastor at a new church. Wantintg his old life back he hops on the chance given,question is will Pastor black be able to balance a new church, new wife and on top of that try to rebuild the relationship with is daughter Alicia or will he fall back to his old ways that hindered him before? Part two was just as good as part one if not better. Curtis was a trip and had my emotions all over the place. I love the message that was behind this book. As parents we have to always check what our kids are doing on the internet it could be the matter or life or death.I cant wait to continue this series and see what he is up to next.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Secrets of a Side Bitch; Author: Jessica N. Watkins; Genres: thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, romance, mystery; Review: Sexy,young and hard working who wouldn't want a man like that. Meet Omari, all he wants to do is a make an honest living but it seems no matter how hard he works its not enough to keep him and his girlfriend above water. Left with no other options he turns to his cousin Ching for help.Soon Omari finds himself caught up in a homicide investigation and balancing two loves. Simone wants a love that she can call her own but she always finds herself only being a side piece. After seeing Omari she just knows that she has finally found the man of her dreams or so she thinks.Dates and time spent together has her opening up & falling in love but every fairy tale must come to an end. Simone starts noticing Omari is changing, which to her can mean only one thing she's not the only one. Determined not to be a side piece ever again she plots to do what she has to be Omari's leading lady. Put on your seat belt because you are in for the ride of your life with this story.These characters was crazy.The plot really had you thinking, How far will people go just for a little bit of happiness. By the end you will definitely need a drink.I will be reading part 2 to see how this all play out.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Inevitable Act I; Author: Johnie Jay; Genres: romance, fiction; Review: Angel Mccloud is breaking out of her shell,after having her heart broken one to many times. She has promised to take a break from relationships and play the field.Now the fun begins. With her mind set on having a no string attach commitment she has potential prospects lined up but she can't seem to get her mind off this one guy her "MYSTERY MAN". 5 years later, the good boy the ladies once known is gone meet the new Future Crow.He is sexy and he knows it.Being the typical ladies man he gives ladies just what they are looking for a night of good loving. He thinks he has the player life locked down until he meets his match Kandi.Now that the game has change Future still has a problem life is trying to take over when his "MYSTERY LADY" keep invading his senses. Follow these two characters as they take you on they take you on their drama filled ride through their life. Whew!!!!!! I Applaud the author for writing this book it definitely some truths in there as far as how men and women think. It took awhile for me to get into it but once I did I'm glad that I Stuck with it. I loved the erotic filled scenes that left you wanting more. This book have some very funny parts that i couldn't help but laugh at.I didn't care to much for the ending.Over all this is a great read that i'm sure you will enjoy and get lost in it for hours.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: With This Ring; Author: Allison Hobbs; Genres: romance, fiction; Review: These Ladies are back......... After Harlow's happily ever after she find out that the person she loves the most has a side to him that she hasn't seen and starts to question his character. Is marriage life all it's cracked up to be? Nieva decides to get on the right track for the sake of her daughter. A Paternity test hands in the balance will the results give her the life she is looking for? Vangie is on a rampage after not getting the life she hoped for. She doesn't know that her actions will cost her to lose many thing including the person she loves the most. Will this tale end with a not so happy ending? This was a good follow up. It had more drama than the previous book. I love the characters and hope to read more about them. The way the book ended left it open for a part three. Great job Allison.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Suspicions; Author: Sasha Campbell; Genres: children, romance, fiction; Review: Situations , the hottest salon in Chicago holds more than salon chatter its the direct line into the lives of her employees and clients Noelle Finds herself in a weird situation when she finds a baby on her back porch. Racking her brain trying to figure out how the baby got there,she notice a family trait wheels start turning when she notice that the father could be her son or her husband but the question is Who does she belong to? Tiffany has been taught morals since the beginning of time,Save yourself until marriage. When she meet the man of her dreams Kimble she on on the ride of her life. How could the happiest day of her her life also be her last. Candance a hard working single mother has given up on love.But could a day at the Salon change her life forever. I loved this book from the time I started reading it. The characters emotions where so strong I felt each of their pain. If I could give this book 10 Stars. Will be reading more from this Author!!!!!!!!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Casting the First Stone (Reverend Curtis Black #1); Author: Kimberla Lawson Roby; Genres: romance, fiction; Review: First lady Tonya Black believed in her husband calling to become a preacher she Packs up her life from Atlanta to come to Chicago So Curtis Black can pastor at Faith Missionary Church. Being the first lady comes with its perks nice house car and a beautiful daughter but it doesn't bring happiness.With rumors going around about her husband committing adultery and secrets being hidden. Tanya finally gets fed up but is she ready for what she finds? This was my first read by Mrs.Roby and I must say I enjoyed it. The characters are off the chain. I felt all the emotions that were being displayed. It had drama from page one that will have you wanting to read more and more. I'm glad this book was recommended to me. I have heard nothing but good thing about this series and after completing book one I will be starting book two next.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: A Child of a Crackhead; Author: Shameek Speight; Genres: thriller, comics, crime, paranormal, graphic, fiction, fantasy, romance, mystery; Review: This was A good story.it really played on your emotions.black ice was a trip.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Deal, the Dance, and the Devil; Author: Victoria Christopher Murray; Genres: romance, fiction; Review: Will you do anything to keep your family happy? Evia and Adam are a happily married couple,With their twins and son they are the perfect family.Things are going well until a lay off has appeared.Once it seems they have hit rock bottom a five million dollar offer has been handed to them on a platter but is everything that glitters gold? Bravo VCM.This was my first read by her and I must say that I was not disappointed.From page one I was grabbed right in.I love the characters.I felt their emotions,the happiness, pain & tears,this is what a good book consists of.I definitely will be reading more from this author.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Darling Nikki; Author: E.V. Adams; Genres: fiction; Review: Wow this story goes to show you will never know about no ones life until you have took a walk in their shoes.This was a great story.The twist and turn in this book will have you craving for more until you have finish the book.The drama is better then a soap opera on tv.Once you get a dose of this book there is know stopping.Great job on this read I cant wait to read more; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hood Symphony; Author: Tnicyo; Genres: fiction; Review: Tree & Von made a pact hat blood couldn't make them any closer and only death could rip hem apart.When the streets threaten to take away they show the streets what la familia is all about. Hood Symphony was off he chain.Very action packed.I felt like I was the one right there as i was going down.Great job can' wait for part 2.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Available Wife; Author: Carla Pennington; Genres: fiction; Review: Niquole is all about her money,running her own record label she doesnt care who she has to run over to get to the top including her family.She is happy with everything in her life except her husband.Out on the prowl she think she has met a man that is gonna sweep her off her feet but little do she know he is gonna do more than that. Great story filled with drama from start to finish cant wait to read part 2; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Love & Lies (Reverend Curtis Black, #4); Author: Kimberla Lawson Roby; Genres: romance, fiction; Review: Curtis dreams finally have come true, he is now a best selling author and traveling the world. All seem well in the Black house hold but looks can be misleading. Both are holding on to past trust issues. The more he tries to stay on the straight and narrow the more he finds himself in deeper trouble. Charlotte has a lot going on in her life. being a mother of two and a wife to a minister and author is not easy.In the back of her mind she believes that Curtis has one special fan while he is touring,but believe all can be fix once he is home again. Truthfully she's hopefully that her past secrets never be exposed. Janine, Charlotte best friend is every man dream her own everything but she finds her self in a tough situation. All she wants to do is be free,but when she finally puts her foot down she is scared for her life. In this story these characters will learn everything that happens has a lesson behind it and and forgiveness is the key to happiness. I truly enjoyed this novel even though it was a new character thrown in I really liked the message behind it. This book will have you thinking about a lot of choices you make. It definitely is a tear jerker if you're a softy like me. I hope this series continue on this great path as a series.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sin No More (Reverend Curtis Black, #5); Author: Kimberla Lawson Roby; Genres: romance, fiction; Review: The family we love to hate is back with more drama than ever. Pastor Black has finally changed his was but sometimes life has a way of always Bringing up the past.Curtis mistress has finally came out of the shadows and has brought a package with her. She is determined to get what she feels she deserves and stops at nothing to get her point across. Meanwhile Charlotte past has found it way back to her. When they finally decide to tell their son about a secret they have been keeping for 13 years, they don't count on him really wanting to know more about the situation. Now that the truth is out Charlotte has to met the demands that are requested or she might lose her son forever. With Curtis and his problem and Charlotte with hers will they be able to overcome this like have they have done the over the years or will there sin finally become to much to bare? I must say that i have yet to get bored with this series and this is book 5.I love the drama that keeps building up to want you to continue the series. I have read previous reviews and i must say some don't match the story and i'm glad that i don't let them determine my reading because i enjoyed this book.On to part 6.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Forbidden Love Unchained: The Complete Novel; Author: Carry Lowe; Genres: mystery, thriller, crime, romance, fiction; Review: Three Bronx sisters have more drama then the law allows. Raven is the bad girl of the group. She holds her sisters down no matter what.She finds her self in a love triangle between her boyfriend and her best friend. With things getting a little to close for comfort who will have Raven's heart? Mickey is living a very devious life. Wanting nothing but happiness she know she can't never let her relationship out the bag.When Things seem to be going her way she has hope that her and her secret lover can finally be but will they have a happily ever after? Mel & Reeper has been together since their teenage years. She love her man but is fed up with the lies and tired of being played, so she decides to beat him at his own game. Will Mel win or will she allow Reeper to work his way back once again? What a great read from the first page this story was popping. I could not put this book down. This book had everything a 5 star required. I also loved the characters and their connection. Although I felt some parts were predictable,I still end up getting a shocker I didn't see coming. Will Definitely be reading bOok two!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Dollar Outta Fifteen Cent; Author: Caroline McGill; Genres: romance, fiction; Review: Known as Brooklyn hottest stripper Portia Lane is a go getter,all on her mind is stacking doe but dont get it twisted she is far from dumb.Along this ride she takes her best friends with her Samone,Laila & Fatima,together can't nobody stop them.Portia starts to realize that she is breaking her number one rule when she starts falling for one of her clients she soon realize that life may never be the same. Jay is every girl's dream. He has swagger and ambition but all he is focus on is his empire & his son.After visiting the club and being under Portia spell he can't seem to stop thinking about her.He see's something in her that despite her stripping life he wants to give her a chance. Will Portia be able to prove she has changed and is ready for a better life or will she past be stuck in the streets of hustling for ever? Either way they say the past is never to far behind and sometimes you have to pay. Whewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww. This was a great read. I decided to take it back a few years and read an old book and I'm glad I did. From the first page I was pulled in and I was so stuck I had to keep reading until I found out what happen. It had just the right drama and really pulled at your emtions. This would have been the perfect stand alone it ended well,But im curious so I will continue on with the series. MUST READ!!!!!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Silenced; Author: Kia DuPree; Genres: romance, young-adult, fiction; Review: Nicola a single parent just want the best for all her kids but her daughter Tinka is dear to her heart why because she doesn't want her to follow in her footsteps. Tinka a young girl who is the goody two shoes in the family tries her best to live up o her mother dream for her bu when life doesn't go as planned can she sill make he dream come true?< A attention getter from page one. Drama filled & action pack read. I really enjoyed this story; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Breaking All the Rules (Second Chances Book 1); Author: Rhonda McKnight; Genres: romance, fiction; Review: Two women,one man ,a marriage and a baby?????? There has always been the unspoken rule,never date family members ex's.Deniece is trying to figure out how could her baby sis break this one rule and marry the man she once use to love. Keeping her promise to her dad Deniece decides to put her true feelings aside and help her sister plan her dream wedding.Once she makes her way to the little town of Garrison her job begins. Trying to avoid her ex she finds comfort and an listening ear in Ethan,Not wanting to let her guard down and get hurt again she sticks to her number one rule.No dating younger men. In this sexy novella we will find out some rules are meant to be broken. My first read by this author and it won't be my last. A good little love story. I got very attached to the characters. A few missing words but it didn't take away from me reading and enjoying it.I'm Hoping I get more on these characters soon. #TEAMETHAN:); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Anybody's Daughter (Angela Evans #2); Author: Pamela Samuels Young; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: The most informative read of this year!!!!! Meet Brianna Walker a thirteen year old girl Who will go on the worst journey of her life. Going against her mother rules Brianna makes a facebook page,finally getting up the nerve to meet her first real boyfriend she soon'S finds out that her new Found love is not real.Once she figured out that something is gone wrong she is kidnapped never to be heard from again. Dealing with his own criminal past,Uncle Dre soon finds out that his past is not truly behind him yet. When he finds out his niece, who is more like his daughter has been kidnapped. He hits the street running and get her back.When his find out that sex trafficking is not just going on in other countries but in his own city of Los Angeles he is determined to race against the hands of time to bring her home. Not alone in his search against time. A social worker named Loretha Johnson knows what is going on is this world well. After previously living "the life" as its called,she dedicates her time to helping these girls get their life back on track.She finds out about Dre situation and realize she might be just the help he needs to get his niece back. With Adrenaline is pumping.Dre will stop at nothing to bring these people down, but will Dre be able to get to her before her life changes forever? Wow is all I can say. If I knew thrillers were like this I would've picked up one a long time ago. This has been the most informative read I have read to date. From page one I was drawn into a world that no child should ever have to experience. I love the characters and the meaning behind this story.My emotions were all over the place. This situation is happening all over the world and we need to realize that it can happen in our own back yard to our own children. We as parents have to instill in our children that the value of not falling into this trap is important. I thank the author for opening my eyes on this. I recommend this book to everyone and I can't wait to read more from this author.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Deception; Author: Naomi Chase; Genres: young-adult, thriller, crime, fiction, romance, mystery; Review: After hearing the words she dreamed of for five months(not guilty. Tamika Luke has one thing on her mind getting her one true love back.Hearing that he is about get married has her more determined than every to make him remember the love that he once knew. With time winding down and her plan set in motion nothing can stop her but secrets from the past. Will she be able to keep then in until she get the love of her life back? Trying to adjust to the real world Fiona finally land herself a job,hoping that she can get her hands on the top man, the boss.she land herself in a tangled web when she get caught up with one owners but uses the deception to her advantage. All is going well in her life until the secrets she thought only her and her sister know are brought up again by a stranger. The highly appointed Brandon chambers is every women dream. Moving on from the past he starts a relationship with Cythina. Everything is going well until he sees Tamia again. Finding himself torn between the two. Will follow his heart or end up in deceptive territory? I must say I was disappointed in this book.There was too many errors and name mix-ups. Although it had drama I felt like some parts was rushed and that it just ended out of no where.It did however have a few funny moments and cleared up some questions I had. So although this book didn't hit the mark for me. I am Hoping that part three is better.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Betrayal; Author: Naomi Chase; Genres: young-adult, thriller, crime, fiction, romance, mystery; Review: The long awaited characters are back!!!!!! Tamia Luke is trying to let the past go and move on with her life. Easier said then done she can't let go without a least trying one more time to get the her true love Brandon back.Things seem to be going well but she also knows that the odds are against her since she is going head to head with his Fiancee Cynthina.Hoping that one last time with Brandon will rekindle the love they once had she realizes its either all or nothing, but when Tamia finds herself in another set of lies and scheme will she be able to hold on to the secrets for the sake of love and friendship or will she find her self back in the life she once knew. The prestigious attorney, Brandon has accomplished all he he set out to do in life making his family proud,he has everything together or so he thought.With Tamia back on the scene he realize that although she hurt him she is the one he loves.Brandon feel like he has the weight of the world n his shoulder dealing with new position as partner and his fiancee Cynthia. Torn between the two he know he has decide what to do but when is Brandon is his with some ultimate news he knows that is choice has been made for him. The novel was definitely worth the wait.From page one you find your self right were part two ended.I was on the edge of my seat waiting on events to unfold. I was a bunch of emotions with this one. I felt she made a come back since I was disappointed with part two.The drama and characters were on point.There were no mix-ups or errors. Overall I was very happy with the story. Great Job Naomi Chase; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The White House; Author: JaQuavis Coleman; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, non-fiction, mystery; Review: Draya is a young girl who had to grow up early to provide for her brother.After responding to an ad in the newspaper for a maid position,she began's working in The white house.When she receives a letter that her brother has been accepted to the college of his dreams,she knows it grind time to pay for tuition.One day she lucks up on a chance of a lifetime to hit big but we all know nothing goes as planned. Fast paced read. I enjoyed the story line. Although it was quick it was well developed.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Wages of Sin (Protective Detective, #1); Author: Yolonda Tonette Sanders; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: Natalie and Troy Davis have a great marriage and loving family. All seems to be well at least in Troy eyes. When a number of women are murdered Troy has been selected as lead detective to find the serial killer behind it. With no leads or motive Troy finds him self with more sleepless night and no family time.Determined to find the killer he soon realizes that he might have more in common with the killer than he think. Natalie know that in order to have the life she enjoys Troy must work but she cant help to feel overwhelmed when she has to deal with her job,son by herself along with a secret that might change their lives forever. I loved the message that this novel portayed. I also love the idea of bringing murder ans christian together. I was a little disappointed in the story line and how it could be confusing at times. I'm hoping that the next one gives more details when it comes to characters.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Family of Lies; Author: Mary Monroe; Genres: romance, fiction; Review: Vera Lomax has did every trick known to man to land her a rich husband.Now that she has succeed she stops at nothing to make she her old husband is happy.Meanwhile she makes her self happy by going on multiple shopping sprees and having multiple affairs.Vera soon finds out that she isn't the only one having a affair. When she finds out her husband mistress is pregnant she come up with a bribe that will hide the truth and secure her husband fortune as hers only. Sarah Cooper has always wonder what her life would be liKE if she had a father.When she loses her mother to a tragic accident she soon learns that not only does she has a father,she has a rich father.She moves on up from the ghetto to a mansion on hill. All seem to be going well until she meets her step mother Vera. She soon realizes her life will never be the same. Follow these to ladies on the quest to fight for the two things that matter to them most love and fortune. This was a good read. I love the drama that took place in this book.It also has some funny parts that will have you dying with laughter.The only thing I didn't like is once you got closer to the middle it seem to slow down and drag on making it where you have to push yourself to read it. Overall it was a good story once it picked up. Can't wait to see what Mary Monroe has in stored for us next.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Undone; Author: Tina Brooks McKinney; Genres: romance; Review: Gina Meadows has been through hell and back with her long term boyfriend Ronald.Looking for nothing in return but what she deserves. She always finds herself right back to square one,heartbroken. Craving to have a child of her own she is devastated when she finds out that Ronald not only has twins boys but is required to raised them. Gavin & Merlin Ronald sons, are identical twins with opposite attitude.Good & evil. Although they are a hand full Gina stops at nothing to raise them right.Still trying to live here fairy tale life,Gina finds herself mentally breaking down when things don't go her way.Will she finally open her eyes? Whew what a great drama filled read.I knew I wouldn't be disappointed. Tina has a way with words that draws u right in.Warning this book does cause all type of emotions to come out. One minute I was happy next I was shaking my head.Great Job.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Forbidden Love Unchained 2: The Finale; Author: Carry Lowe; Genres: romance; Review: The Thompson sisters are back again and life just doesn't want to deal them a good hand.After losing their sister,Raven is set on getting revenge but doesn't know where to start.The situation only get worst when they find out that its someone in there camp waiting to take them out.Will they find out who before its too late? Mel has finally recover from the hurt that Ripper has caused her. Falling in love with Nick seems to cure all her problems until a blast from Nick's past comes trying to break up their relationship. Will Nick and Mel survived this test? What a great Finale. I was so anxious to complete this book to find out what the outcome would be. I loved the drama this story had. I must say that i hate to see these characters go. I loved how everything came together. I will definitely add this author to my must read list.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The White House; Author: JaQuavis Coleman; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, non-fiction, mystery; Review: Draya is a young girl who had to grow up early to provide for her brother.After responding to an ad in the newspaper for a maid position,she began's working in The white house.When she receives a letter that her brother has been accepted to the college of his dreams,she knows it grind time to pay for tuition.One day she lucks up on a chance of a lifetime to hit big but we all know nothing goes as planned. Fast paced read. I enjoyed the story line. Although it was quick it was well developed.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Tell Me No Secrets; Author: Nikki Michelle; Genres: romance, fiction; Review: Chaynne is a successful business women who finds herself caught up in a love triangle.After starting an affair with her boss Aric, she is head over heels in love.Her world comes crashing down when she finds out that sh'e pregnant & the man that she love's is married. Things seem to go from bad to worse. Chaynne finds herself caught up in so much drama.Will she be able to handle all the secrets? Loved how the story pulled you in and keep you on a crazy ride all the way until the end.This book will definitely have your emotions all over the place.Can't wait to see how the series end.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Champagne For The Pain; Author: Tonii; Genres: fiction; Review: Tara is a young girl who experienced heartbreak at a very young age.After her first love Savion breaks her heart.Her self esteem has her making one bad choice after the next searching for love. Trying to drown out the hurt, she turns to drinking to solve all her problems.Tara finally decides to give up on love until she meets Kadon but is he really the knight in shining armor he claims to be or will it be back to the Champagne to heal the pain? This is my first book by this Tonii and I plan to read many more. This story grabs your attention and keeps you reading until you are done. This was a good story but the editing needs to be worked on the skipping from character to character can make you lose connection with the story line although it didn't bother me it could be a factor for someone. Overall I'm curious to see how this series play out so I will continue.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Thug Passion; Author: Mz. Lady P; Genres: fiction; Review: For four years Tahari Monore has been going through hell with her boyfriend Nico. She soon's finds herself unhappy and unloved.That doesn't hurt more the finding out that her best friend has betrayed her in the worst way.Knowing that it is time to move on. Tahari decides that it's finally time to stand on her own two feet.Going back to the only place she knows leads her right to Ka'jaire aka thug. As fate has it nothing can keep them apart and from falling in love.Things are starting to go well but dealing with the street life nothing is guaranteed. Can Tahari be the ride or die Thug needs? What a banger this was my first book By Mz. Lay P and wont be my last. I can't wait to see how this series play out. I love the Characters but momma Peaches is my favorite. I was on pins and needles trying to figure out what was going on. Although the book had a few errors it didn't take away from the story line.Glad I read the reccomendation.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: NAS; Author: Jessica N. Watkins; Genres: romance, fiction; Review: In this day and age cheating is not unfamiliar.Unfortunately some men go above and beyond to hurt the ones that matter most. Nas and Moses are your typical men.They both have familie but can't seem to leave the street life and all the drama it brings outside of their home. Aaliyah,Jaleesa & Tabitha are prime examples of loving these type of men despite the situation.As lies & drama unfold these ladies will soon find out that their NAS!!!!! Hats off to Jessica!! This was my first story by her and definitely won't be my last. The first pages pulls you right in with the drama and carries it all the way to the end. I love that the setting took place in my home town. My emotions were all over the place.I can't wait to see what else these characters have in store; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Thug Passion 2; Author: Mz. Lady P; Genres: fiction; Review: Part two picks right up where part one stops. Thug & Tahari are closer than ever and the drama is still there will they continue to come out on top? Lady P keeps you on your toes with the drama. Despite the few errors its still a good read. Thug still has my heart. Cant wait to continue this series.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Promiscuous Girl; Author: Nicole Jackson; Genres: fiction; Review: Life has a funny way of dealing you a messed up hand. This is how Taraj feels. Since the young age of eleven she has been put in positions that no little girl should ever have to experience.Accepting things for what it is she is now place in a new situation with Steve.Thinking life is better since she has been shown a different way,Taraj soon learn that all that glitters is not gold.Caught up in Steve's drama she is now faced with a new problem Taz.With her life hanging in the balance she knows her time is up but there is something about Taz that has her holding on to a little hope. Will Taz change her for the better? Or will she end up being just another promiscuous girl? So I finally got around to reading a Nicole Jackson book.It started off a little bit slow for me but once it picked up it really held my attention.I liked the concept of story because this does happen in real life but I can't help to feel like it was a bit much.I loved Taz & Taraj connection. I felt like the ending could have been better it just stopped wasn't really a cliff hanger to me.Overall I enjoyed the story.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Love Is Blind; Author: Kyoshi; Genres: thriller, crime, mystery, fiction; Review: Kaylen finds her self looking for love in all the wrong places.Thinking love is shown by getting beat she accepts her relationship and all the pain that it has to offer.Will she ever come to reality or forever be blinded by love? This is a story everyone should read.Your emotions will have you on the edge of your seat. I enjoyed this story line a lot and can't wait to see what else this author has to offer.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Beautiful, Dirty, Rich; Author: J.D. Mason; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, romance, mystery; Review: For twenty five years Desdimona Green has lived her life behind bars for the murder of Julian Gatewood.The Gatewood family feels untouchable until their well hidden secerts have been revealed.Now with Desi being free and 20 million dollars richer heads are starting to turn as the city of Texas wonder what really happen the night of Julian death. Determind to get her side of the story out once and for all Desi decides to write a book and the secrets inside might just shock us all!! This was a different type of read for me but I must say that I enjoyed it. I loved the mystery type feel this story presented. It kept you wondering until the very last page.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Champagne For The Pain 3; Author: Tonii; Genres: fiction; Review: Tara,Savion & Kadon are back for the finale. Tired of the life that she is living she finally decides to get her life back together starting with telling everyone the truth. Will she be able to handle the outcome of it all? Savion finds out that the grass might not be greener on the other side when it comes to Ivy.After finding out some secrets.What will be his next move? Great way to end a series. I"m sad to see these characters go but was glad about the ending.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Don't Come Looking For Love; Author: Natavia; Genres: thriller, crime, romance, mystery; Review: Britain & O'shea find themselves in love at a young age but life has a funny way of working itself out.After dealing with a traumatic experience Britain moves away only to come back 8 years later. With O'shea being a rapper he lives a lavish lifestyle but can never forget who held his heart. This story held my attention but it was not my favorite read. A lot of funny moments.I will continue the series.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: All I Want is that Hood Love; Author: Mercedes G.; Genres: romance, fiction; Review: Nataysia Taylor Has a lot going for herself at the young age of twenty four. Married to the successful Jamel Taylor and being a nurse has her living a very comfortable life but even comfortable gets boring. Nataysia finds herself in a deep game when she meets Mega.Although Jamel is the only man she knows she is curious to see what mega has to offer. But is the grass greener on the other side?; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Never Trust a Broken Heart; Author: Ivy Symone; Genres: mystery, thriller, crime, romance, fiction; Review: Mikina has been suffering for years dealing with her baby father. Yes she has the finer things in life and doesn't want for anything,at least not material things.Yet she is still looking for something that missing, Real love.Accepting things for what it is Mikina gives up on being happy until she meets Blyss aka Bebe.For Mikina being with bebe has shown her what true love is all about but her situation has her scared to trust again.Will she finally accept happiness or will this life burden her forever. Wow this book was definitely an emotional page turner. I felt every emotion in this book. This is a must read for every women going through domestic violence. Trust your first instinct. Great job Ivy. Definitely an eye opener.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hittin' It Out the Park; Author: Allison Hobbs; Genres: fiction; Review: Cheryl Blanton does well as being a model but what women doesn't want more. Her life changes when she ends up marrying a baseball player worth 120 million. Determined to keep her man on lock and keep the groupies away she does all she can to keep him happy. She is confident in her relationship but all that changes when sexy Sanchez steps on the scene. Sexy Sanchez takes pride in stealing your man and Cheryl's man is not off limits.When the prefect opportunity comes along for her to catch her mark she is on cloud nine. All that comes down when her secret has been revealed. This book caught my attention from the first page. The characters were a mess in this one. Can't wait for part 2.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Who Wants That Perfect Love Story Anyway 3; Author: Natavia; Genres: thriller, crime, mystery; Review: After being in Cuba for four months Cam and Royal are finally home but they don't leave alone. Royal has brought back his nurse Alita and its not sitting right with Cam. Knowing how women can be she suspects that Alita is gunning for her man but is her suspicion true? Corey and Tee-Tee are ready to throw in the towel.Tee-Tee cant get over the hurt and betrayal and finds herself in the arms of another man.Corey is battling with his love for Tee-Tee and his baby momma Myla. Stuck between a rock and hard place,who will he end up choosing? Jamie and Killa finally have happiness but there is always ex's lurking. Ashaun and Quyla are coming in between their relationship and Jamie and Killa are fighting harder than before to prove their love for each other but will it be enough? How will these couples handle there situations to prove love is not always perfect? Great ending to this series. The editing was better in this book. I am happy that I got the ending that I wanted. I love these characters and surely will miss them. All the laughter and pain was a plus to this story. I have found me a new author. Good job Natavia.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Who Wants That Perfect Love Story Anyway 2; Author: Natavia; Genres: thriller, crime, romance, mystery; Review: The Fam is back with more drama. Cam finds herself once again caught in the middle between the man she once loved and the man who has her heart now.Royal finds himself getting fed up but will he be able to walk away? Jamie and Ashaun know they are not right for each other but each hold on to their marriage for selfish reasons. Fed up and tired of the game Jamie decides to move on.Only one person will truly have her heart but he is already taken.Will her and her love be able to finally rekindle? Corey & Tee-Tee has the craziest relationship of all. Its true love can really drive you crazy and cause you to make some dumb decisions. Corey finds himself tangled up in a web with Tee-Tee and his new girl Myla. Although he know where his heart is his mistake has caused him to lose it all.Can he right all his mistakes? This tale is truly a test in relations and friendships. Will these couples be able to handle it all? Natavia is really winning me over with this series. There were still still a few editing issues but it didn't take away from the story line. The humor in this book is mad crazy you really be LYAO!!!! I love the characters although the choices they are making are dumb its real. I will be continuing on to part 3.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Who Wants That Perfect Love Story Anyway; Author: Natavia; Genres: romance, fiction; Review: Carmen is fed up with her baby daddy Koran. Although she loves him she cant take the disrespect anymore deciding to do whats best for her she find love in her best friend brother Royal. Ashuan and Jamie just can't seem to keep their marriage together. No matter how much Ashuan try he cant make up for the mistake he has made. Although Jamie loves her husband she can't seem to let her first love go so the secret must stay withe her forever. Corey has always been a playa no one can have his heart until she set sights on Tee-tee a member that's apart of the team.He loves her but can't change her. Will these three couples be able to handle all the drama that's about to come their way. I really enjoyed this book. It easily could've been 5 stars but the editing and missing words were a major issue. I love the characters and the connection that took place. If you looking for a funny book this would definitely be it. I laughed so hard at some parts it was crazy. I cant wait to continue this series with hopes that the editing is better.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Stand Your Ground; Author: Victoria Christopher Murray; Genres: history, fiction, young-adult, thriller, crime, biography, historical fiction, mystery; Review: Janice Jackson 17 year old son has been murdered.She has so many unanswered questions but no one to ask them to.Hoping that the DA will do their job and arrest the man who has changed her life forever.With things not moving fast enough for her husband he decides to enlist a little help and get the justice that is deserved for his son. Meredith Spencer never knew that the night that she remember all so well would drastically change her life forever.How would she ever be able to look at her husband again after he has become an accused murderer. Stuck between her lifestyle and doing the right thing Meredith doesn't know what to do. This has become one of my top ten books of this year. VCM definitely did not disappoint with this novel.From the first sentence you were drawn in with the emotions felt from each character. You felt their pain,sadness and anger. The knowledge you learned from this book was very enlightening. Great Job.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Two Sides to a Love Story: Rico & Raja's Story; Author: Natavia; Genres: thriller, crime, mystery; Review: This spin off is about Rico and Raja. Rico is not your typical block boy. He is all about his education and being an honest worker but he has no problems getting his hands dirty if needed. Life has dealt him a messed up hand but is motto is never trip over what you cant fix. He finds himself caught up in a love triangle Raja is his heart and wants nothing more but to be with her but her attitude pushes him right in Fashion arms. Who will he choose? Raja is a feisty twenty year old girl. Working as a hair stylist she is all bout hers and could care less bout having a man. Although she really likes Rico she can't bring herself to show shes in love. Dealing with past issues has made it hard to let go and accept life for it is.Will she finally see the ways of her actions or will she lose Rico forever? Great spin off story. I also loved the update on the other characters as well. I like the improvement that the author has made.I can't wait to see what's next.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: All I Want Is That Hood Love 2; Author: Mercedes G.; Genres: children, romance, fiction; Review: Nataysia and Mega are back again and this ride is even crazier than before. After finding out about Mega engagement. Taysia makes up her mind that its time to move and and try to rekindle her marriage with her husband little do she know she is about to get the shock of her life. When all hands have been laid out on the table who will end up winning in this twisted love affair? Part 2 picks up right where one left off.Although this was a pretty decent read and I got the info that I wanted. I will honestly say that I was disappointed. I felt like this book was rushed and needed a little more ump. I will continue the series.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: One Woman's Trash Is Another Woman's Treasue; Author: Tonii; Genres: fiction; Review: What you don't appreciate somebody else will. After dealing with getting her heart broke Jayla vows to never love again. That's until r&b singer Zan B catches her attention. Will he be able to show her that All men are not the same? Maria has been with the love of her life since highschool.Kevin and her daughter are her world but she always feels like apart of her is missing.When she finds herself having to make a choice will it be the right one? Jazara is happy that the man she dreams about might finally become hers.Will all her scheming pay off? I have been following this author work for awhile now and was please with the spin off. I was happy to see an update on some of the characters.Although this book held my attention I can't help but to feel like something is missing. I will read part Two.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mama's Boy; Author: ReShonda Tate Billingsley; Genres: romance, fiction; Review: Never question A Mothers Love...... Gloria Jones finds herself in a tough situation when she finds out her son is being accused of murder.Although the video Jamal records and the gunshot she hears that took the police officer life is proof enough, in her heart she knows it was an accident. With a town full of racial profiling Jamal is now on the run. Gloria is in the biggest race of all finding her son before the police do. The hardest decision still remains to help him hide or turn him in. In this compelling novel we will learn the true meaning of unconditional love. Reshonda Tate Billingsley has penned another great novel that I'm sure with stick us for a very long time. The emotion that this books has poured out is unbelievable and will definitely pull at your heartstrings.I was able to connect with every character and feel every moment.I recommend this book to everyone .It's a must read!!!!!!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: CRUSH; Author: Ivy Symone; Genres: children, romance, fiction; Review: Jasmine is finally happy to be with her childhood crush Sean even if it means playing the side chick. After finding out that she is pregnant with his baby she believes everything will finally change for her and they will be one happy family. Things take a turn for the worse when its time for her to deliver.Her world comes tumbling down and the person that she least expects might just be the one to help her pick up the broken pieces. Ivy Symone has done it again. This book will keep you entertained from page one. A good quick read.I cant wait to see what's next.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Champagne For The Pain 2; Author: Tonii; Genres: fiction; Review: Tara once again find herself in a twisted triangle.Being engaged and pregnant is suppose to be the most happiest time in her life only problem is it's two different men. With her heart in one place and her mind in another will she finally be able to confess the truth to the two men she love? Savion has given up on trying to be with his one true love Tara. He decides that he must move on and Ivy is the one. Although he is happy with Ivy. He still can't seem to let go of Tara. Will they finally have their happily ever after? Kadon thought no one would ever be able to make him change his ways. All that changes when he meets Tara. In this life nothing come easily including love & trust. Kadon seem to have met his match. Who will win in the end? Part two picked right back up from part one and I must say that this was a good continuation.The drama just keep getting better & better. You can really see the character development in this book and better editing. I will continue the series.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: A Thug's Love; Author: Jessica N. Watkins; Genres: romance, fiction; Review: Kennedy Carter is a young girl who was raised by her father and lived a very strict lifestyle. Although he dad was on teaching her and trying to prepare her for the real world nothing could stop her love for thugs. After getting her first heartbreak she decides its time for a change and moves with her mother.Vowing to never give her heart away again she turns down the man that every girl wants King,but little do Kennedy know that what King want King gets. Deciding to take a chance they become a couple and things are great until one incident changes everything. Jessica Watkins has done it again with her new book.I love the characters and the raw emotion that they show. I cant wait to see how this series turns out good job.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Love. Allure.; Author: Jai Bree'nae; Genres: mystery, thriller, crime, romance, fiction; Review: I am my brother's keeper is the motto that the Pierce brothers live by faithfully.Empowered with both book & street knowledge nothing can bring them down.When they decided that they are leaving the game for good they set plans into motion but things don't go quite as planned.Take a ride with these four brothers as the battle Love and the streets at the same time. This first time author has definitely brought something to the table. This book draws up in from the first page and take you a ride full of drama and pain. I fell in love with these characters and the storyline. Besides a few errors this is the book to read.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: A Bittersweet Hood Dilemma: A Naptown Love Story; Author: Natavia; Genres: thriller, crime, mystery, fiction; Review: Tokyo has no problem being herself. Hate it or love it she still going to shine. After seeing being a ride or die chick gets you nowhere.Love is a hope she has given up on. Tassana is a fake Bougie chick. Though she feel she is better than everyone she also craves the lifestyle that they live.Her sneaky ways will find a way to catch up with her and she might lose it all. Kauzie is in a love triangle....Stuck between the girl he has put in time with but don't love and is home girl who has always had his heart but to young to realize it.Who will he choose? Natavia did not disappoint with this story.I love the bond these characters had. I really felt like I was in the hood. Great comedy!!!. If you are looking withe a book filled with drama and deceit. This the book for you.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Forever His Wife; Author: Bianca Harrison; Genres: romance, fiction; Review: Ava & Ryan are a married couple who share two children together.Trying to balance being a wife, mother & a best selling author is tiring but she wouldn't give it up for the world.Although she does the best she can she can't help to notice that Ryan interest is elsewhere and their marriage is starting to fail.When she finds out that her suspicions are right she fights for her marriage but when she finds out news that will change her life forever ..... Ava does what she have to do to prove she will forever be his wife.. Bravo To this Author. Although BWWM are not my choice of books I was Glad that I gave this one a chance. This book was a real eye opener to the saying the grass is not greener on the other side and sometimes it will be to late. My heart really went out to the main character. This book is a tear jerker but the message is excellent. Great Job .; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Tears On My Pillow; Author: Elle Welch; Genres: fiction; Review: Qia is head over hills with Jakari. He is her world and will finally be her husband. Although they are very much in love Jakari has secrets that can ruin not only his life but also Qia.When tragedy strikes will things take a turn for the worst? This was my first read from this author and this story had so much potential but it felt like something was missing. It could have used more detail and more character connection. An interesting read so I will give part two a chance when it drop.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: One Woman's Trash Is Another Woman's Treasure 2; Author: Tonii; Genres: fiction; Review: Jayla is trying to move on her with her life and accept things for what they are but she finds herself having to make a tough decision. Although her mind tell her to do otherwise she follows her heart. Knowing that she must tell Zander the truth she cant help but wonder will she ever get what she has dreamed of? Zander knows what her wants but he finds himself stuck when a blast from the past shows back up with a little surprise of her own. He also get another shock that he has to handle as well but all he can think about is the one person who has his heart but has he lost it before it even got started? Kevin & Maria just can't seem to get it together. They try to work things out for the sake of their daughter but with Kevin new girlfriend in his life it seems to create more problems then one. When an incident that happens finally come to light it will be the last straw. Will it damage them for good? I have followed this author series and I must say that I have enjoyed the spin off. I also love how it included characters from the previous series. Although I felt like something was missing in book one she brought the heat in this book. Great Job; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Pointe Of No Return: Giving You All I Got; Author: Nako; Genres: romance, fiction; Review: Demi Westbrooks has a life all planned out for her in the eyes of her mother. Although Demi passion Is dance life doesn't always go as expected. She is swept off her feet by the a man that is definitely not ideal for the way she has been raised. Papa is a gun firing hothead that gets it by any means necessary. He is not looking for love or relationship but somehow Demi manages to steal his heart. This was a great read. Started off A little slow but once the story built it takes off. I loved how Demi and Papa relationship came together. Will continue on to see how the the underworld ends.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: From His Rib (The Underworld Book 3); Author: Nako; Genres: mystery, thriller, crime, romance, fiction; Review: Miko Sanderson is not your typical Korean girl. Since she was little she had dreams of doing whatever it took to make sure she can have for herself and her mom. After landing a job in the white house she quickly went up in ranks proving that had work does pay off.Miko craves the thought of being in love and she will accept it however she can get it even if it's not the ideal thing she dreams of. When her brother offers her a position in The underworld she is not prepared for the valuable lessons life is about to teach her. In the end will she be able to balance it all. I enjoyed this story so much. I think Miko is my favorite so far. I loved the determination and the faith she had in all the situations that were thrown her way. Beautiful ending; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Christ Family: Book 4 of The Underworld; Author: Nako; Genres: mystery, thriller, crime, romance, fiction; Review: Julia had a full life ahead of her. It was instilled in her to get a job and work to make it in life. With only dreams of taking care of her family she earns herself a full scholarship for track. Julia didn't know that meeting Roderick would be her biggest regret in life. She will soon learn that life will teach you many lessons in life. With the biggest one being loving yourself This series continues to keep my attention and wanting more. Although this book was a little slower to get into it. At first I was wondering what the purpose of this story but I'm glad I stuck with it .Nako always leaves you with something to think about. On to part 5.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Stranger In My Eyes: Book 5 of The Underworld; Author: Nako; Genres: thriller, crime, mystery; Review: Lauren Howard knows what she wants out of life and growing up as a preacher kid gives her the faith to know she can succeed. Lo has a heart full of gold but finds herself in the wrong situation. Tired of not getting what she deserves she finds comforts through her Friends and family. When a blast from past returns she decides to give love one last try. When things are to good to be true it usually is and now she has to face the stranger in her eyes. Reading Lo story gave me background on a lot of things. Although I'm upset with a few characters. This was a great book. I can't wait to see how this turns out.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Resentment: Book 6 of The Underworld; Author: NAKO Roberson; Genres: thriller, crime, mystery; Review: Jordyn has prided herself on being the only woman that Nasir King need. Never bothering to adhere to the signs that was given to her she continues to fight for a title that will never be Awarded to her . She decides to fight to fire with fire but only ends up getting burned. All she is left with are feelings of resentment. This series has been entertaining so far. Loving the updates on the characters. Although I understood the reason for the past events. I found myself skipping over them. Will continue the series.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Case Manager; Author: Latoya Chandler; Genres: thriller, crime, mystery, fiction; Review: In a daughter's mind ,your first role model is your mom. The love that she gives is a love that can't be replaced. Unfortunately for Candice Life was the total opposite. Every since she was born she had been treated horribly because of the color of her skin. Having a mom with life goals set out for herself she blames Candice for ruining them. With Candice dad always being gone working she is the target for her mom's Wrath. Candice soon finds herself in a very tough position. Instead of her mom helping she ships her off to figure it out on her own. Candice is about to experience a world that not even she can prepare for. This book was truly an eye-opener. Lies can build your world before you even find out about them. I loved the connection that characters had for each other. GREAT JOB.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Quit Breaking My Heart; Author: Jenica Johnson; Genres: fiction; Review: when Love just wont love you back.... Cori Carter takes pride in being the best wife she can be to her husband. Nothing could compare to the pain she feels when a secret has been revealed. Determined not to let life bring her down, she finally puts her marketing degree to use. They say to get over someone old you have to find someone new. Could her new coworker Syeer be what she need? If he ain't got no money he not for her. Paris lives her life in the fast lane. Nobody husband is off limits. She thought that Kenny might really be the one but Kenny had other plans. Not one to wait on no one ,Paris finds herself in a different country living the life she dreamed off. What glitters isn't always gold and she find herself in a mess that money won't buy her way out of. Will she finally get on the right track? Fast pace read-Characters come to life in this read. Although I enjoyed this book I felt it like lacked development somewhere. The cliff hanger will have you on edge and will draw you in to want to complete the series.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Quit Breaking My Heart 2: The Finale; Author: Jenica Johnson; Genres: romance; Review: Love don't count me out...... Cori is back and stronger than ever with a new man, job and life nothing can bring her down. Focused on getting back to the old vibrate her she surrounds herself around love and happiness. All seems to be going well until Mari and his side chick want to rear their ugly heads. Determined to not experience heartbreak again she puts her foot down once and for all. Paris finds herself learning that money is truly the root of all evil. When she finds out that Novi is not who he claims to be she is a little too late. Determined to get home to her family,Paris puts together a plan to escape but will she die trying? Great way to end a squeal . Fast paced read .I was looking for a bit more connection but in the end it all come together. Not sure if this is really a finale but either way .I enjoyed it.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Good Listener; Author: B.M. Hardin; Genres: thriller, crime, mystery; Review: Hannah believes she is the best when it come to helping people with their problems. Listening is her forte. When it's all said done there hasn't been a person she couldn't help. When her new patient Blake comes in requesting help.Hannah is positive that she can help him but when she learns of his story and why he need help she starts to get mixed feelings.Little do Hannah know her life is never will be the same and maybe she need to start helping herself. The Good listener is an interesting story.I like how the characters tie together.I felt towards the end of the story that it was rushed and incomplete.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Golden Lie; Author: B.M. Hardin; Genres: thriller, crime, mystery; Review: The dedicated wife, the spoiled husband.... Yaya Ramsey has prided herself on being the perfect wife. But as they say sometimes your best is just not good enough. Tired of giving her all she tries to find out what the problem might be . When you go looking you will sure enough find that Dakota is full lies. There is nothing like a women scorned and Yaya is on the path of rage. Will it all be worth it in the end? Although this book kept my attention . It lacked description and character development .Some stuff also reminded me of The Good Listener . I will try another book by this author.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Ashes: The Medina Sisters' Story; Author: B. Love; Genres: thriller, crime, romance, mystery; Review: One family,Four sisters and a family full of lies. Fury,Blaze Arsen and Red are the famous Medina sister's. Strong-willed and mighty is how they have been raised. When on fall better to believe they all come together to protect,but who will protect them from themselves better yet. Who will protect them from all the family lies that have been revealed to them? This was my first book from this author but it wont be my last.I love how the author tied in all the authors stories but they each had they own in one book. I love how all the characters came together to make this one hell of a read great job!!!!!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Gangsta's Paradise; Author: Latoya Nicole; Genres: fiction; Review: Gangsta is none other but the devil himself. In these streets he shows no love and respect is always a given, yet its always someone that tries to make a point and then the urges to kill kick in. All that changes when he meets Paradise. Something about her really gets him going but he doesn't know she is about to change her life forever .Nobody wants to always see you on top so of course someone is always plotting and the only way to bring gangsta down is his weakness. Latoya did her thing with this book. With each book I read I see her growth with making sure you get all types of reactions from these characters. I Love how the story plays out like a movie. Can't wait for part two.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Gangsta's Paradise 2: How Deep is Your Love; Author: Latoya Nicole; Genres: fiction; Review: Gangsta is back and his brother Suave is there to put in work. Things is getting heated in Gangsta life and now its time to fight back. With his weakness missing and someone plotting to take him down he stops at nothing to kill everyone in his path until he get answers. As the saying goes when you go looking you will find but can he handle what is about to be exposed? Wow! This book was fast paced and kept me on my toes. I couldn't put it down everything was a mystery but them secrets are something else. Although I'm sad to see everyone go. I'm glad there was a follow up. Great series and great family drama!!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Addicted to His Pain: A Standalone Novel; Author: Latoya Nicole; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, romance, mystery; Review: Auri takes pride in education. While most people her age is partying she has her head in the books. Being the top of her class at Harvard is hard work but she is focused on finishing it all. When Christmas break comes around she is excited to see her family but her best friend has other plans in mind. Wanting Auri to lossen up they go to a party and it all begins with Sosa. When Sosa sees Auri he has the perfect plan for her to help him become on his team. Auri soon find out that addiction is not love and Deleon is determined to make sure she see the real her, But what happens when you might not want real help ? Will Auri lose it all? What a real story. From page one I was very interested in this book. The pain , Felt so real you couldn't help but keep reading hoping for the best. I can say Latoya has worked her way to being one of my Favorite authors!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Love and War: A Hoover Gang Affair; Author: Latoya Nicole; Genres: thriller, crime, mystery, fiction; Review: Four brothers better known as the Hoover Gang,makes it rain in Chicago. With each brother having there own style it makes the group more complete. With being business men by day and Robbers at night they are set for life. But when they start letting there egos down and start letting women come into their life they soon find out that some people just cant be trusted but what happens when the brothers have secrets amongst each other? I love how this series is starting off so far that cliff hanger is really something else. Can't really figure out which brother I like the most but I will say Blaze is the funniest and craziest out the group. Will be continuing this series asap.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Abuse of Discretion (Dre Thomas Series Book 3); Author: Pamela Samuels Young; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: Social Media the gift and the curse... Graylin Alexander is the kid that every parent would want. With proper manners and perfect grades every body loves his sweet personality. So how is it that he finds himself caught up in a sexual scandal at just 14 years old. Not understanding he turns to his dad for help. Jenny Ungerman is good at what she do . When she is hired to be Graylin lawyer, she soon finds out that it wont be a one -woman show Angela will also be helping her out. Will these women be able to put all the pieces of the puzzle together to get Graylin out or will his life be ruined forever? Excellent read. As usual Pamela pens another story that is an eye-opener for parents. In these days and times we have to be mindful of what our kids are doing on social media because it might can just save their life. I understood the message loud and clear in this book. Great job.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | goodreads |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: No More Excuses: Be the Man God Made You to Be; Author: Visit Amazon's Tony Evans Page; Review: Dr. Tony Evans speaks to men in a way we women could never connect. It is a must read for every man who thinks God can't use you. Think again. Stop the excuses.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: No More Excuses; Author: Visit Amazon's Tony Evans Page; Review: Dr. Tony Evans speaks to men in a way we women could never connect. It is a must read for every man who thinks God can't use you. Think again. Stop the excuses.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Shadow Boxing: The Dynamic 2-5-14 Strategy to Defeat the Darkness Within; Author: Henry Malone; Review: Every believer should read and understand you and your family can be delivered. Highly recommend this book. Your legacy should be kill the giants so your bloodline can receive God's healing power.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: For Married Men Only: Three Principles for Loving Your Wife; Author: Visit Amazon's Tony Evans Page; Review: A must read for every man!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Invading the Seven Mountains With Intercession: How to Reclaim Society Through Prayer; Author: Visit Amazon's Tommi Femrite Page; Review: A must read!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: One Minute With God: Sixty Supernatural Seconds that will Change Your Life; Author: Keith Ellis; Review: A must read. Visited his church. Awesome service.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Beauty for Ashes: Receiving Emotional Healing; Author: Visit Amazon's Joyce Meyer Page; Review: Love this book by Joyce. I ordered this for a young lady in prison who has become my pen pal. She was sexually abused by her grandfather for years. I felt the Lord wanted her to have this to know He would bring healing to her life as He has with Joyce Meyers and many others. She wrote me saying she couldn't put this book down.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Needless Casualties of War; Author: Visit Amazon's John Paul Jackson Page; Review: Excellent read for Intercessors. A must read to avoid unnecessary warfare.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Harvest Glory: I Ask for the Nations; Author: Visit Amazon's Ruth Ward Heflin Page; Review: Excellent!; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Hotel Janak Niwas; City: Udaipur Udaipur District Rajasthan; Review: Thanks Shiv for everything. The hotel is nice and clean, rooms are beautiful and comfortable, there s the best view in town I think: just in front of the City Palace. The owner, Shiv, is a real artist. there is a family run painting studio inside where you can appreciated life painting sessions of Shiv and the other artists. If you want to buy some miniatures go to Shiv, have a chai with him and take your time to decide what to take with you. I really recommend this place. Namaste; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sarvar Guest House; City: Jodhpur Jodhpur District Rajasthan; Review: No hospitality, no cares about guests. We asked 3 times for towels, we asked to have bed sheets and they gave us 2 small bed sheets that covered half of the bed. We went to the roof top restaurant around 19 to have dinner but no one was there. We runned away to this place the morning after. Don t go to Sarvar!; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Bhavyam Heritage Guest House; City: Jodhpur Jodhpur District Rajasthan; Review: Big and clean rooms. We found this place walking randomly with our luggages around the blue old city. I decided to take take the room becouse of the kindness of the owners and the view.. Is one of the best hospitality that I ve ever had from the beginning of my travel in India (1 month). Food is good and the service is fast. I really recommend this place; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Deep Mahal; City: Jaisalmer Jaisalmer District Rajasthan; Review: Thanks to all of you in Deep Mahal, it was a wonderfull stay. I really recommend this place for the hospitality, the beautiful view (is inside the old city, in front of Jainist temple). Everyrhing was perfect:big and clean room and also the food. If i will return in Jaisalmer for sure I return in Deep Mahal Hotel; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Nitiporn Resort; City: Ko Phayam Ranong Province; Review: Really nice place, room comfortable and close to the beach. There was a really good hospitality, the staff is so kind! Breakfast is good and the resort isreally close to the Pier. I recommend this place. Thanks a lot Nitiporn resort!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hildeval Bed Breakfast; City: Kirkwall Mainland Orkney Islands Scotland; Review: Was a really lovely stay. The room is comfortable and the view is amazing. The owners are so kind and nice and I was totally fall in love with their dog. The breakfast is super with lots of fresh fruit, yogurt, juice and a big choice of whatever you want. Everything was perfect! I really recommend this place. See you again!; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: GraphTech PQ-9280-C0 TUSQ Fully Compensated Acoustic Guitar Saddle; Brand: Graph Tech; Review: I really like the sound that a TUSQ saddle imparts to a nice guitar. TUSQ is actually a PPS plastic compound, but it is much different than the typical cheap plastic saddle commonly found in less expensive guitars. It is a very resonant material that rings like a bell if dropped. It may make a guitar sound a little brighter than if you used bone, but that's not always a bad thing, and since it's a little more pliable and a lot more consistent in density than bone, it generally works better with undersaddle pickups. It will take a bit of sanding on the flat back side to get it to the proper height, so be prepared to spend some time for a custom fit.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fret Crown Files Medium; Brand: AmplifiedParts; Review: I do the occasional fret job on my own guitars and sometimes pick up project guitars for resale. In the past I borrowed a fret crowning file from a friend . . . but I figured that it was time for me to get one of my own. This one seems to a good quality Japanese-made file, much better than the Three-In-One file I was considering. This one is a good size for the typical medium frets found on acoustic guitars. It does a nice job without any chatter, especially when lubricated with a little candle wax. The flat plastic-dipped handle might not be comfortable for all-day production work in a guitar factory, but it's more than adequate for repairs or the one-off builder . . . and the price is right. I recommend.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 1set of 6pcs Acoustic Guitar Bridge Pin W/dot Black; Brand: Kmise; Review: The pins were nicely made. They are a little smaller in diameter and appear to have a steeper taper than the typical plastic pins that come with most modern guitars. That said, they worked OK in my Larrivee, but I would have preferred a little closer fit.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: On-Stage MST1000 U-Mount Microphone Stand Tray; Brand: OnStage; Review: Mine was advertised as a customer return, but inspected. Apparently it wasn't inspected very closely. The screws that hold the tray to the bracket were missing. Also, the way that the tray attached seemed a little flimsy. Thankfully, I had the parts and tools to modify it. I re-drilled the bracket to allow the tray mounting nuts to sit inside the bracket, shortened the bracket, and mounted the tray with my own screws and a couple of fender washers to distribute the load. With my mods, it's working very well for me.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Shubb C1B Brass Capo for Steel String Guitars; Brand: Shubb; Review: I've been using Shubb capos for decades. They're reliable and don't pull the guitar out of tune. The newer all-black design is a nice touch. It has a very subtle, classy look.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Snark SN-8 Super Tight All Instrument Tuner; Brand: Snark; Review: It works. It's stable and accurate. I have a couple of these now and they do the job for me. Unlike some others, it seems to read all the strings well and the indicator doesn't jump around like crazy. People complain that the ball-and-socket part is fragile. I've had one of these for a few years now and have not had an issue.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: D'Andrea Tone Pins Brass Bridge Pin Set, White Dot; Brand: D'Andrea; Review: They fit my guitar OK. I'm not sure they changed the tone much. I didn't notice a big improvement anyway. I suppose it depends on the guitar. At least they should be a lot more durable than plastic pins. I passed them on to a friend who seems to like them.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Shubb GC-28 (R12) 2" Capo Replacement Sleeves - Dozen; Brand: Shubb; Review: They seem to be exact replacements for my favorite old Shubb capos. Now I should be good for another decade or so.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: LR Baggs Lyric Acoustic Guitar Microphone; Brand: LR Baggs; Review: I've installed these pickups in four different guitars: three dreadnoughts and a Larrivee L body. I did find that the adhesive strips supplied for the microphone part seem to lose their grip after a while. I made replacements from more permanent 3M tape and it seems better. Tone is good, but not great. It sounds better than a UST pickup, but still far from natural. Tone is compressed and midrange-ey, lacking bass. The position of the microphone has a huge impact on the sound and at the suggestion of the folks at Baggs I wound up installing the microphone part in alternate locations to what is shown in the instructions to get the best sound. I have these in two guitars I play out with, but I seldom use them. I have a K&K Meridian microphone setup that works much better where feedback isn't a big issue. Bottom line . . . I really WANT to like this microphone/pickup and the folks at LR Baggs have been very helpful, but it seems to fall short of the hype. Other people report better results than I have. Maybe it depends on the guitar.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Dunlop 9020TP Shell Plastic Finger & Thumbpicks, Large, 4/Player's Pack; Brand: JIM DUNLOP; Review: I like the sound of these much better than the typical metal finger picks. They sound more like natural fingernails, only louder. They seem a little small, but I was able to soften them in hot water to fit them to my fingers. They seem to stay in place without the need for them to be as tight as metal ones. I do wish they were a little bigger/longer to begin with though.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_Musical_Instruments |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Cake Boss Countertop Accessories 4-Piece Melamine Prep Bowl Set,"Icing"; Brand: Cake Boss; Review: Great product.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bamboo Wood Cutting Board with Blue Non-Slip Silicone Rubber Feet - Best for Chopping Prep 16 x 12; Brand: Leading Gourmet; Review: Great product!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: MISSLO Pink Jewelry Hanging Non-woven Organizer Holder 32 Pockets 18 Hook and Loops; Brand: MISSLO; Review: This works great! I can easily see and pick my jewelry. Would highly recommend! Hangs nicely in my closet!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: AmazonBasics Blackout Curtain Set - 52" x 63", Black; Brand: AmazonBasics; Review: Very nice blackout curtains. I would buy again!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Playmags 2 Piece Car Set: Now with Stronger Magnets, Sturdy, Super Durable with Vivid Clear Color Tiles. (Colors May; Brand: Lambow; Review: Great product. Can't go wrong with playmags!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cake Boss 2-Piece Melamine Mixing Bowl Set; Brand: Cake Boss; Review: I love this bowls. Have bought several times to keep and give away.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bread Box for Kitchen Counter - Stainless Steel Bread Bin Storage Container For Loaves, Pastries, and More; Brand: Juvale; Review: Gave as gift and they liked very much! Great buy!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Diagona Designs Contemporary Circles Design Modern Non-Slip Kitchen / Bathroom / Living Room Area Rug, 3'3" W x 5'0"; Brand: Diagona Designs; Review: Great rug. Has non slip backing. Very nice design and color is just like the picture. Really added nice color to our master bathroom!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 25 Globe String Lights, (25 Feet of Gorgeous Light) G40 Bulbs, Perfect for Outdoor & Indoor; Brand: Vont; Review: These lights are great and look really nice in our patio! We enjoy the view from inside too when we look out our window!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Royal Polished Stainless Steel and Glass Salt and Pepper Grinder Mill Set; Brand: Royal; Review: Beautiful set. Exactly what I expected with great quality. I gave as a gift.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Grand Linen Easy; Brand: Grand Linen; Review: Really easy to place around box spring and looks really nice. Will order for 2nd bedroom.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Home_and_Kitchen |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: The Last Of The Dog Team; Author: Visit Amazon's William W. Johnstone Page; Review: Having read many of Mr. Johnstone's other novels, I can honestly say that this is one of his best. It's very fast-paced - maybe too much so - and ends with you wanting more. I would have liked a little more characterization with regards to the lead charater, Terry Kovak, who seems to spend too much time with his ladies and not enough doing what he was trained to do... kill. However, I have a feeling that with the sucess of this re-release, he will save more of the killing for a sequel down the road; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Out of the Ashes (Ashes Series #1); Author: Visit Amazon's William W. Johnstone Page; Review: America after a nuclear apocalypse? What a great idea! Not many writers are brave enough to tackle a subject matter like that, much less do it well. Sounds like an idea too big for one book? Have no fear, this is just book one in an ongoing series with continuing characters (currently 25 books and going strong!) If you don't agree with the author's political stance (an eye for an eye, let me live in complete freedom - the less government, the better), you might get annoyed with it. I rather enjoyed imagining a world where you truly get what you deserve. The book is chock-full of spys, action, twists, sex, humor, and moves very quickly. The simplicity of the writing didn't bother me, allowing me to finish it in 3 days. It also helps move it along. As for the reviewer from Chicago, I'm surprised (and confused) that even though you didn't like the book, you read "seven other books" in the series. I would think that (giving it a rating of 1) would have you staying far away from them... but 7 others !? I guess you are hooked - whether you like it or not - like the thousands of other "Ashes" fans around the world! As for your comments on people not joining the militia if they had problems with the government... it's already (and has been for a while) happening in the south, with certain groups having hundreds of members. Knowing about some of the battles in history, it is not unrealistic for a few thousand people to die on one side and only lose a few hundred on the other... great leaders win great battles. If you are tired of government and big business controlling 90% of everything in society, and would like to see what could happen without them, give this series a try. It's only in theory, of course, but it's a damn good one.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Store; Author: Visit Amazon's Bentley Little Page; Review: The reader from Nevada needs to understand that this is FICTION. In Bentley's world, anything can happen! If you accept the premise of a wealthy chain of stores slowly taking over the country (even though it's slowly happening now...Microsoft, hint hint) you'll love it. Graphic scenes, fast paced action, and characters you CARE ABOUT make this a must for horror fans. Not terribly scary, but sooooo much fun!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The House; Author: Visit Amazon's Bentley Little Page; Review: Although well written, this is Bentley's weakest book. Having read them all, I found the story lacking in terror with mild suspense at best. Don't get me wrong, it's not bad - just a step or two down from his last book. I hope he isn't leaving the horror genre like Robert McCammon. Bentley is truely one of a handful of great writers making a mark in the horror genre and I hope his next book is better. If you want to give him a try, I would recommend THE MAILMAN. However, UNIVERSITY, DOMINION, and THE STORE are also a lot of fun.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Mailman; Author: Visit Amazon's Bentley Little Page; Review: Loads of fun with lots of inventive scenes, characters you care about, and not overly descriptive (unlike the ramblings of Stephen King - at least his newer work). I would love to see this movie! I highly recommend this book - my personal favorite of Little's work. You'll never look at a mailman the same again!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Only Son; Author: Visit Amazon's Kevin O'Brien Page; Review: With ONLY SON, Mr. O'Brien has created one of the best novels of this decade. The writing flows so well, you find yourself reading for hours on end. It's a story without cardboard cutouts. Each point of view is treated fairly and you find yourself sympathizing for the mother and (believe it or not) the man who kidnapped her son. It's a book I won't forget for a long time. Thanks Kevin. You have a fan for life.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Payback (Code Name); Author: Visit Amazon's William W. Johnstone Page; Review: After reading and enjoying dozens of Johnstone's novels, this is the worst he has written. His horror and westerns are his finest and his action/adventure is second. He needs to focus more on character development and more realistic scenarios. Does the FBI and CIA really act like a bunch of amateurs? Where are their high-tech devices?; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Next to Die; Author: Visit Amazon's Kevin O'Brien Page; Review: For the last few years when I would go into a book store, I would always check to see if the new Kevin O'Brien novel was out because I loved his last book, "Only Son". So I was very excited to get my hands on "The Next To Die". However, even though I enjoyed reading it, I found it too preachy and one sided, with the villains very shallow and predictable. Yes, the relationships were believable and most of the characters were well developed, but I have to agree with one of the other reviewers who commented about the research that went into this book. I found a few things that were not correct. For instance, on page 387, a director of a movie calls "Roll cameras" when the clapboard has already been closed. As a filmmaker, it is common knowledge that the slate is closed only AFTER the cameras roll, in order to sync the sound to the picture. This might sound picky, but I found a lot of mistakes throughout the book like this. Maybe this is why the book was released only on paperback instead of hardcover, like "Only Son". Whatever the case, you can be sure I'll still be looking for O'Brien's new novel later next year. You can't make a perfect novel every time.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Association; Author: Visit Amazon's Bentley Little Page; Review: After waging war with my own homeowner's association, I found this novel to be extremely entertaining. I have read all of Bentley's books (yes, including "Death Instinct")and this ranks up with the best... "The Mailman" and "The Ignored". The pace of this book is lightning-fast and the stakes are raised in every chapter. I can't wait until next Halloween for another treat from the true master of horror.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dreamcatcher; Author: Visit Amazon's Stephen King Page; Review: I was very excited to read the new King book, especially since this was supposed to be his big comeback to horror. However, with the exception of ONE scene in the book, NOTHING at all was terrifying. Not scary, not even a little creepy. King had 879 pages to work with and did nothing with them. Sure, the writing itself is good -- no one denies that. But he needed to get to the point a lot sooner. Master horror authors such as Bentley Little and Richard Laymon could have wrote this book much more effectively in less than half the space! He rambles on and on and on. Maybe the reason this book is so mediocre is that King's real-life car accident did permanent damage to his brain.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: In the Dark; Author: Visit Amazon's Richard Laymon Page; Review: Having read 7 Laymon novels (I realize he has 40) I was captivated from the first chapter until the last. I read this in 3 days and it was hard to put down each night. I can honestly say I had a smile on my face for most of the book... it's that much fun. Granted, it might offend a lot of people with it's graphic descriptions and adult scenes, but if it's horror you want, it's horror you will get. Laymon doesn't ramble on and on like Stephen King. He gets right to the point and brings on the violence and suspense.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Area 51: The Sphinx; Author: Robert Doherty; Review: Just when I was about to give up reading the series (after a very disappointing book 3 -- The Mission), Doherty picks up the pace, raises the stakes, and tightens up the story in this very exciting sequel. I can't wait to start The Grail (book 5).; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Grail (Area 51, Bk. 5); Author: Robert Doherty; Review: The action was fairly predictable in this 5th entry of Doherty's Area 51 series. It seems he keeps stretching out the story with more and more historical facts and tries to incorporate them in the plot. His overall concepts are not as good as his novel, "The Rock", but even with all the loopholes in the story, it's engaging enough for me to buy book 6, "Excaliber".; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Judge (Vampire: The Masquerade-Predator & Prey); Author: Gerbod Fleming; Review: After the terrible outing by Carl Bowen's first book in the series, "Vampire", Gherbod Fleming introduces us -- finally -- to the world of the hunters. I enjoyed his more human side of the hunters, showing the flaws and inner demons of each person. My only problem is the horrific copy editing done by Melissa Thorpe... spelling, grammar, etc. If she would have simply read through the manuscript, the problems are obvious and easy to fix. The publisher, White Wolf, needs to hire someone else. But definitely keep Gherbod around.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Make Them Cry; Author: Visit Amazon's Kevin O'Brien Page; Review: Ever since "Only Son", O'Brien's masterpiece, I have enjoyed reviewing his novels each and ever year. "The Next To Die" was a bit of a let down, but all that is now forgotten. His new thriller, "Make Them Cry", is extremely fast paced, loaded with murder, mystery, and mayhem. I read this in 3 sittings it was that good. I don't want to give anything away, so I will only say that fans of the thriller genre will not be disappointed. I loved the eerie tone he painted and hope to visit with him again on his next journey. I want to congratulate Kevin on this heart-pounding novel and I very much look forward to his next release...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Son of Rosemary: The Sequel to Rosemary's Baby; Author: Visit Amazon's Ira Levin Page; Review: I know this book received a lot of negative criticism for not being as strong as the original, but for me, it truly kept much of the atmosphere of the first. I felt at times as if Rosemary's Baby and Son of Rosemary were written at the same time -- as one novel -- and that Ira Levin split into two books. I loved the setup and social commentary that Levin weaves throughout. His mood and paranoia had me turning pages like a wildfire. Yes, I worship the movie like most people, but this sequel is very entertaining as well. So relax, folks, it's just a book.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Island; Author: Visit Amazon's Richard Laymon Page; Review: Second only to "In the Dark", Laymon's novel "Island" is pure entertainment at it's finest. This is chock full of everything an enjoyable horror novel should have. As with most Laymon stories, I was unable to function until I finished the book. Be warned, this is not for the faint of heart.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Lost; Author: Visit Amazon's Jack Ketchum Page; Review: I was excited to read this Bram Stoker Nominee by Jack Ketchum. This is my first time reading this author and although I was slightly disappointed, I will give his work another chance. I have no idea why this book takes place in the 60's. Except for the rare mention of the Vietnam war and the Sharon Tate murders, it could have easily taken place in modern times. I never got the sense of nostalgia or flavor for that era. Also, I felt some of the chapters were uneven, some quickly racing through the plot while others dragged on endlessly without any payoff (ie... the New York City dinner with Katherine). The novel is peppered with some akward sentence structure and very few, if any, likable characters. However, it has it's moments of tension and suspense. I compare it to a good television movie.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Return; Author: Visit Amazon's Bentley Little Page; Review: Having read every Bentley Little book, including Death Instinct, I can honestly and regretfully say that this is his worst book. After the first hundred or so pages, I could tell that Bentley had lost his inspiration .... Ridiculous scenes involving dancing pottery killed any horror or suspense that could have built from this complete mess of a story that dragged on and on. I love this author, don't get me wrong, but this is one to skip. I recommend The Ignored, The Mailman, and The Association.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: City Infernal; Author: Visit Amazon's Edward Lee Page; Review: City Infernal is the first book I've read of this author, although I've heard his name mentioned many times among my horror friends. Believe me, I've slapped myself after the first few chapters as punishment for not reading him sooner. This book reads like lightning... which is great, but it's also it's weakness. Things happen too quickly near the end and some of the dialogue is a little stiff. But have no fear, the positive far outweighs the negative. This novel seems like it could easily become a trilogy or longer. Please, Mr. Lee, write a sequel!!!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Guilty Pleasures (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter); Author: Visit Amazon's Laurell K. Hamilton Page; Review: Being a huge horror fan, I decided to try the Anita Blake series after a recommendation from a friend. I was not disappointed. The fast paced chapters and the originl ideas kept me turning pages. It was a quick three day read. However, the cover of the book claimed, "A heady mix of romance and horror". I saw the horror, but where's the romance? The only hint of romance happened on page 148... and the book is only 266 pages long! I expected some really steamy scenes, but I got none of that. My only other complaint is the random rules Laurell Hamilton seems to make up regarding the raising of zombies and ghouls to fit her storyline. But don't get me wrong, the danger and villains are plentiful. Instead of the standard ways in which to kill a vampire, characters use syringes to inject silver nitrate into the undead's bloodstream. This is something I really like. Putting a spin on the classic vampire mythology by incorporating today's technology. I'm looking forward to the second book in the series, "The Laughing Corpse".; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Guilty Pleasures by Laurell K. Hamilton Unabridged CD Audiobook (Anita Blake Vampire Hunter Novel); Author: Visit Amazon's Laurell K. Hamilton Page; Review: Being a huge horror fan, I decided to try the Anita Blake series after a recommendation from a friend. I was not disappointed. The fast paced chapters and the originl ideas kept me turning pages. It was a quick three day read. However, the cover of the book claimed, "A heady mix of romance and horror". I saw the horror, but where's the romance? The only hint of romance happened on page 148... and the book is only 266 pages long! I expected some really steamy scenes, but I got none of that. My only other complaint is the random rules Laurell Hamilton seems to make up regarding the raising of zombies and ghouls to fit her storyline. But don't get me wrong, the danger and villains are plentiful. Instead of the standard ways in which to kill a vampire, characters use syringes to inject silver nitrate into the undead's bloodstream. This is something I really like. Putting a spin on the classic vampire mythology by incorporating today's technology. I'm looking forward to the second book in the series, "The Laughing Corpse".; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Laughing Corpse (Anita Blake Vampire Hunter); Author: Visit Amazon's Laurell K. Hamilton Page; Review: After reading the first Anita Blake vampire hunter novel, GUILTY PLEASURES, I was intrigued enough to return to author Hamilton's world. This second book is at least as good as the first, but I found it immediately falling into a holding pattern. I wanted to learn more about this world where humans and vampires co-exist. But instead, Hamilton briefly skims by the legal and social issues which make the concept so interesting. I wanted to see some sort of advancement between the characters of Anita and Jean Claude, but it feels the same as it did in the first novel. I enjoyed the action scenes and much of the horror, but I felt the crime scene with Anita throwing body parts across the room was uncharacteristic and silly. My only other problem (and part of the blame falls on the editor for this) is that many times Hamilton assumes certain actions for the characters without writing them. For instance, she describes characters entering a room, and, moments later, they are standing up from a chair to leave. When did they sit down? She skips certain actions that take me out of the story. Not a big deal, but it's very distracting. Anyway, like GUILTY PLEASURES, THE LAUGHING CORPSE is good enough for me to return for the third book.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Circus of the Damned (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter); Author: Visit Amazon's Laurell K. Hamilton Page; Review: If I could give 3 and a half stars, I would. With the exception of the spelling and grammatical errors and the way-too-quick ending, this was a very enjoyable read. A million-year-old vampire??? Please! But the rest of the book was good enough for me to overlook those problems. Finally, Anita is developing real relationships with other characters, both with friends and possible lovers. The action is fast and the body count is high. Hamilton's world is shaping up nicely and I'm looking forward to book # 4, THE LUNATIC CAFE, which I hear is one of the best.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Lunatic Cafe (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter); Author: Visit Amazon's Laurell K. Hamilton Page; Review: I have enjoyed the Anita Blake series so far, but I was disappointed this time around. Anita's character was inconsistent with her attitude between Richard and Jean-Claude. Anita would NEVER allow Jean-Claude to interfere with her personal life and give in to his ridiculous proposal to date her against her will when she's so in love with Richard. As for the thrown-together mystery involving the murders of lycanthropes, I couldn't believe the author expected her readers to believe that within the same week, three seperate killers without knowing each other were killing them off. Sorry, this is just not credible. Not to mention the obvious tip-off when the "bad guys" show up. I'm starting to really be annoyed by Anita's attitude. She can't stop complaining about her life, no matter how good she has it. She is becoming unlikable as a character... and that's not a good sign.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Bloody Bones (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter); Author: Visit Amazon's Laurell K. Hamilton Page; Review: I breathed a sigh of relief after I finished BLOODY BONES. Finally, Laurell Hamilton brings together all the elements she has tried to write about in the last four books; An original story with horror, mystery, passion, sharp dialogue, great settings, clear action, and believable characters that are consistent with their decisions. Some other improvements include fewer spelling errors... although I found a mistake regarding one of Hamilton's descriptions where she wrote, "stop action" instead of "stop motion". Where's the editor? No big deal, but this shouldn't happen with a New York Times Bestseller. BLOODY BONES, while not perfect, has raised the bar a little higher for Anita Blake. I'm off to book six!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Area 51: The Truth; Author: Robert Doherty; Review: It was a daunting task to wrap up all 7 books in the series, but Bob managed to do it quite nicely. Yes, the book was too short and seemed rushed at points -- like he had to meet the publisher's deadline, or something. But it was, nonetheless, an enjoyable and fast-paced read. As for the new Area 51 series, "Nosferatu", I think I'll start something different. I had a good experience with these books (except for The Mission), and I'll leave it at that. Thanks again, Bob, for the fun.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Killing Dance (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter); Author: Visit Amazon's Laurell K. Hamilton Page; Review: Yes, I've been reading this series in order, starting with Guilty Pleasures, and I have to agree with most of the reviewers that say that this is the best book (so far) in the series. Anita is finally making decisions and focusing in on her personal life. There are still some confusing rules about magic and being in a triumvirate. This plot device allows Hamilton to conveniently craft her story, but it seems like an easy way out to solve the problems and obstacles in Anita's life. Hamilton is focusing too much on Anita and her problems and not enough on the world she lives in. On a positive note, Hamilton's overly descriptive clothing is toned down (thank God!), and the pace is extremely fast moving... not to mention the steamy scenes that the fans have finally been waiting for. I look forward to book # 7, Burnt Offerings.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Night in the Lonesome October; Author: Visit Amazon's Richard Laymon Page; Review: I'm a HUGE Richard Laymon fan. However, this book feels as if he just sat down and started writing without an outline or any idea of where it was headed. I only wish the rest of the book was as good as the last 50 pages. If you are a new reader, choose something else by Laymon to start with... like IN THE DARK or ISLAND. Don't get me wrong, this was still an enjoyable read, but not nearly his best.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Servants of Chaos (Leisure Horror); Author: Visit Amazon's Don D'Ammassa Page; Review: The first third of this book was amazing. Great atmosphere with a very clever scenario. However, once the action gets started, the villians are just your basic cardboard cutouts. Yeah, you still get the creatures and thrill of entering the enemy lair, but the story definitely did not hold up the entire way. The last third was your basic chase-the-bad-guy-and-save-the-girl routine. I also had a problem with the protagonist always getting caught, seemingly at random, by the bad guys. But don't get me wrong, I still enjoyed this quick read, and if you're into Lovecraft, you will want to give yourself a treat and buy this book. I look forward to another outing by Don D'Ammassa.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Darkness Tell Us; Author: Laymon Richard; Review: This book started out terrifying. The initial setup is so creepy, I ended up turning all the lights on in my house. However, things get tied up a little too easily at the end and the scares are few and far between. It's a good, fast read, but not nearly Laymon's best. Stick with IN THE DARK or ISLAND.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Deceased; Author: Visit Amazon's Tom Piccirilli Page; Review: It's no wonder that Tom Piccirilli is nominated this year for the Bram Stoker Award. This guy is a real treasure. His literary style is unlike any other in the horror genre today. True, it's not an easy read, but if you take the time to let his words sink in, it truly is a frightening and disturbing read. This is Piccirilli's best work since his amazing novel, DARK FATHER.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Burnt Offerings (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter); Author: Visit Amazon's Laurell K. Hamilton Page; Review: Coming off such a strong entry (Killing Dance), I was disappointed with this 7th book of the series. Is Laurell running out of ideas? Nothing really happens in the first 125 pages. I can only read so much pretentious bragging and threats made by the vampire council before I'm just not scared by them anymore... an neither, apparently, is Anita. Some sloppy editing and writing make this the worst in the series. For instance, Chapter 16 uses the word "cool" FIVE times in the first paragraph. Maybe Laurell should concentrate more on quality and focus less on cranking out her yearly deadline.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Bedbugs (Leisure Horror); Author: Rick Hautala; Review: I have all of Rick's novels... yes, I mean ALL. Moondeath, Moonbog, Night Stone, Winter Wake, Dead Voices, etc. Even when he wrote under the name A.J. Matthews. On the whole, I have enjoyed all his work (except Mountain King). However, being a good novelist doesn't always mean you are effective at writing short stories. In this case, I think Rick is a better novelist. I knew the ending to most of the short stories way before their conclusion. Yes, they are well written, but I've read similar stories like them before. The only real gem in the collection is "...from a Stone". Other good ones are, "The Back of My Hands", "Colt .24", and "Rubies and Pearls". With all that being said, Bedbugs is still worth a read.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Nailed by the Heart; Author: Visit Amazon's Simon Clark Page; Review: I've read Simon Clark before (Darker, Blood Crazy). This book is better than Blood Crazy, but not as well thought out as Darker. That being said, it was an enjoyable read with some good atmosphere and a pace that keeps up its rhythm until the powerful end. Simon could work on developing his characters a little more, but I was completely satisfied with the experience. This author promises to be one to look out for in the world of horor. Stay tuned.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: A Lower Deep; Author: Visit Amazon's Tom Piccirilli Page; Review: Tom Piccirilli proves once again that how truly unique he is. There are painters that you can instantly notice even if you were to only see a portion of the picture. The same with brilliant filmmakers. You see thirty seconds of a Martin Scorsese film and you know it's his. Well, the same goes for Tom Piccirilli. I had permanent smile on my face for the entire book, completely engrossed and fascinated with his authentic world of the occult. A was confused a few time with what was going on, but even still, it is near perfect. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED if you want something different.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Chosen; Author: Visit Amazon's Edward Lee Page; Review: I had a jaw-dropping good time with this book by hardcore horror author Edward Lee. True, he is not a very literary writer, but try as I might, I couldn't put the book down. I've been reading horror for almost 20 years and it's rare for me to be shocked by what I'm reading. However, with THE CHOSEN, I was aghast many times during the graphic gore and sex that is plentiful throughout the book. Edward Lee isn't afraid of anything when he writes and I appreciate his no-holds-barred approach. This book is definitely not for the weak of heart. You were warned.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Night Class; Author: Visit Amazon's Tom Piccirilli Page; Review: Although I enjoyed "The Deceased" more than this book, I had a great time reading this Bram Stoker winner for 2002. Wonderful writing, atmosphere, and an engaging mystery makes this novel stand way above the competition. Picirilli is an acquired taste, but if you put in the time, it's well worth it.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Nature of Balance; Author: Visit Amazon's Tim Lebbon Page; Review: I enjoyed this book, my first experience with Tim Lebbon. It took a while to get into the story, but it was interesting enough for me to finish it. The big problems were the lack of character development and the overwritten style of his descriptions. He takes a full page to describe what should be only be a paragraph. By doing this, I constantly got pulled out of the story. What brought me back? The villian. I love a powerful antagonist that seems on track to conquer our hero, and this novel made up a few points in that area. Those two complaints aside, I had a fun time with it and I look forward to Mr. Lebbon's new book, "Face".; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Atmosphere; Author: Visit Amazon's Michael Laimo Page; Review: I have read horror novels all my life -- at least one, if not two novels a week. I'm always looking out for new authors to breath fresh air into the genre. Tom Piccirilli, Richard Laymon, Bentley Little, and Simon Clark are just a few of the modern horror authors that almost never let you down. So I gave Michael Laimo a chance, especially after his Bram Stoker nomination, and read Atmosphere. First of all, I have to mention all the errors I found in the book (without giving anything away, of course). On page 25, the bald man is described as wearing boots. However,in his next scene, he is wearing sneakers on page 51. Also, in chapter 7, Jaimie is waiting 30 minutes for a F train in Manhattan at 5:12 pm for over a half hour during rush hour. WHAT?! I've lived in New York for over ten years and never waited even half that long during rush hour. But whatever. On page 256 -- and this really irked me -- Laimo writes about a wrestler from the WWF that was supposed to win in the eighth round. Eighth round??? This isn't boxing. There are no rounds in professional wrestling! Not only that, he writes about wrestling moves that don't even exist, calling one spot a "triple twist flip". A writer should always do his homework. After all, as the saying goes, write what you know. In conclusion, I found many scenes repetitive and characters discovering information way too easily. One coincidence after another occured, giving Laimo an easy way out of everything. Please... bribing a coroner, committing suicide from a second story window, and stuffing an 18 inch sphere into ones jacket pocket are just some of the ridiculousness we are meant to accept. And as for the other reviewers comments regarding the huge amounts of gore? I'm not sure what book people were reading... this had 4 or 5 scenes of gore, and only a paragraph or two at most. If you thought this was strong stuff, try reading Edward Lee's "The Chosen" or "City Infernal" or Richard Laymon's "In the Dark". And besides all that, in short, Atmosphere was very predictable and simply... not very atmospheric.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: No Sanctuary; Author: Visit Amazon's Richard Laymon Page; Review: The first half of this book is probably the most suspenseful I've ever experienced in a horror novel. The rating would have been 5 stars, but the second half of the book had a lot of uncharacteric developments and random events that brought it down to 4 stars. Still, it's another classic Laymon that won't disappoint fans. Enjoy!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Watch Them Die; Author: Visit Amazon's Kevin O'Brien Page; Review: This book should be illegal. This book is so addictive and engrossing, Kevin O'Brien should be locked up. A few spelling errors aside, (but that's the copy editor's fault), I found myself finishing it in three days. Not as creepy and dark as "Make Them Cry", but clever nonetheless. My only problem is the number of coincidences and leaps of logic towards the end, and one mistake... characters shooting on video talk about using a higher speed film - video cameras don't use film! But this novel is still a keeper and I look forward to Kevin's next thrill-ride.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Monstrosity; Author: Visit Amazon's Edward Lee Page; Review: It breaks my heart to give Edward 2 stars, but this book just didn't cut it. I felt him holding back in scene after scene. At lot of promises but very little payoff. I'm a big fan of his work and found this to be his tamest novel to date. I realize the author was hospitalized around the time he wrote this, so maybe that had something to do with it, but I was disappointed nonetheless. If you want a real dose of Ed Lee's magic and imagination, read "City Infernal". Or, for a truly gut-wrentching experience, read "The Chosen".; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Face; Author: Visit Amazon's Tim Lebbon Page; Review: Having mildly enjoyed Lebbon's "The Nature of Balance", I decided to give "Face" a try. Well, the beginning is quite gripping and I loved the concept of a family picking up a strange hitchhiker in the middle of a snow storm. It seems that the author started writing with this idea and didn't know where to go with it. Spelling errors aside, Lebbon repeats many of the character's thoughts over and over. Yes, we get the point, you don't need to tell us again! Anyway, having no growth with the characters and a disappointing ending, I cannot recommend this book. Tim Lebbon also seems like he's holding back with scenes, taking the easy way out with his conservative scares and sexual themes. Richard Laymon, Bentley Little, and Tom Piccirilli do it much better.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Red Church; Author: Visit Amazon's Scott Nicholson Page; Review: This Bram Stoker nominee for first novel is stronger than it's competition ("Atmosphere" by Michael Laimo, etc.). However, with shapeshifters, a religious cult, cannibalism, ghosts, and the second son of God, there is too much happening in this book to take seriously. That being said, I had a good time reading it. Not very scary, but well written. I look forward to more of Scott's work.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Blue Moon Abridged CDs (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter, No. 8); Author: Visit Amazon's Laurell K. Hamilton Page; Review: This novel could be 75 to 100 pages shorter if Hamilton would cut down the excessive descriptions of character's clothing and appearance. She describes every stitch on every character. Paragraphs about their hair color, what their eyes remind her of, skin appearance, and an in depth analysis of their footwear. Please. The prologue kicks off very nicely, but it goes way down hill from there. With every book, it seems Hamilton gives Anita more and more power for only one reason -- to continue this contrived story and prolong the series. Yes, there are a few good books in the series, but this is certainly not one of them. You know it's bad when you can predict the next scene before you even read it.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Policy; Author: Visit Amazon's Bentley Little Page; Review: Exactly what I expected from one of today's finest horror novelists. Well written characters, bizarre situations, and a real sense of menace is what Bentley Little is all about. I recommend this book to newcomers as a good example of Little's style... setting an innocent family up against a seemingly unpenetrable force of evil. "The Policy" is totally entertaining and you'll find it hard to put down. If you enjoyed this book, "The Association" and "The Store" have very similar concepts. Every year around Halloween Bentley puts out a new book, so keep your eyes open for the next!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Darkness Demands; Author: Visit Amazon's Simon Clark Page; Review: This is the forth novel I have read by Simon Clark and is my favorite of the four. Clark shows complete confidence in his work, dropping clues along the way to the horror that has invaded the town. His characters are believable and likable. The story is original and well thought out. Many thanks to Don D'Auria (editor) for bringing this incredible talent to the states. Simon Clark is not the next Stephen King, he's the improved Stephen King. I rank him now in the top 10 horror authors working today... Clark, Laymon, Wright, Clegg, Little, Ketchum, Hautala, Lee, Piccirilli, and Lumley.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sleepeasy; Author: Visit Amazon's T. M. Wright Page; Review: My only problem with this book was that I didn't read it sooner. This is an original, refreshing, and creepy novel by one of horror's veterans. There is no question T. M. is a great writer, but beyond that - and more importantly - he's a great storyteller. I breathed a sigh of relief after reading this book because I felt lucky that I stumbled upon his work. Many good authors get swept under the radar for whatever reason... bad marketing by publishers, readers not willing to take a chance on a new author, bad cover art, etc. But the good news is that I've found him, and that's all that really matters. Thank you, Mr. Wright. You are truly inspiring.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Blood Crazy; Author: Visit Amazon's Simon Clark Page; Review: This was the first book I read from Simon Clark (I've read 4 since then). I found this to be the weakest of his books. Too much wandering and too many coincidences to be believable for my taste. Nonetheless, it is well written. For new Clark fans, I would recommend trying "Darkness Demands" first - a darker and more mature novel.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Last Vampire; Author: Visit Amazon's T. M. Wright Page; Review: Just when you thought all the vampire stories have been told and there is no longer any original work to be done in the genre, along comes T.M. Wright to prove you wrong. This a wonderfully dark story with fascinating characters you care about. T.M.'s emphasis is on atmosphere and less on graphic violence and gore (although he has that, too). This author writes for an intelligent audience by not spelling out everything for the reader. You have to read between the lines in many scenes. I became swept up in this novel and finished it in 2 days. If you are tired of the same old vampire story, give this breath of fresh air a try. You won't be disappointed.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Stranger; Author: Visit Amazon's Simon Clark Page; Review: "Stranger" is a completely satisfying read from beginning to end. I agree with the first reviewer that this is better than "Blood Crazy". It had more believable characters, more realistic situations, and a convincing ending that I thoroughly enjoyed. Not everything is spelled out for the reader -- which is where your imagination takes over. My only two problems were (don't worry -- no spoilers) the two things I didn't buy... (1) the towns punishment and (2)Mel's discovery. Everything else was quite nice. However, this wasn't a scary book, but if you enjoy apocalyptic epics, this is a fun ride. Chalk up another victory for Simon Clark.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Teratologist; Author: Visit Amazon's Edward Lee Page; Review: Ed Lee is the mogul of madness... the tycoon of terror... the baron of bloodbaths... the, well, you get what I mean. This has got to be -- without question -- one of the sickest, most repulsive books ever written. That's both a good and a bad thing. The good thing is that it's a novella, so it's a fairly quick read. It's a solid story with some surprising depth behind it. The bad part is that a lot of the story seems to be a showcase of how gross the authors can get. It almost feels like a competition between the two authors to see who can come up with a more disgusting scene. At times, things are so ridiculous, I just had to laugh at this nonstop freakshow. This book is not for everyone, but if you can stomach some truly hardcore horror, give this a try. It's certainly an eye-opener.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Birds and the Bees; Author: Sephera Giron; Review: I think this might be my first 1-star review. It's probably 1 and a half, but I can't give it that. Okay, where do I begin? The back of the book makes it seem like an epic battle between birds and bees and the entire existence of mankind. Well, in this 340 page book, the first scene of violence only starts on page 175 and the real danger starts on page 250. So what happened for most of the book? A bunch of tedious character studies and random sexual encounters that make this book seem like a romance novel with a few dangerous moments thrown in for good measure. No atmosphere. No scares. Spelling and grammar errors aside, the writing was simple and flowed rather nicely, but Ms. Giron simply forgot to add in a plot. Characters doing nothing for 75% of the book isn't a story! Leisure Books usually has the cream of the crop in the horror literary world (Simon Clark, Tom Piccirilli, Richard Laymon, T.M. Wright, Jack Ketchum, etc.), so how in the world did Don D'Auria choose Ms. Giron to become a member? If you want a good laugh, pick up the book at the store and read pages 239 and 240. It is unbearably bad.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Laughing Man; Author: Visit Amazon's T. M. Wright Page; Review: In "Laughing Man", one could argue that the story falls apart the same as the character does. That his world spirals into madness and confusion, and we, as readers, are expected to take the ride with him. Okay, that's fine. I understand. But confusion does not satisfy my need for a solid, scary story. I'm someone who needs a payoff. Yes, the book is well written and starts off very powerful, but I had to work hard to get through the last 100 pages. I usually love this writer, and although I was still entertained by "Laughing Man", I would recommend some of T.M.'s other work for new readers. "The Last Vampire" and "Sleepeasy" are both much better.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Rising; Author: Visit Amazon's Brian Keene Page; Review: Finally, someone has written a book to make George Romero proud! The Rising is an exhilarating ride from beginning to end. Gory fun, detailed zombies, and danger on almost every page, this was a real treat to read. However, besides a few spelling errors, I did have a few problems. I would have liked a little more character development and a little more atmosphere. A few cliched scenes aside (the gang's dialogue at the zoo and the blanket attitude of all the military), this was a fast read and I was entertained for most of it. The ending was a little bit of a letdown, but hopefully there will be a sequel sometime in the future. If zombies are your thing, this book is jam-packed with the undead. Enjoy.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Rage; Author: Visit Amazon's Steve Gerlach Page; Review: If this book were food, I'd eat it it's so good. But seriously, the tension constantly builds throughout this book. Near the end, I was actually nervous and a little queasy inside. It has great characterization and a terrific ending. I've read very few books where the author really delves into the mind of what some men are thinking about how life and women treat them. The writing in this book is quite simple, but the message and issues could not be more deep. It has subject matter that has no easy answers or solutions. Very graphic and very entertaining. I read this in 2 days. I hope Leisure Books puts out more of Mr. Gerlach's work, because I'll buy them in a second.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Scream Queen; Author: Edo Van Belkom; Review: Wow! Was this book bad. Not only am I in the film industry, but I'm a huge fan of horror. So I thought this book would be perfect for me. Unfortunately, with little to no character development or atmosphere, this book is dead on arrival. I have to say, Scream Queen is the most predictable horror novel I've ever read. Every single scene I've seen done before. The author also makes quite a few mistakes when describing positions on a film crew. It's no wonder Mr. Van Belkom got his technical information about filmmaking from Ron Oliver -- the director of Prom Night III ! I also found it funny to learn that this author has written books on how to write horror and erotica when this book contains neither! Scream Queen is a total flop and a complete waste of time. Stay away.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Deep in the Darkness; Author: Visit Amazon's Michael Laimo Page; Review: I wasn't a fan of Laimo's last book, "Atmosphere", but I decided to give him one more chance to impress me. Everyone can write a stinker once in their career. So I picked up "Deep In the Darkness" and I couldn't stop reading it. Believe me, no one was more surprised than me at how great this book is. It has everything great horror should have... characters you care about placed in insurmountable danger, creepy atmosphere that continues to build and raise the stakes, and a solid story that keeps you hooked. This story reminded me of a lot of Rick Hautala's books from the eighties (especially "Little Brothers"), but I enjoyed the twists and turns and very tight plotting. Everything is done for a reason in Laimo's new book and the pieces of his puzzle connect very naturally from beginnning to end. This has Bram Stoker potential written all over it and I wish Mr. Laimo luck with his success. I feel strange giving this book 5 stars, but I really couldn't find anything wrong with it. I finished it in 3 days and had a blast. Keep up the great work and I hope to see you at Horrorfind this year!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Blood Games; Author: Visit Amazon's Richard Laymon Page; Review: Richard Laymon has delivered us the masterful "In the Dark" and "Island", but unfortunately "Blood Games" is no masterpiece. Too many flashbacks interrupted the pace and tension of the story. Many of the characters engage in actions that go against their characteristics and seem quite unbelievable. This is not a book to start if you want a good introduction to Laymon. It's mildly enjoyable, but give his other work a try because he's still one of the top 10 horror writers of the last two decades.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Killing Kind; Author: Visit Amazon's John Connolly Page; Review: I'm not sure why this book was nominated for the Bram Stoker award. It's not scary or very horrific at all (with the exception of two or three scenes). The book is solidly written, but the story moves along like a TV movie-of-the-week, from one clue to another -- none of which is very believable. The coincidences and connections seem to easy and unrealistic, as if Mr. Connolly is struggling to connect the pieces of the story together. The story does moves rather quickly, but seems to be bogged down by various sub-plots that take our chararacter off in different directions. It's funny that one of Charlie Parker's first leads was the witness Marcy Becker, but conveniently Charlie doesn't get around to looking for her until the end. The book would have been 100 pages long if he had. I also had a problem with the amount of cliches during many of the action /danger scenes. With the exception of the very enjoyable opening involving Alison Beck, I've seen everything in this book before. A much better thriller writer is author Kevin O'Brien. With books like "Make Them Cry" and "Watch Them Die", he leaves John Connolly in the dust.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Infernal Angel; Author: Visit Amazon's Edward Lee Page; Review: Infernal Angel is a quick and enjoyable read set once again in the world of the Mephistopolis, the city of Hell. Edward Lee holds back a little on his regular helping of extreme gore, but peppers the story with enough digusting elements to satisfy his fan base and attract new fans. The clues of the main storyline come together very nicely at the end. It's a fascinating plot that has a big payoff and if you enjoyed City Infernal, you'll eat this book up quick. I heard a rumor that Lee has outlined a third book in the series. If that's true, and you would like to read it, simply write an email to Don D'Auria (the editor of Leisure's horror line) at Dorchester Publishing and let him know to greenlight the book.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Red; Author: Visit Amazon's Jack Ketchum Page; Review: It may not be the most original story and I don't know why the book was labeled as a "horror" novel, but Red is very entertaining nonetheless. A little predictable at times, however, I couldn't seem to put it down. It's more of a drama with some aspects of a thriller that is well written and contains some powerful images. It's such a simple story that I think might make a better movie than a book -- one of the rare times. I look forward to seeing more of Ketchum's work from the Leisure horror line... let's just hope that "horror" is what it is. The other novella in the novel is called The Passenger and it's not nearly as good (2 and 1/2 stars). The Passenger goes off on many strange tangents that never seem believable and contains too many coincidences. That said, it's still worth buying for the story of Red.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: In Silent Graves; Author: Visit Amazon's Gary A. Braunbeck Page; Review: In Silent Graves is a sad and darkly macabre tale of regret, isolation, and the spirit of the human heart. Needless to say, it's not your typical horror novel. This is my first time reading Gary Braunbeck's work, and it won't be the last. Every page of this novel is so utterly original that other authors should be embarrassed. Mr. Braunbeck has definitely raised the bar in the field of dark fiction... notice I didn't say horror fiction. The scare factor wasn't quite there, but I still loved the ride he took me on. Mr. Braunbeck obviously put a lot of effort into this book and it was well worth it. I am a fan for life. Thank you Don D'Auria (Leisure's horror editor) for bringing Gary A. Braunbeck on board. I see a Bram Stoker Award in the near future for this man.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Under the Overtree (Leisure Horror); Author: Visit Amazon's James A. Moore Page; Review: The actual rating I give this book is 3 and 1/2 stars. This is my first experience with James Moore and after reading, "Under the Overtree", it won't be my last. Although the book is a little long, Moore somehow keeps things quite engaging with his detail of characters and his skill of quickly moving scenes. I found a lot of spelling errors throughout this book -- which unfortunately seems fairly common in Leisure's titles these days. Moore's writing is mostly smooth, but I found a few times where his sentence structure confused me and I had to re-read sections numerous times to figure out what was going on. Another issue I had with the book was the scare factor... there really wasn't any. James A. Moore is a solid writer, but his scenes of horror are still a little conservative. With all that aside, I had a lot of fun with this book and look forward to reading his newer novel "Fireworks" and "Possessions".; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The House on Orchid Street; Author: Visit Amazon's T. M. Wright Page; Review: I always get excited when I see a new T.M. Wright book out on the stands... and this one is no exception. There are a few spelling errors that sometimes pop up throughout the book, but that can't be blamed on the author... fire the copy editor!!!! This novel resonated with me long after I was finished. The mythology was facinating, the characters real, and the pacing of the scenes and dialogue moved wonderfully. I was slightly unsatisfied with the ending, but I still rank T.M. Wright among the top 10 horror authors of the last 2 decades.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Harvest; Author: Visit Amazon's Scott Nicholson Page; Review: Nicholson's 2nd novel feels very uninspired. Scenes move slowly forward with predictability and very little atmosphere. Scares? There really isn't any. Just a bunch of overly descriptive scenes of gore. The repetitive actions of the creatures got old very quickly. I didn't really care about the cardboard characters and knew the ending a hundred pages before it was over. I'll hesitantly pick up Scott's new book, The Manor, where hopefully he will impress me as he did with his first book, The Red Church.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Fireworks; Author: Visit Amazon's James A. Moore Page; Review: This book is labeled a horror novel by the publisher, and although the first half is very promising, it turns into nothing more than a military controlled warzone. Where's the horror? Where's the aliens? Where's the protagonist? The book shifts from one character to another without reason and fizzles out at the end. The first half was 4 stars, the second half was 2... so Fireworks deserves a 3. My other gripe is all the spelling errors in the last third of the book. Did the copy editor just give up two-thirds of the way through? It was very annoying and pulls you right out of the story. That being said, James A. Moore is a good writer, and even more importantly, he's a good storyteller. I know he'll pick himself up from this little slip.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Left for Dead; Author: Visit Amazon's Kevin O'Brien Page; Review: This latest Kevin O'Brien thriller, LEFT FOR DEAD, flows very nicely. It has a fascinating premise -- the only surviving victim of a serial killer has amnesia. This poses an amazing scenerio. Her life is in grave danger because she is the only person that can identify the killer, but she only remembers things in bits and pieces, and doesn't know who to trust. In theory, this should be a 5-star book, but I seemed to figure out the ending less than halfway through. Many of the clues and paranoid character traits tipped me off. I also found a dozen or more spelling and grammatical error that annoyed me. Nevertheless, it was a wild, suspenseful ride and I definitely recommend this book. On a personal note, I very much appreciated Kevin using my name as one of the characters. It made my day. Thanks, Kevin. As I said five books ago, you have a fan for life.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: A Choir of Ill Children: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Tom Piccirilli Page; Review: Never has a book by Tom Piccirilli come together more beautifully. His characters, his prose, and his story are captivating from beginning to end. Tom definitely deserves a Bram Stoker award for this, or at the very least, a nomination. I can't tell you how great a writer Tom is and I urge you to give A Choir Of Ill Children a try. Disturbing and beautiful at the same time, this novel pushes open the bountries of modern horror fiction and gives the genre more legitimacy than ever.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Messenger; Author: Visit Amazon's Edward Lee Page; Review: Ed Lee's "Messenger" is a repeat of old work. He hints at many aspects of his Infernal novels, but never really gets things going. True, there's the usual sex and gore, but nothing seems fresh or inventive. This is the same old demon/possession novel we've all read before. I like a lot of Lee's work, but this is definitely my least favorite.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Body Rides; Author: Visit Amazon's Richard Laymon Page; Review: Unlike Stephen King, Richard Laymon knows how to write an ending. This book is a little slow in the middle, but the beginning is like riding a rocket. I was reading at lightning speed and had the biggest grin on my face. Laymon's books are just so much fun! Extremely gory, sexually graphic, and refreshingly unpredictable, BODY RIDES is among the best of his books (IN THE DARK, ISLAND, NO SANCTUARY are just a few). If I was ever stranded on an island and allowed to read only one author, Richard Laymon would be the one.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Obsidian Butterfly Unabridged CDs (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter, No 9); Author: Visit Amazon's Laurell K. Hamilton Page; Review: Very disappointing 9th book in the Anita Blake series. It takes 340 pages before any action happens. The rest of the book is 2% action and 98% soap opera. It's very predictable and feels like the series is running out of fuel. At 585 pages, this novel should have a lot more story. Hamilton stretches out each scene in painstaking detail. Unfortunately, this is not one of her better books. Yes, we learn more about the interesting Edward character, but Anita is so boring (even her choice of clothes is horrendous), you just don't care anymore. This book needs to be more edgy and dark, not like a TV movie-of-the-week.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Hallows Eve; Author: Visit Amazon's Al Sarrantonio Page; Review: "Hallows Eve" is Al Sarrantonio's second novel in the Orangefield series (although I don't know why Leisure decided to release the second book first). The story starts off stronger than the predictable finish, but I found it solid nonetheless. As a writer, Sarrantonio has flavors reminiscent of T.M. Wright and Tom Piccirilli. The book is a very quick read, but I wanted Sarrantonio to push the envelope a little more.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Resort; Author: Visit Amazon's Bentley Little Page; Review: If other reviewers have read all of Bentley Little's books like I have, they must admit that this is not one of his stronger stories. Yes, the first half has all the makings of another Little classic, but it falls apart at the end when all the mysteries are explained in the last 30 pages. If Bentley had peppered the novel with clues to what was happening from the beginning, I would have been more forgiving, but everything was so conveniently tied up that I could tell he was fighting to come up with a good ending. He did the best he could, and I'm sure we'll see more great things from this underrated horror author in the future. Check out "The Store", "The Association", or "The Store" for some of his stronger work.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: In This Skin; Author: Visit Amazon's Simon Clark Page; Review: Simon Clark's new book, In This Skin, reads like someones nightmare. From the very first chapter, the story starts off dreamlike, with an unsettling feeling in both the character and reader's mind. Clark carefully and slowly builds the mystery between the characters, raising the stakes as the terror begins to mount. This Clark's most mature book to date - and possibly his best, focusing on what we don't know instead of shoving mindless, predictable graphic violence at the reader (although I do love a good gory scene, now and again). This has a solid beginning, middle, and end - with all the stuffings that a good horror novel should contain - believable characters in an original story that threatens their lives. In addition, Clark's mythology of the lurking dangers are fascinating and hint to flavors in his other novel, Darker (another fine read). Stranger and Darkness Demands are also recommended by Clark.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bad Karma; Author: Visit Amazon's Andrew Harper Page; Review: This book is a strange mix. The scenes in the beginning in the hospital are quite chilling and original. However, the ending was very predictable and felt quite rushed. With obvious inspiration from The Silence of the Lambs, there really isn't anything new here. It's a fun, quick read, but if you want a truly chilling and intelligent read, check out thriller writer Kevin O'Brien. His work has much more research behind it and more believable on all accounts. I'm perplexed why people are giving this 5 stars... If you think this is a perfect book, you need to read more.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Darkening; Author: Visit Amazon's Chandler McGrew Page; Review: The first 50 or so pages had me very interested in the story, but it quickly fell flat. Then, 200 pages of characters running and hiding in town after town became tedious. The prose quickly became pedestrian and many times confusing, especially in the Keep's lower level battle with the enemy. I never got a real sense of atmosphere or terror, as the book's cover touts. Where was the passion in the writing? It felt like the author was just going through the motions to meet his annual book quota. I saw an ad for this novel in a writer's magazine and liked the premise and cover art and decided to give this author a try. Oh, well. You can't win them all. This is one very disappointed reader.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Lost Boy Lost Girl; Author: Visit Amazon's Peter Straub Page; Review: In the style of author T.M. Wright, Straub has created a wonderfully creepy and classy tale of terror. Fascinating and believable characters are thrust into this world of murder, suicide, and kidnapping. Although the timeline is twisted, throwing the reader constantly from the past to the present, I was never lost. I can see why Straub won the Bram Stoker award for this book. His beautiful prose will not easily be outdone. He has definitely made me into a fan.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Fears Unnamed; Author: Visit Amazon's Tim Lebbon Page; Review: From what I have read of Tim Lebbon (The Nature of Balance, Face), I believe his strength is writing short stories and novellas. I was quickly worried when I started reading, because "Remnants" wasn't very special. However, everything got much better after that. The last three stories (especially "White" and "Naming of Parts") were very exciting and original. I definitely recommend this book if you interested in Tim Lebbon. He shows a lot of promise. Here are my ratings of the stories (1-10). REMNANTS (5) WHITE (8) THE UNFORTUNATE (7) NAMING OF PARTS (8); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Endless Night; Author: Visit Amazon's Richard Laymon Page; Review: For starters, I love Laymon. However, this is one of his weaker books. The story is a bit ridiculous and way over-the-top. Yes, it has all the classic Laymon elements... unrelenting suspense, heaps of gore, extreme violence, graphic nudity, etc. But this time his work felt forced. At times it needed some editing and the ending was predictable and slightly anti-climactic. It was still a fun read, but not a Laymon classic. For new readers, start with "In the Dark" or "Island" to get a better feel for his mastery.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Flesh Gothic; Author: Visit Amazon's Edward Lee Page; Review: Flesh Gothic is a return to Edward Lee's older work. Very graphic and very violent. It is apparent a lot of research went into the mythology of this book. Whether people enjoy it or not, there is no denying Edward Lee's place in modern horror fiction. He writes what every other writer is scared to put on paper. They stop at an R rating, while he moves past -- way past NC-17. But that's where the praise ends for me. I found the ending rushed and many of the characters were only introduced in order to kill them off. I enjoyed this book, but would recommend City Infernal much more.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Red Angel; Author: Visit Amazon's Andrew Harper Page; Review: Red Angel, the second book by Andrew Harper / Douglas Clegg in the Darden State series is an improvement over the first, Bad Karma. I find that Clegg's strengths lie in his research and hospital atmosphere. As soon as he writes about police procedure, I feel like it's one cliche after another. My only other complaint is his random descriptions of scenery with detailed background on hills, mountains, and weather patterns. Stick with the story, Doug. That being said, I was very excited to put the pieces of the puzzle together as the story progressed. It had some nice grim detail as well. With this improvement over his last book, I'm definitely making another trip back to Darden State. If you're looking for stunning serial killer books, check out Kevin O'Brien's work... especially "Make Them Cry" and "Left For Dead".; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Possessions; Author: Visit Amazon's James A. Moore Page; Review: Ever since his debut novel, Under The Overtree, the work of James A. Moore seems to be getting worse. He started off very promising, but fell a notch with Fireworks and now fell even further with Possessions. Like Fireworks, his books start off promising but two thirds of the way in take a nose dive. Almost the last hundred pages of Possessions is nothing but a continuous fight scene involving monster after monster, with excessive descriptions on the creepy creatures. Yes, Mr. Moore, I understand they are very yucky things. I don't need a hundred pages describing them! I get it. With that said, Moore is quite talented at character development, but unfortunately those characters are left in a world that I've seen many times before. This was too close to the Body Snatcher films for me. The pace and tone of this book changed drastically in the last hundred pages and really pulled me out of the story. I enjoyed Under The Overtree, so I'll give James A. Moore another chance. But three strikes and you're out.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Manor; Author: Visit Amazon's Scott Nicholson Page; Review: Nicholson's third novel is not only his best, but shows the most improvement and promise. This is a very well written book. When his storytelling catches up with his writing skills, this author will be quite dangerous. The ghost/spirit/revenge premise has been done before, but I loved the idea of an artist getaway to hone ones creativity. I enjoyed the characters and the atmosphere and look forward to Scott Nicholson's new book, The Home.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Narcissus in Chains (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter, Book 10); Author: Visit Amazon's Laurell K. Hamilton Page; Review: Like a fine wine, this series is definitely getting better. Narcissus in Chains is by far my favorite book by Hamilton. A lot of people don't seem to understand the importance of building characters. This book didn't have the cheesy solve-the-mystery-and-hunt-down-the-bad-guy syndrome that quite a few Anita Blake stories have had. This book delves into psyche of Anita and reveals to us what makes her tick, finally accepting who she is, and ultimately, the sacrifices she has to make. The author has finally hit her stride and earned the R rated label that this series has been quoted to be. This is an adult book and if people don't like it, they can switch to reading Buffy The Vampire Slayer. I hope the unwarranted negative response to this book doesn't force Laurell Hamilton to dilute her future novels. Critics must understand that if a character doesn't change throughout a series, they will never evolve and grow - for good or bad - but that is something that Anita Blake is starting to do and I couldn't be happier.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Demonologist (Leisure Horror); Author: Visit Amazon's Michael Laimo Page; Review: Michael Laimo had a lot to live up to after his stellar Bram Stoker nominated second novel, "Deep In The Darkness". Mix a little of "Legion: Exorcist 3", "Angel Heart", and "Eyes Wide Shut" and you have "The Demonologist". A very interesting first 100 pages creates an atmosphere of solid paranoia and suspense. Pieces of the puzzle begin to fall nicely into place until the priest explains for over 20 pages everything that is going on, leaving most of the mystery solved by the middle of the book. At that point, information is given to our protagonist (and the audience) a little too easily. The ending, as well, seemed rushed and tacked on too nonchalantly. However, the idea of God fighting along side of Satan to fight an even greater evil was fascinating and should stir up a little controversy. Overall, this book was well written and had a few chilling moments, but I would still recommend "Deep In The Darkness" to highlight the author's impressive talents. SPOILER: When the characters reach the motel, it is four o'clock in the morning. The desk clerk apparently recognized them from the news reports earilier that night and informed the police. However, the characters slept until nine thirty before they were apprehended at the motel by the authorities -- meaning that the police took 5 and 1/2 hours to get there!; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Girl Next Door; Author: Visit Amazon's Jack Ketchum Page; Review: Wow! I'm still in awe after reading this masterpiece by Ketchum. I've always enjoyed his work, but this tops everything by miles. The horror in this novel is not from any monster or creature, but from a lack of humanity and utter cruelty that lies dormant in some very disturbed people. The terror is knowing what people are capable of doing, even from someone as close as a neighbor or family member. This book is extremely shocking, but not for shock value. It deals in the realistic abuse of children and doesn't sugar-coat anything. What made this book even more poignant was the afterword by the author. He states the idea for the story was based on a real life incident, and unfortunately, I'm sure it wasn't the only one. As hard as you might try, you will never forget this novel. My only regret is not having read it sooner.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Travelling Vampire Show; Author: Visit Amazon's Richard Laymon Page; Review: The great Richard Laymon won the Bram Stoker Award for best novel of the year for this book. Although it's not his best (IN THE DARK and ISLAND are better), this is classic Laymon in suspense, perversion, and violence. It has a very slow build and takes almost 300 pages to final get at the real action, but the ride is well worth it. The last 90 pages is like a blast of adrenaline and makes up for a weak first three-quarters. He builds the characters and suspense very slowly - sometimes too slowly -- but I still recommend the book. The bottom line is this... Richard Laymon is a great storyteller and gives the horror fan an original taste of fear every time.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: City Of The Dead; Author: Visit Amazon's Brian Keene Page; Review: A 3 and 1/2 star book, City of the Dead, the sequel to The Rising, is a slightly better entry than Keene's first zombie epic. It has all the usual things one would want in this type of genre - incredibly fast paced action, gore galore, lots of death, and some twists to the zombie mythology. Herein lies my one problem with the book. I would be more satisfied to have more mystery about the zombies/demons instead of being told ever single detail about the "rules" of why the undead are taking over. The talking zombies with attitude also became slightly annoying. Unlike The Rising, Keene wraps things up very nicely at the end, so I don't think we'll be seeing another sequel. Oh, well, it was fun while it lasted.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Desolation (Leisure Horror); Author: Visit Amazon's Tim Lebbon Page; Review: It seems people either loved this book or not. I fall into the later category. The premise is fantastic, but the execution is weak. Lebbon's new style of writing tries to mimic Tom Piccirilli and T. M. Wright, but doesn't come anywhere close. What took Lebbon over 300 pages to write should have been a 100 page novella. Yes, there are a few great and original moments, but I think this book should have been in the fantasy section, not horror. It was as scary as an episode of Seinfeld.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Survivor; Author: Visit Amazon's J. F. Gonzalez Page; Review: I don't know why some reviewers hate this book because of the content. Don't you read the back of the book? You know you're getting into some gruesome stuff, so why complain after you read it? Anyway, this novel is very hardcore, and I'm so glad I've discovered J.F. Gonzalez. He blends realistic human drama the way Richard Laymon writes and combines that with the raw sensibilities of Edward Lee. The first half of the book is very inspired and is slightly better than the second half, but J.F. comes on strong at the end for a very satisfying finish. I can't wait to read more of his work.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sineater; Author: Visit Amazon's Elizabeth Massie Page; Review: The Sineater is a stunning debut from an incredibly articulate, well-rounded writer. This is, without question, one of the best debut horror novels I've ever read. This original tale grips you and never lets go, having one of my favorite all-time endings. The world Elizabeth Massie creates is frighteningly real, populated with characters so believable that it sometimes feels like nonfiction. I can't wait to dig into more of her books. Do yourself a favor and read The Sineater. You won't be disappointed.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Last Victim; Author: Visit Amazon's Kevin O'Brien Page; Review: I have mixed feelings about this new Kevin O'Brien novel. I read all his work, so I think I'm a good and fair judge. As always, his writing is technically very well done and it flows nicely, but the story this time was lacking in many departments. Much of the dialogue felt melodramatic and at times -- gulp! -- it seemed like a tv-movie-of-the-week. The dialogue for Janice's character seemed way over the top, as did the Senatorial candidate Jim Foley. I've read way too many stories about the cliched plot where a childhood secret comes back to haunt the protagonist. I didn't feel the killer in this was very credible, intelligent, or scary at all. He was just a crazy painter with a strange obsession that's never explained. In conclusion, I just didn't feel that Kevin was very inspired in writing this book. It felt like a paycheck. I want the dark, edgy author that gave us "Make Them Cry" back. That book dripped with evil and was a much better read. SPOILER: When Siegel steps in a puddle of paint thinner, I highly doubt that his entire body would be engulfed in wild flames because his sock was wet.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Darkfall; Author: Visit Amazon's Stephen Laws Page; Review: I read this book after hearing that a movie studio bought the film rights to produce it, saying it was a mix between The Thing and Die Hard. Well, in theory, that's sounds like fun, but Stephen Laws did not pull it off. The mythology Laws tries to create is initially interesting, but eventually just becomes too silly. What started out very promising, fell flat halfway through the novel. I quickly became bored with the 150+ page chase scene up and down the stairwell and elevator. Horror is about atmosphere and suspense. This was more science fiction with a comic book villain awkwardly thrown in for danger. Disappointing.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Blue November Storms; Author: Visit Amazon's Brian James Freeman Page; Review: I kept having flashbacks of scenes in Stephen King's Dreamcatcher as I read this. No, it's not the same thing, but it was obviously inspired by King's book. This is the first book I've read by Brian Freeman and although I enjoy his storytelling, his writing feels a bit pedestrian and the flow was uneven at times. He would spend time on details and then, without warning, brush swiftly over more important actions. I understand he is a young writer and I'm sure he will improve with experience. That being said, since he's not a veteran writer with a large body of work, I find it strange that he has written under the pseudonym of James Kidman as well as his real name, Brian Freeman. I'm not sure there's enough in this book to recommend it, but Freeman is certainly someone to keep your eye on.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Four Dark Nights: The Circle/Pyre/Jonah Arose/the Words; Author: Visit Amazon's Bentley Little Page; Review: This anthology is a mixed bag. While Bentley Little's Novella is easily the most original, fun, and scary of the bunch, Christopher Golden gets the runner up. Tom Piccirilli, as usual, has the best writing, but his story and style doesn't seem to fit with the others in this collection. Simon Clark or Scott Nicholson would have been a better choice to fit in. Finally, Douglas Clegg's "The Words", was my least favorite, rehashing old themes from Lovecraft. Clegg is a solid writer, but whenever he goes into his abstract prose, it just becomes clumsy and confusing. Still, this book is definitely worth reading, if for no other reason than to see the different styles and techniques of today's best horror writers.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: To Wake the Dead; Author: Visit Amazon's Richard Laymon Page; Review: People might not like the three stories that initially seem unconnected, but I found this rather refreshing. The way Richard Laymon brought them together might not have been as smooth as I would have liked, but it was still a lot of fun. My favorite, by far, was the subplot with Ed Lake and the cages. I don't think I blinked once when reading that material -- I was so enthralled... and the "present yourself" gimmick alone was worth the price of the book. Stephen King might be considered the best horror writer, but in my book, the best storyteller is still Richard Laymon. King takes me weeks to finish. Laymon takes me a day or two. That's enough proof for me.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Book of a Thousand Sins; Author: Visit Amazon's Wrath James White Page; Review: Wrath James White is known for his outrageously graphic, over-the-top, violent sexual imagery. So, yes, this collection has that, but it has much more as well. He delves into religion, spirituality, psychology, and other planes of existence. A lot of thought went into this work and it really showcases his talent not just to shock his audience, but as a great writer with something to say. My favorites include "He Who Increases Knowledge", "The Sooner They Learn", "The Myth of Sisyphus", and "No Questions Unanswered". The main story, "The Book of a Thousand Sins", is novella length and very strong as well -- Wrath's fans will certainly get their money's worth. Finally, as much as I enjoy seeing small press publishers do well, I was very suprised to see this edition by Two Backed Books have so many spelling errors. For a company only a year old, you would think they would try extra hard to present a perfect product, error free... I mean, come on, the book isn't even 200 pages guys. Still, I definitely recommend this collection to those that enjoy a walk on the darkest side of humanity.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Home; Author: Visit Amazon's Scott Nicholson Page; Review: I don't know how many horror books the other reviewers have read, but this novel is not all that it's cracked up to be. Ghosts are seen by characters in almost every chapter, so the excitment/terror/impact is lessened greatly. The children in this book seem more intelligent than the adults that supervise them -- doctors included. The real conflict doesn't come into play until 250 pages into the book, and the constant flowery descriptions became tedious very quickly. Now, don't get me wrong, I loved Nicholson's last book, The Manor, but this is one to skip. His next book, The Farm, looks a lot better. If you want a taste of real horror, try Richard Laymon, Bentley Little, or Simon Clark.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Night Cage; Author: Visit Amazon's Andrew Harper Page; Review: There's nothing bad about this book, but nothing too great, either. It's the standard psycho-revenge-story where every plot twist is seen a mile away. It does move at a fast pace, which I enjoyed, but I can't quite recommend it. During the last third of the book, many scenes are cut back and forth where suspenseful details are left out as the story moves ahead and the reader fills in the blanks. However, those blanks could have added the flavor and atmosphere that this book desperately needed. Andrew Harper/Douglas Clegg writes this book as if it were a 90 minute movie -- skipping the details -- instead of taking the time to examine the terror of each situation and delve into the characters the way a good novel does.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Tower; Author: Visit Amazon's Simon Clark Page; Review: The Tower proves once again that Simon Clark is one of the top 10 horror writers working today. I've read a ton of haunted house type books, and thought I've seen it all. However, Clark's originality has added even more layers to the genre. There were two specific ideas in this book that I had never read before in horror that really impressed me (a horror twist involving an echo and reflections in a window). The story was so fast paced I finished this book in 3 days. Clark's writing is superb and his characters are interesting and relatable. My only complaint is with Leisure Books, the publisher. I've been a devoted fan of the company for years and it's time I put my foot down. This book has a TON of spelling errors that are inexcusable for a professional publishing house. They seriously need to FIRE the copy editor for letting these errors get to the printer. If that's not bad enough, on page 241, there is a character talking about someone else with the same name! Guys! Wake up! This is not high school. This is embarrassing. Please contact me and I'll do a better copy editing job for free. Seriously. Anyway, Simon Clark is not at fault for this problem, but it definitely takes you out of the story when things are spelled incorrectly.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Backwoods; Author: Visit Amazon's Edward Lee Page; Review: Come on, everyone. The book is called, "The Backwoods". What did you expect? I'm sure Lee blazed through writing this in a matter of weeks -- it has all the standard Lee stuff -- rapes, sex, violent deaths, sex, ridiculous gore, sex, torture, and sex. Look, every few months or so I need my fix of Edward Lee to purge my system. This book worked for me. I had a smile on my face thinking how much fun Edward had writing this. I laughed out loud many times at some of his sexual descriptions. He's not trying to win any awards here. Lighten up. Sure, it's mostly immature, but boy I had a good time.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Keepers; Author: Visit Amazon's Gary A. Braunbeck Page; Review: What a superb book! Wow. This truely stunning novel by Gary A. Braunbeck has raised the bar again. Reading Braunbeck makes me embarrassed to read most any other author -- he's so much better. The quality of his prose, the detailed plotting, and incredibly layered characters are easily among the best of I've ever read -- and I read A LOT. It is uncommon for me to give a book 5 stars -- a perfect book. It is even more rare for an author to garner a second 5 star rating in their body of work -- only four other authors have received this from me (Tom Piccirilli, Richard Laymon, T.M. Wright, and Bentley Little). Braunbeck now joins this elite group after the 5-star rating of his previous work, "In Silent Graves". Reading this profound and emotional story was quite a journey I'll not forget anytime soon.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Puzzleman; Author: Visit Amazon's Christopher Alan Broadstone Page; Review: Christopher Alan Broadstone's PUZZLEMAN is an extremely ambitious first novel. It is very apparent a lot of research went into this book -- everything from Greek mythology, characters from World War II, and even a detailed description on how to shoot heroin most effectively. While I wouldn't categorize this as a straight horror novel -- something more along the lines of Roman Polanski's THE NINTH GATE, many scenes are deliciously graphic without feeling over-the-top. Where the book didn't quite work for me, besides a few too many coincidences, was the sudden Greek history lesson in the middle where our protagonist discovers the background of the evil. I kind of got lost in trying to uncover the mystery along with him. That being said, the pipe world in Puzzleman is very creative and original and somewhere I would never like to go -- nor would I even send my worst enemy. Sure, this 400+ pager could have been edited down a little, but it was an enjoyable ride nonetheless. I look forward to Broadstone's next novel and for those who have not seen his short horror films (which he wrote and brilliantly directed), I highly advise you to check out his website at [...] The three horror shorts that he made are easily the best -- if not THE best -- I've ever seen. And that says a lot.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Cerulean Sins (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter, Book 11); Author: Visit Amazon's Laurell K. Hamilton Page; Review: The 11th book in the Anita Blake Vampire series seems like Laurell Hamilton is running out of ideas. The stories are feeling more and more like a daytime soap opera. She has to understand that a soap opera is on every day, but we only get a new Anita Blake book every year! It should be important and mean something - make it count. Anita's character seems to go along with the flow of everything happening around her, instead of making decisions for herself. Yeah, I enjoy the sex as much as anyone else, but not at the expense of a compelling story. I also think the author desperately needs an editor with the courage to stand up to her. What Ms. Hamilton has written in 500+ pages, could have easily been done in 200 or so. Note to Laurell - keep the action moving and tell an interesting story! Don't worry about quantity, worry about quality.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Berserk; Author: Visit Amazon's Tim Lebbon Page; Review: I've had issues with most of Tim Lebbon's past novels, although I do enjoy his novellas -- which is where I think his strength lies (the shorter format). However, Beserk has showed a solid improvement in his skills. He's brought together a tight story using only a few characters and really got inside their head. Lebbon planted just enough seeds throughout the book to keep the suspense building at a steady pace. I enjoyed this original story and found the ending to be particularly strong. If this is any indication of the new Tim Lebbon, I'll be looking forward to more of his work. Great writing. Recommended.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Meg; Author: Steven Alten; Review: I loved reading this book. I've been putting it off for a few years but finally gave in and was glad I did. The action never stopped and the twists at the end were pretty fantastic. I can usually guess the endings, but Mr. Alten was one step ahead. However, I was annoyed at some of the continuity problems in the copy editing and the lack of character development and certain cliches created a flawed book. Other problems that bothered me was the simple writing style and lack of detailed descriptions in places I felt needed more of it. Regardless, I'm in for another read with the sequel, The Trench.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Velocity; Author: Visit Amazon's Dean Koontz Page; Review: My first outing with Dean didn't start off so good. The premise is fantastic -- a man discovers a letter on his windshield and asked to decide who should die. He has 6 hours to decide. Great idea, right? Well, too bad Dean drops the ball and forgets about the letters a third of the way through. Only 4 letters are sent with choices for our protagonist to decide. The story then decends into standard psycho fare with a very anticlimatic ending. Anyone that has read serial killer material will be treading over similar ground with this one. I'm sure this isn't Koontz's best work, so I'll give him the benefit of the doubt and read a few more books before sending him packing.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Dispatch (Signet Novel); Author: Visit Amazon's Bentley Little Page; Review: In the style of Bentley Little's earlier work, THE IGNORED, this refreshingly original novel is not really a work of horror as much as a creepy and ingeniously crafted supernatural tale. If you buy into the premise, you'll have a great time. Bentley's main character is fantastically real -- flaws and all. The story is clever, bizarre, and mysterious. This is definitely a contender for this year's Bram Stoker award. DISPATCH has all the ingredients of a great novel. If you want something a little (pardon the pun) different out of your horror novels, give this a read.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Resurrection Dreams; Author: Visit Amazon's Richard Laymon Page; Review: Being one of my top 5 all-time authors, this Richard Laymon book isn't one of his better ones. In fact, it ranks among his worst... which is actually better than most other horror authors. However, the villain is not very interesting and the ending is very rushed. If you want classic Laymon that is currently available in stores, try IN THE DARK or ISLAND. The other thing that bothered me is the copy editing. This book has been re-released numerous times so there is no reason for all the spelling errors. This isn't Richard Laymon's fault. The guys over at Leisure Books shouldn't be giving this material to the interns to edit.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Terminal: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Brian Keene Page; Review: I have mixed feelings for Brian Keene's Terminal. Selfishly, I originally didn't want to buy this book because I enjoy Brian's horror stories so much, I thought that if Terminal did well, he'd leave the horror genre behind and write straight fiction like Robert McCammon did. We need Brian to continue writing horror! But eventually I caved in and gave Terminal a chance. The buildup for the first half is quite good and feels very real (except for the clichd Wallace scene in the alley). However, when the action really starts, the smooth, colorful writing becomes forced with awkward scenes of violence (the coincidence with Kelvin was ridiculous) that made me think Brian was doing what he thought was best for a Terminal action movie and not what's best for the story and characters he so carefully fleshed out. Although I liked the gimmick with Benjy, again, it felt out of place in this story. The clichd hostages in the bank bothered me as well. In this small bank with three employees, you have the following customers from all walks of life -- a bible thumper, an undercover cop, a comic book geek, an old man with a heart problem, an old boyfriend of a teller, a woman with a child, etc. If Tommy and his gang were watching the bank and doing their job, why didn't they simply wait until the majority of the customers left the bank? The front window is established as large and the interior clearly visable. Still, Terminal has a few surprises and a likable protagonist. It's definitely worth a look. On a side note, I don't know why this book was nominated for A Bram Stoker award. It is not that the quality is not there, but simply, it is NOT A HORROR NOVEL.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: November Mourns: A Novel (Bantam Spectra); Author: Visit Amazon's Tom Piccirilli Page; Review: As always, Tom's writing is top notch. He's an incredible talent with a truly original voice. You could read any paragraph in this book and know immediately that it was a Tom Piccirilli novel. Although November Mourns has a very intriguing dark mystery at it's core, the setup seems a bit tired -- a man returns home to investigate the death of his sister. Been there. Done that. But Tom always makes it interesting and throws a few curve balls in the mix. His imagery is like poetry and I found myself re-reading passages in awe of his unique language. If you're ready to experience a more mature level of darkness in the horror genre, give this a try.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Twilight of the Dead; Author: Travis Adkins; Review: I didn't realize until after I purchased Twilight of the Dead that it was self-published novel. 99% of these books are painfully awful and so I reluctantly began to read. The dialogue in the first few chapters was bit cheesy, but I found the quicker pace and initial setup a lot of fun. Rather than heap scenes of gore upon violence the way you might think an author would do in a zombie book, Travis Adkins focuses on the characters of the living and how they deal with their newly inherited undead world. Although there were a few twists and turns that caught me off guard, most of the story fell into place exactly how I expected it to. I didn't care for the ridiculously armored zombies and the remote control plot was a little far fetched for my tastes. However, one gimmick that Adkins infuses throughout the book is very cool zombie reports by various experts and non-experts before every chapter. Radio transcripts, pages from training manuals designed to defend against zombies, laboratory reports on reanimation facts, and various maps enhance the overall reading experience. A lot of professionally published authors frown upon self published material - and rightfully so -- but I must say, that the copy editing in this book (I only discovered two errors) was a lot better than many of the mass market paperbacks from established New York publishing houses where I would find over a dozen errors in a single book. I just thought I'd mention that. Clocking in at only 199 pages of story (I'm not counting the afterwards by the author), this is closer to a novella than a full novel, so the book price might be a little high for some. But I'm glad I picked it up and have included it in my horror collection. Twilight of the Dead by no means will change the face of zombies as we know it, but it was a refreshing little story that was fast and fun.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Suffer the Flesh; Author: Visit Amazon's Monica J. O'Rourke Page; Review: I was first introduced to Monica O'Rourke when she co-wrote a book with author Wrath James White, so I decided to see what she could do on her own. Unfortunately, I wasn't impressed. Yeah, it has a few grossout moments and some graphic violence, but it's written with such little buildup and suspense, it loses it's intended effect. For such a short novel, I was also surprised at the number of typos the book has. It has a few decent bits here and there -- I enjoyed the diaper scene for some twisted reason -- but I can't recommend this mainly because of the lack of story. Wait, that's not fair, there is a story -- a crazy man has decided that sex and torture are a fast way for overweight women to lose weight so he puts it upon himself to help them shed some pounds. Huh? Yeah. That's the story.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Like Death; Author: Visit Amazon's Tim Waggoner Page; Review: Like Death is a masterfully layered, compellingly dark, and wonderfully brave piece of horror -- very much for adults. This ambitious story is rich with mythology and perfectly structured. Every piece of information is part of the larger puzzle that organically fits together by the end of the book. I was in awe of the massive scope and creative twists in Waggoner's world. As many other reviews of this book have stated, it is easily one of the best horror titles of 2005. The only travesty is that this book didn't make it onto the final ballot for this year's Bram Stoker awards. I can only assume other authors either didn't read it before they voted or were simply jealous of this new voice in horror. With refreshingly original stories like this, no wonder the competition is scared. It doesn't get much better than Like Death.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Deathbringer; Author: Visit Amazon's Bryan Smith Page; Review: This is my first and probably my last Bryan Smith book. The quality of the writing was average, but the story was where he lost me. It was definitely lacking. Smith is just not in the same league as the other Leisure authors such as Gary Braunbeck, T.M. Wright, Tom Piccirilli, Richard Laymon, Tim Lebbon, and Simon Clark. The mythology he created felt forced and unoriginal. This might have made a good 90 page screenplay, but not a 342 page novel. The Hawthorne character was annoying and took away from the heroism of the main protagonist, Mike. I would have liked to see the characters in Dandridge fend for themselves instead of having an outside character help them out -- it was too easy. The dialogue, also, at times, was quite bad. Try reading some of the lines out loud and you'll see what I mean. And speaking of dialogue, I could have done without the talking zombies. (a hint for Mr. Smith -- talking zombies are not scary!) I don't want to sound too negative, because there are a few things here and there that I enjoyed. However, with the predictability of most of the scenes and everything else I mentioned, I cannot recommend this book.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Loveliest Dead; Author: Visit Amazon's Ray Garton Page; Review: 2 and 1/2 stars Ray Garton is usually known for his more adult, disturbing horror. The Loveliest Dead unfortunately, is like Ray Garton-lite, a PG-13 type ghost story that felt very familiar and run-of-the-mill. This has exactly what all the other supernatural novels have - mysteriously disappearing children, unexplained noises in an empty house, strange voices in the basement, and the always predictable chill that passes through the room. There were a few real moments of terror, but not enough for the amount of buildup that came before it. It seemed that Mr. Garton was uninspired in writing this latest story. The thing that kept me reading was Garton's writing. The story was the same, standard ghost story as most other books, but Garton's strong point is his clear, fluid writing style. His characters are nicely defined and the dialogue feels real. There are a few typos (shame, shame, Leisure!) that unfortunately appear near the climax and my only other problem seems to be Garton's dislike for Catholics. I'm not a Catholic, but his writing not only dismisses the religion, but makes the only priest in the story a pedophile. This clich annoyed me, but was only a minor complaint. Other than that, I'd recommend the A.J. Matthews/Rick Hautala or T.M. Wright ghost novels if the supernatural is your preference.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Finishing Touches; Author: Tessier; Review: This book had me flipping pages as fast as I could read them. That is, until the last few chapters. The setup was so amazing, I knew the momentum couldn't last. The last quarter of the book felt rushed and not in character with the first 3/4. However, the characters, atmosphere, culture, and story was incredibly engrossing. It reminded me of some of Evan Hunter's (Ed McBain) books -- of a dangerous and mysteriously erotic nature. The added bonus of the novella, "Father Panic's Opera Macabre" was also extremely strong but had the same problem at the end. Still, I would definitely recommend reading it.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Wolf's Trap; Author: Visit Amazon's W. D. Gagliani Page; Review: 3 AND 1/2 STARS The first two-thirds of this book had some good twists and I wasn't sure where it would go, but ultimately it ended up as I had imagined. This was very fast-paced and I really got into the characters and the author's refreshing spin on the lycanthrope mythos. Not a fan of the main character's name being Lupo or the rushed ending, but I would not hesitate to recommend this book to any werewolf fans. For me, it had the right amount of suspense, action, gore, and sex. I just would have dropped the hillbilly goons from the last third and had Martin on his own. One question I had for the author -- I think it's a mistake in the book -- when Nick was a boy and got a silver necklace from his mother as a gift on Christmas, how did it burn his neck and not his hands first? Did he put on his necklace with gloves? -- kidding, of course.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Come Out Tonight; Author: Visit Amazon's Richard Laymon Page; Review: Although this is one of Laymon's weaker efforts, it still has plenty of his trademark goodies -- violence, suspense, gore, and sex. The big problem with this one is the believability factor. Characters react in ways that seem ridiculous, but it's a fun read, nonetheless. For new readers of Richard Laymon, I'd first try "In The Dark", "Island", or "The Travelling Vampire Show".; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Conqueror Worms; Author: Visit Amazon's Brian Keene Page; Review: 3 and 1/2 STARS This book is divided into 3 parts. I loved the first and third parts and was so-so with the second section. The idea of an 80 year old protagonist trapped up in the mountains in a secluded cabin after 42 days of constant rain was awesome. However, the story shifts to downtown Baltimore where a group of survivors begins to defend itself against... well, I won't give that away. I wasn't really buying everything -- but it was fun nonetheless. I had issues with certain black ex-criminals/drug dealers talking so cliched in the second section -- "playa", "dawg", and "homey" were just a few of the words spoken and I found myself laughing out loud at this. Keene has done this with characters in his earlier work, Terminal, where I had the same problem. However, I was very satisfied with this book and relieved that Keene took the content seriously instead of making light of your typical giant-monster yarn. Kudos to Keene!; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Prodigal Son (Dean Koontz's Frankenstein, Book 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Dean Koontz Page; Review: I was pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed this book. Fast paced, detailed characters, original story, and an epic feel make this a great read. I haven't liked other Koontz before, but I guess Kevin J. Anderson helped pull Dean up to his level. I look forward to the continuing story -- especially by veteran writer Ed Gorman.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Cell (Spanish language) (Spanish Edition); Author: Visit Amazon's Stephen King Page; Review: Levitating and Psychic zombies are the least of this book's problems. Forget the ridiculous premise of phone signals downloading instructions to the masses or the fact that a major plot point was written a number of years ago by author Brian Keene (going after a missing son in THE RISING), let's get down to brass tacks here -- it wasn't scary in the least! King falls back on his usual formula of gathering survivors together to battle the big baddie and then, of course, prevail so conveniently and in such a preposterous and illogical outcome, you have to ask yourself, "Why is this a bestseller?". Having the name Stephen King still sells books, but at some point, people will realize that the master of horror is now past his prime. Mr. King needs to go back and read his early work from the 1980's to remind him of why he was so great in the field of horror, and ultimately, how to scare the audience.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Off Season; Author: Visit Amazon's Jack Ketchum Page; Review: Off Season is one of the most savage and brutally graphic novels I've ever read -- right up there with Edward Lee's TERATOLOGIST and Richard Laymon's IN THE DARK. This book is right up there with Ketchum's other masterpiece, THE GIRL NEXT DOOR. I loved the slow build up and the introduction of each character. By putting them on the same playing field, I never knew who the story would follow and who our protagonist would be. This made for a more suspenseful read because I didn't know who the next to die would be. It was a deliciously fast read and thank God we have brilliant editors like Don D'Auria to put out brave material like this. In his afterword, Jack Ketchum tells of his fight to publish his uncensored version and the idiots like editor Marc Jaffe who used to work at Ballantine Books and made Jack rewrite the material over and over to water it down for it's first publication. Now Don D'Auria at Leisure books is on the scene and the horror world is a much better place.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Live Girls; Author: Visit Amazon's Ray Garton Page; Review: 3 AND 1/2 STARS While not as impressed as some of the other readers, this 1987 outing by veteran Ray Garton is certainly one of the better modern vampire tales. It has all the mystery, gore, violence, and sex that one expect from a book like this, but certain scenes felt awkward and the dialogue a bit melodramatic at times. Although I saw many plot points coming way ahead, I still had a lot of fun with this book. Definitely better than Garton's THE LOVELIEST DEAD, but not the classic I was hoping for.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Pandora Drive; Author: Visit Amazon's Tim Waggoner Page; Review: PANDORA DRIVE is another staggeringly original work of terror by Tim Waggoner. If critics thought his first novel, LIKE DEATH, was a fluke, this should set the record straight. Tim Waggoner is indeed talented and has proved it once again. It's very rare for me to give a writer two 5-star reviews for their books -- author Gary A. Braunbeck, Tom Piccirilli, Bentley Little, Jack Ketchum, T.M. Wright and Richard Laymon are the only ones to date -- but Mr. Waggoner has now joined that elite group. Infused with emotion and brimming with evil, this is an original and extremely adult tale of horror. My only grip is with the copy editor who unfortunately missed quite a few spelling/grammar errors. I can't begin to tell you how excited I am to read this author's next book. Highest recommendation if you want something different in your horror tale.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: After Midnight; Author: Visit Amazon's Richard Laymon Page; Review: For me, this is Richard Laymon's weakest book. The unlikable main character, Alice, makes the reader not care about her dangerous situations. After a few chapters, you keep wondering how this much bad luck can happen to one person over the course of a couple days. It's too implausible. With all that being said, this book probably has more sex than any of his previous works, so it's definitely not for kids. Give IN THE DARK, ISLAND, or THE TRAVELING VAMPIRE SHOW a read first.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Death's Dominion; Author: Visit Amazon's Simon Clark Page; Review: Simon Clark always delivers an enjoyable, dark read, and DEATH'S DOMINION is no exception. What starts out as an fantastic spin on the Frankenstein franchise turns into a slightly predictable, yet ultimately poignant tale. A few of the resolved mysteries near the end felt a bit far-fetched in regards to the missing God Scarers, but I went with the ride and had a good time. The very ending was powerful and I find myself still thinking about it. This is a very solid read from one of today's premiere horror writers.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Slither; Author: Ed Lee; Review: Two stars might be a generous rating for what is, without a doubt, the worst book Ed Lee has ever written (and I've read most of them as you can see by my other reviews). This story only has enough material in it for a 100 page novella, not a 350+ page novel. Instead, Mr. Lee found himself in a jam and had to meet the minimum requirements of the publisher and stretch it out much longer than it should have been. Repetitive dialogue and plot information runs rampant throughout Slither. Mix in a bunch of ridiculously cliched rednecks, overused medical jargon, and a group of people lacking common sense, and you understand why this might be a frustrating read. If anyone actually believes this book deserves five stars, then they obviously haven't read Richard Laymon's IN THE DARK, Jack Ketchum's THE GIRL NEXT DOOR, or Bentley Little's DISPATCH (which, by the way, was recently listed on Stephen King's top 10 books of the year!) Anyway, if you want to read the best of Edward Lee, check out his CITY INFERNAL and the sequel INFERNAL ANGEL. Or, if you really want his hardcore best, read TERATOLOGIST. Lastly, I was surprised at Leisure Books for having missed so many spelling/grammar mistakes throughout the book, especially since this novel was previously published in hardcover. They had an opportunity to fix it but unfortunately did not.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Dark Universe; Author: Visit Amazon's William F. Nolan Page; Review: After doing some research on author William F. Nolan, I was embarrassed that I had not read any of his work. What a discovery! This living legend is a true chameleon when it comes to writing styles. Each story is so very different from the next -- the style, plot, characters, descriptions, etc. I had a wonderful time with this short story collection and I recommend it to fans both in and out of the horror genre. It has something for everyone. My two favorites are the utterly terrifying LONELY TRAIN A'COMIN and the very touching (yes, I had a tear in my eye) AND MILES TO GO BEFORE I SLEEP. Even the weakest of the 19 stories is better than most others. This collection is strongly recommended.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Stranglehold; Author: Visit Amazon's Jack Ketchum Page; Review: 3 AND 1/2 STARS Jack Ketchum's writing is exemplary in this novel and had me hooked solid for the first half. However the second half had too much courtroom melodrama for my taste. I also wanted the "bad guy" (Arthur) to be... well, bad. His juvenile revenge tactics made him seem stupid and unintelligent. I was expecting a little more depth and cunning, which would have raised the danger level tremendously. Regardless, this was a fast, fun read. For new readers thinking of giving Jack Ketchum a try, I would first recommend THE GIRL NEXT DOOR, his masterpiece and one of the best dark pieces of horror in the last two decades.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Bloodstone; Author: Visit Amazon's Nate Kenyon Page; Review: Bloodstone is a return to the classic theme involving a small, secluded town with a dark secret. Strangers with dreams, an outcast teenager, a town prophet, and a history of violence converge in a steady buildup to a satisfying climax. The writing was solid throughout, but I felt at times Kenyon was holding back from turning the horror-dial up a few notches. With the exception of the final 50 pages, the tone, although creepy and atmospheric, floated in the PG-13 realm. My tastes run a little more hardcore than that, but that's just me. For a first novel, this book shows real talent and a wonderful understanding of defining characters and their emotions. I very much look forward to Nate Kenyon's next title.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Headstone City: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Tom Piccirilli Page; Review: This book is so good, I actually called off work in order to finish it. Piccirilli, as always, has an incredibly original mind and proves once again he belongs with the cream of the crop in the dark fiction category. His flavorful vocabulary jumps off the page and his characters are as three dimensional as the reader holding the book. Headstone City is one of Piccirilli's best and although not as dark as some of his prior novels, it's just as satisfying. Of course, I would prefer his novels to be slanted more into the horror genre than this crime tale with a supernatural angle, but it's hard to complain as long as he continues producing such daring work. An essential read.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Monster Island: A Zombie Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's David Wellington Page; Review: 2 AND 1/2 STARS I decided to read this series in chronological order after buying both books. The writing is not bad, in fact, it's quite good. However, once the story got going, I quickly began to hate the Nilla storyline and her ridiculous invisibility gimmick. I couldn't believe what I was reading. Yes, even in a zombie novel, suspension of disbelief can only take you so far. There were a few other problems I had with the book. In one scene, a zombie (with human teeth, remember, this isn't a vampire) bites the neck of a 7 foot black bear and kills it. Please. A zombie would be hard pressed to pull out a clump of the bear's fur much less rip open its skin. In addition, every once in a while I would find some spelling errors which shouldn't happen in a professional novel costing $13.95. Other small details that took me out of the story was when a zombie threw a bone up at a flying helicopter and actually hit it. Wouldn't it be more poetic to have the bone be thrown at it and miss? The intention would still remain, but the reality wouldn't be flushed down the toilet. But okay, maybe that's being too picky. Anyway, I did enjoy Clark and Vikram's storyline and that was probably what kept me reading. Unfortunately, the ending wasn't satisfying, feeling rushed and thrown together without too much thought. I hear better things from critics about Monster Island, and being from New York City, I'm a little more excited now to read it.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Dark Harvest; Author: Visit Amazon's Norman Partridge Page; Review: This book is simply amazing. Partridge's writing is so incredibly fast-paced, it's hard to keep up -- and that's a good thing. The energy in his writing makes it very apparent he loves telling a good old fashioned horror tale. This book has quickly jumped to one of my all time favorite novellas. A lot of times, spending money on a limited edition hardcover (currently the only available format) is risky and can be disappointing if the material is not strong, but I can assure you, this is money well spent. I hope to see longer works (full length novels) by this author in the future. I'm glad I took a gamble and picked this title up. It's a blazingly original ride.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ghost Road Blues (A Pine Deep Novel); Author: Visit Amazon's Jonathan Maberry Page; Review: This first novel by Jonathan Maberry feels like most author's tenth. Granted, he has written a great amount of work in the non-fiction world, but I'm still blown away by his ambitious explosion onto the horror scene. This is only the first of a trilogy Mr. Maberry is planning, and after reading Ghost Road Blues, I'm definitely in for the long ride. He has a great balance of story/plot and characters, creating a deliciously creepy tale where for once, the villains actually seem to have the upper hand on the protagonists. My few gripes include a couple continuity errors, a handful of spelling errors, a sprinkling of cliches, and a sometimes lengthy description of roads (one of my pet peeves) around the town that were confusing, filling up huge paragraphs. But don't be fooled, this is a remarkable novel, rich in mythology and as dark with evil as I've read in a long time. This should absolutely be on your reading list if you consider yourself a fan of horror fiction. Period.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Dead Souls; Author: Visit Amazon's Michael Laimo Page; Review: Like the great Christopher Lee satanic films from the 70's, DEAD SOULS brings horror back to it's essential roots with hidden codes from the bible, elaborate occult rituals, evil possessions, and calculated suspense that evolves into brutally shocking violence. The first two thirds might feel a bit slow, but the payoff of the last third is well worth it. There were a few plot points that I questioned, but it's so much fun that I just ran with it and you'll be glad you did too. DEAD SOULS is Laimo's best work, second only to his DEEP IN THE DARKNESS - which is a must read for any horror fan.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: DEAN KOONTZ'S FRANKENSTEIN - Book Two - City of Night; Author: Dean Koontz and Ed Gorman; Review: 3 AND 1/2 STARS While this was an enjoyable read and loyal to the first book, it suffered from the "middle book syndrome" of not progressing fast enough. It felt like Koontz and Gorman were stalling the plot until the third book. I enjoyed the darker and more dangerous feel of this entry and the increase of gore was a welcome addition as well. The continuity between the first two books - even with the new author (Gorman) - is smooth. This isn't a terribly groundbreaking saga, but it is certainly worth reading.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Burning; Author: Visit Amazon's Bentley Little Page; Review: "The Burning" was a big letdown after reading Bentley Little's masterful book, "Dispatch". I seriously considered that this book might be written by someone else while Bentley was ill and couldn't write. Who knows. I love this guy and can't tell you how disappointed I was. While one of the top 5 horror writers working today, Bentley Little seems to be hit or miss with his stories. I simply just did not enjoy reading this new release. It seemed that he was throwing way too much random horror at the reader and hoping some of it would stick. And, with everything he was trying to do, none of it - not one moment - was scary! Shadow creatures performing random oral sex, creeping fungus, talking voices in the microwave, deformed goblins peering in windows, skeletons climbing out of mud pits, tunnels filled with moving corpses, and a runaway ghost train crashing into the White House was just too silly. It reminded me of his previous work, "The Return", another disappointment containing silly, bizarre, and unrealistic situations. The scenes of horror during the first third of the book were described during the daytime hours and lost its scare value, suspense, and atmospheric quality. The book had many problems that pulled me out of the story. One of those problems was how ridiculous it was that the police would allow a field trip to a tunnel of bodies that had just been discovered earlier that same day. Bentley needs to do what he does best, which is to come up with a gimmick, focus everything on that single idea, and continue to build suspense around it using his original and obsessed style of storytelling. It worked with "The Store", "The Association", "The Policy", and "Dispatch", just to name a few. Let's hope he gets back on track with his next book.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Beloved; Author: Visit Amazon's J. F. Gonzalez Page; Review: 3 AND 1/2 STARS I really enjoyed reading this book, written by the hardcore author that wrote "Survivor", also from Leisure Books. While having a slow pace for the first 150 pages, the writing is compulsively readable and consistent, and once the stuff hits the fan - as they say - it rose to another level of enjoyment. I have a theory that if I hadn't read the prologue and only started with the first chapter, It would have doubled the suspense for me and I would have been more scared. I say this because after the prologue, you immediately discover that the 'villain' is not human and something supernatural. I would have loved to have pieced that information together myself as the book unfolded, but I realize publishers need an instant hook to grab the reader... but it would have been interesting to see where my mind would have gone if the prologue was deleted. While not nearly as graphic or violent as Gonzalez' previous work, "Survivor", this book will be entertaining to fans of both horror and science fiction and is definitely worth picking up, especially if you enjoyed the films "The Hidden", John Carpenter's "The Thing", or any from the "Body Snatcher" franchise.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Forever Will You Suffer; Author: Visit Amazon's Gary Frank Page; Review: I was intrigued by the premise of this book and for the first three-quarters was fairly entertained, but the ending fell apart and I quickly realized that this story would have been better suited as a novella. I also have a problem with horror writers writing in the first person, because you can immediately assume that the protagonist won't die... he can't, because he's telling the story. This isn't always the case, of course, but horror tales in the third person are usually more suspenseful. Horror legends like Richard Laymon and Bentley Little can pull it off successfully, but not many others. First person storytelling is also a sign of a first-time writer, as is the case here. My other criticism is the heavy use of dialogue pushing the story instead of characters' actions, which are always more interesting. I use the phrase "show, don't tell" to let the reader figure out things on their own in order to make the experience more engaging. That being said, I'm curious to read Gary Frank's next work and see the growth of his writing and storytelling skills.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Midnight Voices; Author: Visit Amazon's John Saul Page; Review: MIDNIGHT VOICES is a rip-off of Roman Polanski's THE TENANT and ROSEMARY'S BABY, but without the edge, suspense, characters, or atmosphere. Although the technical writing is solid, it feels bland and generic, and, like a PG-13 movie, this title should be placed in the "young adults" section. The pace picks up a bit towards the end, but it was hard to get through the melodramatic daytime soap opera dialogue of the first two-thirds. I enjoyed reading this author when I was younger, but I guess 15 years later my taste in horror runs a little deeper and more original. Did Mr. Saul really think people wouldn't compare this with Polanski's work? He should know not to mess with perfection. Hmmm; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Rapture; Author: Visit Amazon's Thomas Tessier Page; Review: RAPTURE, by Thomas Tessier, is quite addictive, although not as inspired or suspenseful as his novel, FINISHING TOUCHES or the novella, FATHER PANIC'S OPERA MACABRE. I expected more out of this tale of an obsessed stalker who puts all his resources into winning over a woman he had a crush on ever since high school, twenty years earlier. As always, Tessier is a wonderful writer that cuts to the quick, never adding fat or fluff to get his point across. He always keeps you on edge and drops subtle hints of foreshadowing. My biggest problem, however, was the way the some of the characters (Georgianne and Bonnie) seemed to have an almost psychic ability - a hunch - to sense the lead character's crime of murder, without any reason or evidence to back it up. The ending seemed a little rushed, but once again, Tessier still manages to spin a tense thriller and I look forward to his new book, WICKED THINGS, his first published novel in ten years.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Santa Steps Out; Author: Visit Amazon's Robert Devereaux Page; Review: 3 AND 1/2 STARS While this would have worked better as a novella, I'm guessing readers will either love it or hate it. Even with the character's mythology to better flesh out the story and their background, it still felt like it overstayed its welcom. However, if you buy into the concept and world Devereaux has created, you'll have a great time. Unfortunately, if you can't get past the Easter Bunny as a sex fiend out to take advantage of your average house cat, you might be quite repulsed and toss the book far across the room. I researched this book before I bought and read it, so I knew what I was getting into, and I have to say, I enjoyed not only the prose, but the story as well. The first have of the book is light and quite silly, but takes a dark turn in the second half. This twisted fairy tale does have some areas of dark, gruesome horror, for fans of the genre, but don't expect a clear cut tale of horror if that's what you're looking for. Needless to say, keep kids away from this. If books had a rating, this would be NC-17 without a doubt.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Dead Letters: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Tom Piccirilli Page; Review: 4 AND 1/2 STARS Tom Piccirilli has been on quite a role over the last few years and he deserves all the accolades he's been getting. The quality of his writing is stellar - both original and deeply moving. I had some minor problems with a drawn-out fight sequence towards the end, but other than that, I very much enjoyed this thriller/mystery. Although this is still in the genre family of horror, I would love to see him delve into straight horror one of these days. While he doesn't write with a typical, conventional style, this is where he separates himself from the average published novelist. His words have deeper meanings than what is just on the surface, and it's always a pleasure to begin to figure them out. This book is a dark, rich, and disturbingly psychological ride - one you won't forget for a long time.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Lake; Author: Visit Amazon's Richard Laymon Page; Review: 2 AND 1/2 STARS While it breaks my heart to give this book such a mediocre review, the laughable plot twists in the last third of the book leave me no choice. Having a police detective disguise his voice to his partner and his lover and get away with it is ridiculous. Coincidences stack on top of each other like hotcakes, and the only real suspense lies in the first half. There's even a scene where the phone line is cut and then a few chapters another character tries to use the phone and, guess what? It suddenly works! Laymon is a horror genius. You only need to read "In The Dark" or "Island" to realize that. But somehow when writing "The Lake", he got distracted and produced his poorest effort. New fans should start with his other work to get the real effect of his storytelling skills. Still my favorite writer, I'm saddened by this book.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Grimm Memorials; Author: Patrick R. Gates; Review: 3 AND 1/2 STARS This book is a great example of an author needing an editor. There was no need for this book to push nearly 450 pages. Many scenes and character's actions were repetitive and slowed down the momentum of the story. How many times do I have to read about the witch stumbling in pain, dizzy, and then for her to find her inner strength and continue? Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the heck out of this book, but it could have been better with a little trim of 50 - 75 pages. Granted, this is only Mr. Gates' second novel, and I'm sure he gets better with each outing. I was also delighted to see how the fairy tale mythology blended into the story and was used for such evil purposes. The gore factor was extremely high, even for me, and I was quite impressed. Count me in for another R. Patrick Gates book.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Creepers; Author: Visit Amazon's David Morrell Page; Review: The setup for this thriller was rather enjoyable and had me flipping pages as fast as I could read, but as the plot began to unfold, I found myself shaking my head at the silly dialogue and numerous coincidences the author tried to slip by me. Unfortunately, it didn't work and I found myself disappointed. However, there was enough moments of originality to rank this book above average. This is one of the rare cases where the book would make a better movie than a novel, which I'm sure we'll see develop in the next few years. Mild recommentation.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Mr. Hands; Author: Visit Amazon's Gary A. Braunbeck Page; Review: Mr. Hands may be the finest work of Gary A. Braunbeck's career, and quite possibly, the best thing he'll ever write. I was absolutely spellbound by the story, characters, and rich mythology he created. I can't recall a horror novel that had me as emotional as this (right up there with Jack Ketchum's THE GIRL NEXT DOOR - both involve the endangerment of children and their helplessness). Besides a few typos (shame, shame, Leisure Books!), I found every chapter, every paragraph, and every sentence infused with such passion, it was hard for me to get the lump out of my throat. As a parent of two young children, this was a difficult book to read, but the message of hope and helping others in need made it easier to get through. I can't recommend this book enough. So far, this is my favorite book of 2007, in horror, or any other genre. Mr. Braunbeck, I feel priviledged to have read such a wonderful and powerful book. Thank you.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Vanishing: A Thriller; Author: Visit Amazon's Bentley Little Page; Review: While not as bad as his last book, The Burning, this latest effort from Bentley Little was slightly disappointing. My problem? To quote an actual line from a character in the book, "Is there anything about this that isn't ridiculous?" Yes, folks, once the story unravels it becomes clear that Bentley added way too many elements that had to be forced to fit together. It was hard to build suspense when everything seems so implausible. I usually love Bentley Little's work, but this was only mildly entertaining. It helps that the novel is very fast paced, but other than that, I would recommend reading his better work like The Store, The Association, The Policy, or Dispatch -- tales of horror/satire, where his talent really shines.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Wicked Things; Author: Visit Amazon's Thomas Tessier Page; Review: I loved Thomas Tessier's Finishing Touches, but his new book, Wicked Things was definitely a step down for me. Although it contains the addictive quality that most Tessier novels have, the story leaves too many unanswered questions. Don't get me wrong, I don't have a problem with leaving a few loose ends untied, but when the majority of them remain a mystery at the conclusion of the book, it's more than a little frustrating. I also felt the protagonist acted out of character towards the end of the story, and as much as I wanted not to see the ending coming, Tessier fell right in line with my predictions. I've been noticing a pattern with his writing in that his endings all seem a bit rushed. Even the novella, Scramburg U.S.A., that was included as a bonus with this book had a bit of fast wrap-up for my taste. Which is a shame, because Tessier's writing is pretty amazing -- the pace, the characters, the situations -- are all highly entertaining. I'm sure one of these days he'll nail it on the head and make the masterpiece I know he's capable of. I still recommend the book because for 75% of it, I was enthralled.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Homeplace; Author: Beth Massie; Review: Although Homeplace was well written, the story wasn't nearly as original as I would expect from Elizabeth Massie. Her first novel, Sineater, is the best debut horror novel from any author in the genre. So, granted, she had a lot to live up to with her latest book. However, things really didn't happen until around page 200, and then when it did, I just didn't care anymore. The first death (this doesn't give anything away) happened in broad daylight and it seemed almost comical in its description. It's hard to build a creepy atmosphere at high noon. I felt that characters overreacted many times and that their common sense was thrown to the wind. The character of Andrew writing a book within the book seemed arbitrary and I wasn't sure why it was included. The TV movie-of-the-week ending was also a disappointment. Rick Hautala and especially T.M. Wright do ghost tales a lot better, but I'll continue to read Massie's work because of the brilliant Sineater.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Lisey's Story (Large Print Edition); Author: Visit Amazon's Stephen King Page; Review: I'm a fan of old King from the 80's, but he's really gone overboard with this new book. Good writing doesn't mean you can tell a good story. There were a few fleeting moments of suspense, but for the most part, it's just nonstop rambling for hundreds of pages. I didn't like any of the characters in this and thought it was terribly overwritten. It takes him entire paragraphs to describe the most ordinary of acts, and by the time he finishes, all tension has fizzled into nothingness. I can only assume he keeps selling books because of public loyality. The fact that this won the Bram Stoker award last year for best novel tells me people voted for him by default, not having read the other finalists. It's a shame, and frankly, embarrassing. Don't waste your time with this stinker.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: This Rage of Echoes; Author: Simon P. Clark; Review: 3 AND 1/2 STARS The first three chapters of Simon Clark's new book had my jaw on the floor. It's a wonderful premise -- a twist on the bodysnatcher concept -- that I dove head-first into reading. The interaction between characters was smooth and organic, and I really liked most of the twists throughout. However, the last third seemed like Simon was randomly coming up with things as he wrote them. Many things didn't feel crafted or well planned out, with revelations seeming quite silly. However, Echoes is still worth a read simply for it's originality, but it's one of Simon Clark's weaker efforts.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Offspring; Author: Visit Amazon's Jack Ketchum Page; Review: While similar to his first book, Off Season, Ketchum delves more deeply into the characters this time around. The events occur over one long and grueling night where our cannibal family of maniacs decide to go on another killing spree. I think this book wasn't as shocking to me as the first simply because I had read Off Season and knew what to expect. But that didn't lessen the enjoyment of joining retired law enforcement officer George Peters once again as he tries to finally put a stop to the madness. The only complaint I really had was the character of Steven, who just decided to visit his ex-wife and son on the same day of this random slaughter. Did I mention that Steven had just murdered his employer earlier that day and is running from the law? Yeah, that felt like too big a coincidence to me, too. But it's still a thrilling read and I wouldn't mind a third book sometime in the future.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Deluge; Author: Visit Amazon's Mark Morris Page; Review: I ran out and bought this book as soon as I read the premise, but ultimately, was slightly disappointed in the outcome. Although the quality of the writing was smooth and the action moved along fast, I would have liked to have seen the survivors deal with the flood element a lot more. Instead, the water disappears less than 50 pages into the book. I also felt the character development was a little light and I was troubled with some inconsistent logic when fighting the enemy towards the end. My only other complaint was that I would have liked a few answers as to the origin of the flood and the evil that it brought forth. I'm not saying I need everything tied up perfectly, but a little more information and details about the enemy would have been nice. Also, I thought the author took the easy way out with the ending he chose. If you enjoy apocalyptic fiction -- don't get me wrong -- this is a solid read, but ultimately, nothing you haven't read before.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Dying to Live: A Novel of Life Among the Undead; Author: Visit Amazon's Kim Paffenroth Page; Review: Having read zombie tales by Lebbon, Keene, Adkins, Clark, and more, I think this rings the most truthful. Deeply involved character development and realistic situations kept me turning the pages late into the night. My only gripe was -- without giving anything away -- the discovery of the "other" people in town. Their situation and characters felt a little cliched and not as organic as the rest of the book. However, if you were ever considering reading a zombie book, this is the one. Action, suspense, gore, surprises, and more. It has a little of everything. Highly recommended.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Killing Spree; Author: Visit Amazon's Kevin O'Brien Page; Review: Killing Spree is an improvement from the last O'Brien title, but only marginally. What made this outing better was the two lead characters, Gillian and Ethan, who are probably the most unlucky people on the face of the earth... The gambling husband leaves Gillian to hide from the mob and the police and now they're after not only her, but her 14 year-old son. If that isn't bad enough, Ethan is discovering he is gay and getting bullied in school, his only friend turns his back on him, and to top it off, a serial killer is recreating the murders from Gillian's published novels. Okay, a little to much thrown in, yes, but it was a lot of fun to read. Way too many red herrings and characters, too. I'm giving Kevin an assignment for his next book; watch the film, Dead Calm. There are only 3 people in the entire movie and it's one of the most chilling, susupenseful thrillers ever made. It's all about great characters and an awesome premise. If Kevin thinks outside the box a little, his work will be outstanding once again. He just needs the story to catch up with his superior technical writing. Besides a few continuity errors and a handful of typos, I had a good time with this one. As always, I'm looking forward to his next book.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Ruins; Author: Visit Amazon's Scott Smith Page; Review: For such a slow and calculated buildup, I expected a metric-ton more payoff than Mr. Smith gave me. Whiny, shallow characters complain for hundreds of pages in this completely laughable scenerio. The actual writing itself is not bad, but all manner of common sense for these characters gets thrown out the window. Frustrating, overly long, and ultimately, a waste of time. The predictable ending didn't help, either. This would have been an interesting short story, but certainly not a full length novel.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Crooked Little Vein: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Warren Ellis Page; Review: Being a huge fan of Ellis' Transmetropolitan series might make me a little biased, but so help me, I just couldn't put this book down! The story might be too fast paced for some readers, but I'd rather have that then authors that fatten their stories up because they get paid per word. Quality, not quantity is what you have here in Crooked Little Vein. Thank God their are authors who are not afraid of speaking their mind and showing the ugly side of life. Thrilling, shocking, thought-provoking, and all around fantastic. I'll be the first in line to buy Warren Ellis' next novel. Highly Recommended.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Midnight Road: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Tom Piccirilli Page; Review: The Midnight Road is the latest novel written by one of America's finest storytellers of dark fiction. As with Piccirilli's other work, the protagonist begins a journey of self discovery, weaving in and out of their own troubled past that somehow connects to a current threat. While the story itself wasn't as gripping as his other book, Headstone City, this one still has the trademarks that Piccirilli fans have come to know and love - flawed, haunted characters caught up in dangerous situations, wrapped in a beautifully detailed world of pain. The only problem I had with the book was the occasional over-analyzing of characters, delving into their psychological motivations throughout the story over and over again. I felt the story wanted to break away with greater speed and energy - and should have - only to be held back sometimes by this technique. That aside, I thoroughly enjoyed this thriller and as always, look forward to the next Piccirilli tale.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Long Last Call; Author: Visit Amazon's John Skipp Page; Review: After the first couple of chapters, even the average horror fan knows exactly where this one is going, but that doesn't stop it from being an incredibly enjoyable and addictive read. Skipp writes surprisingly detailed characters for such a short piece of fiction. He takes out almost all the fat, leaving nothing but lean, raw, fast-paced action, gore, and sex. It's a great ride and reads like the movie it was always intended to be. I understand that Skipp wrote the screenplay to this before the novel, so I'm hoping to see this someday in the theater. The added novella, Conscience, that was included at the end of the book, was a bit disappointing, but the book is still well worth purchasing and adding to anyone's collection because of the lead title. Great stuff.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: They Hunger; Author: Visit Amazon's Scott Nicholson Page; Review: This refreshing new take on the vampire myth blends the excitement, adventure, and isolation of white water rafting with the suspense and terror of great horror storytelling. In terms of movies, think of this as "The River Wild" meets "The Descent". Nailbiting, fast-paced, and loaded with authentic imagery that starts off strategically slow, building with an almost paranoid intensity, never letting the reader get comfortable with where the creatures will strike next. My only complaints were a couple of annoying characters and a couple scenes where I became confused with the details of the specific location. Other than that, this is not your typical vampire story and is sure to please any fan of the horror genre.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sunset and Sawdust; Author: Visit Amazon's Joe R. Lansdale Page; Review: 4 AND 1/2 STARS The name Joe R. Lansdale is truly a stamp of quality on any book. His prose, dialogue, characters, and story are crisp and original, always having a life of their own. Sunset and Sawdust is no exception. You can't help but get involved in the character's lives as they travel down Lansdale's twisted -- and many times humorous -- path. While not as dark as some of his earlier tales, this still packs quite a punch. The characters are sometimes too politically correct for my taste, but this more conservative outing is well worth reading. Man, can this guy write.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fires Rising; Author: Visit Amazon's Michael Laimo Page; Review: 3 AND 1/2 STARS Fires Rising reminded me of a nice mix of movies from filmmaker John Carpenter. Take the standoff of trapped heroes from Assault On Precinct 13 and put them in a church, then add the growing evil and possession from Prince Of Darkness and you have a fairly accurate description of Fires Rising. While I didn't relate to the characters nearly as much as I did in his earlier novels such as Deep In The Darkness or Dead Souls, I enjoyed the constant threat of danger that Michael Laimo infused throughout the book. Somewhere between a novella and a full length novel, this is one of the shorter Leisure titles I've seen. But don't let that fool you, Laimo stuffs this baby full of violence, mythology, creatures, gore, and some memorable visuals that will stay with you for quite some time. And while I agree with others that this is his best technical writing, the story didn't grab me as much as I would have liked. Still a solid recommendation that has me looking forward to Laimo's next one.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Dark Hollow; Author: Visit Amazon's Brian Keene Page; Review: 4 AND 1/2 STARS For me, although this wasn't the most frightening novel Brian Keene has written, this was his most enjoyable. I could tell he had fun writing it, slipping in parts from his other writings as well as details from his own life. The premise, however ridiculous, seemed to work mainly because the characters were so sympathetic and had such serious convictions about what was actually going on. While the constant arousal of the town males bordered on outright comedy, Keene kept things grounded with some nice moments of suspense and deep emotions. The only glaring problem I had was the group's decision not to carjack the first vehicle they came into contact with after visiting the LeHorn house - especially since the lives of their spouses were in question. It felt very awkward. That being said, I had a great time with this book and it should be a welcome addition to any horror fan's library. Keene held nothing back in this very adult tale and I wouldn't mind seeing a sequel sometime in the future.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Shelter; Author: L. H. Maynard; Review: 2 and 1/2 STARS This was my first outing with these authors and although I won't judge them by this book and completely write them off, I wasn't that impressed with Shelter. The British translation for certain words interfered with the flow of the book, and although I knew what the definition was, it was annoying to read. Small tweaks for American readers would have been nice. In addition, my other problems with this book were the clunky plot devices, inconsistent character decisions that were made near the end of the book, and the rushed and simplistic climax. That said, there were some genuinely creepy moments along with solid suspense, but with all the books on the market today, I probably wouldn't recommend this to horror fans. You'd think with two writers putting their heads together, they would have come up with a better book than this.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Dead Sea; Author: Visit Amazon's Brian Keene Page; Review: After such an impressive debut with The Rising and City Of The Dead, I'm not sure why Brian Keene devoted so much time into such an average zombie book. Sure, like all of Keene's books, it has a lot fun scenes, gory action, and a fast pace, but Dead Sea just didn't add anything new. Standard survivalist tactics by likable characters are not enough of a reason to write a novel. Predictable plot twists and some uneven and awkward speechs by a few characters had me wondering if Keene was simply writing for a designated page count to fulfill his publisher's requirement. Don't get me wrong, this is not a bad book by any means. I just expected Keene to put a lot more thought into his third zombie book. For zombie fans, I'd give this a mild recommendation, but for new fans, stick with The Rising and City Of The Dead.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Everlasting; Author: Visit Amazon's Tim Lebbon Page; Review: This story had a lot of promise, but unfortunately never paid off. Once the setup is revealed, nothing really happens until the very end. Long, vague descriptions slow the pace down to a crawl. Reading this reminds me of waking up from a dream I can't seem to remember because it all blurs into a confusing mess. This would have worked much better as a novella -- something, in my opinion, Tim Lebbon is better at writing. There simply wasn't enough material to merit a 325 page novel. I hate to say it, but this is another disappointment. Lebbon's novel, Beserk, is still his best work.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Shapeshifter; Author: Visit Amazon's J. F. Gonzalez Page; Review: While I usually love books by Gonzalez, this one was a step down for me. The opening setup was quite excellent by having a troubled man's identity secretly discovered by his superior at work and recorded on videotape. The boss then blackmails his employee to do his dirty deeds as a werewolf, killing off his competition. However, in almost every scene with the werewolf, you could easily substitute the name "werewolf" for "hitman" and you'd essentially have the same effect, only with a more grisly outcome. It reads more as a crime thriller than a horror novel. I wanted to delve into Mark Wiseman's world a lot deeper than was written, but it was a fast, fun read nonetheless. My only other problem was the incredibly high amount of coincidences in the final third of the book where our villain discovers his ex-girlfriend and our hero, Mark Wiseman, have been seeing each other, run off together, and are easily tracked down. George Fielding's piecing together clues to the murders and the involvement of everyone also seemed like a bit of a stretch, especially after just coming out of a coma. But regardless, Gonzalez is trying a something new here and I'm glad he did. Personally, I prefer his book, "Survivor", a much more visceral plunge into horror. As long as you have the stomach for it.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Triage; Author: Jack Ketchum; Review: Wow is this a good collection of tales. While initially, all three are connected by the same setup, they quickly branch off into their own world, especially Edward Lee's story where he throws us into the future on a ship travelling in space. I was surprised at how different this was from other works by Lee, but it still had his abundant helpings of gore and sex. Some of the concepts Mr. Lee reveals are pretty amazing and I could tell he was very inspired writing it. Highly recommended for newbies since you get a taste of each author's style. Great stuff all around.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Bighead - Unexpurgated & Illustrated Edition; Author: Visit Amazon's Edward Lee Page; Review: 3 AND 1/2 STARS I've heard about this book for years and finally got around to reading what people say is arguably Edward Lee's most famous hardcore novel. While I was certainly entertained, almost crying with laughter at the ridiculously graphic descriptions, I found that those moments of shocking gore and sex were few and far between. Maybe I hyped the book up in my head more than I should have, but it wasn't as disturbing as I had thought, and certainly not as graphic as Lee's TERATOLOGIST. The scare factor was also pretty low, with very little in the way of atmosphere. And although the story was fairly predictable, I had a good time reading this and, without question, should be on the shelf of any Edward Lee fan.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Blood Red; Author: Visit Amazon's James A. Moore Page; Review: No one was more surprised at how good this book was then I was. James A. Moore was on my probation list after receiving back-to-back two-star reviews for his last two books. I almost didn't pick this one up, but I decided to give him one more chance. Needless to say, I was fairly blown away. Blood Red is a rather large scale story set in a small town, very well written, with characters I really enjoyed learning about. The slow buildup was a gamble, but one that -- for me -- paid off tremendously. Horror author Kealan Patrick Burke said it best with his three work descripion of the book... "Brutal and scary". I was very surprised and delighted at the large number of characters that Mr. Moore kills off. He's obviously not afraid of anything. I could have done without some of the banter between the detectives, and Ben's incredible computer skills seemed a bit far fetched, but with only a few minor gripes, this book is a big thumbs up. I hope to read a sequel to Blood Red some day. I'm also happy to say that the probation for James A. Moore has now been lifted.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Covenant; Author: Visit Amazon's John Everson Page; Review: I can see why COVENANT won the Stoker Award for best first novel. It's an ambitious story on many levels, and for the most part, Everson pulls it off. A wonderfully creepy first third slides into some predictable patterns, but Everson throws so much danger, sex, and mythology at the reader, you're bound to enjoy yourself. I think he maybe gave too much information away in chapter three, because I would have liked to piece the story together myself as our main character begins his investigation, rather than have the secret given away so soon. I was also confused at some of the decisions some of the characters made... like witnessing an abduction and not calling the police when there was no reason not to, etc. The author does a nice job keeping the fantastic material grounded in a reality that is believable and sympathetic. Everson's skill as a technical writer is just as strong as his storytelling ability and that is something I don't see very often. Usually someone is much stronger in one area. John Everson seems to have the entire package as a writer and his love for hardcore horror is readily apparent, and one I very much welcome. The pros heavily outweigh the cons in this story and I'm definitely looking forward to reading his new book, SACRIFICE, the sequel to COVENANT.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Darkness Wakes; Author: Visit Amazon's Tim Waggoner Page; Review: While I didn't enjoy this as much as LIKE DEATH or PANDORA DRIVE, the concept in DARKNESS WAKES might just be Waggoner's best idea to date. This is a very addictive novel and has some great moments of suspense and gore. However, it was hard to like the main character, Aaron, due to the way he treated his wife and the decisions he made throughout the book. That being said, my only other problem -- and this is not Mr. Waggoner's fault -- is the poor copyediting done by Leisure Books. I discovered over a dozen typos that should have easily been caught by the publisher. These are the things that really pull you right out of a story when you are as submerged as one is when reading a Waggoner book. That said, Leisure should put Waggoner back in their roster because he truly is one of the best writers they have (along with Laymon, Braunbeck, Garton, Ketchum, Keene, and Clark). Waggoner is so exciting and daring with his writing, Leisure just needs to get his name out there and market him better. This guy is a serious talent.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Coffin County; Author: Visit Amazon's Gary A. Braunbeck Page; Review: 4 AND 1/2 STARS Whenever the horror genre begins to wane, I dive into a book by Braunbeck and that sinking feeling always goes away. Coffin County, set in the familiar world of Braunbeck's fictional town of Cedar Hill, delves deeper into the mythology he has created, giving us a look at the past, the present, and the future. And all three are pretty damn terrifying, I'll tell you. While I wasn't as emotionally affected by this book like I was with Braunbeck's MR. HANDS, I was still mesmerized with the story, characters, and the facinating way he pulled what appeared at first to be a rather scattered tale tightly together. There's nothing worse than reading a book and feeling nothing, and with Braubeck, you're guaranteed to have a reaction -- repulsed, meaningful, drained, reflective, powerful, haunted, saddened, disgusted, or angered, you're bound to feel something and get more than your money's worth. Highly recommended.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Orgy of Souls; Author: Wrath James White; Review: With Wrath James White involved, I was expecting something more edgy, and although I enjoyed this latest outing (co-written with Maurice Broaddus), I felt a few things were lacking. The nature of a novella perhaps wasn't a large enough canvas to lay out the tale they needed to tell. With a few exceptions, the story seemed to have very little atmosphere. The characters would move from action to action, barely giving the author an insight into their motivations. I wanted to know more about them before throwing them into such a violent and dangerous world. And while the last 20 pages had an interesting twist, it wasn't enough to make up for the rest of the book. Wrath's work on his collection, The Book Of A Thousand Sins, seemed more layered, more mature, and more creative. Orgy Of Souls, while well intentioned, was too simplistic for my tastes. Don't get me wrong, this is a solid tale, but not what I was expecting.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Academy; Author: Visit Amazon's Bentley Little Page; Review: Anyone who knows the work of Bentley Little can guess what The Academy is about. Although I still enjoy his work and the gimmicks he comes up with, I really need more than an evil fill-in-the-blank that slowly takes over a fill-in-the-blank. Even the ending is what I predicted at the start of the book, and while it may be the logical conclusion, I was hoping Bentley would have put a deeper layer of thought behind this one. His technical writing is always very proficient, but I felt a few plot lines and characters were skimmed over towards the end and left me feeling a little cheated. I also wanted to know more about certain evil characters and more details of the evil's origins. Still, it's not a bad novel by any means, but I'm still waiting for another "The Store", "The Policy", "The Association", or "Dispatch" from this living legend of horror.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Dead Man's Song (A Pine Deep Novel); Author: Visit Amazon's Jonathan Maberry Page; Review: 4 AND 1/2 STARS Dead Man's Song, the second installment in the Pine Deep Trilogy starts off just where the first book, Ghost Road Blues, ended. Author Jonathan Mayberry beautifully sums up the first book in a few pages, allowing new readers to jump right on board in this exciting and very evil tale. The quality of writing is far above most authors in the genre and the story really feels like a horror classic. I enjoyed this book even more than the first, which won a Bram Stoker award for best first novel. However, I was annoyed at Kensington's poor copyediting. I found constant typos throughout the book - I'm talking dozens - that really pulled me out of the story. Hopefully those issues are fixed for the third and final book, Bad Moon Rising. So far, this is probably the best horror trilogy since Richard Laymon's Beast House series. Very highly recommended.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Old Flames; Author: Visit Amazon's Jack Ketchum Page; Review: 4 AND 1/2 STARS If you have ever dated someone who you felt was unstable, imagine that person a dozen times worse and bent on revenge, using every ounce of their energy to invade your life and destroy everything around you. This is the main character, Dora Welles, of Jack Ketchum's new novella, Old Flames. True, the book is quite short, but that doesn't take away from this chilling tale of one woman's quick decent into madness and revenge. Ketchum uses clean, beautiful prose with a stunningly impressive economy of words, never backing away from the difficult subject matter. His honest and realistic approach to sudden and spontaneous violence is the best in the genre today. Incredibly addictived and one of the best titles of the year.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Night Life; Author: Visit Amazon's Ray Garton Page; Review: The premise of this book had me hooked early on. A wealthy and famous author hires a couple private investigators to look into the legitimacy of a secret vampire culture, one that he has personally been researching for years. Great idea. Unfortunately, the rest of the book seemed rather predictable with a by-the-numbers hunt for the bad guys, complete with a gathering of allies, a sizable weapons purchase, and a target practice session for the main protagonists to bone up on. Although the last 50 pages were full of action and enjoyable images of grotesque gore, I felt a little let down by this book. Some of the other problems I found were a few continuity errors along with portions of dialogue that seemed a bit cheesy. Most of the scenes moved so quickly there was not time to build any real atmosphere. This was not as good as Garton's last book in the series, LIVE GIRLS. There were things, of course, I enjoyed about this book - likable characters, well written prose, and a few pleasantly unexpected moments. However, I can only give this a mild recommendation.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Hero; Author: Visit Amazon's Wrath James White Page; Review: 4 AND 1/2 STARS Hero is a finely tuned tale of terror. White and Gonzalez are not afraid of peeling back the layers of evil to deconstruct the motives of one of the most chilling female villains in recent memory. The pairing of these authors worked much better, in my opinion, than that of Wrath James White and Maurice Broaddus's book, Orgy Of Souls. The writing of Hero felt completely seamless, as if written by a single mind. This fantastic writing team has managed to accomplish in a novella what most authors cannot do in an entire novel. I was completely hooked from the first page until the epilogue and not afraid to acknowledge the tears in my eyes as I finished the book. This is one powerful work of horror and I am definitely looking forward to more from White and Gonzalez. A few typos and some minor story points aside, this is near perfect.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dying to Live: Life Sentence; Author: Visit Amazon's Kim Paffenroth Page; Review: 4 AND 1/2 STARS This follow-up to Mr. Kim Paffenroth's book, "Dying To Live: Life Among The Dead" is everything I could have hoped for and more. If anyone thinks the zombie genre is growing tired or that there is nothing new to offer, they obviously have not read this book. Placing the emphasis on the survivor's internal struggles (both the living AND the dead) of the world they live in, Paffenroth brings us back to our group of survivors into a climate - twelve years later - where many have never experienced a normal, civilized world. This community has adopted a very unique way of dealing with the undead. The characters here are incredibly well written and the twisting path Paffenroth takes the reader on is refreshing, thought-provoking, and utterly original. While the construction of some of the sentences seemed awkward at times, I wrote much of that off as it being part of the character's personality, whether through narration or dialogue. My only other issue was the vocabulary of one of characters who was only twelve years old. Sure, she's a smart girl, but still, using words like dexterously, ubiquity, auspicious, visceral, intuited, and denouement seem a bit much. Minor gripes aside, I encourage Mr. Paffenroth to continue his highly intelligent series. As strong as the first book was, I believe this one (Life Sentence) is even better. Even if you don't like the zombie genre, I am confident you will still love this book as much as I did. I've read A LOT of zombie novels over the years and this is at the very top of my list.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dying to Live: Life Sentence - Kindle edition; Author: Visit Amazon's Kim Paffenroth Page; Review: 4 AND 1/2 STARS This follow-up to Mr. Kim Paffenroth's book, "Dying To Live: Life Among The Dead" is everything I could have hoped for and more. If anyone thinks the zombie genre is growing tired or that there is nothing new to offer, they obviously have not read this book. Placing the emphasis on the survivor's internal struggles (both the living AND the dead) of the world they live in, Paffenroth brings us back to our group of survivors into a climate - twelve years later - where many have never experienced a normal, civilized world. This community has adopted a very unique way of dealing with the undead. The characters here are incredibly well written and the twisting path Paffenroth takes the reader on is refreshing, thought-provoking, and utterly original. While the construction of some of the sentences seemed awkward at times, I wrote much of that off as it being part of the character's personality, whether through narration or dialogue. My only other issue was the vocabulary of one of characters who was only twelve years old. Sure, she's a smart girl, but still, using words like dexterously, ubiquity, auspicious, visceral, intuited, and denouement seem a bit much. Minor gripes aside, I encourage Mr. Paffenroth to continue his highly intelligent series. As strong as the first book was, I believe this one (Life Sentence) is even better. Even if you don't like the zombie genre, I am confident you will still love this book as much as I did. I've read A LOT of zombie novels over the years and this is at the very top of my list.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: One Last Scream; Author: Visit Amazon's Kevin O'Brien Page; Review: O'Brien's new horror/thriller is very effective in creating an atmosphere of dread and danger. His technical writing, as always, is top notch. The character development he writes is also some of the best in the business. And his talent for creating eerie and suspenseful moments are apparent in almost every chapter. All these elements are utilized in what is a very frightening story that feels all too real. I enjoyed reading this more than the last few books by O'Brien, and think this is one of his best. There were, however, a few minor gripes I had in regards to the actions of a couple characters. Without giving any spoilers away, I found it more than a little strange that after hearing significant proof of her client/friend's confession of murder, that this character would go alone into the middle of the woods to verify the claim. This felt extremely reckless and pulled me out of the story for a while. Another out-of-character moment happened when a male character decided not to call the police when he discovered his family was in danger. No reason was even given as to why this choice was made. However, things began to fall into place as the pieces of this deadly puzzle formed a very satisfying tapestry of evil, and ultimately, a worthwhile, albeit short ending. Overall, this is pretty fantastic book and I would recommend this to fans of both horror and thrillers alike. The reason I classify this title more a horror novel than a thriller, is that in thrillers, you are scared for the character, but in horror novels, you are scared for yourself. And in reading this book, I was constantly looking over my shoulder and out the darkened windows at night. As always, I'll be seeking out the next O'Brien book, Final Breath. Nice job, Kevin!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: House Infernal; Author: Visit Amazon's Edward Lee Page; Review: 3 AND 1/2 STARS I've read a lot of Edward Lee, but I still say his best storytelling is with this "Infernal" series, and House Infernal is no exception. While this latest entry is my least favorite of the series, it was an enjoyable read, containing all the elements that make the Infernal trilogy so special... wild characters thrown into hell battling disgustingly wretched denizens over the fate of humanity and goodness. That being said, this book felt a little conservative for Lee's standards and a lot of the rules of incantations, spells, ceremonies, etc. felt random and a bit messy towards the end. I was surprised at the high number of typos this book had, especially since it was published previously by Cemetery Dance Publications. There is no excuse for a top New York publisher like Leisure / Dorchester to put out such sloppy work. If someone simply read through the manuscript they would catch the errors with ease - they were that obvious. With all the faults of the book, it was still worth reading and I'll keep my fingers crossed in hopes of a fourth book in the Mephistopolis. New fans of Lee should first check out book one in the series, City Infernal, and if you are even more daring, pick up a copy of one of his more hardcore novels, The Bighead or The Teratologist. You've been warned!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Johnny Gruesome; Author: Visit Amazon's Gregory Lamberson Page; Review: This book really reads like a great horror film from the eighties, with author Gregory Lamberson directing it like one of the masters. While the story might seem a bit familiar, it's Lamberson's economy of words that rockets the reader forward in this classic revenge tale. There is no fat to be found in this story, anywhere. You're immediately propelled back into the good old days of high school peer pressure, only this time, you get to experience the dishing out of brutal punishment through the eyes of our villain. I enjoyed the fact that even though Johnny is hurting people, you still feel empathy for him and understand the reasons for his slaughter, twisted though they may be. Fans of the movie Return Of The Living Dead should take note and celebrate and pick up a copy of this book fast. This is one of the most entertaining horror novels I've read in a long time. Simple yet effective, it has all the right beats and delivers all the goods. You won't be disappointed.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Right to Life: And 2 Stories; Author: Jack Ketcham; Review: While there's nothing supernatural in Jack Ketchum's terrifying thriller, Right To Life, the monster in this tale - like most of his work - is all too real, taken right from the headlines of today's news. At first, I was hooked on the mystery of why this innocent woman was kidnapped and wanted to know more about her kidnappers and their motives. However, the reasoning behind their actions didn't seem as effective as it could have been. Maybe that was an easier way out instead of writing about someone doing this because of their belief in saving a precious life, doing anything they can to protect the baby that grows inside of our main character. Regardless, it was an enjoyable read and one of Ketchum's stronger works, along with The Off Season, Offspring, Old Flames, and The Girl Next Door - my favorite of his books.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Succulent Prey; Author: Visit Amazon's Wrath James White Page; Review: I'm a fan of Wrath James White, but even he might have gone too far with this one. I can definitively say that this is the most graphic horror novel I've ever read - more so than even Jack Ketchum's Off Season or White's collaboration with Edward Lee on The Teratologist. However, with the characters in this story being so unlikable, I didn't find this nearly as effective as those other books. White's writing is strong and he always gives the reader a good portion of philosophical theories to think about from many different viewpoints, and Succulent Prey is no exception. I think this would have worked better as a novella, because I think the story somewhat overstayed its welcome. It's a fascinating, but fairly simple concept that didn't need 300+ pages to tell it. While most of the characters were consistent, I found a few decisions they made seem to be forced and out of character. More atmosphere would have been nice to improve on the story's terribly creepy premise. Also, the pace was awkward at times; some scenes felt rushed while others dragged on a bit too long. However, the incredibly graphic descriptions that occur in almost every chapter should have you ripping through this book very quickly. There are images from this book that will be stuck in my head for a long time, and if you are looking for something very, very hardcore in the horror genre, this will surely fill that appetite. I have mixed feelings on this book, but I am glad to see that Leisure Books was not afraid to publish this type of extreme horror.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Jigsaw Man; Author: Visit Amazon's Gord Rollo Page; Review: I have not read a debut horror novel this good since Jack Ketchum's Off Season, and as impressive and effective as Elisabeth Massie's Sineater. This book is incredibly well paced with a perfect beginning, middle, and end. I can't say enough about this writer. There were things in this book that were so terrifying, I couldn't believe what I was reading. It runs you through a full spectrum of emotions and hooks you every step of the way. I usually don't like first person stories, but this one really worked. Rollo perfectly balanced the characters, the mystery, the violence, the gore, and the surprises into a very exciting and original tale. I read a lot of horror (almost exclusively), and this is hands down, the best thing I've read in over a year. Gord Rollo's new book, Crimson, was just released by Leisure Books, and you can be sure I'll be picking that up fast. His other book, Strange Magic, is being published by Dark Regions Press and I've already preordered that one. And you should too.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Friday The 13th #1: Church of The Divine Psychopath; Author: Scott Phillips; Review: 2 AND 1/2 STARS There are not too many people more knowledgable than I am regarding the Jason mythology. I can rattle off every director of the franchise, every actor that played Jason (even the stunt doubles of the early films), own every film in both VHS and DVD - even one on laserdisc, and now collecting the Blu-Ray versions. I have the action figures, the autographed photos, the novel adaptations, the behind-the-scenes books, even the Friday the 13th lunch box. So here's my take on this book: While I enjoy backstory for characters, Mr. Phillips didn't seem to balance that with spending time with Jason and building suspense. If you add up the pages Jason is actually doing something or killing someone, you'll end up with less than 20 pages out of over 400. Seriously. Besides the prologue, he doesn't even show up until around page 170. And where are the creative ways he kills people? In this story, Jason only uses his machete. Also I didn't buy the "highly trained" tactical team with night-vision goggles and laser sights having a very rough time with a bunch of hillbilly churchgoers. For the most part, Mr. Phillips got Jason's body language down, but Jason seemed to pop up all over the place, even after describing how the two areas of the story were on opposite sides of the lake - a full half hour drive away from each other! Did Jason sprint back and forth for each killing? Minor stuff, but still. There was simply way too much gunfire on Jason. Literally thousands of bullets were tearing through his body over and over again, and although I realize he has unatural powers, when a body part disentegrates, there has to be an acknowledgement of injury -- slower movement, losing the use of a hand or leg, etc. Jason stalks his victims carefully, not running out in the middle of a platoon of armed men and swinging wildly like some coked up Tony Montana in Scarface. Jason waits for just the right moment when characters are vulnerable. But don't get me wrong, this was a fast and relatively fun read, and the R rated feel was a good decision. However, this could have greatly benefited from a lot more atmosphere instead of one action after another. You have to establish tone and a real sense of dread if you want to scare an audience. The prologue set up some decent atmosphere and location description, but then that style seemed to disappear. I would only recommend this book to die hard fans of the series, because as a standalone horror novel competing against solid genre authors, it is simply average at best.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Brides of the Impaler; Author: Visit Amazon's Edward Lee Page; Review: I very much enjoyed Edward Lee's Infernal trilogy and most of his other work, but I thought this was a lackluster attempt at a predictable story. While there were a couple moments that shocked me, most of the character's actions were very repetitive and slow. If strange things continue to happen to a character over and over, why do they act so ignorant and not take any initiative until the last few chapters? I'm really tired of reading apathetic characters in horror. On a small side note, I was annoyed at the reference of "zooming in with the binoculars" that was constantly done by one of the characters. Zooming in with a video camera, sure, but not a pair of binoculars. This didn't make any sense and made me wonder if the author ever used a pair before. The book had some decent gory moments, but the lack of atmosphere and especially the scares were disappointing. Explaining all the mythology in the last 40 pages seemed forced and heavy-handed. The ending, also, felt rushed and inadequate. No doubt one of Lee's weakest efforts.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: 20th Century Ghosts; Author: Visit Amazon's Joe Hill Page; Review: The technical writing here by Joe Hill is exemplary, but I didn't find it very scary. He has some beautiful stories, thick with atmosphere and emotion, but I don't think it should have be included or labeled in a horror short story collection. While the stories are quite different from each other, none of them really grab you by the throat the way great horror can do. I'm curious to see what he does in the future using a longer format such as his debut novel Heart Shaped Box. Regardless, Joe Hill is certainly someone to keep your eye on.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Gentling Box; Author: Visit Amazon's Lisa Mannetti Page; Review: Author Lisa Mannetti leaps onto the horror scene with this very powerful debut novel, The Gentling Box. At first, I didn't know what to expect since the cover art appears to be some sort of strange equestrian romance. However, the description on the back was more true to the nature and tone of the story and I was very interested in reading not only a horror novel, but one that dealt with subject matter I had little prior experience with; gypsy horse trading and black magic in 19th Century Europe. The details here are quite lavish and at times, it feels so authentic that you almost wonder if author Mannetti uncovered a secret family journal that she has based these events on. This is fiction, of course, which makes the world and mythology she has created all the more impressive. This is one of the darkest, most sinister novels I've read in a long time, with very little, if any, hope for any character starting from page one. It's brutal and painful and I quite loved it. While the main character, Imre, is sometimes frustratingly timid in some of his actions, there is enough continuity here that although I didn't agree with his choices, it never pulled me out of the story. There were, however, a few times I needed to go back and re-read sections that seemed confusing due to certain word choices being unclear. Regardless, Mannetti peppers the novel with some deliciously wicked descriptions along with some great plot twists that I never saw coming. I have to admit that I actually experienced a very bad nightmare halfway through reading this - which almost never happens. So that says a lot. Anyway, if you are interested in reading a different type of horror novel, this is one that delivers.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Cold Spot; Author: Visit Amazon's Tom Piccirilli Page; Review: Having read everything Tom Piccirilli has ever done, I'm simply blown away how he continues to improve with each book. While I prefer his work in the horror genre, I've still kept up with his crime thrillers and think this is his very best. I couldn't put this book down, blazing through it in a couple of days. Chock full of original characters with unique histories in a tangled web of danger, deceit, and destiny. The action and twists are remarkable and Piccirilli's economy of words, dialogue, and personality is the best in the business. I've yet to come across an author, in this or any genre, that is as consistently excellent as Tom Piccirilli. My God does this man have a gift.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Loch; Author: Visit Amazon's Steve Alten Page; Review: 2 AND 1/2 STARS. I really enjoyed Meg, author Steve Alten's breakout bestselling novel, and with my fascination regarding the mysteries behind the Loch Ness Monster, I had to pick this one up too. For me, The Loch is a mixed bag. While the main storyline is quite exciting, Alten wedges large chunks of dry historical background that seem to be copied from a middle school book report. These unnecessary facts constantly pulled me out of the story, making it difficult to come back to the main focus, our protagonist Zachary Wallace. Another issue I had was the awkward, almost spastic responses from characters that really felt forced for dramatic sake, and not at all organic. For instance, waking up from a bad dream, a character jumps out of bed screaming and runs out to a balcony where he dives over the railing! Now how many times have you heard of that happening? It really came out of nowhere with no buildup. Another instance was a character breaking up someone in the hospital who had just had a near death experience. Doing that is fine, of course, but the blunt way in which it was handled felt very artificial, almost turning into a comedy. Alten also sets the book up in a first person perspective and then shifts to third person when attacks around the lake happen. He should have kept with one or the other instead of being so choppy and switching back and forth. This is just another example of something that pulls you out of the story. Some facts are inaccurate, too. Alten writes about a character who is a photographer taking a 30-second exposure on a moving boat at midnight with an 300mm F4.5 lens. Besides the fact that it would be too dark, the movement over 30 seconds on a boat would give you nothing but an incredibly blurry image, especially with such a long lens. I never try to predict the twists and turns in a book, but prefer to sit back and let the author take me on his or her journey. Unfortunately, most of the plot twists were clichd -- David's appearance at the Loch, the chemical/oil spill, the love interest, the creature revelation, etc. You know you're not quite enjoying the book when you're looking forward to the ends of each chapter where Alten uses quotes from actual eye witnesses. That's about as interesting as it gets. However, there were some things I liked about this book. Many of the characters were quite colorful and the landscape was described enough that I got a good sense of the environment. The beginning dive with the squid was great, but then everything slows down considerably. Honestly, your best bet is to read the first 50 pages and the last 100. So, unfortunately, there wasn't enough here in this 500+ page book to recommend unless you are an Alten completist...especially now that this paperback price is $10.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Children of Chaos; Author: Visit Amazon's Greg F. Gifune Page; Review: 4 AND 1/2 STARS. This is hands down one of the best horror books of the year. It's the writer's job to take you by the hand and lead you on a journey. However, Gifune doesn't just grab your hand. He yanks at your hair and pulls you by the neck, never allowing you to take even a single breath. He delights in smothering you in evil for 300 fantastic pages. Children Of Chaos is filled with vivid characters and a fascinating and addictive premise. Gifune's writing is smooth and poetic and wonderfully consistent with its darkness and tone. That being said, I did think the showdown was slightly muddled and too close to Apocolypse Now / Heart Of Darkness for my taste. But that doesn't take away from the fact that this book is near perfect. Anyone calling themselves a fan of this genre needs to pick this book up fast. I'll be getting the rest of Gifune's titles for sure.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Nightwalker, The; Author: Thomas [cover illustration by C Tessier; Review: I really appreciated Tessier's new and refreshing approach to the werewolf mythology. While I don't think all the historical elements came together as cohesively as they should have, I had a good time reading this. I would have preferred to not even know what the book was about since the werewolf idea doesn't come into play for quite a while into the story. Tessier's technical and creative writing is excellent, but like many of his other books, his tempo is completely off. Certain scenes are nicely slow and atmospheric and then, without warning, events happen very quickly, leaving out what I feel are crucial details, mood, and tone. Then things abruptly slow back down before spastically speeding up again. It almost felt like Tessier writes every day and then takes a few weeks off and can't quite get back into the groove of the story. My only other issue is the slightly unsatisfying ending. Tessier managed to pull everything together but I think it felt too short and rushed. Regardless, I enjoy his writing and ever since reading his amazing book, Finishing Touches, I'll always pick up his work.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Ghost Walk (Lehorn's Hollow); Author: Visit Amazon's Brian Keene Page; Review: 2 AND 1/2 STARS. Having read everything by Keene so far, Ghost Walk is probably my least favorite book he has written. That's not to say it's bad. It moves very quickly and has some decent mythology and buildup, but the story simply didn't feel very inspired. I also found it hard to connect with the characters, where I usually don't have that problem with Keene's work. The chance meeting between the two characters, Levi and Maria, felt very forced and seemed a bit contrived. I also thought the ending was rushed and too conveniently wrapped up. However, I enjoyed reading all the nuances of the Ghost Walk event, bringing back lots of memories of those haunted trails. For newcomers to Keene, I would recommend Dark Hollow and Ghoul instead.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Bad Moon Rising; Author: Visit Amazon's Jonathan Maberry Page; Review: 3 AND 1/2 STARS This is one of the more ambitious horror trilogies in recent memory, along with James Moore's Serenity Falls trilogy, Richard Laymon's Beast House books and Edward Lee's Infernal series. Maberry is a solid writer, no doubt, but I felt here, in the final book, the revelations regarding the mythology and folklore were a bit hard to swallow, even in the fictional world of Pine Deep. This third book, Bad Moon Rising, was my least favorite of the trilogy, but was still an enjoyable read. The buildup was so great that it seemed an almost impossible mountain for Maberry to scale, but even reaching halfway is still an impressive feat. Besides the numerous typos and repetitive scenes with characters trying to figure out what was happening to their town, everyone was too secretive about keeping important information to themselves. Authorities were not even shown evidence of the supernatural until halfway through this book, which makes it a grand total of 1,303 pages before the police are told and shown what exactly is happening (adding the page count of the first two books into the mix). But I understand this is fiction and you might not have a trilogy if the police discover what is happening too early on. But 1,303 pages? The ending, also, was pretty much what I expected and would have preferred it coming together in more unpredictable ways. Still, I have to give props to Maberry for keeping such an epic tale so condensed and focused on this small town. I enjoyed the characters and scattered moments of danger, along with his deliciously atmospheric descriptions. I do believe this trilogy would have been more effective with another pass of editing to trim some of the fat, but overall, I was satisfied by my experience and recommend the first book, Ghost Road Blues, to any horror fan who prefers atmosphere and substance over mindless gore.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Midnight Room; Author: Visit Amazon's Ed Gorman Page; Review: Ed Gorman, along with Tom Piccirilli, is one of the best thriller writers working today. Gorman has an uncanny ability to cut straight to the heart of a scene with assured confidence. His astounding economy of words propels the story at a breakneck pace, forcing you to flip pages as fast as you can. Gorman's writing has none of the flowery, overly descriptive garbage that so many authors find themselves guilty of. Ed Gorman is the real deal. The description on the back of the book, however, is a bit misleading, and I found myself slightly disappointed when I realized the promise of the story's synopsis was not actually what was between the pages, at least in regards to what the doctor will do to his blackmailer. Still, The Midnight Room was tight and filled with numerous surprises and twists that were delightful to discover. Maybe one or two convenient coincidences too many, sure, but for thriller fans, this is one you cannot miss.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hunt at the Well of Eternity; Author: Gabriel Hunt; Review: 3 AND 1/2 STARS When I heard that horror writers Christa Faust, Nicholas Kaufman, and especially David J. Schow were writing a pulp adventure series, I had to jump on board. Currently, six titles are slated to be released by six different writers under the Gabriel Hunt pseudonym, who also happens to be the main character in the series. Indiana Jones overdosing on a mix of speed and steroids is one way of describing the hyper-violence and fast pace of this book. This adventure has more non-stop action than a trilogy of big-budget Hollywood adventure movies. Seriously, that's what it feels like. With the style and lightning pace of this type of book, one needs to leave realism and common sense behind and just go along for the ride. Once I understood and accepted that conclusion, I had a great time reading it. While the characters, fairly one dimensional, seem to be either on the side of good or bad with nothing in between, the real attraction here is the action and very cool concept of the "Well of Eternity" and the lineage and clues that lead to its discovery. The writer of this installment, James Reasoner, uses his expert knowledge of the Civil War to give the story an authentic mythology to the mystical water, which is the main focus of the book. I was especially impressed how Reasoner was able to clearly and simply describe the elaborate action sequences without any confusion. He makes you feel as if you are right there with the characters and know exactly what is happening at all times. Although this is not my usual genre to read, I was pleasantly satisfied with the experience and happy to continue reading the next installment of Gabriel Hunt. It is refreshing to see the resurgence of the pulp action adventure novel again, not to mention one with such a beautifully painted retro book cover, too.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hunt Through the Cradle of Fear; Author: Gabriel Hunt; Review: Hunt Through The Cradle Of Fear, the second book in the action adventure series, brings back hero Gabriel Hunt in another dangerous quest. Author and creator Charles Ardai takes a more traditional approach to the writing than in the first book, which was penned by novelist James Reasoner. While Ardai attempted to give us more details with this outing, I felt he ended up slowing down the fast pace that was set up in the first book. Although there were more action scenes in the first book, The Cradle Of Fear is still a swift and fun ride. I did have some other problems with this book. Suspension of disbelief is one thing, but villains racing in vehicles chasing and firing guns as our hero races away on a camel in the wide open desert was stretching it, even for me (the sustained running speed of a camel is 25 MPH). The description of some of the action was also confusing at times and I had to reread passages to understand what exactly was happening with the characters and their proximity to each other. That didn't happen often and most of the time it was smooth sailing with some very enjoyable moments. But in the end, I just was not into this story as much as the first book. However, there was definitely enough action and clever reveals here for me to want to journey with Gabriel Hunt again, especially with the writers that are lined up to take over this character.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Forbidden Zone; Author: Visit Amazon's Whitley Strieber Page; Review: Even if you don't like Whitley Strieber for his claims regarding alien abduction, one cannot deny that he is an incredible writer. From the opening sentence, he pulled me right in. The Forbidden Zone is one of those rare books where you truly feel that the evil is so overwhelming, there is no possible hope for the protagonist to survive. I love having that feeling. And while some of Mr. Strieber's descriptions are confusing at times, he manages to stay on course through this highly original landscape of terror. This book came highly recommended to me and I am thrilled to say it was even better than the hype. I'll definitely be checking out his other fiction after reading this one.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Doomsday (Endworld); Author: Visit Amazon's David Robbins Page; Review: 3 AND 1/2 STARS. I had heard a lot about the Endworld series and since I'm a fan of post apocalyptic tales, I gave this a try. Admittedly, it was a lot of fun. The scenes and chapters move very quickly and Mr. Robbins writes with a nice balance between characters and story. I was happy to see the action not get too bogged down by technical military jargon. The author's cliff hangers at the end of each chapter really propel the reader into constantly turning the pages to find out what has happened. Although the Endworld series is apparently 27 books long (not counting this title), I will most likely continue reading the series to see where it goes, at least for now. I just don't want to be strung along without a plausable reason and hope each book builds on the mythology and situations that have occurred in prior installments. My only complaint with Doomsday is the character of Thor and his ultra dangerous electric hammer. I think Mr. Robbins indulged a little too much with this character, but it was pulp fun and I'll let it slip by.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Monster Lake; Author: Visit Amazon's Edward Lee Page; Review: I laughed when I first heard about Edward Lee writing a children's book. I doubted that it was even possible considering he is the mastermind behind some of modern horror's most gruesome impalements, detailed dismemberments, and overall hardcore tortures. That said, I was utterly delighted to discover that he has a more gentle side when I gambled and decided to read a chapter a night to my 4 year-old daughter before she went to bed each night. With 40 chapters and sprinkled with the occasional illustration, this was the perfect book to introduce young ones to a taste of the dark side. It allows them to dip their feet into the water without being pushed in all at once. Each night my daughter would get into her pajamas, brush her teeth, and jump into bed as fast as she could in order to hear another installment of my reading of Monster Lake. Needless to say, she absolutely loved it. It had a nice, slow build, and a good balance of suspense, danger, and a touch of humor. The story had some repetition with information and with character's thoughts, but it gave my daughter a chance to review details and events that have occurred and allowed her to catch up. While any veteran reader of horror novels can figure out what is happening very early on, this was still a great read for its intended audience. I think it's more suited to 5 to 10 year-olds than 8 to 12 year-olds, but I suppose it depends on each individual child's experience with spooky content. I applaud Necro Publications for publishing something a little different and hope Edward Lee decides to write more for kids, too.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: His Father's Son; Author: Visit Amazon's Bentley Little Page; Review: This latest chiller by Bentley Little is certainly in the top half of his better work, but nowhere near my favorite. It has a great premise and actually manages to pull off most of it very effectively. The steady build keeps you hooked for the entire story. It was a pleasant change to see him working completely in reality instead of his usual supernatural fare. However, I did predict the ending very early on - something I usually do not manage to do. And there were a few threads that were not quite sewn together. Regardless, this book was a lot of fun to read and certainly puts Little back on track to once again earn himself the reputation as one of the top 10 horror novelists working today. For readers looking for more great work after reading this, may I suggest The Ignored, The Store, The Association, The Policy, and Dispatch - my five favorites from Bentley Little.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Castaways; Author: Visit Amazon's Brian Keene Page; Review: Although Castaways is an entertaining novel, once the premise is set up, events begin to unfold in a fashion you pretty much expect. Knowing the idea is based on the reality show, Survivor, I would have liked Keene to shift the rules of the game around to make it his own. I also felt characters died before you really got to know them, and everything seemed to happen so fast, it felt more like a novella than a novel. I wanted more atmosphere and suspense for a lot of the killings because it seemed to be edited for a general audience than a horror crowd. I also thought the relationship between Becka and Jerry evolved way too quickly, especially since they had only known each other a little over a week on the island. I guess my biggest problem was that the survivors of the camp attack did not simply hide until morning when they knew they would be rescued -- a guaranteed way for them to survive. A high profile show on network television would have that island swarming with hundreds, if not thousands of searchers and authorities. Certain other things felt familiar -- holding the savage infant hostage in the cave reminded me a lot of the escape in Jack Ketchum's Offspring. But those few things aside, this book was an exciting read. So while I enjoyed Dark Hollow and Ghoul more, the fun factor for Castaways is undeniable. Keene's latest is recommended for horror fans, especially if you are a fan of the television show, Survivor.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Apeshit; Author: Carlton III Mellick; Review: 4 AND 1/2 STARS. After reading this book, it took me less than one minute to go online and order more titles from this author. He's that good. I've heard his name mentioned as one of the better writers of the new Bizarro genre, but I don't think that does him justice. Forget whether you like Bizarro or not, or even if you know that heck that is. Mellick is a great writer. Period. His prose is simple and direct, always cutting through the fat to get to the meat... and I mean the juicy meat. This book had a few typos, felt too short, and had an ending that was wrapped up a little too quickly, but it was still the most fun I've had reading all year. I do hope that Mellick will continue to write in the horror genre and although this book is considered Bizarro, I think it could fit in perfectly in the horror genre without that confusing label. Take the storyline of a Richard Laymon book, add in the depraved sex of Edward Lee, the darkness of Greg F. Gifune, the gore factor of Wrath James White, the strange reality of Tim Waggoner, and the complicated characters and spontaneous violence of Tom Piccirilli, and you'll have a pretty good idea of what you're in for. A must read for fans of extreme horror.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sacrifice; Author: Visit Amazon's John Everson Page; Review: I'll be the first to admit I'm a sucker for sequels, especially horror novel sequels. When I love a story, I can't wait to revisit those same characters in even more dangerous situations. However, with Sacrifice, I wasn't that into where the story was taking me. The taking over the world aspect was not as credible as the smaller events that were set up in Covenent. Once the premise in Sacrifice was established, it seemed very familiar ground, one in which the reader was constantly ahead of the characters on the page, which is the opposite of what ideally should happen. I felt the characters were always playing `catch-up' to what I already knew. There were some effective moments of graphic violence and sex, but strangely, they seemed to slow down Everson's fast pace that was established early on. The flashbacks to Alex's parents also seemed unnecessary as it was already clear what happened to them. I also didn't care for Ted's part in the story and didn't believe for a second that Cindy would allow him to keep The Journal of Broderick Terrel, especially after all the evil things that had happened to her only a few weeks before, not to mention what Ted allows to happen to her later in the story. As time ticked down, there didn't seem to be an urgency with Joe and Alex's character in tracking Ariana down. Even after the fifth murder, they seemed to be more interested in getting drunk, stuffing themselves at hotel restaurants, and painting Alex's nails than stopping the destruction of mankind. The scare factor, also, was an issue for me, with ample opportunities for some potentially frightening moments that just never happened. The one thing I will say for author John Everson, is that while I enjoyed Covenent more, I did think that, with Sacrifice, he has become a better author. His writing is smoother and more defined, and his level of confidence seems to be that of some of the top horror authors working today. However, I would have preferred for him to explore another story other than the continuing saga of the Terrel cliffs. But I'm still a fan and looking forward to his new novel, The 13th.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Heart-Shaped Box; Author: Visit Amazon's Joe Hill Page; Review: 3 AND 1/2 STARS Maybe all the hype on this book has clouded my experience, and although I found the book enjoyable, the story had a few problems that could not be overlooked. There is no denying that the writing is quite good, but it was the storytelling and scare factor that had me a little disappointed. I think Joe Hill's style is way too close to his father, writer Stephen King, drawing events out longer than they need to be, with overly descriptive details that slow down the pace and intensity. It seemed halfway through the novel, Mr. Hill forgot he was writing a genre book and began to veer towards a more dramatic, sentimental piece that felt consistently predictable. The ending, as well, was tied up way too neatly. I felt as if my mother would enjoy it, and anything my mother can handle in the horror genre is something I try and steer clear of. The setup with the dead man's clothing was fantastic and the characters were very interesting, but eventually the story seemed to break its own rules, adding more and more fantastical elements until practically anything imaginable could happen and you wouldn't think twice about it. The protagonist seemed to handle the danger too casually, and as a reader, if the characters are not scared, how am I supposed to be scared? Maybe the horror genre is not a good fit for Hill. I've read his short stories and felt the same way with that format. With a couple exceptions,they just don't chill your bones. All excellent writing, but again, it felt like the wrong genre. I realize he has big shoes to fill, but maybe a straight dramatic piece would be a better fit for his writing in the future.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Xombies; Author: Visit Amazon's Walter Greatshell Page; Review: If you have never heard of Walter Greatshell before, join the club. He seemed to have come out of nowhere and dive onto the scene with this very exciting zombie novel with a military/sci-fi/medical twist. The first two thirds are the strongest, and then the book takes a drastic shift. Some will enjoy it, some might not. I was in between. It was still very gripping, just not what I expected. I had a hard time believing that things could have been as organized as they were (at the air base) in such a short time with all the chaos going on. The science fiction aspect at Thule seemed way ahead of the technology when the story takes place. That being said, Greatshell's technical writing is very accomplished and the imagery tensely vivid. His action moves very quickly and I really had a great time reading this. There were some moments, but only a few, where I was confused with the action and had to reread passages to figure out what was happening. Regardless, this is certainly one of the better zombie books in recent years, right up there with author Kim Paffenroth's Dying To Live, and the sequel Dying To Live: Life Sentence. I found this even more enjoyable than the Brian Keene zombie books. Readers should be warned, however, that Walter Greatshell's other book, Xombies: Apocalypse Blues, is the same book as this one, only retitled. Apparently, the only difference is that a character's accent was taken out for the reprinted version to make his dialogue more clear. Personally, I thought the accent was great and should have stayed the same, but I'm guessing that was a publisher decision and not the author. Definitely recommended.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Far Dark Fields; Author: Visit Amazon's Gary A. Braunbeck Page; Review: Braunbeck's Far Dark Fields is an engaging read, but mainly for fans of his Cedar Hill stories. If I had not read his other work, I would have been confused by all the backstories and mythology that are piled into this book. New readers should definitely not read this before checking out some of his other novels. I would recommend starting with my personal favorite, Mr. Hands, and then Coffin County. I had thought this was the final volume of the Cedar Hill saga, but the ending makes it seem as if there might be one more. Which is fine, but I can tell things are getting quite bizarre and ethereal and might not bring in new readers who will surely be left behind. I would enjoy seeing Braunbeck write stand-alone stories that have nothing to do with Cedar Hill. I've enjoyed the town and it's mysteries and quirky characters, but I think it is time to move on. As always, Braunbeck produces great writing and original concepts, and Far Dark Fields is no exception. Although this was my least favorite of his books, it is still stronger than most of what is currently being published.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Resurrectionist; Author: Visit Amazon's Wrath James White Page; Review: I've been reading Wrath James White for years, from his collaborations with Monica O'Rourke and J.F. Gonzalez to his latest team-up with Maurice Broaddus on Orgy Of Souls. My favorite book, so far, has been Teratologist, written with gore king Edward Lee. I was delighted to see that White's short story collection, The Book Of A Thousand Sins, is just as strong as his long form writing. And while I wasn't a huge fan of his last novel, Succulent Prey, it was an enjoyable read but was hard to connect with such a vile and unlikable main character. However, with The Resurrectionist, Mr. White has managed to top them all. The Resurrectionist has the most engaging, though still flawed, characters and easily the coolest premise yet. This is a must read for the concept alone. The technical writing is solid, but it's the story that really sucks you in and was one of the fastest reads I can remember. I did find it strange that Edward Lee's new book, The Black Train, had to be edited for extreme gore and sex, yet with The Resurrectionist and White's Succulent Prey, it was about as graphic as you can get and equals or surpasses anything Edward Lee has in mass market print. The first chapter alone will have you an instant addict and have you flipping pages as fast as you can turn them. I did, however, find a few scene transitions to be a little awkward at times, and I could have done without the potshots at religion and the "evil" GOP party. The biggest problem I had was the fact that Dale continued his obsession with the same victims even though the police were onto him. He should have waited until things cooled down a little. Still, this is the best book Wrath James White has written and shows his maturity in inventing and implementing thought-provoking horror. Laced with a touch of social commentary and packed with disturbing and graphic violence, this not only a must read for genre fans, but one of the better horror titles of the year.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Afraid; Author: Visit Amazon's Jack Kilborn Page; Review: 4 AND 1/2 STARS Jack Kilborn, aka JA Konrath, has created a fantastic book with "Afraid", blending numerous genres into a truly thrilling ride. Part horror, thriller, action, and a touch of science fiction, this book literally has someone in danger on every page. Kilborn/Konrath doesn't go the Hollywood route either, writing a very R-rated story that has characters dying and being brutalized in every way imaginable. Like author Richard Laymon, Kilborn/Konrath uses mini cliffhangers or hooks at the end of each chapter, forcing the reader to continue reading long into the night. It's very addictive, trust me. I really love this style and without question, plan on reading more of this author's work. There might be a touch too many coincidences in the story for some readers, but the pace moved so fast that I let that go and just held on for the ride. The technical writing is very simple, but that aids in keeping the story moving as fast as it does. Besides a few typos, another problem I had were the constant run-ins between the villains and the townspeople. These five guys seemed to be everywhere at once and always at the right place at the right time. I also didn't think the chemical "Charge" would have the effect on regular humans that it did, specifically the way it did on one of the townspeople later in the story. It felt too convenient to occur that fast. But the good considerably outweighed the bad in this book and I recommend this to any fan of the horror or thriller genre.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Coldest Mile; Author: Visit Amazon's Tom Piccirilli Page; Review: 4 AND 1/2 STARS. Piccirilli, as usual, is in a league of his own. He is so superior to other writers that I can only compare his work to his own prior work. I didn't realize that this book, The Coldest Mile, was a sequel to The Cold Spot. For me, this was maybe a half notch down from the previous book, but still an incredible read. The excitement, the complex characters, the razor-sharp dialogue, and the dry humor were all there, but I didn't feel Chase's motivation this time was as strong as his last outing in The Cold Spot. I absolutely recommend this book, but readers should read The Cold Spot first to get the full experience.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Deeper; Author: James Moore; Review: James A. Moore's previous outings, such as "Fireworks" and "Possessions", left me disappointed with his writing. I was about to stop reading his work until I stumbled upon his book "Blood Red", which I quite enjoyed. And while I don't think "Deeper" was nearly as good as "Blood Red", it is certainly worth reading. I'm a sucker for tales involving water and the deep unknown, and by having touches of the Lovecraft mythology, some likable characters, and a nice slow build with a creepy atmosphere, I was sold. However, there were a few inconsistencies that bothered me. For instance, the fog was described as barely being able to see past one's face, yet a few paragraphs later a ship is spotted way in the distance. I also found that some of the sentences had awkward sentence structures, but perhaps that can be explained by the first person narrative. One thing that was hard to swallow was a photograph that was introduced of a beach attack by some sort of dark shapes that apparently killed dozens of people. Having that many people missing or killed in America would make it an instant national story and would never be so secretive. And the fact that Charlie recognized the hit man Buddy from back in the Navy was just way too much of a coincidence. I also didn't like the theories about the origins of the local police and didn't understand why the whole ghost angle was needed. It was almost as if two separate stories were fighting to be in one book. Those problematic issues aside, "Deeper" was still an enjoyable read, but new fans should start with Moore's better work, "Blood Red". Unlike the very R-rated "Blood Red", "Deeper" has more of a PG-13 feel, but to Moore's credit, I didn't think it hurt the story too much, even in a horror novel. For me, Moore's work is usually hit or miss, but this time, it was more in the middle, so it earns a mild recommendation.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Monstrous: 20 Tales of Giant Creature Terror; Author: Visit Amazon's Ryan C. Thomas Page; Review: 3 AND 1/2 STARS. Overall, this is a very satisfying collection. I found a few typos that I wish were corrected during the editing phase - (hint, hint, Mr. Thomas!) ...but I would definitely recommend this for horror lovers and, of course, fans of giant creatures everywhere. While the average score for this collection is a 6.5 out of 10 -- which is certainly above average -- I've broken down the highlights for fans to jump right to the great ones... PRESENT TENSE, FUTURE IMPERFECT by D.L. Snell = 6 out of 10 The upside: It had some nice twists and unique details. The downside: The sense of space and descriptions were sometimes confusing, especially where the characters were in relationship to other people and creatures. Time travel is a no-no. CRABS by Guy N. Smith = 7 out of 10 The upside: Very dark, unrelenting danger that takes no prisoners. The downside: Editor Ryan Thomas should have adjusted the very British words for an American audience to smooth over the flow of reading. It took me nearly five minutes to figure out that "French letter" was a condom. A PLAGUE FROM THE MUD by Aaron A. Polson = 8 out of 10 The upside: Believable scenario with a great foundation. Consistently builds in suspense. The downside: Should have been a novella or even better; a novel. LOST IN TIME by Steve Alten = 7 out of 10 The upside: A classic revenge tale; you know exactly where it's going. Great writing. The downside: You know exactly where it's going. Ending feels like a punch line. SCALES by J.C.Towler = 6 out of 10 The upside: Unique resolution. The downside: Basic cave dive. Some confusing bits and not everything connected smoothly. THE ENEMY OF MY ENEMY by Patrick Rutigliano = 5 out of 10 The upside: Delightfully gross and descriptive. Will make you itch all over. The downside: The clunky sentences give the story a rocky tempo. Switching uniforms had no payoff. SAVAGE by E. Anderson = 4 out of 10 The upside: Antagonist point of view was nice. The downside: Overwritten. The entire premise has been written hundreds of times in Conan. ATTACK OF THE 500-FOOT PORN STAR by Steven L. Shrewsbury = 6 out of 10 The upside: The title says it all. The downside: The title says it all. A continuity error. KEEPING WATCH by Nate Kenyon = 8 out of 10 The upside: Very smooth prose, beautifully paced, great ending. The downside: Only if you miss out on reading this one. NIRVANA by James Thomas Jeans = 9 out of 10 The upside: Incredibly fast paced, loaded with danger and humanity, amazing premise. The downside: I want a novel of this material! THE LONG DARK SUBMISSION by Paul Stuart = 3 out of 10 The upside: It's only 11 pages. The downside: Confusing descriptions. Feels uninspired. WHATEVER BECAME OF RANDY by James A. Moore 8 out of 10 The upside: Original concept, clean prose, has characters you care about and can relate to. The downside: Even in a; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Pack: Winter Kill; Author: Visit Amazon's Mike Oliveri Page; Review: This is my first experience with author Mike Oliveri and I'm quite impressed. His dialogue is some of the tightest, most crisp I've read in a long time, reminiscent of the great Tom Piccirilli. I had no knowledge of the background of these characters which apparently were part of a limited comic book series, but I had no trouble catching up with the new problems in their lives. Oliveri writes with an incredible economy of words, and while this book is a bit short for a novel, I always prefer quality over quantity and his book has it in spades. The pacing, the realistic violence, and the palpable suspense had me hooked on every page. The $13 price tag for a paperback is bit much, however, but the thicker paper stock, book design, and story make it worth owning. There were a couple typos that should have been discovered during the editing stage, so hopefully Evileye will clean things like this up for the next installment. I did find it a little confusing and maybe a bit misleading how the back cover claims the book "reimagines the werewolf mythos in a way you'll never see coming". This statement makes it seem as if the book is groundbreaking in some way, and while I totally enjoyed the story, anyone who has read a lot of werewolf material will know that this book certainly did not "reimagine" the mythos nor give you a twist that you can "never see coming". Those claims are a bit exaggerated. Don't get me wrong though, this is still one of the best reads of the year and I will gladly come back for another tale.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Final Breath; Author: Visit Amazon's Kevin O'Brien Page; Review: 2 AND 1/2 STARS I've read all of Kevin O'Brien's books, but this one didn't really work for me. I never try and predict endings or major plot points, but I knew every swerve and twist before it happened. It didn't help, of course, that the back of the book gave away major story points for the first two-thirds of the book, but even still, Final Breath is one of the weaker titles by Kevin O'Brien, although you'd never know that reading the other reviews. I'm very confused about that, but to each his own, I suppose. I didn't think this book was very suspenseful and the characters were not as likable or as three dimensional as in O'Brien's other books. I suppose my biggest problem was the central story concept of heroes profiled on a television show getting killed off one by one. It just seemed so dull and unimaginative. Some of the character's actions felt forced - like Eli crawling out on the ledge of a four-story building at night for no apparent reason. Also, Sydney's overly suspicious investigations into her husband's police activity also seemed out of character for a couple that has been married for fourteen years. It just didn't feel natural. To cause such a big stink over a few thousand dollars from a bunch of crooks seemed very melodramatic. I also thought the whole supernatural angle didn't fit into the story organically and only served as a distraction. It was as if the author didn't feel he had enough material or ideas by just having only the serial killer storyline. O'Brien's writing here, as always, is smooth and quick, but I felt one could be just as satisfied reading the first 50 pages and then the last 75 and get just as much out of reading it as if they invested themselves in the entire 436 pages. New readers of Kevin O'Brien should skip this and go to his better work such as Make Them Cry, Left For Dead, or One Last Scream.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Quarantined; Author: Visit Amazon's Joe McKinney Page; Review: This dark drama/thriller by author Joe McKinney is an exceptional read. The book's plague-infested environment, filled with danger and chaos, and with such striking emotion, has never been told quite like this before. The author's law enforcement background gives the writing a realistic authenticity to the language and details without bogging it down with overly technical descriptions and police procedures. McKinney uses a wonderful balance between character and story, constantly building the tension to unbearable heights. There are moments so suspenseful, I actually caught myself holding my breath on a few occasions, especially towards the end. Perhaps even more impressive than this story is the fact that this is only McKinney's second novel, his first being the zombie book, Dead City. If this is any indication of this author's learning curve, I absolutely can't wait to see what he writes next. Horror fans should be cautioned, however, that this is more a drama/thriller with an element of mystery, so be prepared. That being said, this book should please any reader looking for a fresh and original story involving an extremely deadly plague in America. Deeply drawn characters, tight meaningful dialogue, and well-paced suspense is what you're guaranteed to find with Quarantined.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Prodigal Son (Dean Koontz's Frankenstein, Book 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Dean Koontz Page; Review: 1 AND 1/2 STARS I'm not sure how to explain the drastic change in quality from the previous two books to this one. Perhaps Koontz's partnership with co-writers Kevin Anderson and Ed Gorman were inspired collaborations and when faced with finishing the series alone with this third book, Koontz simply had no one to bounce ideas off of. Maybe he let Anderson and Gorman write the bulk of the first two and was not very familiar with the chararacters. Whatever unfortunate circumstances occurred, it was a grand failure, the likes of which I've rarely experienced with an author of such prominence. The lead detectives and Deucalion from the previous books are barely in the story and many of the character traits of the others feel very different, as if Koontz had not reviewed the prior books when sitting down to write this. Jocko's character was reduced to absurd comic relief and Helios a vein, whinny spoiled brat -- both very annoying to read. Any suspense, atmosphere, or real danger that was built up in the first two books completely dissipated with this entry. I'm not accusing Koontz of using a ghostwriter, but if this was really his work, he better get his act together if he wants to keep any sort of fan base. He'll need to do something quite remarkable if he wants to make up for this atrocity.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Cursed; Author: Visit Amazon's Jeremy C. Shipp Page; Review: 3 AND STARS After reading Cursed, the one thing you can never say about author Jeremy C. Shipp is that he isn't original. I was fascinated by the setup of characters cursed with relatively minor problems - something right out of a Bentley Little novel. And while the main character, Nick, was annoying at times and apologized to others on literally every other page, you find yourself being immersed in this bizarre little world. The lighter tone begins to darken considerably in the final 50 or so pages and really ramps up for a satisfying finale. I would have preferred more description and atmosphere because most of the text consists of back-and-forth dialogue, and although clever, there are only so many quips I can read without characters starting to feel one and the same. I'm not sure I would label this as straight horror, but there is still a lot to like here. I also think it would make one heck of a stage play if there was ever an adaptation. If you are interested in something completely off-the-wall and eclectic, I would recommend reading Cursed.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Patient Zero: A Joe Ledger Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Jonathan Maberry Page; Review: It is probably the fault of the publisher, but based on the image from the book's cover, you would think this is quite a zombie epic. However, although it is fairly sizable in scope due to the international threat created by author Maberry, if you count the actual number of pages containing the undead, it would not total more than 35 or 40 pages out of over 400+ pages. I enjoyed the first third a lot more than the last two thirds because once the setup was put into place, most of the scenes fell pretty smoothly and predictably together. Anyone who reads military / covert thrillers (Richard Marcinko, etc.) will find a lot of the reading fairly standard, but author Maberry does propose a rather exciting scenario involving very creative biological infections and their unique abilities, with plausible science to back it up. Patient Zero is the first of a new series using the main character Joe Ledger. And while, overall, I was satisfied with the book, I'm not sure how many horror fans will stick with it once they realize the series is much more a military thriller and not a genre book. I would expect considerably fewer sales of the next book, The Dragon Factory, when it is released. Mild recommendation.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Snow; Author: Visit Amazon's Ronald Malfi Page; Review: I want to first thank Leisure Books for bringing Ronald Malfi to their company. Guys like Malfi, Gord Rollo, Wrath James White, and Jeff Strand are the new generation of horror writers that deserve to be read by the masses. Next, I want to thank author Ronald Malfi for crafting a near perfect tale of horror. He has infused this original novel with every element I look for in a great horror story; a realistic setup dripping with thick, creepy atmosphere, an extremely dangerous antagonist, interesting yet flawed characters thrown into extreme situations, and characters that actually make smart decisions that help themselves instead of just being a tool to blindly help the author's story. And finally, of course - maybe the most important - the book has to scare me. And this did. This is the first horror novel I've given a full 5 stars to in over a year. Granted, I do have a propensity for stories taking place in snow storms. But still, with Snow, Malfi's done everything right. Beginning, middle, and end. I loved it. A real talent for vivid descriptions, Malfi also has great instincts for using smooth prose and an ear for natural dialogue. I simply cannot recommend this book enough. Snow is an easy candidate for the 2010 Bram Stoker Award.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Urban Gothic; Author: Visit Amazon's Brian Keene Page; Review: 3 AND 1/2 STARS This latest Brian Keene was quite a departure from zombies and end of the world scenarios. I was pleasantly surprised at the amount of action and gore (reminiscent of classic Laymon and Ketchum), but although nothing happened that I didn't already expect, it did give me quite a few hours of giddy enjoyment while reading it. One of the highlights for me had to be some of the priceless dialogue made by the mutants regarding their sexual organs and their desire to perform some unspeakable acts upon their victims. While I'm not sure the neighbors in the story would have ended up inside the house to help out the main characters, I enjoyed the focus Keene kept on the claustrophobic location and the believable seclusion from the outside world. A couple continuity errors aside (a crowbar gets impaled in a groin and then mysteriously gets pulled out of the person's back), this is the best book Keene has released since Ghoul. Fans of Edward Lee and over-the-top gore will have a field day with this. Let's hope we see more of Keene's edgy work in the future.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Crimson; Author: Visit Amazon's Gord Rollo Page; Review: I absolutely loved Gord Rollo's last book, "The Jigsaw Man", and recommended it to all my friends, but I thought his latest book, "Crimson", was a considerable step down. Granted, those were mighty big shoes to fill since Jigsaw was one of the best books of that year, but had I not known, I never would have guessed this book had the same author. The first third of "Crimson" follows four ten-year-old boys and their accidental awakening of a long-dead creature that had caused a terrible massacre two decades prior. This portion of the book had some great moments that were original and suspenseful. However, once the jump in time occurred and we begin to follow them as teenagers, the atmosphere seemed to dissipate a bit. Scenes started almost immediately with the action and didn't allow for the creepiness to set in. I'm also not a fan of creatures that talk with an attitude. It reminds me too much of Freddy Kruger or the doll Chucky from "Child's Play". It's simply not scary. A couple other issues I had was the glowing red eyes - not red, but actually glowing to the point of illuminating things in the room - like Rudolph's nose from the animated cartoon. Being red or having a dim glow is one thing, but lighting up like a beacon was too much. I also thought the characters, in general, were not very intelligent, making decisions that didn't quite feel right. For instance, when the Police Chief catches a character in a lie that proves his guilt as a serial killer, the Chief doesn't see fit to continue the interrogation or have officers tail him after leaving the police station. I mean, we're talking over a half dozen bodies here and the police knowingly let this guy just walk away. There is also a scene where a rather large fight ensues and at the end, we find out that one of the participants had a cigarette in his mouth. It was never described until the moment the character needed it and I thought that was just too convenient. Finally, the third portion of the book follows the boys (the ones that are left alive) as adults and we spend most of the time in a maximum security prison. These scenes showed nothing we haven't seen before. The big baddies, the jail fights, the token thief, and the friendly 'Green Mile' giant with a heart of gold. The biggest disaster here was the 30 or so pages of explanation as to why the creature has been doing all these evil deeds. It felt as if the author had dug so many holes throughout the book that he was simply, and desperately, trying to fill them back up by this exposition, regardless of how utterly convoluted and far-fetched it may seem, even in this supernatural world. While some might compare "Crimson" as a mix of Stephen King's "It" and Brian Keene's "Ghoul", this is nowhere near either of those fine books. For me, this was one of the biggest disappointments in; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Condemned; Author: Visit Amazon's David Jack Bell Page; Review: This book was pretty much what I expected. Being published by Delirium Books, I knew going in that the writing and editing would be solid. I was curious to see what new twist on the zombie mythos this would bring, and overall, I was satisfied. While the characters were not as layered as I would have liked, Bell's prose is smooth and the pace was consistent. A few of the plot points might have been a bit too convenient at times, but I felt like that was maybe the whole point, that fate was forcing it's hand like the characters had discussed between themselves at one section in the story. However, there was a point where the characters retrieve very important, secret information, and I didn't understand why they didn't go public with what they knew, but rather, decided on taking a much more dangerous, risky route. I also didn't mind that the zombie action and gore was fairly sparse since I always prefer story and atmosphere to be the main focus of horror. The Condemned is more conservative than my tastes usually run, but it was well written and had a clear, engaging vision. Bell paints a fascinating world here in his debut novel and I know I'll be looking out for more of his work.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Vampire A Hunger Like Fire (1) (VAMPIRE THE REQUIEM); Author: Visit Amazon's Greg Stolze Page; Review: 3 AND 1/2 STARS I'm not a gamer or familiar with the whole World Of Darkness universe or Vampire the Requiem very much, but I was in the mood for a vampire tale from a company that supposedly is one of the leaders in dark, edgy undead material. And surprisingly, I was very satisfied with this novel by Greg Stolze, particularly his keeping the focus on vampires with varying experiences, each with a different moral compass. It was quite fascinating to read the differing experiences, from the perspective of a newly turned vampire, to one that has been undead for about a year, and then even others that are generations old. Although they are all different, the one commonality they share is the most important; to maintain the Masquerade (their existence) above all else. Author Greg Stolze moves the action at a breakneck pace but pulls back when he needs to for the more dramatic, emotional moments, balancing characters and story very nicely. I did find things to slow down a little in the middle of the book, meandering a bit, and a couple times had to reread sections for clarity. It was also too laden with Kindred politics, where I would have preferred more action. But regardless, in general, this was an atmospheric, intelligent story with some great descriptions. Here is a rather fantastic description about a shirtless man getting sliced with a sword... "He swings it in a rapid sweep, skipping down the knobs of Solomon's spine, slicing off coins of flesh at each bone." Pretty great, huh? While this book did have a few sections of vampires whining, self-reflecting, and overall brooding, it was not as heavy-handed as other mainstream authors I won't bother to mention. The font of the print was also way too small and bordered on giving me a headache. However, Stolze managed to balance everything very nicely, and the ongoing mystery of who wrongfully sired one of the main characters keeps you hooked. And while I can't say that this is the book that finally gives vampires back their teeth, it is a step in the right direction.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Pressure; Author: Visit Amazon's Jeff Strand Page; Review: Not since Jack Ketchum's "The Girl Next Door" and J.F. Gonzalez's "Survivor" was I this tense reading a book. Jeff Strand sure knows how to punish his readers - in a good way, of course. Each portion of the main character's life increases the tension until I was scared to turn the page, fearing what was next. Like the other two books I mentioned, I kept asking telling myself that it surely could not get any worse for the characters. But sure enough, that sick, twisted, and brilliant mind of Jeff Strand managed to do just that. Strand writes very smooth, accessible dialogue and straight forward descriptions that make it easy to sail through. It usually takes me a week or more to finish a book with the time I have, but I read this in only three sittings. I did find a couple small continuity errors and some of the character reactions were questionable, but hey, who's to say what anyone would do under similar circumstances? The main problem I had with the book was unfortunately the final 40 or so pages. I didn't believe for one second the whole videotaping scenario and that the local news, on any station, would air a scene of torture when the police were not yet involved. I think Strand could have come up with a more believable way for Alex to lure Darren or somehow locate him. The setup for the climax aside, I don't know how anyone with a love for the horror or thriller genre won't enjoy this book. It's even hard for me to believe that they won't flat-out love it, like I did. Either way, "Pressure" has hooked me as a fan of Strand's for life. Thankfully Leisure Books made the smart decision to snatch this guy up. Now where's the next book? I think I'm ready to handle the pressure.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Rats; Author: Visit Amazon's James Herbert Page; Review: I regret not reading this book sooner. I had heard over the years what a landmark novel this was in the genre, spawning numerous sequels, rip-offs, and a string of other animal attack novels. But boy was I glad to have finally had the opportunity to see what all the hoopla was about, and I can happily say that I was not disappointed. I knew going in that it would be gory, deliciously so, as it turned out, but what I was pleasantly surprised at was the excellent character development and back story author Herbert managed to pull off. I found it fast-paced, suspenseful, and utterly compelling. While I can't say that anything really surprised me with the plot, I can say that it was written remarkable well for a book about rats that attack humans. If you can stomach and get past some truly gruesome violence - even towards babies, if you can believe it - horror fans should definitely put this on their must read list. As for me, I can guarantee you I'll be reading Herbert's two sequels, "Lair" and "Domain".; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Scissors; Author: Visit Amazon's Ray Garton Page; Review: I started this book with an open mind, ready for Ray Garton to impress me. However, like most of the other books I've read by him - "The Loveliest Dead" and "Night Life" - I was fairly underwhelmed. Garton's "Live Girls" is the only one above average that has kept me coming back. Besides not liking any of the characters in "Scissors", I felt a lot of the dialogue was unnecessary and repetitive, not adding to the characters or the story. Many passages seemed almost like filler, as if the word count of the first draft wasn't long enough and Garton had to go back and beef it up. The first hundred and fifty pages mainly consisted of the problems that occur when raising an adolescent who has just entered his teenage years, lots of bickering and arguing back and forth. Sure, it had a few pages of seemingly paranoid delusions from the father to meet the minimum horror criteria, but nothing even close to actual scares. Garton's apparent hatred of organized religions seemed very exaggerated. I can only assume he had a bad experience growing up and now takes his anger out through his writing. Fortunately, I grew up going to church all the time and had very pleasant, fond memories with church friends, the youth group, etc. The reason I mention this, is that Garton does a disservice to his writing because it distracts from the story. He spends page after page of near ranting about the church, apparently forgetting he is supposed to be writing a horror novel. Fortunately, at the halfway point in the book, during a character's visit to a nursing home, Garton finally goes to work and comes on strong. It is here where we begin a very creepy, fairly scary tale. I understand what Garton is trying to do by setting up the first half, but I feel it could have been edited down considerably and still had the same, if not stronger, effect. Without giving away spoilers, the concept Garton explores is a lot of fun, if a little odd, and for me, ultimately, saves the book. So while the first half gets 2 stars and the second half 4 stars, my final average is a solid 3. I must give Kudos to Garton for being able to pull this off, because just before the halfway point, I was about to stop reading. But in the end, I'm glad I stuck with it.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Tomes of the Dead: The Words of Their Roaring; Author: Visit Amazon's Matthew Smith Page; Review: I was not sure what to expect from this new author, Matthew Smith, and new publisher, Abaddon Books. Based on the overall production values of Abaddon's company, which had a very professional and informative website, striking book covers, and an ambitious publishing schedule focusing on specific genre material, I was fairly impressed even before I cracked open the cover page. Then I started reading and was blown away. Author Matthew Smith, for the first two thirds of the book, might not be reinventing the wheel here with his zombie story, but he adds enough original concepts - electronically tagging zombies for study and controlling, new tactical ways to move around a city infested with the undead, and a scenario where the government are not run by your typical power-hungry military - that the book really stands on its own and certainly one of the better zombie titles I've read. The final third is where the book really shines. Author Smith unleashes a completely new idea regarding zombies that really had me glued to the pages. No spoilers, but I can guarantee you won't be disappointed. Smith's writing seems more polished than merely a second novel, and he does a very good job of balancing the action, character development, and plot, painting a vivid account of different timelines of the zombie plague. The author adds believability to the story by carefully showing us the flaws of each character and their motivations for the actions they take. At times, the British spelling was distracting to read and was not scary as I would have preferred, but it's still a thrilling story that moves very fast. With some nice touches of crime noir and a nod to John Carpenter's Escape From New York, if this is an example of the overall quality produced from the British publisher, Abaddon Books, sign me up for more!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Golem; Author: Visit Amazon's Edward Lee Page; Review: 2 AND 1/2 STARS Having read 75% of Edward Lee's books, both the mass market and the more hardcore limited edition titles, I have to place "The Golem" right in the middle. Not bad, but a bit predictable and not very scary. Sure, it has a nice amount of deranged inhabitants involved in brutal acts of violence and sex, along with some decent gore, but I felt it could have used some editing. With the exception of the prologue from 1880, I didn't think author Lee needed to constantly return to the past every other chapter as it was clear from present day what had happened. I thought the switching back and forth from present day to 1880 slowed the momentum considerably without adding any real important information we don't eventually discover in the present day chapters. The occult rituals also felt a bit sloppy and pieced together with little or no atmosphere, written matter-of-fact. A premeditated attack on a character also didn't seem to make any sense because the victim had made a last minute decision to go for a walk alone, so how would the attackers know that? What had me keep reading were the main characters, Seth and his girlfriend, Judy. Their unique house and Seth's profession were very interesting and it was obvious that author Ed Lee did his homework on architectural details and various other histories that helped ground the book and give it an authentic feel. I hate to say it, but the videogame Seth designed was probably the most interesting thing in the story. Still, Lee fans should be happy, but new fans should check out Lee's more groundbreaking work like the Infernal trilogy, consisting of "City Infernal", "Infernal Angel", and "House Infernal".; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: We All Fall Down; Author: Visit Amazon's Simon Wood Page; Review: Simon Wood is a new horror/thriller author for me, so I wasn't sure what to expect. The reviews of his books seemed quite complimentary, so I decided to give him a shot. I'm happy to say, for the most part, the praise Mr. Wood has been getting is genuinely earned. Wood has a very interesting premise here and a no-mercy attitude when it comes to killing off characters - which I love. But I would say his real strength is the characters and fast pacing of the story. In the first half of the book, Wood writes with just enough unpredictability that you find yourself reading a few more chapters before bed than you had expected to read. One of my criticisms is that sometimes characters make decisions that are not quite consistent with that person's motives. For instance, a character Rebecca decides it is incredibly important to visit a farmhouse, and after going through a lot of trouble to get there, gets spooked and turns around empty handed. Huh? This doesn't make any sense from her point of view, but I do understand it bridges the scene after it involving the farmhouse with another character. Still, I think it could have been more thought out and came off as a bit lazy by the author. I also thought the "terrorist" attack wasn't very realistic when the FBI let the suspects walk out the door. In reality, especially in post 9/11, a hundred-person team would be investigating the incident and everyone involved, not simply releasing suspects on the whim of a lowly detective. The ending wraps up neatly, if a bit too conveniently. I also had a problem with our main character not taking advantage of beating the living daylights out of someone when he had a chance at the end - especially when he had nothing to lose. It would have been cathartic, if even just for us, the reader, to see that happen. So in closing, the secret revelations the book promised ended up being pretty standard and predictable, but it was a fast enough read to garner a mild recommendation.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The 13th; Author: Visit Amazon's John Everson Page; Review: Don't judge a book by its cover, because although this cover is surprisingly bad coming from Leisure, it turned out to be a rather demented and generally enjoyable read. The premise and characters seem right out of an Edward Lee novel, only a bit more suspenseful and fast paced. Not as gory as Lee, but I'll take better characters over gore any day. In previous work, Author Everson seems to have a fixation on high cliffs and secluded mountain towns, and "The 13th" is no exception. This new title is about as good as his last book, "Sacrifice", but not better than "Covenent". I really enjoyed the slow build of piecing together what exactly was happening at the asylum and the relationships between the characters. The first half felt honest and organic... and then things seemed to enter the Twilight Zone, as realism seemed to go out the window. The problems started when a police officer discovered numerous missing people held captive and did little to get them out. Sure, in reality, breaking and entering is illegal, but the safety and lives of a dozen women have to come first. To search the asylum, the police could have simply claimed that an anonymous caller gave them a tip, which in turn would have given the authorities reasonable suspicion to search the premises. Or at the very least, contact the families of the missing women to at least let them know where to visit their loved ones. Even when an eye witness explains how he saw a bloody ritual in the basement, the lame police response was that they're looking into it. Looking into it? That's it?! Are you kidding me?! Some other problems I had were the threatening letter to the chief of police not to get a warrant seemed very contrived. No father, especially a good cop, would knowingly allow his daughter to be kept in danger like that. It just didn't ring true based on that character's past. The doctor giving a key that unlocks the asylum to the lawn boy after meeting him for the first time just didn't make any sense, especially since the doctor's intentions were so secretive and privacy so valued. Why risk that liability? It really bothers me when all the details in a story hold true except for the one that counts the most. While there were some genuine surprises peppered throughout the story, along with some creatively graphic violence, I found the 100+ page climax a bit too long and drawn out. With an ending that long, the tension and suspense begins to fizzle and go flat. I did enjoy that author Everson never shied away from the darker material, and overall this is still a solid read. However, I preferred his first novel, "Covenent", a lot more than this, and rank "The 13th" about equal to Everson's "Sacrifice".; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Tower of Fear; Author: Visit Amazon's Glen Cook Page; Review: 4 AND STARS My first experience with dark fantasy author Glen Cook could not have been more enjoyable. I always look for a good story, solid technical writing that exudes confidence, a strong vocabulary with a unique style, believable and original characters, rich atmosphere, and an overall consistency from beginning to end. It is rare for a writer to have strengths in most of these categories. Glen Cook has them all. This book is crafted masterfully like the construction of a champion chess game. Every new chapter delicately builds upon the last, with each development having an impact on the story. A single character's decision has a domino effect, creating new choices, options, and dangers of everyone involved. I found myself nearly breathless how well everything came together. If there was a criticism to be made of the book, it would have to be the handful of places where the dialogue felt too modern with phrases that didn't seem organic to the world Cook has created. Those few times pulled me out of the story, but fortunately, that did not happen often. I was so impressed with this book, I have already ordered 3 more titles from this author (The Dragon Never Sleeps, Passage At Arms, and The Black Company omnibus). Anyone interested in fantasy without the clichd orcs, ogres, elves, dwarfs, and magical weapons, will be refreshingly surprised with this stand-alone novel. Cook has renewed my interest and faith in the dark fantasy genre. I can't wait to read more.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Vicious; Author: Visit Amazon's Kevin O'Brien Page; Review: This is easily one of the better books put out by Kevin O'Brien in recent years. It contains, without a doubt, some of the most suspenseful and addictive scenarios in the thriller genre. Keeping the timeline of the events at the lake so close together really heightened the tension, as if the characters were trapped in a pressure cooker about to blow. This book was a very fast read and, with a few exceptions, was exactly what I was hoping for. I'll cross my fingers that his new and darker direction in Kevin O'Brien's writing means that we'll be seeing more of it. I could have done without some of the Mama's Boy murders in the beginning, because once you know the killer's plan of attack, it becomes a bit repetitive. The story could have started in present day at the lake and just knowing that the Mama's Boy murders had happened would have been enough without going through each one. In fact, Jordan even lists them in detail at one point, so it really wasn't needed. Maybe have one or two to set up the premise, but that's just a minor gripe. Overall, I really enjoyed this one and I am definitely looking forward to what O'Brien comes up with next. By the number of positive reviews, it seems this is one of the author's most successful books, and rightfully so. This one is well earned. The statement from one of the review headings is quite accurate in that it felt like a Hitchcock thriller that he never got around to making. I thought the characters were solid, but it was the atmosphere and nearly unbearable suspense that really had me flipping the pages and holding my breath. Fans of the genre should definitely pick this one up.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Dweller; Author: Visit Amazon's Jeff Strand Page; Review: For me, this was probably the most complete and wholly satisfying horror novel I've read in years. I can usually find something in any book that doesn't sit right with me or a section that I think could have used some work, but with "Dweller", Jeff Strand has written a perfect story. The last time I remember a reading experience this nostalgic and magical, was with Robert R. McCammon's "Boy's Life". Author Jeff Strand's writing flows very smoothly and is laced with layers of dark humor. He has a real insight into the mind of his characters, and at times feels so intimate it is as if Strand is only repeating factual information that was told to him in reality instead of writing a fictional story. He is a tremendously gifted storyteller, not afraid to delve into the darker mechanisms that traditionally define the horror genre. Strand's characters never have it easy and you constantly feel their struggle throughout their painful journey. This author is really a delight to read. While I enjoyed Strand's last book, "Pressure", this new one, "Dweller", is even better and so far, my favorite book of 2010. I was such a fan of this novel that I went out and bought the beautifully produced limited edition hardcover from Dark Regions Press. Like Robert McCammon's "Boy's Life", this is a book I want to preserve and share with my kids for years to come. My new rule now... If Jeff Strand writes it, I buy it!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dauntless (The Lost Fleet, Book 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Jack Campbell Page; Review: 2 AND 1/2 STARS. I admit I was surprisingly entertained reading this book. Maybe my opinion is a bit clouded since my father was a Captain in WW2, but I had a good time with it. Sure, most of it is predictable with very little added to the genre, but it had loads of energy and the constant technical problem solving situations kept me on my feet. I'm curious to see how this unfolds into an ongoing series. My big criticism is that it appears everyone but Captain John Geary is quite a few notches down on the intelligence and common sense scale. The way things are written, the Alliance could never have made it this long without him. Using his past strategy as part of their mandatory war tactics is foolish, since every scenario has different variables to consider. After the hundred years Geary was away, it's very hard to believe the commanding officers assumed that there is only one way to go into battle. If we are to stick with these characters through numerous books, I think more time should be spent on character development, and not just with the main character, John Geary. It would also be nice to see more human decisions rather than the constant cookie-cutter reasoning based on honor. Making mistakes would give the world more realism, and heighten the danger for the Alliance. "Dauntless" is a promising start to a continuing story, but right now, for me, the series is on probation. I will proceed with caution.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Shadow Season: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Tom Piccirilli Page; Review: 4 AND 1/2 STARS. Shadow Season is another brilliant novel by suspense and thriller author Tom Piccirilli. The insight and depth in which he writes about his characters are so raw that, at times, it is painful to read (in a good way, of course). I am constantly blown away by his poetic prose and the layers of psychology he uses to flesh out his characters. While I became a fan of Piccirilli from his days writing horror, I've grown to appreciate his versatility as a writer of thrillers and crime fiction, particularly the crime noir genre. This guy has it down perfectly and you wonder at times who exactly he hangs around to get details this authentic. He's just that good. Although nearly perfect, I thought Shadow Season had just a bit too much emphasis devoted to characterization and the lead character's inner thoughts and not enough on story and plot. Those elements of the book were not as nicely balanced as in some of the author's other stories, but that's a minor gripe. A 9.5 out of 10 is certainly nothing frown upon. It is clear through his writing that Piccirilli is heads and tails better than 98% of other writers in the same genre. He is one of the few authors I read that consistently produce top levels of breathtaking fiction every time out. His distinct voice is like no one I've ever read. Like a scene from a Scorsese movie, you can read one paragraph from a Piccirilli novel and know exactly who wrote it. This book gets one of my highest recommendations.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Bone Factory; Author: Visit Amazon's Nate Kenyon Page; Review: Author Nate Kenyon continues to improve with each book, especially his technical writing. The Bone Factory illustrates Kenyon's talent for smooth prose and his special attention to atmosphere. I'm a sucker for novels set in snowy, desolate locations, and the locations in this story are about as far away from civilization as you can get. But there were a few choices that I wish were handled differently and the overall storyline didn't grab me the way I would have liked. I enjoyed the slow, calculated buildup with the family and the move to their new home, but sometimes I think too much time was spent on small events which could have been edited down and been just as effective. For instance, there is a section nine pages long describing a character's inspection of the woods around his property to see if there is anyone lurking around. Surely this didn't need to be nine pages. There were also some character reactions that I found rather odd that pulled me out of the story. Helen's strong reaction to Angie's information about the missing girl seemed a bit melodramatic. David's reaction was strange as well. It's not as if the girl was torn to shreds inside the house. They were simply living in a house where the previous owner's daughter went missing. What's the big deal? They never even found her body. People go missing all the time for any number of reasons. These revelations could have been smoother for me. Prologue aside, and with the exception of a brief death scene involving a camper, the horror really doesn't get going until another two hundred plus pages. And while there is no doubt that Kenyon is a fine writer, I question the need to tell this particular story. Well executed, sure, but it was not that engaging as a tale, especially a full length novel. Perhaps it would have worked better as a novella. The separate parts of the story didn't quite connect in a natural, organic way for me. The section about the baby and his bottle was quite vivid and horrifying, but for most of the book, I found the horror rather tame for adult fiction. However, I have heard great things about Kenyon's new novel, "Sparrow Rock", so I plan on giving that a try.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Ex-Heroes: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Peter Clines Page; Review: Peter Clines has a very interesting biography, which explains his creative and unique take on the zombie genre. I read many complimentary reviews for this book, and after finishing it, I wholeheartedly agree with the praise. There is so much to enjoy with this book, I'm not even sure where to start. The biological explanations of the spread of the disease are conceptually fascinating and something new that has not been explored with zombies before. Populate this zombie apocalypse with completely original and unique superheroes with vastly different points of view and you have an incredible combination. Author Peter Clines manages to juggle the ensemble cast with authority and balance, never lingering on any one character, giving each their own voice -- reminding me of the style of a Robert Altman film. With interconnecting plots, scenarios, timelines, and dozens of characters, I never became confused, which is quite impressive considering the material the author was juggling. Some of the typos, however, were distracting, and I was surprised to see so many in a Permuted Press edition, because this publisher is usually very professional. I had a lot of fun reading this and wish I could have lived in this book a little longer. I tip my hat to Clines for pulling off such a daunting project as well as a big thank you to Permuted Press for taking a chance with this title. Let's hope sales are good enough for a sequel, something I'd buy in a heartbeat.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Operator B (Cemetery Dance Novella Series, No. 7); Author: Visit Amazon's Edward Lee Page; Review: For me, this is probably the most well conceived and fully formed story that Edward Lee has ever written. The lack of Lee's regular horror, gore, and sex might surprise long-time readers of his work, but the narrow focus of the story and the character's incredible situation will have you glued to each page. I was very impressed with Lee's restraint and hope he revisits what I think could be a continuing story. Author Lee's research in medical science and military technology is meticulous and adds another layer of realism to the story. I could relate to the main character's drive for success, trying to balance his personal life with his career. "Operator B" is a great little suspenseful science fiction story that I'm thrilled to see back in print. The original hardcover publication only had 450 copies, so this new paperback will allow this gem to find a much larger audience. Highly recommended.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Haunted Vagina; Author: Visit Amazon's Carlton Mellick III Page; Review: As with all of Mellick's books, this is yet another addictive and completely original story. Without giving away spoilers, Mellick manages to take you on a journey with his trademark and eye-popping descriptions. He has a real talent for character details and I found this story as compelling as his past work. What I probably love most about his work is that nothing is predicable and you never know what the next page will bring. I was surprised, however, at the number of typos throughout the narrative. With the shorter page count, there is no excuse for not proofreading the text. I don't recall his other books being like this, so I'm guessing The Haunted Vagina had a different editor or copy editor. Regardless, this material was very enjoyable to read and is definitely recommended. Of course, for adults only.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Old Man's War; Author: Visit Amazon's John Scalzi Page; Review: Author John Scalzi's "Old Man's War" is one of the most impressive debut novels I've read in a long, long time. At least from my experience, it is probably the best first novel in the science fiction genre that I can think of. His prose is smooth and never overly descriptive, and his imagination is seemingly endless. I appreciated Scalzi's lack of ego, never trying to overwhelm the reader with scientific jargon by clogging the narrative or bombarding you with his world-building too quickly. He has great restraint and it worked very nicely. In fact, he made it look easy. Late in the novel, however, I wanted more to the story. As good as they were, I wanted something to tie up the vignettes of John Perry's battles, and not just one cool scenario after another. To have events in the periphery is fine, but an ultimate goal with early seeds would have focused the overall story more, keeping it grounded and not so scattered, many times feeling like a montage of loosely connected sequences. Scalzi did manage to bring many elements together that were quite satisfying towards the end with the Ghost Brigade, but I did discover some mistakes regarding his theory of these soldiers. It didn't make sense they would use more than one dead soldier to replicate since once they found one with superior DNA, they would not need to seek out any more victims that could possibly be slower, weaker, etc. They would simply replicate the best gene they could find and use that as a template, over and over. Especially since no one on Earth has ever seen a Colonial Defense Force personnel. Scalzi made it very clear that humans on Earth are kept in the dark regarding any details of the CDF. I also didn't like that the Consu race happened to be receptive to embassies from the colonies when they included a CDF soldier that has killed a large number of their people in battle. It just seemed way too convenient, not to mention John Perry happened to be the fighter in question. Small potatoes, maybe, but still. The little things add up. Putting these minor issues aside, this looks to be an incredibly strong start to what is one of the better science fiction series in years. I'm already hooked and have already picked up "Ghost Brigades", the second in the series. This book, however, nicely stands alone by itself. Highly recommended.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: TOMES OF THE DEAD: EMPIRE OF SALT; Author: Visit Amazon's Weston Ochse Page; Review: 2 AND STARS I have mixed feelings on this book. It reads very strangely, from the characters, to the setting, to the delivery. One of the main characters, Patrick, is a widowed father of two. He drives to a new town where he has inherited a house and business from his estranged father. Patrick spends the first third of the book drunk and sitting on a stool in his restaurant while his two nearly grown up children wander around the town witnessing a group of people, lead by a Romanian freedom fighter turned Elvis Impersonator, fire shotguns around the neighborhood. All of this happening while the locals act like this is an everyday occurrence. People actions were so odd that I felt as if this were taking place in some alternate universe. Certain scenes were awkwardly described and varied greatly in its page count, which only added to the inconsistent reading experience. While some scenes were short and moved by very quickly, others felt overly long and seemed to go on well past their welcome. Although many of the characters were obviously scared of the encroaching danger, the matter-of-fact descriptions and lackluster atmosphere fell flat, leaving me feeling ambiguous and not scared of anything I was reading. The standard story of a government-experiment-gone-wrong was also disappointing. I also spotted a number of continuity errors and typos. Now, I don't want to seem too hard on this book, because there were some rather enjoyable moments and the last third of the book really seemed to pick up the action along with the surprising deaths of some main characters. But with Ochse's solid reputation, the amazing track record of Abaddon Books, and one of the best zombie covers I've seen in a long time, I expected a lot more here.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Darkness on the Edge of Town; Author: Visit Amazon's Brian Keene Page; Review: This is one of Keene's better novels, along with Dark Hollow and Ghoul. The book's concept is very cool and creepy and Keene throws in a lot of nasty goodies throughout to keep it fresh. I like the main characters in this story, mainly because they were ordinary people who end up making realistic decisions that make sense in their desperate situation. That said, I was not sure the character of Christy would have gone off outside her apartment alone when she had just narrowly escaped a marauding gang of rapists, but it did make for an exciting scene in the pet store. I'll let Keene slide for that, but I do wish Christy's motivation for leaving was a bit stronger. I can also understand some other reviews that had a problem with the ending, but for me, it felt sensible and consistent with what the characters would have actually done. There were also moments early in the novel where the main character switches from past events to inserting current happenings which, at times, felt a little jarring. But, for the most part, this is a smooth and fast read and should please both fans of horror, science fiction, and especially followers of Lovecraft with some of the bleak atmosphere. The detailed mythology, insightful social commentary, graphic but realistic violence, and the clever scenario make this Keene title a definite recommendation.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Morning Is Dead; Author: Visit Amazon's Andersen Prunty Page; Review: This is my first experience reading author Andersen Prunty. I've heard his name thrown around in the horror and bizarre genre for a while now, and decided to give him a try. I wasn't sure what to expect with this story, since the plot description on the back is fairly vague. However, I really enjoyed the book, with its colorful characters and twisted setting. It has the dreadful feeling of a nightmare you just can't wake up from. And while a few elements failed to connect for me in the way I think the author intended, the majority of the book was a lot of fun, mainly due to Prunty's skies-the-limit imagination and unpredictable narrative. The duality of the world keeps you on your toes and just when you think you have things figured out, it swerves again. And because of that, I wouldn't recommend this book to traditional genre fans, but if you are looking for something a bit challenging inside a strange new world, this is certainly worth reading.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Disappearance; Author: Visit Amazon's Bentley Little Page; Review: Bentley Little seems to be going through a new phase in his career, removing his trademark supernatural element and exploring a more realistic approach to his terror. However, this is not always a good thing because with The Disappearance, he also seems to have lightened up on the scares and originality as well. There are some suspenseful and effective moments in the book, however, when my suspicions as to where the story was taking me were revealed, it was pretty much what I expected. Little's trademark surprises and R-rated moments were few and far between here. The characters and writing are solid as always, but I never really feared for the characters once it was finally revealed what they were up against. It's like having a James Bond movie with a lame villain. Exciting at times, but you are never worried your hero might not make it. The story loses some realism when the national television show, Dateline, covers the story of Joan's abduction. Little doesn't seem to understand that the college campus would be inundated with press and security and the events that happen in the final act of the book would never be possible with such a national story. It felt as if Little pinned himself into a corner and was not sure how to get himself out. New readers of Bentley Little should start by reading something else - like The Ignored, The Mailman, The Store, The Policy, The Association, or my recent favorite, Dispatch. The Disappearance is not a bad novel by any means, it is unfortunately just very average, and since author Little only releases one book a year, this was a bit disappointing.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Clickers; Author: Visit Amazon's J.F. Gonzalez Page; Review: 4 AND STARS While you may ask yourself what a new book about giant killer crabs can bring to the table that author and crab legend Guy N. Smith hasn't already done -- or Roger Corman's 1957 Attack of the Crab Monsters? Well, the answer is - plenty! Clickers is an incredibly exciting ride with some wonderful new twists to the savage animals. Authors J.F. Gonzalez and Mark Williams create their own mythos, and throughout the book, propel you into a brutal war with some very nasty (and hungry) creatures. The authors keep up a fast pace, while at the same time, create some memorable characters with depth and insightful details. The authors balance action and dialogue very nicely and never linger too long on any one scene. Some of the descriptions are downright disgusting and you will love every bit of it and ask for more. Clickers is one of the rare books that feels truly inspired and I'm very glad to know that there are at least two sequels with possibly more on the way. While this tale might not have reinvented the crab-wheel, it was loads of fun to read.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Killing Kind; Author: Visit Amazon's Bryan Smith Page; Review: 3 AND 1/2 STARS This is definitely one of Bryan Smith's better horror novels. Visceral and highly charged, the first half reminded me a lot of the late, great Richard Laymon. Smith focuses on a select group of characters and their rather graphic killing spree, mainly set over a week of rampant slaughter. There are quite a few scenes of violence that will make even most jaded reader uncomfortable. Although most of the characters, on the surface, are not very likable, the female killer, Roxie, is written with meticulous care. The author nicely balances her violent acts with just enough eroticism that you find yourself ashamed to be so attracted to her. I did feel the motivations for a lot of the killings were questionable, at best. But you can ignore those details because it is clear this book is meant for pure entertainment and to shock and keep the reader, along with the characters, constantly guessing as to what will happen next. One element that hurt the story for me was that the plot was too dependent on coincidence; not a single witness around during the violent outbreaks, people being at the wrong place at exactly the wrong time, and random violence happening outside of the main story arc (the bar beating, etc.). What are the chances all this would happen over the course of a week? I will admit really enjoying this book until the scene at the Walgreens store, about 60 pages from the end. It was here that I felt the story's reality begin to slip into the absurd and lose a little credibility. Author Smith still manages to tie things up nicely with an effective, if gratuitous, climax. The aftermath seemed a touch pedestrian and rather expected, but, even with its flaws, I can still confidently say this novel remains a very good read.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sparrow Rock; Author: Visit Amazon's Nate Kenyon Page; Review: 4 AND 1/2 STARS. Sparrow Rock is one of top releases in horror for 2010. It has crawled its way into my top 5 books for the year and is, so far, the crowning achievement of author Nate Kenyon. While Kenyon's past work was always technically well written, I always thought his weakness was the story, which for me, is the most important. I was thrilled to discover that the story of Sparrow Rock succeeded on almost every level. With tremendous conviction, originality, and chock full of scares, author Kenyon throws the reader right into a literal apocalypse, where six youth are trapped in a bomb shelter after barely escaping the effects of a nuclear holocaust. Claustrophobia, paranoia, and some hideous discoveries inform the small group something more sinister is at work than just the bombs going off. Kenyon packs each short chapter with enough violence, gore, scares, and cool concepts to thrill even the most jaded horror aficionado. For some, the story might contain a couple too many coincidences, but everything eventually makes sense, even if you have to suspend a little disbelief at times. While the characters might not make the same decisions as the reader would if in their shoes, I was pleased that their actions were at least consistent throughout the story. You could also argue that the story, at times, could have been longer and that some events happened too quickly, but I didn't have a problem with that. For me, the faster pace keeps you on your toes with an unsettling feeling. New readers interested in Kenyon's books should definitely pick this title up as their starting point, since it is without question his best work to date. I am very much looking forward to what he does next. This one will be tough to beat.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Congregation of Jackals; Author: Visit Amazon's S. Craig Zahler Page; Review: 5+ STARS Let me first start off by saying that while I am an avid reader, I do not have a lot of experience with Westerns. However, the ones that I have read are not even in the same league as this book. And to be honest, neither is every other book I've read in the last few years, regardless of genre. I expect this book to be on most people's top 10 list of the year, and on some people's top 10 of all time. "Congregation Of Jackals" is that damn good. What a tremendously groundbreaking and powerful novel Craig Zahler has written here. There are no weak areas in this work; from the uniquely rendered characters, layered with depth and a rich history, to the vivid landscapes, to the unrelenting danger that brings this nail biting story to a boil. This is not your father's western, that's for sure. Zahler smartly builds the suspense until it is nearly unbearable, and then he unleashes a cauldron of hellfire straight in your face. There are moments of such extreme violence that I found myself short of breath and hesitant to read on. One of the highlights, for me, is the abundant vocabulary with which the author writes. It is a pleasure to read someone that has such a strong and confident grasp of the English language. If there is one book you read this year, this should be the one. "Congregation Of Jackals" gets my highest recommendation. I guarantee that you will love it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bullet Through Your Face; Author: Edward Jr. Lee; Review: 3 AND 1/2 STARS This is a collection of 3 previously published novellas by extreme horror author Edward Lee. Unlike Lee's mass market paperback books, these are his more uncensored and hardcore stories that would easily get slapped with an NC-17 rating if they were ever made into a movie. You need a strong stomach to delve into this material, but boy is it a lot of fun. If you have a good sense of humor and don't take the material too seriously, you will enjoy this collection. My favorite in the collection is the first, titled "Ever Nat". Lee keeps you on your toes by not knowing what will happen next, and at the same time, tosses some horrific descriptions at you that will either have you cringing, gasping, or downright throwing up. The second story, "The Salt-Diviner" is a lot of fun, but once the premise is exposed, it continues fairly predictably. The final tale, "The Refrigerator Full of Sperm", has a plethora of deprave acts and some very spot-on political observations, but overstays its welcome with some repetitive story devices. I was a little disappointed in the number of typos I found (not the on-purpose misspellings from the characters), especially for stories that were previously published. This really is inexcusable. My order of preference for the stories was written in reverse chronological order by Lee; "Refrigerator" in 1998, "Salt-Diviner" in 1999, and the highlight in the collection, "Ever Nat", in 2003. It is great to see these small stories being published in collections like these to allow fans of Lee's mass market work to show where he really shines. This book might not be scary, but you won't find a better guilty-pleasure read this year. If you have a strong stomach, I would definitely recommend this book.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Gardens of Night; Author: Visit Amazon's Greg F. Gifune Page; Review: 2 AND STARS I was a big fan of Greg F. Gifune's "Children Of Chaos", but this new book had me underwhelmed. I thought the characters were complex and engaging, but after the first 70 or so pages, things began to deteriorate. The thoughtful and poetic writing soon bordered on the pretentious. Author Gifune began to throw in abstract images, dreams, and random, repetitive voices to the extent that I was not the least bit scared and stopped caring about the characters he so finely crafted in the first act. It is the author's job for his or her writing to be accessible and clear to the audience. But I felt as if Gifune was throwing so many ideas and concepts at the reader that it became muddled. There was a lot of abstract mythology and, in my opinion, bizarrely unnecessary elements with odd tangents, and I was left shaking my head in disappointment. The best way I can describe the book is to compare it to an art house movie without any real bite, which is not a bad thing, but unfortunately, this art house book left me feeling ambivalent and a slightly cheated.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Invisible Fences; Author: Visit Amazon's Norman Prentiss Page; Review: 4 AND 1/2 STARS Invisible Fences reads like a timeless classic. Flawed but honest characters populate the story in a world that feels all too familiar. Childhood loss of innocence is balanced with the joy of exploration and the imagination of youth. The reader is sure to recognize some of the personalities within - whether they are family, friends, or people they knew from their neighborhood. It is this realistic tone and sensitivity that gives added weight to the final revelation, and is sure to satisfy both the horror fan along with the casual fan of fiction. This is a heartbreaking yet beautiful tale, where the pieces of the puzzle connect in more ways than one. A couple areas of description were a bit confusing, but most is pitch-perfect. Author Norman Prentiss has clearly written an absorbing and inspired story, and one that I think will be discussed, read, and appreciated for many years to come. Invisible Fences is a worthy addition to publisher Cemetery Dance's Novella collection. Highly recommended.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Rot & Ruin (Turtleback School & Library Binding Edition); Author: Visit Amazon's Jonathan Maberry Page; Review: 4 AND 1/2 STARS "Rot & Ruin" is Jonathan Maberry's second venture into the zombie genre. His first, "Patient Zero", dealt more with the zombies used as a terrorist plague with a heavy emphasis on the military and a specialized strike force to stop it. This new book, however, should please zombie fans even more. In "Rot & Ruin", the epidemic is in full swing and can truly be called a zombie book, as opposed to a book with a few zombies sprinkled in here and there. And although the book is intended for the YA (young adult) audience, Maberry's writing is still very bleak and emotional, keeping everything serious and realistic. You never once feel you are reading a story designed for teenagers. At first, I thought the PG-13 constraints would hurt the book but I discovered that I never missed the foul language and overly excessive gore that most other zombie books include. Maberry, instead, smartly focuses on the characters and the dangerous environment outside of their seemingly secure community. I imagine that fans of the wildly popular television and comic series, "The Walking Dead", will feel right at home and appreciate the dark tone of the book. This has some deeply emotional moments that really tear you apart, but at no time does it ever feel manipulative or pandering. There are really no weaknesses here, except that maybe some events fall a little too neatly into place. But it still feels like the correct choices were made and I was delighted with the experience. Along with "Dead Man's Song", I feel this is Maberry's finest work to date. I hope he decides to explore the "ruin" again some time.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ultra Fuckers; Author: Visit Amazon's Carlton Mellick III Page; Review: Mellick, as always, is on fire with his latest story. Every tale by this creative madman is deliciously inspired and wholly original, and this book is no exception. His economy of words displays a pure, focused vision, uncomplicated by fluff or filler. Mellick is one of the very few authors that has such a distinct style, I can read a couple sentences anywhere in the book and know he is the author. He is one of my favorite discoveries in recent years and I make it a point to introduce him to friends and colleagues whenever I have a chance. This book, like many of his other stories, begins rather innocuously. Then, sentence by sentence, page by page, he begins to unleash his eclectic world onto his readers, where you quickly becoming addicted to the characters and their remarkable situations. In this story, as the characters get lost in the gated suburban community, the narrative slowly begins to feel like a distant dream that eventually progresses into a full blown nightmare. The transitions from a familiar reality into a twisted fantasy are seamless and incredibly enjoyable to read. While this is not my favorite by Mellick, I have yet to read one by him that I didn't absolutely fall in love with. As far as I can tell, he hits a bull's-eye every time out, and continues to publish fresh, new novels multiple times per year. Mellick is a creative machine and is a must read for any fan of original fiction, regardless of genre.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Trolley No. 1852; Author: Edward Jr. Lee; Review: I enjoy Edward Lee and realize most of his horror is tongue-in-cheek. However, dealing with Lovecraft and his mythos, I wish Lee would have treated it with a little more seriously. I can understand a lot of readers might have a problem with people trying their hand at Lovecraft. Personally, I don't care, as long as it is done well. We all know there is only one, real Lovecraft, so why not let others play around in his rich world and continue the mythos. That said, with "Trolley No. 1852", it was a bit of a mix for me. The initial story about a fictionalized Lovecraft getting a secret invitation to submit an erotic horror story to an exclusive underground club was pretty cool. And the story Lovecraft ends up writing for it was fairly engaging as well, even if some of his made-up vocabulary was a bit awkward at times. You could tell Lee had a lot of fun writing it. One other thing that bugged me was that this was a reprint from a hardcover that was published a year before, yet it still had a few typos. A professional publishing house should have easily caught these mistakes and hopefully Deadite Press's other titles are cleaner than this. Free from the restraints of his mass market paperback content, author Lee gives us the hardcore classic over-the-top sex that his fans have come to obsess over. His character's perverse escapades - a near trademark for Lee -- has allowed him to contract with more publishers than almost any other horror writer working today. From Necro Publications, Cemetery Dance, Bloodletting Books, and Leisure Books, to Infernal House Press, Overlook Connection Press, and his current publisher, Deadite Press. The downside to Lee is that while his stories are wild and quite taboo, they are rarely scary and tend to be very predictable, once you become familiar with his common pattern of storytelling. I freely admit to laughing quite hard at some of his grotesque and libidinous descriptions, but as a fully crafted and original tale, this seemed only a notch above average. "Trolley No. 1852" is better than some of his Leisure titles, but this story would have benefitted more if Lee had given the tale a more serious tone.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Dead City; Author: Visit Amazon's Joe McKinney Page; Review: 3 AND 1/2 STARS "Dead City", the debut horror novel by Joe McKinney, is a worthy read, equally impressive as a first novel as it is an intense zombie book. The first few chapters have a nice buildup as the reader experiences the outbreak through the eyes of a San Antonio police officer. The action explodes very early on and never really stops, and while I did enjoy the intense sequences, I think the violence would have been more effective if it was balanced with more suspenseful and quiet moments. Like the ups and downs of a rollercoaster, you need to go up before you can race down and experience the full thrill of the ride. Set over the course of one long day, the protagonist races around the city looking for his wife and newborn son. The outbreak had a fairly basic premise and was extremely light on story, but it was certainly done well. The zombies also felt too familiar in their actions, and it would have been nice to see something new added to their mythology. Although McKinney does a better job in his other books of balancing the elements of character, story, and atmosphere, I still really enjoyed reading this and would recommend it without hesitation.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Harrowing; Author: Visit Amazon's Alexandra Sokoloff Page; Review: "The Harrowing" is the very impressive debut novel by Alexandra Sokoloff. The first half was incredibly atmospheric, dark, and creepy, and I have to be honest that I found myself covered in gooseflesh more times than not. It was refreshing to read a horror novel that actually had me turning on lights around the house. I would have preferred the editors not to print "A Ghost Story" in bold letters on the cover, because, throughout the book, my opinion changed back and forth as to whether the strange activity that was occurring was human or something supernatural. But as far as the story goes, it was quite engaging and I really enjoyed the idea of five students from different walks of life spending their Thanksgiving break alone in the dormitory. That isolation gave every scene a heightened sense of danger and vulnerability. I did have a few problems however; caught a few continuity mistakes (candles described to have burned down to nothing only to have grown back somehow and blown out the next day by a character, etc.) and I disliked one of the characters bringing a gun to fight a ghost. Even a character as unintelligent as the one described should have known better. This book had some very cool concepts involving biblical mythology and the ending was pretty satisfying, though maybe wrapped up a bit too neatly. However, I've enjoyed this author enough to have just ordered two more of her books, so that must say something. I would definitely recommend this book for fans of ghost stories, especially if you are creeped out by Ouija boards!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Draculas: A Novel of Terror; Author: Jack Kilborn; Review: 4 AND 1/2 STARS. It's hard to imagine any book with a more intense pace, more danger, or more excitement than the collaborative novel, "Draculas". This is a fascinating book concept where four authors choose a couple characters each and write a single story. Being a huge fan of Jeff Strand and Jack Kilborn (aka Joe Konrath), this was a must read for me, and the result was even better than I imagined. The action begins almost immediately and does not stop until the very end. The level of danger and situations these characters are put through could be spread out for three or four novels. But instead, these four authors shove them into a pressure cooker and cram it into a very tight 300 pages of hell on earth. All four authors, being veterans of the craft, develop interesting and believable characters with a fairly original story, tweaking the classic vampire mythology just enough to keep it fresh and the reader on their toes. I enjoyed every moment of the book and would love for these authors to do try this experiment again sometime as the result is unquestionably a success. However, there were some inconsistencies, although not many, that bothered me. One example was that the talons of the dracula monsters were strong enough to allow them to scale walls, and even hang upside down on the ceiling, yet one of the human female characters grabbed a hold of one and somehow snapped it in half. Some typos for character headings (in smaller print and not bold typeface) were overlooked as well. For fans of extreme and original horror looking for a quick adrenaline shot, I would highly recommend this book. Traditional vampire lovers will especially enjoy this, since "Draculas" is about as opposite from the latest trend of "Twilight" books as you can get. These authors treat the vampire the way they were always meant to be - terrifying, ultra-violent, brutal, and unrelenting in their thirst for blood. Read "Draculas". You won't be disappointed.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Day by Day Armageddon (A Zombie Novel); Author: Visit Amazon's J. L. Bourne Page; Review: I've heard of this book for years. It seems to be one of the more popular zombie novels, so I decided to give it a try. The author is J.L. Bourne, and not surprisingly, is a member of the military. His voice lends an authenticity to many elements dealing with survival, which is one of the book's strong points. The technical details on guns, aviation, and situational strategy made everything fell more believable. As a reader, I found that the journal-style storytelling hurt the emotional investment of the characters, since you only really get to know one character throughout the book. Everyone else is mentioned only briefly and glossed over. This style also covers up all the dialogue, distancing you further from the characters. Journal-style entries can be effective if done right. This one was just okay. It seemed difficult for the author to keep up the suspense with the character already alive and writing about it. Richard Laymon's "Island" is a great example of a journal-style story that racks up the suspense and makes you feel the author is in constant danger. There were a few really cool concepts that Bourne came up with that I have not seen mentioned before in zombie novels. One great idea was that the government, in a desperate attempt to exterminate as many zombies as possible, decided to use nuclear weapons on strategic cities across America, where the heaviest population of the undead was gathered. However, this backfired horribly because the radiation destroyed the bacteria on the zombies, keeping them from rotting, which made them stronger. Very cool. But unique things like that were few and far between. Bourne moves the action, locations, and characters at a nice pace, and although I think the overall book was just average, I would be interested in reading the sequel to see how he expands the story. The many typos were frustrating to read, as well as the misspelling of character names. I'll take a chance and read the second book in the series, but I really hope the author turns it up a notch. For a more profound and fully formed story, I would recommend Kim Paffenroth's "Dying To Live" series or Jonathan Maberry's "Rot & Ruin" books.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Terminated; Author: Visit Amazon's Simon Wood Page; Review: The last book I read by Simon Wood, "We All Fall Down", was pretty good. It had a few problems, but Woods was a good enough writer to make me pick up his newest title, "Terminated". The premise on the back of the book really hooked me - I love small, intimate thrillers (like the movie "Dead Calm") with very few characters. It allows the author to really dig deep in the emotions and back story of the characters, and the reader has a better chance of caring about them. There were some questionable decisions by the characters that necessitate a suspension of disbelief, but that is not where my main problem with this story lay. I simply thought the antagonist was too stupid and uninteresting, with a very clichd past. I was always one step ahead of him, which made it two steps ahead of our protagonist. And that's never a good thing. Woods writes him as the son of an abusive father, who takes his aggression out on targeted people that get in his way. Been there, done that. I would have rather seen something original... maybe the villain is a perfect father of six in a wonderful marriage, a volunteer Boyscout leader, and a multimillionaire, but he lives a double life. I wanted Mr. Wood to show me something new. And although this book was a quick, enjoyable read, I found it very average. The whole Amanda Palmer acid accident felt completely unrealistic. Many aspects of the book seemed to serve the story and author's intentions instead of having the characters organically make the decisions that make sense for them. The proposal Gwen made with Tarbell at the Overlook bar was absolutely preposterous. Not having the police involved is beyond ridiculous and I was left shaking my head as the story continued to sink lower and lower into a near parody of itself and the entire thriller genre. A strong personality like Gwen's, especially what she went through in her past, would never agree with something so absurd. The ending seemed incredibly rushed, with a standard by-the-numbers climax. Even the final sentence of the book is cringe-worthy. There's not much else to say, but unfortunately, I do not recommend this book.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Skin Medicine; Author: Visit Amazon's Tim Curran Page; Review: 4 AND 1/2 STARS I've heard of author Tim Curran for a while now, and decided to try one of his books. Based on his other material, it seems that along with horror, he has a taste for the western genre. So I decided, based on reviews and the fact that the book has been re-released, to give "Skin Medicine" a read. Man, can this guy write. He has very rich and colorful characters, each with their own independent voice and back stories. This book was consistently dark and original, and a real pleasure to read. Curran builds up suspenseful momentum and really makes you believe there is no hope for our heroes against such a powerful and soulless evil, although the motivation of the villain was bit clouded. The graphic nature of this novel was quite intense, even for this veteran horror reader. The western world came alive beautifully through Curran's dialogue and descriptions, completely submerging the reader in this nasty and dangerous environment. The author's descriptions are also some of the best I've encountered in the genre. He has a terrific vocabulary and uses it at just the right moments without overdoing it. Throughout the book, there were a number of typos that were disappointing to find. Severed Press is a brave publisher, but really needs to step it up in the copy editing department. The final 50 or so pages were loaded with errors. I also felt that the author, during the last act, rushed a few things and dropped the ball with some missed opportunities between characters and suspenseful setups. Those few details aside, "Skin Medicine" gets a very high recommendation and, without a doubt, I'll be actively seeking out more of Tim Curran's work.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Death Panel: Murder, Mayhem, and Madness; Author: Tom Piccirilli; Review: This violent and dark collection is one of the better anthologies I've read in a while, and is strictly for adults only. The diversity of the stories is sure to keep the reader on their toes. Highlights include tales by Tom Piccirilli, Randy Chandler, Brandon Ford, Tim Curran, and Fred Venturini. A special story - the book's guilty pleasure -- "The Mouth", is written by John Everson, and not to be read by anyone with a weak stomach. Fans of Edward Lee's hardcore stories will be right at home with "The Mouth". Even my least favorite stories here are above average, so you are sure to have a good time with all of them. "The Death Panel" is a quick read and definitely recommended.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Painted Darkness; Author: Visit Amazon's Brian James Freeman Page; Review: "The Painted Darkness" shows hints of early Stephen King, and along with a cryptic style of storytelling similar to that of T.M. Wright, author Brian James Freeman has written a respectable -- if a bit conservative -- dark thriller. The constant moving back and forth in time with the protagonist, Henry, could have been distracting, but was handled delicately, focusing on the experiences that formed the character he later becomes. The book has some good atmosphere and the scenes move at a brisk enough clip that it never feels slow or overly detailed. However, I was not at all surprised by the ending, and wished it would have had more of an impact on me. Perhaps the printed advanced praise by author Tess Gerritsen at the start of the book tipped me off as to what to expect. In hindsight, I wish I had not read that. Oh, well. I still recommended the book, but wanted something more edgy and dark. If you prefer reading subtle, quiet horror, this story is sure to please.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Rock and Roll Reform School Zombies; Author: Visit Amazon's Bryan Smith Page; Review: I've read a few Bryan Smith books and for me, he is hit or miss. I'm happy to say that Smith's latest book by Deadite Press is a full-fledged hit. If you grew up nearly worshipping Romero's zombie films along with Return of the Living Dead, then this book is for you. Lots of winks to the reader throughout the story made it even more enjoyable. It has your basic plot, sure, but it moves so fast and with such inspired energy, you can't help but get sucked in and root for the heroes. And while the first half is bit more fun than the second half, the wild frenzy of violence should keep you reading long into the night. My only real disappointment was with Deadite Press's copy editing. If they can't take the time to clean up punctuation, perhaps they are releasing too many titles. It's a simple process, guys. READ the damn manuscript slowly one time and you will find the errors! With that out of the way, I wholeheartedly recommend "Rock And Roll Reform School Zombies". This book is a great introduction for new readers to experience Bryan Smith. You've got likable characters, ruthless villains, lots of gore, kinky sex, and zombies. What more could you ask for?; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: War Slut; Author: Visit Amazon's Carlton Mellick III Page; Review: Mellick tackles a rather large concept here about society's need for war. While I personally think conflict is necessary in many cases, this book takes an extremely satiric view that was a joy to read. Author Mellick always keeps the reader on their toes and just when you think you know what he's up to, he pulls the rug out with yet another surprise. Some annoying typos aside, there are some fascinating concepts in this book, especially the details involving the war sluts and the reasons the military has chosen to implement them into the service. The Sawball game was also quite inventive. The colorful characters, dialogue, and the special abilities of the various ammunition round out the high points of this book which I would rank in the middle of Carlton Mellick's body of work. Feels a bit short, but still very recommended.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Beneath the Dark Ice: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Greig Beck Page; Review: Author Greig Beck's debut novel is a solid subterranean action/horror thrill ride in the vein of Michael Crichton's "Jurassic Park" and Steve Alten's "MEG". What separates this from the others is the talents of the main character, Alex Hunter, who has nearly inhuman abilities after a bullet lodged in his head give him incredibly heightened senses, causing him to be faster and stronger than anyone on earth. Alex joins a diverse group of scientists on a rescue mission that goes badly and what you expect to happen pretty much follows the rest of the game plan for this type of story. Beck throws in some decent mythology and actually manages to tie in a historical event to the heart of the narrative that was fairly impressive. The author's use of memory inheritance through generations of certain species was rather fascinating. The downside was that some of the characters felt a bit stereotypical and here and there the dialogue might have you rolling your eyes - a sleazy scientist actually says to an attractive colleague, "I'm looking forward to working on you, err sorry...with you on this." Other points feel a bit too convenient -- like having glyphs scattered throughout the underworld with just enough information to help our adventurers. But if you can deal with the formulaic story, you should have fun with the book's fast pace action and ultra cool creatures.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Red Empire; Author: Joe McKinney and Alan M. Clark; Review: Author Joe McKinney, best known for his zombie fiction, takes a detour with "The Red Empire", showing us that a very small enemy can be just as deadly. This pulse-pounding novella reminded me of Jack Ketchum's Off Season and Offspring, where the suspense builds slowly, until eventually, the intersecting characters are tossed together into a pressure cooker that is ready to explode. McKinney is relatively new to writing, having started professionally in 2006, but you would never know that reading "The Red Empire". He writes with confidence and clarity and never shies away from the painful scenes he has to write when his characters are put in harm's way. He has a great talent for developing characters, building tension, and then throwing those characters into a bowl of liquid hellfire. His strategic economy of words allows the reader to cover a lot of ground very fast, creating a whirlwind pace that makes it difficult to stop reading. In this latest book, McKinney describes some fascinating concepts about the killer ants. The "rafting behavior" was a frightening but realistic trait that was perfectly used to demonstrate their intelligence. And while I have no complaints with the story, I would have loved to see this as a full length novel, or even an ongoing series. However, that's just me being greedy because I had so much fun reading it. "The Red Empire" was everything I expected and more and is one of my highest recommendations so far of 2011.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Night of the Assholes; Author: Visit Amazon's Kevin L. Donihe Page; Review: This book definitely has a fun concept and the bizarro universe is the perfect place for it to run wild. I don't want to be a party pooper here, because clearly people really enjoyed the book, and to a degree, I did as well. I just didn't love it. I found a lot of repetition and random weirdness that didn't seem to serve the story except to try and outdo the oddity that came before it. Many characters were annoying and quite a few scenes overstayed their welcome. The dialogue, also, was kind of blah. I also didn't understand the confusing grandfather clock gimmick. However, there were some things I did enjoy -- the transformations, the role reversals, and the more intense action towards the finale, but ultimately, I wasn't into the humor. For this type of material, I find Carlton Mellick more original with his ideas, dialogue, and style. "Night" is a mixed bag for me. Perhaps I was just expecting something else when I bought it.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Chasing the Dragon; Author: Visit Amazon's Nicholas Kaufmann Page; Review: 4 AND 1/2 STARS This book was truly a pleasant surprise. I've read Kaufmann's "General Slocum's Gold", but "Chasing The Dragon" is even better. Author Nicholas Kaufmann melds various themes and genres together into a seamless and very suspenseful action/horror tale set in an urban landscape. Kaufmann strategically drops clues - little crumbs -- along the way, feeding the reader's hunger like the drug addicted heroine. And like all great storytellers, Kaufmann weaves those pieces of the puzzle into a wonderfully original narrative. I was very impressed with the clear descriptions of the many action scenes. Most authors cannot handle writing elaborate fight sequences without confusing the reader and making a mess of what the characters are doing at any given time. But Kaufmann's vivid descriptions are never clouded or confusing. His writing allows the reader to feel as if they are right there in the middle of the action, participating along with the characters. I am so glad I gave this book a try. The familiar mythology of dragon slaying was given new life in a very unique way. The main character's journey was completely satisfying and equally strong throughout each act of the story. With the exception of a couple typos in the book (which is surprising, since the copy editor is credited by name), this is a near perfect tale of a character's journey from rock bottom to persevering and achieving her full potential. For succeeding with such an ambitious project, this gets my top recommendation.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Ghost Brigades; Author: Visit Amazon's John Scalzi Page; Review: John Scalzi's semi-sequel to "Old Man's War" is not quite as good as the first book, but still an enjoyable read. With this entry, the sense of wonderment and adventure has faded and things start out slower than I think it should have. But once characters are established, the Scalzi charm - for the most part -- kicks into action. I enjoyed reading about the soldier's BrainPal technology, which had some clever concepts and kept the training sequences interesting. Author Scalzi, however, does not spend enough time describing the physical appearances of the various alien species. He writes them off in one or two sentences, never giving the audience a clear image. Instead, he describes in detail the Eneshan matriarchs and their tribal hierarchy, which seemed a bit messy and pointless. This slowed down the action and flow of the narrative. I was also surprised with the copy editing of this TOR release. TOR is the leading publisher of science fiction and for me to catch so many spelling errors is really inexcusable. At this professional level, someone needs to be fired. Now back to the story. The final three chapters picked up enough that I would say Scalzi saved the book. I felt satisfied how he managed to tie up earlier concepts and mysteries to believable completion. It was this last seventy or so pages that will have me hesitantly seek out and read the next book in the series, "The Last Colony". Overall, for "The Ghost Brigades", I give it a mild recommendation.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Every Shallow Cut; Author: Visit Amazon's Tom Piccirilli Page; Review: Tom Piccirilli is in top form with "Every Shallow Cut". This guy is a writing juggernaut of talent. Book after book, he is consistently better than any of his peers and it is truly a joy to read his stories. His prose is crisp and biting, and the spontaneous violence keeps you on the edge of your seat. Perhaps his greatest strength (although he is powerful in all areas) is his wonderfully realized characters. The pain they endure is so heartbreaking and real, you almost don't want to turn the page. So far, this is my top three books of 2011. When he is on fire like this, I can't see how anyone else could even come close to dethroning Piccirilli much less stand at his level. Every release by Piccirilli is a cause for celebration, and this one even more so. "The Cold Spot" is another terrific novel by the author that is sure to please any fan of great fiction. Seek out his work, folks, you'll thank me later.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Nest; Author: Gregory A Douglas; Review: Gorgeous prose and exceptionally creepy descriptions make this book one of my favorite surprise discoveries. The writing quality of this author clearly displays a well educated man, and without question, a very talented storyteller. His vision and vocabulary is crisp and clean, submerging the reader deep into his very dark territory. This book contains some brutal, unrelenting violence against characters you come to care for, and the author dispatches them in graphic detail without an ounce of remorse. This is definitely something I don't see every day with your standard horror book - especially mainstream authors on the bestseller list. Perhaps this is the tradeoff. Write predictable and comfortable stories and sell lots of books, or be original and sell fewer. The atmosphere is very rich and you feel as if you are stranded on the island along with the characters. Although I did find some of the characters a bit underdeveloped, this book gets a very enthusiastic recommendation from me. Fans of James Herberts' "Rats" will be in killer-critter heaven.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Siren; Author: Visit Amazon's John Everson Page; Review: 3 AND 1/2 STARS Although John Everson's debut novel, "Covenant", is his best book, "Siren", is a close second. Everson has always been a solid writer and probably among the top 25 in the horror genre. But this new book has certainly reaffirmed his talent, moving him up a notch or two. If this were a movie, the sales pitch would be "Splash" meets "Fatal Attraction", only a lot darker, with a lot more sex. It is well written and has a refreshingly original story that should re-energize a lot of horror fans. It was heartbreaking to follow the two main characters in the aftermath of their dead son. Author Everson managed to create absolutely believable responses to a parent's worst nightmare, with perhaps only Gary A. Braunbeck doing a better job. But for the purposes of "Siren", it was near perfect. There were some very scary moments in this book - the flashbacks to the 1880's on the ship and the seagulls outside the house just to name a few. My big complaint was that I felt that Evan, however entranced he was by Legeia, could not possibly be naive enough not to know something strange was going on. Once or twice, maybe, but with all the happenings in town and the plethora of evidence brought to him by his friend Bill, I thought the author was not being honest with the character or the audience. After hearing all the detailed accounts of the Siren, Evan keeps telling Bill that he "doesn't see the connection". Evan might not be a rocket scientist, but he's not a Neanderthal, either. These events would alarm anyone with a pulse after a while. Another writing choice I didn't agree with was the psychic ability by Vicky Blanchard, Evan's psychiatrist. This was completely unnecessary and out of left field. Not to mention, adding nothing to the story. Inserting that psychic element into the narrative only a few chapters from the end felt like a cheat. I also would have liked a reason for Ligeia's obsession of Evan, which was never revealed. It seemed odd to kill everyone in sight, but fixate on one average man. What made him so special? Everson writes some creepy atmosphere and moves the action at a clear and consistent pace. His descriptions of the ocean at night will certainly give you pause the next time you're on vacation and standing near the water's edge. Some cheesy (and unnecessary) one-liners aside during the climax, "Siren" really satisfied my horror fix. Definitely one of the stronger releases of the year and most certainly recommended.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Crab Town; Author: Visit Amazon's Carlton Mellick III Page; Review: 4 AND 1/2 STARS This is a heartfelt commentary on Obama's big government, over-regulation, the jobless economy and the slow downfall of our country in general. Mellick's characters are filled with passion and honesty, trying their best to survive in a hopeless and oppressive land. The descriptions are vivid and the action is written with a clear and concise method. Mellick is so good, he makes it look easy. He writes with a brave confidence that stands out from most other authors and is simply a joy to read. One small problem I had was that if everyone hates the balloon people so much and there is no penalty for popping them (killing them), then everyone outside of Crab Town would do it. I mean, if a child in a bank can kill them so easily with his mother, bank customers, and security guards standing around watching and doing nothing about it, then lots of other people would do it, too. There is so much distain for balloon people, they would be hunted down by others as casually as playing a video game. They would be extinct in a matter of days. It seems with this one detail, Mellick indulged a bit too much without thinking it through. This book is filled with unfulfilled hopes and dreams in a world of overwhelming government oppression. Mellick balances his anger at big brother with gentle insight into the lives of a few remaining patriots who risk everything to better their world. They don't want a handout like entitlements, only a fair chance to earn an honest living. "Crab Town" is another great story from the bizarro genre's best and most influential writer.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hounded (Iron Druid Chronicles); Author: Visit Amazon's Kevin Hearne Page; Review: 2 AND 1/2 STARS For a change of pace, I thought I'd give this new series a try. And while I admit it was enjoyable and easy to read, I found the predictable pattern of events a bit disappointing. Like many of Laurell K. Hamilton's Anita Blake Vampire Hunter books, among others, a bad guy enters the world of our protagonist, creates havoc by placing our hero into dangerous situations until he eventually outsmarts the villain before the end of the book. Rinse and repeat for the next book. The light banter between ancient Gods is not nearly dark enough and does not feel authentic. Their fluffy interactions are more in line with books my grandmother reads. I did, however, like some of the creative fight scenes and the clarity of the moves. The obvious continuity error of talking to the police with a missing ear that was not there the day before was just plain lazy. But since that was the only continuity error I discovered, I'll let that one slide. While the hero claims to be worried of the dangers around him, he never really acts like a man whose life might end at any moment. Although every chapter in "Hounded" is well written and, for the most part, moves at a nice pace, I was expecting something more original and outside the box. Maybe I'm wrong and the next book will veer from this familiar model, but I suspect not. I'll give author Hearne another try with "Hexed", but his Druidic lifeline is quickly fading.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Xombies: Apocalypticon; Author: Visit Amazon's Walter Greatshell Page; Review: "Xombies: Apocalypticon" is author Walter Greatshell's followup to his acclaimed Berkley novel, "Xombies", also retitled "Xombies: Apocalypse Blues", under the re-release by Ace. Personally, I like the original title and especially the original cover a lot better, but marketing departments have the final say in the end, right or wrong. The original printing also has some slight text differences in a character's accent used in dialogue. In this second story, Greatshell continues with the same characters and throws them in just as much danger as before. Only this time, they have to battle between each other as much as the outside forces of the Xombies. Food is dwindling and paranoia about the future quickly turns our submarine crew into panic mode. For a more rewarding experience, I would recommend newcomers read the first book in the series before diving into this. Halfway through the book, Greatshell introduces a completely new concept to the zombie mythology that is, quite simply, a game changer for humans and their defensive tactics against the hoards of the undead. Here and there, I felt some descriptions or actions were a touch vague and a bit confusing, but overall it was clearly a successful novel. If you are looking for the same old zombie story, you'll want to stay away. These are not your father's zombies. This is a completely new and layered take on this sub-genre. Greatshell takes the rulebook on zombies and doesn't just throw it out, he blows it up.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hive (The Hive Series); Author: Visit Amazon's Tim Curran Page; Review: Tim Curran continues to climb towards the top of my list of amazing horror writers. His writing confirms how consistently in command he is of his stories. While many readers might be upset at "Hive" being a semi-continuation of H.P. Lovecraft's "The Mountains Of Madness", I could care less. A good story is a good story, and readers do not need to know anything about Lovecraft's story to enjoy this. But it might make reading it even more enjoyable. My bottom line for horror or dark fiction is that it needs to scare me, first and foremost. And Tim Curran delivers. If I have any gripe with the book, besides the handful of unfortunate typos, it would be the occasional information dump that some characters discover. I think having the pieces of the mythology trickle a little more organically into the light would have been a bit smoother and more subtle. There were also a few events that take place off the page, and the reader only learns of it later. Which is sometimes fine, but I think those moments were important and I would have enjoyed reading those scenes instead of another character briefly summarizing the details to someone else in the story. Also, towards the end, I felt there were some unnecessary political jabs and Hayes' dialogue, at times, was too wordy. Short and to the point is more effective. Curran doesn't pack the narrative with a lot of physical action, but chooses a more fitting, cerebral approach. The author uses atmosphere and suspense to build the horror instead of outright violence and excessive gore. I love the way he toys with the characters, isolating them not only literally, but psychologically, causing a wave of growing paranoia that perfectly feeds into the Old Ones mythology and the sanity vs. insanity theme. The descriptive writing of the climate in Antarctica is enough to give anyone chills, and only added to the hopelessness of the characters and their overwhelming predicament. So far, Curran is two for two with me and I intend to buy and read a lot more of his work. This guy is damn good and deserves to grow his audience. He probably has the best descriptions of anyone in the genre. "Hive" is definitely one of the better horror titles I've read this year. And knowing there is a sequel is almost too good to be true. I, for one, cannot wait to read it.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Conan: The Road of Kings; Author: Karl Edward Wagner; Review: 4 AND 1/2 STARS Within some circles, author Karl Edward Wagner is considered not just an amazing fantasy and horror author, but one of the best of all time. His short life left us with a small but powerful body of work, most notably the creation of his character, Kane, in the book, "Darkness Weaves", among others. Here, with Conan, Wagner writes with incredible prose, moving the action along quickly. I was extremely impressed with his vivid descriptions and epic storytelling abilities. It is not easy to write such a sweeping epic in barely 200 pages. The consistency of his characters and the thrill of adventure is present on every page of the story. The setup for the ending reveals quite a clever mystery that Wagner sets up early on without the reader even knowing. Swordplay and magic are both used carefully, and to propel the story, not just thrown around randomly for effect. Perhaps the only negative aspect of the book is the fact that Wagner had to keep true to Conan and the landscape that Robert E. Howard started. Some readers might feel that Wagner was too constrained, and that is a legitimate criticism. But having read most of the Conan books as a youth, this is without a doubt, the best version of Conan that has ever been written since Howard. If there is one Conan book to read, besides the Howard entries, this is the one.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Jack's Magic Beans; Author: Visit Amazon's Brian Keene Page; Review: Readers should know I am reviewing this book based on quality not quantity, as every book should be based. This novella is actually closer to a novelette or long short story, but still manages to pack a hell of a punch. This Deadite Press version contains four other stories that are very much worth reading. Jack's Magic Bean's has a simple, streamlined premise, and is one of Brian Keene's more violent stories. The little twist about the "beans" will keep you alert and nearly just as paranoid as the characters. This could have easily been expanded to a longer work, but I'm guessing the subject matter was a bit too close to Keene's zombies and he didn't want to travel down that road again. The four short stories that follow "Jack's Magic Beans" are a great compliment to the main story. Every tale is viciously brutal in its own way, and although most readers will finish this book in one or two sittings, I highly recommend it. The author commentary and insight after each story was also a nice bonus to the collection. The cherry on top is the gory Deadite cover, by artist Alan M. Clark. Buy it.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mama Fish; Author: Visit Amazon's Rio Youers Page; Review: Author Rio Youers is a relatively new writer on the scene, but has amassed quite a few accolades and critical acclaim. "Mama Fish" is a novella full of vibrant ideas and energy, carefully threaded with a considerable danger and a growing curiosity that will have readers flipping pages as fast as they humanly can. The story is fresh and original and you will find yourself completely submerged in the familiar, yet strange, world of our main characters. Things do fall into place as the astute reader might expect, but that doesn't cloud the enjoyment factor or experience. My only big disappointment was the cover of the book. It simply gave away too many details that you encounter late in the tale. Although beautifully painted, this was an unfortunate marketing decision. I can't go back in time and erase what I now know, but I wonder how much more exciting and mysterious this book would have been if I had not seen the cover. Oh, well. "Mama Fish" is still a hell of a read and without a doubt, I will be reading more of Rio Youers in the future.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Like Porno for Psychos; Author: Visit Amazon's Wrath James White Page; Review: 4 AND 1/2 STARS This collection by hardcore writer Wrath James White is exactly what you expect and it succeeds on every level in every way. It's over before you know it and you will find yourself gritting your teeth, frustrated that it has come to an end so quickly. The stories move at a fast pace and are very different from each other, so you will always be entertained. The writing is easy and smooth, but at times, overly graphic to a point where I found myself laughing out loud, and even texting friends certain passages from the book to try and shock them. That was a lot of fun! Wrath blends horror and eroticism with equal measure in this book, and people not used to extreme stories might want to stay away. However, if you are interested in this subject matter or have prior experience with Wrath in the past (or authors like Edward Lee or Bryan Smith) you will be in hardcore heaven. Highlights for me include, "Like Peyote For Pimps", "Nothing Better To Do", and "After The Cure". I did feel like Deadite Press could have added a few more stories to the collection, but for what is there, it still remains high on my list for a top 10 release in 2011. The cover, by artist Suzzan Blac, is one of the goriest I've seen in years.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dead Beyond the Fence: A Novel of the Zombie Apocalypse; Author: Brian C. Kaufman; Review: 3 AND 1/2 STARS This latest zombie entry was quite a pleasant surprise. Although author Brian Kaufman doesn't really add anything new to the zombie mythology, he writes some of the most natural and realistic dialogue I've read in quite a while. Instead of gore and violence, Kaufman plays to his strength of solid character development, particularly the two main characters, Kevin and Angel. While the world of an apocalyptic zombie invasion is usually set on a massive scale, this author mainly focuses the events in one building location with various characters working on separate possibilities to cure the undead virus. A pressure cooker of internal conflicts arise between the survivors and begins to boil over. A few typos aside, this is a well written and edited story. With the exception of a sudden argument about halfway through the book that I felt was a bit unmotivated, the story felt very organic and believable. As long as an author can submerge me into their world and make me believe the events are truly happening, I consider that a success. Could this story have been longer? Yes. Could it have added a more original spin to the hundreds of other zombie stories that have already been published? Sure. But in the end, it's about entertainment, too. And I was never bored. Kaufman keeps the scenes short and really cuts to the heart of the relationships in a refreshingly concise way. I also liked the way Kaufman portrays the zombies, describing that the older they get, the more they fall apart and even die off naturally. This is something that might be obvious, but not a lot of authors touch on this specific trait, which makes everything more believable and offers a glimmer of hope to our heroes. As a bonus for the novel, the publisher includes the sequel and much darker story, "Dread Appetites", a novella that takes place half a year after the events in "Dead Beyond The Fence". While I was glad to read more of the characters, especially since Kaufman left things so vague at the end in the first story, I don't think he was as inspired with this novella. The writing felt as if he skipped over important parts and the descriptions had me flipping back to make sure I had not missed something. He had one character dying that really felt out of place with no real reason as to why. In one page, fairly healthy and alert, the next page dead. I kept going, huh? The tone of this novella also seemed very different than the first story, moving at a faster, but more inconsistent pace. The remainder of the story pulled together and was satisfying overall, but it was not as good as the main story. Although I enjoyed "Dread Appetites", it seemed to betray the character's priority for a good defense and self protection. Kevin makes a few choices that felt inconsistent with his prior decisions. But I can certainly believe that people change drastically trying to survive in a world of zombies, so; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ghouls of the Miskatonic: Book One of The Dark Waters Trilogy; Author: Visit Amazon's Graham McNeill Page; Review: Inspired by the hugely popular board game, "Arkham Horror", and based in the world created by H.P. Lovecraft, "Ghouls Of The Miskatonic" is an extremely well written novel published by game company, Fantasy Flight Games. While the flavor and tone of the book is consistent with many of the attributes of the game and Lovecraft's mythology, the story felt like it could have used a touch more editing to keep a faster pace. New York Times' bestselling author, Graham McNeill, is a tremendous writer, but there were scenes that I though, although beautifully written, could have been trimmed down by 25% or more. The sequence in the speakeasy club, the Commercial, could have easily been cut in half. After all, readers for this book want as much suspense, atmosphere, and Cthulhu-action as possible, and can do without the minutia. I was surprised at the large number of characters in this book. But McNeill describes them so uniquely that I was never confused at the players, each one richly defined and three dimensional. The rotation of the character's scenes also helps move along the narrative considerably. McNeill's spot-on descriptions and dialogue from the mid 1920's feels very authentic and really helps to submerge the reader into his world. Until I reached the middle of the book, much of the story reads like it is aimed at young adults, and although I like my horror more graphic and intense, I didn't mind the lighter PG-13 feel. However, the mystery regarding the identity of the robed villains was terribly predictable. "Ghouls Of The Miskatonic" is book one of a trilogy, with a different author for each installment. The second book, "Dance Of The Damned", is penned by Alan Bligh. While I wouldn't tell people to run out and buy this book, it is certainly not a bad read. Once again, the quality of writing and prose is of a very high caliber. So if you have a hunger for stories involving Lovecraft mythology and the Old Ones, or are obsessed with the board game, "Arkham Horror", you will certainly have a good time with this. Just know that it's not as dark as it should be and more suited for young adults.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Piecemeal June; Author: Visit Amazon's Jordan Krall Page; Review: Jordan Krall is one of the more popular and successful authors in the new bizarro genre. "Piecemeal June" is my first experience with his writing, and I can tell that I'll be reading more of his work. Although he doesn't have as many original ideas per page as, say, Carlton Mellick, he does dish out enough wildly humorous inventions and concepts to make it a very quick read and keep you entertained. I like the pace and tone of this story, but there were a few times that certain elements didn't seem to connect with the narrative. Writing random weird happenings just for the sake of weirdness is a lazy writing choice. Everything should be there for a reason, regardless of how subtle or obvious. The more connections made through characters and actions the more the reader will come to care about the story. Some elements and details returned near the end, but other than some vague reasons why, I guess only Jordan Krall knows. While this book is not a complete success, it is a solid bizarro story, and I would certainly recommend it to others. For adults only, of course.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Muscle Memory (New Bizarro Author); Author: Visit Amazon's Steve Lowe Page; Review: 4 AND STARS For an author's first published book, Steve Lowe is off to a mighty impressive start. Mr. Lowe takes the rather common theme of body switching and adds some very cool and fascinating twists. So as to not spoil anything, I won't go into story detail, but I can assure you that you will most likely enjoy the hell out of this book. The details between the sexes are spot on, and the self-deprecating humor by the protagonist is a riot. All this is balanced nicely with some very touching moments and surprising depth. Smart, fast, and laugh-out-loud funny, "Muscle Memory" is definitely one of the better bizarro books that I've read. Since this story never really gets too weird or abstract, I would say this is the perfect book for new readers interested in experiencing what bizarro is all about. It has a mainstream idea along with a refreshing narrative, but at the same time, manages to infuse plenty of bizarro elements as well. This is an easily digestible and thoroughly entertaining book. Without question, I look forward to more work from Steve Lowe.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Morbidly Obese Ninja; Author: Visit Amazon's Carlton Mellick III Page; Review: This bizarro book is not only the best thing author Carlton Mellick has written, it's the best bizarro book I've ever read. Full of so many incredible concepts and original ideas, it just reconfirms Mellick's jaw-dropping talent and his unofficial title as the leader of the bizarro genre. The obese ninja, on the surface, seems like a funny idea. But Mellick backs this idea up with not only why he's so large and how he's so large, but goes to great detail how he uses his size and weight to his advantage. This story also has some fascinating characters, vivid battle scenes, and some truly heartbreaking moments that had me tearing up. Mellick jams this little book full of emotions, suspense, origins, and a completely unique world that will keep you glued to each page. I also found the ending to be as perfect as I would ever want in a book. I absolutely love it! Just when I think this author can't get any better, he raises the bar once again. I really hope Mellick gets a chance to come to the east coast for a convention or something, because I'd love to get some of my books autographed! For the bizarro genre, "The Morbidly Obese Ninja" gets my highest recommendation. Even for a newbie, this is a perfect example of how amazing and creative bizarro writing can be. I'll be reading this one again for sure. Don't miss out on this gem.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Primitive; Author: Visit Amazon's J. F. Gonzalez Page; Review: 3 AND 1/2 STARS J.F. Gonzalez, author of the brutal classic, "Survivor", creates his own spin on the zombie genre. I won't give anything away, but what Mr. Gonzalez does here is very different than almost anything that I've read before. He clearly had a cool idea and pulled out all the stops, throwing a rather normal family in the middle of a nail-biting and very dangerous new world that you definitely won't see coming. While I did find a few areas that could have used a touch more editing (discovering some repetitive sentences) I found the narrative fluid and very fast paced. There were many moments while reading it that I felt considerable anxiety from the tension Gonzalez created. And that's not easy to do. One of my problems with the book had to do with Wesley's character and his prior knowledge of the plague situation and the fact that he didn't realize what was happening sooner seemed a little forced. Not to mention the coincidence of the family running into him randomly. But I suppose if that choice was not made, the audience would be as in the dark as the main characters. Whether that would have made a better story, who knows? The character of Heather was also too overdone in her racism, and I felt that if she was so against people different from her race, she never would have stayed with such a diverse group in the first place. Those small issues aside, I had a great time reading this intense and many times, shockingly unpredictable story. I really appreciated that Gonzalez decided to branch well away from the common zombie theme and come up with something, whether you like it or not, insanely original as to the reasoning of why the primitives are mutating and the overall roots of evil. A bit far-fetched, perhaps, but the author backs it up with some credible history and mythology. "Primitive" is yet another solid outing from J.F. Gonzalez and gets my recommendation.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hexed (Iron Druid Chronicles); Author: Visit Amazon's Kevin Hearne Page; Review: "Hexed" is the second book in the Iron Druid Chronicles series by newcomer, Kevin Hearne, and is a noticeable improvement (a 3.0 rating) over the first book (a 2.5 rating). Scenes feel more organic, move faster, and overall, seem to have more focus. The action, for the most part, is clear and engaging. The dialogue, as usual, is amusing and occasionally quite funny. One annoying element that author Hearne used numerous times was clichd baseball references when the main character, Atticus, attempts to calm his sexual thoughts. Thinking about baseball statistics and strategies in order to combat and control one's sexual feelings is the oldest, most overused example in modern literature and film. I just shook my head in utter disappointment that Hearne couldn't come up with something more original. Anything would have been better than that. Seriously. On the positive side, nothing in the story felt too extraneous and the author is adept at moving on before things stagnate. The highlight, for me, was a rather embarrassing situation between a naked Atticus and his elderly female neighbor when Atticus' lawyer happened to drop by. Another impressive scene involves a bow and arrow fight with a demon that happens early on. Quite enjoyable. As for the series, it is shaping up nicely and with "Hexed" being an improvement over "Hounded", I'll take a chance on reading the third book, "Hammered".; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Midnight on Mourn Street; Author: Visit Amazon's Christopher Conlon Page; Review: Christopher Conlon is my surprise discovery of the year and "Midnight On Mourn Street" is the best book I've read all year. Being Conlon's first novel makes this accomplishment even more impressive. Conlon is well known in the poetry world and has some serious anthologies and tribute books under his belt (for Richard Matheson, etc.), but his fiction is top notch and really sets himself apart from nearly every other author working today. This is one of the finest debut novels I've ever read and I can't wait to see what else he writes. Conlon has a wonderful way of dropping just enough mysterious crumbs of emotional and story value to keep you invested for the entire journey. His dialogue is so natural and perfect you simply lose yourself in the characters, feeling like a voyeur in the room, as vulnerable as the characters themselves. The author treats each character with respect and dignity, but never shies away from dealing with the difficult moments. You never feel cheated or that Conlon takes the easy way out. With such a specific and truthful vision, I sometimes wondered if this story was an autobiography or was told to him by a close friend. I realize it is just fiction, but if felt incredibly authentic. Not so much a horror novel as a dark, suspenseful drama. When reading this book, I couldn't believe how emotional I was getting, not to mention the physical aspects. My chest felt tight, my throat was dry, and my anxiety level and worry for the characters were such that I found myself not being able to do anything but continue to read the book deep into the night when I should have been asleep hours earlier. This is one of those novels that not only earn my very highest recommendation, but one that I will revisit in the future. I've already ordered his new books, "A Matrix Of Angels" and "Lullaby For The Rain Girl". "Midnight On Mourn Street" is a memorable and heartbreaking experience.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Asylum; Author: Visit Amazon's Mark Allan Gunnells Page; Review: 3 AND 1/2 STARS I remember reading thousands (literally) of posts by this author on a past horror community chat site a few years ago and thinking to myself, it this guy would spend as much time writing fiction as he does posting, he would have a body of work to rival Stephen King! But it looks like he's finally put pen to paper, or at least fingers to keyboard, and crafted a fairly enjoyable zombie tale. Centering the action in and around a gay club with gay characters was certainly different than the other zombie stories I've read. The fact that the characters were gay didn't change their situation fighting against the undead - the rules still apply, no matter your sexual preference. Gunnells' strength is in his character development and he balances each of their personal stories with almost equal importance, like a good Robert Altman ensemble film. I do feel there might have been one or two overly preachy moments about gay rights and society's unfair prejudice against them, but those instances were brief and fortunately didn't slow down the story too much. Besides the three typos I found, I would have liked the publisher to have printed the book's title and author on the spine. Granted, this book is thin, but publishers such as Deadite Press have even thinner titles and still manage to print on the spine. I have thousands - yes, thousands - of books and its hard enough to keep track of them as it is, much less have blank spines. That being said, the cover is very effective and chilling and I give them props for the overall design. "The Zombie Feed" logo looks great, too. While the story of "Asylum" is fairly standard for regular zombie readers, Gunnells never stumbles or holds back on eliminating the characters he so carefully creates in very brutal ways. I have to give credit to Jason Sizemore and his company, Apex Publications, for choosing this title to kick off their new imprint, The Zombie Feed. I look forward to seeing other work by Mark Gunnells and hope he dives into some longer form fiction.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Blood Born; Author: Visit Amazon's Matthew Warner Page; Review: "Blood Born" is my first experience with author Matthew Warner. The publisher was offering signed copies if you pre-order, and since I like supporting the small press and had heard good things about the author, I bought one. While I think many of the complimentary blurbs from other horror authors and critics are fairly accurate, I was not as in love with "Blood Born" as everyone else. It was still, however, an entertaining experience. Although the reading itself was very simple and the prose fairly standard, the upside was that this technique gave the story a momentum that read easily at a fast pace. The first third of the book is quite engrossing but I would have preferred a stronger emphasis on atmosphere and suspense. Actions just seem to happen without too many genuine or organic scares. There is a point where all of a sudden, things get pretty crazy and I couldn't help but think of the phrase "jumping the shark" with the story's turn of events. "Blood Born" goes from a small investigative story about a teenage rape to a national monster invasion in a matter of pages. While I appreciate the scope of what Warner was trying to do, it somehow didn't seem very authentic that no one spotted these creatures earlier and that everyone was taken by surprise. The creatures kept popping up more randomly and faster than a child's Whack-A-Mole game. But hey, it's a wild, crazy horror novel, so I brushed that aside and had fun with it. A few other points seemed a bit far-fetched, however. The character of Randall moved illegally through an empty Post Office distribution center in the middle of the night with no worries about the security cameras? This is a government facility, after all. Big Brother is always watching. A few scenes could have used a touch more editing as well. After reading about Margaret worrying over her missing daughter for three or four pages, you get the idea. Of course she's worried, her daughter is in serious danger. But things I did enjoy were the science aspect of the story and the fast pregnancies. Warner also surprised me with some unpredictable deaths and some amusingly graphic descriptions. After reading the five hundred pages, I found the ending slightly too convenient and easy for the characters and the resolution with Nick's character left me scratching my head. Still, the book was packed with enough energy to never be boring and I'll certainly not hesitate reading another Matthew Warner novel.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: His Pain; Author: Visit Amazon's Wrath James White Page; Review: Although this book was written a number of years ago and published by small press publisher, Delirium Books, this is probably my favorite story by Wrath James White. He takes a basic premise and runs with it to completion in the most hardcore and visceral way. I honestly believe he has now taken the crown away from author Edward Lee as the new king of hardcore horror fiction. You never know what to expect from one moment to the next, and as events progress into the most horrific and disturbing ways, you tell yourself that it surely cannot get any worse, only to be wrong once again. I think if you can handle the sickening brutality of this story, you can pretty much stomach anything. But the difference with Wrath James White, is that he writes with meaning and intelligence rather than trying to focus on just shock value. It's shocking, sure, but that is secondary to the story and characters. The only flaw I found in the book was a couple of unfortunate typos that Deadite Press should have caught, especially since this is a reprint and they had ample time to correct these mistakes. Other than that, I consider this to be Wrath's masterpiece and would steer any horror fan who seeks the most brutal experience possible, to pick this book up. But be warned. Although this is not scary in a frightening sense, it is as savage and perverse as you can get.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: That Which Should Not Be; Author: Visit Amazon's Brett J. Talley Page; Review: 4 AND 1/2 STARS This Lovecraftian story is the debut novel of author Brett J. Talley and is one of the better first novels I've read. Talley's atmospheric style certainly doesn't feel like a first time writer and I was even more impressed with how frightening it was to read. It's not often I look up from a horror novel to peer around the room or through open doorways because of a strange noise or fleeting shadow I caught from the corner of my eye. This book caused me to do that and I'm not ashamed to admit it. It has some genuinely scary moments that surprised me and caught me off guard. At just over a lean 250 pages, "That Which Should Not Be" has the feel of an epic, taking the reader into the deep woods on a hunting expedition, to a monastery, an insane asylum, and out to sea on a cargo ship. The format reminded me of Creepshow, with numerous stories tied together by a wraparound main story. I found each story to be quite captivating and realistic. Talley did a great job of just giving the reader enough information to maintain the suspense throughout each tale. I am definitely looking forward to reading more by this author and don't let the strong Lovecraft mythos scare you away. Lovecraft or not, it is very well written and dripping with atmosphere and should easily please fans and newcomers alike.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Just Like Hell; Author: Visit Amazon's Nate Southard Page; Review: Nate Southard is a new horror writer on the scene with a lot of buzz and I was very excited to dive into some of his work. After reading "Just Like Hell", I can happily confirm that the praise is accurate and earned. While the story and setup might feel familiar to many genre fans, it is the way in which Southard moves through the different perspectives that gives this story a fresh feel. His economy of words pulls you along at a rapid pace, tossing you into the center of violence like some out-of-control storm. If I had any criticisms about the book, it would be some of the interactions between our protagonist, Dillion, and our main villain, Kevin. The background of the characters tells us that the two have been close friends since grade school. But the dialogue, at times, did not feel as authentic as you might have expected from lifelong buddies. Even when things become nasty, there was a distance and unfamiliarity between them that seemed awkward. Perhaps a shared detail from their past would have organically helped to fuse their relationship more. Not as gruesome as some of the writings by Edward Lee, Bryan Smith, or Wrath James White, this was still a brutal read and maintained its intensity until the very end. The four bonus short stories were also quite enjoyable, with my favorite being, "Miss Kenner and Me". I will certainly be seeking out more from this up-and-coming writer.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Waiting Out Winter; Author: Visit Amazon's Kelli Owen Page; Review: 4 AND 1/2 STARS Kelli Owen is one of those new writers that really deserve all the acclaim she is garnering. "Waiting Out Winter" is a beautifully painted landscape of apocalyptic destruction on a small scale. Her concept of transmission and contagion feels all too real and I kept shaking my head while reading it, knowing how easy this fiction could become America's reality some day. Situations and relationships continue to build as author Owen throws curve balls and unique scenarios that keep you on your feet. While I wouldn't categorize this as straight horror, I would say that it is a dark drama with elements of horror, but fans of both genres will appreciate the mature and sensitive handling of the material. One of my favorite scenes - without giving anything away - is a simple non-verbal moment between to strangers that have something very powerful in common. Owen writes, "Neither man ever said a word, but as anxiety shifted their weight from foot to foot they had managed to gradually move from standing across from each other to standing next to each other." A tender and subtle scene that Owen really nailed. Three or four typos aside, this was one of the better novellas I've read in a long time. I look forward to Owen's longer, novel-length work in the near future.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Menstruating Mall; Author: Visit Amazon's Carlton Mellick III Page; Review: This book is probably closer to a reading a dream than anything in print I have come across before. At first, things appear specific, yet with closer inspection become vague. You seem to grasp it and then it slips away. Seemingly familiar people suddenly change into strangers. This book definitely belongs in the Bizarro genre and it is quite a ride, accomplished in classic Mellick style. The social commentary is very amusing, but the author dives into a lot more areas and, by the end, somehow manages to pull it off with impressive fashion. Mellick describes the book as his homage to Luis Bunuel's "The Exterminating Angel", Agatha Christie's "And Then There Were None" (aka Ten Little Indians), and "The Breakfast Club". While this isn't my favorite by Carlton Mellick, it is certainly worth reading and a nice addition to his eclectic body of work.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Benjamin's Parasite; Author: Visit Amazon's Jeff Strand Page; Review: 2 AND 1/2 STARS Author Jeff Strand's book, DWELLER, was my favorite book of 2010. PRESSURE, another thriller by Strand, was quite excellent as well. So I was looking forward to this book and put it high on my reading list. But as each page turned, I found myself shaking my head in confusion. Nothing seemed original to me and for nearly 160 pages the character's "parasite" did nothing more than give him a bad stomach ache. It put a thought or two in his mind and gave him odd cravings, but nothing I haven't read before. The random road trip felt like a stalling technique by Strand and the cast of villains were so dumb, it was physically painful to read their dialogue. While I admit I'm not a fan of humor in my horror or thrillers, this wasn't even funny for me. There were sporadic moments here and there, but for the most part, this story just didn't work for me. The characters seemed shallow, steered by awkward decisions, and the action was bland. This book just was not funny enough to be a comedy, not suspenseful enough to be scary, and not gory enough to be gross by any horror standards. I'm not sure what inspired Strand to dedicate a couple months to writing this. I hope his newer work is a return to the great fiction I know he can produce. For an author that is so talented, this was a letdown.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Tooth and Nail; Author: Craig Dilouie; Review: This is my first experience reading author Craig Dilouie and I was pretty impressed. Out of the dozens of zombie novels I've read over the years, this was the first to really focus on the military aspect of the plague (other than Jonathan Maberry's PATIENT ZERO, but that concentrated more on an isolated covert operation and included only a sprinkling of zombie action) Usually the military is used in the periphery, but in TOOTH AND NAIL, Dilouie drags the reader not only into the middle of the action, but into the minds of the soldier. Like any group of people, you have the good and bad, the courageous and cowardly. This book keeps you on your toes, because at any moment, a character you've been following for hundreds of pages could die quickly and horribly. It is a tense, medically plausible, and brutally told tale. My only criticisms are that, as a New Yorker, I didn't feel as if the author captured the locations or feel of the Big Apple as well as he could have, and I would have liked a bit more depth and insight into the characters. But I would still recommend this book to horror and zombie fans alike.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: A Matrix of Angels; Author: Visit Amazon's Christopher Conlon Page; Review: Author Christopher Conlon's debut novel, MIDNIGHT ON MOURN STREET, was my favorite novel of the year. This second novel, A MATRIX OF ANGELS, is just as powerful and heartbreaking and in my top 10 for 2011. Conlon's writing walks a fine line between a dark drama, a thriller, and horror. It is consistently addictive, engaging, and beautifully written. The author's poetry background is the foundation for his smooth prose and carefully constructed sentences. Conlon has wonderful character instincts and writes like a polished veteran. He has quickly climbed to the top of my must read list and is now one of my favorite authors. With back-to-back efforts like this, I am simply blown away by this man's talent. This novel gets one of my highest recommendations. As a bonus, it also includes the short story that the novel was based on. Buy it. You won't be disappointed.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Girl in the Woods; Author: Visit Amazon's David Jack Bell Page; Review: David Bell's second novel, The Girl In The Woods, has technically better writing, but it did not interest me as much as his debut, The Condemned. For me, the only part of the story that felt unique were the scenes in the woods and cabin involving Roger and the mythology of the Pioneer Club. The surrounding plots with Diana and Professor Ludwig felt a bit forced and predictable. The only real scares occur with Roger's character, and when the author shifts to someone else, the suspense quickly dissipates. Early on, so much detail is revealed about Roger, we know his limitations for harming others and any possible danger evaporates. The author begins to dive into some dark and disturbing matter when Roger is first introduced, but when the story moves to other characters, we never really continue that creepy atmosphere. The very "R rated" tone of Roger's world slides into an easy "PG-13" mode and contrasts awkwardly with the other parts of the story. I also think this book would have been much more effective as a novella than a novel. There seemed to be a lot of filler throughout the writing which drained the tension in the narrative and slowed it down. The ending, as well, felt a bit anticlimactic and the resolution with Kay Todd just seemed to fizzle out. These issues aside, there is no doubt David Bell is maturing as a writer and I look forward to more work by this horror newcomer.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Thief of Broken Toys; Author: Visit Amazon's Tim Lebbon Page; Review: Tim Lebbon, author of numerous horror and fantasy books, merges his talents into a dark adult fairytale. The Thief of Broken Toys is a painful exploration into the loss of a child and the aftermath of guilt that the parents are left feeling. For the most part, it was beautifully crafted and balanced with just enough hope to keep the main character afloat. Never overly sentimental and always honest, this story was a touching but sad novella that ranks up near the top of Lebbon's best work. The perspectives from first person to third person were a bit jarring at first, and I don't think it completely worked, but the writing eventually fell into a comfortable rhythm that had me quite engaged. And while the ending was not as satisfying as I was expecting, the bigger picture Lebbon paints is what makes reading it worthwhile. As I've said before in other reviews, Lebbon's strength is the novella format, much more than his longer novels. This book is a great example of that, where Lebbon nearly hits a homerun.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Flesh Eaters; Author: Visit Amazon's Joe McKinney Page; Review: 3 AND 1/2 STARS Joe McKinney is one of the fastest growing stars in the horror fiction scene. His extensive background in law enforcement gives him an edge in realism that is put to good use throughout his stories. His dialogue and action ring true and always feel natural. With Flesh Eaters, McKinney pools his considerable talent into a substantially entertaining horror/thriller novel involving America's new favorite horror villain... the zombie. This prequel to McKinney's Dead City shows the origin and spread of the disease in Texas after a series of powerful hurricanes decimate the Houston area. The atmosphere and buildup to the zombie outbreak is nicely controlled, focusing at first on our cast of main characters. But when events rise above the boiling point, the story takes off at a deadly and furious pace. The one thing that bugged me was the odd shift in the character of Captain Mark Shaw. His development from a man of dignity, honor, and one who wishes to uphold his family name to what eventually occurs did not feel honest or consistent. He wants to risk his life to save tens of thousands of strangers but doesn't even blink at wanting to kill his colleague and friend? Did I miss something? That aside, except for a few too many coincidences here and there, and a handful of typos, Flesh Eaters is a fun and entertaining read, practically guaranteed to satisfy horror lovers and zombie fanatics alike. Conceptually, while there is nothing groundbreaking in Flesh Eaters, the story hits all the right elements for an impressive and gripping thrill-ride. Just think of it like a big budget Hollywood horror blockbuster. Personally, I'm looking forward to seeing McKinney publish a signed, limited edition in the near future. It should sell well, especially with his quickly growing fan-base. Be sure to check out the author's website to read all his books in chronological order, as the publisher jumped around in releasing them.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Take the Long Way Home; Author: Visit Amazon's Brian Keene Page; Review: Author Brian Keene's long out of print novella, Take The Long Way Home, is now available in paperback from Deadite Press. An apocalyptic story that takes place over one long day is chock full of ideas about the end of times. Keene and his characters move from one theory to another, infusing the story with religious-based mythology and fresh new insight into what might happen when the day of reckoning arrives. I really enjoyed this book and the short journey the characters take along the way. Keene peppers the narrative with little clues as to what is happening, but it is not until later that the full picture becomes clear. My only gripe is that I wish this was a novel instead of a novella in order to stay in the world longer. I hope someday Keene adds to this tale or delves into this type of material again. Recommended for horror fans and anyone fascinated with apocalyptic stories.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: You Can't Stop Me; Author: Visit Amazon's Max Allan Collins Page; Review: I've heard of Max Allen Collins a lot over the years. His movies, the adaptations, and his crime novels with the Hard Case Crime publishing imprint. The premise of this story really intrigued me and I thought I've give it a try. Once the narrative gets moving, I felt the team of experts that were brought together by Harrow was a bit too clichd with their multi-cultural heritage. It almost felt like a spoof; the black lesbian, the Asian jokester, the shy sexy computer nerd, the tough muscle, etc. Just when I started to regret investing my time in this book, some impressive and brutal events would occur to keep me hooked. While most of the story built to what you would expect, the last third was considerable strong and really ramped up the intensity and danger. It was very entertaining and the authors managed to even include an extra clever ending after the climax. This strong last third made me happy I stuck with the book. The author's knowledge of the inner workings of a film production were quite accurate and the details were on point. I'm definitely interested in the next story in this apparent series. Authors Collins and Clemmens know how to deliver an engaging thriller.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Childhood's End; Author: Visit Amazon's Arthur C. Clarke Page; Review: I've heard from many of my closest friends that this is one of the best science fiction novels ever written. That statement, along with my love for 2001: A Space Odyssey, made this a must read. I did not want to put this book off any longer, and, having read it, I am certainly glad I did. Author Arthur C. Clarke is not only a great writer, but a wonderfully inventive storyteller. Combine that with his brilliant knowledge of space and science and you have a book as close to a masterpiece as you are likely to come across. Written in 1952, Clarke talks about so many aspects of science and our society in this book that have now come to fruition that it is truly frightening. Over sixty years later, I was amazed at Clarke's accuracy and foresight. I did not, however, expect the book to be as depressing as it was. Although beautifully poetic, the concepts the author paints are extremely dark and ominous. The timeline and epic scope of the story and the weaving of characters were incredibly effective. But as much as I enjoyed the book, I don't think I'll be reading it again anytime soon. I intend to read more of Clarke's fiction, but I definitely need some space from this author after such a somber experience.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Haunted; Author: Visit Amazon's Bentley Little Page; Review: 2 AND 1/2 STARS With The Haunted, Bentley Little has returned to his supernatural roots, but unlike many of his great novels, this one felt a bit like he was shooting off the hip, with no real path or focus. Some scenes were truly inventive and creepy, but not much connected organically for me. There were too many coincidences and the fact that the family did not take action sooner just had me shaking my head. Author Little tried to justify a lot of the holes in the story, but it still felt too forced for my taste. While this is probably a good horror novel compared to most of what is currently available, Little has done so much better that it was a bit of a disappointment. There were numerous scares that felt stale because of how overused they are in other haunted house books and movies. His characters and overall story were solid, but the book lacked real atmosphere and consistency. Many strange elements were introduced but the author never followed up to explain or even try to connect the pieces. The ending, although emotional, felt anti-climactic and rushed. This book was a slight stumble for Little, but with his solid track record, I'm sure he will be back on track with the next one.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Cannibals of Candyland; Author: Visit Amazon's Carlton Mellick III Page; Review: 4 AND 1/2 STARS Author Carlton Mellick has once again delivered with The Cannibals Of Candyland. This is a completely original, sexually twisted, no-holds-barred tale as only Bizarro genre leader Mellick can write. He has more ideas in a single chapter than many novels have in its entirety. Each character is so unique in Mellick's fresh landscape you can't help but be swept away into his seductively dangerous world. It was like stepping into a macabre Willy Wonka nightmare. Each book I read by Mellick feels so fresh and creative, I constantly marvel at this man's seemingly endless talent. This is one of the more enjoyable and accessible Bizarro books for any newcomers to the Bizarro genre to try out. Highly recommended.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Colorado Kid; Author: Visit Amazon's Stephen King Page; Review: I supposed this book will polarize many readers. They will either love it or hate it. Personally, I quite enjoyed it. The best way to go into the book is not to have any expectations. Begin reading and let Stephen King take you on a journey. This is one author that you can trust to deliver. Although I was not in love with many of his recent books, I still respect his mastery of the craft. The Colorado Kid had a lot more hits than misses for me and was one of the better reads of recent King releases. This short crime mystery is published under the Hard Case Crime label has some very memorable characters and dialogue. As it begins to unfold, the story becomes more and more fascinating. Some will argue that King's weakness has always been his endings, and for those readers, this book might top their list. However, as King writes in the afterword, it was the journey that I enjoyed and did not need the ending tied up so neatly. I felt more than satisfied with King's little tale. One's imagination, the theater of the mind, can be just as effective, if not more, than having everything spelled out. So, for me, this was a delightful read that I whole-heartedly recommend. Just keep an open mind, don't struggle, and let the story pull you along.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bottled Abyss; Author: Visit Amazon's Benjamin Kane Ethridge Page; Review: 3 AND 1/2 STARS Author Benjamin Kan Ethridge won the Bram Stoker award for his first novel, Black And Orange, and he is one of the stronger up-and-coming writers in the genre. Ethridge always seems to produce very original, daring, and thought provoking work. His new book, Bottled Abyss, is no exception. The concept was quite original and shifted from various perspectives as the novel unfolded, smoothly mixing elements of Greek mythology into a gritty modern adult fairytale. The dark and macabre tone throughout was a welcome one as Ethridge managed to consistently infuse his own rules and mythology into the narrative. It definitely takes the reader on paths you are not expecting and has some really great ideas involving the rules of the coin and how people die. The Fury interludes and perspective changes were one of the big highlights for me and were extremely effective. Besides a few typos, one of the problems I did have was that it could have used a bit more atmosphere, especially in the first two thirds. The action moved fast and clean, but actual scares were few and far between. I would have liked to see more emphasis in that area. That aside, the book was an entertaining read that moves at a nice pace, delving into some painful emotions and solid character development. If you are looking for something other than the standard run-of-the-mill horror story, this book is just what the doctor ordered.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Calibre: A Novel (Inspector Brant Series); Author: Visit Amazon's Ken Bruen Page; Review: 4 AND 1/2 STARS For me, author Ken Bruen, along with Tom Piccirilli, is one of the best crime noir / thriller writers working today. Calibre is chock full of outrageously interesting characters, crisp dialogue, and unpredictable situations. While the central premise involves a killer taking out people in London who publically express bad manners, multiple other storylines involving shady police and their personal lives create a stylized and interwoven, almost Robert Altman-like technique. While Bruen's fast pace and short scenes keep the reader blazing through the narrative, some of the English terms threw me off here and there. No doubt I would appreciate it more if I lived in England. Fans of crime noir and thrillers not aware of Bruen, should seek him out as soon as possible. I'll be picking up more for sure.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Floating Staircase; Author: Visit Amazon's Ronald Malfi Page; Review: 4 AND 1/2 STARS Floating Staircase is a dark and deeply moving story that was, many times, painful to read. Characters go through so much emotion and torment from various experiences in their lives, and the details seem so pitch perfect, you almost believe you are reading a biographical account of actual people. If there was any doubt before, with Floating Staircase, Ronald Malfi has certainly matured into a wonderful writer and one of the most consistent storytellers in dark fiction today. While I would categorize this book as more of a dark drama with supernatural elements than a horror novel, fans of both should find plenty to enjoy here. Creepy atmosphere, vivid descriptions, and layered, believable characters are clearly the author's strong points. The story builds at a restrained but consistent pace as Malfi drops just enough bread crumbs to keep the reader eagerly turning the pages. This is not a bloody book, but, rather, a subtle descent into a disturbing mystery. Floating Staircase may not reinvent the wheel, but it was still a fully satisfying and emotional read. I'd put this writing up against the very best in the business. I highly recommend this without any reservation.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Puppet Graveyard; Author: Visit Amazon's Tim Curran Page; Review: Tim Curran continues to write delightfully grotesque works of horror that cement him as one of the brightest stars in modern horror. Puppet Graveyard is an addictive journey into the blackest of evils and corrupted souls. There is no doubt about Curran's love for macabre and disturbing fiction. Nearly every page oozes with his almost giddy Lovecraftian descriptions. For new readers, this is a great book to get a taste of the author's sensibilities. Due to the shorter length than his other books, less time is spent on character and more on story and plot. But it moves so fast that you hardly notice. Like a great episode of Tales From The Crypt, Puppet Graveyard is a guilty pleasure you are sure to enjoy.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Damnable; Author: Visit Amazon's Hank Schwaeble Page; Review: 3 AND 1/2 STARS Author Hank Schwaeble won the Bram Stoker award for best first novel for Damnable, and for the most part, it is well deserved. It's original premise, some outrageous gore, and many unpredictable moments kept me reading late into the night. While not as frightening as I think it could have been if more atmosphere was added, Schwaeble keeps the reader hooked by revealing a few pieces to the puzzle with each chapter, until finally, the complete puzzle is revealed in all its evil glory. Some of the military psychology Schwaeble writes of the main character's thought process was quite fascinating and gave an authenticity that really added to the protagonist's decisions. There were a few coincidences that bothered me, but for the most part, it was an enjoyable read. A bit slow in the middle, it picks up nicely and carries you to its violent end. If you are into demons and the occult and like a little action with your horror, Damnable is certainly something different to try out.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Torn (Novella (Cemetery Dance)); Author: Visit Amazon's Lee Thomas Page; Review: I was totally blown away by this book. It had me racing through the pages, completely hooked to its original story. Completely unpredictable, I absolutely loved it. Author Lee Thomas has an amazing economy of words, giving you just enough description without overdoing it. Chock full of shocks, deep emotions, and real human pain, Torn is, for me, as good as horror gets. Each scene is so well constructed and plotted, I was in awe. I was also glad not to have known anything about the story before reading it, for I think that really added to my enjoyment. Needless to say, I will be rabidly seeking out this author's other work. This is an outstanding effort and one I will not forget for a long time.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Circle; Author: Visit Amazon's Bentley Little Page; Review: 4 AND 1/2 STARS. Originally written over ten years ago, The Circle is the kind of book that originally drew me to Bentley Little. It's a dark, fast-paced, adult tale that takes no prisoners. The fact that anything can happen at any time and allowing your main characters to experience a gruesome, untimely death is what separates Little with more mainstream, conservative writers. It is true, however, that in recent years, Little has gone a bit more "Hollywood" with his endings and overall predictability. But The Circle feels a lot more original, spontaneous, and not so planned out. Three long short stories with different families interconnect this novella, giving the reader different perspectives throughout a single night in a close-knit neighborhood. The Circle is a genuinely entertaining read from cover to cover. It is always refreshing to read when author Little bravely goes to places most writers consider taboo. With many memorable scenes and disturbing descriptions, The Circle is a big recommendation, especially to new readers curious to read Bentley Little as some of his very best.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Six Days; Author: Visit Amazon's Kelli Owen Page; Review: Kelli Owen's debut is certainly an impressive one. Some might feel details are overwritten here and there, but her consistency and restraint kept me hooked throughout. The narrative uses the Lost television show's technique of constantly flashing back to fill in the holes and build a fully formed main character. This was a smart choice and a much needed touch away from the oppressive darkness where most of the story takes place. This psychological tale is fairly unique due to its minimalistic approach. Without giving anything away, lets just say there are very few characters in the present day storyline, a refreshing change to what I've read before. I really enjoyed Owen's decision to allow Jenny's character to make believable choices and not what you might expect from a horror movie bimbo or to serve a predetermined cliched plot point. The choices and thought process she makes are what I imagine a real survivor might go through. Totally believable and utterly convincing. 99% of this novel is quite excellent, but I did have an issue with the incredibly abrupt ending. I even went back three or four times to make sure I had not accidentally skipped a page or two. The way the ending was written was just not consistent with the pacing and tone of the rest of the book. But regardless, this strong debut will have me seeking out more of Owen's work.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Woods Are Dark; Author: Visit Amazon's Richard Laymon Page; Review: 4 AND 1/2 STARS This restored and uncut version of Richard Laymon's near masterpiece of sex and violence is a reason to celebrate. Never one to hold back, author Laymon throws everything but the kitchen sink at the reader with this one. The story starts off fast and ends even faster in a quick tale of an inbred cannibal cult nestled deep in the woods, supported by a local town who feeds them strangers that pass through. While some will roll their eyes at the quick transformation of various characters into bloodthirsty and crazed sexual fiends, I went with the flow, enjoying Laymon's almost giddy, perverted descriptions. Laymon is not shy about pushing the envelope on sex and violence and this book takes it to another level. Fans of hardcore horror will be celebrating with glee at some of the character's situations and decisions. This one is definitely not for the squeamish or prude. For fans of Wrath James White, Jack Ketchum, and Edward Lee. For me, this gets a huge guilty-pleasure recommendation.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Scavenger; Author: Visit Amazon's David Morrell Page; Review: Continuing with characters from the book Creepers, David Morrell delves into the subjects of time capsules and video game technology in a thriller that has some neat ideas but doesnt always work. As I read the book, it seemed as if author Morrell was a little behind the times, elaborating on video game and computer breakthroughs that are common knowledge to anyone with even the slightest interest in the video game market. Morrell writes as if he were the first to discover these concepts and trying to share with the reader what most people already know. The villain here is fairly standard and although many of the twists and turns were enjoyable, too many elements seemed convoluted and coincidental, forcing the reader to buy into some extremely implausible scenarios. If you can accept the plot points Morrell tosses at you without examining them too closely, the story is a fun read. It has mystery, suspense, deaths, and considerable tension due to a deadly time limit for the main characters. All in all, this book was not as effective as Creepers, but still gets a mild recommendation. New readers will want to seek out his older work first.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Carpathia; Author: Visit Amazon's Matt Forbeck Page; Review: 4 AND 1/2 STARS I picked this book up because of the cool concept of vampires out on the ocean during the Titanic disaster. What a strange place for a vampire story, but author Matt Forbeck pulls it off brilliantly. Carpathia reads like a classic and the characters are so likeable that you find yourself rooting for their survival throughout each dangerous chapter. Author Forbeck writes with a very smooth prose, writing dialogue that feels very much like it must have been in 1912. I felt completely transported back to that time and place. This book was one of the most surprising and satisfying reads of the year. The short chapters kept me racing through the pages, devouring this book in no time at all. Two problems I had, however, were the descriptions of characters seeing things under the water at night under a moonless sky. The ocean at night, even with a full moon, is like a sea of black ink. There is no visibility whatsoever. Also, an unnamed vampire comes back after clearly dying. This was annoying, because there was no reason given for the reanimation. Even other vampires recognized the initial death as real. It felt like a cheap way to bring back a villain without any explanation. That aside, this book is a wonderfully fresh addition to a genre that has become stale and repetitive. Forbeck slides in some fun mythology about Bram Stoker, treating him as a semi-expert on the subject of vampires whose writing aides our protagonists along the way. Vampire and horror fans alike interested in an extremely well written book should definitely add Carpathia to their must read list.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Inheritance; Author: Visit Amazon's Joe McKinney Page; Review: 3 AND 1/2 STARS Author Joe McKinney takes a break from zombies, this time, delving into a mix of witchcraft and police procedurals. I wasn't sure where this story was going, which hooked me along for much of the way. However, once the story began to form, I felt a lot of the material was too familiar and could have used a more stringent editor. This book could have used a 50 to 75 page trim, which would have sped up the pace and increased the momentum in building tension. The copy editor also missed about a dozen typos, which is always annoying to see from a professional publisher. Although Paul and Anderson and the supporting players had solid character development, the villain, Martin, was difficult to understand. His motivation for his actions was confusing and just seemed to be evil for the purpose of being evil. The climax was also a bit of a letdown, happening too quickly at a predictable location, with a conclusion that felt too convenient. However, many of the big action scenes were nicely crafted, with much of the danger unsettling and gripping. McKinney's dialogue rings true and even his character's non-verbal communication allows you to understand exactly what they are going through. There is a lot to like about this book, but, in my opinion, this was not McKinney's best.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Key: A True Encounter; Author: Visit Amazon's Whitley Strieber Page; Review: I can easily see this book as a polarizing one. You will either love it or hate it. Did someone really enter into author Whitley Strieber's hotel room and divulge secrets of the universe back in 1998? Who knows? Perhaps Strieber is not sure himself. But if you put aside whether it is real or not, one cannot deny this book is chock full of fascinating and completely original ideas. As time passes by and as each of the predictions and scientific information come true, it is getting more difficult to brush this off as a desperate attempt by an author to sell books. This book was quite a terrifying read for me, simply because so much (nearly everything) seemed so accurate and answered a lot of my own questions regarding faith and the afterlife. As Strieber so clearly states, it breaks down the barrier between science and religion, man and machine, human and God. It took me a lot longer to read this than I thought because of the many concepts thrown at the reader. It had me stopping to analyze and reflect and connect so much of my own life and experiences that I was forced to stop reading to let it sink in and grasp this new reality. Perhaps the most terrifying and sad explanation of our stifled scientific progress was the idea that the Holocaust has prevented us from leaving the planet and unlocking the secret of gravity due to the murder of a Jewish couple. The absence of their child not being born has caused our whole species to remain on Earth longer than planned. The Holocaust, Strieber's mystery man claims, is why we are still using jets seventy-five years after their invention. Taken as the truth, half-truth, two percent truth, or even complete fiction, this book is a mind-blowing exploration of our human species and the life beyond. I highly recommend this to anyone and everyone, especially if you find yourself aging through life with more questions than answers. No matter what your religion is, I honestly believe you take away something worthwhile from reading Whitley Strieber's The Key.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Jacked; Author: Visit Amazon's Shane McKenzie Page; Review: The title, Jacked, might not be the most fitting for this story, but it sure was a fun read. Gory, shocking, and filled with gut-wrenching violence, author Shane McKenzie puts his spin to the classic Blob story. Solid writing and characters will keep you reading straight though to the end. While a few character traits are not quite explained and a few descriptions feel repetitive, the location and claustrophobic scenario really worked and helped to increase the danger for the characters. Some of the continuity on the weakening of the gym's outside glass was a little inconsistent, but for an easy, violent and gory read, fans of Edward Lee type of horror should be pleased. My only technical complaint is with Severed Press, who either forgot or decided not to put the title and author on the spine of the book, making it virtually impossible to locate on a shelf with hundreds of other books. The book is thin, sure, but clearly thick enough to print the title and author. I've seen thinner books with text on the spine, so I know it can be done. Other than that, this was a satisfying purchase, but nothing groundbreaking.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Night Where; Author: Visit Amazon's John Everson Page; Review: 3 AND STARS John Everson's NightWhere, regardless if you enjoyed it or not, will surely keep you reading if for no other reason than to see how extreme the author will go. Personally, I enjoyed it, and had a huge grin on my face for the majority of the book. Take author Edward Lee's sexual perversion, Wrath James White's gory tortures, and a touch of Michael Laimo's occult storylines and you have a good idea of what you are in for. My big problem, however, was essentially the main character's motivation for trying to save his marriage and rescue his wife, Rae, from the clutches of darkness inside the sex club, NightWhere. Rae is such an unlikable person, even from the beginning, that I found it hard that Mark didn't run away from her the moment he had the chance. Not to mention Mark's offer to be with a much more caring and beautiful woman on the table. While much of the sexual escapades in the beginning seemed rather tame, Everson amps up the kink fairly successfully midway through, balancing a blend of atmosphere and danger with some rather striking imagery. Don't expect deep literature, but you can expect to be thoroughly entertained if you like a lot of sex with your violence. Not for young readers, of course.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Wraiths of the Broken Land; Author: Visit Amazon's S. Craig Zahler Page; Review: S. Craig Zahler's second published western, Wraiths Of The Broken Land, is a wholly satisfying, tension-filled experience. Take the most violent western you've ever read and combine that with the most gruesome and brutal horror novel you've read. That is the level of destruction you will discover between the pages of this book. Beautifully written with the flavor of the period, Zahler's tight story is immediately gripping and starts off with such ferocity that many readers might bail out after the first chapter. But if you can stomach his dark and unflinching vision, you will be thoroughly rewarded. Whether you are a fan of westerns or horror novels, or even dark fiction, this is a book that I highly recommend and that you are guaranteed to not soon forget. Rich characters, smart, believable dialogue, and descriptions so pitch-perfect, you will feel as if you were thrown headfirst into the middle of the action. There are no good guys or bad guys in this one, folks. Everyone here is a sinner to some degree. Not to mention having one of the most gratifying endings I've read in a long, long time. Author Zahler keeps you on your toes with constant surprises and strong back stories for each character. This is easily the best book I've read this year and gets my highest recommendation. It is simply breathtaking.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Vacation; Author: Matthew Costello; Review: 3 AND 1/2 STARS Author Matthew Costello takes on what is essentially a zombie novel, but never calls them that. Instead, in this book, they are called "Can Heads". Fast moving, hungry, vicious humans that have been infected with a virus that turns them into wild animals that are rumored to have a growing intelligence. The buildup to the "vacation" is very well done and nicely paced, with Costello keeping the reader on edge with his descriptions of desolate locations where anything could be hiding. Once our characters get to the actual "vacation", Costello seems to drop clues about some of the resort officials and guests but never really explains their motivation or anything about their character. We just stay with the main family, which is fine, but setting up possible storylines that never come to fruition was disappointing, especially since there seemed to be so much fertile ground for more interesting development. Once the action hits, the atmosphere and suspense is engaging and tense. Costello peppers the final third with some surprises and twists, but nothing I wasn't really expecting. The ending also seemed too rushed, as if the author had a deadline he was trying to make. Jumps in time were awkward at points and did not flow as smoothly as the first two thirds of the book. However, because of where and how the book ended, I'm very interested to read "Home", the sequel, and see where Costello goes with it. "Vacation" was a fast and fun read and I'll be sure to keep this author on my reading list. Horror, thriller, and zombie fans will have a good time with this one.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Endurance: A Novel of Terror; Author: Visit Amazon's Jack Kilborn Page; Review: Jack Kilborn, aka JA Konrath, author of the excellent book Afraid, has penned another violently dark tale. Endurance has nearly as many suspenseful moments as some of the best of Richard Laymon, and that's saying a lot. And while the dialogue doesn't always ring true, the shifting story arcs make this hellish read a deliciously addictive one. With the odds clearly in the favor of the villains, Kilborn makes it a little too easy for our protagonists when the tide begins to turn. Using your suspension of disbelief, horror fans -- particularly those of author Edward Lee -- will have a great time delving into the perversion of deformed hillbillies in the backwoods and their twisted lifestyle. Not very realistic, but quite entertaining.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Steel Remains; Author: Visit Amazon's Richard K. Morgan Page; Review: The Steel Remains has some action scenes that are quite well done, and some decent characters, but in between are chock full of clumsy world building, and dialogue that seems way too modern. Take out nearly every sentence and replace the exotic names with Mike or Bob and you would never be able to tell this dialogue was set in a fantasy world involving swords and dark sorcery. I didn't find the sex very graphic as many others did. Sure, there are only a couple scenes of an adult nature, but nothing more than a hard R rating. As for the world building, I found that some of the descriptions were vague and lacking clarity. The author seemed to have a problem properly describing the land and politics our characters were populating. I just found much of it confusing and vague without a strong sense of focus or storytelling. The plot, as well, was very basic and just not interesting enough for me to invest any more time in the second book, The Cold Commands. Unfortunately, I'm done reading this author.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Population Zero; Author: Visit Amazon's Wrath James White Page; Review: Ever since author Wrath James White entered the horror scene writing Teratologist with fellow hardcore writer Edward Lee, I have had to brace myself every time for what ends up being some of the most disturbing, shocking, and brutal horror fiction written today. While Lee tends to add humor to his gore, White writes more realistically, keeping the tone plausible and true. His antagonists seem right out of today's headline news of serial killers, perverted sexual kidnappers, and deranged rapists. So, for me, White tends to be more frightening than Lee, but both extremely enjoyable in that guilty-pleasure-sort-of-way. Population Zero fits that mold exactly. I really enjoyed the internal conflict and paranoia of the main character. As sick as Todd is, White makes some great arguments and justification for his motivation. The increasing over-population and growing burden on taxpayers from welfare scam artists makes the reader nearly root for Todd in his mission. But not quite, of course. Todd ends up doing things that shocked even me, and I've been reading this sort of horror fiction for decades. So, kudos to White for raising the bar even further, while at the same time making the reader consider the social issues at stake. White's horror is not just about buckets of gore, he has a deeper meaning and resonance to his writing. However, the ending did feel a bit rushed and there were too many coincidences that led to the finale for my taste, but this book is still well worth reading and gets my solid recommendation. But be warned this is extremely graphic.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Hole; Author: Visit Amazon's William Meikle Page; Review: 2 AND 1/2 STARS Genre author William Meikle has quickly become popular here in the states over the last two years. His published works have been sought after by numerous small press publishers, releasing his work in ebook, paperback, signed and numbered limited editions, and even lettered editions. So I finally got around to reading him, but perhaps this book was not the best one to start with. Compared to the other horror authors out there, I found The Hole to be quite average. The story, at first, was intriguing. A small town stricken with nosebleeds, a growing sinkhole, and witnesses claiming to see various nightmares in the flesh. Besides a couple continuity problems, I found the characters fairly standard with the sheriff dating the town doctor, the town drunk and his expertise of the town history, the God-fearing opinionated widow who constantly gets on everyone's nerves, etc. The technical writing is solid and Meikle does a good job of putting the reader in harm's way along with the characters. But some elements did not feel authentic. There should have been an entire team of CDC doctors and experts instead of one lone government doctor trying to uncover the cause of the town's problems. Also, the whole government containment of the town was never fully developed. A few scattered military roadblocks along with some vehicles and medical tents just didn't paint the proper quarantine. Without giving anything away, I didn't feel the town doctor would have the knowledge or the understanding to fight back the way she did. It was too convenient. I also didn't find much of the story very scary. If this were a movie, it would be closer to a PG rating than an R rating. But on the positive side, the characters did have a certain charm to them and some of the initial encounters were suspenseful. I'll certainly give Meikle another try with some of his other books, because I definitely see some talent here.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Horror... the Horror; Author: Rick Hautala; Review: When I was in my early teens, I discovered Robert R. McCammon. As soon as I finished one of his books, I would go that day and pick up another by him. When I ran out of books by McCammon, I branched out to another author and began the same pattern of obsession. That author was Rick Hautala. I was always impressed with the author's writing, character development, and the "quiet horror" sensibilities he had. I met him in person once, at a convention in Maryland many years ago, and he was as nice and pleasant a person as one could hope for. I was saddened to hear of his recent passing and proud to have a near complete collection of all his titles, including his A.J. Matthews books. Reading his autobiography gives you a fascinating insight into Hautala's themes, his personal life, and his ups and downs as a professional writer. He was, without a doubt, one of the most underrated horror authors of the 1980's and some great suspenseful work in the 1990's. His autobiography has a little of everything for readers to enjoy; his daily writing routine, opinions on the craft of writing, and even a little business advice. For me, it was a bittersweet read, for I know I won't be able to read anything new from one of modern horror's pioneers. A well-deserved recipient of the Bram Stoker Award for Lifetime Achievement, I hope Rick Hautala knew how much his books entertained us. No matter what Rick thought of his work sometimes, his fans always knew he was one of the best. He will be missed.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: HAWG; Author: Steven L. Shrewsbury; Review: 2 AND 1/2 STARS The first chapter of this book was tremendous. It was surprising, dark, brutal, and had that fresh feel of a story that told you to buckle up and prepare for a uncompromisingly violent ride. Unfortunately after that initial chapter, the story fell into a standard and predictable tale that could have easily fit into a novella length book. There were a handful of genuine surprises, yes, but for the most part, it was what you would expect, if quite a bit over the top. While the story had a few interesting characters, most of the players just went through the motions, playing there stereotypical parts. The writing desperately needed a better copy editor, having discovered numerous typos and awkward syntax throughout. With little to no atmosphere or suspense, I found myself hoping the end would come sooner. Don't get me wrong, Hawg has its moments, and author Steven Shrewsbury has some disturbing sensibilities in his writing (something I rather enjoy), but this needed to be trimmed down to a novella. There was simply not enough story to merit 300 plus pages on what could have been a more exciting 100.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Hell Gate; Author: Visit Amazon's Elizabeth Massie Page; Review: 4 AND 1/2 STARS I read Elizabeth Massie before and was not surprised this time to find Hell Gate to be one of my favorite books of the year. Her book, Sineater, was one of the best debut horror novels of any author in the genre. Massie's strength is her authentic and believable characters that populate her richly described locations. Always unpredictable, Hell Gate immediately pulls the reader into a world of dark evil hiding under the bright lights of Coney Island's early 20th century boardwalk attractions. Massie has a lot going on in this story but manages to weave all the elements together beautifully. Part mystery, part supernatural, part horror, Hell Gate touches on racial issues, the occult, female inequality, and the innocence (and ignorance) of the times. Nearly completely satisfying, I did find myself slightly disappointed at the climactic revelation. While the climax felt a bit out of left field, Massie artfully brought the story full circle at the very end in a hauntingly poetic way. So, while not perfect, it was as close to amazing as I have read this year. Definitely recommended.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Corrosion; Author: Visit Amazon's Jon Bassoff Page; Review: 4 AND 1/2 STARS I had heard many great things about this book, but nothing really in any detail. Just that it was dark, bleak, original, and very unsettling. Well, I was sold. This is the first novel by author Jon Bassoff and I must say, all the praise is earned. Bassoff writes with a confidence that usually only comes tenth or twentieth novel, and his experimental run-on prose is a perfect, organic mirror of his mentally disturbed protagonist. While I did find a couple continuity problems that momentarily pulled me out of the flow of the narrative (tying someone up with one hand while holding a shotgun in the other, putting someone in a trunk of a pickup truck, etc.), Bassoff keeps true to the tone of the story and characters and finishes his debut with maturity and insight. One of the most consistent and satisfying works of fiction I've read this year. I absolutely cannot wait to read more from Bassoff and watch this new writer grow. His unique voice does not come around very often. Huge recommendation.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sixty-Five Stirrup Iron Road; Author: Visit Amazon's Brian Keene Page; Review: This novel has probably the best collection of hardcore horror authors on the planet. However, the round-robin style of writing a chapter or two per author and the lack of an editor has turned this project into a bit of a mess. An entertaining mess, mind you, but still a mess. Apparently without planning ahead, the authors began a story that no one really knew how to end or which direction to go. And without giving anything away, the authors even let you know how convoluted the characters and story have become (which, for me, was the highlight of the book). But genre and gore fans should fear not, even with all the inconsistencies, you will still receive plenty of violence, sex, mutilation, vomiting, impossible insertions, and cringe-worthy animal acts. So for fans of any of the authors, you still might want to give this one a try. And the fact that proceeds go to author Tom Piccirilli to help with his recuperation after a major surgery, it is money well spent.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Quicksand House; Author: Carlton III Mellick; Review: 4 AND 1/2 STARS Carlton Mellick is clearly one of the most creative and prolific authors working today. He is still so young and talented, and with over 40 books to his name, it's scary to think what his quality will be like in ten or twenty years. His diversity is one of his strengths, writing extreme adult material as well as young adult material, like Quicksand House. While a bit more conservative than I am used to with Mellick, Quicksand House is still a powerful and thought provoking story. With this story being a more traditional narrative, I expect Quicksand House to have a wider audience and hopefully make Mellick the household name he deserves to be. Mellick can write extremely sensitive characters and those characters certainly shine in this story. The ending is perfect and if I had any gripes at all, it would be that some of the traveling around the house felt a bit too repetitive with the rooms and creeper scenarios. For new readers of Mellick, this is a great place to start, but realize that Mellick also writes much more adult themed - and quite shocking at times - stories. Very satisfying and hugely recommended.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sharp Objects; Author: gillian-flynn; Review: Author Gillian Flynn knows how to write interesting scenarios and an engaging story, and I found the first half of this book quite entertaining. However, once the main character begins to investigate the local murders more thoroughly, Flynn's momentum seemed to stall out and any information or connection that was revealed felt forced and heavy-handed. Even if you had a generous suspension of disbelief , there were simply way too many coincidences for me to accept. And because of this, I was constantly pulled out of the story. On a positive note, the character history and details were original and honest, if a bit too melodramatic. I suspect that style would go off better in a stage performance of a play, but here, it was overemotional and loud where it should have been subtle. That also would have helped build a more effective atmosphere as well. That being said, this is Flynn's debut novel and it was enjoyable enough for me to want to check out more of her work in the future.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Snowblind: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Christopher Golden Page; Review: 2 AND 1/2 STARS Snowblind was a bit of a mixed bag for me. What started out as a horror novel morphed into a drama and then, for the remaining 75 pages or so, went back to its horror elements. And while the characters were interesting and their relationships well developed, I found the central story and "twist" to be rather convoluted and random. I realize this is a fictional story, but without any world building on Golden's part, I found the central premise of the missing and then relocated victims too much of a stretch to accept. Some of the descriptions during the action sequences had good energy and were nicely visual, but much of the dialogue felt artificial and, quite often, pulled me out of the flow of the story. I particularly love horror stories set in snowy, secluded towns where a blizzard is on its way. However, Snowblind just didn't do it for me. I would recommend author Ronald Malfi's book, Snow, over this one. It is more effective on every level. But I have enjoyed other books by Golden, so I am still interested to see what he comes up with next.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Out of the Shadows (Alien); Author: Visit Amazon's Tim Lebbon Page; Review: For me, this is easily the best original Alien novel I've read. I read many when I was younger, and all had some good moments, but this was consistently excellent. Author Tim Lebbon handled the material with genuine care and respect. The dialogue and actions of Ripley felt authentic and honest and, at times, I could hear her in my head delivering the lines perfectly. The added mythology of the various alien civilizations was also a welcome treat, and could open the doors to a lot of future story expansion. Taking place after the first Alien movie, I was a bit skeptical about skipping James Cameron's Aliens, but my fears were quickly put to rest. The subplot of Ash's motivation was a perfect setup and throwing Ripley into this new scenario was an exciting and believable story. The dangers Tim Lebbon sets up and what the remaining crew has to accomplish was nearly overwhelming. A nail-biter from start to finish, I was very impressed at the obstacles the doomed humans had to overcome. I loved the feeling that they were all about to die at any second. If I had any gripes, besides the printing and copy editing errors, it would be the nightmare/dreams Ripley had of her daughter. Unnecessary and out of place, the flow was awkward when those dreams would pop up and were too jarring. Also, a little more character development would have been nice for the other characters outside of Ripley and Hoop, but that was minor. Those small issues aside, it was certainly a thrilling read and one I hope to continue. The next two books in this trilogy are written by James A. Moore and Christopher Golden, both very accomplished writers in the genre.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Gigantic Death Worm; Author: Visit Amazon's Vince Kramer Page; Review: 2 AND 1/2 STARS Author Vince Kramer's first stab at writing a bizarro genre book is not a total disappointment. It has many elements that meet the bizarro requirements, however, it just doesn't have enough of them. I suppose I'm spoiled by reading a lot of Carlton Mellick's work, as he is clearly the best in the genre that I've come across. But even Mellick aside, Kramer's writing, although amusing at points, does not have enough humor to be genuinely funny, no clever enough to be original. A few interesting ideas do not merit writing a book. Nor does basing the initial premise from a movie the vast majority of people have not seen (the horror movie, Frozen). Carlton Mellick creates wacky scenarios, but manages at the same time to delve into the heart and soul of his characters and make the reader invest in their story and their lives. Characters with any depth are simply not present in this story. I suspect, as happens with most writers, that Vince Kramer's second book will be a step up from Gigantic Death Worm, but with authors such as Mellick out there, I don't anticipate giving Kramer another read. Picture a young teenager sitting in school detention trying to make the older kids laugh by writing a story called Gigantic Death Worm. Reading it is better than just sitting in detention doing nothing, I guess.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Way of All Flesh; Author: Visit Amazon's Tim Waggoner Page; Review: Author Tim Waggoner has always been in my top ten of modern horror writers. Although he is not a household name or get the credit he deserves, he consistently produces some of the darkest, most original genre fiction in the past decade. When I heard he was doing a zombie story, I knew it was something I had to read because it would be very different from any other zombie tale to date. And of course, my prediction was 100% accurate. The Way Of All Flesh was phenomenal. To not give anything away, I can only tell readers that his (one of many) twist on the zombie tale was shocking and breathtaking. The story is completely original and as close to a game changer in zombie fiction as I have come across. Breathing new life into the zombie genre is a very tough thing to do these days, but Waggoner's infinite creative mind has managed to pull it off and made it look easy. Graphically shocking and tenderly emotional, this book has it all. Simply said, I have not been this satisfied reading a horror novel in a long time, especially a zombie book. So far, this is my favorite book of the year and if there is any justice, word will spread about The Way Of All Flesh, and finally put Waggoner on the map. This guy is a serious talent and pulls no punches. A visceral, brutal, and tense reading experience, this gets my highest recommendation. New fans should also check out Waggoner's other great titles such as Pandora Drive, Darkness Wakes, and Like Death.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Home; Author: Matthew Costello; Review: Home, the sequel to Matthew Costello's Vacation, picks up right where the first book left off, throwing the reader into a vicious world of crazed and violent cannibals. While this book has enough back story information for newcomers to read as a standalone novel, reading Vacation first would certainly be beneficial in understanding the characters and the desperate situation they are in. I enjoyed the first half of the book and felt it lived up to Vacation's intense and paranoid journey of post apocalyptic survival. But once the family gets to the Mountain Falls Hotel, things fall into fairly predictable events and lost a lot of steam. Still a very solid and original spin on the zombie genre, but not as good as Vacation. My advice would be to read Vacation and stop there. The character of Jack Murphy was the most developed and likable, and when he is no longer there in Home, it definitely feels like the story is missing something.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Dinner With the Cannibal Sisters; Author: Visit Amazon's Douglas Clegg Page; Review: Author Douglas Clegg has always been a very good writer and the majority of his stories, for the most part, have been a success. Dinner With The Cannibal Sisters is no exception, but certainly not as great as some of the early reviews I have read. Although the premise worked well for me, I did find a few things that bothered me. First, the book could have benefited more by having a darker atmosphere. Scenes moved along without any real sense of danger or dread. Sure, there was a little tension here and there, but it could have been much more effective, especially with the last third felt so rushed. I also had issues with the sisters being recluse, yet interacting with our protagonist so smoothly as if they were the town socialites and throw parties for people every weekend. I kept waiting for something to happen, some sort of conflict. But it just never happened. Nothing occurred that I wasn't expecting. No surprises. Those few problems aside, I did enjoy reading it and wonder if expanding this story into a full length novel would have been a better way to go.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Deep Like the River; Author: Visit Amazon's Tim Waggoner Page; Review: Tim Waggoner has always been one of the most underrated horror writers in recent years. His writing is consistent, original, and most of all, unpredictable. This latest novella is a thoroughly enjoyable read; a psychologically intense and suspenseful read. Complex characters with authentic dialogue in a unique setting will keep you hooked throughout. While I wish the ending was wrapped up a little more clearly, the journey to get there made it worth reading and ultimately worth the purchase. A perfect 90 minute story if you are looking for a dark tale, one that doesn't spell out all the answers, but gives you enough to leave you mostly satisfied.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sweet Story; Author: Visit Amazon's Carlton Mellick III Page; Review: Author Carlton Mellick is, for me, the most effective and accomplished writer in the new bizarro genre. His imagination seems endless and the energy he infuses into his stories is a breath of fresh air and addictively entertaining. Usually he has at least up to half a dozen completely original ideas or concepts on every page, but with Sweet Story, Mellick seemed to run on auto pilot without adding much past the initial premise. Every book I have read of his rates a solid 4 or 5 stars because they really are that good. However, this was a step down and, although a very enjoyable read, my least favorite Mellick story. Most of the twists and turns I saw coming and the family structure as the story was concluding felt awkward and inconsistent. Don't get me wrong, though. There is much to enjoy with Sweet Story, and perhaps I am being too hard on it. But considering the prior work of this brilliant writer, I was expecting more. The effective ending, however, pulls this up from a 3.5 to a full 4 stars. I still recommend it for fans of bizarro fiction or of Mellick, but would recommend his other work like Quicksand House, The Morbidly Obese Ninja, or Apes***. Actually, you could pick any of his work and be guaranteed a good read.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Brain Cheese Buffet; Author: Edward Jr. Lee; Review: I suppose I am the rare reader that sees this collection as a 3 star book. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy Edward Lee's over-the-top attributes he brings to his hard core writings. Every year or so I need a guilty pleasure read and his books sufficiently meet that quota every time. But I do recognize that Lee's characters and general execution of horror is fairly pedestrian and, as some would describe, juvenile. If one does not realize what they are getting into, reading these nine short stories could utterly ruin your day. But they are so ludicrous and downright hilarious at times, it really isn't even horror anymore, but a near Monty Python experience. I always take Lee lightly because I can tell he enjoys what he does and gets a kick out of trying his best to gross out his readers. And he succeeds with much of this collection, especially in the story, "The Baby". However, if you are looking to be scared, this is not the author to read. Try Richard Laymon or Jack Ketchum. Or for completely original horror, try Tim Waggoner, Tim Curran, or Bentley Little. But if you are a fan of the Troma movies or Frank Hennenlotter's body of work, you will be delighted by Edward Lee's sense of humor and NC-17 situations. It's a wet, sticky, cringing mess, but one I find strangely charming.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Savaging the Dark; Author: Visit Amazon's Christopher Conlon Page; Review: Ever since Christopher Conlon's debut, Midnight On Mourn Street, he was an author that I knew I needed to read more of. Then came his stunningly emotional A Matrix of Angels, which put him in my top 10 current authors and pushed that book into my top 50 of all time reads. Now Conlon has produced such a can't-take-you-eyes-off-it story with a taboo premise and handles it so effectively, I find myself trying to decide where this book fits into my all-time favorite top 10 list, and arguably my top 5. Yes, folks, this is that damn good. The subject matter might turn off a lot of readers. And the fact that author Conlon never shies away from extremely, almost unbearably uncomfortable situations, makes this book an acquired taste, I suppose. But for me, it was a story I was horrified and addicted to, nonetheless. It is a dark journey through the deteriorating mind of an unstable woman, who at every juncture has the opportunity to make the right decision. Yet, as she justifies her actions by her deranged thoughts, continues down a path of heartbreaking destruction for everyone involved. So far, this is my favorite Christopher Conlon book, and in some ways I'm sad about that. It will be nearly impossible to top what he has done with this book. The characters feel perfectly authentic, the dialogue completely organic, and the tension had me literally holding my breath at times. This is easily my favorite book of 2014 and gets my very highest recommendation possible. But again, be warned. This material is not for everyone.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 400 Days of Oppression; Author: Visit Amazon's Wrath James White Page; Review: 3 AND 1/2 STARS Wrath James White is one of the more effective hardcore horror authors that writes violence and gore with bit more substance and intelligence than most. Here he takes on a very taboo subject and although it was more tame than some of his prior work, his translating of what a slave went through and applying it to modern times with this couple was clever and always entertaining. The author mixes his scenes very well, from erotic and sensitive to graphically brutal and emotional. I had some issues with some of the dialogue, however. It was awkward at times and not as smooth and natural-sounding as it should have been. I also did not think the ending was consistent with how Natasha was being portrayed throughout the book. Her obsession with Kenyatta felt all encompassing and I did not agree with how she reacted in the final chapter or epilogue. Regardless, most of the book works well and I would still recommend it for readers with a strong stomach for graphic sex and violence.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Violet Eyes; Author: Visit Amazon's John Everson Page; Review: 2 AND 1/2 STARS I have read most of John Everson's books, and while I'm not a huge fan, he does have his moments of original horror or surprise or interesting sex that merits that I follow his career. Interestingly enough, my favorite of his novels is his debut, the Bram Stoker winning, Covenant. Siren was very good as well. As far as Violet Eyes, I enjoyed it for the most part, but feel Everson focused on the wrong elements. Everson tells the story of a single parent with her son trying to start a new life in a new town while spiders and flies slowly invade the population. The author wrongly intercuts the central story with these characters by constantly introducing new and generic characters that live around town. Nearly every new character is introduced and killed in the same chapter within three or four pages so we don't care for any of them and it only pulls away from the main protagonists. Those hundred or so pages of killing random characters could have been used to further the suspense and character development of our main heroes. It was like having the monster-of -the -week episode in a television series that really is just filler and not furthering the central story of the series. That aside, I felt there was not enough story to really create a layered novel. The main characters did not feel fully formed, and to be honest, were not even that interesting. Perhaps the author knew this story was better suited in a novella format and used those random killings around town to pad the page count. Who knows? I also did not like the decisions some of the characters made. For one example, the mother, Rachel, even after she sees her neighbor's house covered in cobwebs with thousands of spiders running around, decides to go back to her house and leave her 10 year old son home alone to go out to buy eggs to prepare a meatloaf for dinner! I'm not making this up, I swear. Suspension of disbelief aside, I admit there were some fun moments of gore, tension, and erotic situations that turned very ugly. But for me, this was not one of Everson's better books. The whole military and government experiment angle was completely by the numbers here. I love spiders, but the descriptions of them felt repetitive and their actions became predictable after a few attacks, with very few surprises. Overall, Violet Eyes is an okay book, but John Everson's Covenant and Siren are a better example of his talent.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Suffer the Children; Author: Visit Amazon's Craig DiLouie Page; Review: I was first introduced to Craig DiLouie with his military zombie book, Tooth And Nail, which I enjoyed very much. He has a keen ear for believable dialogue and writes with a seriousness void of camp or unnecessary humor that allows the reader to immerse themselves in his dark world and stay there. With Suffer The Children, there is an undercurrent of electricity in his writing, like a live wire is connecting the book to your body. The tension and growing paranoia is palpable and although the book is over 300 pages, I finished it in three days. And I read slowly. So that says something. This book is hands down one of the darkest, most dismal and depression books I've read in ages. The consistent hopelessness and despair itself is an accomplishment, but author DiLouie creates such an original story of horror and beautifully crafted world building, that this book quickly became one of the best reads of the year and jumped into my top 25 of all time horror novels. There was maybe two times that scenes did not quite feel authentic, but other than those quick and minor gripes, this is about as good as it gets. People seem to look down on the horror genre, but I would put this book up again any artsy-fartsy dramatic fiction any day of the week. The characters are deep and flawed and you feel as if you have known them or people like them your whole life. The action is spot on and descriptions are just enough for the reader to visualize exactly what the author is intending. I did not feel as if anything was gratuitous. Every violent act or graphic description fit the scene in a perfectly rendered organic way. DiLouie has quickly rocketed into my must-read author's list and this book gets my highest recommendation. A powerful, brutal, and unforgiving journey. It is simply breathtaking.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Alien: Sea of Sorrows (Novel #2); Author: Visit Amazon's James A. Moore Page; Review: James A. Moore, best known for his horror novels Blood Red, Deeper, and the Serenity Falls trilogy, tries his hand at writing his share into Alien cannon. Unfortunately, after reading Tim Lebbon's excellent book one in this new trilogy, Alien: Out Of The Shadows, this entry was a substantial letdown and really doesn't add anything we have not already known about the Weyland-Yutani Corporation and very little more about the Alien mythos. We do learn, however, that the Aliens have a more advanced communication system among them than previously thought along with confirmation of their organic technology regarding space flight. But these few minor details are few and far between in a novel with very little story or plot. With the exception of our main character, Decker, the characters are bland with very little depth. Even the atmosphere Lebbon beautifully set up in the first book is mostly wiped away. This one has no twists, no surprises, and virtually no energy. In fact, although this is nearly 500 years in the future, without the high-tech weapons, this could have taken place during the Civil War. Other than terraforming the planet of LV-178, the book was shockingly void of any futuristic or science fiction concepts. The story is a basic dungeon crawl in mining tunnels where paid mercs escort an empath to retrieve a live specimen for Weyland-Yutani. They battle here and there and as each one dies in various generic ways, the human numbers dwindle down to the characters we suspected would survive in the first few chapters anyway. Uninspired and not very creative, this book seems like the author just went through the motions in this project for hire and I know from reading a lot of Moore's other books, he can do much better. This one is for diehard Alien fans only. I just wish Tim Lebbon was hired to write all three books himself. Hopefully Christopher Golden's final book in the series, Alien: River Of Pain is better.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Highways to Hell; Author: Visit Amazon's Bryan Smith Page; Review: Bryan Smith is vastly more known for his novels than short stories. He even writes in the introduction that this might be the only collection he puts out because he simply has not written many shorts, having gained notoriety in the horror literary world with his novel length stories. With Highways To Hell, the majority of stories involve someone doing something bad to another, only to have the tables turned - the shoe on the other foot, so to speak. After a few stories, things get predictable. Most of the short stories are pretty average, but manage enough fun and go by quick enough that it keeps you reading. My favorite two are found at the end of the collection. Walk Among Us and Hell Ain't A Bad Place To Be stand out as easily the best and it was nice to end the book on those high points. Another positive note is that Walk Among Us is quite long - a novelette length - and moves like lightning, with colorful characters and a nicely constructed world building, all in a little over 30 pages. Hell Ain't A Bad Place To Be was written for the Edward Lee tribute anthology, Infernally Yours, and is wholly entertaining and any fan of Lee will be all smiles when reading it. Consistently solid stories aside, I was disappointed in the large number of typos and spelling errors I found throughout the book and was surprised Deadite Press put out such a product. Overall, a mild recommendation as far as short stories go, but fans of Smith and Edward Lee should have a better time with it.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Red Rain: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's R.L. Stine Page; Review: My experience with this author occurred a few years ago when I would read to my kids for about half an hour before their bedtime. I honestly must have gone through sixty or more Goosebumps books during that time. They were mildly entertaining and had enough scares and imagination to keep my kids paying close attention to the story and keep them asking for more. Recently, I discovered that R.L. Stine decided to write horror for adults and I had to see what that was like. Unfortunately, I would much rather read his kids books. Red Rain is absolutely abysmal. With the exception of a dozen or so F-bombs, one graphic scene of gore, and a vague and unimaginative sex scene, this could have easily been a young adult book. Every twist and turn in this book has been done a million times over and nothing surprised me in the least. It makes me think R.L. Stine lives a sheltered life and simply doesn't get out very much or even know what other horror is available. He really needs to read more. This books was becoming so bad that I sat reading with my mouth agape, not believing the words on the page. Scenes awkwardly jump in time and the artificial dialogue left me shaking my head. Some of the supernatural elements Stine writes were so preposterous and out of left field, it made me think more than once that maybe his kids wrote it or that Stine wrote it as some strange joke. Characters acted like they had an IQ of a Neanderthal and their decisions were downright ridiculous. For instance, a brutal murder had just happened in the driveway of a house, but the parents let the kids sleep out in the guesthouse alone later that same night! Hugely disappointing and stunningly inept. No atmosphere, no building suspense, and no real scares. Even the vocabulary of the author is on the level of the middle school children he writes about. It's just a bad, bad book. Stine owes me 8 hours of my life back. This author's "yes" people need to start telling him the truth and telling him, "no".; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Slowly We Rot; Author: Visit Amazon's Bryan Smith Page; Review: Bryan Smith's new book, Slowly We Rot, is receiving a lot of acclaim for taking a different approach to the zombie genre. Instead of the regular bucketful of blood and guts you usually get with zombies, Smith treats this story as a character piece that just happens to be set after the zombie apocalypse. I think people are even more surprised at this because prior to this book, Bryan Smith was mostly known for his extreme and graphic horror. And I must say, I very much enjoyed this departure from Smith's usual work. It shows his growth as a writer and storyteller and proves that Smith does not have to spill blood on every page to tell a good tale. The pacing and tone of the book is quite excellent in the first half and I was completely submerged in the lonely world of Noah, alone in an isolated cabin, living day to day for no particular reason. Basically, like a zombie. While the catalyst for Noah's departure into the new and dangerous world felt a bit forced, I had to believe that any possible life other than the one he was living was worth the risk. With this book, Bryan Smith has finally proven that he can hang with anyone in the genre and has earned his right to be taken seriously. While I wasn't completely sold on the last third of the book, I understood where Smith was going and I accepted the journey, even though moments of obvious unreality were a bit heavy handed. In the end, it was a satisfying read and I look forward to Smith working outside his comfort zone again. One of the better zombie books in recent years.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mean Business on North Ganson Street: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's S. Craig Zahler Page; Review: Author S. Craig Zahler, after an incredibly successful pair of westerns and a groundbreaking science fiction novel, tries his hand with a straight crime story in the form of a very dark police procedural novel. As always with Zahler's work, his characters shine with originality and infused with a history that reinforces their decisions and motivations. Violent and graphic, the author does not shy away from making the reader feel uncomfortable, immersing them in a world of dark secrets and spontaneous brutality. There is a point in the story where all the pieces of events become clear, and when you discover the intent of the antagonist, the book becomes impossible to put down. Even though I enjoyed the author's westerns and science fiction more, this is a welcome addition to an already impressive body of work from one of the truly rare voices in today's fiction. Zahler doesn't just crank out pages to meet a publisher's deadline. He meticulously crafts a thriller that, at times, leaves you breathless. Highly recommended.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Blindspot; Author: Visit Amazon's Michael McBride Page; Review: Reading Blindspot was a little frustrating because I could not stop thinking that the medical and technical concept author Michael McBride introduced was not used in a more effective story. The scientific idea of recording the final image of a dying person through their eyes can produce countless story ideas and is perfectly designed for the thriller/horror genre. However, in Blindspot, author McBride decides to force this concept into a contrived story involving the political tension and cover-up inside North Korea after a nuclear detonation has occurred. A small group of American special ops along with a scientist are sent to investigate. Throughout the book, I never understood why Dr. Ramsey was on the mission in the first place. Showing the image of the killers would not help the special ops team in any regard. They would track the killers the same way if no images were discovered. It was a wasted concept and made very little sense. The story had some nice atmosphere and a solid build up, but just seemed to unravel at the end. And the "blindspot" surprise at the very end was just too silly to believe. It was a shame McBride did not utilize his creative concept of after death images in a story that could have made better use of the premise.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Hellhole (The Hellhole Trilogy); Author: Visit Amazon's Brian Herbert Page; Review: I was an instant fan of authors Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson after reading their Dune collaborations. I read them in the chronological timeline order starting with The Butlerian Jihad, and I became hooked on their smooth and fast paced style. Like mini cliffhangers, they keep their chapters extremely short which allow the reader to move to different characters and dramatic situations at such a rapid pace, you find yourself reading a lot more than you normally would. This new series is no different, and while I still prefer the world of Dune, I was highly entertained by Hellhole and have already ordered the next two books in the trilogy. Personally, I cannot wait to dig in. The characters are not quite as deep or defined as some might like, but that is the trade off when action is happening so fast and story developments are in constant flux. I was expecting more of a space theme with this book, but it became more focused on political maneuvering between the various players. Which was fine with me, it was just different than I had expected. The phrase space opera is quite fitting for this series, because it is quite large in scope but never confusing or overwhelming. Like the Dune books, there is a handy glossary of characters and other details in the back for reference, although most will never need it. For fans of lighter science fiction and good old fashioned storytelling, this is a pleasantly enjoyable read that will leave you wanting more.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: To The Death; Author: Visit Amazon's Wrath James White Page; Review: 3 AND 1/2 STARS Wrath James White has always proven to deliver high caliber writing and visceral violence intertwined with astute social commentary. This time, he writes about the mixed martial arts world, something the writer has quite a bit of experience with, and mixes a little police procedural with zombies, underground fighting, and a power-hungry warlord in Uganda. A little too much for a novella, but White, for the most part, pulls it off. This Severed Press book had a lot of typos that should have been caught and even the main character's name changed at times from Tyler to Taylor. All very annoying. I've read self published books that had better copy editing than this one. Even the back of the book description is a mess. It reads way too long and convoluted. It should have been one short paragraph, enough to get you to want more, but instead, tries to fit the entire book onto one page. After reading it, if I was not a Wrath James White fan, I would never have picked this up based on that synopsis. But the Severed Press mess aside, this was a fast and enjoyable read with White really shining with authentic fight descriptions. A few fun insider nods to MMA and wrestling should delight those hardcore fans as well as zombie and genre followers. White writes very believable characters and his relationship between Tyler and Melissa helped to heighten the tension as the fight with Lester Broad approached. Solid recommendation. Not a book that will frighten you, but one that should keep you constantly entertained.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Revival (Thorndike Press Large Pring Basic); Author: Visit Amazon's Stephen King Page; Review: Revival is certainly one of the better, darker books I've read from King in recent years. Richly detailed characters cross paths over beautifully rendered decades until what seems like an unavoidable confrontation comes to fruition. More dramatic than horror, this story held a wonderfully unsettling atmosphere, pulling you back whenever King starts to wander off. Yes, this could have been edited down a bit with some fat trimmed off, but it still delivers. Early on, there were some powerful events that were quite chilling that sets up the entire story and you find yourself as haunted with the images and memories as the obsession that takes over Reverend Jacobs' life. Accessible yet complex, this is one of the few recent books where King really delivers a solid ending that satisfies. A winning recommendation that easily pushes this novel into the best King book of the past decade.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Below; Author: Visit Amazon's Ryan Lockwood Page; Review: Below was surprisingly effective for a first time author. The ultra creepy opening with immigrants asked to wait in the open water for their pickup was both effective and believable. For me, that was one of the best scenes in the book. The technical writing was simple and flowed very nicely and the dialogue felt accurate and authentic. The characters, however, were somewhat underdeveloped, but I suspect, in time, author Ryan Lockwood will only get better. I enjoyed not knowing what was killing people in the water until later in the book. Clues were laid down and it was fun to slowly uncover the terror along with the characters. An original idea with believable scientific data made the read more effective. While there were too many coincidences at crucial moments to fully accept, this was a fast, fun, somewhat scary read that has me interested to check out the author's next book. In the end, it is pretty much what you expect from the sub-genre of underwater horror stories. Fans of Steve Alten's Meg series and Peter Benchley's Jaws should be quite pleased.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Straw Men; Author: Visit Amazon's Michael Marshall Page; Review: The Straw Men, the first book in a trilogy about a serial killer called The Upright Man and his worldwide organization, is quite an undertaking. A lot of thought and research clearly went into this horror/thriller. Some fascinating theories of motivation and inner workings are brought to light, creating a more mature, organic story that feels both far-fetched and realistic at the same time. While the shifting from third person to first person was a bit jarring at times, I appreciated the author's attempt to pull the reader as close to the characters as possible, allowing us to peer into the character's mind as well as give us the God's eye view from third person perspective. Not all of the book worked for me and I could tell that certain passages of the book were written and re-written many times. The flow and prose did not feel as consistent as it should have been, but the gems in this book far outweigh the negative, which included some rather convenient coincidences that take some suspension of disbelief to get past. That aside, this book has some seriously brutal moments and genuine terror to keep even the most jaded reader flipping pages deep into the night. Whether you are already a fan of this author or interested in learning more about how this book and series was written, I would highly advise picking up the Cemetery Dance hardcover publication of this book. It contains over 20+ pages of a new author's introduction which has a fascinating behind-the-scenes story of how this book was created along with photocopies of Michael Marshall's notebook with hand written notes on the characters, story breakdown, and even overhead blueprints of some of the locations in the book. It is released as a 10th anniversary edition and is truly worth buying.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hellhole: Awakening (The Hellhole Trilogy); Author: Visit Amazon's Brian Herbert Page; Review: The second book in Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Andersons original Hellhole trilogy is very consistent with the first book. Taking place immediately after the first book ends, the authors build upon both the characters and situations, creating a more action packed second book, with considerably more deaths and political deceit. If you enjoyed the first book, you will no doubt have a good time with this one. And while certain secrets are revealed that were quite predictable, it was still a fun ride and I look forward to finishing the series with the last book in the trilogy, Hellhole: Inferno. If you did not read the first book, I would advise not to start with this one, but to read from the beginning. However, with the quick back story the authors smoothly deliver, it should not be too hard to catch on to the story. They do a nice job of not treading over old ground for too long before moving forward with the adventure. Although I prefer the authors work on Dune, for a large-scale, easy to read space opera, this series still hits the mark.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Alien: River of Pain (Novel #3); Author: Visit Amazon's Christopher Golden Page; Review: Christopher Golden's entry into the new original Alien book series is not as good as Tim Lebbon's Alien: Out of the Shadows, but better than James A. Moore's Alien: Sea of Sorrows. This new trilogy is canon in the official Alien universe and takes place between Alien and Aliens. River of Pain is what you would expect would happen in LV-426, just prior to Ripley arriving with the Colonial Marines. In fact, Golden writes scenes that are verbatim from the opening of Aliens and mixes it rather nicely throughout the book to try and seamlessly merge the events from what we know to his account on the colonized planet. I enjoyed Golden's slow build of suspense and atmosphere and how he smartly held back on the aliens for the first half of the book to allow the characters and their relationships to grow before tossing them into the inevitable grinder. Because we already know basically what happened on LV-426, the book was not as fulfilling as it could have been, but Golden's characters kept me interested. Recommended as a good bridge between the Alien and Aliens movies.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: A Head Full of Ghosts: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Paul Tremblay Page; Review: 4 AND 1/2 STARS This first experience reading Paul Tremblay is a home run, though not a grand slam. I'm glad I didn't know anything about the book or any spoilers and will review it in the same fashion, leaving you to experience the thrills for yourself. People interested in this book already know it is a book about possession and the author constantly keeps the reader guessing as to whether it is a real demonic entity or made up and the victim is just faking it. It is this part that I enjoyed the most, along with impressive atmosphere, serious tone, and beautifully rendered buildup. While I was annoyed at the blog entries that interrupted the chapters every so often, I understood what the author was going for, but it rubbed me the wrong way, regardless. The entries seemed to talk down to the reader as if they knew nothing of horror's roots - everything mentioned and dissected in the blog was common knowledge for me - and just felt like a Cliff's Notes of all things in the genre. For me, the book would have been more effective without the blog sections, and I'm tempted to give out copies of the novel to friends with those pages removed and gauge their response. The characters, for the most part, felt genuine and the dialogue quite organic. The character reactions and emotions rang true as well. Some of the imagery was also strikingly bold and if it were not such familiar ground after so many possession movies that came before it, this book would have been an instant classic. That aside, this was one of the best horror tales I've read this year and will add Paul Tremblay to my ever growing list of authors to read. This truly scary book is highly recommended.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Doctor Sleep: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Stephen King Page; Review: 2 AND 1/2 STARS I was definitely underwhelmed after reading this book. This really only had enough story for maybe a two hundred page novella, but King managed to milk this book for a near 600. While the characters were fairly interesting, I never felt Abra or Dan were in any real trouble. They always seemed to have the upper hand and know exactly what to do, so the suspense King was attempting fizzled out for me. With the exception of a couple exciting scenes and concepts, reading this felt more like work than voluntary entertainment. I'll keep the memory of The Shining intact and will probably forget about this disappointment. Recommended for King fans only. Hopefully next time he will use a better editor.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Control Point: A thrilling military fantasy to set your pulse racing (Shadow Ops); Author: MYKE COLE; Review: While not a catchy name, this genre mixing story is actually quite original. Blending various types of magic into a realistic military setting proves that author Myke Cole has tapped into an exciting new sub-genre. I was pleasantly thrilled from the beginning and although the paperback font was a bit tough on the eyes, this was a consistently enjoyable read. The technical aspects keep the narrative believable and the action is almost always easy to follow. I had a problem with the main character always flip-flopping between wanting to stay with the military or escape and go out on his own. The constant internal dialogue pertaining to this issue was a bit annoying. However, the clever ways magic is used made the story flaws worth it. Cole sets up the world and smartly sticks to his own rules, keeping the laws of magic under tight reigns. This book proves that Cole's concepts can take him on nearly unlimited journeys and I look forward to reading the next book in the series. I also enjoyed the brutal deaths and spontaneous violence throughout. With a little more atmosphere and suspense, this writer will be in even better shape. I'm not a fan of PG-13 violence, because real life is a lot harder and more cruel. Cole kept me turning pages with the various threats the characters engage with. Fans of superheroes and military warfare books should both enjoy this fresh new trilogy.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Robopocalypse: A Novel (Vintage Contemporaries); Author: Visit Amazon's Daniel H. Wilson Page; Review: I've heard a lot of good things about this book and decided to give it a try. It has many cool concepts and the emotional and personalization of the stories helps to immerse the reader in the world without feeling too forced. This was written in the same style as World War Z, where a lot of smaller stories across the globe helped to paint a larger picture of how artificial intelligence uses technology to take over the human world. However, I found nearly half of the stories were either too predictable or not very interesting. The author had a good premise, but it seemed a lot was not planned out as carefully as it should have been. His world-building had gaps where I would have liked him to cover the stages of the takeover more thoroughly to create a more believable scenario. It's a solid read, without a doubt, but I keep thinking the author missed out on some great opportunities. I'm curious what he does with the follow-up, Robogenesis.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Montauk Monster; Author: Visit Amazon's Hunter Shea Page; Review: This is my first experience reading Hunter Shea, and, for the most part, it was fairly enjoyable, if a bit predictable. The book starts off with a gruesome discovery on a beach and takes off at a fast pace from there, rarely letting up. With a larger cast of characters than your usual horror novels, I felt Shea should have concentrated on a smaller cast in order to create a more fleshed out ensemble. I liked the description and actions of the monsters but found the easy access to Plum Island too convenient. The smooth, crisp writing keeps you reading and always engaged, but in the end, it just felt like a tv movie-of-the-week, albeit one that is fast and fun. The ending, also, left me a bit underwhelmed. However, it is clear that author Hunter Shea has a lot of energy and can craft some decent sequences. After reading the premise of his new book, Tortures of the Damned, I'm very looking forward to picking that one up.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Hellhole Inferno (The Hellhole Trilogy); Author: Visit Amazon's Brian Herbert Page; Review: The final book in the Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson trilogy has come to a satisfying conclusion. Consistent with the two other novels in the series, it feels as if they wrote them all at one time without taking a break. Where one book ends, the next begins right away. While many elements were predictable, a few creative curve balls regarding alien politics and some unexpected surprises kept the storyline engaging. Although the depth of the characters were never really explored as deep as I would have liked, the scenes and action moved at such a nice pace, that flaw never bothered me too much. As a light and easy science fiction / space opera goes, this is a perfect book for beginners to break into the genre. Nothing too overly violent or sexual, with virtually no bad language, this could easily be categorized in the young adult section. The bottom line is that the authors told a good story with a variety of heroes and villains that kept me constantly entertained. The Dune series is better, but those hungry for more Herbert and Anderson should enjoy exploring this new universe, too.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Silence; Author: Visit Amazon's Tim Lebbon Page; Review: I've been reading author Tim Lebbon for years and have always thought his shorter work, specifically his novellas was where he excelled at. But recently, with the release of his excellent book, Alien: Out of the Shadows, and now this new one, The Silence, I am officially changing my tune. Finally maturing as a well rounded writer, Mr. Lebbon can write long prose just as effectively. The Silence ranks near the top as one of his best works to date. I love epic stories done on a small scale. An apocalyptic story with a small cast of characters is my preference and it seems that The Silence was tailor-made for my taste. Lebbon deftly moved the point of view between the daughter and the father and continued to build the tension and danger throughout the book. Always a fan of having a dark atmosphere, Lebbon wisely chose that route and never slid into comedic territory or cheap gags. Each character was completely believable with distinct personalities, never making choices that betrayed who their were. If I had a criticism, it would be the family's ignorance at taking their dog on the trip in the first place, especially knowing how animals react to strange things invading their territory or potentially threatening its owners. While the ending was satisfying, I admit I would be interested in a sequel (I'm a sucker for sequels). Selfishly, I hope the book sales are good enough to merit another book in the series because I would love to go back into this world and continue the journey. Highly recommended.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Robogenesis; Author: Visit Amazon's Daniel H. Wilson Page; Review: Although the technical writing is better than the first book in the series, Robopocalypse, the bombarding of adjectives and overly descriptive details made it very hard for me to get into the story. The vignettes were not nearly as entertaining as in the first book and much of the narrative felt as if the author was only going through the motions for an easy paycheck, trying to capitalize on the success of the first book. For me, this book had a few good moments but was overall disappointing. Although I would give a mild recommendation to Robopocalypse, Robogenesis is one you can skip.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Under a Graveyard Sky; Author: Visit Amazon's John Ringo Page; Review: 3 AND 1/2 STARS. This series has produced a very unique blend of horror and action, with 10% horror and 90% action. It reads like a military procedural on how to sweep through various locations (mostly boats of various sizes) and clearing out dangerous threats -- in this case, zombies. While I have read a ton of zombie books throughout the years, I cannot say I have read anything quite like this. The usual atmosphere and dread in apocalyptic zombie tales are not present in this book. Instead, the author writes with a matter-of-fact style, placing the emphasis on the characters and their motivations for surviving and helping others, and placing the zombies themselves in the deep background. The descriptions of the zombies are nearly non-existent, mainly because they die so easy and fast. However, Ringo adds realistic details of weapons and tactics to create a believable scenario that infuses the narrative with weight and an authentic energy that keeps the reader immersed in the drama. One of the odd elements I discovered in reading this book was that the main characters never seemed to be in any real danger even though they were constantly surrounded by zombies. They seemed to just destroy zombies at will, cleaning out boat after boat as an exterminator might continually sweep through rooms killing insignificant bugs. While this was not necessarily a bad thing, it was just strange to read in a zombie book. It was almost as if the author had never read a traditional zombie novel before and this is what he thought it would be. Again, not a bad thing, just different than I expected. One problem I did have was Faith's young age and nearly flawless tactical skills. It was a lot to accept, but I reluctantly went along with it because of her father's support and his early preparedness for the family. This was one of the only elements that was hard to swallow. The fast paced scenes and the bouncing around of various characters flowed smoothly and was always engaging, even if some of the dialogue was a bit awkward at times. I was surprised, however, at the dozen or so typos I discovered. The end result here is one that still has me scratching my head after finishing the book, but admitting that I had an enjoyable time reading it. I'm curious what the author has in store for the next book in the series. Perhaps after this initial setup, he will concentrate on building the danger and atmosphere now that we have grown so close to the characters. For a different take on the zombie genre, this first book is recommended.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Nekropolis: v. 1; Author: Visit Amazon's Tim Waggoner Page; Review: 3 AND 1/2 STARS My experience reading Tim Waggoner has always been incredibly enjoyable. His stand-alone novels (Like Death, Pandora Drive, and Darkness Wakes) are some of the very best I have read in the genre. Even is zombie novel, The Way of All Flesh, is in my top 5 zombie books of all time. So make no mistake, I'm a big fan of his work and honestly think he is one of horrors best kept secrets. His writing is fiercely original and uncompromisingly dark, laced many times with enough twisted sex that you find yourself re-reading passages. However, this trilogy based in a shadowy realm in a nearby dimension, populated with all sorts of familiar vampires, werewolves, talking insects, and other creatures, felt a bit too generic and familiar. A bit too PG-13. Edward Lee's Infernal trilogy was more what I was hoping for, and usually with Waggoner, just as adult. But not so. WIth the exception of a few adult descriptions and a handful of f-words, Nekropolis reads like a young adult novel. The characters were very enjoyable to follow and some of the scenes had some nicely crafted dark humor. There were still some fascinating situations and concepts (reaching into ones chest to take out a page in someones life that they will never remember was brilliant). Although this book was not what I expected and was much lighter in tone, the writing and quick scenes had me finishing it rather quickly and interested to see what comes next. So, if you enjoy that sub-genre of zombie private detective books, like the Dan Shamble books by Kevin J. Anderson, you will find a comfortable home here in Waggoner's world, too.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Maplecroft; Author: Visit Amazon's Cherie Priest Page; Review: 4 AND 1/2 STARS This was my first experience reading author Cherie Priest, and wow, did I miss the boat on checking her out years ago. This book was everything I hoped for and more. I was not sure structuring the Lovecraft mythos and blending the historical character of Lizzie Borden would work. And while it was not necessary to use Borden because this story would have worked just as well with an another character, it was interesting to see Priest explain Borden's motivation in this alternate universe. From page one, the reader is pulled into this dramatic and atmospheric story. Priest infuses each page with an undertone of dread and nervousness that will surely have fans of dark horror and Lovecraft fully satisfied. The shifting character perspectives was very effective along with the details of world building. Everything was treated with a seriousness that I very much appreciated. It started dark and maintained its heavy atmosphere until the final page. Although, in the end, it unfolded as I suspected it would, it was still a great read. I already ordered the second book in the series and hope Priest continues to write more in this world. This is one of the most satisfying horror / Lovecraft experiences I can remember. Along with Brett J. Talley's That Which Should Not Be, this was an astonishing homage to the very best of what encompasses Lovecraft.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mr. Suicide; Author: Visit Amazon's Nicole Cushing Page; Review: I really enjoyed the second-person perspective. Very few books have attempted to try this, and horror might be the most effective genre to play with a reader's emotions. Cushing does a nice job of exploring the main character's history and building on his eventual motivations for what he ends up becoming in later life. I did feel, however, the author's take on a male character a bit odd and inaccurate at times, exposing her clearly as a female author writing about a male character and his sexual thoughts, actions, etc. Perhaps she does not have much experience with male teenagers at that age, but I was pulled out of the story at times when it was obvious the author was female attempting to write about the sexual feelings of a male teenager. The actual prose and technical writing is quite effective. Author Nicole Cushing paints a very specific world in which the character lives, but I found that, predictably, the world starts to crumble and fray at the edges as our character becomes less connected with reality. The first half of the book is very effective, but the second half -- or at least the last third -- felt typical of a standard mental breakdown and was too bizarre for me to feel any genuine emotions for the character. The ending was poetic, sure, but other than the second-person perspective, the book was about what I expected. I have read stories like this many times before and was fairly ambivalent about the book as a whole. In conclusion, I think this would have worked better as a short story or novelette.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Cold to the Touch; Author: Visit Amazon's Simon Strantzas Page; Review: 3 AND 1/2 STARS This is my first experience reading Simon Strantzas and I'm very impressed. An avid horror reader, I decided to branch out a little and try this new 'Weird Fiction' movement. I have read many authors that write like this but the stories were not necessarily label 'Weird', they were just lumped into horror or dark fiction. Essentially, 'Weird Fiction' is really a sub-genre of horror, like the supernatural, and it works well for readers who would rather have their dark fiction more subtle with less overt bloodshed and explicitness. Think Charles Grant or T.M. Wright. This is the third short story collection by Strantzas and I picked this one up over his first two because I had read that this was the darkest of the three. Also, I love anything set in winter or blizzards and the cover had me hooked. While I don't mind having some ambiguity to endings, sometimes it feels like an author is taking the easy way out by making the reader decide what happened or what will happen but in such a vague way that basically any ending would fit. I don't insist to have my endings neatly tied up, but there were times with this collection I felt Strantzas could have produced a bit more clarity or focus on the endings. When comparing books to movies, the writer is director and a few stories here could have used a bit more direction in their resolution. That said, with only one exception, I enjoyed reading all of the stories. The highlights for me were "Under the Overpass", "Pinholes in Black Muslin", "Poor Stephanie", "Like Falling Snow", and "Here's to the Good Life". Many of these stories are deliciously dark and have some real tension and atmosphere. The second half of the collection is stronger than the first half, so don't stop reading early on and give it a chance. It keeps getting better. Along with John Langan and Laird Barron, Strantzas is probably in the top five of current Weird Fiction writers. It receives my solid recommendation.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Where We Live and Die; Author: Visit Amazon's Brian Keene Page; Review: Is there anything author Brian Keene cannot do? He writes novels, comic books, short fiction, produces movies, manages an updated website, organizes conventions, hosts an internationally praised weekly podcast, teaches at universities and has even helped train the FBI at Quantico. Not to mention a connoisseur and renowned critic of exotic bourbons. Let's not forget that. Or the quality time he spends with his family and two sons. For most humans, there are only 24 hours in a day, but what this talent has managed to pull off has me question the reality in which he lives and works. Has Brian Keene stumbled onto some secret portal to an alternate universe with 72 hours in a day? Does he accomplish his work and then transport back to our reality, drop off his work, answer a few phone calls and emails, and perhaps show up at a Con or two, collecting his ever-growing awards, and then disappear once again to do more work? Maybe the theory that he's a cyborg and never needs to sleep, running on an intergalactic power source is not so farfetched after all. These rumors are beginning to sound more plausible by the day. But I digress. Where We Live And Die is a delight to read. Not sure I buy how the theme of "writing" ties all these stories together, but who cares? The collection is fantastic. The novella "The Girl On The Glider" is worth the price of the book alone. Dripping with atmosphere and based on real events (99.9% apparently) make this creepy tale even more effective. The other treasure in the book is The Revolution Happened While You Were Sleeping, a beat poem that fans who really know the history of horror fiction will absolutely fall in love with. I read it with the biggest grin on my face, amazed at the references Keene put together so perfectly. Needless to say, this book deserves my huge recommendation and if anyone manages to discover Keene's secret of how he pulls off such a massive workload, please feel free to email me. I'd love to find out where that secret portal to the alternate universe is located.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Pretty Mouth; Author: Visit Amazon's Molly Tanzer Page; Review: Perhaps I bought into the hype too much, but I was not that impressed with this collection. It's good, don't get me wrong. Parts are even great. But after reading it, I was left unsatisfied. Although 60% of the collection is the story, A Pretty Mouth, my favorite in the collection was The Infernal History of the Ivybridge Twins. Tanzer really just skims the surface when dealing with the supernatural and the weirdness of Lovecraftian flavor never feels fully fleshed out. Author Cherie Priest and her Lizzie Borden series does a much better job with atmosphere and characters and succeeds beautifully in creating an almost physical sense of overwhelming dread. Something I felt this book was missing. It is undoubtedly well written, but not as good as I think it had the potential of being. Rather than jump in all the way, the author only dipped the tips of her toes in the water. Although I did enjoy the twist at the end of the title story, this collection only gets a mild recommendation from me.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Influence; Author: Visit Amazon's Bentley Little Page; Review: 2 AND 1/2 STARS A lifelong fan of Bentley Little, I can honestly say this book is one of my least favorite that he has written. It rarely felt inspired and many times read as if the author was simply going through the motions to meet his word quota of the day. While there are glimmers of classic Little in certain scenes, they were few and far between. The ending, which was literally wrapped up in what seemed like a single paragraph, was painfully inept. I understand his new book, The Consultant is much better, so I am looking forward to that. Sadly, not recommended.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Timothy; Author: Visit Amazon's Mark Tufo Page; Review: 2 AND 1/2 STARS This was my first experience reading Mark Tufo. The idea of becoming a zombie and having another entity enter and take over your body was a unique concept to the zombie genre. Sharing the same body while both souls can interact and control the zombie was a cool twist. However, once the mayhem began, I quickly realized that this book really had no story. It was nothing but a zombie in a clown suit killing and eating his victims in more and more brutal ways. Literally, that's the entire book. But worse than that, the copy editing is atrocious. Missing quotation marks and run-on sentences can be found on nearly every page. Every. Single. Page. As much as I did enjoy reading the zombie kills, I found the grammatical errors to be extremely frustrating, especially when the book was published by Severed Press and not self published. I hope Mark Tufo cleaned his work up for the sequel. Is this the copy editing that was done on his ten or so previous zombie books? God, I hope not. As far as the Timothy sequel, at over twice the page count, I'm curious as to what the story would be, if anything. Please tell me it is not more of the same. The clown zombie going from one victim to another spewing internal vulgar dialogue. It's really bizarre. Almost experimental. I admit, however, I still might have to check it out. Perhaps I like to torture myself.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Noctuidae; Author: Scott Nicolay; Review: I discovered this book after I began listening to the author's podcast, The Outer Dark, a weekly show in which he delves into the weird fiction movement with some very impressive guests. They have some amazingly deep conversations and analysis on the genre. So decided to support the author by picking up one of his books and giving him a try. Scott Nicolay's podcast is so intellectually stimulating that I just knew I would enjoy his books, and of course I did. I find myself drawn to stories with a minimal amount of characters, probably because the author can focus on each character more, especially with a novella. Noctuidae only has three characters on a camping trip, so it was a perfect setup for what I enjoy. Nicolay grounds the story with an authentic realism that makes the character's discovery even more frightening. I was wholly engrossed and felt the actions of the characters were believable based on the setup and details we learn of them. The slow build of atmosphere was a perfect fit for what this tale needed. A small criticism, however. I thought the author's overly politically correct opinions sort of seeped into the female character and caused a few moments of heavy handed dialogue. That aside, I would pick up more of Nicolay's work in a heartbeat and would love to see him try his hand at a novel length project. I think his slow build would be perfect in long form.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Nameless Dark: A Collection; Author: Visit Amazon's T.E. Grau Page; Review: T. E. Grau's collection is quite impressive. Of the fourteen stories in this book, my top three favorites are "Clean", "Mr. Lupus", and the excellent opener, "Tubby's Big Swim". Unfortunately, the first story, for me, was the best, but all were solid and above average. Some strong runner-ups include "Expat", "Beer and Wine", "Transmission", "Free Fireworks", and "The Mission". With the cover of the book being so grim and disturbing, I expected the collection to be darker than it actually was, but it was still well worth the read. I will certainly look out for Grau's name in other anthologies and collections and will keep my fingers crossed that he expands "Tubby's Big Swim" into a novel. Grau is one of the stronger new voices in the new weird fiction movement. Solid Recommendation.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Reservoir Gods; Author: Visit Amazon's Brian Knight Page; Review: 3 AND 1/2 STARS Extremely fast paced and engaging story that takes place over the course of one grueling day when a terrible storm hits a local lake where a groups of characters finds themselves in a fight for their lives against each other, nature, and a pair of incredibly oversized fish. Author Knight really puts the pedal to the metal, throwing the reader into one dangerous situation after another. There's a really charm to the energy in this book and although there might be one too many coincidences to realistically swallow, almost any horror, thriller, or action lover should be satisfied. Numerous twists and turns and short chapters and mini-cliffhangers will keep the reader flipping pages, most likely finishing the book in two or three sittings. While a few areas felt a little predictable, Knight more than makes up for those minor flaws by killing indiscriminately, never letting the reader get comfortable with any one character. Some of the descriptions are quite impressive and have a clear cinematic vision. While a few times the action gets a touch muddled, the breakneck pace of the story and spontaneous violence should leave you with a satisfied grin on your face once you finish it. Recommended.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Psycho House (Tor Horror); Author: Visit Amazon's Robert Bloch Page; Review: Like most horror fans, or even movie fans, I have seen and loved the 1960s Psycho at least half a dozen times. Not to mention the sequels. However, when I came across Robert Blochs paperback, I realized that I had not read the source material and that, being a classic, I should probably read it. Well, shame on me. I read it and after only a few pages I realized how foolish I had been all these years by not reading it sooner. Robert Bloch is a wonderfully writer, both technically and as a storyteller. His economy of words and his choices were perfect for this story, immersing the reader into the world of Norman Bates. He sets up every aspect of Normans relationship, as well as the peripheral characters, masterfully. Even knowing the outcome with the twist ending, the tension and suspense were still incredible and had me reading nonstop, finishing the novel in only two sittings. This classic quickly jumped into my top 10 books of all time and I cannot recommend this enough. Robert Blochs Psycho should be mandatory reading for every horror and thriller fan. It is simply brilliant. I now know why Mr. Bloch is considered such a legend in the genre. You only need to read this book to see why.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Husk; Author: Rachel Autumn Deering; Review: 3 AND 1/2 STARS Very engaging and believable characters and dialogue that rings true. The writing flows smoothly which makes an easy read. The weakest parts, for me, were the monster visions. They seemed to come out of nowhere and disappear nearly right away with little or no buildup or aftermath. The only other issue I had was that although the book is a novella, the first 4/5 feel like the pace of a full length novel (in a good way). The last 1/5, however, felt rushed like a movie on fast forward as if the author had to keep the word count limited under a fixed amount. Although I would have liked a more consistency throughout the final few chapters, this was an enjoyable read from an author who clearly has talent to write dark fiction with a authentically rich tone that does not shy away from uncomfortable material.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Robert Bloch's Psycho: Sanitarium; Author: Visit Amazon's Chet Williamson Page; Review: Writing something in the world Robert Bloch has created is a mighty feat indeed, and veteran author Chet Williamson has done a admirable job, but one that, ultimately, was not on the level of the master Bloch. While the premise of the story taking place after the original Psycho while Norman is locked in a Sanitarium sounds fascinating, the people he encounters were fairly standard; the crazy bully, the mean orderly, the caring nurse, etc. But there is enough interesting moments to keep the reader engaged. Norman's dialogue was fairly consistent with his character in the first book/movie and since I had just read the original, I was looking forward to more of Norman's quirky personality. However, there is not much of it and even his appearances in this book were scarce. It felt as if Norman were only in less than half of the story, while the other half were other characters that were sort of bland and uninteresting cliches. I wish the book was focused more on Norman and perhaps delved into his past as a child through his counseling sessions at the hospital. However, there were a few twists that were quite enjoyable, and Chet managed to pull off a very entertaining ending that I actually did not see coming. Bravo to that. In the end, this book gets a mild recommendation and any fan of Norman Bates should give it a try if for no other reason than to meet up with his character once again.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Every Time We Meet at the Dairy Queen, Your Whole Fucking Face Explodes; Author: Visit Amazon's Carlton Mellick III Page; Review: Carlton Mellick is by far the most consistently entertaining author I have ever read, regardless of genre. His stories always range from great to brilliant and "Every Time We Meet..." is no exception. Once the setup to the story begins, things sort of go as expected and it felt as if Carlton has pulled back on the reigns a bit, but the heart of the narrative is so well done, it did not matter that this story felt more mainstream than usual. The characters were a delight to read and felt completely authentic. The dialogue had such a believable ring to it that I had flashbacks to grade school and all the peer pressure and bullies and first crushes came flooding back in my memory. Where Mellick really hit it out of the park was the ending here, and some jaw-dropping concepts he introduces involving the male protagonist. Truly amazing work. Not my favorite Mellick, but in the top 10 for sure.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Cuddly Holocaust; Author: Visit Amazon's Carlton Mellick III Page; Review: 4 AND 1/2 STARS For me, this is one of Mellick's best books. A truly bizarro concept taken completely serious and drawn to lengths of unimaginable levels. Some really dark moments and ideas in this and not for the timid. I love when Mellick comes up with a crazy idea and then shoots that idea with steroids to make it even more insane. This book is certainly in that category. For new readers, this is a great book to start with as an example of Mellick at his best and what he can do with storytelling. Monstrous recommendation.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Dracula Tape; Author: Visit Amazon's Fred Saberhagen Page; Review: Whether you are a fan of the Dracula mythology or any type of vampire lore, this book is joy to read. Written from Dracula's perspective, the reader experiences another, more personal side of the dark lord that is utterly fascinating and highly addictive. The dialogue and descriptions of each location are wonderful and even familiar areas from prior knowledge of Dracula seem to have a freshness that keeps you completely hooked. This book has a classic feel to it and I can see myself reading it again every few years. It's that good.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Going Home: A Novel (The Survivalist Series); Author: Visit Amazon's A. American Page; Review: 3 AND 1/2 STARS I heard this author interviewed on a podcast and was intrigued with the premise and his personal expertise in survival strategies and decided to give this book a try. Fortunately, I was pleasantly surprised. While the writing is very simple, the storytelling is engaging and the characters are fairly interesting and likable. The details involving gear were specific but not overly descriptive in a way that distracted from the story. For the most part, every action and character decision felt believable. I enjoyed the progressive danger the main character began to experience as each day without power increased the tension and likelihood of something bad happening. A few parts could have used a better editor to rework some repetitive words, but it was mostly a smooth read. My only other complaint was the shift in perspective when, halfway through the book, the author branches off from the protagonist Morgan Carter to other characters. It felt awkward at first, and although I enjoyed reading Carter more, the other side stories had some decent excitement as well. I'll be checking out the second book in the series, for sure.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Train Derails in Boston; Author: Visit Amazon's Jessica McHugh Page; Review: This was my first experience reading McHugh, and although I enjoyed reading it, I felt it would have worked much more effectively as a novella. There was simply not enough story to sustain a 300+ page novel. The dysfunctional family issues felt repetitive for the first two thirds and only picked up during the final third of the book, where the actual story kicked in. And even then, the story details all seemed a bit too convoluted and forced. I'm convinced a solid editor could have turned this into a real gem of a novella, not to mention catch the obvious but rare typos. And while the graphic descriptions of sex were enjoyable, they were not nearly on the level of a Wrath James White or Edward Lee. Regardless, I did find most of the character interactions authentic and the dialogue believable and has me interested to see what McHugh writes in the future. My initial 2 and 1/2 star review gets bumped up to a full 3 because of the incredibly mind-blowing ending. Without spoilers, I can say that I don't think the gimmick the author used on the last page has ever been done before -- at least not that I am aware of. That alone, for me, was worth the price of the book. In the end, this book is recommended with reservations.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: I Am Providence: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Nick Mamatas Page; Review: I was not sure what to expect with this book, as I heard a lot of hype about it on various podcasts and internet circles prior to the book's release. Although I appreciated the insiders experience and humor of some of the ridiculousness that goes on at a genre convention, the constant poking fun of nearly everyone that was not 100% politically correct got old very quickly, and more than a little annoying. The writing, technically, was solid and the scenes and chapters flowed nicely into the next. However, none of the participants seemed genuinely concerned with anything that was going on, which, ultimately transferred to myself, the reader, and by the midway point in the novel, I really did not care who the murderer was, or the fate of anyone involved. I was hoping for something a little more serious and sophisticated with this book. But it all seemed to be an insider poking fun at the views and personalities of others at their expense, with very little actual substance. It came off many times as mean spirited, as if the writer cannot seem to handle others having their own opinion without negatively pouncing on them. I'll probably read more by author Mamatas in the future, but I'll do my homework a little better when researching exactly what the book is about. I enjoy most anything related to Lovecraft, but this was one story that, for me, fell short.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The First One You Expect; Author: Visit Amazon's Adam Cesare Page; Review: This is my first experience reading a Adam Cesare book, and I will definitely be reading more. Although initially the story starts off about an independent micro budget filmmaker and his struggles to continue his hobby of sleazy slasher-type projects, as soon as he meets the character of Anna his world, and our, story kicks into high gear. The behind the scenes details involving low budget filmmaking is very accurate and clearly the author or his friends has experience in this area. The less the reader knows about the story, the better. It really takes a delightfully dark turn and begins to pay rewarding dividends. The ending, however, felt too abrupt and I could have easily spent more time with these characters. Good horror recommendation for a highly enjoyable novella.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: I Will Rot Without You; Author: Visit Amazon's Danger Slater Page; Review: This book is a great example of what a Bizarro story can be. All the great elements of what roughly defines Bizarro can be found in I Will Rot Without You. Besides Carlton Mellick, Danger Slater is probably the best writer I have discovered that can handle this genre with complete command and make it look easy. Anyone interested in giving this weird fiction style a chance would do well to start with this book. Slater takes the common themes of pain, regret, and loneliness of life after a difficult breakup and thrusts the reader into a wildly imaginative story involving some very memorable characters and loads of nasty, sticky scenes of bugs and bodily fluid. One of the best Bizarro books of the year and easily one of the best writers in this field. The only glaring issue I had were a number of typos that should have been caught before publication. Hopefully Slater's next book will get a few more reads from pre-readers and editors before going to press.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Dirty Deeds eBook; Author: Visit Amazon's Armand Rosamilia Page; Review: 2 AND 1/2 STARS After listening to the podcasts on Project iRadio, I began to get hooked on two of the shows, both hosted by author Armand Rosamilia, specifically a podcast titled, "The Mando Method", where he talks about the ins and out of writing, from marketing to editing, and blogging to websites for fans, etc. It's a fascinating show and after listening to him for a number of months, I thought I would support Rosamilia and give one of his books a try. I was surprised that Dirty Deeds won the Kindle Scout Award, because after reading it, I can't say I necessarily disliked it. I just found myself shrugging my shoulders at how average it felt. Other than the premise of a hired killer of children who fakes their death to place the kids in a better life, the story really played out as you would expect to see on an 80's TV movie-of -the-week. Anyone who has read other thrillers will be in awfully familiar ground with very little, if anything, original. I suppose his online and podcast fans all voted for this book, beating out others who probably deserved it more. Perhaps a panel of veteran writers would have been a more fair choice to be judges. But back to the book. The writing, although fairly edited well, was pedestrian with vocabulary on the level of a ninth, maybe tenth grader. Besides the annoying open ending, I found a few continuity errors that really bugged me. The most egregious was that after the character of Marisa tells our protagonist, James, that all his money has been lost due to a unknown professional hacker, James continues to spend money like its water and the loss of money is never mentioned again. But maybe I missed something. I really didn't have the time nor the inclination to go back and check. The main character is likable enough at times, but everyone felt so shallow and cookie-cutter that I ended up being underwhelmed at the overall product. Not to mention the "novel" is much closer to a "novella", but priced as a full novel. At only 200 pages, $12.99 is way too steep for such a short book, when there are top publishers putting out $7.99 novels by great authors that are easily 400 or 500+ pages. And while I'm a firm believer in quality over quantity, this has neither. In conclusion, Rosamilia gets the job done, but as for reading more of his work (unless he is in an anthology or co-written with someone) I don't think I'll be seeking him out again, especially since Dirty Deeds is one of his newer titles and should be his most polished and accomplished to date. I can't imagine what his older writing is like. Instead of using daily word counts as his goal, he should instead focus on quality as his objective. Word counts mean nothing if what you are writing is not very engaging. I also noticed that his book covers look very amateurish and slapped together with very little effort; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Visible Filth; Author: Visit Amazon's Nathan Ballingrud Page; Review: 4 AND 1/2 STARS What a great introduction to this author. I am constantly searching for adult books that are dark and twisted and this really hit the spot. I've heard Nathan Ballingrud's name mentioned in various podcasts as being one of the premiere writers of the weird and dark fiction genre. Winner of the prestigious Shirley Jackson Award and a finalist of the World Fantasy, British Fantasy, and Bram Stoker Awards, this relatively new writer has taken the dark fiction world by storm. Atmosphere is one of my favorite elements to seek out in horror, and this book delivered, and then some. Solid characters, believable dialogue, and an intriguing mystery make The Visible Filth one of the best horror Novelette/Novellas of the year. My favorite type of writers are ones that are as strong technically as they are in telling a great story, and Ballingrud fits the bill perfectly. Perhaps the ending revelation could have had a smoother transition to what was happening, but it is sometimes nice to fill in the blanks with ones imagination. I've already purchased Ballingrud's short story collection and as long as he writes material this strong, I plan to buy everything he puts out. This disquiet little tale, although short, is well worth your time and money. I believe in quality, not quantity, and this story is a real gem of quality. Highly Recommended.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Fisherman; Author: Visit Amazon's John Langan Page; Review: I have been hearing a lot of praise about John Langan over the past few years and I finally got around to picking up one of his books. The Fisherman is quite an undertaking, weaving the past and present into one of the best examples of literary horror as I've read in ages. Rich, dark atmosphere pervades each page, carrying with it an underlining sense of impending cosmic dread. Believable characters with organic dialogue keep you reading with an uneasiness until the satisfying ending. My only complaint were some of the descriptions of the fisherman attack. It seemed to be a touch overwritten and confusing. A more concise account would have been more effective. That aside, friends that don't like reading gory or slasher horror might be pleasantly surprised at how powerful and deliciously creepy this is without all the bloodshed.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: A Brutal Chill in August: A Novel of Polly Nichols, the First Victim of Jack the Ripper; Author: Visit Amazon's Alan M Clark Page; Review: I first encountered Alan M. Clark from his amazing artwork on various book covers and interior illustrations. What a delight to discover that he was nearly as talented as a writer, as well. Like most horror fans, I have always had a fascination with Jack the Ripper. Perhaps the fact that he was never caught or how cleverly he avoided capture is the reason he is still so popular today. Regardless, I was a bit disappointed in his almost non-existent appearance in this book. I understand that it was about the life of the first known victim, Polly Nichols, but the book is quite misleading in prominently displaying him on the cover. I realize that is a marketing thing, but still, a few additional chapters or book-ending the story with Jack the Ripper would have been nice. Ripper aside, the story of Polly Nichols was very engaging and although the matter-of-fact writing style of Clark took a little getting used to, I was more than satisfied with the end result. The dialogue and descriptions really paint an accurate picture of life in England at that time. It reveals a dark and sad tale of a woman who always seems to have good intentions but veers off the path into choices that continued to set her back and doom her life. Recommended to all readers of dark fiction, regardless of genre. Curious how the other victims' lives will be told, I already bought the other two books in the series.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Depraved; Author: Visit Amazon's Bryan Smith Page; Review: Although I read Bryan Smith before and almost always enjoy his work, I somehow never got around to reading Deranged. But when I found out Deranged 3 was out, I decided to read them all as a trilogy, back to back, since having a part three in horror fiction is quite rare. Horror movies, yes, but rarely in horror novels, especially ones that throw the number 3 after the title. I can tell Smith really had fun writing this book. It comes across as a wonderful mix of Edward Lee, Richard Laymon, and a touch of Jack Ketchum. While Deranged is based in reality with events that could happen, the addition of a supernatural element had me bothered at first. However, what the author did with the more fantastical parts was ultimately satisfying and completely worth it in the end. Graphic, over-the-top, perverted and refreshingly politically incorrect, Deranged is not for everyone. However, if you enjoy reading the authors I listed above, you will be right at home for the horrors that await. Smith's fast-paced chapters and changing protagonists nearly guarantee a great reading experience. I can't wait to start book number 2.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Caged 1: A Post-Apocalyptic Dystopian Thriller (Zombie Lockup Series) (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Chuck Buda Page; Review: 1 AND 1/2 STARS Oh, boy. Where do I start with this one? While I will continue to enjoy listening to author Chuck Buda on his podcast show, The Mando Method, I'm fairly certain I will not be reading any more of his books. At least for a while, anyway. Caged is apparently the first in a series of zombie books which is advertised as a 'Post-Apocalyptic Dystopian Thriller'. I guess Buda thinks 'zombie' is a bad word and 'horror' is beneath him so he goes with 'thriller' instead. Maybe he hopes to get a larger audience with thrillers. As Joe Hill recently said at book signing, if you write horror, embrace it. Call it what it is. Don't be ashamed. But I digress. Jail characters with such clichd names as 8-Ball, Joker, Drippy, and BJ feel straight out of a bad 1980's TV movie-of-the-week. They all spout embarrassing dialogue and make decisions that just make you shake your head and pray the story gets better. Ridiculous character choices such as the Warden deciding his wife and children are not worth even checking on during the outbreak are laughable and completely unbelievable. That the prison guards seem to not own cell phones or listen to the radio or television to discover what is happening in the outside world is beyond suspension of disbelief. And after reading this book, I need to suspend my disbelief why I even managed to finish it. This also might be the first book I have read where the author's name is not on the cover. Why? Is Buda embarrassed to put his name on it? Not only is there no atmosphere, tone or style, but the violence, when it happens, is bland and predictable. Mr. Buda also needs to understand that if books are enjoyable, one does not need to have a cliff hanger at the end in order for the reader to come back for the next installment. A stunt like that feels cheap and only pisses off the reader. Like the Lord of the Rings movie trilogy, each installment should have a satisfying conclusion within a continuing larger story. Also, a high daily word count means absolutely nothing if the quality of what you are writing is subpar. Unfortunately, anyone who has read other zombie books will not take away anything new from Caged. Perhaps Buda's other books are more engaging, but this one misses the mark on many levels by a mile.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Terra Insanus; Author: Visit Amazon's Edward Lee Page; Review: More for Edward Lee's hardcore fans, this short collection give you a good idea of what Edward Lee is capable of. Wildly insane descriptions of sex and over-the-top violence are the norm in this book. He writes with a constant wink to the audience to let you know he is very aware of how silly everything is, but yet how fun it is to write it. The nice thing about this book is that the last story (The Sea-Slop Thing), which is also the most enjoyable, appears here for the first time in publication, so fans who are familiar with Lee's work will have at least one new story to look forward to. While the book is a bit too short, I was glad I picked it up. Edward Lee is always a good time if you have the stomach for it and a good sense of humor.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Depraved 2 (Volume 2); Author: Visit Amazon's Bryan Smith Page; Review: 4 AND 1/2 STARS The sequel to author Bryan Smith's popular Depraved is better than the first book in every way possible. The writing itself shows a vast improvement over the original story, both technically and creatively. In Depraved 2, Smith also ratchets up the violence to unbearable levels, taking the reader into truly taboo territory. Reading almost exclusively horror, it takes an awful lot to make me uncomfortable, but this book had me feeling queasy and sick at certain points. In a good way, of course. With Depraved 2, Smith continues the stories of a few of the characters from the original book and as hard as it is to believe, puts them in even more violent scenarios. It took a few years, but this author has finally rose to the extreme level of Edward Lee and Wrath James White, but with even better and more polished writing. While I would certainly recommend this book to horror fans, I would still advise starting with the first book in the series. And yes, there is a third and planned fourth book as well. Sign me up!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Terrible Thing That Happens; Author: Visit Amazon's Carlton Mellick III Page; Review: Reading the synopsis of The Terrible Thing That Happens, I really loved the premise, but the execution is even better. Mellick introduces the reader to the world right away, a desolate wasteland where dying is inevitable. One just tries to survive as long as you can. Our protagonist, Chocky, soon discovers something that potentially changes everything for not only him, but for all survivors. Mellick has really outdone himself with this one and I really connected with it. The characters, world building, dialogue and reactions are all perfect in my book. The twists and turns, especially the revelation near the end was so flawless and amazing, it nearly took my breath away. Perhaps this book is not as 'weird' as some of Mellick's other stories, but I am interested in good and original storytelling and don't care about if it should fit into typical Bizarro or horror or whatever categories. This book gets my highest recommendation.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Depraved 3; Author: Visit Amazon's Bryan Smith Page; Review: 2 AND 1/2 STARS Reading this next book in author Bryan Smith's hardcore horror series, I immediately felt out of place, like perhaps he took the characters from his previous books and shoehorned them into another setting in an attempt to merge them together into a story. After finishing the book with its disappointing ending, I discover in the author's afterword that he did exactly as I had assumed. Smith readily admits wanting to recreate the WIP (Women In Prison) exploitation films of the 60's and 70's and translate that into a novel. And while I enjoyed the book for what it was, he virtually added nothing new to the subgenre, something I had thought for sure he would have done with ease, especially knowing his prior work. Unfortunately, we get scene after scene of mildly violent clichs with predictable outcomes in a very unrealistic setting. This was a big disappointment for me, especially since Depraved 2 was one of my favorite books of the year, even better than the original. Author Smith mentions at the end of this book that he is planning a part 4 somewhere down the line. I just hope he returns to what made the series great in the first place.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Devil's Guests; Author: Visit Amazon's Matt Shaw Page; Review: Hardcore horror author Matt Shaw brings some impressive horror talent to write individual chapters involving hotel guests that meet untimely and gruesome deaths at the hands of a Norman Bates-type owner. I think Shaw would have been more effective to write the book himself or allow the guest writers to have their own original stories in a hotel of horror anthology, because many of the stories did not fit very organically into the overall narrative. The strongest stories, for me, came towards the end, with the best three being written by Jasper Bark, Wrath James White, and Mark Tufo, with honorable mentions to authors Sam West, Kealan Patrick Burke, and Jeff Strand, for their strong contributions. The remaining authors were all solid as well, but not quite at the level as the ones I mentioned. Still, this was an enjoyable read and contained some rather wildly inventive torture sequences. The ending felt too short and overall could have used some additional editing or smoothing out. I would still recommend this book, especially with the amount of quality horror authors involved.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Where the Dead Go to Die; Author: Aaron Dries; Review: 3 AND 1/2 STARS A few years ago I remember reading Asylum by Mark Allan Gunnells and enjoyed it so I thought I would give this book a try, especially since I support this publisher and the cover art for this book is amazing. The premise for Where The Dead Go To Die was intriguing and after finishing it, I can say it was well worth the purchase. There was enough originality to keep this zombie book separated from the other hundreds of stories on the subject, but the characters and setting is what made it, for me, stand apart. The dialogue, as well, felt believable and organic, but at times, the writing seemed to be a touch overwritten. Parts of the narrative felt slow due to some unnecessary descriptions and odd detours the writers decided to travel. However, they didn't pull any punches with this story in sparing innocent lives, and although I strongly think it would have been a much more effective novella, the buildup and ending raised it from 3 stars to 3.5. This is a solid addition to the genre and definitely recommended.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Last Days; Author: Visit Amazon's Brian Evenson Page; Review: Last Days is one hell of an absorbing and genuinely fantastic read. I had been hearing a lot of Brian Evenson lately and wanted to give him a try, so I read through the synopsis of his books and this one seemed to be the most up my alley. After reading it, I can guarantee you I will be picking up more by this author. Evenson's voice is beautifully original and the only other author I can slightly compare him with is the late great Tom Piccirilli, which is the highest compliment I can give someone. The story and descriptions are strikingly sparse, allowing the reader to fill in the blanks. But the other advantage of this writing style is that it gives Evenson the ability to move things along a breakneck pace. His brutally spontaneous violence is a joy to read and had me savoring each page with delight. I never knew what was going to happen next and his dialogue is beyond perfect, very similar to the style of the brilliant David Mamet. This incredibly original story is one I will not soon forget and gets my highest recommendation.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: SuperGhost (The New Bizarro Author Series); Author: Visit Amazon's Scott Cole Page; Review: I enjoyed this semi-bizarro book by Scott Cole. I say semi because although the concept is quite clever, most of the book really doesn't get all that weird or outrageous. Yes, the superghost itself is pretty wild, but everything else felt fairly pedestrian. I never really connected with any of the characters and a lot of the plot elements were predictable. Some of the coincidences were also a bit laughable at times, but I realize a lot was intentionally silly, so that didn't bother me too much. Cole moved the story along at a nice pace and had a couple of cool ideas that made this book worthwhile. At times the tone moved from serious to wacky and then back again, so I was not sure what the author was going for. But in the end, I was glad to pick it up and would be curious to read what Cole comes up with next. His writing flows nicely and although it wasn't as bizarro as most of the other titles I have read, it is still recommended, especially for people on the fence about trying out bizarro and not wanting something too crazy to start with.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Year's Best Weird Fiction Volume 1; Author: Jeffery Ford; Review: I was delighted to discover that some of the best short fiction in the weird genre now has a home in one volume. Supposedly culled from over 2,800 stories from all mediums, I was extremely excited to dive into what appeared to be an annual compilation. Unfortunately, one of two thing is wrong with the final selections. With no skin in this game, I am completely impartial, but this is my opinion. I easily spend a few thousand dollars per year on books (paperbacks, hardcovers, and special signed editions) and read as much as I can in the dark fiction/horror genre. Many of the selections in this first volume simply don't belong here, not necessarily because they are not good enough, but they don't belong in the weird fiction category. Whether its nepotism or the editors are trying too hard to be politically correct, half of the stories should not have been selected in a volume labeled weird fiction. The editors seem scared to properly describe this sub-genre, instead they throw out vague and all-encompassing descriptions of what weird fiction is, that basically, by their very description, amounts to nearly all fiction that is written. So let me be the leader here with the guts to step up to the plate and tell it like it is. Sure, the definition of weird fiction can vary slightly from person to person, but at its core, weird fiction must give the reader a sense of dread or have a tone of helplessness, as if whatever choice the character makes will not matter because their fate is already sealed. If you go back to the roots of this sub-genre, that is what weird fiction is all about. Dread. Helplessness. Fate. In this volume, the true weird film stories that I enjoyed were stories by Simon Strantzas, Chen Qiufan, Damien Angelica Walters, John Langan, Scott Nicolay, and John R. Fultz, with my favorite being written by Jeffrey Thomas. These authors clearly seem like they understand the genre and I look forward to reading more by them. I have already started reading the second volume in this series and can see the ship is slowly being steered back in the right direction to what weird stories are all about. Recommended for the seven authors I mentioned above.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Troop; Author: Visit Amazon's Nick Cutter Page; Review: The Troop starts off with incredible energy and a sense of dread that makes you feel that anything could happen to an unsuspecting group of young Boy Scouts on a weekend adventure. Terror is ratcheted up even more when they meet a crazed stranger with an unnatural hunger. Things, of course, escalate from there, but seem to move in a direction of predictability, but nonetheless entertaining. I found not only the style and structure way too similar to Stephen King, but also the sidebar of internal humorous comments that constantly pulled me out of the story. They screamed of King and anyone with any familiarity with that technique knows exactly what I am referring to. Fortunately, the premise was strong enough for me to keep reading, but I wish Cutter could have kept to his own voice. At times, I found some of the writing to be too overly descriptive, which slowed the narrative and is another King mistake. But aside from a few technical holes here and there, this was a solid read and makes me interested to read another book by this author. Hopefully he got his Stephen King style out of his system and can write more freely without being scared to keep things dark and be true to himself.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Year's Best Weird Fiction, Vol. 2; Author: Visit Amazon's Kathe Koja Page; Review: 3 AND 1/2 STARS. This second volume in the Year's Best Weird Fiction series is a step up from the first volume. It seems co-editor Kathe Koja actually has a clue about what weird fiction actually is and has selected a very respectable collection, at least for the first half. While the tone is fairly consistent throughout, I found that the first half of the volume is noticeably better than the second half. I give each story a number rating from one (terrible) to ten (masterpiece) and the average rating for the first half - ten stories - received an average score of 6.3, while the second half - the last ten stories - only received an average score of 5.3, a full point lower. It was clear to me that the editors front-loaded their best stories first, which is fine, but it would have been nice to have a better balance for an overall reading experience. My favorites in this collection, receiving a score of 7, were written by Karen Joy Fowler, Cat Hellisen and Rich Larson. The two best, receiving a score of 8, were written by Nathan Ballingrud and K.M. Ferebee, who really nailed this genre, producing some very chilling work. Looking forward to the next volume!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Aliens: Bug Hunt; Author: Jonathan Maberry; Review: This anthology was a huge surprise for me. 18 stories (15 original) by various authors in the horror and sci-fi genre wrote various takes on the Colonial Marines from the Alien franchise. Different characters from different times gave you a fresh perspective with each story. Even the weakest stories were still fairly strong and at least satisfying enough to read. As most anthologies go, this book, edited by Jonathan Maberry frontloads the stronger stories up front, but there are still some great work later on. I always rate short stories from 1 (terrible) to 10 (masterpiece) and then find the average and this book came in at an impressive 7.05 rating. This anthology is such a great read, I encourage editor Maberry to consider releasing a second volume, as there is certainly plenty of untapped adventures for the Colonial Marines to explore. Here is my rundown: ALIENS: BUG HUNT CHANCE ENCOUNTER by Paul Kupperberg - 8 REAPER by Dan Abnett - 9 BROKEN by Rachel Caine - 8 RECLAMATION by Yvonne Navarro - 8 BLOWBACK by Christopher Golden - 6 EXTERMINATORS by Matt Forbeck - 7 NO GOOD DEAD by Ray Garton - 5 ZERO TO HERO by Weston Ochse - 8 DARK MOTHER by David Farland - 6 EPISODE 22 by Larry Correia - 7 DEEP BACKGROUND by Keith R.A. DeCandido - 7 EMPTY NEST by Brian Keene - 7 DARKNESS FALLS by Heather Graham - 7 HUGS TO DIE FOR by Mike Resnick & Marina J. Lostetter - 8 DEEP BLACK by Jonathan Maberry - 7 DISTRESSED by James A. Moore - 5 DANGEROUS PREY by Scott Sigler - 7 SPITE by Tim Lebbon - 7; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Exercise Bike; Author: Visit Amazon's Carlton Mellick III Page; Review: Not surprising, Mellick hits another home run with Exercise Bike. A great concept of a world in which calorie counting and governmental monitoring of your healthy eating habits are the law, creating a black market of rich and fatty foods. These ideas were a little too close to home, just coming off Michelle Obama pushing her ideals of what children should be fed at school and New York City mayors banning salt and large size sodas. It's crazy. Mellick really exposes this governmental overreach in a very entertaining way. My only problem came with the character of Federico and the secret of his underground restaurant. That angle seemed a little too pedestrian for Mellick and when the violence started, I felt like I've read that part of the story many times before. Aside from that, I had a great time reading this and as usual, this author never fails to impress me. Solid recommendation.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Void; Author: Visit Amazon's Brett J. Talley Page; Review: Brett J. Talley's 2011 book, That Which Should Not Be was, I believe, my favorite book of that year and really impressed the hell out of me. However, this one was a definite step down. Too similar to Event Horizon, I didn't care for all the dream sequences that really bogged down the middle of the book. Although it had some of Talley's wonderful atmosphere, there was not enough throughout, and left me feeling average about the novel, bringing very little new to the genre. After reading the synopsis, if anyone has read something similar, you won't be surprised at this one. It was solid, but I much prefer his first book and look forward to reading its sequel, He Who Walks In Shadow.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Ritualistic Human Sacrifice eBook; Author: Visit Amazon's C.V. Hunt Page; Review: 4 AND 1/2 STARS Holy smokes! I was so in the mood for a book like this. On the surface, it might seem graphic and totally crazy, but it reads like a slow burn that, of course, culminates into what you might expect, but with some nice twists and revelations. C.V. Hunt writes more like a male writer than most male writers combined, and that's a complement. She really hit this one out of the park for me. Before the novel starts, she mentions that it was influenced by Bentley Little and Bret Easton Ellis, and you can clearly see their mark on her style and mindset. It was a daring choice to follow a protagonist that is so unlikable, but he's such a jerk, you end up actually liking him anyway in a weird way. The town's characters are very memorable and each have distinct traits that really breathe life into the narrative. Believable dialogue and character choices (with maybe one or two exceptions) make this an incredibly entertaining read and easily in my top 5 horror books of the year. The emphasis on tone and atmosphere was near perfect. Think of the dread and paranoia in the movie The Wicker Man and you'll know what I mean. This is the type of book that makes me want - no, need - to buy everything the writer puts out. As you can tell, I loved it!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: To Sail a Darkling Sea (Black Tide Rising); Author: Visit Amazon's John Ringo Page; Review: 3 AND 1/2 STARS To Sail A Darkling Sea, the second book in John Ringo's zombie series with a military sensibility is as good as the first, which is both good and bad. Good, because if you enjoyed the first, you will most assuredly like this one, but bad, because he brings virtually nothing new to the table with this sequel. We get more of the same great dialogue and military strategy for taking care of zombies, but very little in the way of story or an actual driving plot. As usual, no major characters are ever in any real danger and author Ringo makes zombie hunting seem as easy as cracking an egg on a pan. The introduction of Walker seemed to be quite promising and the ending had a nice impact, but I really hope Ringo plans out his stories better and builds upon these fun characters instead of just making them go through the motions like a video game. Recommended only if you have read the first book in the series.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bigfoot Cop; Author: Visit Amazon's Kevin Shamel Page; Review: 3 AND 1/2 STARS My first experience with author Kevin Shamel was a very enjoyable one. On the surface, one might think this book is a comedy, but surprisingly, it was quite layered and deep, exposing a sensitive character. There was some real emotions infused in this story and although it gets a little crazy in the end, it had enough heart throughout for me to recommend. The writing was solid and police procedural element was effective in hooking the reader for every chapter. I could easily read another story with this Bigfoot character and although not perfect, it was a great imaginary escape I am glad to have taken a chance with. A nice mix of action, comedy, drama, violence, and sex, this was another great selection from the publisher Eraserhead Press.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Bazaar of Bad Dreams: Stories; Author: Visit Amazon's Stephen King Page; Review: This short story / novelette collection is very enjoyable and has a lot of variety. As with most collections, the editor here front-loads the book with the best stories, the top three being "Mile 81", "Bad Little Kid", and "The Dune". Those three really grip the reader and keep the tension and paranoia at significantly high levels. Many of the other stories feel a bit pretentious at times and seem to ramble a too much, clearly needing another round of editing. However, even the worst story here is fairly decent and the book is worth buying for the three I mentioned. This solid performance from King shows he still has what it takes to be near the top. Recommended.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: As She Stabbed Me Gently in the Face; Author: Visit Amazon's Carlton Mellick III Page; Review: It's no secret that Carlton Mellick III is the godfather of bizarro fiction and still remains the writer to beat with the highest quality of bizarro fiction currently on the market. It seems like he dedicates his entire life to the bizarro genre and it shows. However, everyone stumbles at some point, and for me, this book is where Mellick stumbles. Only a bit, mind you, but enough to garner my first 3 star rating from me. Ever. The first two-thirds of the book is a fairly normal narrative with only a hint of bizarro. Not a whole lot happens until the final third when Mellick's style and original bizarro qualities final emerge. Don't get me wrong, the book is very entertaining, but it just doesn't have that classic Mellick magic I'm used to reading. This guy is truly a legend in the making and has already cemented himself as a grandmaster of bizarro. But for new fans, I would choose another title as a jumping off point.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Grunt Life: A Task Force Ombra Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Weston Ochse Page; Review: This is the first book in an alien invasion trilogy told from basically a military perspective. Author Weston Ochse clearly knows his weapons, military jargon, and tactics, which gives the narrative an authenticity, immersing you in the world of the characters. And the characters, here, are one of the main reasons to read this. Flawed, distinctive, and never one dimensional, I got the sense Ochse drew pieces of each person in the story from his own actual life experiences. The book moves at a fast pace with constant danger around nearly every corner. Scenes are always building to the next challenge and not everyone makes it out alive. The unpredictability of who survives is one of the book's attributes and although I got hooked on some that died, it was a decision that rang true from the nature of the battle, so no complaints here. One of my only criticisms were the time transitions between some chapters, where huge chunks of time had elapsed and we had to catch up to the world through the eyes of the protagonist, Mason. There was so much that could have been explored with the initial invasion, I felt more time could have been spent getting news updates from the outside world in order to paint a picture of what was happening which would have increased the dread and importance of Ombra's mission, instead of information dumps every few chapters. However, a few minor complaints aside, this series has really hooked me and I have already lined up book number two in my TBR list. Ochse can take this story in so many directions, I can't wait to see the choices he makes and the new dangers that await. Alien, science fiction and military action enthusiasts would be greatly advised to give this a try.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: I Knocked Up Satan's Daughter: A Demonic Romantic Comedy; Author: Visit Amazon's Carlton Mellick III Page; Review: 4 AND 1/2 STARS Mellick comes out swinging in this excellent bizarro tale. A wacky blend of romance, comedy, and Troma-type violence, I Knocked Up Satan's Daughter is a lot of fun to read. The relationship of the characters feels authentic from their perspective and the journey Mellick takes us on feels familiar yet original at the same time. Because events seem to conclude how you might expect in a romantic comedy, Mellick still delights in reminding his audience that his Tarantino violence is still alive and well in this bizarro world. I really loved the whole lego theme in this book and blending it with the magic of Lici worked well. This is definitely one of the better books by Mellick and a perfect entry point for the female readership, although men should enjoy it just as much. Recommended.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Island 731: A Thriller; Author: Visit Amazon's Jeremy Robinson Page; Review: The premise of this book was very intriguing and, for the most part, delivered what it promised. Scenes move very fast and the characters had some depth. While readers definitely need to suspend disbelief for a lot of the outlandish science and the speed of the mutations, the book was entertaining throughout. Although not blown away because so much was predictable, I would be interested in reading more of this author. I was surprised to find a few typos in this book, especially considering it was a St. Martin's Press title. I would have expected that in a self published book, but not from a company as big as they are. Fans of John Carpenter's The Thing and The Island of Dr. Moreau should have a good time with this one. A lot of coincidences aside, this book gets a mild recommendation for horror/thriller readers.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Extinction Horizon(The Extinction Cycle Book 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Nicholas Sansbury Smith Page; Review: 4 AND 1/2 STARS Fast paced and hyper focused on the action, this military zombie book is one of many in a series, and, if you are like me, you will not want to stop at book #1. Good characters and solid dialogue are consistent throughout. But the world building and almost constant danger that will keep you hooked. Author Smith trims the fat off his scenes and propels the reader through the book like a summer blockbuster movie. Smith's zombies are original enough to stand out from the crowd of Walking Dead clones. By looking at the author photos, you would not think a meatball jock could write so well, but this guy is a natural storyteller and the narrative moves as smooth as silk. I already picked up the 2nd and 3rd books in the series and if the rest are as good as this one, I'll be on for the full ride. Personally, I would like it a bit more edgy, but this is still one of my highest recommendations this year.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Twice Upon an Apocalypse: Lovecraftian Fairy Tales; Author: Visit Amazon's Armand Rosamilia Page; Review: I was excited upon hearing the concept of this book, and being a fan of most everything related to Lovecraft and his mythos, I picked it up immediately. However, most of the stories, for me, were predictable and didn't seem to have much of required tone, dread, and suspense that it should have. There were a few stories that stood out among the others from writers J.P. Hutsell, Bracken Macleod, Winifred Burniston, and Matthew Baugh. The highlight that really nailed all the beats with creeping prose was the last story, "The Legend of Creepy Hollow" by Don D'Ammassa, who is no stranger to this subject matter and perhaps why his work stands out among the others. This collection certainly gets an A for effort, but only a C in results. Mild recommendation but credit must go to Crystal Lake Publishing for trying something new.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Horrorstor: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Grady Hendrix Page; Review: 3 AND 1/2 STARS Horrorstor is a book with a theme that horror author Bentley Little would write. In fact, Little DID write a great book about an evil store, called simply, The Store, modeling it after a Walmart type franchise. This book, although more of a young adult read and not nearly as frightening as The Store, has some nice moments and good characters. The technical writing was smooth and easy to read and I would recommend this book to newer or younger readers of horror as an entry level journey into this type of genre material. I look forward to seeing what Mr. Hendrix comes up with next and very much looking forward to reading his non-fiction book, Paperbacks From Hell, on the history of horror paperbacks from the 70's and 80's.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Extinction Edge (The Extinction Cycle Book 2); Author: Visit Amazon's Nicholas Sansbury Smith Page; Review: Extinction Edge, the second book in the ongoing apocalyptic modified zombie series is an enjoyable read, but not nearly as good as the first book (a full star rating lower). Immediately reading this book, I noticed quite a few continuity errors that should have been picked up by the editors, especially since the series was already in print prior to being picked up and distributed by Orbit/Hachette Book Group. For example, at the end of the first book, there is a huge scene on a rooftop in New York where a billboard explodes and crushes some Variants. However, the second book replays that event from another viewpoint and the explosion never happens! Other details not as glaring also seemed to have slipped by everyone working on this book. On page 146 the author describes a dense fog that covers the island but then describes a storm that threatens on the horizon. Huh? How can you see the horizon in a dense fog? Another example is a Variant is described as having a missing arm, but then shortly after the same zombie is described as using "both claws" to attack. Once again, huh? It is errors like this that unfortunately pull me and other readers out of the story and I really wish Orbit or the author or editor would have gone over the manuscript more carefully. When I pay $10 for a mass market paperback, I don't expect to get a product with so many mistakes. As far as the content goes, the scenes still flow very nicely and much of the action is quite good. However, some of the larger "twists" about the location of the Variants were very predictable and I could see the surprise a mile away. I will keep reading the series, but sincerely hope the next book has fewer errors and less predictable.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Home Is Where the Horror Is; Author: Visit Amazon's C. V. Hunt Page; Review: This is only my second book I have read from C.V. Hunt, but so far she is batting 1,000. No female writer I have read in this or any genre has written from the male perspective with such accurate insight and authenticity. I am a big fan of the slow build and this was near perfect. I did think the end was a bit off the rails but still enjoyed this one tremendously. A few annoying typos aside, hardcore horror fans should give this a try and as long as they have patience, it will pay off. I usually don't say this about books, but this one could have been even longer and still carried the suspense and intensity. Not quite as satisfying as Ritualistic Human Sacrifice, but still a huge recommendation. I can't wait for her next book!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: New Fears - New horror stories by masters of the genre; Author: Visit Amazon's Mark Morris Page; Review: 3 AND 1/2 STARS I had heard this collection was coming out months ago and was looking forward to reading it because it seemed to have a nice mix of veteran writers and some new names I had not heard of before. It was surprising to see Alison Littlewood and Sarah Lotz on the cover over larger horror names such as Brian Keene, Adam Nevill and Stephen Laws, but perhaps the first two writers I mentioned have a larger following in England. It didn't seem like a wise marketing choice, but I'll let that up to the publisher. As for the content, all of the stories were entertaining to some degree, but the two real standouts were Josh Malerman and Ramsey Campbell, whose entries had a real sense of dread and buildup and clearly better than any of the other tales. However, I discovered four others that were quite strong by Stephen Gallagher, Angela Slatter, Brady Golden, and Brian Lillie. The rest were readable, but nothing amazing. However, the authors I named elevated the collection into the realm of a solid recommendation to any horror fan. Most of the stories were subtle and not in your face, so fans of gore or extreme violence should be aware that this is not that type of book.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Spider Bunny; Author: Visit Amazon's Carlton Mellick III Page; Review: Author Carlton Mellick usually has three to five completely unique and original concepts on every page he writes. However, with his latest release, SPIDER BUNNY, he might have three to five throughout the entire book. Although I enjoyed reading it, for a Mellick book, it was a bit of a letdown. Many scenes felt repetitive and nothing really surprised me. The description on the back of the book is exactly what happens inside and, unfortunately, not much else. For a bizarro genre book, Spider Bunny is a solid read, but coming from a grand master such as Mellick, I was underwhelmed and felt the story was uninspired. For new readers, I would recommend some of Mellicks other titles to give them a taste test of how powerful and mind blowing this author can be. Spider Bunny is not one of them.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Escaping Home: A Novel (The Survivalist Series); Author: Visit Amazon's A. American Page; Review: While not the world's best wordsmith, author Chris Weatherman, aka Angry American, is a solid storyteller and improves his craft with this second book in the ongoing series. Finally merging the different stories proved very effective and really pulls the reader in their world. The characters go through some harrowing ordeals in this entry and include some truly gruesome and tragic events. I was glad Weatherman never pulled any punches and although not politically correct, he stuck to his guns and wrote what many of us feel. I admit I am hooked on this series and really getting into the prepping culture. For me, this book was even better than GOING HOME, and I look forward to the third entry. For realistic apocalyptic action, look no further. A hearty recommendation, but newcomers should read the books in order.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Extinction Age (The Extinction Cycle Book 3); Author: Visit Amazon's Nicholas Sansbury Smith Page; Review: The zombie danger increases with this third book in the Extinction series. Although author Smith begins to build a little more depth with the main characters, Reed Beckham and Kate Lovato, things seem to have leveled off as far as unique storytelling. I do wish he would spend more time on atmosphere and building suspense so the action would be more tense. However, the final climax was quite a shocker and has given me faith that the next book in the series should be an interesting ride. The twist sort of feels like cleaning the slate and will be worth picking up the next book.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Hematophages; Author: Visit Amazon's Stephen Kozeniewski Page; Review: 3 AND 1/2 STARS A unique and entertaining science fiction horror novel with some good ideas that mostly pay off. Sometimes I found chunks of back and forth dialogue to be confusing, not knowing which character is speaking. I would have to go back and re-read sections to figure out who is saying what. That was annoying and broke up the flow of the book. The spontaneous violence was nicely surprising and highlighted the danger of the mission they were on, although most of the big twists were predictable. Also, for being so far in the future, I thought the author could have done a more thorough job of world building. The story takes place insanely far in the future but you would hardly know it. Some of the scene transitions felt as if details were skipped or deleted in the editing process, and at time were awkward and jarring. I enjoyed the overall book and would read author Kozeniewksi again depending on the material. Although this novel is recommended, it is not as good as I would have hoped based on all the hype and reviews. Veteran readers of space horror will have read most of this before.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Corpse and the Girl from Miami; Author: Visit Amazon's John Urbancik Page; Review: 4 AND 1/2 STARS There is no question John Urbancik is a legitimately great writer and this latest book really entertains. His style is as distinctive as Tom Piccirilli or Brian Evenson. You read just a couple sentences and you know immediately who wrote it. I appreciate the risk Urbancik took with this novel, blending various genres into a sort of a dark crime-noir-supernatural-horror story. And while some elements worked better than others, it succeeded admirably most of the time. I guess my one criticism is that I felt the material really only needed a novella length to tell the story, maybe around a hundred and fifty pages or so, not the three hundred it ended up being. The beginning was a very slow build up that might throw some readers off with so many unanswered questions, but if they stick with it, the payoff is worth the journey. Great dialogue and intensely flawed characters make this one of the better books in the past year, worthy of many top ten lists I have seen from 2017. My suspicion is that this might even be more enjoyable after a second read. Highly recommended.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Arborist; Author: Visit Amazon's P.T. Phronk Page; Review: I heard about this book on Brian Keene's podcast, The Horror Show, and it sounded right up my alley. A more quiet, literary horror tale reminiscent of the great T.M. Wright with a touch of cosmic dread, The Arborist has a nice mix of story and style. Author Phronk zeroes in on the protagonist's obsession and really steps on gas, and before you realize what is happening, you find yourself in the middle of a David Lynch film. I think this book would have been more enjoyable if it was longer as the novella length story only gave me a taste of Phronk's world-building. But perhaps the author has other plans to revisit this story in a longer form. If so, count me in. The Arborist is an acquired taste, but still gets my solid recommendation.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Doomsday Bunker; Author: Visit Amazon's William W. Johnstone Page; Review: While Bill Johnstone might not be around anymore, I think this story would have made him proud. A realistic and well-paced scenario that was quite addictive to read. I did find a rather large continuity error where a character does not know about a secret that is kept from them but the next chapter they seem to have discovered it without the reader knowing how, as if a chapter or section was accidentally removed or edited out. Other than that, I really enjoyed this and would welcome a sequel to see what happens with the surviving characters. Interacting online with Bill many years ago on various message boards, I was reluctant to pick up anything that was just using his name to sell books. However, this book had many aspects about it that Bill would have written himself and I plan on picking up more titles by J.A. Johnstone because of this. The man might be gone, but his legacy lives on!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Fallen Boys: A Novel of Psychological Horror; Author: Visit Amazon's Aaron Dries Page; Review: 4 AND 1/2 STARS The one thing that this book proves is that Aaron Dries can write, and boy does he do it well. Gripping, flawed characters and a heartbreaking journey delve into a pit so dark, some readers might never find themselves back into the light. The Fallen Boys is a seriously adult story with a hell of a twist. A blend of Jack Ketchum, Edward Lee, and Richard Laymon. This book is the real deal but squeamish readers should be warned. The final third is extremely graphic and brutal, nearing the level of writer Wade H. Garrett. My only problem with the book was a scene in a morgue, where author Dries very briefly jumped the shark and what began as a realistic, emotional story entered into the land of Troma films and out-of-left-field gore for no reason. This pulled me right out of the story, but fortunately, the small section was over quickly and the story returned back to earth with its realism. One of the best books I've read this year. Aaron Dries has catapulted into my top 15 must read horror writers being published today.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hell's Teeth: A Deep Sea Thriller; Author: Visit Amazon's Paul Mannering Page; Review: 3 AND 1/2 STARS This is my first experience reading author Paul Mannering. The books premise was very intriguing as I love a good shark thriller, and Hells Teeth (great title!) was not disappointing. Perhaps the action developed too fast, but I enjoyed every moment of it. The terrorist setup for what occurs was a twist I did not see coming and was a welcome surprise. More time could have been spent detailing the wonders of the deep and building more tension and suspense with atmosphere, but Ill definitely be checking out more of Mannerings work after this. My only other criticism were the convenient coincidences that occurred to move the story from point A to point B, but for a summer beach type of read, I let that go. A fast-paced read, fans of MEG author, Steve Alten, should have no problem gobbling this up. Hells Teeth is another solid title from Severed Press. Keep em coming!; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with movies/shows as follows:
Title: The Big Blue (1988); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Chappelle's Show: Season 2 (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Queen of the Damned (2002); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: National Treasure (2004); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: The Emperor's New Groove (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Very Long Engagement (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Garden State (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Alexander: Theatrical Cut (2004); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Little Black Book (2004); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: The Professional (1994); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Raising Helen (2004); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Fifth Element (1997); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Jeffersons: Season 1 (1975); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: The Barbarian Invasions (2003); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Chris Rock: Bigger & Blacker (1999); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Riding Giants (2004); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Sex and the City: Season 6: Part 2 (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Layer Cake (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Tibet: Cry of the Snow Lion (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bus 174 (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Machinist (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Da Ali G Show: Season 2 (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Central Station (1998); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Mango Yellow (2003); Rating: 1.0/5.0 | netflix |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Kiss of the Night (Dark-Hunter, Book 5); Author: Visit Amazon's Sherrilyn Kenyon Page; Review: Kiss of the Night is an excellent book. Both Hero & Heroine have a lot to overcome. Their conflicts are twofold coming from external forces as well as their own inner predjuces. Sherilyn Kenyon keeps the heat on through out the story. Every woman needs a little Wulf in her life. Can't wait for Night Play to be released!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dead to the World (Southern Vampire Mysteries, Book 4); Author: Visit Amazon's Charlaine Harris Page; Review: If you want a fun romp this is it. Couldn't put it down and am now waiting with bated breath for the next Sookie adventure. Please let Eric be there!!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Outsiders; Author: Visit Amazon's Melanie Jackson Page; Review: If you are interested in a unique fantasy world Melanie Jackson has created one. The lutin world is scary and her heros & heriones are a great blend of myth, legend and magic. Dragons, Goblins and Death Fey Oh My!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: All Summer Long (Fool's Gold, Book 9); Author: Visit Amazon's Susan Mallery Page; Review: Loved the book!! Susan Mallery's Fools Gold series is fantastic. Ms. Mallery can tell a story that takes you on a roller coaster of emotions, I particularly love the humor she injects in each of the couples stories. Fools Gold is a place I would love to visit again and again. Luckily there are several books in the series and are as good the second time around. I have read Susan Mallery books for several years now and she is one of the authors I've come to depend on, she never disappoints.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: On Dublin Street (On Dublin Street Series); Author: Visit Amazon's Samantha Young Page; Review: On Dublin Street I finished On Dublin Street today, it took two days and I could only put it down when my ipod needed a recharge. The book was hot, but more than that it told the story of a young woman overcoming the tragedy and fear in her life. For me an adventure or a story with a plot is more interesting that page after page of sex, don't get me wrong sex is good but there has to be more. Actually sometimes I prefer YA's even though I'm well past that age simply because they do have to have a reason to be written other than sex. On Dublin Street was more, totally enjoyed the book. Thanks for the story, Samantha Young.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Whole30: The 30-Day Guide to Total Health and Food Freedom; Author: Visit Amazon's Melissa Hartwig Page; Review: Very helpful!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Glass Gargoyle (The Lost Ancients) (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Marie Andreas Page; Review: A really fun read. And although there is no sex there is a hint of things to come & handsome men are in the book. So this writer doesn't rely on sex but adventure to keep things going, but if there is relationships in the future there is a build up. yeah!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Girl's Guide To Witchcraft (Red Dress Ink); Author: Visit Amazon's Mindy Klasky Page; Review: A fun little book and a great way to spend the afternoon!; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Outdoor Products 345;Pack Ultimate Dry Sack; Brand: Outdoor Products; Review: I love these dry sacks! I use them to organize any variety of gear when I am camping or even on a day picnic. They are the durable enough to keep items dry as side from complete submersion for any length of time. I really like the variety of different sizes to accommodate large to small items. These bags are also very versatile with regards to the roll top compression closure. Keeps things compact as you need and organized.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: SE TP126-3 Set of 3 Waterproof Plastic Pouches with Hook and Loop Closure; Brand: SE; Review: I have only used the mid size bag so far but do have to say that it worked beyond perfect. I had my iPhone, wallet, etc in the bag. the day was one of those in the clouds, misty on and off kind of day to the point that it may well have rained due to the amount of moisture that precipitated. The bag kept my belongings exceptionally dry. There wasn't even a hint of dampness inside, which I fully expected. The large will easily fit an iPad. I have no hesitation using any bag for wet or even sandy/dusty conditions seeing how the mid size bags performance. The bags are higher density that other bags I have seen. Good quality materials and workmanship. all seems are tight and firm.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: BLACKHAWK! SERPA CQC Concealment Holster - Matte Finish; Brand: BLACKHAWK!; Review: I purchased this holster as a new CCW carrier. The holster comes with a belt receiver as well as the paddle receiver which is really great. Most other retailers do not sell as such - you get the belt or paddle and you need to purchase the other. The Blackhawk Serpa CQC Level 2 holster secures my firearm extremely well right out of the box. I did go through and made slight adjustments to get the most out of the holster. I really like that the holster covers the trigger guard as well so there is no possibility of negligent discharge. The construction of the holster is second to none. I like hard "click" when the firearm is holstered. That sound leaves no doubt that you firearm is secured. I also really like the design of the index finger holster lock release which rails your index finger WHERE IT SHOULD BE. This does take some practice and trying different cant angles that suits your firearm draw pattern. Changing the cant angle is does with three screws on the back of the platform (same for belt and paddle holster). This does take a minimal amount of time if you switch between the belt and paddle holster but the screws provide a secure mounting to the base platform. Hence, why I bought the Blackhawk Serpa CQC Level 2, to flawlessly secure my firearm. My particular application is for a Glock 30 subcompact pistol. I did have to wait a few weeks but the seller was able to acquire sooner than expected. Definitely well worth the wait!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: UTG Heavy Duty Elite Law Enforcement Pistol Belt with Dual Mag Pouches; Brand: UTG; Review: I purchased the UTG Heavy Duty Elite Law Enforcement Pistol Belt w/ Dual Mag Pouches as a secondary platform for my level 2 holster for use on the range as well as comping. The belt is rigid but yet playable enough to be comfortable. I like the ease of the belt stays. The belt adjustment is a little timely as you need to move (or remove) the stays, mag pouch to undo the hook and loop and make your adjustment. That being said, the belt holds adjustment extremely well. I have had other belts that tend to slip/expand during use. Overall I am very pleased with the UTG Heavy Duty Law Enforcement Belt and expect may years of good use from it!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: UCO Cocoon Neoprene Cover for UCO Lantern; Brand: UCO; Review: I purchased the UCO Neoprene Cocoon Cover to protect my lantern while hiking/camping etc. The cocoon is quite sufficiently thick enough to protect the lantern in the tightest conditions. It is easy to get the lantern in and out of the cocoon. I pack my lantern everywhere "just in case". It is nice to know that the lantern will be in working order.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Glock 03374 Disassembly Takedown Tool for Pin Punch; Brand: Glock; Review: The Glock disassemble tool is the perfect tool for the complete strip down of your firearm. The item came when promised by the seller. Good quality construction. Can't say much more...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: CONDOR Rip-Away EMT Pouch; Brand: CONDOR; Review: I purchased the Condor Rip-Away EMT Pouch to build my own enhanced IFAK (Infantry First Aid Kit). The pouch is extremely well constructed from high quality materials. The craftsmanship is really top notch. All the seams are straight and even, there were not hanging threads or excess material at the seams in the interior. The unit is a clams shell design with a third layer fold out which is a zippered mesh pocket for loose/small items. I have a plethora of medical supplies from small band-aids to (5) 4"x4" gauze compress and everything in between as far and wound treatment. A few other items include: ace bandage, multiple medical tape rolls, EMT shears, tweezers, burn gel, triple antibiotic, hand sanitizer, hand wipes, alcohol wipes, cortisone cream, mole skin, 3 pairs of nitrile gloves, and the list goes on. There pouch holds all of the above and there is plenty of room for more. I plan to add Celox packet and a tourniquet and I expect to still have room. In short this is a great pouch by Condor of which I come to expect nothing but the best from. Thanks Condor and Amazon!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lee Precision 9-mm Pro 1000 Luger (Multi); Brand: LEE PRECISION; Review: I looked around for over 6 months and researched until the cows came home. Yes, the Lee Pro 1000 is the least expensive of the other presses (RCBS & Dillon), but the Lee Pro1000 really handles everything you need from the smallest caliber to 223. I reload 9mm, .40 & .45 and the press is flawless. There is a small learning curve to get the proper set up, the manual/directions are scant but easily figured out by close observation and a little help from youtube. I am completely satisfied with what I expect from the Pro1000.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: RCBS 87460 Partner Press; Brand: RCBS; Review: Excellent and reliable press that can handle any caliber reloading needs.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: LEE PRECISION 90652, Pro 1000 Progressive Press Shellplate, 2 (45 Acp); Brand: LEE PRECISION; Review: Works extremely well with 9mm & .40. Easy setup in Lee Pro100 press.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: LEE PRECISION 90667, Pro 1000, Load-Master Progressive Press, Case Collator; Brand: LEE PRECISION; Review: A must for loading any caliber. Definitely helps speed up the brass feeding/reloading process!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: LEE PRECISION Pro Case Feeder Large; Brand: LEE PRECISION; Review: Nice addition for large brass (.40 & .45). Complemented with the case collator to speed the brass feeder process.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Sports_and_Outdoors |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: In the Garden of Iden: A Novel of the Company; Author: Visit Amazon's Kage Baker Page; Review: Baker has come up with a variation on the "future do-gooders go back in time and meddle with history" theme, in which, in order to avoid paradox, the work is all done by people from the past. Children or teens who are about to die are recruited, modified physically so that they will live forever, and given assignments to preserve "lost" treasures from the past, which will later be "discovered" in the future by the Company. In this first episode, a girl known only as Mendoza is saved from the Spanish Inquisition and sent to England under Bloody Mary to preserve plants from a private gentleman's garden, the "Garden of Iden" of the title. She falls in love with a mortal, with disastrous and heartbreaking results. The book is well-written in a direct, if not particularly artful, style. The characters and motivations are complex enough to avoid most of the usual cliches. In particular, Baker uses her scholarly knowledge of the Elizabethan era to depict the clashes between Catholic and Protestant forces in England with considerable depth and sympathy. I haven't read any of the sequels, but if they measure up to this book, this series should be a source of considerable entertainment.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hominids (Neanderthal Parallax); Author: Visit Amazon's Robert J. Sawyer Page; Review: The idea of this book, in which there is contact between our universe and an alternate one in which the Neandertals inherited the earth, is promising. Unfortunately, that's the most I can say for this book. Turns out the Neandertals are all a bunch of Sensitive New-Age Guys, and I just couldn't get past their cloying sweetness. Yes, they're sexually egalitarian, and non-violent, and they don't pollute, and they are just generally too damn nice to be real or interesting. Our universe, on the other hand, is fraught with conflict, but it's rendered so one-dimensionally as to make it equally boring. Early in the book a woman is raped (in the Homo sapiens universe, of course) and while the assault is in progress, she's thinks "It's not about sex...It's a crime of violence." No doubt true, and maybe someone being attacked might choose that moment to review some pamphlets from the local women's center, but it seems to me that some original or individual response might make her seem more like a real person.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Strength Training Anatomy; Author: Visit Amazon's Frederic Delavier Page; Review: This is a great book. It's not an overall workout guide; rather, it gives detailed information on a wide variety of weight exercises, with beautiful anatomical illustrations that show exactly what parts of what muscles are involved in each one. If you're lifting weights and you want to really know what you're doing, this is an absolutely essential reference.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Weight Training Workouts that Work; Author: Visit Amazon's James Orvis Page; Review: This may be a good book for someone who is just starting out in weight training, but even at that I don't think it's worth the price. Most of the book is charts for you to fill in with weight lifted and reps during your workouts, which you could easily make yourself on a spreadsheet. There are relatively few exercises described, and really no workout options to speak of. If you're ready to slavishly follow this author's ideas (which aren't backed up with any evidence in particular), then it's a complete package deal. I prefer to have some evidence to convince me that one strategy is better than another, since exercise books differ so widely in what they tell you. You could get much more and better information for planning a workout routine, and far better descriptions and pictures of exercises, for free at exrx.net.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Life and Adventures of James P. Beckwourth (Bison Book S); Author: James P. Beckwourth; Review: Beckwourth was a fascinating character; born to a black mother and a white father in 1798, he was apprenticed to be a blacksmith but ran away, and eventually made his way to Colorado and other areas of the western mountain and plains states. He became a chief of the Crow tribe, as well as a scout for the U.S. Army. While this account of his life is widely considered to stretch the truth somewhat, historians agree that he did live a remarkable life. It's an interesting read -- obviously Bonner didn't record Beckwourth's own words, but couched it in florid 19th century prose, which actually gives it a sort of peculiar charm. It's also not particularly artful -- events occur that I kept imagining foreshadowed something or other, and then turned out just to be incidents with no narrative significance at all, making the book seem more realistic in the end. I was often reminded of Thomas Berger's Little Big Man; the eponymous hero of that novel is adopted into the Sioux and eventually serves as a scout for Custer. The language and attitudes of Berger's characters seem so reminiscent of Beckwourth's story that it seems certain he must have read it. Apparently plains Indians really did talk about people getting "rubbed out," an expression frequent in both books that I previously had associated with gangsters. A real peculiarity of Beckwourth's autobiography is the fact that it never makes any mention of his race. Although the edition I read is part of the series "American Negro, His History and Literature," the book itself leaves the impression that Beckwourth was white -- he even refers to another adopted native as a "mulatto." Beckwourth displays a casual attitude toward killing, particularly killing of Native Americans, in this book. He appears to be, if not racist, certainly "culturist," as he frequently denigrates Native Americans, both his enemies and his friends, only to idealize them and their way of life in the next breath. How much of this is Beckwourth and how much his "editor," we can't tell. The end of the book is jarring; he marries Pine Leaf, the warrior woman whom he has wanted throughout his time with the Crow, and then almost immediately abandons her and goes back to "civilization" with hardly a second thought. All in all, this book is filled with raw, rough-edged adventure, and provides some genuine insights into the American West. While its cultural biases are difficult to empathize with today, they serve as a reminder of just how different our attitudes have become in 150 years or so. Worth reading.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Chalet Les Sorbiers; City: Les Deux Alpes Isere Auvergne Rhone Alpes; Review: No welcome from the hosts. Very unfriendly/couldn't have seemed less bothered if they tried. No flexibility or eagerness to please displayed. Food terrible - bland, too carb-tastic and simplistic. Cakes were rubbish! Back to Neilson next year!; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Griya Villas and Spa; City: Amed Abang Bali; Review: Stayed here for 1 night in November 2014. Absolutely amazing just doesn't cover it! Attentive staff, fantastic views and villas with everything you could ever need. Amazing private infinity pool with great views for sunrise. Lovely Bathroom was a highlight. Breakfast was lovely with a good choice and great food.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Orfeas Hotel; City: Mytilene Lesbos Northeast Aegean Islands; Review: Terrible hotel. Tatty, drafty, showers that don't work, dirty sheets and a reluctance to resolve any of these things. Staff take offence when you bring up these problems and it seems a big inconvenience to even listen to you let alone help resolve any of these things.Would not recommend; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Privilege Floor by LOTUS BLANC; City: Siem Reap Siem Reap Province; Review: This hotel is beautiful and the staff cannot do enough for you. They are friendly, very considerate and are available to attend to your every whim 24/7. We were given a phone by which we could contact our butler at any time should we need help/advice/transportation. Breakfast which was included is out of this world as is poolside bar service. We went on a couple of excursions arranged by the hotel which we thoroughly enjoyed and very reasonably priced too. Cannot wait to return!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Heliopic Hotel Spa; City: Chamonix Haute Savoie Auvergne Rhone Alpes; Review: Nice style. Parking available at 10e per night. Clean rooms, nice pool although a lot of kids shouting a lot when we were there. Sweets in reception are a nice touch. Internet access is slow but ok. Very close to aiguille du midi lift. Close to restaurants and bars if that's your bag.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Island; City: Reykjavik Capital Region; Review: This hotel is fairly modern from the outside and in the lobby but the rooms are dated and could definitely do with an update. Breakfast was good as was food in the bar. Around a 45min walk to very centre of town. Taxi costs roughly 3000 isk. Hairdryer in rooms and shower but no bath.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Blue Green The Lake Spa Resort; City: Vilamoura Quarteira Faro District Algarve; Review: Stayed here for one night. Truly amazing service and complex close to the hustle and bustle of things but far enough away for my liking ;-) gorgeous grounds and the restaurant was incredible. Biggest sandy bottomed pool in Europe too.Would heartily recommend!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Villa Termal das Caldas de Monchique Spa Resort; City: Monchique Faro District Algarve; Review: Really average place. Rooms dated and the bedroom complex looks a bit like a prison. Bad lighting at night and unkempt grounds-paths with tiles missing etc. Ate at the restaurant which was pretty poor. There must be some better places locally.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: West End Hotel; City: Mumbai Maharashtra; Review: Staff really unfriendly to females but not males (obviously!). Shabby and very outdated. Unclean and not family friendly. Whole place needs knocked down and rebuilt. Expensive restaurant with substandard food and chargeable WiFi...; Rating: 1.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Darksiders; Brand: by
THQ Nordic; Review: Great game, especially for the PS3 since I have heard the 360 has issues with screen tearing. If you like God of War and you like Zelda, chances are you will like this game since it basically is the 2 combined (with a little bit of Panzer Dragon thrown in for good measure). Definitely worth 4 out of 5 stars.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Split / Second - Xbox 360; Brand: by
Disney Interactive Studios; Review: I really had a lot of fun playing this game but the tracks are very repetitive and there are not a huge selection of cars to choose from. I would recommend this game to anyone who likes burnout type arcade racers. If you can pick it up cheap or rental I guess that would be my ultimate recommendation. It is fairly short and the replayablity really is pretty low (unless you play online a bunch which I don't).; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Yakuza 4 - Playstation 3; Brand: by
Sega; Review: So if you have played Yakuza 3 (or even one of the previous games in the series), this game is not going to be much of a suprise. It is a beat 'em up at it's core with some RPG elements thrown in. If you have not experienced the world of Yakuza, this is a great place to start. It covers the stories of the first 3 games in the memories section of your hideout. The reason I say to go ahead and start with this one is that it has everything that the others had and then some. It is definately the best game in the series yet (although you may be somewhat put off by it's not-so-next-gen look). If you like beating the crap out of people in games, Japan, and RPGs, look no further: this is a must have. If you don't like beat 'em ups, weird Japanese games, and RPGs, you probably want to pass on this.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: DS Mini Backpack Case for Nintendo DSi and Nintendo DS Lite, Dark Blue; Brand: by
PDP; Review: I got this for free with my 3DS so I can't really complain... but I will. This thing is a piece of junk. Poorly constructed with no place to carry games. You can tell that the zipper is going to break at any second. Don't waste your money.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Shadows of the Damned - Xbox 360; Brand: by
Electronic Arts; Review: I love me some crazy games. I love SUDA51 and I love Swery65. In case you don't know those are the guys who directed respectively "Killer 7" and "Deadly Premonition." Mix that with Resident Evil (but with better controls) and you get "Shadows of the Damned." SUDA51 (Killer 7, No More Heroes) and Shinji Mikami (Resident Evil, Vanquish) come together to make some sweet music together in this awesome shooter/horror-fest. Great pacing and plenty of crazy thrown in make for a fun experience for me. If you are not into weird games then you may want to stay away from this one. I for one love weird and I love to shoot demons so this game has a great appeal to me. I was somewhat skeptical seeing as how the last Resident Evil did not impress me at all. I was disappointed at the Westernization of the game and having someone by your side when you are going around in a horror game takes a whole bunch of the horror out of it. I am hoping they go back to the things that made Resident Evil 4 the best game in the franchise. But again as I do in most of my reviews, I digress. This game is fun (albeit a little short)- hence the 4 stars for the game overall. It is well worth the price if you are like me and you like some weird and crazy sprinkled in with your shooters.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_Video_Games |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Panasonic Headphones On-Ear Lightweight with XBS RP-HT21 (Black & Silver); Brand: Panasonic; Review: Very nice headphones for the price. Thanks; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Headphone 40mm Ear Foam Pad Cover for Sony Q21 Q22 - 4 Pairs; Brand: Zanyzap; Review: These will stretch to fit to a certain extent. My ears are happy.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: (Set of 12) Transparent Color Correction Gel Lighting Filter / Colored Overlays / Tinted Plastic Film; Brand: ChefLand; Review: Many uses. Nice colors.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: HP v165w 16GB USB 2.0 Flash Drive - Blue - P-FD16GHP165-GE; Brand: HP; Review: Great to have a large capacity flash drive at a good price.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Silicon Power 32GB USB 2.0 Flash Drive Thumb Drives Memory Stick U05 USB 2.0 Capless Design Black (SU032GBUF2U05V1KAB); Brand: Silicon Power; Review: Good to have on hand for saving files.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Electronics |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Frogwill Boys Dinosaur Short Sleeve T-Shirt Top Tee Size 2-10; Brand: Frogwill; Review: So small my son only got to wear it once. :/; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Soft Half Cotton Sarong with Tassels & Beads; Brand: Passion4Fashion; Review: Loved this wore it on a cruise. did get very wrinkled though... another one i have had for about ten years still isn't wrinkled. other than that this is really cute and fit well/ I am 5'10" and approx 135lbs; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Anleolife 12'' Princess Fairy Tutu Dress Ballerina Basic Girls Dance Dress-Up Tutu; Brand: Anleolife; Review: My daughter loved this tutu it is adorable on her. She's 3 and about 35lbs it fit her well and will definitely last her a while.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: U.S. Polo Assn. Boys' Long Sleeve Single Pocket Sport Shirt; Brand: U.S. Polo Assn.; Review: Nice shirt. Fit my 4 year old really well. He liked the shirt too was was a huge plus for my picky child.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Skechers Kids Mega Blade Sneaker (Little Kid/Big Kid); Brand: ; Review: My four year old thinks they are cool. Although I had hoped the bottom (soul) of the shoe would be a little more bouncy it's not bouncy at all. Just as hard as any other shoe with a thick soul. My son is very weary of new shoes so to get him to try them on I told him he could jump a little higher (a little white lie I know) but it got him in the shoes. Although he has complained they don't help him jump higher he does like the looks of them and he says they are comfortable enough.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Jastore Baby Girls Swimwear One Piece Swimsuits Beach Wear with Headband; Brand: Jastore; Review: Adorable on line. Once I received it I was as excited. The swimsuit fits baggy. it was for my 4 year old average size daughter. I say average size by comparing her height and weight to the 20 other 4 year old children in her class. This was too baggy on the sides but the length fit just fine. Not sure if she'll ever wear it for swimming but she looked really cute in it with the headband also.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: French Toast Girls' Two-Tab Pleated Scooter; Brand: ; Review: Adorable, but does seem to run large ? I knew it wouldn't fit my daughter right away but I doubt it'll fit her at all this whole school year. She is approx 39lbs and 5 years old. She fits in some 4's and some 5's just depends on the brand. The price was great & the skirt is adorable though and she loved it. It does have the button with the elastic on the inside waist of the skirt which will help also.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Clothing_Shoes_and_Jewelry |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: James Madison; Author: Visit Amazon's Richard Brookhiser Page; Review: After reading some bios of American presidents out of order (Lincoln, LBJ)', I am trying to read the bios of American presidents in order on my Kindle. I was limited in my choices for Madison. The most venerable (Ketcham) is not available in Kindle and the best reviewed (Cheney) is not acceptable for me for political reasons. Form the reviews I read for this author's version, I thought I knew what to expect. I found it more cursory than expected and less annotated and documented than the other bios so far. It moved at breakneck speed and, if I had not read the predecessor bios, there would have been more gaps in the narrative of his life and times. These founders are a fascinating bunch and I wish this installment in my reading had been more "stand alone" and contributed more to my knowledge of the protagonist of this bio. Instead, I found myself filling in blanks about Madison from what I learned of him in the bios of prior presidents.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Martin Van Buren American Statesmen, Volume 18 eBook; Author: Edward M. Shepard; Review: "Saint Van" is repetitively canonized in this dense "fact" filled tome. Repeatedly, the author explains why all other biographers were so wrong in underestimating this president's merits. They were so remiss in not appreciating his greatness! The logic of some the author's arguments in Van's favor appears contorted. I am a fan of Victorian literature, so I am not intimidated by the author's intricate sentence structure. I do, however, disapprove when a biographer fawns excessively - to the point that the veracity of the facts presented is suspect. As I am reading presidential biographies in order, I was able to do some of my own fact checking from those sources. Also, be warned that the author pays exquisite attention to the inner workings of New York State politics in Van's time. I am a patient reader, but the time devoted to this subject was wearying. In, sum if you are looking for an objective, dispassionate, well-reasoned biography of this president, this is not the biography for you. I stuck with it because there weren't any alternatives that seemed complete... And the price was right.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Andrew Johnson: The American Presidents Series: The 17th President, 1865-1869; Author: Annette Gordon-Reed; Review: I am reading the presidential biographies in order. I thought that I had seen the worst in Fillmore, Pierce and Buchanan. Oh, how wrong I was!! We are still feeling the damage Johnson did today. Black lives definitely did not matter to this amoral bigot. I had to put the book down and take breaks because he made me so angry. The author does a good job of linking Johnson's early life to some of his later decisions, but it is clear she is not furnishing excuses for his unpardonable views and actions. She also presents him against the political background of the variety of views on reconstruction at the time. This contrast makes clear Johnson's profound prejudice against the Black race. The author concludes, and I have to agree, that Johnson was stubbornly committed to the subjugation of Black folk. It was heart breaking to read how he betrayed the futures of emancipated slaves, Black Union soldiers, and freeborn Black citizens alike. Johnson's fawning capitulation to the demands of the Southern plantation elite emboldened them to reimpose slavery in all but name. The lenient terms of readmission allowed the Southern elite to regain national political power. There would be no 40 acres and a mule and no civil rights. Justice was denied.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Franklin Pierce: The American Presidents Series: The 14th President, 1853-1857; Author: Visit Amazon's Michael F. Holt Page; Review: The president gets one star at most. He was so bad I had to remind myself not to punish the messenger, the author, for the message, of how FP's fawning obeisance to the Southern planter class emboldened and enabled them and greased the skids for the Southern rebellion. He was one of a weak Fillmore/Pierce/Buchanan trio that just could not say "no" to the slave masters. The author provides a succinct but sufficient description of FP's background that somewhat, but not entirely, explains his weakness for Southern wiles. He also explains how FP's charm and looks propelled him to a station beyond his capabilities. There is also integrated treatment of his family life, its eccentricities and attendant tragedies, and his fondness for alcohol and its effects. But I must admit I still don't know what Nathaniel Hawthorne saw in him. . r; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Grant; Author: Visit Amazon's Jean Edward Smith Page; Review: I am reading the US presidential biographies in order. I had had some preconceived notions about Grant, no doubt the result of my Catholic school education. The nuns emphasized his involvement in the spoils system and described him as a failed president, who, by the way, in his earlier days, had won a few Civil War battles. The truth, as always, is more complicated. This books was an enthralling account of an eventful life. Why, then, the one star discount? While the nuns were too harsh ( probably because of Grant's strong position on church state separation with its attendant withholding of support from religious schools), the author is was too generous with his excuses. I found it hard to believe that Grant was such a trusting innocent as the author portrays. My subsequent readings of the Hayes and Arthur biographies offer different interpretations of events during the Grant administrations that seem more realistic. There was much to admire about Grant and some interesting information in this book, for example, about his horse sense in the literal sense, his original ambition to be a math teacher, his modeling himself after Taylor, his devotion to his wife. The author makes it clear that on horseback and in battlefield ( and possibly nowhere else) is where Grant excelled and impressed his observers. He seemed born to be a soldier whose imagination was not inhibited by the military conventions of the day. He had a talent in provisioning for the troops and understood its importance. He was persistent - trying that one more time when others would give up and following and re-engaging the enemy as they retreated when others would declare victory and return to quarters. I usually dislike reading about military matters, such battle plans and battle descriptions. The author was able to keep my interest during these narrations. I did wonder,however, whether his persistence in battle resulted in higher body counts than necessary. The author also provides a thorough description of the the post war political climate that allowed for a Grant nomination and election, including reconstruction fatigue and hero worship. He also describes the dominance of political bosses at the state and federal level and their practices for awarding offices. This reader, living in the age of federal income tax and civil service, received an education in the importance of custom fees and the dominance of the New York Customs office and the undisguised stacking of offices with cronies by party officials who expected payments and favors upon demand in return. While Grant made gestures toward reform, it did not appear to be enough to this reader. The author describes Grants accomplishments in office including some positions where he did hold firm, but he appears week in the face of the robber barons and party bosses that dominated the economic and political landscape. In sum, This book appears well researched, well organized and is a gripping read. My only reservation is the author's light treatment of the corruption that riddled the administration and the nature and extent of Grant's involvement; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Carol Doak's Foundation Paper; Author: Visit Amazon's Carol Doak Page; Review: I bought this paper for $2.00 more at my local quilt shop when I ran out of June Taylor paper. It is a waste of money even at this lower price. It's so completely opaque that you may as well use your printer paper. I gave up on it after 3 hours of frustration. Get the June Taylor paper instead. It is MUCH easier and efficient to use.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Day of the Oprichnik: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Vladimir Sorokin Page; Review: Bizarrely, imaginatively, and articulately written. Sorokhin captures the brutal and corrupt exceptionalism that is always adopted by a ruling class with absolute power, whether in the Stalinist USSR or current day Moscow or Washington. These regimes always look back to what they view as better days in the past and try to recreate them in the present, whether they be the days of Ivan the Terrible or the ante bellum US South. This was a difficult book to translate. My command of Russian is not sophisticated, so the translation seemed OK to me. My Russian sources tell me that Sorokhins use of and reference to antiquated language make it impossible to deliver the full flavor in English. It would help an Anglphone to have knowledge of or do some some reading in Russian history to appreciate this novel fully.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: There Once Lived a Mother Who Loved Her Children, Until They Moved Back In: Three Novellas About Family; Author: Visit Amazon's Ludmilla Petrushevskaya Page; Review: Each of the stories convey the desperation of a protagonist trying to make it through one day at a time (or not) in claustrophobic and resource constrained Soviet times. The daily hardships and the fevered decision making it induces are hard for contemporary Americans to understand. It turns these citizens into connivers against a all powerful system that is stingy with resources. (I have confirmed with Russian emigre sources that Petrushevskaya paints an accurate picture of Soviet urban life. ) Each main character makes flawed decisions, but the reader sympathizes as much as she criticizes. Each is living a personal nightmare within a greater unforgiving civic nightmare. The story telling methods and the writing are remarkable. It was an uncomfortable, yet profitable, read. Her writing is economical and eloquent. There is an introduction by the translator (with spoilers) to help those who did not experience the Soviet system to understand its requirements and the seemingly arbitrary allocation of privileges and hardships depicted here. One can see why these stories were not published within the authors country in Soviet times. Their portrayal of the social and economic environment is unflattering, to say the least.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Dhammapada; Author: Visit Amazon's Eknath Easwaran Page; Review: I appreciate the translators thoughtful and insightful introduction and the beginning of the book. It references Western religious thought and physics as an aid to those raised in a non-Eastern culture. There is also an introduction to each section. The actual material reads beautifully. The production quality, that is, the paper and the font, make it a sturdy reference that is easy on the eyes. It is a handy size to bring to a local museum to read in a gallery of Bodhisattvas. ,; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: CERVO Zermatt; City: Zermatt Canton of Valais Swiss Alps; Review: For work and pleasure i have stayed in most of the top brands around the world but never received such service where staff go the extra mile, from arrival with a warm welcome drink while completing documents to the stay with some of the best designed rooms i've seen and each building having its own sauna and massage facilities was great and would be perfect over the winter sport period. Maybe the quality of the hotel is due to it being a familly business where perfection is always the aim. I would reccomend this hotel to anyone who is looking for a break in Zermatt, located on a slight rise off the veter of town with some of the best views of both the town and mountains. If you do stay at the Cervo or in Zermatt for that matter make sure you try the Cervo restaurant which is for sure one of the best restaurants in town, with service to match. Make sure to reserve so as not to be dissapointed.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Novotel New York Times Square; City: New York City New York; Review: To be honest I would not pay the price and stay in this hotel prior to the renovation that was recently completed, now the hotel provides the minimum in line with Novotel and at current standards, not as previously at 1970 standards. It is nice and clean with good service but still expensive quality/price; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Ibis Douala; City: Douala Littoral Region; Review: I had a quick one night stopover before flying out early the next morning and at 4am even after letting the tap run for over ten minutes had to have a cold shower, not even luke warm but stone cold, very strange compared to the normal Accor level of service.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Leka Hotels Bodrum; City: Bodrum City Bodrum Mugla Province Turkish Aegean Coast; Review: Normal size room, very clean and tidy located on the outskirts of town not far from a public beach and easy enough to walk into town itself to visit local attractions and restaurants. Nothing "special" but a nice place to spend a few days in the area; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Hilton N Djamena; City: N Djamena; Review: Good Hotel in N'Djamena where all hotels are overpriced, the hotel still needs a few improvements such as the reception staff understanding the importance of their role, the cardio equipment in the fitness center, etc Even with it's short comings its probably the best hotel in N'Djamena, although could face competition when the Radisson Blu opens next door.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Mirror Hotel; City: Kigali Kigali Province; Review: Clean hotel if transiting Kigali located on the airport side of town There's no AC although the temperature is cool enough at night The restaurant at the hotel serves nice local and international food either at the restaurant or in room There is a gym but very rudimentary, apparently a sauna as well although didn't take a look; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Boston Downtown; City: Boston Massachusetts; Review: We liked the location most of all, otherwise good hotel with good service A starbucks located on site with direct entrance to the hotel for the coffee lovers The breakfast in the hotel was a bit overpriced for what it was and the service here unfortunately wasn't as good as the hotel itself; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sofitel Chicago Magnificent Mile; City: Chicago Illinois; Review: Loved the hotel up to the standard of Sofitel The only disappointment for us was the bed which they call cloud something supposed to be like sleeping in the clouds although we didn't like it and I had a bad back due to it. The hotel did try to help by placing a wooden board beneath the mattress which did help a little. I love Sofitel and the location but wouldn't return because of the bed; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Sofitel Bali Nusa Dua Beach Resort; City: Nusa Dua Nusa Dua Peninsula Bali; Review: Glad we decided to spend a few days here with my Wife, we relaxed on the beach and made the most of the great massages both at the spa and on the beach. We used the Concierge service to arrange a day visit to Ubud which went smoothly and was interesting to visit the temples and other points of interest on the way. The restaurants at the resort were all great although could be repetitive if staying for over a week in which case it would be good to travel around the area where the resort is located which is easy enough. Breakfast was a challenge to get a table and this being low season not sure what high season would be like, am starting to think this is a general problem at resorts though. We had a problem in our room with the bath tap not working and I guess a mouse/rat in the ceiling/ventilation system but the Butler reacted quickly and moved us once reported to the adjacent room.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: 12th of Never (Women's Murder Club); Author: Visit Amazon's James Patterson Page; Review: Loved this book! Can't wait for the next one. So glad the baby was ok. Sad about Cindy's break up.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Odd Thomas: An Odd Thomas Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Dean Koontz Page; Review: I like most of Dean Koontz novels and found Odd Thomas to be an interesting character. I will read his other Odd books.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Hot Zone; Author: Visit Amazon's Richard Preston Page; Review: I'm always interested in the human race and this book shows how fragile that group can be. Thank you Richard Preston for keeping me enthralled throughout the entire story. Glenda J. D.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hydrogen Peroxide Cure: Learn the Extraordinary Cures,; Author: Juliette McKnight; Review: I liked the book being short and to the point ... Lots of info and very little fluff.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: They Walked with Jesus: Past Life Experiences with Christ; Author: Visit Amazon's Dolores Cannon Page; Review: I love Dolores Cannon's books. If you are interested in what "reality" really is, then you should try out one of her many other books, like the Convoluted Universe series. She makes the concepts easy to understand and the book easy to read.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Eccsame the Photon Band; Brand: Lilys; Review: the first album was good, this album is great...bottom line. consistently more adventurous and intriguing than the mbv clone of the early stuff, this record still wows me years and years later. a little bit of originality goes a long way...all later records by this band totally blow in my opinion, where they started sounding like the monkees or the kinks or whatever overrated band from the 60's kurt was listening too at the time.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Deep Politics; Brand: Grails; Review: i really couldn't say it any better than the first reviewer, but after putting the headphones on and becoming lost in Grails world once again, i have to say this is the best thing they've done since "Burning Off Impurities" (which is my favorite of theirs). They are trying something new here, which is good since they were in danger of becoming taken for granted (IMO). There is definitely that "feel" of vintage 70's cult film soundtracks working their way into Grails mixing pot, along with even more of a psychedelic "pink floyd-esque" atmosphere to the proceedings. The piano on a couple songs is a nice touch, and i would go so far as to say that this is possibly their "prettiest" record...even though it contains plenty of heavy grooves. Just lay back with the headphones on and let your mind wander and create moving images for this soundtrack (in reverse)...; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Angel Rat; Brand: Voivod; Review: For as long as i can remember, the popular consensus has been that Angel Rat was a turd & where Voivod "jumped the shark"...I've loved this band since i was a teenager, but never gave this one a shot for reasons that all seem idiotic now, but now Angel Rat has finally struck a chord with me and become one of my favorites. It is a more streamlined and "catchy" Voivod, but every single song has an amazing chorus with odd melodies and rad vocal lines (I think Snake's voice sounds great here, and often carries the strongest melodies within the songs themselves). The middle sections of "The Prow" & "Golem" are worth the price of admission alone, with the almost "early" Cure-esque title track being another favorite. Piggy's guitar playing is always the consistent highlight though...endlessly creative and fascinating, even within the more streamlined song-based approach. Hate to say it, but I hear similarities between Angel Rat and Mastodon's "The Hunter"...and it sucks that Voivod didn't get anywhere near the attention that Mastodon has gotten for that one (although i am a big fan of the Hunter, unlike some people...). My only complaint is WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO THE VOIVOD REMASTERS we were told about years ago?!?!?! The volume level sucks on these cd's.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mmxii; Brand: Killing Joke; Review: Look...I absolutely love Killing Joke, even their lesser records get listened to quite frequently, and i tend to disagree with the fans who seem to think Pandemonium was a masterwork (aside from 3 songs it's a pretty average record and i much prefer Democracy, which those people generally dislike). I enjoy the early stuff just as much as the newer stuff, post-punk to throbbing pseudo-metal and everything in-between. They've been on a roll ever since the 2003 album, but i must say that to me, MMXII is hands down the most consistently awesome thing they've put out in a very long time. They've pulled the post-punk strands back in and weaved them into the more recent heavier song structures, and brought up the keyboard atmospherics to great effect. Big Paul's drumming is more impressive here than on AD, where he seemed a little reigned in strangely enough. Geordie's guitar sounds as amazing as ever and he remains one of my all time favorites, with an endless wellspring of interesting riffs and textures at his disposal. And Jaz is Jaz...doomsday occult ramblings delivered with either his melodic croon or his throat shredding growls (more of the former thankfully...). The production isn't as raw as Absolute Dissent or Hosannas either, just slightly north of sh***y and south of polished. All in all a stellar release, can't wait for the next one...; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Tragic Boogie; Brand: Life and Times; Review: I was always very fond of Shiner, but never bothered to check out Allen's recent stuff...cos i'm obviously and idiot. So a while ago whilst revisiting Lula Divinia and The Egg, I decided to see what i was missing with The Life & Times...and i was instantly knocked back by the sheer beauty and layers contained within this album. Allen's guitar playing and vocals have become more spaced out and pretty, while the rhythm section still pounds and throbs with the same sort of mathematical heaviness that was common in the Shiner days of old. There is definitely plenty of the dark and heavy 90's sound prevalent here, touching on similar bands like Failure, Hum, Swervedriver, My Bloody Valentine, etc...with even some Radiohead elements here and there. I will say that Allen's recent output is far far better than anything Ken or Greg from Failure have done since...well, Failure (Year of the Rabbit, Autolux, Lusk, and whatnot are all pretty "meh"). Their newest album No One Loves You Like I Do is also pretty amazing, but i'm still absorbing that one at the moment... Favorite tracks: Fall of the Angry Clowns Old Souls Let It Eat Confetti The Lucid Dream; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_CDs_and_Vinyl |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Seiko Men's SNA611 Le Grand Sport Alarm Chronograph Watch; Brand: Seiko; Review: Very nice watch. If not for the Seiko name (and typical quartz watch second hand movement), one might mistake it for a higher end swiss. For those needing high contrast hands/dial, this one might not work for you.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: KEEN Men's Targhee II Mid Waterproof Hiking Boot; Brand: ; Review: rugged and comfortable right out of the box.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Minus33 Merino Wool Men's Ticonderoga Lightweight Crew; Brand: Minus33 Merino Wool; Review: just right - fit, weight, warmth.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Canvas Web Belt D-Ring Buckle 1.5" Wide Metal Tip Plus Size XXL and XXXL; Brand: BC Belts; Review: Fit for purpose. Use it to wear a treat bag for canine training; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Pacsafe Toursafe EXP34 Anti-Theft Wheeled Gear Bag, Black; Brand: Pacsafe; Review: One 2 week trip to try it out. Was in Iceland with bad weather. Solid, big build, easy to maneuver (tall and narrow) with lots of space. Locking system can get fussy but I was careful not to use it to avoid TSA damaging the luggage. Organizing system is a good one. And I prefer luggage where the top opens Rather than luggage that splits in half when packing. Also looks like it would be tough to break into so is as a secure a place to stash your precious items as you get in lieu of a room safe.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Clothing_Shoes_and_Jewelry |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Comfort Suites; City: Vestal New York; Review: We needed a place to bed down half way home on a road trip. Binghamton was half way. This hotel offered the kind of room we needed to accommodate our family. The hotel was not easy to find at night and was well off the highway we were travelling on. When we arrived, the check in was efficient. The hotel seemed spanking new and we were surprised when told that it was two years old. Our room was huge and had a large sitting area with a sofa (actually a sofa bed) and a coffee table next to the two Queen size beds (I guess that's the "suites" part ... it's just we weren't expecting it). The room was clean and had a fridge and a microwave. The complimentary breakfast next day was varied and good.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Travel Inn Hotel New York; City: New York City New York; Review: We (two adults and two teenagers) took a chance on this hotel 3 blocks away from Times Square. On a road trip, we needed a hotel that offered affordable or free parking. Most such hotels are located around the three airports serving New York City. The Travel Inn Hotel was the exception. We stayed for four nights. Never took the car out of the parking lot. Between taxis, the subway and the hotel's proximity to Times Square, we had no need for our car. The hotel is somewhat dated but the room was clean, on the bigger side for Manhattan, and equipped with a fridge and microwave. The reception staff was courteous and helpful. They were also proactive. One night, the city carried out repair work to the street immediately in front of the hotel, at 3 a.m.! On account of this inconvenience, without being asked, they waived charges for the wireless internet connection for our whole stay.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Grand Hyatt DFW; City: Dallas Texas; Review: This hotel is located in Terminal D. We flew in to Terminal D early one evening and had to catch a 5:30 a.m. flight the next morning. As luck would have it, our departing flight departed from a gate in Terminal D as well. The room was beautiful, modern and clean. The beds were great. Slept extremely well. It's too bad we had to catch such an early flight. One warning ... do not take the hotel up on its offer to have arrangements made for you to have a clearance to clear security to access the restaurants in the airport. It took an hour between the security officer in the airport to fill out the necessary forms and going through the normal airport security screening process to get to the part of the airport in which the restaurants are located. We were hungry and irritable and the time and effort this took was totally unnecessary given that I am sure the restaurant in the Hotel would have done no worse than the restaurants in the airport.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Quinta Las Acacias; City: Guanajuato Central Mexico and Gulf Coast; Review: We visited Guanajuato in March 2012 and were very fortunate that friends recommended this hotel to us. It is refined and elegant, harking back to an earlier period in the last century. The hotel staff were excellent - very helpful and attentive. The breakfast, included in our package, was amazing (fresh fruit course with five fruits to start, followed by a very generous main course). We took taxis to shuttle back and forth between the hotel and the central part of Guanajuato (average 40 pesos each ride).; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hacienda de Guadalupe Boutique Hotel; City: San Miguel de Allende Central Mexico and Gulf Coa; Review: Our family of 3 stayed in this boutique hotel about 50 paces from the central square. We arrived by car on a Sunday evening. Streets leading to the central square, including the one we had to take to get the hotel,were blocked. When we mentioned the hotel we were allowed through. The valet took care of the car after we the bellhop removed our luggage. For the next two days,we didn't need our car as we were able to walk to all the parts of the city we wanted to visit. The hotel was great. Service was attentive and prompt. Our room and beds were great. The bathroom was very modern. Breakfast was included in our rate (our son discovered and enjoyed quesadillas!). The espresso machine at the bar provided fantastic coffee. One word of warning : while there is a pool, we didn't end up using it. It's squeezed in at the back of the hotel. It seems like the high walls conspire to prevent the sun from warming the unheated pool.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Melia Madrid Princesa; City: Madrid; Review: We wanted a good hotel close to the shopping and sights in central madrid. This hotel fits the bill. We walked from the hotel to the Gran Via shopping area and the Plaza Mayor and Royal Palace. There is a Metro station next to the hotel that also can be used to get to these areas and elsewhere in Madrid. Our room and bed were OK. We found the bathroom design and plumbing fixtures, which are modern/contemporary, to be awkward and impractical. The hotel reception tried to upsell us to a different package that would have included access to the fitness area and swimming pool. Most hotels provide their guests with access to such facilities. Not this one. It wanted us to pay a significant surcharge (60 Euros for two). We passed.; Rating: 3.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Blau Varadero Hotel; City: Varadero Matanzas Province Cuba; Review: Our family of 6 recently stayed at the Blau from April 9-16th. We were very pleased with our stay at the Blau. Check in: I found the check in a little slow and we had wished that they had spent a little time going over amenities, shows etc. They seemed to speak less english than Mexico. We had two rooms and only one was ready when we arrived after lunch but we simply dropped our stuff off and headed to the beach. Rooms: The rooms are clean spacious and have good storage. We had oceanview 12th floor and the view was fantastic! We had an updated TV and a mini fridge with free water beer and coke. It did take us a few minutes to figure out that the key cards work all the electricity in the room including the air conditioner. Again, wish they'd mentioned that. Elevators: Pretty but slow and somewhat dysfunctional Beach: Gorgeous turquoisewater and white sand. Pretty windly the day we arrived. When we got to the beach mid-afternoon, we found chairs and a palapa. The crowd was majority European and older. We didn't see very many children, teens or even people in there twenties. It was like this for the first few days and then there was an influx of younger people and Canadians. One strange thing was the lack of music on the beach. You could hear music from adjacent resorts and while we are definatelty not looking for a party place, we found it very quiet. (I wanted a radio mid day) The rest of the week I did get up early to get palapas. There were other people doing this. There were always lots of chairs so no need to get up early for those but shade was at a premium a couple of the days. Another thing that had never occurred to me was the direction of Varadero beach. It faces North which means the sun rises behind you.(No sun rises over the water) (We usually go to the mayan rivieria which faces east) Service: Ok, this was a surprise for us. We have only ever done all inclusives in Mexico so were very surprised that tipping did nothing for the service you got or didn't get. I am not sure why but this was consistent everywhere with everyone we encountered. We did bring a giant suitcase of stuff to leave along with money tips for everyone (t-shirts, toothpaste, tylenol, tampons, barrettes, deodarant, crayons, toys etc) Our room was always done well and everyone was friendly. Sometimes bar service could be slow inside the hotel. Again, tipping did nothing but we did it anyway. Water sports: absolutely do the catamaran. There is a reef on the horiszon you can do a little snorkeling. They don't advertise this or all the free lessons available. You have to seek this information out. We did the paddle boat too and checked out some of the other resorts nearby. Shows: Were pretty good actually. Seen a superb water ballet show and the kids loved the magic show.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hyatt Place Waikiki Beach; City: Honolulu Oahu Hawaii; Review: I stayed here March 18-25,2014. Most of the reviews I had read prior to booking are very accurate. The hotel is freshly renovated, modern and clean. The staff is exceptionally friendly and professional. We travel a lot and encountered some of the friendliest and most helpful staff. Special mention to Troy, Jing jing and the tall fellow with grey hair who was concierge for a night. You gave us excellent advice! We loved the free hot breakfast and free wifi and these two features alone would be why I would be likely to stay here when I return. There is no resort fee, which is excellent. There is reasonable parking nearby. When we arrived the regular parking, which I had noted was cheaper than other places, was full and only expensive valet parking was left. We drove across the street and parked for a reasonable weekly rate. This worked fine. Check in was very quick and painless. We were told we were "upgraded" from a mountain view to a city view room. Can that ever be considered an upgrade? I questioned this and was told the room was bigger but I seen other rooms the maid was cleaning and this was not the case. However, our lower room made it very accessible to breakfast, lobby and work out room so we were content, especially since the elevators could be slow at peak times. The hotel is very close to the beach and conveniently located next to an abc store. As a gold passport member there are extra perks that are worth it. We especially appreciated a hospitality room at the end of our last day at the beach to shower before our 10 pm flight. I was extremely pleased with this hotel. Mahalo for making our trip so great!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Meadowlands Plaza Hotel Secaucus; City: Secaucus New Jersey; Review: Stayed here with a group of students and it seems that at certain times of the year, it is a popular hotel for this as there was more than one student group. Overall, the students were quiet and not bothersome. It is in need of updating, the lobby is the nicest part. There is no business centre and it truly has the worst "free" wifi I have ever encountered in a hotel. It was so bad that the front desk was going to let me use their front desk computers. The beds were the hardest I have ever found in a hotel and I have stayed in some motel 8's back when I was young and backpacking. The water pressure on the 7th floor was fodder for jokes in the morning as it took forever to even get your hair wet in the little stream. The service staff was lovely and did their best. I could have taken some nasty photos of carpet in the corner of the room but overall, the general areas you had to touch were clean. The upside is that it is an affordable place right across the river from NYC. If you are not familiar with this area, please note that just being across the river doesn't mean it still won't take you a long time to get o the city in traffic. In a fast lane commuter bus we still had 40 min commutes (much better on he weekends; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Sleep Inn; City: Clearwater Florida; Review: We chose this hotel because hotels on the beach were so expensive for what we wanted for this holiday. It is a clean, NEW hotel, with a pool and free breakfast. Very modern, but small rooms, good beds and shower, breakfast was just okay (and I am comparing to similar hotels with similar breakfasts) They lacked greek yogurt and fruit options, healthier breads etc The drive to Clearwater was not good by 11=12 pm, solid traffic (like 1 hour plus) but the next day we left early (9am) and decided to shop before hitting the beach. This was a much better option. The pool is small but it worked for our kids aged 13 and 8. The airport was nearby but the noise didn't seem to be a problem for us; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Samba Vallarta All Inclusive; City: Flamingos Nuevo Vallarta Pacific Coast; Review: We visited Samba Vallarta in late June. The best feature of this resort is the staff!! They are excellent. Have to give a shout out to Carlos and Julio. Thank you for making our trip that much better! I highly recommend tipping as we did all week although I seen very few others doing so. The resort, like many others, are used a lot by Mexican nationals at this time of year but I am guessing the clientele changes during high season. The rooms and common areas are all clean, well-maintained and fairly well finished. Beware, we booked a superior room and on some websites this meant a balcony. We did NOT get a room with a balcony. I went back twice to try and rectify this but kept being told that the resort was full and they would try tomorrow. This is an excellent small resort for families with children under the age of 10. It is very slow for teenagers. Besides some beach volleyball and a family friendly casino night, there was not much for them. The water sports are minimal to non-existent in terms of what available at the resort. It seems you can book the a la cartes more than once but like most resorts, you must do so fairly early. Be aware there are some nights where there are no a la cartes as they are closed. We tried them both more than once and they were excellent except the dessert which seemed to be the same Mexican ones form the buffet. If I was to recommend anything to the resort about the a la cartes, it would be to have better desserts. Otherwise the meals were great! The drinks were okay but almost any added flavor was some corn syrupy concoction. By the end of the week I was craving a really good pina with real coconut milk and real pineapple. Also, there were NO mojitos!! A tragedy for me. I am not a big drinker but that is a favorite I usually only have on vacation and they didn't make them (no mint) The pool is okay but 2/3 of it are for children and toddlers. It is divided into three sections, two seem geared for kids, one even has a pirate boat with tube slides attached. The wifi is free but you really could only get a signal at the wifi area or in the buffet or at the beach. We could not get a signal in our room especially at night when we wanted it most. The beach seems to be similar all the way down the coast but if you have never been to Nuevo Vallarta, beware of this beach for small children. It has a much smaller shallow section than it appears to have and a strong undertow. The sand literally disappears from under your feet so if you were once in thigh deep water, it can suddenly be over your head. My teenagers did have a lot of fun using the boogie board on these waves. If I travel to; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel West Edmonton; City: Edmonton Alberta; Review: My son and I stayed here for an event and were very impressed. We were given a room in what seemed to be the older tower but everything was updated and renovated. Beds were awesome, room clean, newer tv, good shower, great wifi. Very close to west ed mall. Breakfast buffet was quite good. Would stay here again. Highly recommend it!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Modra Ruze; City: Prague Bohemia; Review: You really can't beat the location for visiting Prague. It's a five min walk to the main square. Expect to pay to get to the airport or train station though as they are not close. The hotel is spacious and nicely appointed. Beds were comfy but our room was quite hot and the ac seemed to be turned off. It was bearable and we didn't spend that much time in our room any way. They could not accommodate an early check in but did allow us to use our breakfast on the first day and store our luggage. Breakfast was pretty good relatively speaking. Staff were professional but not not overly friendly. Kind of got this everywhere in Prague. Much less friendly than Italy or Poland had been. Lots of restaurant and shopping choices nearby. Overall, I'd stay here again; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: We Bologna; City: Bologna Province of Bologna Emilia Romagna; Review: I was travelling with my two teenage sons and many times it was cheaper to stay in hotels than pay for three people at a hostel but for Bologna this was a good option. It is clean, bright large and lively with young people. Our accommodations with private bathroom were better than some hotels we stayed in and a bit cheaper. The only disappointment was breakfast. The only thing left after 9am ( not sure there ever was more) was dry brown bread. Butter and jam were empty and young people scrambling to get the scraps left. We left without anything. It had advertised local organic breakfast. Don't count on it. Young people say out on steps all evening sharing wine. We didn't find it disruptive but if you are looking to meet people while travelling it was a good spot. Close to the train station, grocery and pizza place; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Best Western Corona; City: London England; Review: Room is small and there is carpet which I have come to dislike but staff were helpful and friendly, the location is very close to Victoria station and the hop on hop off stops. The tube has gotten ridiculously expensive in London Actually London is the most expensive city I've ever been to and much more so than when I visited before( relative to other places etc)this hotel is literally on a street lined with boutiquish hotels with names like best western so lots of choices. You can walk to bucking ham from here and there are lots of shops and restaurants and English pubs nearby. Careful, places close early and are often closed Sunday which we thought bring in such a touristy area was strange.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Contilia; City: Rome Lazio; Review: This hotel is ideally located to termini and is walking distance to the coliseum and Trevi fountains. There are many shops and restaurants nearby. Our room was good space for the three of us. We felt breakfast was good, a little better than average. We were very appreciative that the hotel could accommodate us arriving early. The only improvement I would suggest would be to change mattresses and bed linens. Hardest mattresses and very old school (like you'd find on your granny's iron bed, minus the squeaks) I recommend eating at nearby restaurant and visiting Fassi the oldest and largest Rome ice cream shop with by far the best prices only 5 blocks away. Avoid the street turning right out of hotel after about 4-5 blocks as it becomes quite sketchy. Instead, head south and then east to get to Fassi; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Green Garden Resort; City: Mestre Veneto; Review: So the resort is nice, rooms and breakfast quite good but it is as other reviewers have mentioned, out of the way. We chose it as my teenage sons were excited to find a resort with a large fitness centre. We were there mid May but there wasn't much happening. The pool on the website, Expedia and trip advisor sites was NOT open and wouldn't be until June. The weather was lovely. I asked for a spot to sit outside and was told there were none. This is strange considering the size of the grounds. Much of the grounds however looked like they hadn't been attended to since last summer. Other than s couple people playing tennis it felt deserted.The people were friendly. One receptionist spoke good English but the other did not at all which was problematic when you are a tourist trying to figure out how to get into Venice or just around mester. So about that. It is about 20 euros to get from mester station by taxi. The bus to this resort is very confusing and you have to walk far. The hotel has a shuttle .. when available and for 20 euros each way. When you add the transportation costs to staying here, it's not worth it in our opinion. Book Venice early and find something closer. Might be a different experience in the middle of July but not a spot for those wanting to visit Venice as their primary goal.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Stella Marina; City: Camogli Italian Riviera Liguria; Review: Ok, have to admit we were disappointed at first as booking.com website led us to believe we would have water views. There is no water view! It was also a little difficult to find as it is a couple floors of rooms for rent above a garage. However, the room was great! It was five min walk to the beach!The owners are so nice and accommodating and the prices for other places are really expensive. Camogli is small and intimate but truly beautiful and peaceful if you want to include some down time in your vacation. More tourists tend to head to rapella and nearby larger villages but Camogli is so quaint, I would definitely stay here again.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Platinum Aparthotel; City: Krakow Lesser Poland Province Southern Poland; Review: Close to train station, old city square and giant Kraków mall. Comfortable apartment type room with good beds and lots of space. Would totally stay here again. I recommend using Kraków express airport service to get here as it might be hard to find and the price was almost the same as 3 train tickets for our party anyway.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: High Country Inn; City: Banff Banff National Park Alberta; Review: Like other reviewers, I would agree its a great location and has a pool. I wished they still had breakfast. There is a problem with the heat in the rooms however. Rooms are uncomfortably hot. I politely mentioned this to the front desk and they acknowledged they knew but that it is an older hotel. There was a tiny window we opened but then my family found that noisy. Other wise it was clean, beds good and worked great as a stepping point to early skiing. Not sure I would stay again unless I specifically had someone at the front desk reassure me we could have a room with our heat issues; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Rappen Rothenburg ob der Tauber; City: Rothenburg Middle Franconia Franconia Bavaria; Review: Excellent location, superb roomy and updated rooms with large bathroom. Good breakfast included. Even free umbrellas. Night receptionist was an older gentleman who was both helpful and friendly. Loved this hotel and we felt it was an excellent value.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Quality Suites; City: North Bergen New Jersey; Review: Not a bad hotel if you must save $ and you plan to drive into nyc. It could use a renovation. A colleague had a broken air conditioner. The free breakfast however is subpar and I often stay at hotels such as these with my family for convenience. The bagels were always dry, little to no fresh fruit of poor quality. The only yogurt had sucralose in it. No variety from day to day whatsoever. Family owned. Gentleman very nice. Female ( his wife?) not so much! The area around is very industrial and sketchy. Shares a parking lot with a holiday inn express ( I think) which looked nicer??; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Holiday Inn Express Red Deer North; City: Red Deer Alberta; Review: New and clean! Some indicated features in newly designed rooms with a free breakfast! Comfortable beds with a variety of pillows. Pool with hot tub and water slide Needs more parking Eat at State and Main close by! Would stay here again!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Maui Eldorado; City: Lahaina Maui Hawaii; Review: This is a condo hotel next to the beach and on a golf course. It has a couple pools. We were upgraded to a two bedroom and it was absolutely lovely! View was excellent. Staff was super friendly. You can see the beach from your lanai but it is a little ways from the water. ( ie you cannot throw stones in the water from your balcony) The front desk will drive you down in a golf cart but unless you have mobility issues, it’s a nice short walk . The beach has great waves for older kids. My 11year old and 16 year old loved jumping in the waves. Right next door is going he Sheraton and a calm turquoise beach known for its snorkeling and sea turtles. You can walk there through a parking lot. Nearby, there are great little shops, restaurants and a mini mall right beside these condos so no issue at all that there are none in the complex. Gym near by. Walkable to whalers village. Easy short drive to Lahaina ( these condos are north of Lahaina a couple km) If you have never been and plan to go to Maui and are staying in a condo or hotel with s kitchenette, skip the Costco and head next door to the Walmart instead when you leave the airport. Costco way more expensive snd unless you are staying several weeks- not worth it. Ate at a few waterside restaurants in Lahaina. View was nice but the food was average and not worth the $75/pp it works out to be. Online menu prices seem to be out of date Outlet mall in Lahaina was nice.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sol Palmeras; City: Varadero Matanzas Province Cuba; Review: The only other hotel I have stayed at in Cuba was the Blau Varadero. The food was a better at that hotel. The grounds, beach and atmosphere were better at this one. The quality of drinks was way better at the Blau, esp their piña coladas. The drinks here were syrupy and cheap. Super nice bartenders esp at the back bar near the business centre. Rooms were nice. It had rained the 40 days straight before we arrived and we managed a whole week of sun which was very fortunate. The hotel was starting to leak in a couple places when we first arrived but overall is in good shape. Unfortunately we did all get sorta sick here. It could honestly have been from touching food handles in the buffet. It was not sick enough to ruin our stay but let’s just say we went through s whole lot of pepto. The buffet was really not great and we’re not super fussy to begin with. We tried to stick to the omelette and freshly made egg bar which at lunch had fresh grilled meats and seafood. Bread was hard and stale. It was a lot of European fare, cold cuts and weird cheese. The dairy is off in Cuba in general. Not sure it’s pasteurized. There was little to no variation between breakfast lunch and dinner. The a la cartes were better but inconsistent . Don’t even bother with the Asian one. Staff were lovely. Gifts with tips are appreciated. Everything from car parts, toothpaste and Disney or licensed toys are a big hit as they have trouble getting access to this stuff. We booked a private tour to Havana and I highly recommend this but I’ll review that separately. Dolphin swim was actually a great experience but the water they ( and you) are in was kinda brown😳best trained dolphins I’ve seen. I don’t usually go for this stuff but friends wanted to try. It was better than the Mayan for sure.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Boraam 43724 Florence Counter Height Swivel Stool, 24-Inch, Distressed White; Brand: Boraam; Review: Heavy duty chair,I love them.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 6 Round Decorative Ceramic Balls; Brand: Asher Home Decorators; Review: Bigger than they look but are very nice.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Chezmoi Collection Austin 3-Piece Oversized Bedspread Coverlet Set (Queen, Black); Brand: Chezmoi Collection; Review: Not as big as I thought it would be.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ambesonne Shower Curtain; Brand: Ambesonne; Review: Love it...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Deco 79 Metal Wall Decor Brings the Nature to Your Rooms; Brand: Deco 79; Review: Could have used a second hanger at the bottom. However, is very pretty.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_Home_and_Kitchen |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Bergan Turbo Scratcher Cat Toy, Colors may vary; Brand: Bergan; Review: Kitten Loves it!!!!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: PETAG PRODUCTS KMR - Kitten Milk Replacer; Brand: PetAg; Review: It's clumpy, or maybe a didn't mix enough but I sure tried!; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Four Paws Pet Nursing Bottle Kit; Brand: Four Paws; Review: Works great for kittens; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Personalized Reflective Cat Collars; Brand: GoTags; Review: Bought for my cat. Excellent value. Comes off with safety closure when needed. He will lose it in the house once in a while but not outside yet. I feel better knowing he is chipped and has my number on his collar; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 6-Pack Pill Pockets For Cats Chicken 9.6 Oz (270 Pockets); Brand: Greenies; Review: What cat doesn't love these? Absolutely the best way to deliver pills to an animal.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bayer Advantage II Flea Prevention for Cats; Brand: Bayer Animal Health; Review: Advantage always works well.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bayer Animal Health Seresto Flea and Tick Collar for Cats; Brand: Bayer Animal Health; Review: Kept the fleas off for 8 months! Reflective and a nice looking collar on top of that.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Pet_Supplies |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Manxin Lijiang Holiday Hotel; City: Lijiang Yunnan; Review: Great quiet location, close to Old Town Entrance. Good breakfast area, modernly designed and great service. The hotel was located on the southwest side of the Old Town (Approximately 10 minutes by foot to the bustling area in the Northeast and mid area). If you are looking for somewhere quiet yet accessible, this is the place to go. In order to find the hotel, its important to run a quick search of the location on Baidu maps to find the exact location *I'd recommend taking the Chinese address for the cab / when you need help. As when we made our booking through an online agent, the map pin was on the wrong spot. After getting off a cab near Guanbi Alley, look for the security gate on your right and fast food chain on the left. Cabs are not allowed in the Old town so you would definitely need to walk in. From there, its pretty much a straight walk of around 5 Minutes and you will see the hotel on your right hand side. Check in was smooth and staff spoke English, there was a great vibe when we checked in as the breakfast area looked quite charming but with a modern touch. Staff helped with luggage and gave advice when appropriate. We stayed in two different rooms. Superior King and Theme King. To be honest, the Superior King was smaller but more comfy. But if you like a separate living area and bedroom go for the more expensive suite or theme. As the rooms mostly have windows facing the garden, if you are noise sensitive bring earplugs. The level however is acceptable. The breakfast was not bad for a boutique, fried eggs, bacon, toast, coffee etc. A good mix of Chinese and western cuisine. It was definitely possible to find something to fill your stomach before tackling the tiger leaping gorge or jade dragon snow mountain. Overall a pleasant stay. Clean and tidy as well as accessible.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hyatt Regency Danang Resort Spa; City: Da Nang; Review: The Hyatt Regency in Danang is a great children friendly resort to unwind and just allow life to slow down. With a good stretch of pristine beach, the resort beach area is almost exclusive to its guests. Plenty of beach chairs and hammocks available at the time of visit. Club access was definitely worth it as the evening drinks and snacks were all of excellent quality as well as rooms further away from the crowd. Foods ranging from cheese, bread to local snacks were available and plentiful in a pleasant environment. Whether you are planning for a pre dinner snack or treating it as dinner, it will actually suffice. Breakfast included eggs, and hash browns made to order and there was exclusive access to the private pool area away from the crowds. Coffee and tea available throughout the day. Worth mentioning are the king sized mattresses by the pool that would fit a whole family to take a nap. Location wise also quite good, a ten minute taxi ride from danang city waterfront (approx VND 150K by taxi) where all the local seafood restaurants are and around 20-30 minute ride to Hoi An (shuttle bus services available from hotel or VND 300K by taxi). Overall a pleasant resort stay with easy access to Danang city and Hoi An!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hyatt Place Shenzhen Dongmen; City: Shenzhen Guangdong; Review: Resting conveniently in the Laojie area, the hotel sits comfortably on top of the local metro station exit E. The hotel lobby requires a quick lift change. Check in and services are of Hyatt quality. Quite a comfortable ambience in the lobby. We stayed in the specialty king sofa bed room. Very spacious with long sofas and sofa bed with great view of the street. Room was clean and tidy, with a working space and simple but stylish washroom. The big wins of this hotel is definitely the location. Local restaurants and bars are a mere 3 minute walk away and the actual place is two stations away from the Hong Kong border. Perfect for those venturing from Hong Kong looking for a local experience while still being located close enough for departure. Our itinerary was we arrived at the hotel around 6pm, settled and had dinner in the 木屋 skewer restaurant opposite the hotel - the open space with restaurants and bars towards the Shenzhen theatre direction. (Download baidu maps as google doesn't work) Early dinner recommended as the place packs up quick. After skewers we grabbed a drink at a nearby bar and headed back to the room to have a few quick drinks. A quick approx 50-60RMB taxi ride will then take you to coco park - the bar district. Party starts around 11pm onwards. Next morning, breakfast is included for every room. Definitely not a full on buffet but if you are like me and happy with eggs, toast, cheese and juice. It will suffice. Noodles and simple dim sum also available. In short, small variety but sweet quality food and beverage experience. The breakfast venue itself has large ceiling to floor panels giving it a well lit and wakening atmosphere. Quick tip, go slightly earlier 1-1.5 hours before end time (10am I think) and you will skip the last minute crowd. A pleasant and comfortable stay indeed. For something in the middle of the city at this price, quite worth it!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Conrad Macao Cotai Central; City: Macau; Review: Casinos aside, the property and management itself is what it's supposed to be - Great quality, well taken of facilities and details that make a difference. We booked direct through the company website and stayed in the deluxe king room. The room had a stylish, modern yet comfy design, a good balance between the luxury and hype of Macau as well as being able to offer a pleasant environment for winding down. Room was spacious and thoughtful with little complimentary welcome gifts upon arrival and after the winding down services. Does make you feel like they made efforts on it to stand out. Notable are the bath soap, shower gel and cream, aromatherapy associates branded. Staff had good language skills and offered additional help if needed. You will be away from the other more transactional hotels for large tours and crowds. If time permits, do find an hour or two to unwind at the the pool and health club. The royal blue theme and woody environment gives off a grand but relaxing mood to the scene. Everything is well kept and clean. The large sofa relaxing areas also offer some sort of privacy for those who want to dose off. The changing rooms are equipped with saunas and a small jacuzzi. Generally speaking, an excellent timeout area to slow down a bit and take a short break before the casino and night life. Overall service was good, great friendly staff who are always willing to help. Definitely a comfortable stay in Macau with a good location in the middle of all the action.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel IKON Phuket; City: Karon Phuket; Review: Stayed for 3 days. This hotel values quality and trained staff. Everything was above my expectation for the price I paid. The only downside which may bother some would be the location. As it is a good 15-20 minutes away from the beach and city center. But along the way you will find food and convenience stores. Mama Jin is a good option if you are lazy. Check in was very smooth. Staff spoke very good English and showed all the facilities upon arrival. They run shuttle services in the morning and afternoon to Karon beach. I've read many reviews on the breakfast and pool so I'll add on some information here. To my surprise the pool bean bag chairs were very comfortable like what others wrote. A good selection of western pop gives a chill vibe with umbrellas. Towels can be found when you go in the glass doors. The breakfast itself complimentary and of good quality. That being said don't expect cheese, Parma ham for example. I'm always happy with eggs on toast with some noodles or rice. If that's the case for you it would definitely suffice. They also have coffee, fruits and juices. Sausages and ham as well. On my last day I was deciding whether to try the Thai massage at Oka spa or go outside. Being a hot day, I decided to pay a bit more and took the Oka spa option. It was really good! Small cozy environment and well priced. Leaving the place can be tricky, you can choose to pay for the taxi service through the front desk, get an agent or do what I did and download the app grab. Managed to get a car for 870 to airport.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hyatt Place Phuket Patong; City: Patong Kathu Phuket; Review: Stayed for 4 nights so the hotel really had an opportunity to redeem itself. The pros of this hotel: About 15 minute walk from patong city center. Doable by foot and they have a shuttle service. Though I tried to get on one of the evening busses and it was full so I ended up walking. The pool looked great, good for a family chill out abit small but stylish design. Hygiene products are available but you have to ask. Didn’t expect much as it isn’t the high end Hyatt brand so toothbrush and razors are something that you need to request from housekeeping but they are for free. Now... the negative experiences: First day Arrived into the room which had some stains - mainly in the bathroom.. got over it and thought I’ll let the hotel clean it tomorrow. So before leaving asked them to do so and it wasn’t done. I specifically mentioned the stains but I guess they just verbally acknowledged. Very important request for morning a call. The first request was acknowledged but they never called... good thing I had backup alarms. Thought it was a one-off but after another request the following night it also didn’t happen. Okay.. Found out the second day the Balcony door broken and someone could’ve climbed in easily as I was on the first floor. Had to get ‘engineer’ to fix. Okay. Asked for umbrella from the front desk which told me to look for it in the closet. Didn’t have one and when I called again they said they ran out. Okay. Breakfast was fine, slight below my expectations. Food was abit dry and one coffee machine broken. Have had better in other 3 star boutique hotels in Phuket. Tried to justify with Hyatt World which was very communicative and empathised my experience. Give the international team props for that. But sadly still haven’t heard from hotel management about it. Last words - you can get better quality elsewhere.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Park Hyatt Sanya Sunny Bay Resort; City: Sanya Hainan; Review: This hotel is a little hidden gem. Approximately 45 minute drive away from the airport. A safe haven from swarming tourists. We spent 4 days here and can say we’ve tried most of the facilities and restaurants. Getting there: After getting out of the Sanya airport arrival terminal, we were instantly approached by taxi drivers asking where we were going. Being a little bit cautious we looked around other taxi options but it seemed as though there was no proper line/stand. We went with the driver which was fine - he offered a trip there for 150RMB. We asked for the meter instead and there were no issues. The bill in the end came very close to the 150RMB. Ride was nice, particularly after passing a harbour the final stretch of road was beautiful. The road was on a cliff which would wind down into the resort. Check in was smooth: Upon entering the hotel, one can’t help but just marvel at the artwork and high ceilings. I believe it was Betty that helped us check in and covered most of the essentials. A few more opened check in desks would be appreciated as we had to wait a while ~5-10min. Checked in around 3pm which might have been a bit of the peak. Another member of staff showed us to the room. *Big tip* the hotel complex is big. With a lot of art work and statues as ‘distraction’ so it’s easy to get lost / forget how to get back to the room. Try to pay attention when the staff is bringing you to the room and remember how to get there. Another quick tip is that the 2nd floor pretty much connects to most of the places. The room: We stayed in the premium deluxe ocean view room, courtesy of a Hyatt upgrade and oh my was the view stunning. I would actually recommend if it’s within your budget to get the premium ocean view room. The 180 degree ocean view was absolutely beautiful. I believe the standard rooms have a similar interior but you can’t beat waking up to this. It’s almost like a large painting on the wall. It’s one long piece of glass stretching from one side to the other. Amenities were good, really appreciate the beach bag and towels which you can take around the complex (you have to buy it to take it away, but otherwise free to use within complex). Le labo toiletries were good too. Bose speakers as well. Quick tip: You can use the beach bag and towel offered by the room during the convenience of the stay. We found it super useful rather than bringing our own clumsy bags. Restaurants: Food and dining was more on the premium end. Though food quality was maintained well, the seafood was fresh and grill/pasta was done well. We had breakfast as part of our stay which enabled us to just eat two meals a day. To save on cost, the lunch menus are usually more budget friendly so an early dinner would help; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with businesses as follows:
Title: Embers Ski Lodge; City: Nashville, TN; Review: I rated this 4/5 stars because I've only been here once and loved the experience and food, but need to try more things before I can up my rating. I came here last night with some coworkers and had a great time. -cool environment -attentive and friendly service -I had the Mount Everest burger and it was awesome! You can tell they use good quality meat and it was 2 patties high. I ate the whole thing and had no regrets. -inexpensive and delicious I look forward to going back and trying out a cocktail or two--I've heard they're pretty good--and another dish on the menu. The only downside is the parking--not surprising for the area--but we were able to park on the street that runs alongside Embers with no problems.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Lone Wolf Tattoo; City: Franklin, TN; Review: I got my first tattoo here about a month ago and was very impressed by the professionalism and environment of the shop. I have been in other tattoo shops before that just felt very dirty and sketchy, but Lone Wolf is super clean and not sketchy at all. Jake did an awesome job and was very helpful in advising that what I wanted would be put in a good spot on my body. The guys who work here are pretty funny and unbelievably talented. My husband got his half sleeve done here around the same time and has nothing but good things to say about the staff and quality of work they do. We will definitely be going back here for our next tattoos.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Starbucks; City: Franklin, TN; Review: This Starbucks is one of the best I've been in because the staff is always super friendly, makes their drinks correctly, and the place itself is a smaller shop, so it's a more intimate environment, which is great if that's your preference. Anytime I come here, I prefer walking in over going through the drive-thru because the people who work here brighten my day and it's a great way to start before I head into work. I look forward to stopping in on my way to work today.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: T J Maxx; City: Franklin, TN; Review: I have had my worst experience ever the last time I was here and will not be returning until the obnoxious associate who badgers customers far beyond an acceptable or appropriate level is fired. I didn't catch her name, but she is at a shorter height, with long, dark brown hair, a high-pitched voice, and has been working the cash register near the end by the men's section the last 2 times I was there. She makes each customer who interacts with her visibly upset and uncomfortable because of how she goes about trying to get them to open a store card. Here is my account of what happened: If your business strategy is to try to guilt me into opening a store card by trying to make me feel bad that you'll lose your job after I've already said no 5 times, it's not. I don't feel bad for you. I'm not kidding when I say I said no 5 times and the girl still tried to get me to change my mind by saying I wanted her to quit her job and that she's not going to get all of her points or whatever. She then yelled, "Ok guys, I'm not coming to work tomorrow because they all want me to quit!" And then AFTER the transaction was complete, she was still like, "See? You put in on credit and what are you gonna get for it? Nothin! That's what I try to tell you people!" I'm way less inclined to even think about opening a card when I'm harassed like that. Not to mention the fact that 20% off does not impress me enough to open a card. It was completely rude and inappropriate and made me so uncomfortable that I don't want to go back based on the horrible customer service alone.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Bartaco; City: Nashville, TN; Review: The food, service, and overall experience were great! I had the margarita because I love margs and everyone was saying how I should try it--absolutely worth the hype! I also had the chicken, duck, and ribeye tacos and they were awesome and the perfect amount of food. The most expensive thing I got was the margarita, but other than that, prices are fair and affordable. Everyone was extremely accommodating and genuine from the moment we walked through the door. I will definitely go back.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: TDS; City: Mount Juliet, TN; Review: Who knew there was an internet service out there with worse customer service than Comcast? Well, there is and it is definitely TDS. Hire some people who are actually willing to be helpful and SERVICE the customers, since that is literally their job title.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Painturo's; City: Mount Juliet, TN; Review: Love this place! The good tastes great, is made fresh, and service has always been stellar.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | yelp |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Generic Replacement for Sony XL-2100U TV Lamp with Housing; Brand: Generic; Review: Installed bulb and it has worked well so far. It is still quite early since the purchase and the bulb is supposed to last for years. So time will tell.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Epica Digital Emergency Solar Hand Crank AM/FM/NOAA Radio, Flashlight, Smartphone Charger with NOAA Certified Weather Alert; Brand: Epica; Review: The epica radio works exactly as described on the Amazon website. It arrived very quickly and is well built and solid in construction. its small size makes it easy to store or carry. And on top of that it is made in America by Americans and not from China.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: ASUS RT-N66U Dual-Band Wireless-N900 Gigabit Router; Brand: Asus; Review: gave to my son for last Christmas. It was all he wanted from the product. I would Highly recommend it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Copystars DVD-Duplicator 24X CD-DVD-Burner 1 to 4 Copier Sata Dual Layer Copy Easy Writer Tower SYS-1-4-ASUS/LG-CST; Brand: Copystars; Review: works quickly and quietly and it is much faster than my computer-highly recommend buying it. came quickly and extremely easy to use; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: CableWholesale Manual VGA Switch (40H1-03602); Brand: CableWholesale; Review: Works great. Does what it says it would. My wife can now flip back and forth between two computers whenever she wants to.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 12 feet 3.5mm 1/8-Inch Male Mini Plug Stereo Audio Cable; Brand: Generic; Review: Does exactly what I want them to do; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: WD TV Live Media Player Wi-fi 1080p (Old Version); Brand: Western Digital; Review: I like it but it did not do what I thought the ad said it would-returned but it did work.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: (6 pack) Calculator Ink Rollers, IR-40T / Canon CP13 / NU-KOTE NR42 / NR422 for Various Sharp, VICTOR, ADLER-ROYAL,; Brand: COMPUMATIC; Review: Like them very much.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Premium Life Media 5.2 mm Slim CD & DVD Jewel Cases 200-pack; Brand: Premium Life; Review: good product for good price; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cables Unlimited 10-Feet DVI D M to M Cable; Brand: Cables Unlimited; Review: work great and low price can't beat that; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: RiteAV RCA Audio Video Cable (6 feet); Brand: RiteAV; Review: good product for low price; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: RiteAV - Audio Video RCA Cable 12ft; Brand: RiteAV; Review: good product for low price; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Panasonic 850mAh cordless phone battery; Brand: EMPIRE; Review: The batteries do not last very long. I would have sent them back had they cost more.; Rating: 2.0/5.0 | amazon_Electronics |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Garden Gate Get A Way Bed Breakfast; City: Millersburg Ohio; Review: My husband and I have stayed at this Bed and Breakfast several times over the past nine years. The breakfast is delicious and the nightly campfires usually mean a new friend or two is made. We normally stay in the garden gate suite and enjoy soaking in the jacuzzi tub to further the relaxation. Many times we indulge in a couples massage. Herb and Carol make your stay memorable and relaxing. Their back roads tours help you find off the beaten path gems that you will find yourself coming back to visit again!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hershey Lodge; City: Hershey Pennsylvania; Review: The conference facilities are well managed and close together. There was construction due to building the new water park, but that was noninvasive once inside the facility. The rooms were clean and comfortable, though a better rate was eligible through AAA than what was offered to the group which in my opinion is unacceptable and the group members who have AAA should be refunded. The food options are outstanding. I did not get to sight see, but the hotel did provide shuttling service to a restaurant which was convenient, though getting a return ride took speaking with several persons.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Courtyard Pittsburgh North Cranberry Woods; City: Cranberry Township Pennsylvania; Review: As expected, the room was clean and well-maintained. I was thoroughly impressed that the staff allowed me to check in at 7:10 AM before my conference, which was above and beyond what they needed to do. As a rewards member, the wifi was free which was useful given the work I needed to do. The only complaint is the cost of the room given the amenities offered, $160 + taxes for a standard room with nothing special, is a little steep.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mansion District Inn Bed Breakfast; City: Smethport McKean County Pennsylvania; Review: We stayed at the inn while attending a wedding. The innkeepers Were especially accommodating to our needs and schedule. The breakfasts were fabulous. Remember to try the flowers and garnish as everything on the plate is edible and delicious. While we were there, another couple had a gluten free dietary need that was fully met. Definitely take the time to stay no matter why you may be traveling to the area.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Crowne Plaza Harrisburg Hershey; City: Harrisburg Pennsylvania; Review: While the room and hotel were tidy, they definitely need some updating. The rooms were showing wear and the exercise equipment had pieces missing and were not fully functional. The meeting facilities were well maintained and the food we were served for breakfast and lunch was delicious.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with news articles as follows:
Title: Macabre Video of Fake Trump Shooting Media and Critics Is Shown at His Resort; Abstract: A video depicting a macabre scene of a fake President Trump shooting, stabbing and brutally assaulting members of the news media and his political opponents was shown at a conference for his supporters at his Miami resort last week, according to footage obtained by The New York Times.; Category: news
Title: A Texas mom is going to prison after putting her son through unnecessary medical procedures; Abstract: A Dallas mother made her son go through unnecessary medical procedures throughout the first years of his life, court documents say.; Category: news
Title: 'Sisters' adopted from China reunite outside Philadelphia; Abstract: JuJu and PeiPei were more than best friends. From early infancy, the girls lived together at the Lily Orphan Care Center in Henan Province, China. They slept in adjacent cribs. They shared a nanny.; Category: news
Title: Pelosi holds off on vote to authorize Trump impeachment inquiry for now; Abstract: Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Democratic leaders will hold off on a full House vote authorizing an impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump, according to multiple lawmakers and aides.; Category: news
Title: Pence refuses House request to provide documents related to Ukraine call; Abstract: The vice president's office says it won't cooperate with a "self-proclaimed impeachment inquiry."; Category: news
Title: Little Dog Comes Up With Clever Way To Get More Attention; Abstract: Rikki Perez Chewie was rescued after spending the first six years of her life locked in a cage at a puppy mill.; Category: lifestyle
Title: Donald Trump Jr.: provocateur, master preacher for father; Abstract: The son has become the prime warmup act for the father at political rallies; Category: news
Title: Ohio teen in wheelchair scores touchdown with help from his teammates; Abstract: A teen with Spina Bifida got to score a touchdown Wednesday night with Miamisburg's eighth-grade football team.; Category: sports
Title: GOP senators discuss impeachment with Trump after House vote; Abstract: A small group of Republican senators discussed the ongoing impeachment proceedings with President Trump at the White House Thursday.; Category: news
Title: Patriots wanted a test. Now, they need some answers; Abstract: The first quarter was the worst the Patriots had played all season.; Category: sports
Title: Nick Saban on Donald Trump attending Alabama-LSU: It's an honor he's interested enough to come; Abstract: ; Category: sports
Title: Chicken recall: More than 2 million pounds recalled, may be contaminated with metal; Abstract: Simmons Prepared Foods, Inc., based in Arkansas, is recalling more than 2 million pounds of its ready-to-cook chicken products, the USDA announced.; Category: health
Title: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle just shared a never-before-seen photo of baby Archie with his 'Grandpa' Prince Charles to celebrate his birthday; Abstract: The Duke and Duchess of Sussex shared a new photo of Archie, Harry, and Charles to mark the Prince of Wales' 71st birthday on Thursday.; Category: lifestyle | mind |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Fairfield Inn Suites Idaho Falls; City: Idaho Falls Idaho; Review: My family and I have stayed at this hotel on a couple occasions. I wont stay anywhere else when I visit Idaho Falls. The rooms are very clean and the beds are comfortable. The employees are all so very nice and helpful. We love the warm pool and my kids can even find something they like at the breakfast bar (Their breakfast is better then going to any restaurant). Its also very nice being in walking distance to Walmart and some amazing restaurants for dinner. I really love this hotel..; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fairfield Inn Suites Idaho Falls; City: Idaho Falls Idaho; Review: I've stayed in many Hotels in Idaho Falls, after staying at the Fairfield, I won't stay anywhere else!! The rooms are extremely clean. The staff is very friendly and helpful. The pool is really nice and they say it's just been redone. The beds are so comfy I actually slept like a rock! And not to mention the continental breakfast.. Very good food and a lot to choose from. I give this Hotel 10 stars!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Motel 6 Ogden 21st Street; City: Ogden Utah; Review: When we arrived we entered our room and noticed that the bathroom door was being changed but never got finished. There was a door leaning against the wall and an unhinged door in the bathroom. Went back to the office. There were no more regular rooms left so they put us in a suit. The suit was nice. It was clean. Couldn't figure out one of the TVs but we weren't there to watch TV so that was ok. It was kinda loud with all the trucks at the truck stop and being so close to the freeway. Was nice to be walking distance to Dennys and the gas station. Man at front desk was very nice and helpful. They could use some new more comfy mattresses.. But it was a good stay.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Katie s Cozy Cabins; City: Tombstone Arizona; Review: These cabins are so cute!! They are perfect for a family of 6! The AC is very inviting after a hot day of shopping. The porch swing is a nice touch to sit and relax while listening to birds and watching bunnies hop around. Me and my family absolutely love these cabins and WILL be back!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fairfield Inn Suites Idaho Falls; City: Idaho Falls Idaho; Review: Had the opportunity to stay here again. Another great experience!! My kids love the pool! I love the comfy beds and continental breakfast! The room was remodeled and so fresh and clean!! Will be back to stay again!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Goodbye Junie Moon; Author: Visit Amazon's June Collins Page; Review: Excellent story, very interesting, well written, eye-opening. Good read. Would highly recommend. Hard to put down once you start reading it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The President's Henchman; Author: Visit Amazon's Joseph Flynn Page; Review: Very engaging story, quick moving, extremely interesting read, would highly recommend. Good suspense but doesn't keep you hanging for ever to find out what happens; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Downing Of TWA Flight 800; Author: James Sanders; Review: The book was interesting but became very repetitious as far as facts were concerned. The story is interesting and the author is probably correct in that the government covered up this huge error.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Kate: Loyal Wife, Royal Mother, Queen-In-Waiting; Author: Jessica Long; Review: Sorry, but this book was an absolute no. A senior in high school could have written this as a required paper. Practically everything in the book could have been found in all of the current material already out there. Thank goodness, the book ended up being free.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Curly Girl: The Handbook; Author: Visit Amazon's Michele Bender Page; Review: Fantastic book for naturally curly people. Covers all types of curls and all types of people. Highly recommend if you have ever had naturally curly hair and you want to go back to a more simple life of not fighting your hair anymore. Wonderful tips on "how to" do everything right.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Road to Gold; Author: William H. Labarge; Review: Interesting book, especially if you are an avaiator. Good story; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Top 10 Buenos Aires (Eyewitness Top 10 Travel Guides); Author: Demetrio Carrasco; Review: Out of date. We went to several recommended places only to find they were no longer in existence!; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: In the Tall, Tall Grass; Author: Visit Amazon's Denise Fleming Page; Review: Very nice illustrations.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Build Your Own Wire Pendants; Author: Kalmbach Books; Review: Good clear instructions.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: An Illustrated Journey: Inspiration From the Private Art Journals of Traveling Artists, Illustrators and Designers; Author: Visit Amazon's Danny Gregory Page; Review: Gregory is excellent as always.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Streetwise Buenos Aires Map - Laminated City Center Street Map of Buenos Aires, Argentina; Author: Streetwise Maps; Review: Difficult to orient yourself from this map. Having to flip from one side to the other very inconvenient.; Rating: 1.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: 2-Pack EPS Replacement Compatible Toner Cartridge for Brother TN450 (Black); Brand: EPS; Review: good purchase I like it a lot and the quarter moon likes it too I have been told a couple times; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: EPS Brother DR310CL Replacement Drum Set Brother MFC-9460CDN MFC-9560CDW MFC-9970CDW; Brand: EPS; Review: good drum this is a good drum I like it so so much It makes me happy and want to buy more; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pro Office Premium 200 Round Corner Blank Half Page Self Adhesive Shipping Labels for Laser Printers; Brand: OfficePro; Review: Very professional and easy to use.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: E-Z Ink (TM) Compatible Drum Unit Replacement for Brother DR420 DR 420 (1 Drum; Brand: E-Z Ink; Review: THANKS; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: MFLABEL 1000 Half Sheet Laser/Ink Jet Shipping Labels for UPS USPS FedEx; Brand: MFLABEL; Review: Great Labels! Very sticky.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Office_Products |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Maglite Mini Maglite AA LED Flashlight; Brand: MagLite; Review: I really wanted to like this mini LED flashlight. When it worked, it was great. Really bright, small and portable. When summer came around the flashlight stopped working. I thought the batt needed replacing. However, all three batteries melted and fused within the housing. Can't get them out for the life of me. Only thing left was to chuck this thing. A shame :-(; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Honeywell RCWL330A1000/N P4-Premium Portable Wireless Doorbell / Door Chime and Push Button; Brand: Honeywell; Review: What a great product! Thanks to all the reviews here on Amazon for leading me to this wireless door chime. Saved me so much money and time of not having to replace a broken wired door bell system. Well worth the purchased. P.S. my Mom loves the church bell chime :-); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Milwaukee 6509-22 Sawzall 11-Amp Reciprocating Saw; Brand: Milwaukee; Review: Purchased this on Amazon back in 2009 based on high reviews. Was not disappointed. I've had a year's worth with this beast...everything from cutting heavy-duty plumbing pipes, drain plugs, thick tree branches, etc. It cuts through copper, hardened steel, wood, you name it. The only thing I'll add is to use lots of precaution when using this "beast". It's very powerful! Use the right technique and safety equipments people. A couple times the recoil from this tool almost cost an arm and a leg...lol I also recommended buying the Sawzall kit as it has plenty of versatile blades for all your needs. The included blades that come with this saw are ok but not enough for my needs. This is one tool I'm glad to have had in my arsenals of tools. I plan to keep it around for a very long time.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Architectural Mailboxes Lunada Wall Mailbox, White; Brand: ARCHITECTURAL MAILBOXES; Review: We purchased this black mailbox back in 2008 based on the positive reviews here. We weren't disappointed. It was mounted under the porch and not in direct exposure to sun or rain. One of the poor reviews mentioned it rusted and was not waterproof. Well, if I were to mount directly outside I would coat this mailbox with some waterproof/rustproof paint or coating. So that reviewer may be right. But based on our experience this mailbox is a winner. Well constructed and rugged. Ample space for holding various mails we get. Highly recommended!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: RAYOVAC Sportsman 22 Lumen 3 in 1 Headlight with 3 AAA Batteries, SPKHL3AAA-BA,Rayovac,SPKHL3AAA-BA" />; Brand: Rayovac; Review: Bought this set back in 2009. Have used it frequently and consistently and found no problems. The three light modes increased the versatility of this headlight over other set on the market. I used the white LED mostly. But found the red LED a plus when you're not trying to attract attention using it at night. I've never used the incandescent mode and wonder what would happend if the bulb goes bad. Overall, an excenllent product. Highly recommended! Update (9/26/2014): The housing broke lose from plastic base. I did not abuse this favorite light of mine. I picked it up by the elastic band and the weight of the unit must have been too much this time and it just snapped off. I'll attempt to superglue it back but if I can't I'll buy something better. Sadly, the unit still works fine in my hand but I don't need another handheld flashlight...; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Werner D1324-2 Extension Ladder, 24-Foot; Brand: Werner; Review: The biggest advantage for us of buying this 24ft ladder from Amazon was the delivery. There was no feasible way we could've hauled this monster home had we bought it from HD or Lowes. Renting a truck or having those home center stores delivery it would be costly. As far as ladder goes, it is well-constructed and served our needs for that one occassion when I had to climb 17 ft to service a leaky wall A/C. I will probably use it again to put trims around the A/C. Would've bought the 28ft ladder but the increased weight was a put off in our case. Overall, a great product and a great purchased from Amnazon. Thanks Amazon for the speedy delivery.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Freud D0760X Diablo Ultra Finish Saw Blade ATB 7-1/4-Inch by 60t 5/8-Inch Arbor; Brand: Freud; Review: I purchased this blade to replace a cheap Harbor Freight 120 tooth blade. I tossed the HF blade because it labored cutting through 3/4 inch plywood and left excessive burn marks which I could smell while I cutting. On the other hand, the Freud blade was amazing! Even with only 60tooth, rip cutting did not labored by old circ saw, and it left a smooth surface that didn't need further sanding for my purposes. Any minor burn marks were probably from my techniques. FYI, try not to let the blade spin in one place too long I think this may have resulted in some of the burn marks. This Freud blade is a winner in my book. I will continue to buy Freud blades only from now on.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Komelon SL2925 Self Lock Speed Mark 25-Foot Power Tape; Brand: Komelon; Review: So much more convenient to measure with the self-lock mechanism. You needn't worry about the tape slipping back before you get a chance to lock it down. After trying this a few times I'm sold to the self-lock didea and am never looking back to the traditional sliding switch-lock again. The convenience is astounding! The retracting mechanism is super smooth as expected. I love this tape measure and so will you. Highly recommended!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bosch DLR130K Laser Measure (Discontinued by Manufacturer); Brand: Bosch; Review: I've had a chance to use this Bosch digital laser measure for at least a year now. It was very accurate and highly convenient to have around. It is useful for measuring heights, long distances, or anytime when a typical tape measure just wasn't practical. Only caveat was the difficulty of spotting the laser dot on a bright sunny day. However, you can remedy this by purchasing an amber tinted goggle to help you visualize the mark better. Overall, a great useful product - albeit pricy - but worth every penny imho. Highly recommended!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sylvania 72178 Motion Activated Battery Powered Safety Light,Sylvania,72178" />; Brand: Sylvania; Review: I use it mainly in the garage for finding my way to the car. I use the built-in magnet to attach it to my water heater. It quickly detects motion as soon as I step into the garage. The lumen output is not as bright as a more expensive model. But if you're looking for an inexpensive wireless light source then this will do nicely.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mr Beams MB360 Wireless LED Spotlight with Motion Sensor and Photocell, Dark Brown; Brand: Mr Beams; Review: Purchased this mostly on the positive reviews. Should have paid more attention to the poor reviews instead. Anyway, I had to return this product because the beam got weaker only after 2 to 3 days on fresh Ni-Mh batteries. After several repeated attempts of replacing with fresh batteries I gave up. As always Amazon was excellent in their return policy! 5 stars for Amazon; 1 star for product...; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: LEDwholesalers Dimmable PAR38 14 Watt LED Wide Angle Flood Light Standard Screw Base, White 1322WH-DM; Brand: LEDwholesalers; Review: As other reviewers here mentioned, these LED bulbs are super bright...daylight bright. Turns night into day! I use these on my motion-sensor system. They exhibit no visible borders (the circular pattern you'd see with spotlights) like the previous halogen bulbs I've used. The spread patterns are wide. Just be aware you're that these are daylight bulbs and you should not be disappointed. Lowes carry several brands (Sylvania's?) of these LED style but cost 10-15 dollars more.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Milwaukee 2663-22 18-volt M18 1/2-Inch High Torque Impact Wrench with Friction Ring; Brand: Milwaukee; Review: I use it mostly to help me work with the family car's lug nuts. I used to manually loosen the wheel's lug nuts and they are such a chore. Now with this impact wrench, it merely takes me seconds to loosen and tighten lug nuts. I still use a torque wrench to tighten the nuts to specs but the impact gun helps to speed things up for me. -1 for the control selector switch which became loosey goosey over time and can easily be bumped to the reverse direction. It's annoying but tolerable I guess. I still highly recommend this product as there are no other on the market with this kind of superior torque power for a cordless tool.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Werner 356 Aluminum Stepladder, 6-Foot; Brand: Werner; Review: It serves it's purpose well! Very light and portable. Could've purchase this at the Home depot but hey how could you beat the free shipping from Amazon. Item arrive well packeaged with no dents or structural damages seen. Highly recommended for light duty use in and around the house.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Werner 354 Single Sided Step Ladder, 4-Foot; Brand: Werner; Review: It serves it's purpose well! Very light and portable. Could've purchase this at the Home depot but hey how could you beat the free shipping from Amazon. Item arrive well packeaged with no dents or structural damages seen. Highly recommended for light duty use in and around the house.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: G.T. Water Products H34 Drain Opener/Cleaner; Brand: G.T. Water Products; Review: This didn't work for heavy root problems in French drains. I tried to blast my way through these clogged drains. This resulted in the Drain King blowing back out of the pipe in full force and me getting a face full of dirty water. Repeating the process didn't help. Eventually, I had to rent a power drain auger and was able to drag out at least 3 lbs of heavy roots. After clearing about 30 feet of roots from these drains I put the Drain King back to work hoping to do a final flush on these drains. Surprisingly, the Drain King stayed in place this time; however, I'm still getting residual back flow. I conclude that although most of the drains were cleared, any roots left must have been compressed further down the lines by the action of the water bladder. Bottom line, the Drain King works for most scenarios when the clogs are moveable. Heavy rooting problems requires the cutting action of an power auger; the Drain King will not work in this case and may exacerbate your problem by compacting the clog even more.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Little Giant 12017 RevolutionXE 300-Pound Duty Rating Multi-Use Ladder, 17-Foot; Brand: Little Giant Ladder Systems; Review: Listed at 38 lbs for the 22 footer, this felt much heavier when I was lugging it around the house. Thank goodness mine came with the wheels. I've own my share of Werner aluminum extension and folding ladders, and this Little Giant is a great ladder by all means. But it is not my go to ladder because of the weight. Ironically, the weight of this ladder makes this ladder feel more stable and secure when you're on it. When you're moving and shifting around on the Little Giant, the ladder is rock solid. A good feeling! You know what I mean when you've own those aluminum ladder :-) I love the fact that another person can climb on the other side when the ladder is in the V mode. I know this ladder can be folded in various configurations but I've only used it as an extension and V mode. If you're using this ladder for cleaning gutters like I did, I highly recommend purchasing the Ladder Max stand off. This gadget will allow the weight of the ladder to rest of the roof rather than the gutter. Overall, highly recommended but know that the weight can be an issue for some people.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: G.T. Water Products 186 Drain King Unclog Hose Attachment; Brand: G.T. Water Products; Review: I tried to use this to open up some clogged French drains in the driveway. It bursted. In hindsight, this is my fault because those drains are so stuffed up with tree/ plant roots the pressure created by the Drain King was so tremendous something had to give way. Plus I was putting the bladder at a 90 bend so that didn't help any. I ended up renting a power auger to drag out endless tree roots. I am sure under most indoor use the Drain King will serve it's purpose as most clogs are not impenetrable. But then again the Drain King will pop if not use properly.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hitachi KC10DFL 12-Volt Peak 3-Tool Li-Ion Combo Kit with Carrying Bag (Discontinued by the Manufacturer); Brand: Hitachi; Review: Really wanted to like this combo kit. This was purchased as a gift to a family member. But after a month of occassional use the speed selector locked up. The only way to budge it was to pound it with a soft face hammer. I can keep in on speed "2" in most cases but would lose the clutch option when driving screws. So disappointed. I was beginning to get use to the feel of the driver. Haven't even tried the impact yet. Luckily with the lifetime warranty I was able to return for a refund. I've also own a similar Bosch 12-volt drill/impact driver kit for several years and those tools have lasted without any issues... Hitachi needs to improve their quality control.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Ladder-Max Stand-off Stabilizer; Brand: Ladder-Max; Review: Can't imagine not using this stand-off if you have gutters around your home. Based on the reviews here, this was the only highly recommended add-on to the Little Giant Ladder. And once assembled, it feels very sturdy and fits the steps on the Little Giant well. However, this will add more weight to the already heavy Little Giant. I end up needing two people to manuever the assembled ladder onto the roof. Don't take your chances with the less expensive version get the Ladder-Max.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hitachi 725405 3/8-Inch Keyless Conversion Chuck for 1/4-Inch Hex Impact Drivers; Brand: Hitachi; Review: My cordless Bosch driver & impact driver takes hex sided bits. However, rather than spending more to buy hex drill bits I opted for this conversion chuck. Now i can use all my old standard drill bits with ease. The largest drill bit it can take is 3/8th diameter. One advice when tightening down is you need to continue turning the sleeve until you hear the click. Only then is your bit locked. It may require some muscle but it's critical. Otherwise, your bit will spin or worse yet will fly out.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bosch 1194AVSRK 8 Amp 1/2-Inch Hammer Drill; Brand: Bosch; Review: I've owned and used this Bosch hamemr drill for at least 5+ years now. It is one of the best product I've used! Compared to cheap version, the Bosch motor is well built. It is smooth and extremely fast. It puts out a high torque. I've never had a problem drilling through any material. Even a dull drill bit will cut through pvc pipe when mounted on the Bosch. The hammer action comes in handy when drilling though concrete or stucco...using masonry drill bit of course. Again cuts through like butter. I've own other Bosch products, but this hammer drill solidifies my faith in purchasing future Bosch products. A must buy!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Shark Corp 21-2325 Moulding Prybar; Brand: SHARK; Review: Shark makes high quality tools. This is a prime example. It feels solid in my hands. Prying nails becomes less of a chore when I have a quality tool in my hands. I also use this to scrape old caulk and it works like a charm. I always carry this in my tool bag when I go out to do projects. Highly recommended!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Can-Gun1 2012 Premium Can Tool Aerosol Spray; Brand: SafeWorld International Inc.; Review: Greatest invention since the toilet paper. Seriously, why damaged the nerves in you index finger when you can use this. There is a cheaper imitation of this at Harbor Freight... say no to that one. Get this one!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ryobi P320 Airstrike 18 Volt One+ Lithium Ion Cordless Brad Nailer (Battery Not Included, Power Tool Only); Brand: Ryobi; Review: I love this tool. Been looking for a new cordless finish nailer ever since my Senco Fusion crapped out on me. I can tell this is a very high quality tool. It feels balanced and solid in my hands. Weighs less than any cordless nailer I've handled, though I still use two hands to steady this tool. I test fired several 1-1/2" nails onto studs and believe me this thing's got power. Air pressure control dial on back of tool makes depth adjustment a no brainer. There's a seperate knob for finer tuning if want more precise control forr recessing the nails into the wood. But for the most part, using the air pressure dial gets me the results I wanted. So yes I love this tool and now am inspired to shop for other Ryobi tools. I also recommend buying this from Home Depot for the price. Don't know why Amazon would allow this 3rd party seller for selling this at highway robbery price... FYI - tool dosen't come with lithium battery & charger but you can also get this cheaply at HD.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: TEKTON 47795 1/2-Inch Drive by 1-1/16-Inch Deep Impact Socket, Cr-V, 6-Point; Brand: TEKTON; Review: This one fits the anode rod nut on top of your typical water heater. Use it with an impact wrench and it made life easier busting loose the corroded nut. High quality product and good pricing!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sperry Instruments ET64220 Wire Tracker Wire Tracer, Audio / Video Installers Must-Have, for Coax, CAT 5, Speaker &; Brand: Sperry Instruments; Review: This was my first wire tracer purchased based on the positive reviews. I've owned this product for 2+ years and have used it several times already. My first project with this product was to identify and rewire telephone connections throughout my house. For this purpose, I felt it did a decent job. I did experience noise from the probe when I tried to trace the exact line among several other wires. This was probably due to the strong magnetic field generated by the main unit spreading out among adjacent wires. But if you physically spread the wires apart this helps minimize the noise and the probe functioned better. Actually after a while I realized that I could get by with just using some telephone jacks and a line tester to figure out the wiring network. Nevertheless, this product did simplify the id process. Why the 2 stars? Well on my next project, I used this same product to trace Romex wires behind drywall. No good. It's not powered to do so. I ended up purchasing a Fluke wire tracer...that one is excellent! So to summarize, I'm probably retiring this Sperry product now that I have the Fluke. I'll save my readers money by not recommending this product and pointing to the Fluke Pro3000 tone and probe kit instead.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Hyde Tools 09165 Dust-Free Drywall Vacuum Hand Sander with 6-Foot Hose, 6'; Brand: Hyde Tools; Review: I purchased this product based on the mostly rave reviews here. First thing I realized was not all the adapters provided will fit with your vacuum cleaner hose. I own a Hoover Wind Tunnel and thought this was a common enough vacuum to have at least one of the adapter fit. Nope. Out comes the duct tape, sigh. Using this was a chore. Sure, it helps minimize drywall dust but at what price. The bulkiness of this product makes it less versatile and maneuverable. The sanding screen clogs frequently requiring you to stop and clean it. Overall, it just doesn't feel as effective as when I used sanding paper or pad. Oh well, maybe it's a personal preference thing. I don't see myself using this tool as much in the future...; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Delta Faucet RP46073 Cartridge Adapter for MultiChoice(R) 17 Series; Brand: DELTA FAUCET; Review: You can find & purchase pretty much anything from Amazon these days. This is a prime example. These Delta cartridge gaskets are not sold at your local do-it-yourself big box warehouse nor any specialty plumbing stores. They can special order for you but it'll cost a pretty penny. So I turned to Amazon and Voila! Speaking of the product itself they fit nicely and did away with a leaky shower valve. Save money and buy with confidence!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Rheem SP11309C R-Tech Resistor Magnesium Anode Rod with 44-Inch Length and 0.7-Inch Diameter; Brand: Rheem; Review: I've decided to replace my anode with magnesium instead of the original aluminum. This fits into a 50 gal tank. The sticker was a chore to peel. So I sprayed Gum Out on it and it peeled off nicely! No local big store carries this product as you know. They don't want you to service your water heater tank. I tried asking someone it there and they don't know what I'm talking about. FYI: if you own a water softener system, your anode rod will corrode much faster. By the second year 50% of the rod was corroded with the core showing. With hard water your primary concern would be calcium deposit and some noticeable pitting. I'd recommend replacing every 5 to 6 years if you have hard water and every 2-3 years if soft water.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: ProSensor 710 Franklin Sensors ProSensor 710 Precision Stud Finder Yellow; Brand: Prosensor; Review: I've owned and used a Zircon studsensor which was hit and miss in the pass. I then purchased a Hanson magnetic stud finder which greatly improved my stud finding process...assuming that the nail was centered in the first place. All this changed after I bought and tried the Franklin ProSensor. This baby was so easy to use. Three led indicates a stud with the middle led indicating the center of the stud. Needless to say, I will retire the Zircon and find less use for the Hanson magnet gizmo. Stud finding has never been so easy! BTW my review was based on standard drywall; the results may be different on plaster or stucco which I haven't tried on...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Alden 8440P Pro Grabit Broken Bolt and Damaged Screw Extractor 4 Piece Kit; Brand: Alden; Review: This is a must have in any handyman's tool bag. I've never realized how helpful these screw extractors until I had to remove some wood screws what were painted over. Of course, the Phillip head was badly worned and my only options at that time was the old chisel and hammer technique. It was so time consuming I'd thought I'd give this a try. It worked and was so easy! The hardest part is figuring out which size extractor to use for the damaged head. I'd wish they would give us bigger size extractors but this is a good starter kit overall. Highly recommended! P.S. there are other products out there but this is the easiest to use.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: SoHoMiLL YL 99 Electronic Door Knob (Spring Latch LOCK; Not Smartphone Connected; Not Deadbolt), 2 3/8" x 2; Brand: SoHoMiLL; Review: Well worth the price paid! A family member had me installed this over an existing key & lock after she locked herself out and forgot the key. The instructions for installation were standard; made easier cuz I was just swapping out an existing lock and didn't have to bore new holes. The parts appeared well built, rugged and well thought out. For instance, the two bolts holding the front and back assembly were easy to install because the engineers created two hole on the back plate. You can drive the Phillip screwdrivers straight instead of angling it or using a stubby right angle mini rachet. Those who install these locks a lot know what I'm talking about. As for the programming, it's intuitive if you follow the instructions. Note: you have a mere four to five secs after punching in you code(s) to rotate the knob (this is reminded to you by a long beep sound). Once the long beep ends and you haven't turned the knob...tough luck you're locked out and have to re-punch the code. I didn't read this anywhere in the instructions and it caused some initial confusion. Overall, my sister liked it; I'm still reserved about it's use. However, I do highly recommend this product because it is a well built and well priced product!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: EATON TR7735LA 3-Wire Receptacle Combo Nightlight with Tamper Resistant 2-Pole, Light Almond; Brand: EATON Wiring; Review: Installing this was easy for me; I've done many receptacle wiring before. For some reason or another the light sensor function to turn the night light on/off didn't seem to work. When the lights in the bathroom are turned the nightlight didn't turn off. In any case, the nightlight is always on. I can control the brightness of the nightlight by repeatedly pressing the top button but other than that the sensor function is a dud. I'm ok with it since it uses only 1 watt.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: CLC Custom Leathercraft 1608 Electrician's Comfort Lift Combo Tool Belt, 28 Pockets; Brand: Custom Leathercraft; Review: It's bulky and heavy. Probably would fit nicely for a big person. If I were to load items onto the pockets the weight would be even more of a burden. Repack and return. Suggest you try these belts at the big box store before attempting to buy blindly online. Save you the return shipping fee.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Amertac Amerelle LED Power Failure Light - A Backup Plug-In Emergency Preparedness Flashlight - Portable / Rechargeable; Brand: Amerelle; Review: Had to return. Must be a defective product. I tried this based on NLee's (the reviewer) recommendation. The flashlight is not as bright as I had hoped. The field of light is scattered rather than a nice bright focused center. In an emergency, I'm sure it'll do to get you around. The red LED light in the front is what made me return this. From other reviewers I understand that the LED should stay lit when plugged in to a live outlet. However, mine decided to turn itself off after 10-15min. I don't know what this means, but I don't want to take the chance of finding out in an emergency if this works or not.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Accell PowerSquid Outlet Multiplier - Grounded Extension Cord Power Strip - 5 Outlets, 3-Foot Cord, ETL Listed; Brand: Accell; Review: These octopus outlets are really practical. They solved the problem of plugging in space hogging AC adapters that would otherwise not fit on a conventional power surge strip. I hope more competitors make these so the price drops. $20 is a bit pricey. But overall well worth it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Weiita H807 Starlight LED Headlamp, 300 Lumen; Brand: Weiita; Review: Having had some time to use this headlamp, I'm not sure I like it as much. The light output is great. The beam is adjustable and has 3 modes to select from (Hi-Lo-Strobe). It takes three AAs which is convenient. My main gripe is the bulkiness of the battery pack. It's huge (bit smaller than a box of cigarette) and it sits in the back of your head. There is a visible wire from the lamp to the battery pack. When I'm working in tight quarters and need to lay down, the battery pack gets in the way. I'm afraid of putting too much pressure else cracking the housing. This is a good headlamp but the design is not for me. I prefer the ones where the batteries are in the front with the lamp.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Kreg R3 Jr. Pocket Hole Jig System; Brand: Kreg; Review: I've used this on and off for several years now. I feel that the Kreg Jr jig is good for projects with wood thickness less than 1". I personally built a custom toddler barrier gate using the Kreg screws to join wood boards. It's convenient and did a competent job holding the boards together (I read somewhere the joints can withstand 60-90ft lbs of pressure). On a more recent project where I needed to use the Kreg on 2x4, I had some challenges. Like some reviewers mentioned, the spacing between the two screws are too narrow to give strength to the adjoined 2x4s. You could drill another pair or only drill one hole then reposition to drill another a bit further apart. As you know, these patented screws are expensive and repositioning defeats the purpose of a efficient kit. I read that the K4 kit works well for 2x4; the holes are spaced wider. For those new to the Kreg jig system, the drill only bore a hole on one board with the pilot hole included. You may not even see an exit hole. Rest assured there's nothing wrong. Stick with the instructions in the manual and DO NOT deviate. The patented screws will bore through the adjoining wood piece and clamp the pieces together. Personally I use an impact driver to drive the screws in. Overall, I think the kit is overpriced. I mean just like a glucometer they know the money is in the test strips so they give the meter for free. I'm not saying they should give this for free but $40 is steep for a plastic jig that when used often enough I see bits of it being shaved off by the drill. I'll still use on occasion but only as a last resort when traditional methods fail. I still recommend this kit though... Update (01/2017): Been using this on and off over the years and have to downgrade my rating. I've noticed the plastic body being chewed off by the drill. The heat during the drilling process accelerated the process. I suppose for occasional use it served it's purpose. For serious enthusiasts, I recommend looking for other jig system that uses steel for the body. A quick Amazon search will show many. It may be worth the investment...; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Versa Tool MBMASTER 13Pcs Blade Set for Ridgid Oscillating Tools (ABMASTER); Brand: Versa-Tool; Review: Nice assortment of blades that fit my Rigid oscillating tool with no adapters needed. The foam padding seems like a nice holder at first but after you've been using the blades a while you'll see that you'll have no patience to put it back in it's proper slots. It is a chore to do so. Most likely I'll discard the foam and just dump all the blades in the case. Overall, blades are sharp and cuts cleanly. No complaints. Good buy; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Moen R5580 Commercial Double Roll Toilet Paper Holder, Chrome; Brand: Moen; Review: Love it. It's a very useful bathroom item and the price on Amazon is great. I didn't use the provided drywall anchors as they look flimsy. I got some Cobra anchors that can withstand up to 25ft-lbs per piece. This is more for peace of mind as some individuals in the households especially kids are rough on the dispenser. This is a great buy. Highly recommended!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Milescraft 5341 Counter Bit Set, 4-Piece; Brand: Milescraft; Review: Great for countersinks. The Allen wrench adjustment is a chore but is necessary to control the depth of your hole. The four sizes are adequate for your everyday use. Just be cautious and tighten the Allen screw otherwise the drill bit will slip.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Panasonic FV-05VF2 WhisperFit 50 CFM Low Profile Ceiling Mounted Fan, White; Brand: Panasonic; Review: The WhisperFit Low Profile 80cfm is sone rated 0.8 so it's not as quiet as the WhisperCeiling rated 0.3. I've installed the WhisperCeiling 110 cfm and compared to this FV-08VF2 it's substantially quieter. The height on the FV-11VQ5 product is ~10.5" so if you have clearance I highly recommend it instead of this WhisperFit Low Profile. In fact, all WhisperFit products are noisier than the WhisperCeiling lines. The cut-out cardboard was smaller than the box frame. I made the mistake of trusting the exactness of the cut-out and built wood frame only to later found out the box frame wouldn't slide up the ceiling! It was my fault for not dry testing but this lack of quality assurance is unacceptable. Install was straight forward since I've done many of these before. The Low Profile is lighter and may ease install a bit but it's not worth it due to the noise difference. However, if you have ceiling clearance less than 10" than yes I would recommend this over Broan or Nutone anyday.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Panasonic FV-08VQ5 WhisperCeiling 80 CFM Ceiling Mounted Fan, White; Brand: Panasonic; Review: All the WhisperCeiling fans are rated sone 0.3 and they are quiet. Don't make the mistake of buying the WhisperFit which is rated 0.8. This being the fourth Panasonic fans I've helped install for a customer, I gain good experience and the process is now straight forward. I can install these even without attic access. A couple of hints: 1) After you cut the drywall hole using the template, be sure to dry fit the fan to make sure it goes through 2) You can actually get away with a three sided wood frame; it will be more than enough to support the weight of the fan 3) Depending on the thickness of the wood; you will need to cut/shave a big portion of wood underneath the vent outlet. Otherwise the fan flange will not sit flush with the drywall 4) The knock out plate covering the electrical box is a bitch to pop out. Use a sturdy screwdriver and a plastic hammer but be careful not to use too much force else you'll bent the frame 5) You definitely need to separate the fan box from the vent outlet frame (there's a screw that needs to be taken out). You then need to mount the vent outlet frame to the wood frame and drywall (after you install the duct and electrical connections). With this in place it is real easy now to slide the black fan box straight up...taking care to line the two tabs on either so the two pieces fit together. You can now screw back the screw taken out earlier. This is the key step. If you do it right there is no need to have attic access. I'm 100% satisfied with the WhisperCeiling product line as they are powerful and quiet. Highly recommended!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: ThruNite TN12 EDC LED Flashlight:; Brand: ThruNite; Review: This is a decent tactical LED flashlight. In comparison to my Fenix PD35, it's just as bright on the highest setting for $10 less. One thing I noted was after several minutes the LED head starts to warm up noticeably. This does not happen on my Fenix. After months of usage, issues started to occur. The darn light flickered for no apparent reason. And no I did not switch it to flash mode... This occurred on several occasions when I was using the flashlight for up close circuitry work. I think the heat may have screwed up the circuit electronics on this thing. Either way, it's poor quality control that I don't see on my Fenix. Even if it's more expensive my next tactical torch LED will be from Fenix.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Arsenal 5870 Tool Roll-Up Pouch, 25-Pockets, Polyester, Gray,Arsenal,13770,NAS-B0013G5YAG,Wrench; screwdriver; storage; organizer" />; Brand: Ergodyne; Review: Nice tote bag to hold various tools. Back in the old days when you purchase a set of screwdrivers the manufacturer would throw in a carrying bag or something to organize the various items. Nowadays you get nothing. So I was forced to buy my own carry bag. This fits the bill perfectly. It's a bit bulky but that's due to the fact that it has 25 pockets. For polyester material I think $20 is bit pricey. I'm sure the the cost for labor and material is a few dollars but the mark up and advertising drive price up for us to enjoy. So much for my gripe. Overall, I highly recommend this product for your every day use.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Little Red Cap Clam Shell Caulk Saving Cap, Red (Pack of 16); Brand: Little Red Cap; Review: I read about this product in the Family Handyman. It's simple and yet innovative. Makes you wonder. Damn why didn't I think of this. As a DIY, I've tried lots of things to seal a half used caulk tube. Screws, plastic and rubber bands, plumber's putty. The plumber's putty actually got me about 90% success in reusing these caulk tubes. But now with these Little Red Cap I'm never going back. Bluntly put they work like a condom. Sealing out all air and moisture. Reusing can be tricky as sometimes they lose their elasticity or shape and can be challenging putting them back onto the caulk tube's end. I guess pretty much like a real condom which you shouldn't reuse, right?; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: US Wire - Power-On Lighted Extension Cord - SJTW Heavy-Duty - Safety Yellow - 74100 12/3 100-Feet; Brand: US Wire and Cable; Review: These are so good; it's my second time buying this brand again. Very high quality material! Had a power outage and used this extension cord on a generator. No issues whatsoever. Highly recommended.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Chamberlain WD832KEV Garage Door Opener, ½ HP, Ultra-Quiet Belt Drive Operation, MyQ Smartphone Control Enabled (Internet Gateway Sold; Brand: Chamberlain; Review: The manual is ok but watching this video helped: [url] IMHO, this unit has faults but until another company makes a better product (I highly doubt), the Chamberlain is the best garage door opener I've installed and used so far. I won't bore the reader with details as other reviewers did better job if you search the reviews. I'll just highlight the pros and cons again based on my opinion... 1) Drastically quieter compared to my previous Genie screw drive unit 2) SKILLS: If you have DIY experience this project is do-able. Time wise it took me a day and a half. Even though I had a helper, I went slow. I had to redo the mounting brackets as the old ones did not align with the Chamberlain unit. As recommended by other reviewers, I bought some steel, zinc plated 18 gauge angle slotted angle iron (14 gauge even sturdier but difficult to cu)...The provided hanger seemed soft and flimsy, I didn't use them 3) DOOR BALANCE: I balanced the door by tensioning the spring. WARNING do this at your own risk! The first time I wounded up releasing all the tension in the spring, the steel cables on each side of the door was unhooked...it was a mess. I took a step back and re-watched some legit YouTube videos (as the first video was from an amateur guy that probably didn't know what he was doing either). I recommend purchasing the torsion spring winding bars. They're long and fits perfectly into the slots at the end. I got the door to balance and it stood opened half-way without anyone holding it...NICE! If you go this extra mile then you're really taking a lot of stress off the motor pulling on the door and extending the life of your opener. 4) LEVELING the RAIL: There's no mention in the instructions but the rail does not need to be leveled. In fact, I read somewhere that it's better on the motor if the unit if a bit below header bracket. 5) SALVAGEABLE PARTS: Keep the old unit standby as I was able to salvage some nuts and bolts to help mount the new unit 6) CONFUSING INSTRUCTIONS: The manual instructs you to do lots of things but don't explain the reason...ie. Step 3 line 6 tells you to insert screwdriver and bend rail tab up 90 degrees...why? I don't know... 7) RAIL FLEXING: Another thing I didn't like was the rail bowing after the door closes. The old unit allowed you to adjust the closing force via a screw on the motor unit. On the Chamberlain all you can do is adjust the travel by pushing the up/down button on the unit. The unit automatically sets the closing pressure. The door slammed and the rail bent upon closing no matter how much I tinker with the programming. Other reviewers mentioned this so I think it's normal? 8) SURGE PROTECTOR: The sensitivity of the remote is great. I can be half a block away and it still opens the door. I think my old; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: SKIL 3540-02 7-Inch Wet Tile Saw; Brand: Skil; Review: Great add-on tool for the home DIY. Probably not suited for pros. I recently used this unit to help tile some bathroom walls. Shower water was splashing and ruining the drywall around the shower tub. The setup was straight forward. The diamond blade provided performed flawlessly in cutting standard shower ceramic tiles. No splinting or breakage even when I attempted to cut small pieces. Adjusting the rail fence can be a chore as well as getting it to line up leveled. After some usage it can be difficult to see the markings. But the $80 I can't fault this unit. Good buy!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cash Acme U3086FLEX24LF Water Softener Hose, Silver; Brand: Cash Acme; Review: What's there not to like about a SharkBite fitting except maybe the price. These are 3x to 4x more expensive than copper fittings. But considering you don't have to sweat copper and in certain places near plastic fittings you cannot use heat, these SharkBites fittings are life-savers. I use this to connect the inlet/outlet valve of a water softener to my own copper pipes. The connections are very secure, just make sure you clean and de-burr the copper joints. Best of all if you change your mind you can take these off. Amazon carries these cheaper than the big box store.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fleck 5600SXT 48,000 Grain Water Softener Digital SXT Metered Whole House System; Brand: Fleck; Review: I purchased this from the default seller ABCwater and was charged $78 for S/H, when it should have been free. Even though I paid for S/H, it took more than a week to receive the product. Not happy. If I had to do it again I'd buy straight from Amazon even if I have to pay more. There were no instructions included. ABCWater did not include an inventory list so you don't know what you're suppose to get. I ended up going to Home Depot to buy necessary hoses and such to complete the installation. They pre-filled the resin and gravel for you. I'd rather do it myself because I'll know exactly how much resin was filled. They used the flimsy plastic bypass valve. It was by far inferior to the brass bypass valve in both construction and functionality. The plastic valve when installed was drooping down due to it's weight and length. I had to use something to prop it straight. Not sure how it'll hold in the long run. As a casual DIY, I find this a challenging job. Mainly because of the planning and multiple soldering steps. I suppose you could purchase all SharkBite hoses and connectors but they're very expensive. So I ended up using Shakbite connectors only in critical areas where sweating connections are avoided (ie. near plastic components for sensitive valves). Here are my advices: 1) I used two 3/4" x 1" FIP, 24" hoses (for connecting the Bypass in/out out to your copper pipes) and four 3/4" x 3/4" MNPT Straight male connectors (for my Watts filters). 2) I highly recommend installing Watts whole house filters before and after the water softener. The pre-filter will prolong the life of the softener and the post-filter will catch any gravel or beads that should happen to leak out of the tank and get into your fixtures. And believe I see these sediments when I last changed the post-filter. I hear horror stories about the resin beads getting into people's fixtures... 3) I had to manually regenerate one time (which ABCWater did not mention anywhere) prior to using the system. Otherwise you won't get soft water right away 4) Lastly, the programming of the Fleck meter is also challenging. ABCWater sent an email link to how they want you to program the meter. But as I scoured the Internet I realized their programming is generic and not the most salt efficient. I ended programming the Capacity to 30k and the Brine Fill to 6 min for ~ 6 lbs of salt per ft Overall, this is a good system and it has softened the water in my house. It'll be more cost effective if you take your time to install it yourself and learn to tweak it's programming. I highly recommend the Fleck water softener system but advice consumer to shop around carefully for the best price and seller.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Culligan UB-1 Mounting Bracket with Screws; Brand: Culligan; Review: This made my life easier for mounting the Watts Whole House filter to the drywall. It's an inexpensive investment otherwise you'll have to make your own. The only glitch I had was screwing in the Sharkbite 3/4" fitting to the Watts filter prior to fitting it onto the bracket. Well, once those fittings went on the filter there's no way to fit the filter onto the bracket. So I had to unscrew these fittings; lined the Watts filter inlet over the bracket then screw the fittings on. Lesson learned. It's a stupid mistake which I should have foreseen.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: NEXT BY DANCO (10672X) HydroSeat Durable Toilet Flange Repair, Blue and Black, 1-Pack; Brand: Next by Danco; Review: The product may be ok as a last resort to repair a broken flange after all else fails. But is far from ideal as a first line fix. First, the four holes do not line up with our existing flange. You can tell they are not evenly aligned: one pair is closer than the other. Second, the diameter of the rubber funnel is no more than 3 inches. There are disadvantages going from reducing the diameter of the flange. One obviously is the reduced water clearance. Another might be back splash which may weaken the wax seal over time and create a leak. Third, the use of two wax seals could raise the toilet so it may not sit flush with the floor. I ended fixing my toilet flange problem using metal support bracket and not using this.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Wiha 26199 Slotted and Phillips Screwdriver Set in Rugged Canvas Pouch, 8 Piece; Brand: Wiha; Review: These are very high quality screwdrivers. The material used for constructing these screwdrivers are incredible. These will not break nor bend. The grab is second to none. If I'm working on delicate screws I trust in using these Wiha screwdrivers to get me through a tough job. When I'm working on a difficult project the last thing I need is poor quality tools. These set cost more than your typical set but well worth the investment. I highly recommend the Wiha brand.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bundle: JETBeam-1 MK Cree XP-G2 LED 480 Lumens Waterproof AA 14500 Flashlight with SKYBEN USB Light,Battery not Included; Brand: JETBeam; Review: Been using this for a while now and I think it's great. The twisting function to turn the flashlight on/off and change mode is a bit novel to me as I'm used the click design. But since I tend to keep this in my pocket it'll decrease the likelihood of turning the LED on accidentally. Incidentally, I discovered that even when you twisted the unit off it can still be turned on by pushing the ends of the unit. I think doing so creates contact. But releasing the pressure turns the light off.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Makita XPH012 18V LXT Lithium-Ion Cordless 1/2-Inch Hammer Driver-Drill Kit with One Battery- DIscontinued by Manufacturer (Discontinued by Manufacturer); Brand: Makita; Review: Have used this Makita mainly in the hammer drill mode. I have to say though I'm a Bosch tools guy, this Makita drill is winning my favor. It feels solid and powerful through all applications I've put it through. Concrete, brick or mortar poses no problem. It also helped that I used Bosch drill bits. I've used it for six months and have yet a need to recharge it. NICE! I own a corded Bosch hammer/drill and I must say, whenever there's a job lined up I now think of and grab for the Makita. I highly recommend the Makita cordless hammer drill.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Maestro Sensor switch, 5A, No Neutral Required, Single-Pole or Multi-Location MS-OPS5MH-IV, Ivory; Brand: Lutron; Review: What I didn't realize was that you can not use two of these in sync to control a fixture. I tried it and the lights acted "crazy"; turning on and off by themselves. A call to tech support confirmed this. I wished they had clearly stated this on their instruction sheet. So for a 3-way setup only one motion sensor can be used. Unfortunate as I have a hallway chandelier controlled by a switch up stair and down stair. The tech said the only way around this was to use their wireless motion sensor switch; i'm not even sure they offer this on Amazon. Otherwise, this switch works when wired properly. One common, two travelers and a pair of ground. I wished they offered more delay time between the one to five minute settings; three minute would have been good. It does make a clicking sound when motion is detected but is not too bothersome. It's a good buy; I recommend it.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Lutron Maestro Sensor switch, 2A, No Neutral Required, Single-Pole, MS-OPS2-LA, Light Almond; Brand: Lutron; Review: I also have a similar Lutron rated for a 3-way setup purchased for $30 (gave it 4 stars). This one is only for a single pole setup and costs $17. I'm giving this five stars mainly due to the price difference. It's basically the same the MS-OPS5MH-WH except for traveler wires. The options and programming are the same. No variable time delay; jumps from one to five minutes delay. IMO, for a single pole motion sensor switch this is a WINNER in terms of price and functionality. I highly recommend this.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bosch 12-Volt Max LED Cordless Work Light FL12; Brand: Bosch; Review: I have a soft spot when it comes to Bosch tools. And this LED light is another example for my preference in Bosch tools. All the positive reviews are correct so I won't rehash. I owned may LED lights including headbands, EDC LED torch. But this Bosch LED has a special niche especially when it comes to DIY work around the house. I'm now using this LED light on every occasion I get and it has not let me down. Highly recommended!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Milescraft 14000713 Saw Guide for Circular and Jig Saws; Brand: Milescraft Inc.; Review: It's alright I guess for occasional use. Of the four guides provided one fit my Skil jigsaw too loosely; the other looks like a good fit but was 1/16th too wide. The screw-on clips are of low quality and just keep the saw from deviating while you're cutting. Setting this up was a pain but you'll be rewarded with a nice circle as oppose to free styling the cut. If I were cutting more circles I would invest in a higher quality guide (if any are around?). But for $10 it'll do for now.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: KneePro Tactical Ultra Flex III Safety Paintball Airsoft Knee Pad Various Colors; Brand: K-P Industries; Review: I'll never go back to using those Harbor Freight cheapies again! That said, these K-P knee pads are better replacement. First and foremost, these pads will NOT slide down your knees like the cheap ones. The knee area is hinged and makes for a very comfortable wear. The only gripe I have is it a challenge to adjust the straps to your fit. Best not to share these as struggling to adjust these straps can be a chore. Update: having worn this many times now, it does slide down my knee. I'd have to tighten the straps even more to prevent the slippage. But then the straps really squeezed my calf. But this is the compromise. Second the straps are not the easiest to adjust as mentioned before. Unless I find another better product this will do.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Dickies Work Gear 57060 Black Large Wrench Roll; Brand: Dickies Work Gear; Review: Not a fan of this. I owned the Arsenal 5870 which costs $5 more but had snap clip to hold the roll together. The Dickies pouch uses shoe strings so it takes more time to tie together. The inside pockets were not evenly organized. With some smaller pockets wedged between larger ones. It serves the purpose of holding my screwdrivers for now but already am interested in looking for a replacement. Not a recommended buy if you're looking for quality and convenience.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Concord Blades TCC045A6CP 4.5 Inch Laser Welded Crack Chaser Diamond Blade .250 Inch Segment width; Brand: Concord Blades; Review: I used this to widen hairline cracks on cement floor. The metal ring in the center fell off after a few use. I got around it by using flat washers on my angle grinder. It still does the job but goes to show you the quality of this product. If I knew this I would have purchased a cheaper version at Harbor Freight and wouldn't have mind if this ring fell off. For a small project, I don't recommend this purchase. Get something cheaper.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Lithonia Lighting OFTH 300PR 120 P WH-M12 2-Light Dusk-to-Dawn Twin PAR Holder Security Flood Light Fixture, White; Brand: Lithonia Lighting; Review: Nothing to complain. Paid $12 for a basic floodlight fixture. Nice foam insulation gasket; would have preferred rubber. Other things included were wire nuts and mounting screws. I needed to buy the remodeling box and E26 base floodlight bulbs. You'll need to cut 4 inch hole to accommodate the box. Diablo carries a nice hole saw and arbor kit that made my job easier. Otherwise it's simple wiring. I mounted this under the eaves so it's not direct exposure to the elements. Since there are no moving parts I expect this mounted fixture to last a long time. Highly recommended!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Shower Hose 98 Inches 8.2 ft Extra Long Stainless Steel Flexible Handheld Shower Head with Chrome Finishes; Brand: zitriom; Review: This 8 ft long shower hose was a perfect replacement for my short vinyl one. Though it's made of stainless steel, I was really surprised by it's flexibility. Now I can reach all corners of the shower stall with ease. For $10 this was a great value and the quality makes this a highly recommended purchase.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Tools_and_Home_Improvement |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Frankenstein (Collins Classics); Author: Mary Shelley; Review: Excellent read; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Animal Farm with Connections (HRW Library Study Guides); Author: George Orwell; Review: Excellent read; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Forever War, The; Author: Visit Amazon's Joe Haldeman Page; Review: Excellent read; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Mists of Avalon; Author: Visit Amazon's Marion Zimmer Bradley Page; Review: Excellent read; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Princess of Mars (Penguin Classics); Author: Visit Amazon's Edgar Rice Burroughs Page; Review: Excellent read; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Rendezvous with Rama; Author: Visit Amazon's Arthur C. Clarke Page; Review: Excellent read; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Shelters of Stone (Earth's Children); Author: Visit Amazon's Jean M. Auel Page; Review: Excellent read; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Land of Painted Caves; Author: Visit Amazon's Jean M. Auel Page; Review: Excellent read; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dorsai (Childe Cycle); Author: Visit Amazon's Gordon R. Dickson Page; Review: Excellent read; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Stainless Steel Rat (Stainless Steel Rat, No. 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Harry Harrison Page; Review: Excellent read; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Tactics Of Mistake; Author: Visit Amazon's Gordon R. Dickson Page; Review: Excellent read; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Forever Man; Author: Visit Amazon's Gordon R. Dickson Page; Review: Excellent read; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cooking for Geeks: Real Science, Great Hacks, and Good Food; Author: Visit Amazon's Jeff Potter Page; Review: Excellent read; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Outies (Mote Series, Book 3); Author: Visit Amazon's J. R. Pournelle Page; Review: Excellent read; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Gripping Hand; Author: Niven; Review: Excellent read; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: War Dog: The no-man's-land puppy who took to the skies; Author: ; Review: A man and his dog story. I enjoyed it; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Spirit of Dorsai (Dorsai/Childe Cycle); Author: Visit Amazon's Gordon R. Dickson Page; Review: Excellent read; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Molly Fyde and the Blood of Billions; Author: Visit Amazon's Hugh Howey Page; Review: Excellent read; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Molly Fyde and the Parsona Rescue; Author: Visit Amazon's Hugh Howey Page; Review: Excellent read; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Half Way Home; Author: Visit Amazon's Hugh Howey Page; Review: Excellent read; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Molly Fyde and the Land of Light; Author: Visit Amazon's Hugh Howey Page; Review: Excellent read; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Molly Fyde and the Fight for Peace; Author: Visit Amazon's Hugh Howey Page; Review: Excellent read; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: First Contact - Digital Science Fiction Anthology 1; Author: Visit Amazon's Michael Wills Page; Review: Excellent read; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Wool - Omnibus Edition; Author: Visit Amazon's Hugh Howey Page; Review: Excellent read; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Barsoom Series Collection: 7 John Carter Stories Fully Illustrated - A Princess of Mars, The Gods of; Author: Visit Amazon's Edgar Rice Burroughs Page; Review: Excellent read; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Stainless Steel Rat's Revenge: Stainless Steel Rat, Book 2; Author: Harry Harrison; Review: Excellent read; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bill the Galactic Hero, Vol. 1; Author: Visit Amazon's Harry Harrison Page; Review: Excellent read; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Earth Book of Stormgate; Author: Visit Amazon's Poul Anderson Page; Review: Excellent read; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Stainless Steel Rat Gets Drafted; Author: Visit Amazon's Harry Harrison Page; Review: Excellent read; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: A Stainless Steel Rat Is Born (Stainless Steel Rat, Book 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Harry Harrison Page; Review: Excellent read; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Rama: The Complete Rama Omnibus. by Arthur C. Clarke, Gentry Lee; Author: Visit Amazon's Arthur C. Clarke Page; Review: Excellent read; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dante's Inferno; Author: Visit Amazon's Dante Alighieri Page; Review: Excellent read; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Marion Zimmer Bradley's Darkover; Author: Visit Amazon's Marion Zimmer Bradley Page; Review: Excellent read; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Forbidden Planets; Author: Peter Crowther; Review: Excellent read; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Hugo Award Showcase: 2010 Volume; Author: Visit Amazon's Mary Robinette Kowal Page; Review: Excellent read; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Gunslinger (The Dark Tower, Book 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Stephen King Page; Review: Excellent read. Did not want to put the book down; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dragonflight (The Dragonriders of Pern, Vol. 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Anne McCaffrey Page; Review: Have enjoyed all the dragon series so far; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dragonquest (Dragonriders of Pern #2); Author: Visit Amazon's Anne McCaffrey Page; Review: Have enjoyed all the dragon series so far; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dragonsong (Volume One of the Harper Hall Trilogy); Author: Visit Amazon's Anne McCaffrey Page; Review: Have enjoyed all the dragon series so far; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The White Dragon (Dragonriders of Pern); Author: Visit Amazon's Anne McCaffrey Page; Review: Have read and enjoyed a lot of Anne McCaffery books; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Ship Who Sang: A Novel (Brainship); Author: Visit Amazon's Anne McCaffrey Page; Review: Have read and enjoyed a lot of Anne McCaffery books; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Intervention; Author: Visit Amazon's Julian May Page; Review: Enjoyed the entire series very much; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Intervention; Author: Visit Amazon's Julian May Page; Review: Enjoyed the entire series very much; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Moreta: Dragonlady of Pern; Author: Visit Amazon's Anne McCaffrey Page; Review: Have read and enjoyed a lot of Anne McCaffery books; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: MasterHarper of Pern (Dragonriders of Pern); Author: Visit Amazon's Anne McCaffrey Page; Review: Have read and enjoyed a lot of Anne McCaffery books; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Calvin Klein Men's Slim; Brand: ; Review: These fit my husband very well, he loves them and says they're real comfortable.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: TowelSelections Men's Waffle Bathrobe Turkish Cotton Kimono Robe Made in Turkey; Brand: ; Review: Color was good, fit was fine. It's not very soft but hopefully will be better after washing and tumble drying.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Calvin Klein Men's Slim; Brand: ; Review: These fit my husband very well, he loves them and says they're real comfortable.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Match Men's Slim Tapered Stretchy Casual Pant; Brand: ; Review: They fit my husband but he says they don't feel very comfortable. He is quite slim but has a belly, which is the only reason he needs a larger waist. They were baggy in the butt.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: LensCovers Sunglasses Wear Over Prescription Glasses, Size Medium, Polarized; Brand: LensCovers; Review: Did not fit over my sons regular glasses.; Rating: 2.0/5.0 | amazon_Clothing_Shoes_and_Jewelry |
Given the interaction history of a user with Wikipedia articles as follows:
Title: International Exhibition Centre; Description: Ukraine exhibition centre
Title: O'G3NE; Description: Dutch girlband
Title: Hovig Demirjian; Description: Cypriot-Armenian singer
Title: Brendan Murray; Description: Irish singer
Title: Cereno Upham Jones; Description: Canadian politician
Title: Nicolas-Auguste Galimard; Description: French painter
Title: Orlando Serrell; Description: American savant
Title: Á; Description: Latin letter | wikirec |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Burn (Michael Bennett); Author: Visit Amazon's James Patterson Page; Review: Close to all of the other books in the Mike Bennett series. Not much development of new characters and was average reading.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Absolute Power; Author: Visit Amazon's David Baldacci Page; Review: Can't put book down. Twists an turns in plot and surprises throughout evevry chapter. This is the only stand alone book, that is not a Baldacci series I have read. I plan on reading the others.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Good Day To Kill; Author: Visit Amazon's Dusty Richards Page; Review: This book gives a great insight into the problems of ranching and Law and order in Arizona Territory as seen through Dusty Richards mind.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Guilty (Will Robie series); Author: Visit Amazon's David Baldacci Page; Review: The mystery was always evolving and the plot changed several times. It was hard to stop reading, because of changing characters and new evidence being presented.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Fix (Memory Man series); Author: Visit Amazon's David Baldacci Page; Review: David Baldacci excellent thriller with the plot taking constant twists and turns. You can never second guess where Amos Decker will do next or remember a small details in his never forgetting mind that takes you in different direction in resolving the mystery; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Gray Man; Author: Visit Amazon's Mark Greaney Page; Review: Checked out book from Library. Had 14 days to read. Read in 6 days. I could not put down the book. It was full of Suspence and plot turns at every chapter. I can't wait to read the next Gray Man book.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Siemens QF120 20-Amp 1 Pole 120-Volt Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter; Brand: Siemens; Review: Works as expected. Would recommend.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dremel 688-01 69 Piece Rotary Tool Cut-Off Wheel Set; Brand: Dremel; Review: What can you say about Dremel products that hasn't already been said? Not much. These are high quality and do the job just as expected.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Zenith Home Corp E9153WWMV Country Cottage Toilet Tissue Cabinet, White; Brand: ZPC Zenith Products Corporation; Review: Bought for the office and a co-worker's mom liked it so much, she asked him to get one for her home. They are a nice way to hide your TP.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: SuperSliders 4703095N Reusable Heavy Furniture Moving Sliders Kit for Carpet Medium and Xlarge, 7" and 3-1/2" Bonus Pack (8; Brand: Super Sliders; Review: Works as designed.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: KOHLER K-7129-A-CP Lavatory Grid Drain with Overflow, Polished Chrome; Brand: Kohler; Review: Great design, high quality. Looks great in our vessel sink in our old farmhouse. We were looking for something a little different for our sink and this did the trick.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Leviton T5632-I 15-Amp USB Charger/Tamper Resistant Duplex Receptacle, Ivory; Brand: Leviton; Review: These are great! I love just plugging my USB cords right into the outlet. They charge as fast as the traditional plug in.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 3-Pack G9 LED Bulb, 110V 2.5W, 30W Equivalent 2700K Warm White LED G9 Light; Brand: TORCHSTAR; Review: Replaced halogen bulbs in our vent hood. So far, so good. They fit, which the first ones I ordered didn't. If you have less than 2", this fits. Provides nice bright light. Hopefully they last longer than the halogen - which lasted less than a week.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Waterlox Original Sealer/ Finish- Gallon; Brand: Waterlox; Review: Beautiful finish.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Leviton 5625-W 15 Amp, 120 Volt, Decora Single-Pole, AC Combination Switch, Commercial Grade, Grounding, White; Brand: Leviton; Review: Great switch/outlet combo. Exactly as described.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Baldwin 0395102 Flush Ring Pull, Oil Rubbed Bronze; Brand: Baldwin; Review: Great product. It's beautiful, but was too small for the application for which I needed it. Will return.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sugatsune 316 Stainless Steel Ring Pull Handle, Polished Finish, Mounted Plate, Round Grip, 1-7/32" Center To Center,; Brand: LAMP by Sugatsune; Review: Beautiful design, a little smaller than I expected, but works perfectly for my trap door to the basement. The quality is very high.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bemis 19170NISL 000 Wood Elongated Slow-Close Toilet Seat, one-Size, White; Brand: Bemis; Review: Installed to replace cheap seat that came with toilet. Solid seat, very happy with the quality. Installer said it took a little longer to install with the slow close lid.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Tools_and_Home_Improvement |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Hampton Inn Hinesville; City: Hinesville Georgia; Review: So for the last 2 1/2 years I have stayed at this property regularly with a 5 week stay recently. The staff go out of the way to make things as comfortable as possible. Kudos out to the absolutely magnificent breakfast host (Maria). There is none other in any organization as friendly and professional as she is.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hampton Inn Suites Myrtle Beach Oceanfront; City: Myrtle Beach South Carolina; Review: Great staff who handled a difficult situation with grace and professionalism. Nice facilities. Multiple pools and swings with a beachfront location. Breakfast area was busy, but clean and well kept. Easy in and out from Ocean Bvld.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Falls Creek Cabins and Campground; City: Corbin Kentucky; Review: After making reservations and reading some of the other reviews, I was a bit worried. We pulled in and were greeted with friendly smiles. I'll have to say the personal escort to the campsite was different. We were in site 201, which was near the newer bathhouse. That bathhouse was very nice (a few bugs, but it's camping). We had a string WiFi the entire time there, though some friends in the Cozy Inns did not. We had a real gulley washer rain storm Saturday night, but the site and surrounding area drained well. The fire pit was good (though I notices the one in the back in closest to the bathhouse was double in height and may have worked better). The picnic table was large, but a couple of the boards were severely bowed. We went on the short canoe trip, the falls, and to Laurel River Lake for fun. I'll review those at the appropriate [;aces.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hampton Inn Gettysburg; City: Gettysburg Pennsylvania; Review: This site has been updated and was comfortable. The staff was very friendly and were willing to help in any way. Breakfast was nice with a little nicer pastries than most HIs. The only drawback would be the even numbered rooms are very near the street at a busy intersection.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hampton Inn Hinesville; City: Hinesville Georgia; Review: Returned to this hotel after some time away. The staff and facilities are just as good as I remembered. The breakfast host is the best in the Hampton system. Even numbered rod are a little better as they are away from the highway. Updated lobby and entrance make for an eye appealing first impression.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hampton Inn Wilmington University Area Smith Creek Station; City: Wilmington North Carolina; Review: Rather middle of the road Hampton In. With better than average managers reception and below average breakfast. Not the most convenient in and out but off of the main road. Staff seem nice enough and facilities are still in good shape. My only complaint would be the sub par breakfast with runny oatmeal, poor pastry choices and bitter coffee.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hampton Inn Albany Wolf Road Airport; City: Albany New York; Review: The entrance is ok but the location of the main doors allows the cold Albany air gust in most of the time. Room was above average with nice amenities. The front desk folks were at best mediocre. A dog behind the counter was a bit of a surprise, especially with the snacks and such being stored there too. Drivers to and from the airport are great.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: La Quinta Inn Suites DC Metro Capitol Beltway; City: Capitol Heights Maryland; Review: This hotel housed us on our field trip to DC. The price seemed fair and I have no complaints with the property at all. The fixtures are pretty much older but seem to work. Cleanliness is fair. The location for DC sightseeing is a little ways out but affords a couple of routes into the city.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Best Western Plus Ticonderoga Inn Suites; City: Ticonderoga New York; Review: With few other choices in Ticonderoga, this hotel is the best. The outside looks very inviting, the rooms are fair to good and the fitness and pool areas are good. The breakfast is minimal with undercooked bacon, few cereal choices and a waffle iron that won't let go of your waffle. One or two of the staff are real gruff, but most are ok.The resturant is not the best in town so I ate at the Burgoyne Grill only when I had something to do at the hotel and needed the time.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Fairfield Inn Suites Billings; City: Billings Montana; Review: We found this site to be clean and well maintained. Pool was nice and warm. Front desk staff were very friendly. It is a little hard to get into from the highway. An Outback and other restaurants are close by. Would certainly recommend this site.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hampton Inn Sheridan; City: Sheridan Wyoming; Review: This site has enormous potential. It is convenient to the interstate, has a great view, and is next to the Sheridan County museum. However the two guys tending the front desk were off "running an errand". Seemed like they were very distracted with something else. As noted in other reviews the property is noisy, especial rooms 119-123 odd as they are directly over the pool.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Lake Lodge Cabins; City: Yellowstone National Park Wyoming; Review: We sat in the car a few minutes before going in to prep our children about how the cabins were in 1999, when we last visited. We told them to not complain about the musty smell or shabby furnishings. Then we went in - WOW! Completely remodeled and new. Superb decorations; smelled clean and fresh.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Home2 Suites By Hilton Augusta; City: Augusta Georgia; Review: While a nice property in general, the parking lot is much too small and the breakfast is a series of prepackaged sandwiches. The rooms are comfortable though pets are allowed so there is some barking at times. The style is a bit more modern than most other similar hotels.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hilton Garden Inn Savannah Midtown; City: Savannah Georgia; Review: The hotel is new, clean and pleasant. The breakfast staff were extremely pleasant (Olga). Parking is a bit limited and would be my only draw back. Location is between two fairly major roads so one can make a right turn out every time.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: West of Here; Author: Visit Amazon's Jonathan Evison Page; Review: Readers of "historical fiction" may be disappointed by this novel, which sounds on the surface like the stuff of historical fiction. But really, West of Here is a novel about history, and the tangled web of connections and individuals stretching across time and place that comprise what we call "history." In this case, the place is Port Bonita, a fictionalized but recognizable (at least to Washingtonians) Port Angeles. Evison's is not a novel of incident, but a novel of place, and a novel of connections. It is a novel about a past that is not necessarily static, depending on perspective, and a future which is still unfolding. Thus, readers who want a story that's all wrapped up with a bow at the end, may very well be displeased with the lack of clean resolution West of Here offers. But that's the point! West of Here is as much a novel about the unknown future, as it is about the past. I highly recommend this novel to readers who like vivid, sympathetic characters, and non-traditional approaches to story. Evison writes with a humor and pathos that will remind readers of Charles Dickens and the early to mid works of John Irving. But unlike Irving, whose books tend to run too long, if anything, Evison's book could have been a hundred pages longer, and I would have gladly read those hundred pages.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Enemies Foreign and Domestic; Author: Visit Amazon's Matthew Bracken Page; Review: As luck would have it I discovered Matthew Bracken's "Enemies Foreign and Domestic" when I was near finishing "Top Secret America" by Washington Post reporters Dana Priest and William Arkin. It is stunning how much of Matthew Bracken's 2003 book has come to fruition. What hasn't yet, serves as a warning for us all.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Foreign Enemies And Traitors; Author: Visit Amazon's Matthew Bracken Page; Review: Whether you keep up with national current events, or just like to read great semi-ficton, you will enjoy Bracken's entertaining Enemies Foreign and Domestic trilogy. As many point out, the trilogy reflects the seemingly unfortunate direction the United States is heading. Yes, there is an uncomfortable amount of reality in these texts and often there is not a clear right or wrong. Still, the series does not get mired down in doom and gloom. Bracken's story line and characters are wonderfully crafted. The bad guys leave us screaming for blood, while the good guys are faithful, full of hope, play smart, and overcome, to change the course of what seems to be the inevitable fate of the United States.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Domestic Enemies: The Reconquista; Author: Visit Amazon's Matthew Bracken Page; Review: Whether you keep up with national current events, or just like to read great semi-ficton, you will enjoy Bracken's entertaining Enemies Foreign and Domestic trilogy. As many point out, the trilogy reflects the seemingly unfortunate direction the United States is heading. Yes, there is an uncomfortable amount of reality in these texts and often there is not a clear right or wrong. Still, the series does not get mired down in doom and gloom. Bracken's story line and characters are wonderfully crafted. The bad guys leave us screaming for blood, while the good guys are faithful, full of hope, play smart, and overcome, to change the course of what seems to be the inevitable fate of the United States.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Presumed Guilty: Casey Anthony: The Inside Story; Author: Visit Amazon's Jose Baez Page; Review: Plenty of reviews here about the man. Also plenty of reviews of some failure to prove the evidence he introduced during trial to show reasonable doubt, despite the fact that proving anything is the prosecutions burden. I learned some things about Baez, but it wasn't why I read this book. He does come across somewhat full of himself. I've met few successful Attorneys who aren't and none of them had Barbara Walters call and ask for an interview. He also takes the opportunity to settle some scores, primarily with Ashton. It seems overdue and well deserved. The book lays out the nuts and bolts of the process. The research and quest for information that can be constructed into a convincing argument to create ample probable cause. Baez does this successfully despite having the deck seriously stacked against him. We also witness an example of prosecutorial misconduct that seems to be status quo in the country. Simpson, Duke Lacrosse, Casey Anthony, and now George Zimmerman. Cases where truth be damned, the ends justify the means.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: This Is Your Life, Harriet Chance!; Author: Visit Amazon's Jonathan Evison Page; Review: Deceptively Complex As other reviewers have pointed out, this novel is written in a jaunty tone, and while it reads quickly and effortlessly, what impressed me was how complex the seemingly random narrative structure is. Though the narrative jumps around constantly in time, the transitions are not arbitrary, rather consistent with the workings of the recollective mind, and strung together in a very measured and strategic manner designed to create suspense and create surprise and revelation. Also, the emotional range, from sad, to funny, to disturbing, is pretty impressive. I will be checking out other works by Mr. Evison, hoping they stand up to this one.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
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