Audio: Anna and the apocalypse - Katherine Turner

Audio CD, 5 h 40 min

Published October 23rd 2018 by Macmillian audio

Horror Comedy

For review

My Thoughts

This novel is inspired by the coming movie,  and I do say, I am sure this is loads better because the movie is a musical, which just sounds weird. This was so much better.

Anna is bored with her little Scottish town. She is bored with high school. Just the same people, the same idiotic teachers, but hey at least she had her pun loving best friend.

Christmas is coming, and zombies.

Suddenly there is a zombie apocalypse!  And then it started to feel very Shaun of the Dead. There was humour, witty remarks and for me it worked splendidly. I like dark humour. I like that they had time to joke in the face of danger and death. It made me think I would have really liked the movie (except it is a musical, so random, but will still watch it.)

Conclusion:

Fun, and an apocalypse to die for. Pun intended.

Narrator

Fiona Hardingham is a great narrator. She brought life to the characters and their snark. She kept up the danger, the wisecracks and the ugliness of it all.

Blurb:

Anna and the Apocalypse is a horror comedy about a teenager who faces down a zombie apocalypse with a little help from her friends.

Anna Shepherd is a straight-A student with a lot going on under the surface: she’s struggling with her mom’s death, total friend drama, and the fallout from wasting her time on a very attractive boy. She’s looking forward to skipping town after graduation—but then a zombie apocalypse majorly disrupts the holidays season. It’s going to be very hard to graduate high school without a brain.

To save the day, Anna, her friends, and her frenemies will have to journey straight to the heart of one of the most dangerous places ever known, a place famous for its horror, terror, and pain…high school.

This novel is inspired by the musical feature film, Anna and the Apocalypse. 

TMST: Halloween

Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly discussion post on Rainy Day Ramblings where Rainy discuss a wide range of topics from books to blogging. Weigh in and join the conversation by adding your thoughts in the comments. If you want to do your own post, grab the question and answer it on your blog.

October 30th: What do you like to do to celebrate Halloween?

We don't celebrate Halloween here, though of course it has arrived in a fashion but people do not seem to get when Halloween is. They either celebrate it the weekend before or after, and is all when is Halloween? Omg people, it is always on the same day!

And if any kids showed up I'd tell them to take a hike. We have pur own candy holiday. On Easter kids dress up like witches and go around begging candy. To scare the witches away when they go to dance with the devil.

But yes I do like to buy a pumpkin and carve it. It is so dark here in the fall so a little candle in it looks so nice. And that is it. Pumpkin.

Here the holiday celebrate is All Saint's Day. We light candles in graves, and that is it.

Audio: Duchess by Design - Maya Rodale

Audio CD, 8 h

Narrator: Charlotte North

Expected publication: October 30th 2018 by HarperAudio (first published October 23rd 2018)

Series: The Gilded Age Girls Club #1

Historical romance

For review

My Thoughts

Have I ever read a romance set in the Gilded age? I honestly can't tell. I think not. I have read historical fiction set then, but no romance. Oh and where is that tv series they talked about that would be set at this time? I need it.

Characters

Adeline is a seamstress with big dreams of her own shops, and she has this crazy idea in her designs. Pockets! Yes I told you that she is insane. Pockets, like why would women need pockets? (oh this makes me so sad, we still do not get pockets. I need pockets.) Her boss is not a big fan of her crazy idea of pockets. Poor Adeline.

The Duke of Kingston is looking for a Dollar Princess to save his dukedom. And I get it. He has responsibilities. His tenants, his family, his legacy. He needs money. He does not want to sell land and makes his people work in mines. I could not dislike him for it, because the dollar princesses thought the same. They wanted a title. 

Story:

These two meet and sparks fly. But he needs a rich wife, and she needs her freedom. But he really likes her, and she is always the one fleeing away.

I think this would have been great as a historical fiction novel instead. She brought up so many interesting things. The Dollar Princesses, the 400 and their lives, the suffragettes, a woman's place in the world. I do think I would have liked it even more then. It would have been richer.

I did not know how this would end. I know there must be a HEA, but at times I just did not know how it would happen. He needs money. She has none. But do not fear, there will be a HEA.

Conclusion:

New York, Balls, and dresses with pockets. It is a new world. Interesting.

Narrator. Charlotte North

She had a good range

Discussion: Salt to the Sea - Ruta Sepetys

Hello all! Carole and I will be discussing "Salt to the Sea" by Ruta Sepetys. Blodeudd is in blue and I am in red. 

Author: Ruta Sepetys

Title: Salt to the Sea

Genre: Historical Fiction & YA

Pages: 393

Published: February 2nd 2016 

Where I Got It: Borrowed from library

World War II is drawing to a close in East Prussia and thousands of refugees are on a desperate trek toward freedom, many with something to hide. Among them are Joana, Emilia, and Florian, whose paths converge en route to the ship that promises salvation, the Wilhelm Gustloff. Forced by circumstance to unite, the three find their strength, courage, and trust in each other tested with each step closer to safety.

Just when it seems freedom is within their grasp, tragedy strikes. Not country, nor culture, nor status matter as all ten thousand people—adults and children alike—aboard must fight for the same thing: survival.

What a good choice this ended up being! :D

Yes, phew! We can pick a few good ones at least, among all the rest.

Yesss, it takes a few baddies to get to a goodie. Sooo...I will admit this now….I had never heard of this tragedy! :S I swear I learn something new every day with WWII. So much happened during that war.

I think I might have heard of it. Maybe when they talk about a ferry catastrophe hear, I am sure they would have mentioned this too. It sounded familiar, but I sure did not remember how many! Omg so many!

I think that is what shocked me the most and I am surprised this wasn’t at least mentioned (even briefly) in the numerous classes that I took that we learned about WWII. So many people died. So many innocents. Tragic.

It did say at the back that they Germans glossed it over cos so many died! They wanted to keep morale up, and yes the Soviets did not mention it either cos they were total dicks! Which makes it so horrible. I mean when it said at the back that bodies washed up years afterwards…

It makes sense and the rest of the world didn’t have a heart bc they hated the Germans so much. We still don’t talk much about the German POV during the war.

SO true. I feel there are more books like this lately. And each time I am horrified. The last one dealt with this totally normal woman, not a Nazi, just a German woman and it was the end of the war. I did not realize that the Soviets came in and like raped everyone, everyone, everyone! Because who cares about Germans!

Yes, the Soviets were just as bad as the Germans. I felt so bad for Emilia. Poor girl.

Rape and pillage. Wtf! When I read this I was so freaking glad that our war with them ended in a “loss”, whatever Soviet. At least we kept our independence. Thank you Gods! War makes monsters of people.

War is evil and everyone is impacted especially the poor and the women. So sad.

Was it WW1 where more civilians started dying than soldiers, or something. War is so evil. Sigh. But ok back to the story! I liked all the POVS except Alfreds. Yes yes, I get that we are not supposed to like the nazi, but he was so dull and full of himself. Little shit like he was.

I believe so. With the increase of deadlier weapons and bombs...the civilians died during war shot up WAY more than any other war. But yes, I enjoyed all the POVs. Alfred’s though? No. But it was interesting. He certainly had some serious issues for sure. He was creepy and a mindless Hitler-lover robot. It was a good balance of the story. We get to see what our poor heroes have to deal with. They have little chance since the majority of soldiers are brainwashed. I didn’t like his pov and I found it...dull sometimes...but I felt it was necessary to give a counterbalance. Made me like the others more for sure!

I just wish I would have been happy to hate him, but now I was bored by him. His pov was so uninteresting. The only interesting part was the truth about his girlfriend that he writes too. I guess she could have made even a follower interesting, but that did not happen. It dragged down the book a bit for me.

I can agree with you on that. He’s POV didn’t get interesting until 3/4th of the way through the book when he actually aided with moving the story along. What a creeper!!!!

I liked Emilia, oh so heartbreaking! Juana was ok, but a bit too nice ;) And I liked Florian, I was unsure if I liked him though, but I did. He had depth. He could have been a good villain if he had been one.

Emilia’s story was my favorite. She broke my heart and I loved her. Poor girl, poor girl. Joanna was okay...I was unsure of her at first and I didn’t trust her. Not sure why...but I felt like she could turn on a dime. Not that she was BAD, but I got the feeling she was a survivalist and would do what had to be done. I liked Florian a lot. He was the most complex character. I adored Ingrid too. My poor heart!

Ack Ingrid! Oh and the old guy! SO many good side characters too. But yes I liked Florian the best, that thing he says, She is Poland or whatever it was almost made me cry. Damn war!

The old guy and kid???!!! Ugh! My heart. Yes, the characters and even the side characters really and truly made the story. The story was SLOW moving if you really look at it, but I feel the characters carried the load and made it a good story. Florian was a sweetie.

It was sort of slow, and at the same time not. And then it moved so fast. I did feel it moved too fast at the end. I had expected to cry, cos hello! SO MANY PEOPLE DIED! But it moved so fast so I was swept away and did not really have time.

I was a little bummed by that...it felt...anticlimactic sort of. All this build-up and then BOOM. Sink and done. I wanted to cry. I cried with Ingrid, but I wanted more feels at the end there.

Alfred and the lack of feels was the negative part for me. It was still good and one of those stories you should know. But yes for a ship catastrophe not a lot was about the actual sinking of the ship.

Maybe the author did it on purpose? IDK. But I felt like there needed to be more. I especially wanted more of an epilogue as well. I wanted closure and feels. The ending was my main issue. Alfred’s POV was too, but once he actually played a part in the story, I didn’t mind his take on things even though he is creepy and insane.

Maybe. Maybe she did not want us to cry too much. And not drag it out like Titanic. Who knows. Because at the same time I liked those short paragraphs, it was very in your face, omg!

Maybe...and maybe it was symbolism? Such a big event went pretty much unnoticed by the world. I for sure went online and did some further reading to learn more. Maybe that was her aim?

To research on your own is always good, so that might have been it too. It did make me want to know more.

Who knows. But yes, I did have to read more. I was dying to know more on this since this was all new to me. So! What did you think of the format of the book?

I did like that there were many POVS (well 3 would have been better ;). And it did give us an insight into different fates. The Prussians, those with German descent that were allowed to come to Germany, Poles and well a certain nazi. Oh and every time, poor Poland. They sure suffered.

I liked it too. I think it worked well. The author made it easy to follow and I liked how we got to see them all react to something like the gunshot or the boat being blasted. It was a fun way to tell the story and it worked well.

Ah yes, the gunshot at the beginning. Yes, I liked how that was done.

And yes we flipped flopped a lot, but I still feel like I got to learn more about them from their own POV and from the eyes of others.

I do not know what else to say. I liked that we learned about this. Should be mention how many died? I am sure people think like Titanic, but haha, that was nothing compared to this. I liked how she showed how regular people suffered and how different nationalities thought about things, or yes suffered. Everyone suffered. I also liked how it tied into another book I read by her, Joana’s cousin is briefly mentioned and she was the heroine there. Oh that book made me cry

I’ll say it! Like 9,000 people died (give or take depending on what you read). So many lives lost. So many of those people were innocents. 5000 of them children. SICKENING! When I read this I wanted to die. So sad.

Ugh! I need to read that book. Maybe I can get some of the answers I want about Joana and her cousin!

The 5000 children were beyond sad. I know many ships were sunk, it was war after all, but so many!

Yes, read the story about her cousin. It tells of the many people Soviet sent to Gulags. If you had one clever thought in Lithuania off to the Gulag with you.

*checking Goodreads* Oooo I already have it on my TBR list. Hahaha funny. But yes, now I am more inclined to want to read it!

S was not that old when I listened to it, and there is this scene with a newborn, omg, the tears! You will see. The aftermath of war is just as bad. Ugh Soviet! Yes I do really dislike them. They are our neighbor after all.

Yesss, we had that long “war” with them too. Evil and monsters especially during WWII. They got away with it while Germany had to pay for their evil deeds. Sickening for sure. War makes people into terrible things like we said above. Books like this are reminders about how cruel war is. Worth the read for sure.

We should never forget, because so many do. Or do not know it happened, or deny it. Which is really the worst thing in the world. But to all those who want to learn more then read this book. It is worth it, and I do wonder how it is in audio...hmmm.

I was thinking that myself. I bet it would’ve been okay. I think I liked reading it though. And yes, read this or another book about this.

And I can’t stop thinking what treasures might lie at the bottom of the Baltic. THose divers had seen something.

I do wonder!

Page 4! No wonder this took some time to write. Better wrap it up :) Good book! Good luck with the next one!

Yesss, good book! We certainly chatted a lot! Worth the read. *fingers crossed* Hopefully, the next one is good too!

About the Authors

Carole and Blodeuedd have been blogging a long while now. The last couple of years the epic duo have been discussing books, watching movies, and even wetting the pen and sharing their stories with the worldwide web. They both love cats, chocolate, and a good story.

Saturday Night Movie: The Kissing Booth

Hello everyone! This month Carole and I are reviewing, The Kissing Booth. 
I am in red and Carole in green.

Title: The Kissing Booth

Genre: Comedy, Romance

Running Time: 1h 45min 

Rating: TV - 14

Released: 2018

A high school student is forced to confront her secret crush at a kissing booth.

TRAILER: 

DISCUSSION: 

*waves* I am happy with our choice!

You are? We are talking about the movie right?

Yess, the Kissing Booth?

But it was so meh, and that girl was an idiot.

I didn’t think it was bad. Not amazing, but I think there is a lot to talk about. It was no “To All the Boys”. I did want to smack her though.

Ok yes it was not that bad. I could enjoy it, but that girl was so stupid. Yes yes, Noah was too overprotective at times, but at other times. OMG girl, do you KNOW what could have happened?!?!

I guess you can’t control who you love, but honestly...I feel like if she had been upfront with Lee earlier the vast majority of this drama could’ve been avoided. Hiding it for SOOOOO long was dumb. And Noah was a player. No matter how much I liked him I would have ignored him. He was a jerk.

Yes the whole we made this pact when we were 6 was stupid. Just tell your BFF that you like his brother and try it out. The drama was so over the top. And yes again, Noah might have been all hunky to all the girls, but she should have known better and stayed away.

Coming from someone who IS dating one of my best friend’s brother...it is better to just be honest. And yes, the drama was SO melodramatic. This whole film was cheesy, but a fun cheesy minus the drama. I laughed a lot.

I really hate the don’t date my friend thing. SO many romance novels have it. And this is 30 year olds who is all do not go there. Ok so here they are younger, sure, but who cares. Let her date the brother. It did not even feel like Lee was, yes why was he mad? Cos she broke the pact? It really felt like that was the only reason. It was so melodramatic as you said. But yes it would be awkward when they break up. But that is life!.

I get being 6 and saying, “Ya no...don’t date family.” makes sense then, but as nearly adults? Get over it. If I kept to every pact I made at 6 I would get nowhere in life. And as my friend said, “I would rather have my brother date a friend bc I would get to see you more at every holiday!” I think Lee was more butthurt over the fact his popular, cool brother got something that was solely his. I think Lee was selfish. Elle belongs to no one but herself. Plus LEE you have a gf...you want Elle to die alone?????? So rude.

You are right there. It did feel like do not date my bestie! She is the only thing I have!  You have a GF. Poor Elle, but I also felt like Elle should not have hid it. It made it so much worse, will they never learn!

Nooppppee. Now if it was a one or two time kiss. Sure. But they hid a whole relationship from EVERYONE. So many lies. Now...what did you think of the ending? I liked it up to the airport and her getting on the bike….okay….so what? No conclusion? Is there a sequel? WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?! That was my biggest fault with the movie.

I really did not like the end. It felt depressing. And no conclusion. It felt like ok they will never see each other again. At least I took it like that.

Same here…. Like college is just college….don’t be so dramatic. Plus...he will come home. Calm down.

Oh he is not turning. He does NOT LOVE ME:

She told him not to turn! Ugh she drives me bananas

Cheesy fun, but it tried too hard, and please let us discuss what an idiot she is. Like when she gets drunk as a skunk and he saves her. Or when she does a striptease in a looker room and gets angry cos he says no… god!

I knooooow I wanted to smack her. If she acted like that in real life no one would applaud her she would be shamed.

We know HS is a shitty place, and no one slut shamed her for that striptease? God, that school is awesome!

RIGHT! There was no shame whatsoever for anything she did. And why would you go out in that skirt???? Put a normal pair of pants or leggings on and go out. Deal with the issues then. OR call off. Sorry - no excuse for looking like a skank and then getting mad at people teasing you.

So there is short and there is showing your ass. ALso those omg girls wore whatever they wanted,I am sure she had other things. I did not understand that dress code

Neither did I. I’m sure she could’ve skated by one day. I feel like she wanted the attention.

That shirt, *shakes head* I would have been mortified.

I would’ve called off if I didn’t have any extra pants or skirts. Sorry, I am not pinning that target on me. What did she think was going to happen especially when the wind blew???!!! And can I say..she is pretty and all that, but why was EVERY SINGLE GUY IN LOVE WITH HER?????? Was it just for the fact she was forbidden fruit??? I didn’t get it.

I wish someone had told her her ass was hanging out, but then she should have seen it. Her DAD should have told her. And yes why was everyone in love with her?

I would never let my kid leave the house with that skirt. I think it was the forbidden fruit thing. Noah told everyone to stay away from his friend. I think he was in love with her from the start.

I wish that had been clearer since he was all you are like a sister. But yes let us believe that and be happy. I hope the next cute movie netflix has on is more To all the boys

Yessss, that is the only theory I have. I want the sequel to the other movie. I still need to read book 2 though

The thing is that they took things from book 2 and put it here, at least a few things.

Ahhh makes sense. Do you think they’ll have a sequel for this movie?

Oh no, not more drama. Like he goes to College and she is all is he cheating!? And then she sees instagram pics and loses it. SO she goes out to party and makes out with someone and he finds out, and well you see

I just want a for sure HEA. LOL that is all I want. I am glad they didn’t try a love triangle. My poor heart wouldn’t handle it. So overused.

I did wonder about the brother, but I am glad they did not go there

I was worried for a moment there, but then they brought in the GF for him so it worked. I think they did good to get Lee a girl so we wouldn’t be scared of a love triangle.

Yes and she was nice too :)

So your turn next? More cheesy stuff perhaps? :=D

I liked her. :)

Ummm, did I pick this one? I can’t remember…

I honestly do not know..wait, maybe you did say this one

Yess, I think I picked the movie and you picked the book.

Ack, then I have to pick something! I fear it will not be this good. Must investigate

I BELIEVE IN YOU!!!!!!!!!!!

Hello everyone! This month Blodeuedd and I are reviewing, The Kissing Booth. 



Blodeuedd is in red and I am in green.

Title: The Kissing Booth
Genre: Comedy, Romance
Running Time: 1h 45min 
Rating: TV - 14
Released: 2018

A high school student is forced to confront her secret crush at a kissing booth.

TRAILER: 

DISCUSSION: 

*waves* I am happy with our choice!

You are? We are talking about the movie right?

Yess, the Kissing Booth?

But it was so meh, and that girl was an idiot.

I didn’t think it was bad. Not amazing, but I think there is a lot to talk about. It was no “To All the Boys”. I did want to smack her though.

Ok yes it was not that bad. I could enjoy it, but that girl was so stupid. Yes yes, Noah was too overprotective at times, but at other times. OMG girl, do you KNOW what could have happened?!?!

I guess you can’t control who you love, but honestly...I feel like if she had been upfront with Lee earlier the vast majority of this drama could’ve been avoided. Hiding it for SOOOOO long was dumb. And Noah was a player. No matter how much I liked him I would have ignored him. He was a jerk.

Yes the whole we made this pact when we were 6 was stupid. Just tell your BFF that you like his brother and try it out. The drama was so over the top. And yes again, Noah might have been all hunky to all the girls, but she should have known better and stayed away.

Coming from someone who IS dating one of my best friend’s brother...it is better to just be honest. And yes, the drama was SO melodramatic. This whole film was cheesy, but a fun cheesy minus the drama. I laughed a lot.

I really hate the don’t date my friend thing. SO many romance novels have it. And this is 30 year olds who is all do not go there. Ok so here they are younger, sure, but who cares. Let her date the brother. It did not even feel like Lee was, yes why was he mad? Cos she broke the pact? It really felt like that was the only reason. It was so melodramatic as you said. But yes it would be awkward when they break up. But that is life!.

I get being 6 and saying, “Ya no...don’t date family.” makes sense then, but as nearly adults? Get over it. If I kept to every pact I made at 6 I would get nowhere in life. And as my friend said, “I would rather have my brother date a friend bc I would get to see you more at every holiday!” I think Lee was more butthurt over the fact his popular, cool brother got something that was solely his. I think Lee was selfish. Elle belongs to no one but herself. Plus LEE you have a gf...you want Elle to die alone?????? So rude.

You are right there. It did feel like do not date my bestie! She is the only thing I have!  You have a GF. Poor Elle, but I also felt like Elle should not have hid it. It made it so much worse, will they never learn!

Nooppppee. Now if it was a one or two time kiss. Sure. But they hid a whole relationship from EVERYONE. So many lies. Now...what did you think of the ending? I liked it up to the airport and her getting on the bike….okay….so what? No conclusion? Is there a sequel? WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?! That was my biggest fault with the movie.

I really did not like the end. It felt depressing. And no conclusion. It felt like ok they will never see each other again. At least I took it like that.

Same here…. Like college is just college….don’t be so dramatic. Plus...he will come home. Calm down.

Oh he is not turning. He does NOT LOVE ME:

She told him not to turn! Ugh she drives me bananas

Cheesy fun, but it tried too hard, and please let us discuss what an idiot she is. Like when she gets drunk as a skunk and he saves her. Or when she does a striptease in a looker room and gets angry cos he says no… god!

I knooooow I wanted to smack her. If she acted like that in real life no one would applaud her she would be shamed.

We know HS is a shitty place, and no one slut shamed her for that striptease? God, that school is awesome!

RIGHT! There was no shame whatsoever for anything she did. And why would you go out in that skirt???? Put a normal pair of pants or leggings on and go out. Deal with the issues then. OR call off. Sorry - no excuse for looking like a skank and then getting mad at people teasing you.

So there is short and there is showing your ass. ALso those omg girls wore whatever they wanted,I am sure she had other things. I did not understand that dress code

Neither did I. I’m sure she could’ve skated by one day. I feel like she wanted the attention.

That shirt, *shakes head* I would have been mortified.

I would’ve called off if I didn’t have any extra pants or skirts. Sorry, I am not pinning that target on me. What did she think was going to happen especially when the wind blew???!!! And can I say..she is pretty and all that, but why was EVERY SINGLE GUY IN LOVE WITH HER?????? Was it just for the fact she was forbidden fruit??? I didn’t get it.

I wish someone had told her her ass was hanging out, but then she should have seen it. Her DAD should have told her. And yes why was everyone in love with her?

I would never let my kid leave the house with that skirt. I think it was the forbidden fruit thing. Noah told everyone to stay away from his friend. I think he was in love with her from the start.

I wish that had been clearer since he was all you are like a sister. But yes let us believe that and be happy. I hope the next cute movie netflix has on is more To all the boys

Yessss, that is the only theory I have. I want the sequel to the other movie. I still need to read book 2 though

The thing is that they took things from book 2 and put it here, at least a few things.

Ahhh makes sense. Do you think they’ll have a sequel for this movie?

Oh no, not more drama. Like he goes to College and she is all is he cheating!? And then she sees instagram pics and loses it. SO she goes out to party and makes out with someone and he finds out, and well you see

I just want a for sure HEA. LOL that is all I want. I am glad they didn’t try a love triangle. My poor heart wouldn’t handle it. So overused.

I did wonder about the brother, but I am glad they did not go there

I was worried for a moment there, but then they brought in the GF for him so it worked. I think they did good to get Lee a girl so we wouldn’t be scared of a love triangle.

Yes and she was nice too :)

So your turn next? More cheesy stuff perhaps? :=D

I liked her. :)

Ummm, did I pick this one? I can’t remember…

I honestly do not know..wait, maybe you did say this one

Yess, I think I picked the movie and you picked the book.

Ack, then I have to pick something! I fear it will not be this good. Must investigate

I BELIEVE IN YOU!!!!!!!!!!!