A. Renee Hunt's Blog, page 34
December 12, 2017
A Bad Kitty Christmas by Nick Bruel
If there ever was a story that could show children the meaning of Christmas, this is it! I am a fan of
Nick Bruel
, but never wanted to purchase his books, till now. A Bad Kitty Christmas is amazingly illustrated, funny, heart-swelling and simply the best! 
When Kitty finds none of the items he wanted for Christmas, he goes on a rampage! Running through the alphabet a few times, he makes demands which he feels, go unanswered. So what does he do? Why he runs away, of course!It takes a special friends, both old and new to bring Kitty where he belongs and finds an understanding that closes this story with the perfect ending. Full of laughs, fab illustrations and a theme that's full of love and warmth, I'd give the book 5-stars across the board forever and then some!
Anyone, child or adult, will love it. There's at least ten other books on Bad Kitty that I think you'd love to read. So if you're in to children's books too, check them out, while I head on to the next read!
A Bad Kitty Christmas
Written & Illustrated by Nick Bruel
Published by Holtzbrink Publishers
2011
Mannequin
*Movie Review 
When a mysterious box appears on a man's doorstep, for some reason, he brings it inside. There's nothing indicating who it came from and no one to question. Sound ominous to you? It did to me too, but I watched something seemingly simple turn horrific... in just 10 minutes! Yes, that's how long this movie is, and it's pretty good! 
There are movies that cost millions upon millions of dollars and become instant successes, long before the title even leaves the cutting board. Then there are those that can’t even get a foot in the door, causing production studios to fizzle and fly on a distant breeze. And then there are those movies that cost about $150, is edited on Adobe’s Premiere Pro software and is a total winner! That’s how I feel about Mannequin. A 10-minute movie short, written, directed, produced and starring Dante Aubain and Danny Summonte.
The story is about a guy who finds a strange box on his doorstep one day. There’s no label for a return address and no one’s around who could have possibly delivered. So what does he do? He takes it inside, of course, then proceeds to make mistake after inconceivable mistake known to horror movie watchers everywhere! But it had to happen, and you find out at the very end.
What I think I liked most about this movie was the fact that it was made on a simple budget. Heck, I can’t even afford Adobe Premiere Pro! But everything looked top-notch about it. The editing, sound, you name it- it was great. I do believe Aubain and Summonte have a future in filming.
Cheers!
Mannequin
Written, Directed, Produced & Stars
Dante Aubain and Danny Summonte
Released August 2017
When a mysterious box appears on a man's doorstep, for some reason, he brings it inside. There's nothing indicating who it came from and no one to question. Sound ominous to you? It did to me too, but I watched something seemingly simple turn horrific... in just 10 minutes! Yes, that's how long this movie is, and it's pretty good! There are movies that cost millions upon millions of dollars and become instant successes, long before the title even leaves the cutting board. Then there are those that can’t even get a foot in the door, causing production studios to fizzle and fly on a distant breeze. And then there are those movies that cost about $150, is edited on Adobe’s Premiere Pro software and is a total winner! That’s how I feel about Mannequin. A 10-minute movie short, written, directed, produced and starring Dante Aubain and Danny Summonte.The story is about a guy who finds a strange box on his doorstep one day. There’s no label for a return address and no one’s around who could have possibly delivered. So what does he do? He takes it inside, of course, then proceeds to make mistake after inconceivable mistake known to horror movie watchers everywhere! But it had to happen, and you find out at the very end.
What I think I liked most about this movie was the fact that it was made on a simple budget. Heck, I can’t even afford Adobe Premiere Pro! But everything looked top-notch about it. The editing, sound, you name it- it was great. I do believe Aubain and Summonte have a future in filming.
Cheers!
Mannequin
Written, Directed, Produced & Stars
Dante Aubain and Danny Summonte
Released August 2017
How To Be Dead by Dave Turner
The cover doesn't do this short story much justice. There really should have been something elaborate, something that brought this tale to life, because it's very witty, full of Death and so funny, you push through the silly parts to an pretty decent ending.The story takes place in London and is about a guy who just wants a new life. To start fresh and make it all about him. Dave Marwood ends up working temp and falls for a girl he DIES for... literally! And that's just the beginning! He meets Death, who is immortal, but acts like he's from the 70's and is given an offer that he may or may not refuse...
The story's fantastic. I think there were a few errors and the story did have a few parts I simply did not understad- maybe due to lingo and cultural difference but it didn't hurt the story. How to Be Dead by Dave Turner is more like a novella than a short story, but it was free and a lot of fun. Oh- it's also a trilogy, so peep the other tales while I move on to the next read!
*The Horror of Christmas is next.
**Short Story available via Amazon.com.
The Dispatcher by John Scalzi
*Audiobook Review 
So what if you observed a man, on an operating table seize, practically into the next life. While said patient is seizing, you watch as a doctor does their best to save him, but fails to do so? Now, what if you could easily step in and, with a specialized tool, kill that man
into
life? Sounds insane? Well, that's what a Dispatcher does. They step in when the doctor's begin to fail and save a person- by killing them....
This is a short, audiobook that is near excellent, for FREE and for 2 hours and 19 minutes. Narrated by Zachary Quinto, the story is mysterious, intriguing and very much worth the listen. I found it on a whim and will definitely look for this author's other work.
Using death and a possible control over it was an interesting concept. This story is far from boring and should have been a full-fledged novel as far as I'm concerned. Check it out and let me know what you think!
OH - this is my final book review for 2017. I'll be posting an End of the Year blog in a few hours. After you read it, grab this book! And if you don't have an Audible account, get one! Cheers!
The Dispatcher
John Scalzi
**Audiobook provided FREE by Audible.com .
So what if you observed a man, on an operating table seize, practically into the next life. While said patient is seizing, you watch as a doctor does their best to save him, but fails to do so? Now, what if you could easily step in and, with a specialized tool, kill that man
into
life? Sounds insane? Well, that's what a Dispatcher does. They step in when the doctor's begin to fail and save a person- by killing them....This is a short, audiobook that is near excellent, for FREE and for 2 hours and 19 minutes. Narrated by Zachary Quinto, the story is mysterious, intriguing and very much worth the listen. I found it on a whim and will definitely look for this author's other work.
Using death and a possible control over it was an interesting concept. This story is far from boring and should have been a full-fledged novel as far as I'm concerned. Check it out and let me know what you think!
OH - this is my final book review for 2017. I'll be posting an End of the Year blog in a few hours. After you read it, grab this book! And if you don't have an Audible account, get one! Cheers!
The Dispatcher
John Scalzi
**Audiobook provided FREE by Audible.com .
December 5, 2017
The Horrors Of Christmas by Michael Whitehouse
Filled with various short stories that take place during the Christmas season, The Horros of Christmas, by Michael Whitehouse is sure to entertain those of weak constitutions.First off, I downloaded this free ebook because I wanted a few Christmas, by the fire tales. I love a good scare like the next horror fanatic, but this book offered none of the scare, but a little spookiness. The one I enjoyed most was The Advent Calendar. It was the story of a boy haunted by his town's holiday nightmare. Each Christmas Eve, a child disappeared from their bed. Never to been seen, for a time... One child, who loves advent calendars gets a peep into the horror of what takes place before someone goes missing.
First, I think the book shouldn't have used horrors, because they weren't really horrific. They were like watching episodes of Tales from the Darkside, from back in the 80's. Granted, that show probably scared the goodness outta many folks, it wasn't for me. Pure Entertainment. I've yet to find a real horror Christmas book. One day, maybe...
If you like mild scariness, this is your book. It's free on Amazon- go get it while I check on my next read!
Red Christmas
*Movie Review 
I grew up with Dee Wallace on both the tv and silver screen. She was big time, but when I saw her in this movie’s preview, I got worried. I thought: Oh boy, here’s another bad one. But I was wrong. Red Christmas was a pretty cool movie.
Though it opens with a distasteful intro, the movie morphs into a happy family’s Christmas day, complete with a huge holiday tree and lots of baking. All of that rapidly changes when a stranger arrives at their door covered in a ragged cloak and bandages, claiming the need to read a message to Mother. Naturally he’s distasteful, but it’s not till his words strike a chord with the mother of the house, played by Dee Wallace, that things ignite. It doesn’t stop until the very end.
As the credits rolled, I sat in surprise; I loved this movie! It was good and I’m not a fan of slasher films! The acting was a bit cheesy, but they weren’t amateurs. The cinematography was also a bit shaky; I think that was intentional, but the story was excellent. I liked what happened and why it all happened. All that positivity left me with just one issue.
Red Christmas introduced our protagonist, Cletus, as a slow shuffling, afflicted individual. So how in the world did he suddenly turn into a freaking NINJA? I can’t go into details without offering up SPOILERS, but I can tell you it was hilarious how some of the murders took place. I kept shouting at the screen: How’d he do that? Really, it didn’t matter; the movie was good and I even enjoyed the ending. Sad but good.
Red Christmas released in August of this year and available on Blu-ray, DVD and VOD as of October 17th from Artsploitation. Check it out; I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised. Red Christmas
Directed & Written Craig Anderson
Produced by Craig Anderson, Belinda King, Bryan Moses & Dee Wallace
Starring Dee Wallace, Geoff Morrel, Sarah Bishop, James McGavin, David Collins, Bjorn Stewart & Sam Campbell as Cletus
Released 25 August 2017
I grew up with Dee Wallace on both the tv and silver screen. She was big time, but when I saw her in this movie’s preview, I got worried. I thought: Oh boy, here’s another bad one. But I was wrong. Red Christmas was a pretty cool movie.Though it opens with a distasteful intro, the movie morphs into a happy family’s Christmas day, complete with a huge holiday tree and lots of baking. All of that rapidly changes when a stranger arrives at their door covered in a ragged cloak and bandages, claiming the need to read a message to Mother. Naturally he’s distasteful, but it’s not till his words strike a chord with the mother of the house, played by Dee Wallace, that things ignite. It doesn’t stop until the very end.
As the credits rolled, I sat in surprise; I loved this movie! It was good and I’m not a fan of slasher films! The acting was a bit cheesy, but they weren’t amateurs. The cinematography was also a bit shaky; I think that was intentional, but the story was excellent. I liked what happened and why it all happened. All that positivity left me with just one issue. Red Christmas introduced our protagonist, Cletus, as a slow shuffling, afflicted individual. So how in the world did he suddenly turn into a freaking NINJA? I can’t go into details without offering up SPOILERS, but I can tell you it was hilarious how some of the murders took place. I kept shouting at the screen: How’d he do that? Really, it didn’t matter; the movie was good and I even enjoyed the ending. Sad but good.
Red Christmas released in August of this year and available on Blu-ray, DVD and VOD as of October 17th from Artsploitation. Check it out; I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised. Red Christmas
Directed & Written Craig Anderson
Produced by Craig Anderson, Belinda King, Bryan Moses & Dee Wallace
Starring Dee Wallace, Geoff Morrel, Sarah Bishop, James McGavin, David Collins, Bjorn Stewart & Sam Campbell as Cletus
Released 25 August 2017
December 3, 2017
I Heart London by Lindsey Kelk
So you know why I bought this book, right? Really?I Heart London, by Lindsey Kelk, is unlike any novel I've ever read, erm listened too! The immaturity, drinking, and foul-mouthery is UNREAL! I was shocked and overly surprised, because she was British and had only lived in the US for a couple of years! So why did I enjoy this book, and adore the ending?
Angela Clark is a hot mess! She's trying to start up her own magazine business with one of her besties, she's got a boyfriend and a life that she'd always dreamed of and... she has to go back home. Home is London, the country she ran from, thanks to a cheating ex-fiancé. But all is not lost. While there, doing her best to appease her stuffy mother and spliff-smoking father, she takes on the challenge of putting together a wedding in a few days time! It's nowhere near as neat as it sounds. She's an alcoholic, doesn't believe she's truly ready for marriage, let alone children, and she's got people from all corners of her life trying to do things she's not sure she wants to do. Then add in an obstinate ex-fiance, a controlling mother, and a best friend who's either trying to make or break the wedding, while dealing with an emotional breakdown! It's a mess- as I first stated!
I Heart London, by Lindsey Kelk, is actually a series of stories, all about Angela. They're funny, but mostly ridicules! I got so angry at her, and her friends so many times, I'm surprised I finished the book!
Honestly, I am surprised, because romance isn't my thing. I actually enjoyed it. Not to mention the narrator has a fabulous, English accent. There are seven books total, but this is the only one I've read. If you enjoy romance, insanity, lots of drinking and wedding dress snatching, this is the one for you!
Cheers, while I move on to the next read!
I Hearet London (I Heart series)
Lindsey Kelk
Harper Collins
June 2012
Demonic
*Movie Review
I was bored one Wednesday and thought, "Hey! Let's look up a movie. Netflix must have known what I was looking for, because Demonic was the first thing to pop up. I was skeptical, but went for it. Honestly, I am so glad I did, because it was a pretty cool. I couldn't figure it out, and what I did realize- it was too late and the movie was concluding.
So what did I think of Demonic? Was it a good movie? It tells of a young man, doing his best to battle his demons. He's got a secret buried deep within his psyche. So his girlfriend, and a few others, plan to go to a paranormal hunting in the home his mother was familiar with. But there's a history with his family and the house. It's alive and something wants him and the others... for an ominous reason. Demonic bounces back and forth, from current to the week prior, in order to tell of the horrors. You find yourself playing detective, trying to figure out what happened with the murder scene. Your clues are in the backstory and that kept me hooked. The writing was perfect and the story itself was a thrilling! When the ending hit, I figured it out- but it was too late. They'd hit the nail on the head, so to have kept me guessing all the way through, trying to figure it out was enough for me to share this.
The budget isn't huge, but cinematography is excellent, and so are the FX, as I'd mentioned earlier. Demonic is well worth watching. Check it out- I saw it on Netflix, but I'm sure you can find it anywhere movies are streamed. Cheers! Demonic
Directed by Will Canon
Produced by James Wan and Lee Clay
Written by Max La Bella
Screenplay: Will Canon, Max La Bella & Doug Simon
Starring Maria Bello, Frank Grillo, Cody Horn and Megan Park
I was bored one Wednesday and thought, "Hey! Let's look up a movie. Netflix must have known what I was looking for, because Demonic was the first thing to pop up. I was skeptical, but went for it. Honestly, I am so glad I did, because it was a pretty cool. I couldn't figure it out, and what I did realize- it was too late and the movie was concluding.So what did I think of Demonic? Was it a good movie? It tells of a young man, doing his best to battle his demons. He's got a secret buried deep within his psyche. So his girlfriend, and a few others, plan to go to a paranormal hunting in the home his mother was familiar with. But there's a history with his family and the house. It's alive and something wants him and the others... for an ominous reason. Demonic bounces back and forth, from current to the week prior, in order to tell of the horrors. You find yourself playing detective, trying to figure out what happened with the murder scene. Your clues are in the backstory and that kept me hooked. The writing was perfect and the story itself was a thrilling! When the ending hit, I figured it out- but it was too late. They'd hit the nail on the head, so to have kept me guessing all the way through, trying to figure it out was enough for me to share this.
The budget isn't huge, but cinematography is excellent, and so are the FX, as I'd mentioned earlier. Demonic is well worth watching. Check it out- I saw it on Netflix, but I'm sure you can find it anywhere movies are streamed. Cheers! Demonic
Directed by Will Canon
Produced by James Wan and Lee Clay
Written by Max La Bella
Screenplay: Will Canon, Max La Bella & Doug Simon
Starring Maria Bello, Frank Grillo, Cody Horn and Megan Park
The Hell Divers Trilogy, (2 out of 3 books) by Nicholas Sansbury Smith
*Book/Audiobook Review 
I have read several of Nicholas Sansbury Smith's books, and can happily say I've not been disappointed with any of them. His stories carry a futuristic horror that draws you from the very first page, until the end. How he comes up with these amazing tales, I do not know, but I can tell you this: I didn't think these books were going to be anywhere near as good as they turned out to be! There are three books in this series, making it the Hell Divers Trilogy, duh! Okay, The saga takes place over earth, no place in particular, and the world has gone to well, Hell in a hand basket! Its just gone! There are probably around 1200 survivors, but they're having trouble, thanks to supplies and becoming more difficult to come by. There are teams of professionals who go out to savage, but the route they take is well, Hell. And when they get to their destinations, there are things waiting for them. Things that want to devour them...
Book 1, Hell Divers, tells the story of Xavier "X" Rodriguez - leader of his dive crew. He's a hard, but sensitive man who's been dealt many life blows. After the death of his wife, he didn't care about anything but helping humanity survive, but when his friend is killed on a mission, leaving his son an orphan, X has more to live for. But his mission places everything on hold: The Hive (where they live) needs power cells, located in a hot zone, while a revolt is about to take place, putting someone important in danger.
This book rocked- I am not lying! From chapter one until the ending, I love it. I would have finished it in a day, had I not had to go back to homeschooling! Yeah, it's that good. With characters that you easily bond with, and a storyline that just didn't quit, I patted myself on the back for making sure I'd purchased book two to immediately follow!
The monsters are crucial and unrelenting, the characters are real and fleshed out. The future for humans didn't look too bright, but the book glowed with action and adventure!
In Book 2, Hell Divers II: Ghosts, I was driven deeper into what caused the destruction of life as we know it. Where did the monsters come from, and why are there so many secrets? What did ITC do to the world?
The story is now told primarily through someone else's eyes, and the plot thickens! There's more going on than originally thought. The remaining humans of planet earth weren't told the truth and it's about to be made public. Captain Jordan is doing his best to clean up his mess, but selfishness has taken hold- placing himself and everyone around him in danger. And why is it, every time they go down for power cells, they land smack-dab in the middle of a monster nest?
Ghosts is powerful and so deep! You can't help but race through the book. !
Sadly, book three won't be out until Spring of next year, so be looking out for the amazing conclusion.
Hell Divers, Hell Divers II: Ghosts
Nicholas Sansbury Smith
Blackstone Publishing
Hell Divers Released: July 2016
Hell Divers II: Ghosts Released July 2017
Hell Divers III: Deliverance, Coming Soon
I have read several of Nicholas Sansbury Smith's books, and can happily say I've not been disappointed with any of them. His stories carry a futuristic horror that draws you from the very first page, until the end. How he comes up with these amazing tales, I do not know, but I can tell you this: I didn't think these books were going to be anywhere near as good as they turned out to be! There are three books in this series, making it the Hell Divers Trilogy, duh! Okay, The saga takes place over earth, no place in particular, and the world has gone to well, Hell in a hand basket! Its just gone! There are probably around 1200 survivors, but they're having trouble, thanks to supplies and becoming more difficult to come by. There are teams of professionals who go out to savage, but the route they take is well, Hell. And when they get to their destinations, there are things waiting for them. Things that want to devour them...
Book 1, Hell Divers, tells the story of Xavier "X" Rodriguez - leader of his dive crew. He's a hard, but sensitive man who's been dealt many life blows. After the death of his wife, he didn't care about anything but helping humanity survive, but when his friend is killed on a mission, leaving his son an orphan, X has more to live for. But his mission places everything on hold: The Hive (where they live) needs power cells, located in a hot zone, while a revolt is about to take place, putting someone important in danger.This book rocked- I am not lying! From chapter one until the ending, I love it. I would have finished it in a day, had I not had to go back to homeschooling! Yeah, it's that good. With characters that you easily bond with, and a storyline that just didn't quit, I patted myself on the back for making sure I'd purchased book two to immediately follow!
The monsters are crucial and unrelenting, the characters are real and fleshed out. The future for humans didn't look too bright, but the book glowed with action and adventure!
In Book 2, Hell Divers II: Ghosts, I was driven deeper into what caused the destruction of life as we know it. Where did the monsters come from, and why are there so many secrets? What did ITC do to the world?The story is now told primarily through someone else's eyes, and the plot thickens! There's more going on than originally thought. The remaining humans of planet earth weren't told the truth and it's about to be made public. Captain Jordan is doing his best to clean up his mess, but selfishness has taken hold- placing himself and everyone around him in danger. And why is it, every time they go down for power cells, they land smack-dab in the middle of a monster nest?
Ghosts is powerful and so deep! You can't help but race through the book. !
Sadly, book three won't be out until Spring of next year, so be looking out for the amazing conclusion. Hell Divers, Hell Divers II: Ghosts
Nicholas Sansbury Smith
Blackstone Publishing
Hell Divers Released: July 2016
Hell Divers II: Ghosts Released July 2017
Hell Divers III: Deliverance, Coming Soon
Empire of Dirt 2017
*Short Movie Review 
When a movie is 8-minutes long, there are high expectations. The opening scene has a man, Paul Sloan, dressed in a slick suit, with a revolver in his hands. He's shooting up what looks to be a brothel. The tightness of the hallway he travels, then the sudden appearance of a naked woman ["Y" stitch from shoulder to shoulder to the crotch area, whispering an unintelligible stream of words to him] tells you things are going to go very smoothly. It's freaking creepy-good As you watch, you begin to understand something nightmarish is taking place. It carries a sort of Hellraiser feel, without the great intricacies of ghoul, pleasure and pain. There's nothing special as far as cinematography is concerned, or music, but you automatically feel the ominous sense need and dread. It is truly a horror movie short worth watching.
I’ve got three words for Empire of Dirt: I liked it! The movie released in 2013. Check it out while I move on to the next read!
Cheers!
Empire of Dirt 2013
Directed by Adam Mason
Screenplay by Paul Sloan
Produced by Mike Hatton & Julia Sandberg Hansson
Starring Paul Sloan, Lillian Solange & Mark Steger
When a movie is 8-minutes long, there are high expectations. The opening scene has a man, Paul Sloan, dressed in a slick suit, with a revolver in his hands. He's shooting up what looks to be a brothel. The tightness of the hallway he travels, then the sudden appearance of a naked woman ["Y" stitch from shoulder to shoulder to the crotch area, whispering an unintelligible stream of words to him] tells you things are going to go very smoothly. It's freaking creepy-good As you watch, you begin to understand something nightmarish is taking place. It carries a sort of Hellraiser feel, without the great intricacies of ghoul, pleasure and pain. There's nothing special as far as cinematography is concerned, or music, but you automatically feel the ominous sense need and dread. It is truly a horror movie short worth watching.I’ve got three words for Empire of Dirt: I liked it! The movie released in 2013. Check it out while I move on to the next read!
Cheers!
Empire of Dirt 2013
Directed by Adam Mason
Screenplay by Paul Sloan
Produced by Mike Hatton & Julia Sandberg Hansson
Starring Paul Sloan, Lillian Solange & Mark Steger
