Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Teaser Tuesdays #18


Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!


NEGLIGEE BEHAVIOR by Shelli Stevens

....page 147 of 3250 on the Kindle

Then again Gordon wasn't really the type to inspire such sinful thoughts.  He was more like the granola bar you ate to help you stay regular.

Monday, May 30, 2011

Fashion Monday Madness

Even though it's a holiday, the fashion show goes on.  So on this day of barbecuing and family fun sit yourself down and enjoy.....

The Good....


Rihanna looks chic and stylish in this men's-inspired suit that's very feminine and sexy.  With her trademark bright hair, she stands out in the crowd even in white.  If 007 were a woman, this is exactly what I'd picture.


Halle Berry just gets better with age.  This simple dress shows off her figure nicely and adds a bit of drama through the cut-outs and draping.  The only negative I can see is that this look is reminiscent of when she played Betty Rubble in The Flintstones movie...just a bit, don't you think?

The Bad....


Paula Abdul appears to have a new career working with wild animals by wearing this over-done animal print dress.  Too many different patterns shows what happens when animals and nature collide.


Dolly Parton sang about her coat of many colors, but here is singer Nayer wearing a multi-colored, quilt-inspired dress(?) that looks very incomplete.  But the show must go on, hence the streamers for a skirt and the ill-fitting top.  Thank goodness she's in Vegas, since what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.  So please Nayer, leave this mess of a dress in Vegas!

The Ugly....


Naomi Campbell is famous for looking beautiful, but looks anything but in this completely ill-conceived dress.  There's bits of Grandma's lace doilies on top with a flapper-like bottom.  She's matronly on top and flashy from the waist down.  The drab color and the droopy fit don't help and I give this look many thumbs down.


Fergie steps out in this uncomfortable looking S&M-inspired frock that brings me pain when looking at it.  From the buckles and collar to the enhanced hippage to the over-done make-up, this outfit has even put a pained expression on Fergie's face.  But again, we'll blame it on Vegas.

That's it for this week.  What do you think of these ensembles, agree or disagree?  Please sound off below and enjoy your Memorial Day and what it really stands for!

To All Those Who Serve...


On this Memorial Day I want to express my sincere gratitude to those men and women who put their lives on the line in defense of our country and its ideals.  To the families of those soldiers, your sacrifices are not forgotten.  The bravery that everyone associated with the military displays everyday is humbling and truly appreciated.  Thanks to each and everyone of you!

Saturday, May 28, 2011

Three-Day Weekend Ahead.....

With the long weekend ahead I was curious what everyone else has planned.  For me lots of reading and review writing.  Plus, I'll be fitting in a few movies.  Like these....

 Kung Fu Panda 2

The original was one of the few kiddy films I've enjoyed so I'm definitely going to see this one.

Bridesmaids

I've heard great things about this one.  Not a fan of The Hangover movies, but this definitely looks more appealing.

So those are some of my plans, what about you?  What are you going to be doing this expanded weekend?

Thursday, May 26, 2011

Follow Friday.....

With all the crazy weather lately, I hope everyone is staying safe.  Not too bad here, a bit rainy but nothing tornadic.  I hope everyone has exciting plans for their 3-day holiday weekend, just reading, reading, and more reading for me.


This is the day of the week where we get to know each other better by answering a question devised by our lovely hostess Parajunkee.  We also gain new followers, so please let me know if you're a new follower since I automatically follow back.  And now for this week's question...

Q. How many books do you read in a week? And in what format do you read them, or listen to them?

 

A. I always read 2 or 3 books at the same time throughout the week.  One is a paperback, one is on my Kindle, and one is on my Sony Reader.  I like to have variety.....plus I tend to get a bit antsy throughout the day.

 

Thanks for visiting everyone!

Winner of Once Bitten, Forever Burned by Eve Langlais & Stacey Kennedy

I want to send out a big Thanks to Eve and Stacey for writing a very steamy and exciting anthology and allowing me to give away a copy to my wonderful followers!  Thanks too to Roxanne Rhoads with Bewitching book Tours for allowing me to bring these great authors to you.  And lastly, thanks to those who took the time to sign up for the give away.  And now, without further ado.......


The lucky reader who's going to be getting a digital copy of this anthology is................LISA!!!!!!!!  

Congratulations!  I'll be emailing you soon to confirm you as the winner and you'll have 48 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen.  Thanks again to everyone for participating.

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Torchwood:Miracle Day...Awesome New Trailer Out!

I am a sci-fi junkie and not at all ashamed to admit that I squealed like a little girl when I watched this.  Great to see Captain Jack (John Barrowman) again and LOVE seeing Bill Pullman as the bad guy.  We've got a bit of a wait yet until it hits the airwaves on the Starz channel on Friday, July 8th at 9 pm CST.  To tied us geeks over here's the exciting new trailer.

Review for Outcast Mine by Jamie Craig


Aleron Pitre is a master of everything.  He's gotten through life by his clever scheming and faster tongue until the day he's sentenced to life on the prison planet of Tantoret where death is the only thing that's certain in this intriguing futuristic read from the m/m genre.  Because of the harsh conditions of the planet where mining for a mineral called chojal that is transformed into a lucrative drug quickly and painfully kills the prisoners, few guards are needed.  The guards that are there are Athaki who are aliens who are cat-like in nature and drink blood for the excitement.  The head guard Jasak forbids his guards from harming the prisoners in any way and punishes those that do.  Once he sets eyes on Aleron though his willpower ends and to save him from those trying to hurt him he claims Aleron as his mate.  As their relationship heats up so too do the dangers from off-planet worlds wanting to take over the lucrative drug trade and those fellow prisoners and guards wanting to take charge.  As the dangers come faster, Jasak and Aleron must sacrifice everything to make it out alive.

This is an excitingly fast-paced story full of steamy interludes and intriguing political games.  The characters are memorable with conflicts that bring out the unexpected in each one.  The romance between Aleron and Jasak flows seamlessly amongst the heart-pounding action and is steamy and loving.  Aleron is a human who's lived on the edge using charm to get ahead, never taking anything seriously and trusting no one.  Jasak is the exact opposite, he thinks through things too much and assumes everyone is as noble as him.  Together they make an amazing couple with a very believable relationship.  They were tender and yet strong and I enjoyed seeing them together.  Their sacrifices brought tears to my eyes and their happiness made me cheer and anyone looking for the perfect couple can look right at Aleron and Jasak.

The bad guys are aplenty in this world and keep you guessing throughout the story which keeps the pages turning quickly to find out what happens next.  The political intrigue adds a realistic element to the story and amps up the action and I could easily, and would love to see, a continuation of stories based in this world.  With enjoyable characters and roller coaster action I truly enjoyed this story and hated to see it come to an end.  It brings forth everything that's right in sci-fi and blends it beautifully with a relationship that anyone would want.  Jamie Craig created a story that is appealing on every level and I'm very excited to see what comes next.

My rating for this is an A.

*I received this from NetGalley for reviewing purposes.

*Book cover photo courtesy of www.goodreads.com.

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Teaser Tuesdays #17


Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!


JUNGLE HEAT by Bonnie Dee

....page 9

One of the creatures made a sound as it came closer.  Not a screech or cry, not a groan, hoot or whimper, but a noise unlike anything he'd heard before yet strangely familiar.

Monday, May 23, 2011

Fashion Monday Madness......

Hello my fellow fashionistas and welcome to another week of fashion hits & misses!  I've scoured the internet to find talk-worthy ensembles worn by the rich and famous last week.  I love this day of the week and hope you do too!  So let's get to this week's fashions......

The Good....


Supermodel Bar Refaeli looks super in this midnight blue dress with the intriguing cutouts.  It's stylish with a hint of sporty and fits her to a tee.  No accessories needed with something this showy to make you stand out on the Red Carpet.


Electric blue is the color du jour on the Red Carpet and Dave Letterman will never mistake Uma Thurman for Oprah again in this simple but eye-catching gown.  The fit is to die for and again no accessories are needed with something this dramatic.

The Bad....


Supermodel Alessandra Ambrosio won't make the cover of any fashion magazine in this Dancing With the Stars reject.  The draped seams look as if a sewing machine went crazy along with the Bedazzler.  The fit is saggy and she ends up looking costumey as opposed to stylish.


Bubbles the chimp would never have gone out in public in this frilly nightmare.  Crystal from The Hangover II is still young but should know that pantaloons went out of style back in the Little House on the Prairie time period.  Better luck next time girl!

The Ugly....


Jennifer Lopez must not have heard that auditions for the Spiderman musical have ended since she's strutting her stuff in this web-inspired Las Vegas nightmare.  I can only imagine what Simon Cowell would say if he were still on American Idol...this Jenny would definitely not be going to Hollywood.


Fergie goes spacey in this spacesuit knockoff that's a mess from head to toe.  From the lily pad-looking material to the diaper-like embellishment I can only think that the totally out of place purple shoes were meant as a distraction.  Unfortunately it only adds to the hideousness.

That's it for this week.  What do you think of these fashions, faux pas or fabulous?  Please sound off below!

Sunday, May 22, 2011

Contest Reminder.....

This is a reminder that my contest for a digital copy of Once Bitten, Forever Burned by Eve Langlais & Stacey Kennedy ends in three days.  You have until Wednesday, May 25th at 11:59 pm to sign up here.  You don't want to miss out, so get commenting!

Saturday, May 21, 2011

Review for Blue Galaxy by Diane Dooley


Javan Rhodes is a hunted man who just got the payout of a lifetime just for transporting an upper-crust snob named Sola who's destined to marry an unknown man for political gain.  At least that's what he thinks his mission is.  Soon, he finds out that Sola isn't at all what she appears and the woman he becomes attracted to is soon using him as a pawn to change the galaxy.

This is an interesting sci-fi story with a hero to die for and a heroine who's a bit less than worthy of him.  Javan is sexy and honest with a traumatic past he's constantly running from.  I was amazed at how well-adjusted he is considering how much he was tortured by a conniving female.  I ached for the pain he went through and so wanted him to end up with someone who could soothe his soul and give him as much love as he expresses throughout the story.

Which is why I'm surprised he falls so quickly for Sola.  She pretends to be a naive young girl wanting to spend her last moments of freedom in his bed, but that's when her lying starts.  One moment she's demure, the next moment she's a warrior woman.  You never know the real Sola, everything she says and does is part of a plan.  She uses Javan from the very start and never shows remorse for her actions.  A character that's full of lies with no true personality is hard to like.  I felt no connection to her at all and therefore don't believe in their relationship.  Javan is already running from one manipulative woman and now finds himself with another.  He deserves much better. 

This story is a fast read that ends rather abruptly leaving the door wide open for a sequel.  I had hoped for a bit more action ala Star Wars, but too much time was spent on Sola and her lies.  The hero is to die for and was the highlight of the story while the heroine left me cold.  I'm intrigued to see how the political intrigue ends, but hope not to see Sola and her manipulative ways again.  I definitely don't regret reading this, but I regret being introduced to Sola. 

My rating for this is an C.

*I received this from NetGalley for reviewing purposes.

*Book cover photo courtesy of www.goodreads.com.

Friday, May 20, 2011

The Sky Is Falling, The Sky Is Falling....

According to a certain religious group, tomorrow is slated to be the end of the world/The Apocalypse.  We've heard this many times before so I'm not preparing in any other way other than listening to REMs The End of the World As We Know It and Prince's 1999 (although I probably would have done that anyway).  It does make for an interesting question though...If you knew the end was coming, are there any things you'd definitely want to do?  Are there any things you'd definitely put off?

For things I'd do, I'd hunt down JR Ward and make her tell me what's going to happen with Qhuay (just kidding JR-kinda).  I'd drink copious amounts of Starbucks' Cinnamon Dolce Lattes since I'm addicted to them and will never get one again.  Plus the caffeine buzz will make me not care about anything.   What I'd let slide is coloring my hair.  I'd stop fighting the grey and accept each strand that I tell myself equals knowledge.  I wish my answer could've been that I'd stop paying bills, but I'm just too overly responsible not to keep up on bills.

So what about all of you?  What would be your plans if you knew when the end was coming?  Sound off below.

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Follow Friday.......

Another week has flown by and unfortunately I didn't get as much reading done as I wanted, but that's what the weekend is for.  I do want to remind everyone of the book giveaway I have going on right now for Once Bitten, Forever Burned  by Eve Langlais & Stacey Kennedy.  There's not a lot of entries and this is an exciting book so definitely sign up here.


This is the day of the week where we get to know each other better by answering a question devised by our lovely hostess Parajunkee.  We also gain new followers, so please let me know if you're a new follower since I automatically follow back.  And now for this week's question....

Q. It's circle time. Time for us to open up and share. Can you tell us FIVE quirky habits or things about you? We all have them...

--I'm obsessed with The Golden Girls and know all the words to every episode.  I picture myself as one of them in another twenty years.

 

--I have to finish every book I read even if it's awful.  I may skim the remainder of the book, but I still have to finish it or I feel bad for the author.

 

--I clean my apartment on the same days every month and go in the same order of chores each time.

 

--I'm obsessed with Doctor Who (which you all know), but I recently bought a sonic screwdriver that lights up, makes sounds, and writes in invisible ink and while watching the show I use it to pretend I'm The Doctor.

 

--Rick Springfield was the first concert I ever went to and John Schneider was the first famous person I sent a fan letter to.

 

So there you have it.  My dirty little secrets.  Thanks for visiting and have a wonderful weekend!

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Review for Once Bitten, Forever Burned by Eve Langlais & Stacey Kennedy


This is a smoldering anthology featuring two of today's exciting young authors and features two friends, made vampire on the battlefield, searching for redemption.  Through the love of two women forbidden to them through prejudice and fate, they find the happiness they've been searching for by committing the ultimate sacrifice.

This first story in this collection is Devon's Redemption by Eve Langlais and is probably my more favorite of the two.  Devon and Bethany had a love they thought would last forever, but after his change on the battlefield and her being violently claimed by and changed into a Lycan they now appear to be lost to each other forever.  This is an intensely emotional read with Bethany going through much more trauma than Devon.  She's been mentally, physically, and sexually assaulted by her Lycan mate Tyson and seeing that brutality makes you ache for her.  She refuses to give up and I applaud the strength she showed in getting away from Tyson.  She's a worthy heroine.  Devon is strong and sexy and is very accepting of his vampirism.  There's no bemoaning his situation like some vampires do and it's refreshing to see.  With some short stories you feel cheated when it comes to the relationship.  Sometimes the word count doesn't allow for a relationship to be fully explored, but because these two have a past I could easily understand them coming back together so quickly.  Their sexual interludes are steamy and perfectly spaced throughout the story so that the storyline flows smoothly.  The ending definitely makes you feel that there's more to this story with an intriguing world full of stories still to be told.  My individual grade for this is an A.

The other story in this collection is Cruz's Salvation by Stacey Kennedy and involves a Romeo and Juliet kind of storyline where Cruz the vampire is forbidden to claim the only woman he loves because she's a Lycan.  Kiara is that Lycan and at times seems very immature.  She keeps expecting Cruz to fix everything and doesn't have the backbone to stand up to her father about what she truly wants.  In that respect she's a much weaker heroine than Bethany.  She's had an easy life which encourages her immaturity.  Cruz is honorable and strong and willing to sacrifice much for Kiara's safety and happiness.  He's a carbon copy of Devon and it's easy to see why they're friends.  Having Devon show up in the story is a nice way to tie the two stories together and the ending leaves possibilities for the future.  The relationship doesn't feel as strong as the previous couples.  And I think it is because of Kiara's immaturity that their relationship doesn't ring true.  There's no equality between the two and I don't feel as strong of a connection.  My individual grade for this is a B+.

This was an entertaining anthology and I can't help but think that the world these characters inhabit would make a great series.  The battle between the Vampires and Lycans would make a great foundation to a series and if that happens then I'll definitely be in line for more stories.

My overall grade for the anthology is an A.

****Don't forget the awesome giveaway going on for this book in today's book tour post.****

Book Tour & Giveaway for Once Bitten, Forever Burned by Eve Langlais & Stacey Kennedy

I want to thank Roxanne Rhoads for allowing me to be a part of this exciting book tour and to Eve and Stacey for creating a sexy and intriguing anthology.  Not only have these wonderful authors provided a guest post, but also an awesome giveaway for a copy of their anthology Once Bitten, Forever Burned.  So without further ado.....


Big thanks to, Words of Wisdom....from The Scarf Princess, for allowing Eve and I to stop by and share our new release with all. Before we get to that, let’s chat a little bit about writing emotional scenes. Both stories in, Once Bitten, Forever Burned, are a bit heart wrenching.

In Devon’s Redemption, we experience Bethany’s pain through an abusive life. The want to get away from a horrible situation, but has no one to save her. The story is a journey of seeing a woman find happiness again…and that just pulls on the heart strings.

Now onto Cruz’s Salvation where poor Kiara has to decide between the love of the vampire she adores or the father who has raised her. In her story, we witness her heart being torn to pieces, knowing that she’ll never have both, no matter how much she wants it.

Sigh, right?!

Eve and I both enjoyed writing these emotional tales, because sometimes it’s just great to see people who are so low, rise back up again and find happiness.

So, we’d love to hear about you…are there emotional basket cases like us who love a dramatic story?


Once bitten, are they damned to forever burn without the touch of love?

A mini anthology containing:
Devon’s Redemption by Eve Langlais
Cruz’s Salvation by Stacey Kennedy

DEVON’S REDEMPTION by Eve Langlais

Bethany lost her one and only love to a war overseas. As if that weren’t bad enough, a brutal attack and claiming by a Lycan makes her life a living hell. She lives only for revenge until the day love comes back into her life and promises to rescue her from her misery. However, the mate who forced her isn’t about to let her go.

Devon died on the battlefield only to be reborn as a creature of the night. He fights to stay away from his one true love, but when he caves to his desire and sees her again, he discovers redemption is possible even for one who walks in darkness.

Warning: Contains scenes of violence toward the heroine and mentions of rape that might be offensive to some readers. Reader discretion is advised.

CRUZ’S SALVATION by Stacey Kennedy

Cruz understands torment. A mortal turned vampire in the war, he has suffered untold loneliness and despair. That is until he meets Kiara—a werewolf he’s forbidden to love.

Though Kiara needs Cruz, and wants him forever, werewolves and vampires are bitter enemies. To make matters worse, her Alpha, also her father, suspects that Kiara pines for a mate. Mistaking her sadness for the longing she feels for Cruz, he sets out to give her all the happiness he can provide.

Together, Kiara and Cruz will have to fight against the rules placed upon them to hold onto their love. But an unwanted visitor creates a complication neither of them planned for. Milo, Kiara’s chosen mate, has come to stake his claim. Now, not only are lives at risk, but hearts are threatened and dreams hang in the balance.  BUY LINK - http://www.staceykennedy.com/books/the-lingering-spirit-series/stolen-dreams/

Purchase Links for the Anthology:

http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-oncebittenforeverburned-546379-139.html
http://www.omnilit.com/product-oncebittenforeverburned-546379-139.html
http://www.amazon.com/Once-Bitten-Forever-Burned-ebook/dp/B004ZGWF08/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&m=AZC9TZ4UC9CFC&s=books&qid=1304640516&sr=1-1

Eve Langlais is a Canadian in her late-thirties who’s happily married with three children. She resides in a small town in Ontario where she works from home as a webmistress and customer service rep. She enjoys spending time with her family, playing  video games, reading tawdry romance novels, and writing even naughtier ones. She claims her stories come from the voices clamoring inside her head. Discover what else her twisted mind has devised at www.EveLanglais.com.

Stacey Kennedy is an avid lover of urban fantasy/paranormal romance and erotic romance.  If she isn't plugging away at her next novel, tending to her two little ones, she's got her nose deep in a good book. She lives in Ontario, Canada with her husband.  Be sure to drop her a line at www.staceykennedy.com, she loves to hear from her readers.

*********GIVEAWAY TIME*********
Eve & Stacey have been generous enough to give me a digital copy of their anthology to give away to one of my lovely followers.  This giveaway is open internationally, so everyone can enter.  To enter, become my follower if you're not already and answer the question posed in the guest post above.  Please put your email in your comment to make it easier to contact the winner.  Contest will end on Wednesday, May 25th at 11:59 pm.  A winner will be announced the next day here and an email sent to the winner as well which they must respond to within 48 hours or a new winner will be chosen.


Thanks again to Eve and Stacey and get those comments going!  This is an anthology you don't want to miss!

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Teaser Tuesdays #16


Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!


A MARRIAGE OF INCONVENIENCE by Susanna Fraser

...23% on Kindle (still can't get the page numbers to display correctly)

-Just because he isn't as witty and quick-spoken as you are, you think him unintelligent. 
-Well....yes.

Monday, May 16, 2011

Fashion Monday Madness

Welcome to Monday everyone!  And to start our week off right we'll be chatting about celebs and what they consider fashionable.  So grab a seat and join me to see....

The Good....


73-year old Jane Fonda looks anything but old in this perfectly fitted and stylish dress.  I like that she's gone light on the accessories since this minimal look makes them unnecessary.  I'm in awe of how great she looks and can only hope to look a fraction as good at that age.  Today's starlets should be taking notes!


Penelope Cruz looks anything but morbid in this sparkly black dress that leans toward the dramatic.  The dark color looks great with her skin tone and again, with a dress this showy the less accessories the better.  It's so unfair that she has Javier Bardem, must she also look this good too?  It's so unfair.

The Bad....


Rachel McAdams looks as if she hasn't seen the sun for weeks and her pale colored ensemble only makes things worse.  The outfit is drab and has an outdated feel to it.  This is an outfit screaming for flashy accessories and polished make-up, and without it I'm just left screaming.  Casper the Ghost might have found a new girlfriend here.


Ashley Greene came so close and yet is so far wrong in this ill-hemmed dress that's reminiscent of Designing Women.   Julia Sugarbaker would be proud to wear this, but would agree with me about the hem that isn't hemmed.  Who let her out of the house like this and too bad she wasn't watching that infomercial selling Style Snaps so she could fix this problem.

The Ugly....


Kat Graham from The Vampire Diaries looks like she pilfered this outfit from the wardrobe truck.  It seems to be a hybrid of Madonna and the Statue of Liberty and is vampy to the nth degree.  Not sure what event she's wearing this scary ensemble to, but Halloween is in October.  Oh, and Kat, Elvira called and she wants her dress back!


Sarah Jessica Parker looks drab and bedraggled, but at least she sparkles thanks to her Bedazzler in this extremely old fashioned design inspired by Little House on the Prairie.  Instead of getting better with age like Jane Fonda did above, SJP has just started dressing old.  I guess it's time for another SATC movie so she can get some better clothes from the wardrobe department.

So there you have it.  What do you think of the fashions I brought you today?  Agree, disagree, please sound off below!

And be sure to be here on Wednesday when I'll be hosting a book tour with Eve Langlais and Stacey Kennedy talking about their new anthology Once Bitten, Forever Burned.

Sunday, May 15, 2011

Sorry About the Winner Repost....

Doing a little clean-up from the Blogger nightmare and somehow have old posts reposting.  So sorry about that and now back to your regularly scheduled Sunday!

Winner of Mysti Parker's A Ranger's Tale

I want to thank Mysti Parker for visiting my site and for providing a digital copy of her book for me to give away.  Thanks too to Roxanne Rhoads for setting up the book tour, I'm honored to be a part of the fun.  And now down to the serious business of who won......





A big Congratulations goes out to....   Tiggernpooh!!!!  I will be emailing you now and you'll have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.  Congratulations again!

Saturday, May 14, 2011

Quick Movie Review....Thor

I'm not ashamed to admit this.....but I'm a geek.  I adore superhero movies!  I love the idea of having extraordinary powers that can be used for good (or evil) and the ability to become someone else for a little while.  Plus, let's admit it, superheroes are HOT!  Who hasn't been drooling over Ryan Reynolds for the last few months since that first image of him in his skin tight Green Lantern ensemble was released?  So with visions of sexy eye candy running rampant in my head, I decided to see Thor.  And oh my, what a fun time I had!



Chris Hemsworth plays the title character and proves he's more than just abs.  He actually has substance and goes from arrogant brat to caring romantic on a delightful and humorous journey where he must learn to live without his superpowers.  Seeing him adjust to Earth ways provides a bit of comic relief and humanizes him.  You can easily understand why Natalie Portman's character Jane falls for him.  He's a romance novel hero come to life.  That's not to say that this movie evolves into a chick-flick....not even close.  There's still great action with fight scenes both on Earth and in outer space.  Marvel comics has another winner on its hands and Thor earns the right to stand beside Iron Man.  All I can say is bring on The Avengers so I can see all my supermen in one place!

There's entertaining secondary characters and a villain that lives up to his role.  Thor's bitter younger brother Loki is played with perfection by Tom Hiddleston who just wants to be seen as an equal but comes up short in his father's eyes.  Hiddleston plays the bratty outsider perfectly and brought to my mind a male version of Jan Brady.  There were times I felt sorry for him and felt a bit bad about his downfall since he was so gleefully evil.  Don't totally count him out though and be sure to stay until after the credits are done for an extra scene that sets us up for more Thor.  Anthony Hopkins plays Odin as a strong monarch who just wants his son to grow up and uses some tough love to teach him a lesson.  He tempers that with true emotion and was truly wonderful in a small role.

I also want to say how wonderful it was to see so many strong female characters who fought alongside the big boys and won.  Very inspiring for those of us doubting that a Wonder Woman movie will ever get made.

Kenneth Branagh did a superb job bringing Thor to life and presented a story easy to understand by those not familiar with the Marvel comics superhero.  It's a super entertaining movie that is the perfect start to the summer blockbusters with just the right amount of action, humor, and romance to appeal to everyone.  There's something for both the girls and boys to cheer about.  For me, this is what I cheered about.....


So, who else has seen this movie?  Did you enjoy it as well or did you want to use Thor's Hammer on Thor's head?  Sound off below and let me know if you're a geek too.

Friday, May 13, 2011

Follow Friday....

So happy that things are up and running again.  I hate not being able to get things done.  So we've definitely earned our Friday.


This is the day of the week where we get to know each other better by answering a question devised by our lovely hostess Parajunkee.  We also gain new follo, so please let me know if you're a new follower since I automatically follow back.  And now for this week's question....

Q. The Blogger Apocalypse made me a little emotional. What is the most emotional scene in a book that you have read lately?

 

A.  I don't think I'm giving away any spoilers by saying the death of Rue in Suzanne Collins' The Hunger Games made me bawl like a baby.

 

Thanks for visiting and have a great weekend!

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Review for The Tourist by Clare London


Ace likes to think of himself as a tourist dropping into the bodies of various people, mostly men, to experience other's lives.  When he becomes involved in Ricky and Dan's lives, unexpected danger and emotions that he's never experienced before make him an active participant to keep them and their love alive.

This is an intriguing story from the m/m genre which has a slight paranormal twist that adds an unexpected layer to the story.  Ace is from a bygone era who travels from body to body experiencing life through the decades, not wanting to stay anywhere for too long.  He had a harsh life and gets to experience the life he never had through these different people.  He's never felt a vested interest in the individuals he visits until he gets a taste of true love and the intense emotions surrounding a relationship trying to stay afloat.  He then becomes an active participant and is someone I'd love to see more of.  I can easily see this theme becoming a series where Ace helps many different relationships.

Dan is the strong but silent type who can't understand why the super sexy Ricky wants to be with him.  He's not overly attractive, but he's caring and honest which is exactly what Ricky needs after ending his previously abusive relationship.  For a long time Ricky was told how unimportant he was, made to feel as if only his body was important.  Knowing the pain he went through makes you root for Ricky to have a healthy relationship.  They're both likable and realistic characters with understandable feelings and seeing the kindness in Dan makes you realize how perfect they are for each other if they can survive the shadow of Ricky's sadistic ex.

Calder, Ricky's ex, is a truly vile character.  He's physically and mentally abusive and refuses to take no for an answer.  His actions towards Ricky make your heart ache and your heart pounds waiting for him to get what he so richly deserves.

This is a short read that's long on emotion.  Your emotions get pulled every which way as Ricky and Dan's relationship gets put through the wringer because of Calder.  I like the different points of view from all the characters since it draws you into the story more fully.  You get a deeper understanding of the characters and feel more vested in Ricky and Dan's relationship while really seeing how cruel Calder is.  I enjoyed this story from beginning to end with its highly emotional sexual interludes and its intriguing characters and hated to see it come to an end.  It's an interesting storyline I haven't seen before in the m/m genre and wholeheartedly recommend it.

My rating for this is an A.

*I received this from NetGalley for reviewing purposes.

*Book cover photo courtesy of www.goodreads.com.

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Book Giveaway Ending Soon.....

Only a few hours remain for you to enter to win a digital copy of Mysti Parker's A Ranger's Tale.  So go here to sign up before time runs out.

Teaser Tuesdays #15


Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!



LOVELY WICKED by Kari Gregg

....page 7

They'd made it out.  They'd crawled, clawed, and fought their way out of this stinking cesspool - made lives for themselves.

Monday, May 9, 2011

Fashion Monday Madness.....

Before we get to our fashion chat I just want to remind everyone that I have a contest going on right now for a digital copy of Mysti Parker's newest book.  The contest ends tomorrow night so enter here now.

And now to our fashion fun for this week....

The Good....


Kate Hudson makes motherhood stylish in this light and airy dress perfect for summer.  Her minimal accessories gives all the attention to the dress which it so richly deserves and her shiny blond hair makes her look like sunshine from head to toe.


Actress Paula Patton proves that black doesn't always mean somber in this modern look to a 60's classic.  This is when the time warp goes right.  I look the minimal look with just the right amount of bling to make it exciting.

The Bad....


Jenna Elfman proves that tie dye should remain in the past in this unflattering and ill-fitting dress.  The hem looks as if it's being held together by elastic while the oppressive use of black tights and black shoes makes the outfit feel heavy and dated.


Mad Men's Christina Hendricks couldn't sell much of anything in this drab colored dress made of what looks like that clear paper you wrap flowers in.  Speaking of flowers, her bust appears to be busting out all over which maybe she's doing on purpose to distract from how depressing the dress is.

The Ugly....


Serena Williams shows what happens when pom poms explode in this Cinderella nightmare.  I'd even go so far as to say it's a bit like a cake topper except I don't know anyone that would put this look on top of a cake. 


Heiress Daphne Guinness shows what happens when animals attack by wearing the carcass as a souvenir.  I'm not sure how many birds died in the making of this dress, but I'm sure the number of animals on the endangered species list just went up.

That's it for this week.  Please comment below and let me know what you think of these high end fashion choices and come back next week for even more.

Sunday, May 8, 2011

Happy Mother's Day!!!!


To all the moms out there I hope you have a wonderful day full of pampering!  To my own mom, thanks for not giving up on me when every doctor told you to give me away after I became a quadriplegic.  Thanks for shoving me out of the nest when uncertainty might have reared its ugly head and thanks still for playing chauffeur whenever I need to get out and about.

Thanks too for the joy my own baby brings me every day.  She didn't give me a gift today, but at least I didn't find a hairball on the carpet which is gift enough.  Thank you dear Miranda!

Saturday, May 7, 2011

Review for The Panther's Lair by Esmerelda Bishop


This is a super fast and sexy read with a nice taste of erotica with a dash of the paranormal.  Sydney Chase has had it with relationships where her heart ends up hurt so she decides to have a one-night stand with bar owner Raimond Decoudreau.  For a creature like him though, one night is not enough and Sydney soon discovers that man and beast can sometimes be one and the same.

This is a straightforward story where the emphasis is on the sexual interludes.  The interludes are hot and varied and are a large part of the story compared to the action and the formation of the couple's relationship.  This doesn't necessarily make for a bad story as long as you go in knowing that.  The sexual interludes definitely keep you entertained.

Both Sydney and Raimond are likable characters with a strong inner strength.  Raimond is sexy and goes after what he wants.  Sydney's a bit more timid because of past relationships but accepts what he's offering when she realizes what life is like without him.

The villain in this story, an ex-boyfriend, is pretty stereotypical and is there just to bring Sydney and Raimond together.  He floats in and out quickly with not much talk about his and Sydney's past relationship.

This is a fun story to read when you're looking for a fun way to spend the afternoon.  It's a super short story that doesn't require much thought.  It's the kind of story where you just go with the flow and enjoy the read.

My rating for this is a B.

*I received this from NetGalley for reviewing purposes.

*Book cover photo courtesy of www.goodreads.com.