Feature: Vintage Ladybug Farm by Donna Ball

I hope you are all having a beautiful Sunday! 

Tomorrow, Vintage Ladybug Farm, a charming story by Donna Ball, will be officially released. I was lucky enough to work with Donna on this book, and I absolutely fell in love. Donna will be by tomorrow, October 1st, for a little Q&A, so be sure to come by and learn more about her and the Ladybug Farm series.

Vintage Ladybug Farm

by Donna Ball

AISN: B009G2KABW

Published October 1, 2012 Blue Merle Publishing

Available Format: Paperback, ebook

My Rating: ★★★★★

Cici, Lindsay, and Bridget and their assorted friends are back. In Vintage Ladybug Farm, the ladies make a New Year’s resolution to work to open their very own winery. Taking advantage of the fantastic resources at their fingertips, they set to work, only to, naturally, hit many roadblocks along the way. Come along with the girls as they navigate the twists and turns of life’s road and find out if their dreams really do come true.

I don’t get a chance to read a lot of women’s fiction, but I do really enjoy it, and the same can be said for Vintage Ladybug Farm.  This is my first venture into the world of the ladies of Ladybug Farm, and I have to say I immediately wanted to pack my bags, stick my own rocking chair on that porch, and move in.  I mean, Ida Mae’s cooking is the big draw, right?

Ladybug Farm makes me think of home. The home I grew up in. No, we didn’t have a big farm or a winery, but we had the feelings of being close to our family and friends. We had fresh food straight out of the garden. We had wide-open spaces and forests to explore. It was cozy; it was comfortable. It was home. That’s what Ladybug Farm reminds me of, and I miss it.

This novel brought a couple films to mind. A Walk in the Clouds and Bottle Shock kept popping up as I went along.  I think the older, post-war movie represents the more romantic side of the whole vineyard, countryside aspect, and Bottle Shock tilts more toward the humor and real-life aspects.  Obviously, both films are about struggling wineries.  But, Ladybug Farm brings it’s own stories and unique charm that will have readers hanging on from page one and wanting more when it’s over.

I absolutely cannot wait to check out Donna’s other books, particularly in the Ladybug Farmseries, and I plan to share them all with my mother, who I know will love them as well!

Don't forget to stop by tomorrow for Donna's interview!

Darkfall Book Review Author Stephen Laws

This week the Grumbling Gargoyle gives us her thoughts on the novel 'Darkfall' penned by the vivid imagination of author Stephen Laws.

Synopsis

There’s a storm coming. In the office block, oblivious to the approaching chaos, the Christmas party revellers continue with their celebrations...until the bad thing happens and suddenly they all disappear without trace other than...a single severed hand.

DI Jack Cardiff along with his investigative team are about to discover the horror that is ‘Darkfall’. They face unimaginable terror as the very walls around them, plaster, stone, brick...take on a life of their own. For all of those trapped in the building and cut off by the savage ferocity of the weather things couldn’t get any worse...until of course...they do!


Review
I love this author. Why? Well I’ll tell you. He writes with such imagination that you honestly never know where he’s going to take you next within each delicious page or what kind of bizarre happening is going to keep you so enthralled that before you know it the dog’s reported you to the RSPCA for neglect and you’ve grown quite a full and substantial beard ( which took me by surprise given that I’m female!). Laws is the only author whose work I would purchase immediately upon release without having read the blurb, such is the confidence I have in this man’s ability to entertain me whilst maintaining a high standard of writing.

Laws unique approach to storytelling allows the reader to experience the true meaning of horror, a type of horror never before encountered which never fails to shock. With his work you’re not developing trench foot from constantly wading through the quagmire of ‘Same old, Same old’ Horror Fiction, oh no, this stuff is much grittier and far more inventive. Each of Laws’ books catapults you to a different experience of fear, induced by his creative genius.

Darkfall is no exception. Oh ‘Here there be Monsters’ indeed...and then some! Without wishing to give too much away it’s suffice to say that the building itself behaves in such a way as to terrorize everyone within the confines of its unnatural pseudo-organic structure. As for the vanishing revellers?...Well, lets just say that they’re not exactly dead...and if you’re waiting for echoes of a spooky little ghost story here you’ll be heartily disappointed...if you’re waiting for a serious display of mind boggling visceral carnage accompanied by abject gut wrenching horror with a generous dollop of ‘OH MY GOD!’...then feed the dog, get comfy...and get used to wearing a beard...’cos you won’t be able to let go of this brilliant piece of writing until you’ve finished the whole thing!

Laws characters here are well developed, believable, lively and very active which is just as well because the vibrant energy infused throughout this book is almost palpable. It’s a gloriously fast paced read with more twists and turns than a politician’s promise...and just as scary!

As a footnote I think it’s worth mentioning that whilst this book was written some time ago its rivetting, captivating content remains...as with so many other great pieces of work by numerous authors...quite timeless and should be enjoyed and appreciated accordingly.

Anyway, must dash...I have a beard to groom!


Rating 5 out of 5 stars

By The Grumbling Gargoyle

Requiem for the Undead (AKA Requiem Por Un No Muerto) Review

Horror Short – Starring Romeo Navarro, Fernando Venegas, Alejandra Lemur, Mauricio Islas Bennetts. Written/Directed by Melvin de Jesus Jimenez Najera (2012)

In Mexico, the zombie apocalypse is being controlled by a dedicated PAZ (Police Anti Zombie) team, who endeavour to halt the spread of the pathogen with house to house searches, uncovering any undead that well meaning relatives are hiding. When PAZ agent Andres (Romeo Navarro) gets bitten, he tries not to let it effect his ability to do his job.

            Requiem for the Undead is Director Melvin de Jesus Jimenez Najera’s forth film, and at 12 minutes is his longest. It is a tale of denial, not only Andres’s denial that he has been infected, but also society and the government’s denial; the outbreak is not as ‘under control’ as they think. This sense that the zombie pathogen is permanently on the verge of an upsurge is highlighted by the absence of music throughout the film. Instead there is a steady rumble and wail of helicopters, sirens and alarms in the background suggesting a constant, relentless battle against the zombies.

            The film opens straight into the action, with agent Andres having a run in with a couple of zombies. Calling for backup that doesn’t arrive, Andres is bitten. The film then follows Andres as he deals with his life sentence by carrying on as though nothing has happened. Requiem for the Undead explores what, for me, makes the heart of any great zombie movie – the powerful relationships that are formed during an outbreak, focusing on the bond between Andres and his partner, Manuel (Fernando Venegas).

            Mexican with subtitles, Requiem for the Undead is a convincing and fast paced film that is extremely well acted, and tightly written. Dialogue is natural and believable, particularly the banter between Andres and Manuel, suggesting more than a professional relationship between the two agents. The production values and special effects are slick, making a highly enjoyable film. The only criticism I can make is that at 12 minutes the film is over too quickly, and, with such likeable characters and an interesting slant to the zombie genre, I can easily imagine Requiem for the Undead as a feature.

5 out of 5

By Lisa Richardson

WATCH THE TRAILER HERE!!

Trailer Réquiem Por Un (No) Muerto from KnockDownFilms on Vimeo.

Requiem for the Undead is being shown at the following festivals during 2012 -

Shriekfest – Los Angeles     www.shriekfest.com

Pollygrind Underground Film Festival – Las Vegas     www.pollygrind.com

Atlanta Horror Film Festival     atlantahorrorfilmfest.com

Feratum Film Festival – Tlalpuhaua, Mexico     www.feratumfilmfest.com

The Shadow of Death Review

Horror – Starring Dan Bone, Daniel Carter-Hope, Corinna Jane, Sophia Disgrace, Jane West, John Brown. Written/Directed by Gav Chuckie Steel (2012)

Nancy has run out of weed. Desperate to score, she calls ex-boyfriend Dan. Dan doesn’t have any but knows a man who does, Marley. Only Marley is spending the day ‘Just getting back to nature, mon’ at Devils Jump, way out in the English countryside. Nancy and her flatmates Jamie and Debra head off into the woods with Dan in search of drugs, instead they find a wannabe policeman and a righteous killer.

Corinna Jane as Debra

This slasher comedy, inspired by Evil Dead, Bad Taste and Friday The 13th was written, shot, directed, edited and scored by the man behind Deadbolt Films, Gav Chuckie Steel. With virtually no budget – unbelievably estimated at £250 – and Gav holding down a full time night job, looking after his children by day, and to top it all, no film school knowledge, other than a life long passion for horror movies and film making, The Shadow of Death is a little miracle.

Described by Gav as ‘A horror film by a horror fan’ and shot on a Panasonic SD60 camcorder, what started as a few friends getting together at the weekend, turned into a much bigger project, and marks Gav Chuckie Steel as something of an inspiration. ‘Please don’t talk about making a film,’ says Gav in the end credits of the movie, ‘MAKE A FILM! I did it by reading books and watching films.’ Gav’s determination and drive are clear to see throughout the 81 minute movie.

Dan Bone as Craven

The Shadow of Death is a classic killer-in-the-woods tale, reminiscent of 2006’s The Tripper and 2007’s Shrooms, but with diverse and quirky characters that provide a comedy slant and individuality. A continuous shot at the beginning of the film introduces the main characters by showing the contents of the girls’ coffee table, giving an immediate insight into their personalities before we see them. There is Nancy (Sophia Disgrace), the stoner, with her skinning up paraphernalia, Jamie (Jane West), the nerd, fixing computer components, and Debra (Corinna Jane), the mediator, cradling a coffee mug. For me, the lovable idiot ex-boyfriend, Dan (Daniel Carter-Hope), and the deluded Chuck Norris wannabe Super-Special-Officer-Craven (Dan Bone) are the stars of the movie – the latter reminding me of a cross between Nick Frost in 1999’s and 2001’s TV series Spaced and Justin Lee Collins – both adding just the right amount of humour and eccentricity.

Friends Dan, Nancy, Debra and Jamie lost in the woods

For the most part, The Shadow of Death is convincingly acted, though a couple of the characters are less than endearing, making them a little hard to care for at times. But as they overcome their differences during the movie, they do become more likeable. Corinna Jane, as Debra, rises up to take the lead female role, giving an increasingly strong performance.

The original soundtrack comprises of a folky inspired score that captures the beauty and serenity of the woods, while the edge-of-your-seat gory moments are complemented by a dramatically and intensely rising score. Exciting and eerie, The Shadow of Death is well written and, considering that the low budget indie was made for less than a lot of people spend on their annual holiday, the production values are fantastic. Influences from Quentin Tarantino, Robert Rodriguez and Peter Jackson give the movie a grindhouse feel.

Jane West as Jamie and Sophie Disgrace as Nancy

Mark Kelly’s special effects are amazing, especially considering the overall budget, and are suitably gruesome. Victims are despatched in some highly original, bloody and inventive ways. Drug dealer, Marley, has a particularly impressive death, involving a bong, that will make your eyes water.

The narrative did confuse me in places, and I’m unconvinced that the group would have stayed so long in a shack that the Blair Witch would have been at home in – with its crosses made from twigs hanging from the ceiling, and books on the occult etc – but this could just be me, and any slight flaws are down to lack of money and inexperience, and do not detract from what is, overall, a highly impressive film. Gav Chuckie Steel is a talented film maker and someone to be admired and supported, and I am looking forward to Deadbolt’s next project, a zombie film that has already been scripted.

One tip … don’t forget to stay after the end credits have rolled for a final taste of grotesque humour!


Rating 4 out of 5

By Lisa Richardson

 WATCH THE TEASER TRAILER HERE!

The Shadow of Death gets it's premier in Farnham on Wednesday 31st October, for tickets follow the link:- http://www.wegottickets.com/event/185537


You can also follow The Shadow of Death at the following locations:-

Official Site Facebook Twitter

New Trailer Paranormal Activity 4

Back in August we brought you the first teaser trailer for the 4th installment of the Paranormal Activity series, today we bring you the latest trailer that's just arrived via Yahoo, enjoy!!

As with all the other Paranormal Activity movies the team behind the 4th installment are remaining tight lipped when it comes to the plot. However according to our friends over at 'Bloody Disgusting' this sequel will explore the group of witches (who live next door to a newly introduced family).  With the release date set for the 19th October we will all find out soon enough!

Directors:

Henry Joost, Ariel Schulman

Writers:

Zack Estrin, Oren Peli (film "Paranormal Activity")

Stars:

Katie Featherston, Kathryn Newton and Matt Shively

We the Party (2012) DVDRip 400Mb Mkv

we the party 2012

We the Party is a 2012 film written and directed by Mario Van Peebles. A revealing look at contemporary youth culture, We the Party shows teenagers as they are, not as adults would like them to be. We the Party is a comedy set in an ethnically diverse Los Angeles high school during the term of America's first black president. The film focuses on five friends as they deal with "romance, money, prom, college, sex, bullies, Facebook, fitting in, standing out, and finding themselves".[1] We the Party captures the hopes, confusion, challenges and dreams of today's teenagers as they plunge headlong into an uncertain future.

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Soldiers of Fortune (2012) BluRay 720p 600Mb Mkv

Soldiers of Fortune 2012

Wealthy thrill-seekers pay huge premiums to have themselves inserted into military adventures, only this time things don't go exactly to plan.Wealthy thrill-seekers pay huge premiums to have themselves inserted into military adventures, only this time things don’t go exactly to plan.Wealthy thrill-seekers pay huge premiums to have themselves inserted into military adventures, only this time things do not go exactly according to plan.Wealthy thrill-seekers pay huge premiums to have themselves inserted into military adventures, only this time things don’t go exactly to plan.Wealthy thrill-seekers pay huge premiums to have themselves inserted into military adventures, only this time things do not go exactly according to plan.

More Information:

 Release date: 7 June 2012

User Votes: 5.8

Countries: ,

Stars: Jon Barton, Sean Bean, Elena Beuca,

Genres: Action, Adventure,

MPAA Rating: Unknown

Runtime: Not Available

Oscars: None

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The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1 (2011) 720p BRRip 750MB

The Twilight Saga:Breaking Dawn Part 1 (2011)

The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1 is a 2011 romantic fantasy film directed by Bill Condon and based on the novel Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer.

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The Twilight Saga: Eclipse (2010) 720p BRRip 650MB

The Twilight Saga: Eclipse (2010)

The Twilight Saga: Eclipse, commonly referred to as Eclipse, is a 2010 American romantic fantasy film based on Stephenie Meyer's 2007 novel, Eclipse. It is the third installment of The Twilight Saga film series, following 2008's Twilight and 2009's New Moon. Summit Entertainment greenlit the film in February 2009. Directed by David Slade, the film stars Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, and Taylor Lautner, reprising their roles as Bella Swan, Edward Cullen, and Jacob Black, respectively. Melissa Rosenberg, who penned the scripts for both Twilight and New Moon, returned as screenwriter. Filming began on August 17, 2009, at Vancouver Film Studios,and finished in late October, with post-production began early the following month. Bryce Dallas Howard was cast as Victoria, replacing Rachelle Lefevre who previously played her.

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The Twilight Saga: New Moon (2009) 720p BRRip 550MB

The Twilight Saga: New Moon (2009)

The Twilight Saga: New Moon, commonly referred to as New Moon, is a 2009 American romantic vampire film based on Stephenie Meyer's 2006 novel New Moon. It is the second film in The Twilight Saga film series and is the sequel to 2008's Twilight. Summit Entertainment greenlit the sequel in late November 2008, following the early success of Twilight. Directed by Chris Weitz, the film stars Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, and Taylor Lautner, reprising their roles as Bella Swan, Edward Cullen, and Jacob Black, respectively. Melissa Rosenberg, who handed in a draft of the film script during the opening weekend of Twilight, returned as screenwriter for New Moon as well

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Twilight (2008) 720p BRRip 450MB

Twilight (2008)

Twilight is a 2008 American romantic vampire film based on Stephenie Meyer's popular novel of the same name. Directed by Catherine Hardwicke, the film stars Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson. It is the first film in The Twilight Saga film series.

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Outpost Book Review Author Adam Baker

The Grumbling Gargoyle takes a look this week at Adam Baker's 'Outpost', a struggle for survival in one of the most desolate places on earth...the Arctic Ocean!

Synopsis

Moored in the Arctic Ocean, Kaskar Rampart is a derelict refinery platform. This desolate rig is home to a skeleton crew of fifteen who, after reaching the end of their lengthy time on board, are each desperate to escape the banality and boredom that is steadily creeping upon them. Thankfully, the relief ship which will take them back home to civilisation is due any day and so it is with unreserved eager anticipation they await its arrival.

However, something unimaginable has happened and the world as they know it exists no more. A global pandemic has devastated city after city, replacing TV stations and other means of communication with an eery silence...thus leaving the crew of the Rampart completely marooned. The crew are now acutely aware of the battle they face in order to survive the brutality of an Arctic winter as starvation and hypothermia threaten to overwhelm them...what they are not aware of is that the contagion which has ravaged their world...is forging its ravenous way towards them!

Review
Now don’t think I can’t hear you sighing after reading the word ‘Contagion’!. You’re probably thinking that this book is going to be yet another mucous filled tribute to the effects of Extreme Sneezing with a bit of Bubo Bursting and Projectile Vomiting thrown in for good measure, all conspiracy and contamination and no true storytelling substance...well you’d be wrong! ( Ha! )

The ‘Contagion’ referred to here Zombifies its victims leaving them with a prime directive to infect others, thereby assuring the continuity and progression of their vile metamorphic reanimation. STOP!...You’re inwardly moaning again thinking that this is just another Post-Apocalyptic flesh nibbling, Zombie shuffle, in an already, it could be argued, overly saturated market. Wrong again! ( double Ha! )

Yes there are Zombies but these are very different from any you have previously encountered and I’m not telling you why. All you need to know is that whilst Baker has somewhat reinvented the Zombie here, the terror of its existence not only remains but is amplified thanks to Baker's outstanding ability to encapsulate horror and abject fear through his artistry as a skillful writer. Through strong character development you, the reader, become to know this mixed bag of people for the individuals they are and grow to love or hate them accordingly.

One of the main characters, for example, is Jane a reverend who, whilst providing comfort and counseling as part of her job description on the platform, is herself riddled with self loathing and doubt. This is delightfully refreshing as these chinks in her ecclesiastical armour allow us to see the human side of her weaknesses, failings and vulnerabilities whether we approve or not and I personally found the initial introduction to her character to be of particular interest...but, once again, I’m not telling you why.

Be assured you are in for both a chilling and a chilly ride through these pages. Every step of the way you will witness unprecedented hardships and sufferings as you experience the monstrous, gruelling challenges that face this group of isolated people each struggling to combat the escalating horror which surrounds them. The Arctic winter grows ever closer, threatening to completely shut them off from any hope of freedom from the relentless madness which holds them captive and so it is imperative that their quest for survival succeeds...even though no one is certain what future awaits them beyond this vast Arctic prison.

Thoroughly enjoyed this book. Fast paced and highly entertaining keeping me awake well into the night...mostly due to nightmares!...Now there lies the measure of a good book!...

Rating 4 out of 5 stars  

Purely because I felt the ending, whilst not letting the book down in any way, could have been slightly more fulfilling.

By The Grumbling Gargoyle

Payback Season (2012) BluRay 720p 550Mb Mkv

Payback Season 2012

Payback Season Jerome (Adam Deacon), is a successful young footballer, who in the midst of playing the most important season of his career. When he goes to visit his mum on the housing estate he grew up on, he accidentally bumps into some of his old childhood friends, lead by drug dealing loanshark and gangster Baron (David Ajala). Jerome offers to take the lads on a night out - but Baron, living in jealousy of Jerome's success, takes advantage of the situation and asks him for £10,000 to tide over his cashflow problem. Jerome agrees to give him the money, but no sooner does he do so, he finds that Baron has enlisted his younger brother Aaron (Liam Donnelly) to help him on a hit. When he confronts Baron, Baron informs him that in order to keep his brother safe, he will need to stump up another £10,000. Not realising that he is being blackmailed, Jerome agrees. A week later, Baron threatens him for more money. Realising that he is being taken for a mug, he enlists the help of his trainer Andy (Leo Gregory) to inform Baron that he won't be getting any more money......

Did you know: The football stadium used in the film is home to Millwall Football Club, who are long-time rivals with West Ham - the team supported by Director Danny Donnelly and also a former club of Sir Geoff Hurst MBE.

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