The Magic of Belle Isle is a heartwarming film directed by Rob Reiner. Released in 2012, the movie stars Morgan Freeman, Virginia Madsen, and Emma Fuhrmann. Set in a small town on Belle Isle, a picturesque island in Michigan, the story revolves around the transformative power of imagination and the beauty of human connection. Morgan Freeman portrays Monte Wildhorn, a famous and talented writer who has lost his passion for writing after personal tragedy strikes. As a result, he becomes a recluse, isolating himself from the world and drowning his sorrows in alcohol. To his surprise, Monte finds himself spending the summer on Belle Isle, rented a house by his nephew.
I can't really remember any time when I wasn't reading. I LOVE books and what they give me. It's an opportunity to learn new things, see new places,live different emotions in a "safe" way. It lets me live in a new world.
Deigning to live with her are a flock of cats Bonnie, Ginger, Oscar, Tuffy, Felix, Renny, and Isabel of various personalities who all like sleeping on manuscripts and whatever research happens to be spread across Kay s desk. But then Hollis Templeton and Diana Hayes receive a warning in Diana s eerie gray time between the world of the living and the realm of the dead that a twisted killer is stalking Salem, bent on destroying in the most bloody and horrifying way possible the five families that founded the town.
To his surprise, Monte finds himself spending the summer on Belle Isle, rented a house by his nephew. Little does he know that this change of scenery will completely alter his perspective on life. Monte's new neighbors include Charlotte O'Neil (Virginia Madsen) and her three daughters – Willow (Emma Fuhrmann) being the youngest.
Curse of Salem by Kay Hooper @KayHooper @BerkleyPub
Curse of Salem by Kay Hooper
Series: Bishop Special Crime Unit #20
Published by Berkley on December 28, 2021
Genres: Mystery, Paranormal
Pages: 336
Format: eARC
Source: NetGalley
Goodreads
Amazon, Audible, Audiobook, Barnes & Noble, Apple
The small town of Salem has been quiet for months--or so Bishop and his elite Special Crimes Unit believe. But then Hollis Templeton and Diana Hayes receive a warning in Diana's eerie "gray time" between the world of the living and the realm of the dead that a twisted killer is stalking Salem, bent on destroying in the most bloody and horrifying way possible the five families that founded the town.
The stakes are high, especially for new friends Nellie Cavendish and Finn Deverell, both members of the Five, and this time Bishop and his wife Miranda will lead the team to hunt down a vicious killer and uncover a dark and ancient curse haunting Salem.
I have enjoyed this Bishop Special Crime Unit series for a long time. Sometimes the stories feature long known members of the team and some are completely new characters. With well known characters, there is the advantage of already knowing them and having better developed characters who then further progress. With new ones, it makes it easier for new readers to jump into the story. I would read some of the earlier books to have some of the background and inside jokes, plus they are great books.
Curse of Salem follows Hidden Salem in the series. So the setting is the same as the previous book and there are some of the same characters. This time we get Bishop and Miranda, as well as Hollis who were not present in the previous book. The earlier books were romantic suspense but I would call these later books paranormal mystery.
The team is brought back to Salem as the mediums, Hollis and Diana, get messages that things are wrong. As with many books, Hollis is a key figure. She does seem to adapt and develop in every book as needed to solve the case. Unfortunately, this feels a little bit special snowflake, and doesn’t add as much to the story or world. I’d rather see more different people utilize their talents or develop them.
Curse of Salem was very suspenseful because their is a killer and his work is horrific. The pace has picked up with people being kidnapped frequently for brutal torture. The telepathic and empathic talented, even the clairvoyant who see future visions are not enjoying what they feel and see. There seems to be some sort of jamming of their talents but eventually they can use some of them to help with the case.
Bishop and Miranda were here, on-site, but not heavily involved. The locals, Finn and Nellie, who we met in the previous book, were involved but also possibly targets of the killer. The team did add to help train Finn’s team which is more newly developed and also helped with searching for the missing and dumped.
I love this series which has my favorite kind of paranormal, a specific kind of magic, which involves the mind. There is a suspenseful mystery . Sometimes we get new characters or further development of old favorites. The series is uneven with some books more romance, others more mystery. Curse of Salem is an interesting addition.
About Kay Hooper
ay Hooper was born in California, in an air force base hospital since her father was stationed there at the time. The family moved back to North Carolina shortly afterward, so she was raised and went to school there.
The oldest of three children, Kay has a brother two years younger and a sister seven years younger. Her father and brother are builders who own a highly respected construction company, and her mother worked for many years in personnel management before becoming Kay’s personal assistant, a position she held until her untimely death in March 2002. Kay’s sister Linda works as her Business Manager, Events Coordinator, and is playing a major role in the creation and operation of The Kay Hooper Foundation.
Kay graduated from East Rutherford High School and attended Isothermal Community College — where she quickly discovered that business classes did not in any way enthrall her. Switching to more involving courses such as history and literature, she also began to concentrate on writing, which had been a longtime interest. Very quickly hooked, she asked for a Christmas typewriter and began seriously working on her first novel. That book, a Regency romance titled Lady Thief, sold to Dell Publishing in 1980. She has since published more than 60 novels and four novellas.
Kay is single and lives in a very small town in North Carolina, not far from her father and siblings. Deigning to live with her are a flock of cats — Bonnie, Ginger, Oscar, Tuffy, Felix, Renny, and Isabel — of various personalities who all like sleeping on manuscripts and whatever research happens to be spread across Kay’s desk. And living amongst the many felines are two cheerfully tolerant dogs, a shelter rescue, Bandit, who looks rather like a small sheepdog, and a Sheltie named Lizzie.
Follow me Blogger at Books of My HeartI can't really remember any time when I wasn't reading. I LOVE books and what they give me. It's an opportunity to learn new things, see new places,live different emotions in a "safe" way. It lets me live in a new world.
I read all types of books but my favorites are urban fantasy and romantic suspense.I like some romance and some action / adventure / mystery in everything.I like sex in my books but please, only between TWO people.Intimate conversation is equally important to the sex in a book.It lets me see the characters.The other thing I enjoy is humor.
Friend or follow me at Goodreads.
This is book number 20 in the Bishop/Special Crimes Unit series.
Willow is an imaginative and curious girl who becomes fascinated by Monte, who we learn is well-known for his stories about cowboys. Intrigued by his mysterious past and his way with words, Willow befriends Monte and together they embark on an adventure of storytelling and self-discovery. As the summer progresses, Monte finds solace in Willow's youthful enthusiasm and zest for life. Through his interactions with her and the other characters on Belle Isle, he begins to find inspiration and regain his love for writing. The island becomes his safe haven, a place where he can heal and embrace the magic of his own stories. The Magic of Belle Isle beautifully depicts the power of friendship, the importance of embracing one's imagination, and the healing that can come from connecting with others. The film reminds its viewers of the joy that can be found in the simple moments of life, and how the power of storytelling can bring people together and help them overcome their individual struggles. In addition to its heartwarming story, The Magic of Belle Isle is visually stunning. The cinematography captures the idyllic charm of the island, showcasing its picturesque landscapes and quaint surroundings. Combined with the excellent performances from the cast, particularly Morgan Freeman, the film leaves a lasting impression on its audience. Overall, The Magic of Belle Isle is a delightful and inspiring film that reminds us of the importance of finding our own "Belle Isle" – a place where we can reconnect with our passions, rediscover our imagination, and experience the magic that lies within ourselves and the world around us..
Reviews for "Feeling the Magic of the Belle Isle Railwr"
1. Julie - 2 stars - I had high hopes for "The Magic of Belle Isle Railwr" since it had a great cast including Morgan Freeman, but I was left disappointed. The plot was predictable and cliché, with no real twists or surprises. The characters were two-dimensional and lacked depth, which made it hard for me to connect with them. Overall, the film felt like a missed opportunity and I wouldn't recommend it to others.
2. Mark - 1 star - "The Magic of Belle Isle Railwr" was a complete waste of time for me. The story was slow-paced and dragged on without any real purpose or direction. The dialogue felt forced and unnatural, further adding to the overall lack of engagement. Additionally, the film lacked any unique or memorable moments, making it forgettable and unenjoyable. I regret watching it and would not recommend it to anyone.
3. Sarah - 2 stars - I found "The Magic of Belle Isle Railwr" to be quite boring and uninteresting. The plot was overly simplistic and didn't offer much substance. The characters were poorly developed and their interactions felt contrived. While Morgan Freeman's performance was decent, it wasn't enough to save the film from its other shortcomings. Overall, it was a forgettable experience for me.