Sunday, July 28, 2013

Marathon Review Time! Thank you Katie McGarry, Bear Grylls, & Bruce Willis for an entertaining week!

Since I'm a book girl who loves her TV shows and her movies, I thought I'd branch out with my review marathon.

5 STARS!! Crossing the Line by Katie McGarry is a wonderful novella in the Pushing the Limit Series. Can a friendship truly evolve into something more through the simple act of writing letters back and forth? What if one person is scared of her own shadow and the other person would rather skip out on the real world than feel pain? Echo's best friend Lila barely left an impression on me in book one of the series. And I'm not sure Lincoln was ever mentioned. Now I want more of both of them. I love novellas that explore side characters in a series I'm following, but few authors can turn a short story into a favorite read. McGarry has now joined the ranks of Rachel Caine, Nalini Singh, and Patricia Briggs for this particular talent. I can't wait for more!

5 STARS!! Get Out Alive with Bear Grylls is the latest reality TV show on NBC and I love it! We're three episodes in, but this is a show you can pick up at any point. The premise is wonderful; teams of two work together and with the other teams to get out of extreme wilderness situations alive. The last team standing wins $500k. Wow. There is no voting, no tribal council, no finish line. Bear watches, aids when necessary, councils, and decides who wouldn't make it on their own. He's looking for spirit and strength of character. He's looking for smarts and ingenuity. The message behind the show makes it great for the whole family and Bear makes it great for me because I love him. I would like to thank Jaclyn from JC's Book Haven for telling me about the show. She loves Bear too. It's not just me.

3 STARS! I didn't love A Good Day to Die Hard, but that's okay. It was nice spending time with John McClane and company. We meet his (pissy) son in this installment. There are so many special effects, I wondered if they just said, "have at it, guys" and let the two main characters make up their lines as they went along. John's always been a gutsy guy with more survival instinct than brains, but this time it seemed like he was going out of his way to appear dumb. I didn't like that. I also didn't like how pissed off his kid was with him, but I was fine with his daughter hating his guts in Die Hard 4 (Live Free or Die Hard). I'm not sure why the double standard there. Jai Courtney is awesome and I can't wait for more from him, but he came off as bratty to me and I do not find bratty men (or women) entertaining. There was one funny moment and it earned the movie 3 stars. I'm that easy. If there's another installment, I want to laugh. I want my heart pounding. I want there to be dialogue.






16 comments:

  1. I love your review-marathon Robyn! And aren't Katie McGarry's books just made of awesome? I'm always completely immersed in her stories.

    I hope you'll have a fantastic week!

    Lexxie @ (un)Conventional Boookviews

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    1. Katie McGarry is totally made of awesome. The only problem is that I'm all caught up on her books. I want more!

      Here's to a fantastic week, Lexxie!

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    2. I have the same problem, Robyn. But I am lucky enough to have other books ready to be devoured. I really look forward to the next KMG book, though.

      Have a wonderful day!

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  2. Great idea! And you know I'm alllll about TV ;)!

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  3. Another cool marathon, Robyn. I love how I get to hear about new TV shows and books here. I think I like the concept of Get Out Alive with Bear Grylls, though I don't watch too much TV.

    I loved Live Free or Die Hard, so I think I might enjoy A Good Day to Die Hard. It's among my 2013 movies I Want to Watch List. :)

    Thanks for sharing. Have a great week! :)

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    1. Did you post your 2013 watch list? I love Live Free or Die Hard (I own it). I loved the whole computer geek aspect and the bad guy (Timothy Olyphant) is one of my favorite actors. Maybe I watched that one too many times. I do that.

      Have you watched Red (or Red 2) with Bruce Willis? I loved the first one.

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    2. No, I didn't post my 2013 watch list. Here, I watch movies about six or seven months after they were released.

      I watched Red. Loved it. Bruce Willis is one of my favorite actors. Loved watching him and other action movie stars in The Expendables 1 and 2.

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  4. Sounds like a great novella! I'm watching my Bear right now. He's very yummy. I absolutely love how he chooses who should go. So glad you love this show too :D Jaclyn @ JC's Book Haven.

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    1. So yummy, Jaclyn! I love it when Bear talks, when he doesn't talk, when he does something grrh. I'm with you on his selection process for ousting a pair. It's so refreshing.

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  5. I love your review marathon but, um, shouldn't it be a triathlon?!? LOL

    I haven't made it to Crossing the Lines yet - actually, I've only read Pushing the Limits. But I loved it. And I'm very much looking forward to reading the other books in McGarry's series.

    I haven't seen Bear's new series but I did see a few of his old ones. He's amazing and amazingly yummy. But don't tell my husband I said that, Robyn! ;)

    I have to admit to not having seen a Die Hard movie since the original. I'm disappointed there was only one moment of humor in A Good Day to Die Hard. The humor always tempers the violence! LOL

    Thanks for making it through all 3 'events' and sharing, Robyn! :)

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    1. Ha! The next time I mix my media again, I am absolutely calling it a review triathlon. Clever! Crossing the line is a short treat, sweet and touching, but it finished up the books she has out. I always try to leave one book, the way I leave the season finale of a show until the next season starts. But I'm not that strong when it comes to my favorites! Die Hard 1 and 4 are the best. I can watch both of those any time and still tell the bad guys, "Take that! And that!"

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  6. Crossing the Line sounds really good. Even if I don't usually watch this type of movies, I like watching them once in a while.

    A Good Day to Die Hard! Well I wasn't trilled when I saw they made another movie since the previous one wasn't good either.
    Reading that you didn't love it too, proves my thoughts. :)

    I personally enjoy series more than movies. Especially now that Dexter and Pretty LIttle Liars continues. But I guess Dexter would be a little scary for you. :D

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    1. Oh, Crossing the Line is a YA contemporary romance short novella, but there is a new NBC show called Crossing Lines, crime thriller with unhappy beautiful people starring in it.

      Dexter has always been tempting, but since I don't have that channel or Netflix, I haven't started it. I'm a total series girl, books, movies, TV, but I'll quit them if they piss me off. Did you watch Die Hard 4, Live Free or Die Hard because that one rocked! I think Red 2 will be awesome too, a lot of girl power in that one. I'll tell you I am on the waitlist for a Jo Nesbo book. It's going to be a few months.

      I don't have the Pretty Little Liars channel either but my sister loves that show.

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    2. I love series too and I have watch many of them, but I never quit. I can't leave a series or a book or anything unfinished! I even watched all the episodes of Nip/Tuck even if it was so bad toward the end.

      I had watched Hard 4, Live Free or Die Hard but I didn't like it. Maybe I don't remember, I should check it out again.

      I am so happy you are on the list for Nesbo. I loved that author. His books are so good. I wish you'll enjoy them too.

      Dexter is amazing. Is one of the best series ever! You should watch that show.

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    3. You sold me. If I meet my writing/editing goals...I will treat myself to a little Netflix. And a root beer float.

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