Finders Keepers is book two of the Bill Hodges trilogy (Book one being Mr. Mercedes, which I also reviewed). It's the story of one man's obsession with the way an author has written a particular character in his books. When this man (Morris Bellamy) finds that there are unpublished works in which the author might have supported Morris' view of a beloved character, Morris is willing to kill in order to possess the unseen manuscripts. Unfortunately for Morris, he goes to jail and his obsession is put on hold for many years. This gives others a chance to possess the books but watch out! Morris has never forgotten his obsession and will let no one stand in his way to get them back.
Finders Keepers is definitely a crime drama and an excellent one at that. Seems like Stephen King can write anything (I'm used to his horror) and be really good at it. The pacing and suspense were right on target. I know to expect the unexpected from King but the scene in the house between Morris and Pete's mother actually startled me (in a 'that didn't just happen', kind of way). It was great to see the old crew from Mr. Mercedes back together again. Their roles in the story fit perfectly and just like in the previous book, things got more and more tense towards the end. It was difficult for me not to see Morris as the Gollum character from Lord of the Rings, though. His life-time obsession with Rothstein's unpublished stories felt only strangely familiar at first. I did not make the Gollum connection until Pete also got hooked. All I could think of was the passing of the ring and what a person is capable of doing in order to possess it. I was happy that neither Morris nor Pete ever said, "Give me back my precious." This book I give a five out of five stars and I'm anxious to see the third installment in the trilogy. Finders
Keepers
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"Imagination fuels fear. Fear fuels the imagination." Dyllon's Law
The Coven
Things aren't as quiet on the Crystal Coast as some may believe. They say there might even be witches there.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Coven: Book One by Chrissy Lessey. The characters were interesting and it’s obvious that a lot of care was taken to correctly convey the area where the story takes place. There were times that Stevie’s learning about her new “gifts” felt like Witch Training 101 but Ms. Lessey’s real point was so much deeper than that. The real story is about a mother’s love for her autistic son. During the story, Stevie’s instincts are to use her newfound gifts to protect her son. She understands that hurting another in an attempt to achieve this goal would make her no better than those presenting the evil and Stevie’s final decision towards the evil, springs from her love for those around her. This theme carries the reader to a well-written rollercoaster ending, which had me on the edge of my seat. I will be reading, The Secret Keepers, which is the next book in this series. 
The main characters (Hodges and Brady, to name a few) jump off of the page and into reality as people that we might really know or we try hard to avoid. The motivations and the actions that they take make sense as increasingly difficult situations are presented to them. The best example is the obsession, which develops within Hodges in order to solve the mystery of the killer. He is a detective who has lived for his job and can’t handle his well-deserved retirement. His desperate feelings of worthlessness (among other reasons), drives him to catch the killer. As Hodges struggles to do the right thing, he is constantly aware that by doing so he might also be breaking the law.
I must mention the dark character that is the killer. It’s astounding how King came up with the personality traits and family relations of the man. I would swear that King personally sat down with Brady and collected the facts first hand. Once this information is blended into the story, King makes Brady just dark enough that regardless how much you understand his life (and it’s pretty messed up) you have to hate the guy. King has written a well-paced story that grabs hold of the reader’s attention from its shocking beginning to its nail-biting conclusion. This book makes for one of King’s best suspense novels and it easily deserves five stars.
Mr.
Mercedes by
Stephen King
"Where do dreams come from?"
The DreamCannot Be Controlled
Ominous
The basis for the video, just like the book, is the uncertain world of dreams. Deidre dreams nightly about Kelly and Dyllon's new marriage. She wishes for their happiness and this is reflected by the use of light and happy musical tones. But this mood turns suddenly ominous and Deidre is reminded that dreams cannot be controlled. Or can they?
The book, THE DREAM DILEMMA - Reflections of EL, is the continuation of the story that began in Reflections of EL: In Search of Self. Both books are part-autobiographical.
Before you sleep tonight, see if you can figure out the riddle of the little wooden figure and solve the:
dilemma
that
cannot be controlled
Murder has come to a quiet rural town in New England during the 1930s. Is it possible that children might be involved?
The story of Thomas Tryon’s exploration into the odd behaviors of the young brothers Niles and Holland Perry is both well written and well executed. The small-town descriptions were realistic and the plot twists kept me guessing but the unexpected final revelation involving the siblings haunted me for days. Tryon’s work with the 1972 movie of the same name was just as shocking and I consider both works to be classics.
The Other by
Thomas Tryon
What is all of the fuss about the new movie, Star Wars - The Force Awakens?
I've only had my ticket for the last month (for the December 18th opening day showing ) so I believe that I can answer that question. Regardless, I can't give a review of a movie that I've never seen before so let's instead take a look at what all the buzz is based on.
Back in May 1977, I saw a new movie at the drive-in called, Stars Wars - A New Hope - Episode IV. It was advertised as a shoot-'em- up Western in outer space. Reviews were good, it was popular for months and I thought that would be it. A great movie but then again, there was a lot of other great movies. 
As the year progressed, every child had some toy and/or model related to Star Wars. Even some adults said craziness like, "I wish I had a light saber." This is from a movie that was numbered "Episode IV". How could a movie that skipped the first three chapters be so successful? It took three years but I found out.
In May 1980, when The Empire Strikes Back was finally released, there was an adult following that shocked more than a few people. As the movie began, the same theme music as in the first installment sounded and the rolling credits again impressively stretched across the screen. In unison, the crowd gave out a loud and resounding "Yaaaaaaaaaaaaa." 
There were a lot of happy people who finally got their fix. Not to mention the big shocker about Luke's father (I don't want to spoil it for anyone who doesn't know).
Return of the Jedi (May 1983) was also a good movie because of the established relationships of the main characters and the exciting resolution to George Lucas' story. Carrie Fisher's good-looks helped a bit also. 
But what didn't help episode VI was creating the furry little Ewoks. Those fuzz-balls were just too childish but I guess the kids in the audience appreciated them more then I did.
Apparently, Lucas did something very right because even though it took another sixteen years (May 1999) before Episode I - The Phantom Menace finally premiered, young and old were still in a high state of excitement. 
Fascinating story building amazed all but there was one character that almost single-handedly destroyed the show. Yes, it was Jar Jar Binks. This creature was more than just childish; this thing was just plain stupid. He served an important function in the plot but his role should have been given to a tree or something that could keep its mouth closed. But, the movie was successful in spite of that creature's antics.
By May 2002, Attack of the Clones premiered and it was an instant blockbuster. A great love story and even greater shockers. To me, the biggest success of the movie was the decision to give Jar Jar Binks just a few lines (sorry, just a joke). 
And finally we arrive at Revenge of the Sith - Episode III, which is a truly remarkable achievement of a movie. Since its premiere on May 2005, I've seen it more than a few times but the exciting plot blended with the inevitable sadness and tragedy that Anakin must face to become his future self holds up every time.
The story-writing decisions to connect a 2005 film to the original that premiered in 1977 must have been more than difficult. I've heard that George Lucas had a great deal of the entire story in his head from long ago. Overall, well written scripts, amazing stars, remarkable direction, stupendous musical scores and ever-increasing CGI effects have made Star Wars a memorable part of our lives for nearly forty years.
Hopefully, Star Wars - The Force Awakens - Episode VII will not disappoint but signs are good that it too will be a winner. Its actually premiering Thursday evening, December 17th even though the commercials say Friday. Rotten Tomato (movie reviews) has already given the film an average rating of 97%. I hate standing on long lines so I'm thankful that some theaters now have reserved seating. Along with quite a few others, I will be having more to say about this film. Oh, almost forgot. May the force be with you. The Force
Was
Never Asleep
My Last Job Interview
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The Green Legacy is the story of a sixteen-year-old that feels driven to go to 19th century Louisiana. Judy's plan in this paranormal tale is to do whatever it takes to gain power and influence over others.
The music and surrounding sound effects of the trailer were carefully selected to reflect the mood of the beginning of the book. I compared Judy's frame of mind during her arrival to New Orleans to an unanticipated storm thunderously rolling into the port. Because of her encounter with a member of the Green family, the powerful theme takes on a unexpected sensual tone, which then leads to the unexpected appearance of the mysterious stranger.
I began writing this book as a way of collecting and documenting my own family roots. I was curious how as far back I could trace my lineage. The more information I found after speaking to relatives and tracking down information on Ancestry.com, the more I realized that there was another tale forming; one which would connect all of the family stories together under one main theme. This is how the story of Judy began.
There really was a sixteen-year-old named Judy who arrived in New Orleans, Louisiana as part of a slave manifest on March 14, 1843, as seen below (#16).
The music and surrounding sound effects of the trailer were carefully selected to reflect the mood of the beginning of the book. I compared Judy's frame of mind during her arrival to New Orleans to an unanticipated storm thunderously rolling into the port. Because of her encounter with a member of the Green family, the powerful theme takes on a unexpected sensual tone, which then leads to the unexpected appearance of the mysterious stranger.
I began writing this book as a way of collecting and documenting my own family roots. I was curious how as far back I could trace my lineage. The more information I found after speaking to relatives and tracking down information on Ancestry.com, the more I realized that there was another tale forming; one which would connect all of the family stories together under one main theme. This is how the story of Judy began.
There really was a sixteen-year-old named Judy who arrived in New Orleans, Louisiana as part of a slave manifest on March 14, 1843, as seen below (#16).
The love, tragedy, and unexpected surprises that Judy experiences are all tied to the betrayal she believes she suffered at the hands of one she loves. Her need for revenge spans for generations as Judy seeks satisfaction and an understanding .
Hope you enjoy reading The Green Legacy as much as I enjoyed writing it. Take a look at the trailer.
Hope you enjoy reading The Green Legacy as much as I enjoyed writing it. Take a look at the trailer.