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The Darkest Star

10/16/2018

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I just finished reading The Darkest Star by Jennifer Armentrout, a spin-off of the Lux series and let me just say OMG, Mind Blown!  This story centers around Luc, you know our young origin in the Lux series that helped out Daemon, Kat, and Daemon’s brother Dawson, if you don’t remember or haven’t read The Lux series, don’t fret you don’t have to read it in order to enjoy this story, but I do highly recommend it. So let me get back to my review. This story is about Luc and Evie. Evie is a senior in high school and lives with her mom, she’s a normal teenager going about her regular life, nothing exciting happens until she steps in Luc’s club Foretoken one night with her friend Heidi, not wanting her friend to go alone, she’s there for moral support. Foretoken is a club where everyone can be themselves. Humans and luxen alike attend to have a great time without any judgement, because after the invasion the luxen are kept on a tight leash from the government and humans are still scared of them, so there is a lot of prejudice in this story.  Luxen and humans cannot intermarry or date and if they do there are consequences, also the luxen wear a disabler on their wrists to mute their powers. During her time at the club Evie meets Luc and they get off to a rocky start, she doesn’t get along with him and a raid full of government agents enter the club to find unregistered luxen, but this is the least of Evie’s problems, because their is a serial killer on the loose, killing girls that resemble Evie that also happen to attend her school. During their tenuous relationship Luc seems to care an awful lot about Evie and her well being and insinuates that he knows a lot about her and her life. Evie is a little unnerved by this, but isn’t scared of Luc, she keeps going back to him because she’s interested in the secrets her mom is keeping from her that Luc seems to know an awful lot about. Evie ends up finding out all kinds of things about the Luxen and government conspires that she never thought about in her wildest dreams and also finds out about an even bigger secret that involves her, that i think the people who have read The Lux series would know immediately from the moment Evie meets Luc. The excitement about the secret was not me finding out, but the anticipation of Evie finding out. 

Jennifer tells a great story of the aftermath of what happened after the Lux invaded and the problems going on in the present. 
My thoughts on this book is that it’s great and I cannot wait for the next one. I am interested in what is in store for Luc and Evie next. Jennifer has produced my favorite paranormal books to date which is The Lux series, I was hooked from Obsidian. I know that those books have been optioned a few times to make into a movie, but hasn’t manifested yet. It comes to my understanding that there is no longer a option but I am confident that the Lux series will one day make it to the big screen and when it does, I think Luc’s story would be a great addition TV series spin-off of the movies. And since the show Roswell is coming back out as a remake, I really think the fad will catch on and people will begin to love our out of this world friends. Her stories will be the hottest thing in teen movies. And this book has all the makings of good YA television. There is angst, great characters, and just the right amount of sex appeal. The characters are lovable and the settings are perfect. There is also some appearances from our main characters from the Lux series which I’m stoked about that she included. The chemistry is just as good as her previous main characters if not more.  Luc is more powerful and filled with more arrogance. I also liked that this time around the female protagonist has mixed feelings regarding her lover interest, that she was the one indifferent to him and not the other way around. I enjoyed how she made Evie complex about her feelings and that although there was attraction on both parts, it wasn’t instalove, she made smart about her choices and skeptical as she should be. No one in real life just automatically goes with the flow. She made her have time to think about things and come up with a logical conclusion. Also, there was not pressure from Luc, he respected Evie and was a true gentleman and he was realistic. All in all this would be great for TV and there is nothing like it on the market, television is in need for great paranormal stories, and when they find this gem, they know they stumbled onto something great. I’m glad I got to read this story early from Netgalley and tell everyone how awesome this book is and even more awesome it would be on TV. I hope everyone enjoys The Lux series and now The Darkest star as much as I have. So Until Next Time!

Cast

Luc - Dylan Sprayberry
Evie - Nicola Peltz

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Loving The Crew

9/16/2018

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Okay so I know it's been a while since I last posted, but I just read a book by one of my favorite authors Crew by Tijan. I really enjoyed this book. This book could become a TV series. I think it would best fit to become a spin off of the Fallen Crest series. We get to experience the other side of the tracks from the fortunate to the less fortunate. We explore what's going on in Roussou High School. The story surrounds Channing Monroe's sister Bren Monroe, you should remember him as Samantha's BFF's Heather's Boyfriend in the Fallen Crest series if you read it, if you didn't it's fine, you do not have to read Fallen Crest to enjoy Crew, but it would help because it's in the same world. In Roussou you have the normals which are the cheerleaders, jocks, or anyone who isn't in a crew. The crew system was started by Bren's brother Channing, he has the most feared longest running crew. Bren belongs to her own crew which is the Wolf crew and only consists of Jordan, Zellman, and our love interest Cross, and they are the most feared crew at Roussou High. Just to be clear a crew is not a gang, there is no initiation and you don't have to die to get out, it's really just a group of alike people banding together to survive their surroundings and circumstances. Our heroine Bren is a troubled teen, her mother has passed away, her father is in prison, and she has a barely there brother who is also her guardian, so she's pretty much left up to her own devices. She also has a mean temper and carries a knife that she isn't afraid to use. Although the crew is her family, she is closest to Cross, he's her best friend, and confident. There rule in the crew is that no one can date each other inside their crew, so a relationship between Bren and Cross is forbidden. I like the dynamic of the crew, how they have their ups and downs and how their relationships with each other is forever evolving. Most people on this side of the tracks aspirations is just to graduate high school and get a good enough job. The most success Bren has ever seen is her brother and his girlfriend, both run their own bars in town. The biggest threat to their crew is the Ryerson crew which is ran by Bren's ex-boyfriend's brother Alex Ryerson, seems like he's cool on the outside, but is every bit of evil on the inside. We follow the crew as they navigate their way through school and how tough they are, always starting fights and proving themselves. That saying the book is about Bren overcoming her past and falling in love with her best friend and the complications that come along with that. The story is gritty and engaging. The main character  has multiple layers that are peeled back in each chapter. 

I do like the concept of us seeing the other half of town of the people who don't have as much as the Fallen Crest crowd. I really enjoyed this book and flew through the 500 pages. That being said I really think this book could've been a series, I don't feel like it fully covered everything as thoroughly as it could've been told, I feel that it is still more story to tell. I feel like we learned so much about the crew that the build up into Bren and Cross's relationship wasn't much and could've been a little more chemistry between the two. Also Cross had a twin sister and in the book her personality seemed as if she was younger than she actually was. The author described her as having a mouth on her and not taking anything from anybody, but it really wasn't showcased all that much. The story has a unique setting of normals vs. crews, its great actually. A clique just surviving. The book was a entertaining read and I would enjoy more if Tijan gifted us with another story with them. It would be great TV because it's full of drama and relatable to people, and also sometimes feature our Fallen Crest Friends like how TVD did with The Originals. I can just imagine bringing the teenage era back to TV, like Dawson's Creek, Popular, She's All That, etc. I think that's another fad that's just waiting to come back just like when we had the vampire era, where we had the whole Twilight, Vampire Diaries, & True Blood.  This will be one of the shows that I will be waiting on, because I know it's only a matter of time before both her novels Fallen Crest and Crew become a television series to remember!

Bren Monroe - Katherine Langford
Alex Ryerson - Will Poulter
Cross - Jacob Elordi
Jordan - Noah Centineo
Zellman - Mandela Van Peebles
Taz - Anne Winters

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Life of a Hollywood Starlet

6/10/2018

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So I have just finished reading The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid and it was epic. I know I say this about almost all the books on my site, but this is written differently from anything I’ve read thus far. Evelyn Hugo is a famous legendary Hollywood starlet that enlists a journalist Monique Grant to interview her under false pretenses, because in fact she hires her to write her biography, but that’s not all, there is a heart wrenching secret in why Evelyn chose Monique at all. The story toggles between the past and the present, sort of reminding me of the movie Fried Green Tomatoes, especially with the author showing the audience Monique interview Evelyn and the fact that we get a glimpse of Monique’s life. The story follows Evelyn at a early age from when her mother passed away when she was fourteen years old and then her running away from her abusive father at fifteen by marrying her first husband and moving from Hell’s Kitchen in New York to Hollywood, CA. From there she receives small roles until she she demands bigger roles from studio executives. They tell her she doesn’t have the right look, so she chops off her hair and dyes it blonde and renaming herself from Evelyn Herrera to Evelyn Hugo making her sound like she’s an actress from France instead of being her native Cuban. In the 1950’s being a starlet of color wasn’t a trend, so she had to look the part of what the public idolized in that time. At this time if you were signed to a studio they had complete control of your life, so they suggested that she divorce her husband and go on a few dates with actors that were signed to the studios to get her name out there. She eventually married a famous Hollywood actor and things started looking up and she finally got her first real serious role as Jo in Little Women and that’s when she met her life long friend Celia St. James.

Evelyn’s story is full of pain, passion, and romance, but more importantly it tells a story of ones life, all the ups and downs, the heartache and pain. I particularly enjoy this story because it shows real life aspects in what people go through day to day, but also how Evelyn  went through it and coped with situations being a highly publicized individual. She’s had to hide her identity of being a woman of color. She’s had to deal with being a bisexual and hiding her sexuality. Just a fair warning that some people might take offense to this book because it deals with homophobia, racism, adultery, abortion, and death. If these things offend you or your a highly offensive person then I suggest you don’t read it, but if you do,  you have to be open that times were different back in the day, a lot of things weren’t acceptable and if you came out as a certain person you were cast out as a pariah or it could’ve gotten you killed. I absolutely loved this story and a hundred percent vote for this book to be made into a movie. I’ve always wanted to see behind the scenes of starlets like Elizabeth Taylor and Marilyn Monroe and how their life was like away from the cameras, and we get that with the fiction story of Evelyn Hugo. It’s like a story of all the Hollywood starlets wrapped up in one woman. Sometimes the reasons why she married some of her husbands were ridiculous but sometimes necessary for her fame and namesake. At a time she hit rock bottom and had to start all over again to make a name for herself, not everyone could make a comeback like she did. I especially like this story because both of our main characters are women of color, Evelyn being Cuban and Monique being a biracial woman of African American and Caucasian heritage. They are both strong women, and I particularly like Evelyn because it was no easy feat having to hide who your truly are for the sake of your career. The author did so great with the description of how life was like during that time, it actually felt as thought I was reading a biography of a real person. So I must say that I love love this book and would love to see it as a movie on Lifetime, Netflix, Showtime, or in the theater. I definitely know this, that if its anywhere on the big screens I’m sure it will get rave reviews.

Young Evelyn Hugo-Camilla Belle
Older Evelyn Hugo- Raquel Welch
Monique Grant- Grace Byers
Young Celia St. James- Lily Cole
Older Celia St. James -Julianne Moore

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The Dying Queen and the Immortal King

4/23/2018

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So I have just finished The Fallen World series by Laura Thalassa and it has all the ingredients to make a perfect TV series. It is unique and a story like no other I have read. The story is about a 19yr old girl named Serenity Freeman who grew up in a post apocalyptic America after WWIII.  She lives underground because of the radiation that ravages the earth. Most people die from cancer and if that doesn't kill them, King Montes Lazuli does. Since the war he has taken over the world, one continent at a time and get this, he's ageless. Serenity is a emissary in training for the Western United Nations, she will inherit the job from her father once he retires or dies. This is the last territory that King Lazuli hasn't conquered.  So Serenity goes on a quest with her father to forge an alliance with the King, the first time she has ever participated in one, even though she's been trained. She has also been trained as a soldier and has been killing since the age of 12. She is strong minded and strong physically. She learns later on that they sent her with her father to seduce the king. It works, the king is fascinated by her and courts her, this is when Serentiy see's the advantage and starts to asks fro things for her people in the surrender agreement. He agrees to her terms on one condition. She has to marry him. Serenity blames him for her mother's death. Which he is the cause of, he has bombed many places and killed many people with demands and action. He has ruled with a iron fist. He knows Serenity is rough around the edges and could very well stab him in the back, but he still wants her and he always gets what he wants. Her father finds out about the king's intentions and is not willing to make that sacrifice, he packs up his daughter and makes an escape only to end in tragedy. Serenity still escapes but realizes she has to go back according to her general, she is one sacrifice that their willing to give up to save many and she agrees with the logic but doesn't mean she has to like it.
 
I really enjoyed this story. It wasn't insta-love, it was a hate so deep that it turned into love. Isn't that the saying, there's a thin line between love and hate, and that's exactly what was between King Motes Lazuli and Serenity. They hit many milestones together, even though she is with the king by force, he is the lesser of two evils once she gets to know him. They have to deal with corrupt politics, all the while trying to undo the damage King Lazuli has impacted on the world as a result of his actions, the most being greed. I loved how the author stayed true to the characters, she never turned them into anything that they weren't, they only gained certain quailites. They were still the wicked people that they were, just with a little more empathy which came with maturity. It's always good to see a character evolve and for you to experience that evolution instead of them being one person one minute and another character the next.  Serenity is truly a definition of a bad ass. She's feisty, strong, and doesn't take anything from anyone including the king. She is very true to herself. While King Lazuli is arrogant, assertive, controlling, and a man who always gets what he wants.  The first book is called the Queen of all that Dies and it's a thrilling tale with suspense, love, hate, and passion, matter of fact the whole series is consisted of this. It's a tale of how love can really conquer all.
 
I would definitely prefer that these books should be made into a TV series. There is so much story to tell. I would classify this series as magical realism. Because these things could really happen, it's really not all that unrealistic. Laura Thalassa did a great job describing the post war era, what it was like, how the land looked, down to how the people looked and how they were all suffering. I would definitely put it on a premium channel, no commercials and actually have the book as is and not tone it down for cable television. I'm defintely advocating for this series to be on TV especially in this genre. This could really be the next big TV show and I'm just waiting for a producer to find this gem. So keep your eyes peeled and your ears open. Until Next Time!!!
 
Serenity Freeman- Maddie Hasson
King Montes Lazuli- Stephen Amell
 
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The Siren and The Prince

2/17/2018

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So I have just read this awesome book titled To Kill a Kingdom by Alexandra Christo. I'm so mad it took me so long to read this book, because I would've devoured it otherwise hadn't I been sick with the Flu. I've seen most reviews stating this book is like a re-telling of The Little Mermaid, but to me it's like the Brother's Grimm version, like the story behind the inspiration of Disney's Little Mermaid. This book would definitley be it's origins. Where do I start? This book is about a siren named Lira who is known as the Princes' Bane, she is the daughter of the Sea Queen who is described eerily like Ursela, but her mom didn't always look so monsterous, she was once a siren but when taking on the powers of a sea queen her looks transform. Lira was taught from an early age to be ruthless, her mother is truly evil, she taught Lira how to rip out a prince's heart out and how to lure them with her song. Unbeknowst to Lira she thought that was the only way of life for sirens, until one day she commits murder unto another sea creature and her mother the sea queen punishes her for it by transforming her into a human that looks similar to Ariel, but with more of an edge, and gives her the task of killing Prince Elian "The Siren Killer". Lira takes on the task thinking it would be easy, but not realizing she no longer has her voice to lure unsuspecting men and the magic and strength of a siren, she has to do it as a human which is a bit of a set back since humans are weaker than sirens.
 
Once Lira is turned into a human she is found floating in the middle of the ocean by Prince Elian whom is also a pirate. He's a wonderer and feels as though it's his duty to protect his kingdoms from sirens. Prince Elian jumps into the water to save her, only to be met by contempt from Lira, she tries to fight him after saving her life and he ties her up treating her like an enemy instead of a drowning victim. His crew is reluctant to trust her and intrigued by her at the same time, especially when she starts speaking in her siren's language to a siren they captured. It's not until she commits a heroic act against the pirate prince that he and the rest of the crew begin to trust her. And thus, begins there quest for the Eye of Keto, which is the eye of the Siren goddess of the sea that gives immense power to the one that discovers it, its other half of the eye is in the queen's triton, that gives the queen her power. Elian is searching for it because he wants to end the sirens once and for all and Lira wants it to overthrow her mother. They both have an agenda and it will only end in betrayal.
 
I would say the relationship between Lira and Elian is a slow burn, it's an enemies to lovers in terms of romance, I feel like some of the bickering between the two could've been toned down a little to give the reader more time with the two getting along and being with each other, because when it came down to the the time where they realized their feelings for each other it felt rushed. In all, I loved the book and wish there was a second book/companion novel to follow up or a epilogue, as the ending wasn't as complete as I would have liked it to be. I understand that there is peace but it's not really explained as to where Lira's and Elian's relationship goes from there. I would like to see Elian and Lira get married and the many obstacles they would have to face with that with their kingdoms and them possibly having a child together and how that would work out. I know it's wishful thinking but a girl can dream right! This would be one hell of a movie, and I definitely think Disney should pick this bad baby up since there having a hard time getting together their own live action Little Mermaid. They should definitely consider this, my title for the movie would be To Kill a Kingdom: The Little Mermaid Origins. I guarantee it would be up there with the live action movie of Beauty and The Beast. This was great storytelling at It's finest and I'm looking forward to someone optioning this novel for a movie.  

Casting

Lira - Madeline Brewer
Elian - Aaron Taylor Johnson

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Double Dose

1/20/2018

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Hi Guys,
 
I'm giving you double for your trouble for this blog, 2 in 1 week, since I haven't blogged in a couple of months. I have recently read On the Island by Tracey Garvis-Graves, and it seems to be already optioned for a feature film by MGM. It has been since 2012 for news of the option, but it looks like they're still holding on to the rights of the movie. Hollywood is moving quite slow with the production, but I'm still waiting patiently. The book is very similar to to the 1980 movie Blue Lagoon. The book is about 30yr old English teacher Anna Emerson traveling with her young student 16yr old T.J. Callahan to meet up with his parents in the Maldives. T.J. is in remission from having cancer and Anna is hired to help him catch up on his school work because of all the days missed while being sick. During their travels they aboard a plane with a overweight and unhealthy pilot, resulting in his heart attack leading to his death and the plane crashing on a deserted island in the Maldives. On the island Anna and T.J. have to learn to survive, by building shelter for themselves and hunting. I also enjoy that there is a romance aspect to the story, but of course that doesn't happen until T.J. becomes of age.
 
I like how the story shows you their struggles, how they starve, and become so dehydrated that their on the verge of death. They also get sick and have to face natural disasters on the island and worry about the risk of T.J.'s cancer returning. Anna and T.J. have to adapt to their enviroment and even though it is a struggle, they excel in these adverse circumstances. They were missing for years, families assuming they perished and held funerals for them. They saw at least 2 search parties for them by plane but failed to get their attention. All hope was lost, but they had each other for the time being and they were in love and content in spending the rest of their days with one another, until catastrophe hit.
 
I don’t want to give everything away about this story, but know this as I've said it's similar to Blue Lagoon, but it's not exactly like it. Suprisingly Anna and T.J. are rescued and then we see their relationship change while back in their old lives. We see the ups and downs of having an older partner and what issues can arise. It's a great love story, one that tests time. It's beautiful and endearing and I was rooting for Anna and T.J. all the way through. I love how the author doesn't make their age gap such an issue. I like the fact she makes it a point that just because your young doesn't mean it makes you less mature or unworldly, and having experience can go a long way.
 
I just want to say the story is very realistic, the setting would be gorgeous in a movie. If I could sum it up I would say it's a mix of Survivor, Cast Away, and Blue  Lagoon rolled up into one. I really hope that you check out the author's gorgeous work and put the word out there so that MGM can speed up the process of getting this into production ASAP. Until next time read on and please give me some recommendations on what books you think should be made into movies also!

Casting

Anna Emerson- Minka Kelly
T.J. Callahan - Dylan Sprouse
 
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It's been too Long

1/20/2018

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Sooooo Merry Belated Christmas and Happy New Year Everyone!!!
 
I just finished the first book in the Capturing Magic series, Chasing Magic by Jessica Sorensen. What can I say? I absolutely loved it. To me it's like a mixture of Zenon, Vampire Diaries, & Aladdin, I know crazy mixture but when you read it you'll understand. Chasing magic is about a girl named Harlynn living in a world where paranormal creatures rule. They are the dominant species and are treated as such, making humans just a little more than slaves to their race. She lives in a world that consists of faeries, cyborgs, hell hounds, vampires, and the race she despises the most, genies, ever since her parents were killed by one. After her parents were killed she became a thief to survive and during that time she meets a fellow rebel named Jason, but having Jason as a best friend is what sets in a motion of events that Harlynn would've never seen coming.
 
Harlynn's best friend Jason gets addicted to a paranormal drug and is unable to keep up the funds for his habit and starts stealing the drugs and eventually steals from the wrong people. He steals from the scary, but very human mafia and since Harlynn will do anything for the only person that is in her life that she cares for, the mafia instructs her to steal a genie lamp in order to get Jason out of the situation, if failure to do so they will kill him. They target a specific Genie, Asher, who is in a other worldly band and it's perfect because she works as staff when bands come to town. Harylnn ends up creating a distraction, but even though she's one of the best thieves around she gets caught by the genie she's trying to steal from. Instead of punishing her Asher and his bandmates, East a faerie and Arrow a cyborg hire her to become a thief for them. She complies with the agreement because the arrangement is to keep her friend Jason safe.
 
Day by day she starts to like the paranormals she's teamed up with, even though she grew up despising them because of the unfortunate events surrounding her parents. But, she's careful not to fall for them, because of the curse the same genie that killed her parents bestowed upon her. The heroine is unique in a way she is resistant to magic, making you wonder if she's really human, especially with her mom's previous jobs before her untimely death. I love the mystery aspect of that. I really enjoyed reading the first book in this serial. I love that it’s a reverse harem story and the world building is great too. I love that they can jump to other realms. I would love to see this story turned into a TV series.  It has the potential to be great, great multi-dimensional characters, great world building and it’s a change in society where we will see a woman with a harem of men instead of the age old same ol man with a harem of women. I mean c'mon how often have you seen TV series or movies with kings or men with authority have a polygamous relationship, it's time for a change and that time is now. I think we need to bring paranormal back to the screen. It's really been MIA from the TV screen since vampires have stopped trending. Please guys check out this book and let me know what you guys think in the comments below. Untill next time keep on screening and being on the look out.
 

Casting

Harlynn- Cara Delevingne
East- Freddie Stroma
Asher- Avan Jogia
Arrow- Keith Powers

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The Land of Delphi

11/10/2017

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My friend and author TJ Booth is writing her first novel, and I'm extremely happy and proud that she is a Wattpad author, so please follow her at tanjanboo and start reading The Land of Delphi. And of course you know I don't put any books on here that I don't think would be a great movie, and I definitely do think this will make a great TV series. It has the elements of time travel, the drama, and the awesome world building. For me it's like the Game of Thrones of time travel. It has the grit, complex characters, and the intrigue that will keep you guessing and wanting more. The story is about a group of people rioting at Stone Mountain Park in Stone Mountain, GA, who mysteriously travel back in time 158 years, and from there they make choices and become people that change the course of history as we know it, like they might stop things from never happening, starting a revolution earlier than expected. So please check out the blurb below and the story on Wattpad and see why The Land of Delphi is the next big thing!

Blurb:
Spartacus meets Outlander The year is 2020. The country is in turmoil, divided by racial, economic and political factions. The stock market has crashed, riots and violence are rampant across the U.S, people are in despair as the country burns. Individuals amass at Stone Mountain to protest the proposed removal of the granite carving of Confederate figures from the mountain face. An atmospheric anomaly sends a disparate group of two dozen people hurling back 158 years into the past. Sensibilities and long held convictions will be tested, loyalties will shift as they make the decision to quietly adjust to their new home or derail the course of the future.

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All Roads Lead Back to You....

10/28/2017

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Where do I start? Something In the Way series by Jessica Hawkins was amazing. An epic love story. I started reading the first book in June, and then decided to put off the series until October when the final book of the trilogy released. The story is about Lake and Manning. They meet when Lake is 16yo and Manning is 23yo in 1993. Manning is smitten with Lake from the first time he sees her and Lake the same, but for entirely different reasons. Manning likes Lake because she reminds him of his little sister and Lake is just simply attracted to him, her first crush. They meet at his construction site which is right next door to Lake's house, and from then on he's a permanent fixture, but not for the reasons you might think.
 
This love story takes place for more than a decade, there are a lot of ups and downs. Even though Lake saw Manning first, she has a sister Tiffany, that is 3 years older than her that wanted to sink her hooks into him. To me it seems like she's some sort of villan, but then again you feel for her. She's cold, calculating, and manipulative, but also caring and loving, but her bad moments weigh out her good moments. So she takes it upon herself to date Manning, he's reluctant at first, but takes her out along with Lake. Lake isn't too happy about it, but doesn't mind because there wasn't any other way to keep Manning around with her being sixteen and all. Their also from two totally different backrounds. Lake and Tiffany grew up in a great family, their rich, Manning not so much, he has a mysterious background, does construction and is barely making ends meet while attending college part time. You have to understand that Lake and Tiffany are totally different too. Tiffany is a sex pot, relies on her looks a little too much and a college drop out and seeks out attention from her father with bad behavior. Lake is the perfect student and perfect daughter, doing everything her father wishes, and this is why Tiffany loves and hates Lake, so she takes from Lake every chance she can get, whether it be attention, or a guy Lake can never have because she's under age.
 
Lake ends up visiting Manning almost every day while he's doing construction and invites him to be a counselor at a summer camp that she volunteers for yearly. Manning obliges and Tiffany tags along too, just because Manning is going. One night things take a turn for the worst, while Manning is going for a beer run for the adult counselors, he gets pulled over, the officer lets him go, but then he's arrested the next day, and gets convicted, and sent to jail for almost two years for being at the wrong place at the wrong time. Lake is devasted and writes him letters every week that he never reads, but Tiffany still holds on to him while he's in jail and visits him every month and offers him a place to live with her when he gets out. Lake is over the moon when Manning is finally released, but it's short lived when Manning and Tiffany end up married and Tiffany is that Something in the Way.
 
This would be a great movie from start to finish, from experiencing the beginning of young love that ended up becoming that sould mate, once in a lifetime, epic kind of love. There is a happy ending for Lake and Manning, although it took many years to get there. It sort of reminds me a little of This of Us in the aspect that all the choices that they made in the beginning were what made them who they are currently and that all the roads ended up back to just them. The drama was great, the 90's era the story setting was in, was awesome. I felt as though I was Lake living in that time and being a teen all over again. It was an emotional high with this story. If it was one day to become a movie, the only thing I would change is letting Manning and Lake have an epilogue. I would've liked to read about them getting married and at least having their first child, and Lake reconciling with her family and Manning getting justice for being wrongly accused, when he was sent to jail. Maybe the author will write a novella explaining the details, but if that doesn't happen there is always movie magic and this is definitely a story worth seeing.

****Updated****
​The author has released the 4th book of Something in the Way called Lake & Manning that debuted 2/13/18.

Cast
Tiffany - Samara Weaving
Lake - Natalie Alyn Lind
​Manning - Ben Barnes

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The Sacrifices We Make For Love

9/4/2017

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I have just read one of the best love stories that I’ve read in a long time. Loving Mr. Daniels by Brittany C. Cherry is riveting, amazing, passionate, and warm hearted. A story that will stick with me for a long time. This story is about 19yr old Ashlyn Jennings, a high school senior that just lost her twin sister Gabrielle and is uprooted and forced to live with her dead beat dad Henry in Wisconsin. Ashlyn and Gabrielle were as close as twins could get, and since the loss Ashlyn’s world is falling apart, but there’s always a silver lining. Gabrielle has left Ashlyn a bucket list to accomplish, and on top of that she met a cute guy on the train to Wisconsin and agreed to go out with him that same night. Once she arrives at the home in which she will be staying, she realizes Henry has a whole other family, that includes his girlfriend Rebecca and her kids Ryan and Hailey. Hailey and Ryan are very well developed supporting characters that adds to some of the grit in the story, and Ashlyn surprisingly gets along really well with them. That same night Ashlyn borrows Hailey’s car to meet the cutie on the train at a local bar. There she decides to cross off one thing on her bucket list by dancing on top of the bar, but instead she gets a panic attack right in front of said cutie. He helps her through it, and she stays watching him perform with his band Romeo’s Quest, and afterwards they talk all night about anything and everything. From there, they’re smitten with each other and find a small spark in there sullen lives. When Ashlyn begins her school year, she realizes that Henry is the vice principal and that said cutie is no other than her advanced literature teacher Mr. Daniels and is devastated by the circumstances. Mr. Daniels has an onslaught of emotions ranging from anger to disbelief, and refuses to have any contact with her, sending Ashlyn into a deeper depression. But,of course the heart wants what the heart wants and soon Mr. Daniels can’t resist the sad girl and from there begins a love affair.


The novel is full of heartache and despair when it comes to this couple. There relationship is very difficult, not only because it’s a taboo relationship that needs to be kept a secret, but they have personal demons and losses that affect the complexity of their situation that results in several break-ups between the two characters. This story would be great as a movie and could compete with the likes of movies such as The Notebook. Not only does this novel touch on the subject of a complicated first love, but suicide, and being a homosexual in a devout Christian family. It’s about fighting depression and never giving up on life. I’m telling you right now that this story has made me cry countless times while reading it. It is very memorable and one that pulls significantly on your heart strings. I listened to the audible version of this book, and let me tell you that the narrators did an amazing job relaying the characters voices.


The backdrop for this storyline is also very well done. The way the author develops our main characters is unspeakably brilliant. They both have such sorrowful stories to tell that make you want to learn more about them and desperately wishing for a Happy Ending, because it’s so much deserving of the couple who’ve been through so much. This story will make you cry and laugh, happy and sad. It has all the makings of a great Romantic movie, so it should only be a matter a time before a hot shot producer comes and offers Ms. Cherry an option for her novel. So screeners please join me in putting out the word, so we can create a buzz so that we can see this awesome novel on the Big Screen!!!


Cast

Ashlyn Jennings - Logan Laurice
Daniel Daniels -Sam Claflin

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