Tag Archives: review

Sep29

Groovy Movies: Resident Evil Edition

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Groovy Movies: Resident Evil Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Groovy Movies! In a spoiler free setting, as always, we are going to be discussing the new Resident Evil movie. Johnny and one of my clients absolutely love the Resident Evil games and it is so fun to watch them play. I have tried my hand at them myself but am crap lousy at it so I just admire from afar and tap in to assist with puzzles when I can. My favorite part! Although I don’t technically play the Resident Evil games, I was sure glad to be familiar with them when I saw the movie as there were so many cool tips of the cap to staples seen throughout the Resident Evil gaming saga. If you are a fan of the franchise, you will get such a kick out of them! Before we begin our chat, I will be placing a trigger warning on Resident Evil for gruesome violence (one of which takes place in a maternity ward) and an animal death. You ready? Let’s get to it!

^^^ As always, I have no rights to this video!

Bryan works as a hospital courier and transports organs to and from different facilities. He is just getting off of his shift and is eager to return to his potentially pregnant girlfriend to discuss their options. As Bryan is about to take off, he gets an offer for one last delivery of the day and the pay is double. The weather is turning nasty with snow falling rapidly but Bryan isn’t in a position to refuse extra cash if there’s a baby on the way. He accepts the gig to drive to Raccoon City General Hospital and white knuckles his way through slick roads and heavy snowfall. Then, things take a drastic turn for the worse when he hits a woman wandering the streets in a summer dress.

The woman is gravely injured and since Bryan is heading to the hospital anyways, he puts her in the car and continues his drive. Unfortunately, this is his last moment of solace until all hell breaks loose when the woman takes a violent turn. Bryan’s car peters out and he has to make a run for it to a nearby farm to call for help with his courier bag in tow. He makes it to the property but there is no one to be found. No one human, anyways. Grotesque creatures have taken over and with no car and no weapons, there is no way he will make it to Raccoon City for his big payday.

Bryan can run but he can’t hide and every attempt to escape is thwarted until he finds temporary relief with members of the Umbrella Corporation who are hunting the mutants that devastate the streets. He learns that what he is carrying isn’t an organ at all but an ingredient. An ingredient that can create the cure to contain the outbreak that will soon spread across America. The hospital is still a long way to go but if he does make it, he can save the world as we know it. Will the mutants be eradicated in time? Or will the world dissolve into chaos? Watch Resident Evil to find out!

Resident Evil was a short and sweet hour and a half movie that packed a major punch. As soon as the opening scene was complete, I was in hook, line, and sinker and the movie simply didn’t let up. It was jam packed with classic Resident Evil gore and the craziest creatures I have ever seen. It matched the claustrophobic vibes of the games perfectly and it almost felt like watching someone play Resident Evil rather than watching a movie. Regardless of if you have played the games or not, there is no way you won’t enjoy this flick if you are a true horror fan. It was a wild ride with an ending scene that left me shooketh and as soon as it was over I wanted to see it again!

There was a lot to like about Resident Evil and my qualms with it are merely a matter of opinion because I didn’t care for the portrayal of Bryan. When I think about Resident Evil, I’m thinking a hot guy in a leather jacket and that was so not him lol. Bryan was a nerd and his constant attempt at humor throughout the movie eventually turned into more annoying than funny. I understand that in one of the games you play as just a regular dude which I’m sure is what the production team was emulating. However, his banter just didn’t mesh with the world he was thrown into and it was a juxtaposition that didn’t work for me. This is not to say that the movie wasn’t great because I really did love it. That choice just wasn’t for me!

Overall, I am going to rate Resident Evil with an eight out of ten stars. This is an excellent intro to spooky season flick and I highly recommend it!

Are you a fan of the Resident Evil games? What did you think about the new movie? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sep25

Lil Red’s Book Club: Brain Damage By Freida McFadden Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: Brain Damage By Freida McFadden Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Lil Red’s Book Club! In a spoiler free setting, as always, we are going to be discussing a Freida McFadden thriller called Brain Damage. Freida McFadden books are either good or bad, in my opinion, and I either love them or can’t be bothered. Brain Damage, however, was very different because it just made me sad. This was an incredibly hard book to read and I will be placing a massive trigger warning for domestic violence, severe brain injury, and HIGHLY disturbing and upsetting content. You ready? Let’s get to it:

Dr. Charly McKenna is a dermatologist in New York City. She loves her job, has a fabulous apartment right across the street from Central Park, and is content with her life as a single woman. That’s not to say that dating wouldn’t be nice, though, especially if it was a date with her new patient, Clark. Although she has a strict policy to not date her patients, Charly’s heart stops when she sees handsome and fit Clark for an appointment. To her utter surprise, he asks her out and she declines. But she does tell him that in three months they could go out when he is discharged as a patient.

Charly has been looking forward to this date for a long time and spent a small fortune on a dress to impress. Unfortunately for Charly, their date won’t even make it beyond her apartment because Clark is unforgivably rude. She asks him to leave and is more than ready to never see him again. Until a few weeks later. In the waiting room of her practice, a disgruntled ex of a former patient threatens Charly and who is there to save her but Clark? He steps between Charly and the man charging towards her, diffuses the situation, and Charly figures that one more date can’t hurt. In fact, it helped. After a brief whirlwind romance, Charly and Clark are engaged to be married.

Their wedding is small and simple at a courthouse and after their slightly disastrous honeymoon, Charly and Clark are back in the city. Then, their relationship begins to spiral rapidly and Charly is convinced that she never knew Clark at all. A divorce is imminent but all of Charly’s plans are immediately halted. Upon returning to their apartment late one evening, Charly opens her door and suffers a gunshot wound to the head. When she comes to, she awakes in a hospital bed and cannot even speak.

As Charly progresses through rehab and eventually finds her voice, she is still none the wiser about who hurt her. Some days, she can barely remember her name. It sure comes as a shock for her to learn that she is married when Clark shows up for sporadic and brief visits! Although Charly is making gains, she will still not be able to live independently and Clark offers to be her caretaker. The arrangement does not benefit Charly in the slightest but she doesn’t want to end up in a nursing home. Even if that means staying with Clark and allowing for another uninvited guest to live in her apartment. Everyone at the rehab facility can see that something is up with Clark but Charly feels like she doesn’t even have a choice. Will she improve enough to remove herself from his “care”? Or will Charly be subjected to a lifetime with the man she was going to divorce? Read Brain Damage to find out!

Brain Damage took place in the Before and After. In the Before, we learn everything that led up to Charly’s tragic injury. In the After, we meet her dazed and confused after an almost fatal shooting. Before Charly is strong, confident, and smart as a whip. After Charly is meek, fully dependent on caretakers, and can barely form sentences. And it was all very, very sad. If you have ever experienced a loved one being gravely injured or ill, this book is going to trigger you without fail. It did for me and I almost considered not finishing it after a few chapters in the After. You all know that I can’t not finish a book though and had to see it through.

For all of the bad in this book, Charly was an absolute star and she was the only reason why I kept reading. I wanted to see her improve. I wanted to see her get justice. And I wanted her to achieve the best possible outcome in life because she was handed the shortest end of the straw humanly possible. If you can’t rally around Charly while reading Brain Damage, you might not have a soul lol. Although this book was incredibly upsetting for me, it was a solid read and an intriguing story line. There is no arguing that. The subject matter was just not for me which will explain my low star rating.

Overall, I am going to rate Brain Damage with a three out of ten stars. The three are for the book being pretty good but I couldn’t wait to be done with it. Read at your own discretion!

What are you currently reading? What should I read next? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sep15

Lil Red’s Book Club: The Anniversary By Alex Finlay Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: The Anniversary By Alex Finlay Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Lil Red’s Book Club! In a spoiler free setting, as always, we are going to be discussing a thriller by Alex Finlay called The Anniversary. Although I wouldn’t call this book great, it was pretty good and the twisty cat and mouse plot was intriguing. My main qualm wasn’t so much with the contents of the book itself, rather with the at times, disjointed writing style of Alex Finlay. We’ll get to that more after the synopsis, though! Before we begin our chat about The Anniversary, I will be placing a trigger warning for graphic violence, disturbing content, sexual and physical assault, and combat in war. You ready? Let’s go:

High schoolers Jules and Quinn have seemingly nothing in common. Jules is beautiful, popular, and the star of the school. Quinn, on the other hand, is solitary, introverted, and prefers the company of books to people. However, these polar opposites formed a bond by semi-flirting their way through study hall before returning back to their normal crowds or lack thereof. While their interests are far from the same, the night of May first 1992 will forge their paths together for years to come to solve the mystery of what happened that fateful night and all of the tragedies to follow.

On May first, Quinn was sent to a juvenile detention center for almost killing a kid in a fight. On May first, Jules was kidnapped by the May Day Killer but he let her live. Life was never the same since. While Quinn was incarcerated, his mother was murdered and his brother’s health began to fail. With nowhere else to go upon his release, Quinn joined the army. As Quinn serves his country, Jules is serving looks and has a blossoming career as a young model. Her life might look glamorous on the outside but on the inside, Jules is almost always in the haze of a drug or alcohol induced stupor to shield herself from the memories of her narrow escape.

The May Day Killer was never found after Jules’ abduction and he continues to strike every year like clockwork. Some girls are spared, some are never seen from again. The FBI is desperate to close this case and Jules and two other May Day survivors begin to assist by trying to remember every detail from their encounter with the serial killer. Meanwhile, Quinn is working a case of his own. Before her murder, his mom uncovered something hinky going on at the factory she worked at. The day she was going to spill was the day of her death. His mom’s findings are meaningless to Quinn and leave him with more questions than answers. Little does he know, his mom’s murder and the May Day Killer are more connected than anyone thought possible. Will Jules and Quinn crack the cases to their own trauma? Or will a serial killer continue to walk free? Read The Anniversary to find out!

I am very much a fan of a good wild goose chase between a killer and the victims and The Anniversary really scratched that itch. The plot for The Anniversary was juicy to say the least and it kept me turning the pages. In fact, I finished it in three sittings. To a point, I enjoyed the story and the characters both major and minor. The biggest turn off of this book all came down to the way it was written. The Anniversary was marked through the passage of time with chunks of the book taking place one year or up to ten years later. This pieced together approach was somewhat confusing because so much could happen within that time frame! Once the next year took place, you basically had to remeet the characters with where they were at instead of where they have been which only left me wanting more. More information, more cohesion. More something to make this book feel like a completed work rather than a second or third draft.

Although I truly didn’t care for the way this book was set up, it doesn’t take away from the fact that it was still a slightly above average thriller. The grand reveals were shocking, it was fun to play detective along with the FBI, and it was almost like reading an episode of Law & Order: SVU. I will say that I felt like Jules’ character was a bit one dimensional but that was made up for in spades with Quinn. I don’t think it’s possible for him to not tug at your heart strings! The Anniversary had all of the fixings for a semi high Lil Red’s Book Club star rating. It really did fall short on the choppy writing, though, as it completely took away from a fully positive reader experience.

Overall, I am going to rate The Anniversary with a five out of ten stars. This was a perfectly average thriller that deserves a perfectly average rating. You’re not missing out on anything if you don’t read it, but you’re not going to hate it if you do give it a go!

What are you currently reading? What should I read next? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sep12

Groovy Movies: Buddy Edition

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Groovy Movies: Buddy Edition

Hi! Prior to dating Johnny, I wholeheartedly admit that I was a horror movie snob. I was all about the atmospheric, moody, psychological thriller scary movies and nothing else would do. I didn’t care for silly slashers, couldn’t be bothered with creature horror films, and turned up my nose at anything remotely campy. All of these examples, however, are exactly what Johnny loves and I certainly changed my tune after he took me to school on all of his favorites. I recently saw Buddy with a friend, which is a comedy horror that checked all of the boxes of Johnny’s scary movie must haves. This movie was not great but I don’t think I would have slightly liked it without my further education from Johnny! Let’s discuss in a spoiler free setting, as always, but first I’ll be placing a trigger warning for gory violence and disturbing content. Here we go:

^^^ As always, I have no rights to this video!

It’s Buddy! is a Barney style children’s show featuring a huge orange unicorn named Buddy. At his playhouse it is fun and games, dance parties and songs, and learning lessons like apologizing or being brave. When all of the kids participate and smile, it is an excellent day at Buddy’s. If they don’t comply… not so much. After a little boy refuses to learn a dance routine, Buddy snaps and the remaining playmates are terrified. Freddy, Oliver, and Hannah thought that Buddy loved them. Was he lying this whole time? One thing is for sure, the kids need to get to the real world and fast.

In the real world, we come across a perfectly normal family. A mom named Grace, her husband, and their two sons. There is something bothering Grace, though. Something that feels missing and she can’t shake it. Deep in her being, Grace believes that she has another child out there and takes matters into her own hands by hiring a psychic. The psychic insists on contacting the spirit in the house that is plaguing Grace but it isn’t a pesky ghost or poltergeist at all. It’s Buddy and he needs a new friend.

Grace knows that Buddy is behind her missing child and when he invites her into the television later that night she joins him as the new clubhouse nurse. The kids and Grace only have one chance to get back to the real world and danger lurks at every turn. Buddy is intent on closing this horrific episode out with a song and it is up to them to stop it. Will Grace’s family become whole? Will the other children get to return home too? Watch Buddy to find out!

I feel a bit torn about Buddy because there were parts of it that I liked and parts that dragged and I consider that difficult to do in a barely hour and a half flick. Buddy’s clubhouse was uber fun with nods to Barney and Pee Wee’s Playhouse that I deeply appreciated. What dragged, in my opinion, was the repetitive and relatively tame nature of the film. There were parts that literally felt like we were just watching an off brand Barney episode and that’s a massive bore for a room of adults. In fact, it was almost painful until more major plot points were introduced like Grace and her family.

Buddy did provide laughs and a couple of jump scares but it was overall a very average flick. I actually REALLY liked the plot but I didn’t like the execution of it and there were parts that were just plain weird AF. If you watch Buddy, you will know exactly what I’m talking about! Was this a movie worth seeing? If you’re looking for a very different, semi horror comedy then I guess? I left the theater feeling neither here nor there either way but was definitely glad that it was a short movie!

I am going to rate Buddy with a three out of ten stars. I don’t think this is one to go see in the theaters but it could be a laugh if you are watching at home!

Did you see Buddy? What did you think about it? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sep3

Josh Groban Stage, Screen, And Symphony Concert

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Josh Groban Stage, Screen, And Symphony Concert

Hello! This past weekend Johnny and I had the best time seeing Josh Groban at Blossom Music Center for his Stage, Screen, And Symphony tour. Did we purchase tickets as huge fans of his music? Not necessarily. They were cheap and we got them for a laugh because we love when Josh Groban shows up in obscure comedies that we love like Tim And Eric’s Awesome Show Great Job. However, due to circumstances that I would only define as miraculous, we left the concert venue as super fans reeling from as close to a spiritual experience as I have ever had lol. Take a look at some pics and let’s discuss mine and Johnny’s turn of good fortune:

Blossom Music Center is a venue that’s broken up into two parts. There is the covered pavilion where you can get close to the stage for beaucoup bucks or you can post up on the lawn beyond it for the low low. Unless the difference in price between both locations is marginal, Johnny and I always get lawn seats and did the same for Josh Groban. After getting a couple of drinks, we made our way to a primo spot on the lawn where our view of the stage wasn’t great but we could still see the screen really well. While it isn’t ideal, it is the best that you can hope for when you’re on the grass! Little did we know, our view was about to get so much better.

At seven o’clock sharp the show began sans opener and The Grobes took the stage singing Pure Imagination from Charlie And The Chocolate Factory. Not to mention that his concert was set to the music of the Akron Symphony Orchestra which was way cool! Although we just had a jumbo screen view, we were mesmerized by hearing Josh Groban perform because he truly does have the most beautiful voice and presence. We were then shocked out of our stupor by a Blossom employee asking us if we wanted to be upgraded to pavilion seats FOR FREE!!

Johnny and I happily accepted and assumed that we were gifted with back or mid pavilion seats. Not! An usher took our tickets and we followed behind all the way to the front. We started from the lawn and ended up four rows in front of the stage, giving us a perfect view of The Grobes in all of his glory. In all of our years of attending Blossom shows, nothing like this has ever happened before and we genuinely couldn’t believe it. It was like stepping into an alternate reality and all we could do was just sit back in our confusion and utter delight and enjoy the show.

As you guessed from the name of his tour, Josh Groban performed songs from the stage and screen set to a symphony lol. He performed charming renditions of songs like What I Did For Love, Skyfall, Can You Feel The Love Tonight, and On My Own just to name a few. The piece de resistance was seeing him tap back into his role has Sweeney Todd for The Barber And His Wife which was absolutely magical. It makes me even more excited for mine and Johnny’s Sweeney Todd and Mrs. Lovett Halloween costumes this year! I wanted to see his run as Sweeney Todd SO badly and this was the best consolation prize!

Throughout his set, Josh (We’re on a first name basis!) shared stories, told some jokes, and sang his little heart out. Let’s be real, Josh Groban only has one lane – that being emotional ballads lol. He sticks to what he knows and does it oh so well! It was awe inspiring to hear him, of course, but it was just freaking crazy to be that close to him. Johnny and I were not fifty feet away from the guy we bust a gut over for Groban Sings Casey! When we were on the lawn, we didn’t plan on staying for the whole show. Once we were upgraded, we were glued to our seats until his encore of Somewhere Over The Rainbow. We made our way to the car as he sang the beloved tune and it was like being sent off into the sunset after an amazing Blossom adventure.

Johnny and I are still in a state of shock from our concert experience and are not fully convinced that it was real. You’re going to have to pinch us!

Are you a Josh Groban fan? Are you going to a concert soon? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sep1

August 2026 Finishes

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August 2026 Finishes

Howdy y’all and happy September!! Even though it’s ninety degrees here (Yuck!) it is officially fall in my head because every day that passes is another day closer to Halloween. I am SO beyond excited to start shopping for mine and Johnny’s Sweeney Todd and Mrs. Lovett costumes and can’t wait to share them with all of you. This is a couples costume that I have always wanted to do and I am thrilled that it’s finally coming to fruition! Before I get too ahead of myself with spooky season plans, let’s take a step back to yesterday and discuss my beauty finishes for August. There were only two but they are definitely worth chatting about! Take a look:

Would I Use Again?

ValJean Labs Radiant Glow Face Scrub: YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Supergoop! Triple Prep Moisturizer: NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Why/Why Not?

ValJean Labs Scrub: I am an avid fan of ValJean Labs products and have yet to find one that I haven’t enjoyed. My favorite, however, has to be the Radiant Glow Scrub! This is easily the most gentle but effective scrub I have ever used and even Johnny uses it from time to time and loves it. The Radiant Glow scrub is cream based and hydrates deeply while the grit removes dry skin and imperfections like blackheads. Some scrubs leave your skin feeling scraped bare after using it and that is so not the case with the Radiant Glow. I used it every day for about two and a half months and exited the shower with skin that looked bright and felt soft as can be. Highly recommend and I will always purchase it if it’s available at TJMaxx!

Supergoop! Moisturizer: I bought the Supergoop! Triple Prep Moisturizer for a TJMaxx price and am so glad for it because it is in the forty to fifty dollar range at Ulta or Sephora. I couldn’t imagine how mad I would be if I spent the full fifty bucks on the most lackluster moisturizer ever! The only thing the Supergoop! had going for it is that it was incredibly long lasting and it took me two months of twice daily use to finish the jar.

In that two months, there was nothing about this moisturizer that I liked and I was so happy to be done with it. The Triple Prep Moisturizer did not sit well on my skin whatsoever and it basically peeled off. It was miserable to be actually sweating and sweating moisturizer all at once during the hot summer months and it drove me insane. Of course, I had to see it through but I would NEVER get this product again even at a marked down price. This is one that can totally be skipped on!

My August Empties were 50/50 with one dud and one star and all I have to say is – it is SO nice to be using a moisturizer I actually like now! 😀

Which products did you use up in August? What are your thoughts on any of the above products if you have used them before? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug31

Bath & Body Works Hand Soap Haul

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Bath & Body Works Hand Soap Haul

Hi! I had a delightful day this past Tuesday as my breaks from work included a coffee date with one of my girlfriends and some shopping! I lucked out at TJMaxx with a couple of gorgeous pieces for my upcoming trip to Italy and I am SO excited to show all of you. I got the funkiest matching set as well as a new top and my current happy place in my head is picturing me walking through the streets of Italy wearing them! Not only did I score big at TJs but I also needed to pop into Bath & Body Works for a reup on my beloved foaming hand soap. These fall scents are seriously out of this world and it is, easily, my favorite autumn collection yet! Check it out:

Green Pear & Apple: I absolutely loves me an apple scent and pear too and this fragrance is the most delicious combo of two of my favorites! The notes on Green Pear & Apple feature “fresh sliced pear, green apple, and cherry blossoms”. In other words, do you know what a pear smells like? Do you know what an apple smells like? Can you picture them both together? Lol, that is this scent in a nutshell and I am living for it!

Wild Blackberry Jam: In case you haven’t noticed, I am a fruity fragrance kind of gal and really enjoy a deep berry scent making Wild Blackberry Jam an obvious choice. With notes of “countryside blackberry, velvet fig, and amber woods” this scent is freshly crushed blackberries with the crisp scent of fall leaves for good measure. This scent is deep and rich but still smells sweet as opposed to musky with the notes of amber woods. B&BW’s fall collection seems to be a perfect pairing of classic fall scents with a fruity twist and it’s like it was made for me. 😀

Honey Wildflower: I am typically not a floral fragrance fan but Honey Wildflower is oh so nice and suspiciously smells a lot like B&BW’s classic Sweet Pea line. So much so that I’m like ninety-nine percent convinced that it’s just Sweet Pea with a different label lol. Honey Wildflower’s scent story includes “crisp pear, fresh wildflowers, and sweet honey”. I can definitely smell the juicy pear and the soft honey minimizes the wildflower scent significantly. If you are iffy on floral fragrances too then Honey Wildflower is just right and smells more fruity over flowery.

Whipped Honey & Vanilla: While I love fruit scents, vanilla fragrances are my all time favorite and Whipped Honey & Vanilla is a total dream. You can’t go wrong with classic vanilla but these notes of “honey drizzle, blossoming neroli, and whipped vanilla bean” are giving it a run for its money. Whipped Honey & Vanilla is so soft and light and almost smells like a shortbread cookie. It’s a fairly muted fragrance but one whiff has left me wanting more, more, more!

Pumpkin Apple: Although fall is my favorite time of the year, I am not big on classic fall fragrances. I don’t like pumpkin and cinnamon seriously makes me feel nauseous. Pumpkin Apple is as close to a true fall fragrance as I can muster and has a scent story of “red delicious apples, fall pumpkins, and clove buds”. To me, Pumpkin Apple smells like mulled cider and while it is nice for a one time use, I wouldn’t get it again. It just didn’t feel right not getting it because it’s such a fall staple scent!

I am incredibly happy with this hand soap haul and cannot recommend B&BW’s new fall line enough. You will want to dive right into it like a pile of leaves!

What is your favorite fall scent? Do you change which scents you use with the seasons? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug28

Lil Red’s Book Club: Ambush By Colleen Coble Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: Ambush By Colleen Coble Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Lil Red’s Book Club! In a spoiler free setting, as always, we are going to be discussing a sort of thriller, sort of romance, sort of religious (Yuck!) book by Colleen Coble called Ambush. Had I known that Coble was known for Christian literature, I would have vetoed it from the jump. However, I was too far into the book to abandon it and saw it through. Ambush was a below average read that appears to be the first part of a series. Will I read the next one when it comes out? The jury is still out but let’s discuss anyways! Before we begin, I will be placing a trigger warning on Ambush for sexual violence, graphic crime scene descriptions, and general violence. Now, let’s get to it:

Paradise has had a tough go in life. After losing both of her parents she was bounced from foster home to foster home, each one being worse than the last. The only high point in those years was her relationship with Blake which came to a crashing halt when his attempt to help her failed. The two high school sweethearts never spoke again afterwards but Paradise’s past is about to catch up to her fifteen years later. Since her and Blake’s falling out, she went on to become a vet specializing in wild and exotic animals. Although she loves her job, an almost deadly attack by a big cat has left her broken and she takes the first opportunity she is offered to get her groove back. She will now be the vet at The Sanctuary.

The Sanctuary is exactly what it sounds like – a place for wild animals that were injured to roam, heal, and live the rest of their lives under expert care. It would be perfect minus the fact that Blake’s mother is the owner of The Sanctuary and he has returned in the wake of tragedy after the suspicious death of his father. Tensions are, indeed, high at The Sanctuary as the two former flames meet again but it is softened by Blake’s two younger brothers and his caring mom, Jenna. Paradise’s world at The Sanctuary revolves around caring for the animals and avoiding Blake at all costs. Soon, her avoidance of the man she has held a grudge against for so long will be the least important thing on her mind.

Since Paradise began her job, strange things have been happening at The Sanctuary and the surrounding properties. A body was found at a nearby ranch and angry activists have targeted The Sanctuary, committing break ins, arson, and shootings. The detective on the case feels no sympathy for Blake and his family and makes it clear that Blake and Jenna are his prime suspects in the murder at the ranch. With no help to be found for The Sanctuary from the police, the team decides to investigate themselves and that includes Paradise. As her and Blake work together to solve their own mysteries, they continue to grow closer and closer. If a flame is rekindling, it must wait until The Sanctuary’s problems are solved and Blake and his mom are in the clear. Will Paradise finally have the happy ending that she so needs and deserves? Read Ambush to find out!

In theory, Ambush offered a little bit of everything I like in a book. A juicy mystery, old love blossoming, and crooked cops. In practice, it was just very okay. My main qualm had nothing to do with the religious aspect of Ambush but had everything to do with the writing. Throughout the book, Colleen Coble made the decision to regurgitate the exact same phrases, words, and descriptions that had already been used several times over. It was verbatim and it drove me absolutely bonkers because lazy writing is the one thing I won’t stand for. There were countless times when it felt like I was rereading the same pages over again and it got to the point that it was laughable.

So the writing wasn’t great but what about the characters? Meh lol. Paradise as a leading lady was neither here nor there for me as she was extremely milquetoast. The personality factor was definitely lacking and she often read as bland and bored. Blake and his family, on the other hand, was too perfect and it was so unrealistic. I’m sure one would argue that god was on their side as they were ultra religious. What I mean by too perfect is that in the midst of all of this violence at The Sanctuary, no one got angry. Lives could have been lost and not one voice was ever raised. I don’t know about all of you, but I would be PISSED if I ended up being almost mauled by hyenas! Once again, I chalk this up to lazy writing to not even bother hinting at conflict within themselves and Ambush often read as a first draft as opposed to a published book.

Overall, I am going to rate Ambush with a two and a half out of ten stars. This is one that can certainly be skipped on but I’d be a liar if I said I don’t want to find out what happens in the next book!

What are you currently reading? What should I read next? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug25

Groovy Movies: The End Of Oak Street Edition

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Groovy Movies: The End Of Oak Street Edition

Hello! This past week I enjoyed seeing one of this summer’s most fun popcorn flicks called The End Of Oak Street starring the incomparable Anne Hathaway. This is a very good year for my girl and I loved seeing her in The Devil Wears Prada 2 and The Odyssey. She will also be in Verity coming out in November, I believe, which I do plan on seeing just because it’s her even though I hated the book with a passion lol. But I digress. The End Of Oak Street was a wild ride that moved rapidly with nonstop thrills, the occasional jump scare, and dinosaurs galore. Honestly, Jurassic World who? The End Of Oak Street was the fresh take on dinosaurs that we all needed and left the latest installment of Jurassic World in the dust! Let’s discuss in a spoiler free setting, as per ushe:

^^^ As always, I have no rights to this video!

The year is 1982, it’s summertime and the living is easy. Kind of. Denise, her husband Greg, children Audrey and Brian, and family dog Starbuck live in a picture perfect suburban neighborhood. Families barbecue, children play together, and you can always count on a neighbor for help. Behind closed doors, however, Denise and Greg’s marriage is strained and their kids are constantly hearing them bicker. Denise goes through the motions while her husband works odd jobs and delivers pizza and when everyone is asleep, she heads to the basement to work on a book she is writing in secret.

Denise’s elderly neighbor is editing her book and after wrapping up their session requests her help. A strange plant grew out of nowhere in her yard and they each have no idea what it could be. Denise snaps a picture on her Polaroid camera, uproots the plant, and heads to the library to investigate. To her surprise, the librarian tells her this plant has been extinct since the time that dinosaurs roamed the Earth. The following night, a huge storm takes place with bright lights flashing that definitely doesn’t look like lightening. The power in the neighborhood goes out and Denise’s family hits the hay in the hopes that the storm has passed and the power will be on when they wake up.

That is not the case and what’s worse, Starbuck is nowhere to be found in their backyard. Greg and Denise decide to look for the dog together while the kids hold tight and step into an unfamiliar new world. Their neighborhood has turned into Jurassic Park overnight! The landscape has changed to lush greenery, mountainous terrains, and huge lakes and dinosaurs wander in search of something tasty to eat. Within minutes, the street devolves into chaos with families trying to escape, many of them not making it beyond their own front door.

Greg and Denise book it back to their kids and begin the process of boarding up their home. But they can’t stay there indefinitely and need a plan to get themselves back to 1982. Their daughter, Audrey, suggests that they could have entered a portal to go back in time and that could have been the bright light they saw during the storm. The trick is for that light to appear again, find it, and avoid the dinosaurs at all costs. Will this family learn to work together and make it home alive? Or will they be stuck on Oak Street forever? Watch the movie to find out!

If you are looking for a short and sweet action packed movie, then you can stop your search. The End Of Oak Street has you covered! This flick clocked in at one hour and forty minutes and after the brief introduction to the family and neighborhood every scene was more insane than the next. The threat of the dinosaurs was so palpable I found myself holding my breath as they wreaked havoc creating close calls that were centimeters away from disaster. Not only were the dinos fearsome but they were so well designed and it was such a nice change of pace to see these creatures in a movie other than Jurassic Park.

The only thing I really didn’t care for in The End Of Oak Street was the son, Brian, who was just whiny and annoying the whole time. My beloved Anne Hathaway made up for it in spades, though! It was wild to see her wielding a gun and being a total badass because I’m so used to her girl next door roles. As she always does, she played the part so well and my eyes were never not on her even when dinosaurs were mauling her neighbors lol. If you are an Anne Hathaway fan like me, this is a must see. Even if you’re not, this is a must see because this was one of the most exciting action movies I have seen in ages!

Overall, I am going to rate The End Of Oak Street with a nine out of ten stars. If Brian wasn’t so cringy it would have been a perfect ten!

Have you seen The End Of Oak Street? What did you think about it? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug8

Rad At Rad Air

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Rad At Rad Air

Hi! A few weeks ago my car broke down in a major way and I knew exactly where I was going to have it towed to be worked on: Rad Air, of course! I am blessed to have a fantastic auto shop literally right down the street from my apartment and have been taking my car there for years. I admit, it can be intimidating for me to take my car in for repairs because I legit know nothing about cars lol. However, in all of my time going there I never once felt out of my league. Rather, I felt welcomed by the genuine hospitality of the employees and forever have full confidence in their excellent work and more than fair prices. It really is a gift to be able to take your car to a shop that you trust completely!

All of my experiences at Rad Air have been 12/10 but this past repair really took the cake. My car is an older model and parts had to be ordered which took a bit longer than expected. That was no matter, though, because they gave me a loaner car free of charge. As my parents only have one vehicle, I would have had to miss work without the loaner and that was SO appreciated since I am self employed. I got to drive myself everywhere I needed to be in a fancy Ford Fusion and although I missed my car terribly, I very much enjoyed the sun roof and functioning radio. My radio went kaput a year ago so having some tunes instead of dead silence for a few days was a thrill lol.

While my car was being tended to, I was kindly updated by the staff on its progress and couldn’t wait to pick my baby up! I even scored a sweet deal on the cost thanks to a seventy-five dollar off coupon which helped a lot. 😀 When I was finally behind the wheel of the Little Red Love Machine, I honestly couldn’t believe it. My almost fifteen year old car was running as if it was brand new. In fact, driving it home reminded me of the day I drove it home during a huge snow storm in 2014 when I purchased it. It was all sunshine this time! 🙂

As soon as I got home, I just had to give my go to shop a little shout out on Facebook and was absolutely tickled by their reply. Rad Air really is the only place I would take my Little Red Love Machine!

The moral of this story? That good work never goes unappreciated by me and to always shop around until you find a place that you are comfortable taking your car to. Rad Air for life!! ❤

Where do you take your car for repairs? How long have you had your car? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah