Saturday 24 December 2016

ROMANCE NOVEL: DOM OF LAS VEGAS SIN CITY #1 BY TRICIA OWENS

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Dom of Las Vegas Sin City #1
Author: Tricia Owens
Publisher: Amazon Media EU
Pages: 169
Reviewed By: Sandra Scholes

Synopsis:
To have the man of his dreams, he may have to give up his own...

Ethan Winter has known since he was a kid that he wants to work for the FBI. Until then he's stuck modelling underwear and photographing cheating spouses for a private investigator.

But when a trip to Las Vegas for a security conference brings him into contact with the magnificently dominant Maxmillian Poole, Ethan finds himself faced with a dilemma: pursue his childhood dream or become the partner of a man who seems to know him inside and out and who offers a life any submissive would crawl for.

Friday 23 December 2016

BOOK REVIEW: ANDROMEDA'S WAR BY WILLIAM C. DIETZ

Andromeda's War
William C. Dietz
Publisher:Titan Books
Pages: 368
Reviewed By: Sandra Scholes

In this the third novel in the series of prequel books to the Legion of the Damned novels there are several parts that stand out to most readers. The strength of the Naa is mentioned in a sequence when Eatbig, a Naa soldier sparred with Larkin, though what Larkin does later proves to be effective in case her opponent looked like he would win. They are perceived to be stronger than the humans, yet can be dealt with effectively in the right situation.

BOOK REVIEW: ANDROMEDA'S CHOICE BY WILLIAM C DIETZ


Andromeda's Choice
William C. Dietz
Publisher: Titan Books
Pages: 336
ISBN -10:1783290323
ISBN-13:978-1783290321
Reviewed By: Sandra Scholes

This is the follow up to William C. Dietz's Legion of the Damned series . The basic idea is if readers liked Andromeda's Fall, this continues the story of Andromeda McKee who wants vengeance over her family being killed by Ophelia. As she thinks she is the only surviving member until she discovers her uncle Rex, the leader of the resistance wants the same as her. William C. Dietz hasn't just written a few novels in the Legion of the Damned series, he's written several going up to 2015; The Final Battle, By Blood Alone, By Force of Arms, For More Than Glory, For Those Who Fell, When All Seems Lost, When Duty Calls and A Fighting Chance. He has gone a long way to create a gritty, realistic story where Ophelia doesn't understand that there are those who can get to her from the outside if they want to, and being surrounded by armed men can be a disadvantage if you are her.

BOOK REVIEW: BY FORCE OF ARMS BY WILLIAM C DIETZ


By Force of Arms
William C. Dietz
Publisher: Titan Books
Pages: 304
ISBN-10:1783290420
ISBN-13:978-1783290420
Reviewed By: Sandra Scholes

In By Blood Alone, Colonel Bill Booley got sent down to Earth as punishment for not changing his testimony about another officer. His feeling on his betrayal have to be kept aside though as there are more pressing matters to deal with. Now he is General Booly and his men have to save every person in the universe as a killer technology threatens to destroy them.

BOOK REVIEW: A STAR SHALL FALL BY MARIE BRENNAN


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A Star Shall Fall by Marie Brennan
Known for her A Natural History of Dragons series, Marie Brennan has created another series; The Onyx Court, starting with Midnight Never Come, In Ashes Lie and third in the series, A Star Shall Fall.

Wednesday 21 December 2016

BLU-RAY TRANSFORMERS THE MOVIE LIMITED EDITION, 30TH ANNIVERSARY STEELBOOK


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Transformers  the Movie Limited Edition, 30th Anniversary Steelbook
Released By: Manga Entertainment
Rating: PG
Running Time: 84 Mins
Audio: English DD 5.1 Japanese DD 2.0
Release Date: Out Now!
Reviewed By: Sandra Scholes

Classic 80s and 90s animation has had a resurgence lately, and no less with Transformers as it was every kid's dream to watch the series. Here the AUTOBOTS and DECEPTICONS are fighting it out for supremacy, while another enemy is coming to take over, UNICRON.

BOOK REVIEW: HARSH GODS BY MICHELLE BELANGER


Harsh Gods by Michelle Belanger

Synopsis:
The last thing Zack Westland expects on a frigid night is to be summoned to an exorcism. Demonic possession, however, proves the least of his problems. Father Frank, a veteran turned priest, knows Zack’s deepest secrets, recognizing him as Anakim, an angel belonging to that hidden tribe. And Halley, the girl they’ve come to save, carries a secret that could unlock a centuries-old evil. She chants an eerie rhyme, and she isn’t alone…

“HANDS TO TAKE AND EYES TO SEE.
A MOUTH TO SPEAK. HE COMES FOR ME.”

As Zack’s secrets spill out, far more than his life is at stake, for Halley is linked to an ancient conspiracy. Yet Zack can’t help her unless he’s willing to risk losing his immortality—and reigniting the Blood Wars.

BOOK REVIEW: ROBIN HOOD DEMON'S BANE 2: THE TWO TORCS BY DEBBIE VIGUE AND JAMES R TUCK


Robin Hood Demon's Bane 2: The Two Torcs by Debbie Viguie and James R Tuck

Synopsis:
Furious at the opposition that has risen against him, and wielding the weapons of dark sorcery, Prince John prepares to tighten his grip on the land left in his care by King Richard.

But Robin Longstride has lost everything—his family, his land—so all that remains is his mission to free England from the evil that has descended upon it. He and his allies must find a way to defeat creatures whose very nature defies understanding.

Monday 19 December 2016

FANTASY REVIEW: THE EMPRESS GAME - CLOAK OF WAR BY RHONDA MASON

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The Empress Game by Rhonda Mason

This is the second in the Empress Game trilogy that set up Kayla Reinumon as a serious heroine who is caught up in the politics of the Sakien Empire and the Empress Game Tournament. Thankfully, the tournament is over, but for Kayla, her mission has only just started. If she wants to free the people from occupation and slavery, she must do the ultimate thing - continue working undercover after her win at the tournament.

Saturday 17 December 2016

DEATH NOTE COMPLETE SERIES AND OVA COLLECTOR'S EDITION BLU-RAY



Death Note Complete Series and OVA Collector's Edition Blu-Ray
Released By: Manga Entertainment
Rating:15
Running Time: 840 Mins
Audio: English DD 5.1 Japanese DD 2.0
Release Date: 19/12/2016
Reviewed By: Sandra Scholes


It's hard to believe that when the manga was released in some Asian countries, it was banned for being too controversial. The antagonist of the story is Light Yagami, an A student with a bright future ahead of him. This all ends when he finds a black note book outside his school. He thinks nothing much of it until he opens it, finding it blank, but attached to it is a shinigami (death god) who advises him how to use the book.

ANIME REVIEW: THE PERFECT INSIDER BLU-RAY + DVD COMBO PACK

 Image result for f the perfect insider   dvd cover animatsu
The Perfect Insider Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack
Released By: Animatsu
Rating:15
Running Time: 840 Mins
Audio: English DD 5.1 Japanese DD 2.0
Release Date: 19/12/2016
Reviewed By: Sandra Scholes

Professor Saikawa and Nishi want to meet Shiki Magata, a programmer and genius who has isolated herself from everyone else at a research facility on an island - the rumour is she could be a murderer, but they want to be convinced. At the start we get to see two men in a room, one from the past and the other from the present, a man writing in a diary, while the other works at home on his computer and this is where it gets complicated.


Sunday 11 December 2016

ADVANCE REVIEW: RELICS BY TIM LEBBON

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Advance Review: Relics by Tim Lebbon
Due for release: 21st March 2017

The Silence was the last book of Tim's I read, though I do remember the movie version of 30 Days of Night did well at the cinema. Also responsible for The Cabin in the Woods, the Alien-Predator trilogy "The Rage War," and Coldbrook he has won four British Fantasy Awards, A Bram Stoker Award, a Tombstone, a Shocker and been a finalist for the International Horror Guild and World Fantasy Awards.

THE DETONATORS: A MATT HELM NOVEL BY DONALD HAMILTON

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The Detonators: A Matt Helm Novel by Donald Hamilton

Matt Helm's history with women isn't as good as he'd hoped. They give him a hard time when he's dating them, and now Amy Bartlett is proving too prim and proper for their own good after her father is about to spend time in jail for drugs offences - she wants to set him free, but Matt wants the whole story and doesn't buy the fact she says she's prim - she must have some vices, surely.

Saturday 10 December 2016

ANIME MOVIE REVIEW: POKEMON MOVIE COLLECTION 1-3

Image result for pokemon movie collection 1-3 manga entertainment  dvd cover
Pokémon Movie Collection 1-3
Released By: Manga Entertainment
Rating: PG
Running Time: 218.2 Mins
Audio: English DD 5.1 Japanese DD 2.0
Release Date: Out Now!
Reviewed By: Sandra Scholes

It's the first time ever the three Pokémon movies can be collected in a special three disc DVD edition. For those of you who remember when these movies first came out, it will be a special moment, however, for those who are young right now, you have some fun to catch-up on.

Friday 9 December 2016

LGBT REVIEW: COMRADES IN ARMS BY RITA OAKES

Comrades in Arms
Author: Rita Oakes
Publisher: Lethe Press
Genre: Gay Stories
ISBN: 1590210506
Reviewed By: Sandra Scholes

Synopsis:
Long before ''Don't ask don't tell,'' gays served in the military--sometimes openly--more often in secret. In this volume the author imagines what their lives might have been like. Within, you will find tales of historical fiction mixed occasionally with supernatural horror, including: a French fusilier fighting guerrillas and growing disillusionment in Napoleonic Spain; soldiers encountering unnatural horrors during the 1812 occupation and retreat from Moscow; a good-natured Wiltshire man finding companionship and courage amid the muck and misery of the Western Front; a downed American airman realizing everyone is not quite as they seem as he takes refuge with a band of Polish partisans during World War II; and more. Comrades-in-Arms offers tales of battles and the aftermath, of comradeship, loss, duty, and discovery.

FUTURISTIC REVIEW: NEW POMPEII BY DANIEL GODFREY


New Pompeii by Daniel Godfrey

For readers of Michael Crichton and Robert Harris, this novel, one of a series (the second instalment out on June of 2017) gives thought to the issues of both past and present, gibing them a sense of history, but also as Nick Houghton finds out is room for studying the real Romans he has in a replica of Pompeii dubbed New Pompeii.

BOOK REVIEW: THE INFILTRATORS BY DONALD HAMILTON

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The Infiltrators: A Matt Helm Novel by Donald Hamilton

As we saw in The Detonators before, Matt Helm has to deal with people he knows in a personal way. Here he wants Madeline Ellershaw to help him in a case he might not be able to solve without her. Matt remembers the young woman she used to be over ten years ago, bright, happy, a successful lawyer after passing her bar but Madeline who had been ready for a career she had waited so long for ended up in jail for a crime she might not have helped commit.

NOVEL REVIEW: THE RACE BY NINA ALLAN


The Race by Nina Allan

In the future there are many possibilities, this could be one of them. Sapphire is a place, much like the outskirts of London where it had been a beautiful place to live - before the fracking took place. As a once idyllic holiday resort it had been a part of the good old days, ones where Jenna can only see on photographs. Now there is nothing about Sapphire that is great or beautiful. Instead, the land became polluted and no one in their right minds wants to live there unless they are being paid danger money to do so. Jenna only remembers the now, how floods of immigrants were sent there and illegal dog racing took over the town.

BOOK REVIEW: INDEPENDENCE DAY: CRUCIBLE BY GREG KEYES

 Image result for independence day crucible by greg keyes
Independence Day: Crucible by Greg Keyes

What was arguably one of the most iconic sci-fi movies of the 90s has seen a resurgence, not only as a new movie, but in spanning another series of tie-in novels. Previously, I reviewed the Independence Day: Omnibus which was a three story explanation of what happened during , then after the original movie.

Saturday 3 December 2016

GOODREADS REVIEW: SILENCE IS GOLDFISH BY ANNABEL PITCHER

Silence is GoldfishSilence is Goldfish by Annabel Pitcher
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Silence is Goldfish by Annabel Pitcher

I was sent this book for the Goodreads Giveaways.

By the author of Ketchup Clouds and My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece, Silence is Goldfish is about fifteen-year-old Tess who discovers her father isn't her real father. She starts out by realising what has happened, that she feels she has been living a lie for the past few years, deciding she will pack a few of her things and go looking for her real father, regardless. Tess would love nothing more than to tell her mother how she feels about her recent awful discovery, but she instead holds her disappointment inside, letting it fester away at her.