Everyone is a Critic: “Without a Paddle”
Posted: November 10, 2025 Filed under: Action/Adventure, Everyone is a Critic, Movie Review, Movies | Tags: Adventure Comedy, Everyone is a Critic, Kaye Lynne Booth, Without a Paddle, Writing to be Read 2 Comments
Starring Seth Green, Mathew Lilliard, and Dax Sheppard, Without a Paddle is a 2004 feel-good, three-way bromance with self-discovery and male bonding themes. Sounds kind of kinky, huh? But seriously, this movie has all the makings of a good adventure comedy and the right combination in the leading actors to pull it off.
After the early death of school chum in a parasailing accident, the three high school buddies gather in their old tree house to reminisce and say good-bye to their friend, Billy. When they find a map Billy left there, supposedly leading to D.B. Cooper’s treasure, they feel they owe it to their friend to follow his lifelong dream and search for the treasure. They set out on a road trip and wilderness adventure together, with hopes of getting rich, but finding so much more.
This was a fun movie to watch. I couldn’t help but smile as these three unleash their ridiculous antics, proving that they are their own worst enemies. Once in the wilderness, they learn a lot about themselves in this hilarious adventure where they face wild animals and illegal marijuana farmers in their quest for the treasure of the infamous D.B. Cooper. They encounter hippie nature women living in a treehouse deep in the forest and make a new friend or two with just the right amount of comedy added.
Do they find the treasure? Hey, no spoilers here. You’ll have to watch the movie to find out. I was surprised by what happened in the end. I will say that.
About Kaye Lynne Booth
For Kaye Lynne Booth, writing is a passion. Kaye Lynne is an author with published short fiction and poetry, both online and in print, including her short story collection, Last Call and Other Short Fiction; and her paranormal mystery novella, Hidden Secrets; Books 1 & 2 of her Women in the West adventure series, Delilah and Sarah, and book 1 in her Time-Travel Adventure series, The Rock Star & The Outlaw, as well as her poetry collection, Small Wonders and The D.I.Y. Author writing resource.
Kaye holds a dual M.F.A. degree in Creative Writing with emphasis in genre fiction and screenwriting, and an M.A. in publishing. Kaye Lynne is the founder of WordCrafter Quality Writing & Author Services and WordCrafter Press, where she edits and publishes two short fiction anthologies and one poetry anthology every year amidst her many writing projects. She also maintains an authors’ blog and website, Writing to be Read, where she publishes content of interest in the literary world.
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Did you know you can sponsor your favorite blog series or even a single post with an advertisement for your book? Stop by the WtbR Sponsor Page and let me advertise your book, or you can make a donation to Writing to be Read for as little as a cup of coffee, If you’d like to show your support for this author and WordCrafter Press.
________________________________________
This segment of “Everyone is a Critic” with Kaye Lynne Booth is sponsored by The Women in the West Adventure Series and WordCrafter Press.
Historical Western Women’s Fiction
Get Your Copy Today!
Delilah: https://books2read.com/DelilahWiW1
Sarah: https://books2read.com/Sarah-Women-in-the-West
Marta: Coming in 2026
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Everyone is a Critic: “Cell” & “1408”
Posted: October 20, 2025 Filed under: Everyone is a Critic, Horror, Movies, Review | Tags: 1408, Cell, Everyone is a Critic, horror, Writing to be Read Leave a commentFor October, I thought I would review two scary movies, both based on Stephen King novels: Cell & 1408. Interestingly enough, both have the same leading actors as well: John Cusack and Samuel L. Jackson. But no matter these similarities, they are two very different horror movies. While Cell is King’s very different take on a zombie story, 1408 is more of a paranormal horror story. Both are deserving of a review just in time for Halloween.
Cell
When cell phone frequencies suddenly trigger violent behaviors in their owners, it seems the world has gone mad. While artist Clay Riddell, played by John Cusack, is unaffected because his cell phone battery died at the strategic moment when the electronic pulse was broadcast, along with a few others, those who are affected turn viciously violent against anyone in their vicinity. They aren’t zombies, they are still alive, but they do seem to be mindless, reacting with violence and brutality in response to the signal being broadcast everywhere.
Together with survivors, Tom McCourt, played by Samuel L. Jackson, and Alice Maxwell, a teen who had to kill her affected mother in self-defense, Clay makes his way to his home to determine the fate of his wife and son. It is kill or be killed, as there is no reasoning with those who are affected. When he finds an empty house and a message from his son, he is compelled to carry on alone to find his boy and discover what is really going on.
I read the novel by Stephen King when it first came out, back in 2006, and the movie stuck fairly close to the book, which is one thing I always like about movies based on King novels. I imagine it is because King is one of the few authors with a big enough name to secure some say so in the production of the movie, because I see his influence. Anyway, all that to say, if you liked the book, you will no doubt like the movie. I did on both counts.
1408
This is a horror movie that hits you on a psychological level and leaves you thinking about it long after it ends. This one also sticks fairly close to the original short story of the same title, which appeared in Everything’s Eventual (2002). Also note that the version I saw had the original ending, since they made three different endings for this movie. After reading the descriptions of all three, I’m glad I viewed the original, as it sounds to be the best fit for the story to me, and also the most positive.
John Cusack plays writer Mike Enslin, who is making his living through a series of books about reportedly haunted places, but as a paranormal skeptic, his goal is to refute the reported hauntings. Following an anonymous tip on a postcard from The Dolphin Hotel, which he receives as a challenge when warned off of Room 1408, he goes there and requests that very room. Although the hotel manager, Mr. Olin, played by Samuel L. Jackson, does everything he can to discourage, warning of the room’s history, which is enough to turn away even the most determined of ghost hunters, Mike insists, forces Olin to rent him the room.
Mr. Olin had warned that most occupants don’t even make through the first hour in room 1408, and as Mike Enslin begins to describe the unimpressive room into his recorder, he finds himself haunted by the room’s former occupants, most of whom are now deceased, which raise ear and disgust, and by his own memories, which send him through a gamut of old emotions which still feel raw and exposed, throwing so much at him that he is no longer sure of what is real and what is not, and neither are the viewers.
After an illusion that he has escaped is proved to not be real, it becomes obvious that there is no escape from the evil room 1408 except suicide. Short of that, he is destined to relive the horrors of the last hour over and over for eternity. If you want to know what he chooses, you’ll have to watch the movie or read the story. No spoilers here.
About Kaye Lynne Booth
For Kaye Lynne Booth, writing is a passion. Kaye Lynne is an author with published short fiction and poetry, both online and in print, including her short story collection, Last Call and Other Short Fiction; and her paranormal mystery novella, Hidden Secrets; Books 1 & 2 of her Women in the West adventure series, Delilah and Sarah, and book 1 in her Time-Travel Adventure series, The Rock Star & The Outlaw, as well as her poetry collection, Small Wonders and The D.I.Y. Author writing resource.
Kaye holds a dual M.F.A. degree in Creative Writing with emphasis in genre fiction and screenwriting, and an M.A. in publishing. Kaye Lynne is the founder of WordCrafter Quality Writing & Author Services and WordCrafter Press, where she edits and publishes two short fiction anthologies and one poetry anthology every year amidst her many writing projects. She also maintains an authors’ blog and website, Writing to be Read, where she publishes content of interest in the literary world.
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Did you know you can sponsor your favorite blog series or even a single post with an advertisement for your book? Stop by the WtbR Sponsor Page and let me advertise your book, or you can make a donation to Writing to be Read for as little as a cup of coffee, If you’d like to show your support for this author and WordCrafter Press.
____________________________________
This segment of “Everyone is a Critic” is sponsored by the Midnight Dark Fiction Anthology Series and WordCrafter Press.
Midnight Roost: Weird and Creepy Tales: https://books2read.com/MidnightRoost
Midnight Garden: Where Dark Tales Grow: https://books2read.com/MidnightGardenAnthology
Midnight Oil: Stories to Fuel Your Nightmares: (Pre-Order): https://books2read.com/Midnight-Oil
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Everyone is a Critic: “Red Eye”
Posted: August 11, 2025 Filed under: Everyone is a Critic, Movie Review, Movies, Psychological Thriller, Thriller | Tags: Everyone is a Critic, Kaye Lynne Booth, Movie Review, Psychological Thriller, Red Eye, Writing to be Read 4 Comments
I stumbled upon this movie on Pluto TV and thought I’d give it a try. I don’t know what I was expecting when I chose it. At the beginning, I thought I’d picked up a romance, when the protagonist, Lisa (Rachel McAdams), meets a man, Jackson (Cillian Murphy), at the airport and they have a drink together. This impression was reinforced for me when he ends up on the same Red Eye flight and he takes the seat next to hers. My mind was quickly changed when his true intentions are revealed and it becomes obvious that this story is actually a smashing psychological thriller.
It is no coincidence that they met, or that they were on the same flight, for it turns out Jackson has been watching Lisa for quite some time, and his plans involve using her for his own dark purposes after making her his psychological hostage, threatening to do harm to someone she loves. It turns out Jackson is an international terrorist, making Lisa a vital part of his diabolical plan for a political assassination.
Both the main characters play their parts convincingly and I was easily sucked in and swept away in this gripping thriller. Directed by Wes Craven, this movie exceeds the B list in both the writing of the story and in the performance of the actors. I was pleasantly surprised by my discovery of Red Eye and if you enjoy psychological thrillers, you will, too.
About Kaye Lynne Booth
For Kaye Lynne Booth, writing is a passion. Kaye Lynne is an author with published short fiction and poetry, both online and in print, including her short story collection, Last Call and Other Short Fiction; and her paranormal mystery novella, Hidden Secrets; Books 1 & 2 of her Women in the West adventure series, Delilah and Sarah, and her Time-Travel Adventure novel, The Rock Star & The Outlaw,as well as her poetry collection, Small Wonders and The D.I.Y. Author writing resource.
Kaye holds a dual M.F.A. degree in Creative Writing with emphasis in genre fiction and screenwriting, and an M.A. in publishing. Kaye Lynne is the founder of WordCrafter Quality Writing & Author Services and WordCrafter Press. She also maintains an authors’ blog and website, Writing to be Read, where she publishes content of interest in the literary world.
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Did you know you can sponsor your favorite blog series or even a single post with an advertisement for your book? Stop by the WtbR Sponsor Page and let me advertise your book, or you can make a donation to Writing to be Read for as little as a cup of coffee, If you’d like to show your support for this author and WordCrafter Press.
_______________________________________
This post is sponsored by the Midnight Anthology Series and WordCrafter Press.
Midnight Roost: Weird and Creepy Stories: 20 authors bring your nightmares to life in 23 stories of ghosts, paranormal phenomenon and the horror from the dark crevasses of their minds. Stories of stalkers, both human and supernatural, possession and occult rituals, alien visitations of the strange kind, and ghostly tales that will give you goosebumps. These are the tales that will make you fear the dark. Read them at the Midnight Roost… if you dare. https://www.amazon.com/Midnight-Roost-Kaye-Lynne-Booth-ebook/dp/B0CL6FPLVJ
Midnight Garden: Where Dark Tales Grow: 17 authors bring you 21 magnificent dark tales. Stories of magic, monsters and mayhem. Tales of murder and madness which will make your skin crawl. These are the tales that explore your darkest fears. Read them in the Midnight Garden… if you dare. https://www.amazon.com/Midnight-Garden-Where-Tales-Anthology-ebook/dp/B0DJNDQJD3
Midnight Oil: Stories to Fuel Your Nightmares: Coming in October, 2025!
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Everyone is a Critic: Yellowjackets, Season 3
Posted: June 16, 2025 Filed under: Everyone is a Critic, Television review | Tags: Everyone is a Critic, Television review, Writing to be Read, Yellowjackets Season 3 Leave a comment
Back in February, I reviewed the first two seasons of the Showtime series, Yellowjackets. You can read that review here. They left us with the hope of rescue for our teenaged girls within grasp, but dashed away in a shocking singular act from which there is no going back. And their adult counterparts seem to wrap things up and set their pants to rest following the death of Natalie.
Upon writing that review, I couldn’t imagine what was in store in the next season and anxiously awaited the premiere of season 3. I have to say that I was not disappointed. Season 3 is filled with surprising twists which I could never have guessed for both groups of characters.
Another old teammate makes an appearance on the scene in the present as Shawna seems to be out of control in the present. And I have to wonder what Walter is up to as makes appearances throughout the season, yet remains mysterious in the background.
And things get tense for our teenagers with the addition of new characters, and changes in group dynamics, things get more desperate as winter once more approaches and return to civilization locked out of reach once again.
So now, I must wait for Season 4 to find out what happens. But, wait. What? They haven’t decided to make Season 4 yet? But, how can they do that? They can’t leave us on two fantastic cliffhanger endings and then just decide not to make Season 4 and leave viewers hanging, can they? This must be how many readers felt when George R.R. Martin didn’t finish the Game of Throwns series. But the thing is, Yellowjackets was written as a five season series, so the material is available, and the question is does the series generate enough revenue to continue it, which these days, is determined mainly by the sponsorship, rather than viewers, so there is a chance that fans of the series will be left in the lurch.
About Kaye Lynne Booth
For Kaye Lynne Booth, writing is a passion. Kaye Lynne is an author with published short fiction and poetry, both online and in print, including her short story collection, Last Call and Other Short Fiction; and her paranormal mystery novella, Hidden Secrets; Books 1 & 2 of her Women in the West adventure series, Delilah and Sarah, and her Time-Travel Adventure novel, The Rock Star & The Outlaw,as well as her poetry collection, Small Wonders and The D.I.Y. Author writing resource.
Kaye holds a dual M.F.A. degree in Creative Writing with emphasis in genre fiction and screenwriting, and an M.A. in publishing. Kaye Lynne is the founder of WordCrafter Quality Writing & Author Services and WordCrafter Press. She also maintains an authors’ blog and website, Writing to be Read, where she publishes content of interest in the literary world.
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Did you know you can sponsor your favorite blog series or even a single post with an advertisement for your book? Stop by the WtbR Sponsor Page and let me advertise your book, or you can make a donation to Writing to be Read for as little as a cup of coffee, If you’d like to show your support for this author and WordCrafter Press.
________________________________
This segment of “Everyone is a Critic” is sponsored by the My Backyard Friends Kid’s Book Series and WordCrafter Press.
The My Backyard Friends kid’s book series is inspired by the birds and animals that visit the author Kaye Lynne Booth’s mountain home. Beautiful illustrations by children’s author, poet, and illustrator, Robbie Cheadle, bring the unique voices of the animal characters to life.
Get Your Copy Now.
Heather Hummingbird Makes a New Friend (Ages 3-5): https://books2read.com/MBF-HeatherHummingbird
Timothy Turtle Discovers Jellybeans (Ages 3-5): https://books2read.com/MBF-TimothyTurtle
Charlie Chickadee Gets a New Home (Ages 6-8): https://books2read.com/MBF-CharlieChickadee
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Everyone is a Critic: “The Last Stop in Yuma County”
Posted: May 12, 2025 Filed under: Crime, Everyone is a Critic, Movies, Psychological Thriller, Review | Tags: Everyone is a Critic, Psychological Thriller, The LAst Stop in Yuma County, Writing to be Read Leave a comment
When I noticed The Last Stop in Yuma County (2023), my first thought was that it sounds like a western, but the image on the cover indicated something else. Set in a 1970s Arizona diner, this fast paced crime drama that ratchets up the tension with every passing moment, keeping you on the edge of your seat throughout. Filled with a plethora of twists and turns, and plenty of surprises.
When a traveling knife salesman, (Jim Cummings), pulls in to the last stop in Yuma County, he is stranded at the diner waiting for a fuel tanker that will never come. The waitress, (Jocelin Donahue), serves up coffee and he bids his time, anxious to get going to spend his daughter’s birthday with her. Things heat up when they are joined by two bank robbers, (Richard Brakes and Nicholas Logan), with an empty tank and hair triggers, and each new patron who comes in adds a new complication. It seems everyone has a gun, and it is anybody’s guess what will happen next.
Although psychological thriller takes place mostly in the diner, the tension is more than enough to make you keep watching. Thoroughly enjoyable. This is one that you’ll never guess the ending.
About Kaye Lynne Booth
For Kaye Lynne Booth, writing is a passion. Kaye Lynne is an author with published short fiction and poetry, both online and in print, including her short story collection, Last Call and Other Short Fiction; and her paranormal mystery novella, Hidden Secrets; Books 1 & 2 of her Women in the West adventure series, Delilah and Sarah, and her Time-Travel Adventure novel, The Rock Star & The Outlaw,as well as her poetry collection, Small Wonders and The D.I.Y. Author writing resource. Kaye holds a dual M.F.A. degree in Creative Writing with emphasis in genre fiction and screenwriting, and an M.A. in publishing. Kaye Lynne is the founder of WordCrafter Quality Writing & Author Services and WordCrafter Press. She also maintains an authors’ blog and website, Writing to be Read, where she publishes content of interest in the literary world.
___________________________________________
Did you know you can sponsor your favorite blog series or even a single post with an advertisement for your book? Stop by the WtbR Sponsor Page and let me advertise your book, or you can make a donation to Writing to be Read for as little as a cup of coffee, If you’d like to show your support for this author and WordCrafter Press.
________________________________________
This segment of “Chatting with New Blood” is sponsored by the Time Travel Adventure Series and WordCrafter Press.
When a Girl with a Guitar Meets a Man with a Gun, It’s Time to Travel
The Rock Star & The Outlaw: https://www.amazon.com/Rock-Star-Outlaw-Time-Travel-Adventure-ebook/dp/B0CJBRRCN1/
The Rock Star & The Outlaw 2: Seeing Doubles: Coming in 2026
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Everyone is a Critic: “The Island”
Posted: April 14, 2025 Filed under: Everyone is a Critic, Movie Review | Tags: Everyone is a Critic, Movie Review, The Island, Writing to be Read 2 Comments
I passed up the 2005 film, The Island, many times because it created incongruencies in my mind. The title suggested to me, something along the lines of Castaway, or Robinson Caruso, or maybe Lord of the Flies, yet the cover image suggested a futuristic civilization, with nothing tropical about it. It is, in fact, a dystopian science fiction tale set in a futuristic world. Whatever you think the island in this story is, I promise you it is not.
In a world of survivors from a catastrophic event are given the hope of a paradise on the island, but only those selected in the lottery are granted the privilege of going. But we soon suspect that something is amiss when one survivor, Lincoln Six Echo (Ewen McGregor), has the intelligence to see that some things don’t quite add up, and the curiosity to question what they are being told. Just as he discovers the truth about who they all really are, and the truth about the island, his friend, Jordon Two Delta (Scarlett Johansson), is chosen in the lottery, and Lincoln is forced to race to prevent her from going and escape with the knowledge he has discovered.
The rest of the movie takes on the pace of an action thriller as the powers that be try to recover them before they can tell the world what they know. And the action is really pretty good. The story was engaging and entertaining holding my interest all the way to the quite satisfying ending. I was glad that I finally decided to give it a try.
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About Kaye Lynne Booth
For Kaye Lynne Booth, writing is a passion. Kaye Lynne is an author with published short fiction and poetry, both online and in print, including her short story collection, Last Call and Other Short Fiction; and her paranormal mystery novella, Hidden Secrets; Books 1 & 2 of her Women in the West adventure series, Delilah and Sarah, and her Time-Travel Adventure novel, The Rock Star & The Outlaw,as well as her poetry collection, Small Wonders and The D.I.Y. Author writing resource. Kaye holds a dual M.F.A. degree in Creative Writing with emphasis in genre fiction and screenwriting, and an M.A. in publishing. Kaye Lynne is the founder of WordCrafter Quality Writing & Author Services and WordCrafter Press. She also maintains an authors’ blog and website, Writing to be Read, where she publishes content of interest in the literary world.
___________________________
Did you know you can sponsor your favorite blog series or even a single post with an advertisement for your book? Stop by the WtbR Sponsor Page and let me advertise your book, or you can make a donation to Writing to be Read for as little as a cup of coffee, If you’d like to show your support for this author and WordCrafter Press.
___________________________________
This post is sponsored by the Midnight Anthology Series and WordCrafter Press.
Midnight Roost: Weird and Creepy Stories: 20 authors bring your nightmares to life in 23 stories of ghosts, paranormal phenomenon and the horror from the dark crevasses of their minds. Stories of stalkers, both human and supernatural, possession and occult rituals, alien visitations of the strange kind, and ghostly tales that will give you goosebumps. These are the tales that will make you fear the dark. Read them at the Midnight Roost… if you dare. https://www.amazon.com/Midnight-Roost-Kaye-Lynne-Booth-ebook/dp/B0CL6FPLVJ
Midnight Garden: Where Dark Tales Grow: 17 authors bring you 21 magnificent dark tales. Stories of magic, monsters and mayhem. Tales of murder and madness which will make your skin crawl. These are the tales that explore your darkest fears. Read them in the Midnight Garden… if you dare. https://www.amazon.com/Midnight-Garden-Where-Tales-Anthology-ebook/dp/B0DJNDQJD3
Midnight Oil: Stories to Fuel Your Nightmares: Coming in October, 2025!
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Everyone is a Critic: “Tale of Tales”
Posted: March 10, 2025 Filed under: Dark Fantasy, Everyone is a Critic, Fantasy, Film Review, Horror, Movie Review, Movies | Tags: Everyone is a Critic, Fairytales, Movie Review, Tale of Tales, Writing to be Read Leave a comment
Three kingdoms. Three horrific tales, braided into one tragically horrendous fairytale in the classic tradition, Tale of Tales is a skillfully crafted triple fairytale. Fairytales were used to frighten children into behaving themselves in days of past. They are supposed to strike fear in readers, or in this case, viewers, so the element of horror is no surprise here. Everyone knows fairytales are tales of tragedy and don’t always have a happy ending. Even when they do have a HEA, the characters must face gruesomely frightening trials to reach that point.
A King (John C. Riley) and Queen (Selma Hayak) of the kingdom of Longtrellis are barren and will stop at nothing to have a son. The Queen summons a necromancer to make her wish come true. Upon his instruction, the King slays the sea monster, but loses his life. None-the-less, she eats the sea monster’s heart and bears a son, Elias Christian Lees, with alabaster skin and hair. At the same time as the cook bears a son, Jonah (Jonah Lees), who looks enough like Elias to be his identical twin, and the two boys grow up to become fast friends who are inseparable. Enraged after the boys fool her, the Queen sends the cook and her son away, but the boys’ bond is stronger, and when her son, Elias, fears his friend is in trouble, he runs away to go to his aid. Desperate for the return of Elias, the Queen summons the necromancer once more. She will have her son back, but at what price?
The King of the kingdom of Strongcliff (Vincent Cassell) becomes lustful when he hears a beautiful voice and must have the singer as his wife. But the singer is one of two sisters, aged spinsters, Imma (Shirley Henderson) and Dora (Haley Carmichael), who fool the King and he unwittingly takes Dora to his bed under her insistence that it be in complete darkness. Enraged upon waking and discovering her true appearance, the King has his guards throw her from the cliffside castle window, but Dora survives and is found by a witch who suckles her, giving her back her youth. The King and his hunting party found the beautiful young woman (Stacy Martin) laying on the forest floor and he falls in love and makes Dora his Queen. But Imma is lonely and longs to have her sister back with her, threatening to reveal Dora’s secret. Dora turns Imma away, leaving her alone to suffer a tragic end.
The King of the kingdom of Highhills (Toby Jones) becomes fascinated with a flea and makes it a pet that grows to gargantuan proportions. When his daughter, Violet (Bebe Cave), wishes to be married, he develops a plan to make her happy without risking losing her by placing the fleas hide on his wall and promising her hand to any suiter who can guess the creature that it came from. But it leads to the loss of his daughter when an ogre (Guillaume Delaunay) guesses correctly by smell, and he is forced to give Violet to the ogre, who takes her to his cave in the side of a high cliff. She’s recued by a family of acrobats, but the ogre slays them all and Violet fools the ogre and slits his throat. She returns to the kingdom, to find her father ill, and presents him with the head of the husband that he chose for her.
Official Clip: https://images.app.goo.gl/pAFnUmGSwCHFgcXo6
The three kingdoms and their tales are brought together at Violet’s coronation, where representing Longtrellis, Elias is in attendance, as well as the King of Strongcliff and his new Queen. But the witch’s magic wears off and Dora loses her youthful appearance and sneaks away unnoticed.
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For Kaye Lynne Booth, writing is a passion. Kaye Lynne is an author with published short fiction and poetry, both online and in print, including her short story collection, Last Call and Other Short Fiction; and her paranormal mystery novella, Hidden Secrets; Books 1 & 2 of her Women in the West adventure series, Delilah and Sarah, and her Time-Travel Adventure novel, The Rock Star & The Outlaw, her the first three books in her kid’s book series, My Backyard Friends, her poetry collection, Small Wonders, and her writer’s resource, The D.I.Y. Author. Kaye holds a dual M.F.A. degree in Creative Writing with emphasis in genre fiction and screenwriting, and an M.A. in publishing. Kaye Lynne is the founder of WordCrafter Quality Writing & Author Services and WordCrafter Press. She also maintains an authors’ blog and website, Writing to be Read, where she publishes content of interest in the literary world.
_______________________________
Did you know you can sponsor your favorite blog series or even a single post with an advertisement for your book? Stop by the WtbR Sponsor Page and let me advertise your book, or you can make a donation to Writing to be Read for as little as a cup of coffee, If you’d like to show your support for this author and WordCrafter Press.
________________________________
This segment of “Everyone is a Critic” is sponsored by the Midnight Anthology Series and WordCrafter Press.
Midnight Roost: Weird and Creepy Stories: 20 authors bring your nightmares to life in 23 stories of ghosts, paranormal phenomenon and the horror from the dark crevasses of their minds. Stories of stalkers, both human and supernatural, possession and occult rituals, alien visitations of the strange kind, and ghostly tales that will give you goosebumps. These are the tales that will make you fear the dark. Read them at the Midnight Roost… if you dare. https://www.amazon.com/Midnight-Roost-Kaye-Lynne-Booth-ebook/dp/B0CL6FPLVJ
Midnight Garden: Where Dark Tales Grow: 17 authors bring you 21 magnificent dark tales. Stories of magic, monsters and mayhem. Tales of murder and madness which will make your skin crawl. These are the tales that explore your darkest fears. Read them in the Midnight Garden… if you dare. https://www.amazon.com/Midnight-Garden-Where-Tales-Anthology-ebook/dp/B0DJNDQJD3
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Everyone is a Critic: “Yellowjackets”: Seasons 1 & 2
Posted: February 10, 2025 Filed under: Everyone is a Critic, Horror, Television review | Tags: Everyone is a Critic, horror, Writing to be Read, Yellowjackets 1 Comment
I hesitated watching Yellowjackets because the weird cover image, so I passed it by several times . I thought it must be a pretty dumb horror movie where everyone gets attacked by killer wasps or something, and I had no idea what the weird image of a person with horns and netting over their head could have to do with it. But for a lack of anything better to watch which I hadn’t seen, and an urge to sooth my hankering for horror, I decided to give it a try. And boy, am I glad I did. I’m usually not a binge-watcher, but with the recent cold weather in Colorado keeping me inside, I found myself watching four to five episodes per day. I couldn’t wait to see what would happen next. I must declare this series totally binge-worthy.
The Yellowjackets are a girls soccer team bound for Nationals when their plane crashes deep in the Canadian mountains. In addition to the team members, Coach Ben Scott (Steven Kruegar), Coach Martinez(Carlos Sanz) and his two sons, Travis (Kevin Alves), and Javi (Luciano Leroux), and the student team manager, Misty (Samantha Hanratty). For a year and a half no rescue comes, and something terrible happened in those woods during that time, but the survivors aren’t talking. The Yellowjackets are winners, each determined to achieve their goals, but at what cost?
25 years later, the survivors are still haunted by the experience. Whatever happened, they have vowed silence about it, and no one is talking. But there’s a freelancer poking around and stirring things up, and the survivors are being blackmailed with a threat to expose all of their secrets. They band together to find and eliminate the threat, but they still harbor secrets, both old and new, and some have hidden agendas, as the story of what really happened out there in the wilderness is intermixed, and slowly revealed to keep viewers on the edge of their seats.
Everybody has secrets, both then, and now, 25 years later. And strange things are happening which stir memories of thier time in the woods for the survivors, drawing them together once more. Or maybe, it’s something deeper…, darker that is calling them. How far will they go to keep their secrets buried?
This series keeps you guessing. And just when you think you have it figured out, they throw in yet, another twist. Something happened out there in the woods, something horrific, and those who return to civilization are not unscathed. What happened back then affects each of the survivors in their present day life, no matter how hard they try to forget, and each is messed up in their own way.
This is a powerful series, featuring a vast cast of characters, with both teen and adult versions of several team members, as well as intrinsic storylines for each. Although a majority of the main characters are teenagers, the series deals with many adult issues and situations, as well as adult language. There are graphic scenes with blood, but it’s not slasher bloody. And I would not recommend for young children. It is a horror flick, after all.
I kept wondering how they were going to drag this story out over two or three seasons, but they did a great job of it, weaving the past in with the present, so that both storylines unfold simultaneously. The adult and teen actors are matched well and portray their complex characters consistantly to the characters’ experience. Season 2 ends on a cliff hanger, so I’m glad I chose to watch this series now. I don’t have long to wait for the new season. Season 3 premieres on February 14, 2025 on Showtime.
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For Kaye Lynne Booth, writing is a passion. Kaye Lynne is an author with published short fiction and poetry, both online and in print, including her short story collection, Last Call and Other Short Fiction; and her paranormal mystery novella, Hidden Secrets; Books 1 & 2 of her Women in the West adventure series, Delilah and Sarah, and her Time-Travel Adventure novel, The Rock Star & The Outlaw, her the first three books in her kid’s book series, My Backyard Friends, her poetry collection, Small Wonders, and her writer’s resource, The D.I.Y. Author. Kaye holds a dual M.F.A. degree in Creative Writing with emphasis in genre fiction and screenwriting, and an M.A. in publishing. Kaye Lynne is the founder of WordCrafter Quality Writing & Author Services and WordCrafter Press. She also maintains an authors’ blog and website, Writing to be Read, where she publishes content of interest in the literary world.
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This segment of “Everyone is a Critic” is sponsored by The Rock Star & The Outlaw and WordCrafter Press.
A time-traveler oversteps his boundaries in 1887. Things get out of hand quickly, and he is hanged, setting in motion a series of events from which there’s no turning back.
In 1887, LeRoy McAllister is a reluctant outlaw running from a posse with nowhere to go except to the future.
In 2025, Amaryllis Sanchez is a thrill-seeking rock star on the fast track, who killed her dealing boyfriend to save herself. Now, she’s running from the law and his drug stealing flunkies, and nowhere is safe.
LeRoy falls hard for the rock star, thinking he can save her by taking her back with him. But when they arrive in 1887, things turn crazy fast, and soon they’re running from both the outlaws and the posse, in peril once more.
They can’t go back to the future, so it looks like they’re stuck in the past. But either when, they must face forces that would either lock them up or see them dead.
Purchase Link: https://books2read.com/RockStarOutlaw
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Everyone is a Critic: Dear Santa
Posted: January 20, 2025 Filed under: Dark Fantasy, Dark Humor, Everyone is a Critic, Movies | Tags: Dark Comedy, Dear Santa, Everyone is a Critic, Holiday Movie, Jack Black, Kaye Lynne Booth, Writing to be Read 8 Comments
I think this film is one of the best roles that I have seen Jack Black in. And no, he’s NOT Santa.
But he does make a pretty good Satan.
This 2024 dark comedy holiday film is based on a simple premise: What happens when a misaddressed letter to Santa winds up in Satan’s mailbox instead? And Jack Black is in his element as the demon charged with delivering Liam’s wish and claiming his soul.
Liam Turner, (played by Robert Timothy Smith), is a genuinely nice eleven-year-old kid with learning diabilities. He knows he’s too old to still be writing to Santa, but he just had to try. But he misprints the letters of the addressee of his letter, and his letter goes to Satan instead, summoning a demon to offer him three wishes and claim his soul.
Liam’s family is broken after the death of his younger brother, he’s never been one of the cool kids, and there’s this really cute girl at school… so there’s plenty of stuff that he could wish for. When Liam becomes popular at school and wins the heart of the girl he’s sweet on, things seem to be working out fine. But all things have a price, and when Liam discovers the real score, he decides the price tag on this deal is too high and he refuses to make more wishes.
The demon will go to great lengths to get Liam to make the third wish and seal the deal, and there’s one thing that is worth more to Liam than his soul. To find out what it is, and how it all turns out, you’ll have to watch the movie. No spoilers here.
About Author Kaye Lynne Booth
For Kaye Lynne Booth, writing is a passion. Kaye Lynne is an author with published short fiction and poetry, both online and in print, including her short story collection, Last Call and Other Short Fiction; and her paranormal mystery novella, Hidden Secrets; Books 1 & 2 of her Women in the West adventure series, Delilah and Sarah, and her Time-Travel Adventure novel, The Rock Star & The Outlaw,as well as her poetry collection, Small Wonders and The D.I.Y. Author writing resource. Kaye holds a dual M.F.A. degree in Creative Writing with emphasis in genre fiction and screenwriting, and an M.A. in publishing. Kaye Lynne is the founder of WordCrafter Quality Writing & Author Services and WordCrafter Press. She also maintains an authors’ blog and website, Writing to be Read, where she publishes content of interest in the literary world.
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Did you know you can sponsor your favorite blog series or even a single post with an advertisement for your book? Stop by the WtbR Sponsor Page and let me advertise your book, or you can make a donation to Writing to be Read for as little as a cup of coffee, If you’d like to show your support for this author and WordCrafter Press.
______________________________________
This segment of “Everyone is a Critic” is sponsored by The Rock Star & The Outlaw and WordCrafter Press.
A time-traveler oversteps his boundaries in 1887. Things get out of hand quickly, and he is hanged, setting in motion a series of events from which there’s no turning back.
In 1887, LeRoy McAllister is a reluctant outlaw running from a posse with nowhere to go except to the future.
In 2025, Amaryllis Sanchez is a thrill-seeking rock star on the fast track, who killed her dealing boyfriend to save herself. Now, she’s running from the law and his drug stealing flunkies, and nowhere is safe.
LeRoy falls hard for the rock star, thinking he can save her by taking her back with him. But when they arrive in 1887, things turn crazy fast, and soon they’re running from both the outlaws and the posse, in peril once more.
They can’t go back to the future, so it looks like they’re stuck in the past. But either when, they must face forces that would either lock them up or see them dead.
Purchase Link: https://books2read.com/RockStarOutlaw
Everyone is Critic: “The Faculty”
Posted: October 13, 2025 | Author: kayelynnebooth | Filed under: Commentary, Horror, Movie Review, Movies, Review | Tags: Everyone is a Critic, horror, Movie Review, The Faculty, Writing to be Read | 2 CommentsThe Faculty is a 1998 science fiction/horror movie which I somehow missed until now. Reminiscent of horror classic, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, the faculty and most of the student body at Herrington High School are being taken over by aliens, and it’s nearly impossible to tell who is still human. One group of industrious, survival-minded students has figured out what is happening, how to detect the aliens, and how to destroy them. Now they just have to find the head alien and destroy it before the whole school, and then the town, is taken over.
Although, not an original plot, it is fashioned after a classic. At least the aliens didn’t scream at each other whenever a human was detected. When the queen alien is revealed, I have to say I saw it coming, but they placed enough red herrings, so that I couldn’t be one hundred percent certain until the truth is unveiled.
The special effects seem a bit primitive in this dawning age of technology, but for 1998, they’ve got a pretty cool queen alien monster. While some things, such as the method of beating the aliens, seemed a bit too convenient, horror movies, in general, are pretty formulaic, so perhaps that’s to be expected. At any rate, it held my attention, and I had to see how things turned out, which is basically the point, right?
The Faculty is everything a horror movie should be, using the aliens to keep our heroes boxed in, misdirection to keep viewers guessing, and plenty of tension to keep our attention. What more could you want from a horror movie?
About Kaye Lynne Booth
For Kaye Lynne Booth, writing is a passion. Kaye Lynne is an author with published short fiction and poetry, both online and in print, including her short story collection, Last Call and Other Short Fiction; and her paranormal mystery novella, Hidden Secrets; Books 1 & 2 of her Women in the West adventure series, Delilah and Sarah, and book 1 in her Time-Travel Adventure series, The Rock Star & The Outlaw, as well as her poetry collection, Small Wonders and The D.I.Y. Author writing resource.
Kaye holds a dual M.F.A. degree in Creative Writing with emphasis in genre fiction and screenwriting, and an M.A. in publishing. Kaye Lynne is the founder of WordCrafter Quality Writing & Author Services and WordCrafter Press, where she edits and publishes two short fiction anthologies and one poetry anthology every year amidst her many writing projects. She also maintains an authors’ blog and website, Writing to be Read, where she publishes content of interest in the literary world.
_______________________________________
Did you know you can sponsor your favorite blog series or even a single post with an advertisement for your book? Stop by the WtbR Sponsor Page and let me advertise your book, or you can make a donation to Writing to be Read for as little as a cup of coffee, If you’d like to show your support for this author and WordCrafter Press.
________________________________________
This segment of “Everyone is a Critic” is sponsored by the Time Travel Adventure Series and WordCrafter Press.
When a Girl with a Guitar Meets a Man with a Gun, It’s Time to Travel
The Rock Star & The Outlaw: https://www.amazon.com/Rock-Star-Outlaw-Time-Travel-Adventure-ebook/dp/B0CJBRRCN1/
The Rock Star & The Outlaw 2: Seeing Doubles: Coming in 2026
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