Review: #Broadchurch

Gracepoint starts tonight (Thursdays on Fox at 9 pm) it's not exactly a remake of Broadchurch, but it really is. According to the people in charge, it's very, very similar but 2 episodes longer and with a different ending. We'll see. (Plus David Tennant's American accent. Hmm, weird.)

So if you're planning on watching Gracepoint and haven't seen Broadchurch yet, what are you waiting for??

What can I say about Broadchurch? You need to watch it yourself. It's only 8 episodes long and trust me, once you start you won't stop. You can't, really. I'm pretty good at figuring out the whodunit, but this one? Shocked me.

I do suggest putting the volume up if you're not used to hearing UK accents that aren't Colin Firth's, but this small town murder mystery has such real and authentic people you easily and quickly get used to it. As with all small towns, people know everything about you--except all those secrets you hid when you came to the small town to begin with.

Is it a typical small town? Are the residents of Broadchurch also typical? Of course, that isn't the point. the scenery is gorgeous but the people are what make this so remarkable. They're deeply flawed and in only 8 episodes I learned so much about them even as I tried to figure out who the murderer was.

My understanding is that season 2 is on the way. I can't wait!

5 stars.

Review #SleepyHollow season 1

Yes. It is that good. It's better than that good. And if you're not watching it you need to. That, and you need to follow Orlando Jones on Twitter during the actual episodes-that man is funny!

Based on The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, the show took it to the next level. Sure, the Johnny Depp movie wasn't bad, but this is just wow.

Ichabod Crane is totally lickable. Go on, look at his photo. Don't lick your computer screen, it's okay. I understand. And that British accent. Yum. Plus, the Ichabod wit on finding himself in the 21st century and his observations on (our) everyday activities is awesome.

"What's insane is a 10% levy on baked goods! You do realize the Revolutionary War began on less than 2%! How is the public not flocking to the streets in outrage? We must do something." Just one of many adorable and hysterical Ichabod quotes from the show. And that scene where he learns how to use a shower? Yes, as funny as you're now imagining.

But there is actually a plot, and much deeper than the wit and witticism of 21st century Ichabod Crane.

Thanks to his Wicca wife, he comes back from a Revolutionary War death in modern day. Katrina, his wife, is not only beautiful, but she has mad chemistry with Ichabod. I love their love story and I love what she's sacrificed to stop evil from permeating the new America.

Abby Mills, Sleepy Hollow cop, is absolutely  great. SHe's smart, tough, and an equal to Ichabod's character. She doesn't make silly "girlly" mistakes  but can own up when she is mistaken, the hallmark of a fascinating character. To use a well known quote, I think it's the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

All in all, if you haven't watched season 1, sadly only 13 episodes, you need to. This weekend. All at once because once you start you won't want to stop. If you like history, wrapped in a contemporary, with a heavy dose of the paranormal, then Sleepy Hollow is your thing.

5 stars all the way

Review @HouseofCards season 2

Just when you thought it was safe to go back to DC! Not if you're an opponent of Frank Underwood! This season he has his sights set on a very lofty goal and takes it to the next level.If you thought it was charmingly ruthless in season 1, forget it. Season 1 Frank was an amateur compared to season 2 Frank.

There are moments in season 2 where you're shocked, deliciously appalled, or erotically intrigued.

I give this season 5 stars as well and waiting for season 3 with bated breath!

Review @HouseofCards season 1

This is about the Netflix show, not the 90s British show of the same name and theme.

I didn't see the British version, only the Kevin Spacy version, but I was blown away in the first 3 minutes. Francis "Frank" Underwood  is a master political manipulator, the Democratic Majority Whip. Actually he's a master manipulator. Period.

We begin with the election of a new president, very clearly with Frank's help; Frank even helped the President's Chief of Staff get appointed. Frank expects to be appointed Secretary of State as his reward for all his help to the new president. The president has other plans. At the ninth hour, before Frank believes his appointment is to be announced, Frank learns the president needs him in congress and won't be extending the Secretary of State chair appointment to him.

This is important to the rest of the season and into season 2. Actually, these are the events that drive the entirety of House of Cards. Frank wants revenge for being slighted. He doesn't take kindly to broken promises. But when Frank gets even, it's a blood sport.

House of Cards is a smart, tight, gripping political thriller that takes you on a ride with twists and turns you'd never expect. Just when you think all is lost, Frank Underwood, or as the cufflinks that are gifted to him by a trusted Secret Service agent show, FU pulls not just a rabbit, but an elephant out of his hat.

5 stars. Definitely.

Review #Longmire season 2

Season 2 picks up right where season 1 left off. I enjoyed that right off, because it meant that the cliffs from the first season hadn't been ignored, stretched to fit the break, or neatly tied up off screen. Also, the subplots from the first season grew, they're more elaborate and intriguing.

Characters now intermingle that from season 1, I didn't expect to intermingle and with quite interesting results! It's hard to write this without any spoilers, but let me say this: For me, season 2 was even better than season 1. The stories were tighter and since I was already familiar with the characters, everything had a deeper, more intriguing twist.

There's just so much going on, and while season 2 had 13 instead of 10 episodes, I really wanted it to keep going. But on the other hand, I enjoyed the shortened season because it didn't have those filler episodes, all the episodes were cohesive to the entire season and characters' arc.

Make sure you don't miss an episode, it all overlaps to create a compelling show that really is can't miss!

Longmire is based on a series of contemporary western mysteries by Craig Johnson. Season 3 starts this past Monday, June 3, at 10p.m. EST on A and E.

5 Star #Review for Improper Conduct

5 Ribbon Review! Yeah, how excited am I?!My first review for Improper Conduct! Read the whole review here at Romance Junkies.

Isabel Roman’s new release IMPROPER CONDUCT is a thrilling read that held my attention from beginning to end.  Jules obsession with the series of crimes and her emotional upheaval over the entire situation is riveting, especially when she goes head to head with Callum about her plans regarding the suspect.  I couldn’t help but feel for Callum, as a police chief he has a job to do and has to trust in his officers’ skills, but as a man he wants to ensure that Jules doesn’t succumb to the killer’s seduction attempts.   I’m not normally big on suspense novels, but I have to admit I loved everything about this story – from the mystery of how the killer is getting away with his crimes, right down to the romance between Jules and Callum, even the crimes themselves left me in a state of awe.  This is the first book I’ve read by Ms. Roman but I can definitely say it won’t be the last.  

Her next book, SINK OR SWIM doesn’t have a release date yet but it looks just as appealing as IMPROPER CONDUCT so stop by her website and check it out – and while you’re there, be sure to enter her contest for an Amazon Kindle Fire HD. 

Where to find: Amazon
Amazon UK
Amazon Canada

Barnes and Noble

All Romance eBooks

Kobo

Print

Wednesday Review: In the Shadow of Freedom

I'm not big on biographies. I don't care about other people's lives, who slept with whom, why X became a chef and Y became an actor, or how Z didn't let alcoholism affect the rest of his/her life. I am not fascinated with the minutia of everyday celebrity living, nor do I care beyond the head-shaking headlines of the latest politician to disgrace him/herself.

In the Shadow of Freedom first came to my attention through Twitter; I follow Tchicaya Missamou's agent and when it was first released, she (naturally and as a good agent) announced it.

My internal debate raged. But I was in a non-fiction mood, first with The Tiger: a True story of Vengeance and Survival then the thinly veiled fictionalized version of Every Man Dies Alone.

Read the blurb, a couple reviews on Amazon and B&N, and decided why not? Not normally my kind of read, but Tchicaya's story (no idea how to properly pronounce his name) not only tells of his country, the DRC (Democratic Republic of Congo) and its tragic story of war, but his own involvement in it from a VERY young age.

A child soldier who knew what he was doing but did it anyway to a young man who changed his ways and eventually made it to America. Here he lived in poverty and joined the Marine Corp where he rose in the ranks.

Tchicaya's story is a true American Dream story. I loved it.

And this Friday, my guest will be Wendi Zwaduk who's talking about how to act naturally and her new release, Careless Whisper.

5 Star Review!

Over at Love Romance Passion, Kiera gave Dark Desire of the Druids I: Murder & Magick 5 Stars! I'm thrilled and jumping up and down over it. It's my first review of my first book. :)

Excerpt:
Mmm-mmm delicious. I love the plot to this novel, which looks like it will drive the second in the series. I also love the romantic conflict- it’s simply too yummy. Roman certainly has a way with storytelling, twisting and weaving different threads into one cohesive whole.

Read the whole review here.