Book Review: Every Breath, by Nicholas Sparks

 

EVERY BREATH
Nicholas Sparks
Grand Central Publishing 
306 pages / June 2018
Drama / Romance 

I have always loved Nicholas Sparks movies, with the exception of  The Notebook. (Don't shoot me, just being honest). That was my least favorite film of his. In all these years, I have never read a Sparks novel. My good friend lent me a copy of Every Breath. Said it is a fast read. I would enjoy it.

And I did read it fast, and I did enjoy it. At 300 pages, the first 2/3s are fantastic, and fast. The last third is a bit dry, but necessary. 

Truitt "Tru" Wells is a safari guide in Africa. Born and raised. He has a son, and an ex-wife. He receives a mysterious letter from a father he never met. The man wanted to meet his son and provided a plane ticket to the states. Always searching for more information about his mother, who died when Tru was very young, Tru flies to North Carolina and stays at his father's beach house not sure what to expect from the upcoming meeting.

Hope is staying at the family beach house for two reasons. Her friend from college is getting married, and she is a bride's maid, and because her father has been diagnosed with ALS, sometimes known as Lou Gherig's Disease. The family needs money, and selling the beach house might put them in a more stable financial situation.

Hope is not thrilled about the wedding. Seems like all of her friends are getting married, or married already, and her six-year relationship is moving backwards instead of forward. In walks Tru.

There are immediate sparks when the two meet. The love is almost instantaneous. The problem they face is simple. He is from Africa. She is from the US. She has a boyfriend, and he has a son back home. Add to the drama of the obvious, some wine, romantic dinners, and a whole lotta opening up . . .

But see, it all started with a mail box. the Kindred Spirit. This is where the last third of the book comes into play. that is all I will say.

My summation? Love waits for no one, unless it does.

A great novel. Glad I read it. I will be reading more!

Phillip Tomasso
Author of the romance novel BEFORE THE SUN SETS 

Movie Review: AFTER DARKNESS

AFTER DARKNESS
Starring: Natalia Dyer, Kyra Sedgwick, Tim Daly, John Patrick Amedori 
Director: Batan Silva
Writers: Fernado Diez Barroso
138 minues / Drama / Sci-fi / Thriller
2019
Streaming: HULU 

The sun is dying. The effect on the planet is detrimental. Cold. Darkness. Hunger. Earth is in danger (as would be the entire solar system). The movie focuses on the Beaty family. On the first day of spring, and the sun does not rise, The Beatys are trying to make the best of things. They have a big house, heat, and food.

It is Clara's birthday. Clara is portrayed by Stranger Things' Natalia Dyer. Her father is the head of the family. He is trying to take care of everyone. Raymond Beaty (Tim Daly - Wings) is beyond eccentric. His helicopter means of parenting is done with an iron fist. His pressure to keep the family safe becomes more intense when he realizes his family isn't taking the situation they are in more seriously.

The Beatys struggle keeping it together. They deal with real, every-family-type situations. Including the death of a loved one, and a baby on the way. There are plenty of secrets. The thing is everyone knows them, but no one will admit them. No one will talk about them.

Siblings. Children. Parents. In-laws. Considering they are all stuck living together under one roof during the end of the world, the making for intense family drama is all right there. The ingredients are poured, and the father is always churning away at them.

The family is waiting for help. Someone is supposed to come and rescue them. There is supposed to be sanctuary in some caves, somewhere. It seems like no one is coming to help. Their relatively safe life amidst the apocalypse is threatened. But is it by the world falling apart outside, or the family falling apart from within?

While science fiction, this is more of a family drama. Dysfunctional with a capital D. The dying planet seems almost secondary to the story of death, and loss, and love. The actors do a great job, and the dialogue is on point. Is there hope? Redemption? Or just the sun hurrying up and being dead so the misery can end?

I hate assigning a number rating to a film. But out of 10, I would give this film a well-earned 7 Stars.

Phillip Tomasso
Author of the science fiction novella EXTINCTION 

Movie Review: The Owners

THE OWNERS

Staring: Maisie Williams, Sylvester McCoy, Rita Tushingham, Jake Curan and Ian Kenny

Director: Julius Berg

Writers: Mathieu Gompel, Julius Berg

92 minutes / Horror / Thriller / Suspense
2020

Streaming: Hulu

Three friends have a horrible idea. They heard about a safe in the basement of an old retired doctor, and his nurse. When the couple goes out for the evening it seems like the perfect time for a burglary. There are only two problems with the plan. Mary (Maisie Williams - GOT) is Nathan's girlfriend. They borrowed her car, and she is not leaving until she gets it back.

The second problem is much, much worse. The innocent old couple is not what they seem.

This is an almost fun thriller. While you have zero sympathy for the thieves, you soon learn feeling bad for the old couple is pointless. They may be old, and they may be retired, but you soon find yourself rooting fore them.

As a fan of Maisie Williams, I decided to give this new horror flick a shot. It is fast and at times a bit intense. The ending, a bit over the top, is horrific and scary. There is an Alice-in-Wonderland bizarre sense to the way the plot unfolds. I also got a little taste of Texas Chainsaw Massacre vibe. Remember the scene at the dinner table. "Hit her, grandpa! Hit her." Yeah - weird like that.

The movie is perfectly timed at just over an hour and a half. Any longer and the film would lose its bite. 

I enjoyed the suspense, and the calm, cool, and collective Dr. Huggins (Sylvester McCoy - Hobbit / Dr. Who). He was creepy as hell!

Phillip Tomasso
Author of the supernatural horror novel, Woman in the Woods

Movie Review: SOUL (2020)

 

SOUL
Disney / Pixar
Writer: Peter Docter, Mike Jones
Director: Peter Docter, Kemp Powers
Stars: Jamie Foxx, Tina Fey, Graham Norton 
100 Minutes
Animation
Adventure / Comedy

Streaming: Disney Plus / Disney+

In your pursuit of happiness, don't forget to be happy!

I have to start my review by saying, I am not sure this movie will be a big hit with kids. The premise is complex, intricate, and deep. With that said, this was a wonderful movie for adults. Up top with some of my other Disney favorites.

Writer / Director, Peter Docter (UP, INSIDE OUT, MONSTERS INC. WALL-E, TOY STORY, TOY STORY 2), is clearly talented. He knows how to craft stories that impact the heart and demand emotional responses from the viewer. SOUL is no different.

Jamie Foxx portrays Joe. Joe's father was a jazz musician. They shared a love for music. Joe knows his purpose in life is to be a crowd sell-out jazz pianist. Unfortunately, the timing is never right. To pay bills, Joe teaches. Just as he lands a break to perform at a club with a saxophone legend, Joe is badly injured in a freak accident.

Joe resists going to Heaven. He isn't ready to die. Not when his earthly dreams are so close to realization. He finds a way to escape his path. He winds up in a place where souls are being prepped for birth, and their life on earth.

Slated as a Mentor, Joe is assigned 22 (Tina Fey). She has not found her spark. A soul needs a spark before it can be sent to earth as an infant human. Joe knows all about purpose. His purpose is to be a famous jazz pianist. However, purpose and spark are two different things.

As Joe and 22 take off on an unsanctioned adventure, both of them learn something about life. The question is will they discover the truth about sparks and purpose in time to make a difference, or will they be lost souls for all eternity?

22 tells Joe at one time, "Don't worry, they're fine. You can't crush a soul here. That's what life on earth is for."

The movie would have broke records at the box office if the pandemic wasn't interfering so much with fun. The colors, the animation, and the music kill! At times I forgot I was even watching a cartoon. Joe was as real as Jamie Foxx.

SOUL is about life, about Today. It is about stopping and smelling the roses. It is about perspective. It is about selflessness (and not getting so caught up in your own goals that you forget about the more important things in life).

The dialogue is peppered with a liberal amount of Live For Today. You Never Know What Tomorrow May Bring. It is far from subtle, but neither is it preachy. Docter knows how to deliver a purposeful message in a way that will resonate with viewers. It forces one to reflect. I know I did.

An absolutely fantastic film. Fantastic.

Phillip Tomasso
Author of the young adult fantasy novel, Wizards Rise 

Book Review: MISERICORDE (Mercy Series, Book 1), by Cynthia A. Morgan

 

Cynthia A. Morgan
MISERICORDE (Mercy Series Book One)
Shadow City - Next Chapter Imprint
249 Pages
April 2020
Fantasy / Romance

It is the distant future. 2446 and the first three Horsemen of the apocalypse have arrived. Pestilence, War, Famine. Death has agreed to wait 100 years, allowing Archangel of Mercy, Tzadkiel, the chance to find one person of true compassion. If he fails, then the human race fails and Death will ride!

This is how MISERICORDE opens. Tension from the start.

What is known as the Great Cataclysm started in 2060, as the first of the riders crossed the globe. The population dwindled after each Horseman rode. Lourdes, a scullery maid, with chestnut-red hair, found herself in a somewhat lucky predicament. In her late teens, she landed the maid job in the Bastion of Resolution, in France, a castle taken over by the Eminent Protectorate faction.

Tzadkiel, taken somewhat by surprise, is captured by the officers of the Eminent Protectorate. They realize what they have, when they have him. So begins a year-long reign of torture. The goal is to find out what makes the heavenly man tick. They know he cannot die. In human form, though, they want to learn just how much pain the man can withstand!

Her nightmare begins when she can no longer stand the screams from a man being tortured night after night. His crying out in pain can be heard from the nearby tower all night long. Every night. In a desperate attempt to help the man, she finds away to work in the same tower. The new job is far more than she bargained for, however.

Tzadkiel recognizes Lourde as a kind, and compassionate young woman. Weakened by the months of brutality, he is of little use. While normally he can heal from any wound within hours, the sustained abuse has left him close to incapable of recuperating fully. Lourde has one goal. Saving Tzadkiel at any expense. She forfeits her own safety and peace of mind to ensure the Archangel is all right.

Locked in an impregnable tower (for either getting into or out of), the two must figure out a way to escape, to survive, and to triumph!

MISERICORDE is non-stop tension. Reading the book I was compelled, enthralled, and infuriated! Morgan writes clean, crisp prose. The dialogue is taut, authentic. Her description places the reader on scene for every scene as if standing in a corner witnessing each and every horror as they unfold.

This may be the first book I read by Morgan, but it will not be my last. She has hooked me on the Mercy Series and I cannot wait to dive into the other installments!

Phillip Tomasso
Author of Wizard's Rise