Hasbro Studios’ Emmy® Award-winning series Transformers Prime: Beast Hunters comes to an exciting to conclusion with the original feature-length movie, Transformers Prime: Beast Hunter - Predacons Rising, which will premiere on the Hub Network on October 4th and will arrive on Blu-ray & DVD on Tuesday, October 8th, 2013 from Shout! Factory! This exciting 66-minute movie will serve as a epilogue, officially wrapping up the series and setting up for a future spinoff.

Giveaway:

The Little Mermaid
Directors: Ron Clements & John Musker
Voice Cast: Jodi Benson, Christopher Daniel Barnes, Pat Carroll, Samuel E. Wright, Jason Marin, Kenneth Mars, Buddy Hacket, Ben Wright, Paddi Edwards, Rene Auberjonois
Studio: Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment
Release Date: October 1, 2013
Retail: $44.99
ASIN: B00C7607BC
Running Time: 83 minutes
Rating: G



Review:

The 1989 classic animation blockbuster The Little Mermaid is being released from the Disney Vault this Tuesday, October 1, 2013 as part of the Diamond Edition Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy with an all-new state-of-the-art digital restoration for a new generation. Bonus features include Carly Ra Jepsen's music video "Part Of Your World," Disney Intermissions - press pause and see what happens, Crab-E-OKE - sing along, never-before-seen deleted character - Harold the Mermaid, Part of Her World: Jodi Benson's Voyage to New Fantasyland, @DisneyAnimation - go behind the scenes with today's top Disney animators, Howard's Lecture, Under the Scenes, and much more!

The Little Mermaid is based on the classic Danish tale by Hans Christian Andersen and is about a sixteen-year-old mermaid named Ariel, who dreams of being human. Along with her best-friend Flounder, she collects human artifacts that she finds on the ocean floor, as she is curious about the world above the sea. Her father King Triton and his adviser Sebastian have told her dozens of times that it is illegal for mermaids and humans to make contact.

Despite King Triton's objections, Ariel, Flounder, and an unwilling Sebastian, get close to a sailing ship to watch the birthday celebrations of Prince Eric, which Ariel develops a crush on the human prince. Suddenly, a deadly storm causes chaos and Prince Eric is thrown into the water. Arial rushes to rescue him from drowning. The only thing Eric remembers about his rescuer was her beautiful voice.

The Howling Heart
By April Bostic
Publisher: Eternal Press
Pub Date: August 1, 2013
ISBN: 978-1629290201
ASIN: B00EDTXEXY
Pages: 244
Buy Links: Amazon
Goodreads Link: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18191033-the-howling-heart?ac=1 

Review:

Shortly after graduating college, Paige Donovan lands a dream job at a fashion magazine in New York City! After her father suddenly dies, she inherits his old cabin. She travels to the Colorado Rockies in search of why her father left her a cabin that she hasn't seen since she was a young child.

Upon arriving in Black Creek, Paige is haunted by past memories of the cabin which involved a white wolf. She quickly befriends Riley and his twin sister, Quinn, leading to events which will help Paige unravel a startling revelation about the community of Black Creek. The residents are descendents from the 13th century Scandinavia wolves that were blessed by the Norse gods, so they would have the ability to shift into human form. 

Paige planned on returning to her life in New York as soon as possible, but she wasn't expecting to fall in love with Riley Gray, who happens to the one of the werewolves.

If you want schedule next week's post, click here to find the next prompt question. To submit a question, fill out this form.

What to do:

1. Post on your blog answering this question:

This week's question submitted by Elizabeth!

What weekly memes do you follow on a regular basis?

2. Enter the link to your post in the linky list below (enter your Blog Name and the direct link to your post answering this week’s question. Failure to do so will result in removal of your link).


3. Visit other blogs in the list and comment on their posts. Try to spend some time on the blogs reading other posts and possible become a new follower.  The purpose of the hop is to give bloggers a chance to follow other blogs, learn about new books, befriend other bloggers, and receive new followers to your own blog.

 

I don't have time for memes anymore (besides hosting this one), though I do occasionally participate in the Friday 56.

Linky List:

Leverage: The Final Season
Starring: Timothy Hutton, Gina Bellman, Aldis Hodge, Christian Kane, Beth Riesgraf
Studio: Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment
Release Date September 17, 2013
ASIN: B00DI013EG
Running Time: 635 minutes
Rating: Not Rated

Review:

Last week, Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment released the 5th and final season of TNT's Leverage starring Timothy Hutton as "The Mastermind" Nathan "Nate" Ford, Gina Bellman as "The Grifter" Sophie Devereaux, Aldis Hodge as "The Hacker" Alec Hardison, Christian Kane as "The Hitter" Eliot Spencer, and Beth Riesgraf as Parker "The Thief" on DVD.

The premise of Leverage involves ex-insurance investigator Nate Ford and his team of ex-criminals helping  innocent people who have been wronged by the rich and powerful. Throughout each episode the team runs a con on a company or an individual and steals money from them or set them up for a crime.
 
The episodes and special features on the four-disc set are:

Fired Up
Trouble in Texas, Book 2
By Mary Connealy
Publisher: Bethany House
Pub. Date: September 15, 2013
ISBN: 978-0764209154
Pages: 336
Buy Link: http://ow.ly/oOqGx
Blog Tour: http://litfusegroup.com/author/mconnealy
 
Review:

Author Mary Connealy is back in the second installment of the Trouble in Texas series. Fired Up focuses on the mail-ordered bride, Glynna Greer, when her abusive husband, Flint, was murdered by the Regulators. Now it is up to her to raise her two children in a town full of men. To do so, she plans on opening up a diner, but the problem is that she is not very good at cooking.

Her cooking sends a few of the men to the town doctor, Dare Riker, after they become sick. Dare was one of the Regulators that helped saved Glynna and her children from Flint. Dare cares deeply for her, but Glynna isn't looking for love.

Situations occur, and Dare believes someone from his past wants him dead. Could it have something to do with the Civil War traitors? Or could it have something to do with Flint Greer? No matter where he goes, there is danger around every corner.

Can Dare survive the shadowy figure with a knife? Can Dare when Glynna's heart?

WorkoutsOnDemand.com is an online gym you can access from your home, office, or anywhere you have internet access. Their exclusive library has over 210 gym-style workout videos that you can streamed with an internet connection or download to your computer.

Try out a free workout at https://www.workoutsondemand.com/icontact/receive_a_free_ab_workout_video.htm.



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a Rafflecopter giveaway

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

While most people will buy the most basic form of vehicle, since this will often be the most cost-effective option, this does not mean that you should not consider adding accessories to your car, no matter the model or age. Accessories are not only there for comfort and style, but they can also bring a variety of different uses to your vehicle and they can help in different situations. Many accessories can also be extremely cheap, being able to provide the help that you need at a price that you can afford. No matter whether you go to your local GMC accessories store in Kansas City, or visit an accessories store online, you will be able to find the parts and equipment that can make your vehicle truly stand out. Here is a quick look at some of the basics of shopping at these stores.

Your Needs

It is easy to get caught up in the excitement of a vehicle accessories store, which will usually end up with you buying something that looks fancy, but that is ultimately worthless for your own individual needs. Thus, before you begin shopping, you should determine what you actually need for your vehicle. For example, if you are often using your truck to go off on rough roads, you might want to consider getting a winch, which can help you and others to get out of sticky situations.

I know! I know! My Monday Morning Madness isn't exactly being posted in the morning hours, but instead I'm writing this at nearly midnight, so, yes, I"m waiting to the last minute to write the post, mostly due to me being a little busy today!

I have some good news and bad news.

Let me start with the good news.

There will be three co-bloggers starting in November.

The Co-bloggers are:

Emma from Words and Peace

Brenda from Daily Mayo

Camelle from Home of a Book Lover

Deadly Heat
By Richard Castle
Published By: Hyperion
Pub Date: Sept. 17, 2013
ISBN: 978-1401324803
ASIN: B00C0ZP49U
Pages:304

Review:

The fifth installment of the Nikki Heat series by Richard Castle (aka a fictional character on ABC's Castle) was released last week, somewhat tying in with tonight's sixth season premiere of Castle. All the characters in the books are inspired by characters from the series, like Jameson Rook is fictional character of Richard Castle and Detective Nikki Heat is loosely based on Detective Kate Beckett. The basic plot also resembles the series with journalist Jameson Rock shadowing Detective Nikki Heat on her murder cases, so he can get inspiration for his next Pulitzer Prize-winning article.

Deadly Heat opens up with a corpse in a pizza restaurant's oven (taken from the episode "Slice of Death"), in which Detective Heat, Rook, and her Twentieth Precinct team of investigators (Detective Ochoa - based on Castle's Detective Esposito, Detective Raley based on Castle's Detective Ryan, and medical examiner Lauren Parry based on Castle's Dr. Lanie Parish) are determined to track down a serial killer, but Heat has other things on her mind besides the case.

Another plot ripped from the television show is the mystery behind Nikki's mother's death, which turns out her mother was an ex-spy. Nikki is still hunting down the former CIA station chief who gave the order to murder her mother. With the help of Rook (who is now her lover), she goes on a quest to track down a rogue spy, who will hopefully give her answers, so she can  finally put her past to rest, but the spy may have bigger plans Nikki.

Hannibal: Season One
Starring: Hugh Dancy, Mads Mikkelsen, Caroline Dhavernas, Hettienne Park, Laurence Fishburne
Studio: Lionsgate
Release Date: September 24, 2013
Retail $39.97
ASIN: B00CWIMY3O
Running Time: Approx. 561 minutes
Rating: Not Rated

Review:

After the 2007 lackluster prequel Hannibal Rising, fans of Thomas Harris's Hannibal Lecter thought the franchise was officially dead. That is until NBC aired the first season of Hannibal this year, featuring High Dancy as FBI Agent Will Graham, Laurence Fishburne as Special Agent Jack Crawford and Mads Mikkelsen as Dr. Hannibal Lecter. Liongsgate will release the series on Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital HD Ultraviolet tomorrow, September 24, 2013. The Blu-ray will feature many special features, such as audio commentaries with cast and crew, Hannibal Reborn, A Taste for Killing, The FX of Murder, A Symphony for the Slaughter, gag reel, deleted scenes, pilot episode storyboards, and unrated episodes.

Hannibal is created by Bryan Fuller and is loosely based on the first few pages of Red Dragon by Thomas Harris. After several college girls go missing, Special Agent Jack Crawford (played by Laurence Fishburne) asks FBI Special Investigator Will Graham (played b Hugh Dancy) to get into the mind of the serial killer, but Graham cannot do this alone, as he must get the help of psychiatrist turned cannibalistic serial killer Dr. Hannibal Lecter.

Graham investigates sick and twisted cases, and keeps using Dr. Lecter to help him solve each one, but it comes with a price. Graham must bring down his own mental borders to get Dr. Lecter's profile on the killer, leaving room for Dr. Lecter to get inside his mind.

If you want schedule next week's post, click here to find the next prompt question. To submit a question, fill out this form.

What to do:

1. Post on your blog answering this question:

This week's question submitted by Elizabeth!

What is your favorite genre? List two of your favorite books in that genre.

2. Enter the link to your post in the linky list below (enter your Blog Name and the direct link to your post answering this week’s question. Failure to do so will result in removal of your link).


3. Visit other blogs in the list and comment on their posts. Try to spend some time on the blogs reading other posts and possible become a new follower.  The purpose of the hop is to give bloggers a chance to follow other blogs, learn about new books, befriend other bloggers, and receive new followers to your own blog.

 

I like a variety of genres; I don't think I have a favorite. My favorite authors are Stephen King, Beverly Lewis, R.L. Stine, James Patterson and Charlaine Harris.

Linky List:

Caffeine has been used by humans for many years. It is thought that the Chinese were consuming tea for the benefits of caffeine as far back as 2700 BC, and now we have offices offering real fresh coffee from bean to cup coffee machines. However, there are various opinions on caffeine consumption, some praising the health benefits and others advising that it is best avoided, but what are the pro's and cons?

Sources of caffeine
The most common source of caffeine is coffee, but it is also found to a lesser extent in tea, cocoa and soft drinks (as well as a flavour within foods). Despite the name, decaffeinated coffee still contains an amount of caffeine too - so one to be aware of!

Caffeine is also found in energy drinks and certain medications.

Today is the official International Talk Like A Pirate Day (yep, there really is such a thing.) When people think of pirates, they probably think of Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow. Personally, I think of my elementary and high school years, as the schools' logo was Pirates!

Earlier this year, I reviewed the swashbuckling adventure tale Under the Black Ensign by L. Ron Hubbard. It was originally published in the August 1935 issue of Five Novel Monthly, but Galaxy Press has brought the short story out on paperback and an audiobook.

To celebrate the pirate holiday, I thought I would share a snippet of my review.

When you look around your property, no matter whether it is in your home or yard, you more than likely will find several different things that you would like to change or improve. The main problem with staying in a single home for a long period of time is that your circumstances and needs will often change, but the house will remain mostly the same. For this reason, you more than likely will have several different things that you want to change. The only problem is that you might not have the necessary equipment for all of these different projects. Unless you want to waste a great deal of time and energy, you are going to need some specialized equipment for anything that you do on your property. Buying this equipment can be expensive, which is why you might want to consider renting local AA Power equipment. Here is a quick look at some of the basics of renting the equipment you need for your home.

Advantages and Disadvantages

There are a variety of different advantages and disadvantages that are associated with renting the equipment that is necessary for any sort of project. The main advantage of renting equipment is that you often will be able to save a large amount of money. This can make it so that you can get multiple pieces of equipment for all of the projects you want to tackle. The main disadvantage of rentals is that a time limit will be imposed, which means that you may have to rush your project, which can be stressful.

The Sydney art scene has its heavyweights and flyweights but, until very recently, wasn’t much known for punching above weight. There’s a lot of inherent pressure for alpha cities to stay ahead of the culture curve and, for the most part, that pressure is welcome and deserved. But for the capital of New South Wales the spotlight can be especially intense.

Upstart Melbourne is always nipping at Sydney’s heels, for one, and the metropolis of close to 5 million people is not just the face of a country but a continent - and, in some respects, an entire hemisphere.

The good news for Sydneysiders keen to showcase their city’s accomplishments is that there’s been little to be ashamed of on the culture front, and particularly the contemporary art scene, of late. Gallery crawls are a thriving sector of the erudite tourism sector and while not quite on the same level as gastro crawls - food is the ultimate unifier, it seems, with Sydney no exception - the city’s art scene has more and more people plugging “5 star hotels Sydney” into their search engines.

If you're like many people, fitness is not something that will come easy to you. It is hard to begin a regimen when you are unsure of how to proceed. You need information and get some guidance. The following advice will help you can start down the fitness path today.

The best fitness routines target your body but also include exercises designed to increase flexibility. Search for classes in your surrounding area.

Simple pushups can do wonders to tone triceps. This move will tone up your triceps more effectively than other types of exercises.

Begin with smaller weights when you start weight lifting. Smaller muscles tire faster than large ones, so you'll want to start with barbells before you move onto the larger machines.

Try various types of exercise classes to keep yourself excited and motivated. Try taking yoga or dance class to spice things up. Even if you try each class only once, it is a workout that will contribute to your overall health and fitness.

Your pace should stay between 80 and 110 rpm.This pace allows you will be able to ride for a longer distances at greater speeds without straining your knees. This is the ideal rpm is what you should strive for.

Eventide
The Days of Redemption, Book 3
By Shelley Shepard Gray
Publisher: Avon Inspire
Pub. Date: September 3, 2013
ISBN: 978-0062204448
Pages: 288
Buy Link: http://ow.ly/oBHhP
Blog Tour: http://litfusegroup.com/author/sgray
 
Review:

The final book in The Days of Redemption series focuses on Elsie Keim, the twin sister of Viola and younger sister to Roman, who have both found love in the two previous novels, Daybreak & Ray of Light. Elsie has had bad eyesight for the past ten years and she is starting to go blind caused by keratoconus, forcing her to live in her family home where she is treated like a child. 

Soon, she meets the new handsome neighbor, Landon Troyer, and sparks fly between the two. She doesn't want to scare him away, so she avoids telling him about her condition, but her brother, Roman, spills the beans about her blindness.

Landon is shocked by the revelation and questions his future with Elsie. Due to his current job, he sometimes spends days away from home, which would be a problem if he would to marry a blind woman.

Self-published authors now have access to the same or similar resources as traditionally published authors. Even though self-published authors have to do a lot more of their own marketing and distribution, it’s entirely possible for them to sell their work to Fortune 500 companies and other large corporations by selling their books in bulk.

Self-Made

Depending on the genre of your book, it’s entire possible for it to wind up in the hands of the customers and employees of the companies who buy your self-published book. Should your book end up in a bookstore like a traditionally published book, that bookstore might send back any copies of your book that went unsold. When companies and corporations buy bulk books, the sale is final. You don’t have to live in fear of getting a phone call from a company requesting to ship your unsold book copies back. In some cases, self-published authors only have to get a single company to buy their book in bulk in order for authors to get the recognition they’re looking for. 

Why Businesses Buy Bulk Books

One of the reasons for self-published authors to focus on large companies is because companies often offer books as an incentive for individuals to purchase a particular product, much like how you can get an MP3 player or tablet whenever you open a checking account with a bank. Companies might also purchase books in bulk as thank you gift for their customers. You also never know when a company might feel that your book is the perfect inspirational tool for their employees. You also never know how many other people those employees might tell about your book. Again, all it takes is one good sale and you might wind up on a bestseller list. Other reasons that a company or business might want to buy your book include yearly company sales meetings and to give to new home buyers.

Nashville: The Complete First Season
Starring: Connie Britton, Hayden Panettiere
Studio: ABC Studios
Release Date: September 17, 2013
Retail: $45.99
ASIN: B009M7R2LM
Running Time: 903 minutes
Rating: TV-PG

Review:

ABC Studios will be releasing Nashville: The Complete First Season on DVD tomorrow, September 17, 2013, which is just over a week before the season premiere on September 25th. Along with the 21 season one episodes, the DVD is jammed pack with extras; such as  Nashville Comes to Nashville - meet the city that's the vibrant home and heart of the country music industry, On the Record: B-Side - discover some of the remarkable talent behind the show's music and learn the story of two of its heartfelt ballads, Stellas Go On "Tour" - tag along for a tour of the Nashville set with the exuberant and talented young Stella sisters, bloopers, and deleted scenes. 

Fresh from her performance on American Horror Story, Connie Britton returned to television last fall as a 40-year-old country music singer Rayna Jaymes, who is now a mother to two girls, Maddie and Daphine (played by real life sisters, Lennon and Maisy Stella), and the wife to the next-mayor of Nashville, Teddy Conrad (played by Eric Close). Despite all her responsibilities, Rayna wants to continue as the Queen of Country, but her recent album and tour has undersold. Meanwhile, the former teen country singer, Juliette Barnes (played by Hayden Panettiere) wants to take Rayna's spot in country music.

Aspiring songwriter, Scarlett O'Connor (played by Clare Bowmen), is wanting to break into the country music business, that is when she's not working as a waitress at the Bluebird Cafe or fighting with her singer boyfriend, Avery Barkley (played by Jonathan Jackson). Her life takes an unexpected turn when meets an aspiring singer, Gunnar Scott.

Adventure Time: Jake the Dad
Voice Cast:  Jeremy Shada, John DiMaggio, Hynden Walch, Niki Yang, Tom Kenny, Olivia Olson, Martin Olson, Dee Bradley Baker, Pendleton Ward, Polly Lou Livingston, Jessica DiCicco, Maria Bamford
Studio: Cartoon Network
Release Date: September 17, 2013
Retail: $24.98
ASIN: B00DDZDYT8
Running Time: 176 minutes
Rating: TV-PG

Review:

Cartoon Network, along with Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, will be releasing the all-new compilation DVD release titled Adventure Time: Jake the Dad, PLUS a nifty Jake hat is included as an on-pack bundle, tomorrow, September 17, 2013! The DVD includes sixteen (eleven-minutes each) of the most popular episodes from seasons four and five with a special feature called "Little Did You Know."

After premiering in 2010, Adventure Time has become a hit with children and a cult classic with adults. The series follows a human boy, Finn, and his best friend/adopted brother, Jake - a dog who can change shape, grow, and shrink. They live in a post-apocalyptic Land of Ooo, which typically they go on quests to help their friends.

The relationship between a father and his daughter is a very precious thing. Some of the most touching scenes from movie history are the loving moments between dads and daughters. In The Croods, we watched as Eep and Grug slowly come to realize how much they truly love each other. Take a look at five of the most memorable dad and daughter moments in movie history.

Join the Croods on the journey of a lifetime in the epic comedy-adventure that "has the magical wonder of How To Train Your Dragon" - Jake Hamilton (Fox-TV). When their cave is destroyed, the Croods set out to explore a spectacular landscape filled with fantastic creatures, strange surprises…and a whole new world of adventure!

Teenagers always go through that phase of life where they feel that they are being smothered by their parents. Eep is definitely feeling these emotions when her over-protective dad keeps her under tight boundaries. But it turned out that Eep and Grug were more alike than they realized. Eep’s heart is broken when she thinks she lost her opportunity to tell her dad how much she loves him. In a very memorable moment, Eep and Grug are reunited and our hearts melt as we watch them embrace in a great big word that rhymes with Grug… a hug!

If you want schedule next week's post, click here to find the next prompt question. To submit a question, fill out this form.

What to do:

1. Post on your blog answering this question:

This week's question submitted by Elizabeth!

Are you in a book club? How does your book club choose books? How far in advance do you choose?

2. Enter the link to your post in the linky list below (enter your Blog Name and the direct link to your post answering this week’s question. Failure to do so will result in removal of your link).


3. Visit other blogs in the list and comment on their posts. Try to spend some time on the blogs reading other posts and possible become a new follower.  The purpose of the hop is to give bloggers a chance to follow other blogs, learn about new books, befriend other bloggers, and receive new followers to your own blog.

 

I've never been involved in a book club, other than Doubleday Book Clubs, which really doesn't count. I'm not even for sure how to get started in one in my area, not unless it is an online group.

Linky List:

Walt Disney is once again opening up their vault to release the animated classic The Little Mermaid: Diamond Edition Blu-ray/DVD/HD Digital Combo Pack on October 1, 2013 for a whole new generation to watch over and over again.

Venture under the sea where Ariel, a free-spirited mermaid princess, longs to be part of the human world. After bravely striking a bargain with Ursula, a sneaky sea witch, Ariel embarks on the adventure of a lifetime. With Flounder and Sebastian at her side, Ariel will need all of her courage and determination to make things right in both her worlds. Learn more at http://movies.disney.com/the-little-mermaid. 

Giveaway Details:

Are you wondering if you are someone you love is in need of a test to see how much testosterone they have in their bodies? Is your child not developing or your husband losing interest in the bedroom? Testosterone plays a key role in our lives and is essential for healthy growth, muscle building, and a host of other things. If you decide to talk to your doctor and take a testosterone levels test and you discover that you or your loved one has low T don't worry there are lost of options for you to help increase testosterone options like taking zinc, vitamin D, or adaptogens that release testostereone bound in globulin proteins (often referred to as a testosterone booster). You can lose weight or decrease stress, or reduce your cortisol levels. There are a host of things that you can do to help get you testosterone levels back to normal.

Understanding Testosterone Level Tests

Performing a blood test can reveal a person's testosterone levels. This type of test is given to young boys who are suffering from delayed puberty or puberty is progressing slower than it should. In general, boys who have not started puberty by the time they reach the age of 10 are tested to determine what their testosterone levels are at that time.

Parkinson's disease is a progressive disorder of the nervous system that affects your movement. This disease doesn’t discriminate; there are many famous faces that are suffering from Parkinson’s around the world and in some cases it has helped raised awareness for this disease.

If you have risk factors that might increase your chances of developing this disease, you must seek medical help, especially if these symptoms manifest. Here are a few famous faces of people suffering from Parkinson’s disease.

• Michael J Fox: This actor, most famous for starring in the Back to the Future movies, was diagnosed with PD in 1991 at the age of 30. He went public with diagnoses in 1998 and later founded the Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.

I’ve been asked to write a biography of one of my characters from The Witch on Twisted Oak. This was harder than you might think. Not because I don’t know their history; I know the deep, dark secrets of all my characters.

The problem is picking only one. I love all my characters. It’s like asking me to pick my favorite child. So I decided to go with the one who gave me the most trouble.

A good story depends on two things: a good plot and strong characters. Many writers spend time and effort developing their hero and heroine, but they forget another character who is just as important. A hero can only be as strong as his opponent. The antagonist doesn’t have to be human. Many excellent novels use animals, or nature as the opposing force. Even human villains don’t have to be inherently evil. They just need to want a different outcome than the hero and try to prevail over him.

But no matter who or what the author uses as the antagonist, deep character development is a must. The villain can’t be bad, “just because.” There must be a logical reason behind his or her actions. I forgot this rule for a brief time while writing The Witch on Twisted Oak. Oh, I knew who the villain was and what he was going to do. I just hadn’t spent enough time thinking about why he was doing it.

About one third of the way through the book, I hit a brick wall. After pulling my hair and pacing the floor it dawned on me: I didn’t know my villain well enough.

First I had to figure him out, then I had to go back and do some major rewriting. After much deliberation, these are some things I learned about my villain.

Like so many people, good and bad and in-between, much of who he is now was shaped by his childhood. Through most of the book he’s called El Jefe, which means boss because that’s the way he likes to be addressed. “Can I get something for you, Boss?” “Where to, Boss?” He felt powerless as a child and now needs to be reassured of his importance by those around him.

Ultimate Cross Stitch Projects
By Maria Diaz
Publisher: Design Originals
Pub. Date: September 1, 2013
ISBN: 978-1574214444
Pages: 128

Review:

Many of my readers probably don't know that one of my hobbies is cross stitching. Yes, I'm a guy, who knows how to thread a needle, though my own stitching projects have taken a slight pause this year, I still enjoy making gifts for my family and friends. It seems there are many quilt and sewing books released every year, but not very many focus on cross stitching. Luckily, Design Originals released the Ultimate Cross Stitch Projects featuring twenty-seven beautiful cross stitch patterns by designer Maria Diaz.

Feathered Friends

Some of people think cross stitchers only make "Welcome Home" stitches, but die-hard stitchers love making portraits, which the Ultimate Cross Stitch contains some of the greatest patterns I have never seen; with a variety of different projects, such as adorable animals, country landscapes, spring flowers, nursery accessories, and famous paintings.

I think everybody has at least one animal lover in the family and there are eight cute projects that they would love to have. The projects are: "Petals and Purrs," "Holly & Whiskers," "River Birds," "Chirpy Visitors,"  "Feathered Friends," "Two Little Pigs," "Crisp Winter Morning," and "Autumn Gatherer."

The five landscapes projects would make a great addition to anybody's living room or bedroom. The projects are: "Remembrance Fields," "Spring Lambs," "Sunset Trail," "Bluebell Wood" and "Wisteria Cottage."

Being stylish is important for any man or woman. Your style is something that will be judged by every person you meet. First impressions are very important when trying to build relationships. Relationships are the most important things in life. Your time spent enjoying the company of other people is what you will remember when you are lying on your deathbed contemplating the life you have led. A person’s first look at you can determine whether or not they consider being friendly. You want to make that first impression count. Build your style up from the ground. The shoes you walk on will be noticed by the people you meet. Women are especially crazy about shoes. Keep a pair of shoes ready and clean for any situation. If you’re a man, wear dress shoes with jeans and slacks and have some sneakers ready to go for more sporty occasions. If you’re a woman, you can never have enough shoes.

How to Look Confident and Approachable

Embroidered shirts are all the rage right now for both men and women. They’re not too flashy and not too trendy, and you can wear them for any occasion. Next, make sure to keep your hairstyle up to date. Use the same hairdresser and keep your locks trim and tidy. Some men have great facial hair and some just lack the ability to grow a great beard. If you’re a man, you know which category into which you fall. If you have a great beard, by all means grow it out and be proud. Make sure to buy clippers so you can keep your mountain man style from getting too scraggly and unkempt.

As you can see, Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writers has a new cleaner design, but it isn't fully finished yet. My blog designer still has to make the new buttons, signatures and rating system. I hope everyone likes the new coffee look. There will be two co-bloggers starting in November along a new meme, Top 5 Best Book Covers, and a new monthly event, Writing Tips Wednesdays.

My 32nd birthday came and went quickly, I don't feel any older, though I did eat too much cake, which happened to be a Duck Dynasty cake (yes, they'll put their logo on anything). I didn't care for the pink icing, but I do like the series.

 

Castle: The Complete Fifth Season
Starring: Nathan Fillion, Stana Katic, Jon Huertas, Seamus Dever, Tamala Jones
Studio: ABC Studios
Release Date: September 10, 2013
ASIN: B009RX7IX8
Retail: $45.99
Running Time: 1,032 minutes
Rating: TV-PG

Review:

Tomorrow, ABC Studios will be releasing Castle: The Complete Fifth Season on DVD starring Nathan Fillion (Firefly) as novelist Richard Castle and Stana Katic as Detective Kate Beckett, with many bonus features, such as Martha's Master Class - Castle's mom presents a whole new way to experience the 100th episode; Your Home Is Your Castle - interior design star Vern Yip gives you an exclusive access to Castle's penthouse & Beckett's loft in all-net TV design special; Lot Cops - Jon Huretas and Seamus Dever bring fans along on a tactical training course to ensure authenticity in the series; deleted scenes; bloopers; and audio commentaries. As an extra bonus, there is a pack of Castle trading cards.

Castle hit the airwaves as a mid-season replacement on ABC in 2009 airing on Monday nights and has become a ratings hit, as well as a fan favorite series. The first episode "After The Storm" picks up where the season 4 finale ended with Castle and Beckett finally admitting their feelings for each other and leading Beckett to meet face-to-face with her mother's murderer. The Caskett couple's romance doesn't stay a secret for very long, as Castle can't keep anything from his daughter, Alexa (played by Molly Quinn), and his mother, Martha (played by Susan Sullivan), but telling their co-workers, Det. Javier Esposito (played by Jon Huertas) and Det. Kevin Ryan (played by Seamus Dever), and Captain Victoria Gates (played by Penny Johnson Jerald) will take a bit longer.


The episodes on the 5-disc set are:

Canvas Bound
Captive Art, Book 1
By Laura M. Kolar
Publisher: Red Adept Publishing
Pub. Date: July 3, 2013
ISBN: 978-1940215150
ASIN: B00EV1XPI8
Pages: 230
Buy Links: Amazon, B&N, Kobo
Author/Book Links: Goodreads, Canvas Bound on RAP, Laura's page on RAP

Review:

Here it is on my 32nd birthday today and I'm posting my review on a young adult paranormal novel. You would think I would be tired of the genre by now, but the new supernatural stories have matured passed the typical human/vampire star-crossed love plot, therefore keeping me interested in reading them.

Canvas Bound is the debut novel from Laura M. Kolar and the first book in the Captive Art series. There are no werewolves, elves, vampires, or fairies in this tale. Sixteen-year-old Libby Tanner is a gifted painter and is attending Aldridge Art Academy in England. While she isn't painting, she is dreaming about the love of her life, Dean James; the only problem is Dean already has a girlfriend.

Despite being in love with someone else, Libby begins dating Brent Henderson, a performing art student at the Academy.

Lily's projects are not your typical paintings, as she creates her own magical world on the canvas. Inside her paintings, the leaves on the trees move and she even sees a mysterious boy moving around.

Has her imagination gone wild? Or are her paintings becoming real?

Welcome to the new Book Blogger Hop!

<a href="http://www.coffeeaddictedwriter.com/"><img border="“0”" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYspYb7buG-asGVXAPk12LyNSbK4Ww0K14s7bF3T5JsoL_S_uutEYQfYJYyTTOQuPRsP4f7inb1jFxKw0fqovKeeQ6CrG1Wg7sMgx0B1RzuRWi-pzF5zNmXpAuMvaMPkUQIMPeZHiBQEw/s1600/book+blogger+hop.png" width="90%”" /></a>
If you want schedule next week's post, click here to find the next prompt question. To submit a question, fill out this form.

What to do:

1. Post on your blog answering this question:

This week's question submitted by Judy.

What got you started as a blogger? Everyone has a story/reason, what's yours?

2. Enter the link to your post in the linky list below (enter your Blog Name and the direct link to your post answering this week’s question. Failure to do so will result in removal of your link).


3. Visit other blogs in the list and comment on their posts. Try to spend some time on the blogs reading other posts and possible become a new follower.  The purpose of the hop is to give bloggers a chance to follow other blogs, learn about new books, befriend other bloggers, and receive new followers to your own blog.

My Answer:

I kinda fell into being a blogger. I had a small online book group until MSN got rid of all their groups. I needed somewhere to talk about my recent reads, therefore I started blogging briefly on wordpress, then I switched over to blogger.

Boost mobile which is known for it's monthly shrinking plans, this month of September offers lot of discounts for their no-contact services and prepaid phones.



The above promos can be found on this boost mobile deals website. We all love discounts on everything we buy. What I love about these promos if you buy the phone using those promotional link you would get FREE ground shipping, activation and 30 Day Money Back Guarantee. It's a win-win situation if you want to get a quality phone on a bargain without risk if boost mobile don't work with your area. But I'm sure it would work because they uses Sprint Nextel network w/c is everywhere.

Happy Shopping!

Bounty Killer, based on the graphic novel, is in theaters and on VOD today today starring Kristanna Loken, Gary Busey, Eve, Beverly D'Angelo and... Christian Pitre as Mary Death!

Dark Shadows: Wolf Moon Rising
By Lara Parker
Published by: Tor Books
Pub. Date: August 20, 2013
ISBN: 978-0765332592
Pages: 400 pages

Review:

The gothic soap opera Dark Shadows frighten millions of viewers from 1966-1971. During that time, there were many tie-in books released by Marilyn Ross. In the late 1990's the original actress to play Angelique, Lara Parker, released Dark Shadows: Angelique's Decent, followed by 2006's Dark Shadows: The Salem Branch, and now her most recent novel, Dark Shadows: Wolf Moon Rising.

Continuing where the previous novel left off, Barnabas Collins has returned to his vampirism state and Dr. Julia Hoffman now suffers from his dreadful curse. He is still obsessed with the new owner of The Old House, Antoinette Harpignies, who happens to resemble the witch who cursed him, Angelique!

Antoinette is trying to restore The Old House to its former glory, while she is raising her teenage daughter Jacqueline, who happens to be the reincarnation of Angelique and Mirandu du Val, who lived during the Salem Witch Trials. She has been dating Quentin Collins, who has his own immortal past, but things start to turn for the worse when a portrait goes missing and reported animals attacks occur all over Collinsport, leading Dr. Nathanial Blair (the brother of Nicholas Blair, a warlock) to come knocking at the Collin's door. The Doctor is writing a book on vampires and wants the Collins to host a séance for him.

Memory's Door
A Well Spring Novel, Book 2
By James L. Rubart
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Release Date: August 6, 2013
ISBN: 978-1401686079
Pages: 368

Review:

I had signed up to review Memory's Door through Booksneeze, which I received a free copy in exchange for my honest review, without knowing this is the second book in A Well Spring series. Some Christian novel series have different characters and plots in each installment, but not with this book as it is a continuing story, so I somewhat hesitated about reading the book, leaving it on the coffee table for several weeks before I actually picked it up and started reading.

Reece, Dana, Brandon and Marcus are the four members of the Warriors Rising, which they rage war against the supernatural demons who are determined to corrupt every human being's soul. They have once before battled Satan and now they will come face to face with The Wolf, as the second part of the prophecy has come true, but before they can fight the good fight, they must battle their own demons.

It’s not difficult to buy music; you can get a CD or DVD from your local music store, or you can download your favourite song online. However, it seems like digital downloads have become the only real option of buying music in our modern times but some people still prefer to buy the original disk, and with good reason. It’s a great feeling to own an original music album of your favourite band.

When you shop online for music from different bands and artists, you can literally have thousands of choices available. From pop and rock songs, to classical music and gospel artists; you will find any genre you are looking for by simply browsing the internet. Most of the music stores will give you an option between a CD, DVD, or a digital download to choose from. This means even more freedom when you shop and you can do all this in the comfort of your own home.

Buying Music CDs

Most people still prefer to purchase music CDs over the option of a digital download as they want to have the original disk to form part of an collection. Another benefit of buying a music CD or DVD is that not all people own a digital music player or device, making it easier to play the album in your car’s DVD player, or at home. You can even play the disk in your computer if you want to. Although it’s much faster to buy a digital file that can be downloaded immediately, you won’t have any original media that you can add to your music collection, or that you can carry with you to play on conventional players.

The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
Director: John Lounsbery & Wolfgang Reitherman
Voice Cast: Sterling Holloway, John Fiedler, Junius Matthews, Paul Winchell, Howard Morris, Bruce Reitherman, Jon Walmsley, Timothy Turner
Studio: Walt Disney
Release Date: August 27, 2013
ASIN: B00CMY3K5O
Buy Link: Amazon
Running Time: 74 minutes
Rating: G

Review:

Return to Hundred Acre Wood with last week's Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy release of the 1977 animation-musical classic The Many Adventures of Winne the Pooh for a whole new generation. The Blu-ray contains many new extras; Disney Intermission - press pause during the movie and the narrator will interact with the viewers in a variety of activities; Pooh Play-Along - the narrator invites the viewers to play along with Pooh and his pals; 5 "Mini Adventures of Winnie the Pooh" shorts: "If I Wasn't So Small," "Piglet's Drawings," "The Expedition," "Geniuses" (also on the DVD) & "The Honey Song"; Legacy "A Day for Eyeore" - classic animated short; Legacy "The Story Behind the Masterpieces" - making of featurette; and Legacy "The Winnie the Pooh Them Song" - performed by Carly Simon (also on the DVD). There is also a mini kit included!

The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh is based on the books by A.A. Milne and features three previously filmed Disney animations featurettes - Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree (1966), Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day (1968), and Winnie the Pooh and Tigger Too (1974). Additional materials were filmed to link all three featurettes together, as well as the final sequence between Winnie the Pooh and Christopher Robbins, which was based on the final chapter of The House at Pooh Corner by A.A. Milne.

Pooh has only thing on his mind, honey, in the Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree. He attempts to get honey from a bee hive by borrowing Christopher Robbin's balloon and floating to the hive, but it ends in disaster. Then he visits Rabbit, who makes the mistake of offering Pooh honey.

Back in April, justice secretary Chris Grayling announced changes to the reward system in British prisons. The levels of rewards - basic, standard, and enhanced - will become standardized in prisons across the UK, and a new entry-level band will be introduced, restricting spending and requiring new prisoners to wear uniform for the initial fortnight of their incarceration. Moreover, rewards will no longer be provided merely for lack of bad behaviour: prisoners will have to actively work to gain their privileges.

Grayling expressed dissatisfaction with the expectation of prison privileges for good behaviour, saying, "it is not right that some prisoners appear to be spending hours languishing in their cells and watching daytime television while the rest of the country goes out to work."

However, President of the Prison Governors Association Eoin McLennan Murray has noted that prisoners' access to privileges such as television and gaming may be due to problems with prison overcrowding and a lack of available staff, stating that "the fact that they’re left locked up in their cells watching daytime TV is our failing, not theirs.”

Of course, this discourse occurs alongside a controversial question: should prisoners be allowed privileges and rewards in prison at all?