Wednesday, August 30, 2017

How to Choose the Best Birthday Present for a Friend



When it comes to choosing a birthday present for a friend, it can be difficult to know where to begin. If you're going to a party to celebrate their big day, you know you need to bring something, but you may worry that it's not the right sort of item. If you're not going to a birthday party, you might want to get something nice for your friend, but don't want to put them in an awkward position. However, you shouldn't neglect your friend just because you're unsure of yourself.

First of all, think about your friend's hobbies and interests and try to get them something tangentially related. This shows that you've been paying attention to the things that matter the most to them, but it also keeps you from trying to find something in a field that you know little about. So, if they are avid golfers, get a humorous mug about golfing, but don't try to buy them the latest golf club. Similarly, if your friend loves to swim, find something clever like personalized hooded towels from a respected company like Purple Pumpkin Gifts, which they'll enjoy every time they go swimming.

An alternative to buying your friend a traditional present is to get them an experience instead. Recent studies show that people remember and value experiences more than physical gifts most of the time. Find an adventure that you can do together, or get your friend something they can enjoy alone or with family. Consider a wine-tasting trip, river rafting, or tickets to a museum exhibit your friend has been wanting to see. These are gifts that your friend will get to enjoy twice, once while given and once while used.

Saturday, August 26, 2017

Wall-mounted Fireplaces: Why Electric Fireplaces Should be Your Choice


If an idea of making a fireplace part of your home has got your attention, chances are that you already worked out a few choices. However, the truth is most of them require heavy financial spending, giving up a good amount of your living space, and needing building permits.

You must be fascinated to see lifestyle magazines and TV programs hailing fire pits and fireplaces to make a living space the best area of the home. Undoubtedly, they add sophistication and elegance to any space; however, the limitations that come with traditional fires may restrict you from getting one.

A wall mounted electric fireplace, on the contrary, can prove to be a genuinely practical solution for your indoor living. In winters, these fireplaces will illuminate and heat up even those confined areas where you cannot safely install a traditional fireplace; and they will function just as well in a bigger space of your house.

In addition to these stunning patterns of electric fires, you will gain other benefits too. They are safe, hassle-free, and easy to install, and are a viable fix for all types contemporary indoor living.

You don’t have to pull apart your house

In case you are considering installing a traditional fireplace into your wall, there’s a great deal to handle. Some of the issues you will face are:

  • Cutting into the wall;
  • Re-strengthening the wall;
  • Abiding by the restrictions to ensure safe installation;
  • Weakening the structural integrity of your home;
  • Needing clearance for wood-burning fireplaces

In addition, you might have limited choices for the type of fireplace you can select, depending upon the capability of your walls to allow blows to the extent required for various inserts. Giving up on a considerable floor space is another downside of installing a traditional fireplace.

On the other hand, getting a wall-mounted electric fireplace means you will not be making irreversible structural alterations to your home. With an electric fireplace mounted on your wall, you will not only enjoy the actual heat and environment offered by electric flames, but there won’t be any permanent installation occupying your space.

Friday, August 25, 2017

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 Blu-ray Review



Marvel; PG-13; 136 minutes; Walmart
Available now on 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack, Blu-ray Combo Pack, and DVD from Marvel Studios is Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. It's already available on Digital HD and Digital 4K Ultra HD.

Directed by James Gunn, the film stars stars Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Vin Diesel as the voice of Groot, Bradley Cooper as the voice of Rocket, Michael Rooker, Karen Gillan, Pom Klementieff, Elizabeth Debicki, Chris Sullivan, Sean Gunn, Tommy Flanagan, Laura Haddock, with Sylvester Stallone, and Kurt Russell.

Based on the Marvel comic books of the same name created by by Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 picks up shortly after the first film, where Peter Quill, Gamora, Drax, Rocket, and Baby Groot are now known around the galaxy as the Guardians of the Galaxy. After retrieving valuable batteries from a inter-dimensional monster, the leader of the Sovereign race agrees to hand over Gamora's estranged sister Nebula. Everything goes as planned, well, until Rocket insults the Sovereign race and steals a few batteries. The Guardians barely have to time hop into their spaceship, before the Sovereign unleashes their drones upon them.

After crash landing their starship, Quill, Gamora, and Drax are rescued by Quill's long-lost father, Ego, and an alien named Mantis, who take them to his "home" planet while Rocket and Groot both stay behind to repair the starship. Well, that is until a group of Ravagers tracks them down and takes them hostage

BONUS MATERIAL (may vary by retailer):
Blu-ray:
  • The Making of “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” – A four-part, behind-the-scenes look at the making of the film, done in the style of classic-rock album liner notes. 

  • Visionary Intro – Director James Gunn provides context on how he continues and expands the storylines of these beloved characters in “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2.”

Book Blogger Hop: August 25th - 31st




Instructions: Select all code above, copy it and paste it inside your blog post as HTML


Welcome to the new Book Blogger Hop!

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 is submitted by Maria @ A Night's Dream of Books!

Have you ever read a book written in a foreign language you might be fluent in, and then read the same book in English?

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:

No. All the books I own are in English.


Linky List:

Thursday, August 24, 2017

Review - Goosebumps SlappyWorld: Attack Of The Jack!

Scholastic; 152 pages; $6.99; Amazon
Now available from Scholastic is Goosebumps SlappyWorld: Attack Of The Jack! written by the bestselling author R.L. Stine.

The original Goosebumps book series debuted in 1992 with "Welcome To Dead House." The books quickly became popular with middle graders. Sixty-two titles were published between 1992-1997, before a spinoff series Goosebumps 2000 took over in 1998. The books were adapted into a low-budget live-action anthology television series that aired on FOX Kids from 1995 to 1998. Several other spinoff book series were released during the late 1990s, titled Give Yourself Goosebumps, Goosebumps Presents, Goosebumps Triple Header, and Tales To Give You Goosebumps.

The Goosebumps franchise was resurrected in 2008 with a brand-new book series called Goosebumps Horrorland. More spinoff series followed - Goosebumps Hall of Horrors, Goosebumps Most Wanted, and Goosebumps SlappyWorld.

"Attack Of The Jack!" is the second book in the Goosebumps SlappyWorld series. Unlike the other spinoffs, this series features an introduction by the #1 favorite Goosebumps villain Slappy, the ventriloquist dummy. "Attack Of The Jack" centers on twelve-year-old Violet Packer and her ten-year-old brother Shawn being sent to a little New England seaside village, Sea Urchin Cove, for the summer; where they will stay with their uncle Jim for the summer while their parents are traveling for work.

Uncle Jim, an old admiral, lives in a lighthouse with his talking cat named Celeste. While Violet and Shawn were a little nervous about staying with an uncle they barely knew, their attitudes change as they get settled into the lighthouse. They can explore the lighthouse all they want, but Uncle Jim told them never to open one specific door. Of course, Violet and Shawn get bored and open the door to the room, where they find a chest full of jack-in-the-boxes. However, what they didn't know is that the evil Captain Jack and his crew are locked up in the boxes.

Monday, August 21, 2017

Summer Reads: Fault Lines by Thomas Locke


Revell; 398 pages; $14.99; Amazon


Now available from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, is the thriller Fault Lines by Thomas Locke. The novel is a prequel to Trial Run and Flash Point.

Fault Lines centers on Charlie Hazard, who leaves his post as a security expert at the Satellite Beach community center for a more exciting job after meeting the lovely and mysterious Gabriella McLaren, an experimental psychologist. She works for a group of scientist who are measuring unseen experiences. Basically they are studying how the human conscious can leave the physical body, which will hopefully lead to out-of-body experiences, and maybe even the possibility for the mind to see the future.

Another group called the "Combine" are trying to destroy Gabriella's group, as they want to take a more "global conquer" approach.

Sunday, August 20, 2017

Summer Reads: Chasing Secrets by Lynette Eason


Revell; 336 pages; $14.99; Amazon



Now available from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, is the suspense thriller Chasing Secrets, book four in the Elite Guardians series, by Lynette Eason.

Chasing Secrets centers on Haley Callaghan, a young woman who works as a bodyguard for the Elite Guardians agency. Her deadly past catches up with her when a photo leads investigators in West Ireland to open up a twenty-five-year-old cold case, which could be possible be connected to Haley's family.

As Haley investigates her own past with the help from her co-workers, her life is put in danger. This is when she turns to Detective Steven Rothwell, who is determined to help her unravel the mystery.


Summer Reads: The Return: An Amish Beginnings Novel


Revell; 335 pages; $15.99; Amazon




Now available from Revell ( a division of Baker Publishing Group) is the Amish romance tale The Return, book three in the Amish Beginnings series) by award-winning, bestselling author Suzanne Woods Fisher.

Inspired by true-events, The Return is set in the prerevolutionary Pennsylvania and mostly centers on Betsy Zook, a seventeen-year-old who is captured by an Indian tribe during a surprise attack. During her captive, Betsy's Amish faith is put the ultimate test. Later, upon returning to her family, she must deal with mixed feelings she has between her Amish family and the Indian man she met while she was captive.




Friday, August 18, 2017

Book Blogger Hop: August 18th - 24th




Instructions: Select all code above, copy it and paste it inside your blog post as HTML


Welcome to the new Book Blogger Hop!

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 is submitted by Maria @ A Night's Dream of Books!

When you enter an unfamiliar house or apartment for the first time, do you feel disappointed if you don't see any bookshelves, or books on the coffee table?

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:

No, I wouldn't be disappointed; though it would be nice if there was at least one book there.


Linky List:

Hiring a Roofing Contractor in Southeast Michigan


Are you looking for a roofing company in Southeast Michigan? Do your research and don’t settle for less. There are several roofers in Southeast Michigan. Choosing one might seem a backbreaking task to you. Below are some considerations that you must pay attention to other than their expertise and pricing.

Reference Check

The most straightforward approach to assess work quality of a roofing contractor is to review his previous jobs. When you approach roofers, many will welcome you and give a list of past references to convince you. However, you should search for references that are some years old in order to assess the durability of their construction work. In addition, you must choose a roofer/contractor whom you can carry candid communication with to resolve issues on a prompt basis. If you consistently hear negative reviews about a certain contractor from his references, do not overlook them. Everyone is in the market to sell their offerings. So you may find someone nice at first, yet you should only proceed after trusting the facts and legitimacy.

A Roofing Contractor Must Be Insured

While you need to be careful of those contractors who avoid furnishing references, you will find some roofers who have just landed in the industry. If they are unable to provide references, do a background check on them yourself? Make an internet query about their company; see if their name appears on any negative review. You can also visit the locale they are based in and ask the neighboring people if they have had a roofing experience with them. In any case, make sure that the roofing contractor, whether a starter or experienced, is insured including liability coverage and worker’s compensation policy. Otherwise, you will be held liable for any injury that may occur within your residential premises.

Wednesday, August 16, 2017

Learning Through Online Psychology Courses


It's natural for human beings to have an interest in psychology. After all, it's our brain that controls pretty much everything we do in life. Human behavior, depression, psychiatry in neuroscience, and other such topics have been of interest to human beings since before these things even had names. Neuroscience is a branch of psychology that looks at the nervous system. It's one of the most complex systems in the body and requires years and years of study to acquire a degree in neuroscience. Other people prefer to stick to behavioral subjects in psychology, as neuroscience is much more science-focused and less humanities focused.

Studying psychology online

In recent years, online courses in psychology have become more popular. It isn't difficult to see why. After all, attending a class physically can be stressful and can even interfere with work hours. Many people prefer to learn from the comforts of home. Advances in online psychology courses have come quickly and efficiently. They vary in nature.

Popular types of online courses

Tuesday, August 15, 2017

Release Day Tuesday: DONNA, Book Two of the Girls of Spindrift


Arriving this week from Pocket Books eBook is the e-novella DONNA, book two in the Girls of Spindrift series, by V.C. Andrews, the New York Times bestselling author of Flowers in the Attic and My Sweet Audrina. CORLISS, the first book in the four part series, was released earlier this summer. The series is a prequel to the standalone novel Bittersweet Dreams (available on paperback).


The second book in The Girls of Spindrift series is DONNA (Pocket Star EBook; August 14, 2017; $1.99). Being gifted is not something Donna ever wanted. It’s difficult enough to have a Latino father and Irish mother, and her genius only separates her even more from the other girls. They don’t say it, but they blame her for everything that goes wrong, just because she’s different.

And on the precise day she tries her hardest to fit in, everything turns out a disaster. A fight breaks out, and somehow Donna ends up in the middle. It’s not her fault, but it’s her word against theirs, and this time, the other girls aren’t going to stay quiet. The only solution might be to escape to the mysterious school her counselor is telling her about: Spindrift.

 
NOTE: I already reviewed CORLISS and DONNA in June, which you can read the review here. I had reviewed Bittersweet Dreams in 2015 (read my review here).

Disney's Descendants 2 DVD Review


Disney; TV-G; 111 minutes; Walmart
Available today on DVD from Disney Home Entertainment is Descendants 2. Directed by Kenny Ortega ("High School Musical" franchise), the film stars Dove Cameron ("Liv and Maddie"), Cameron Boyce ("Jessie"), Sofia Carson ("Adventures in Babysitting"), Booboo Stewart ("X-Men: Days of Future Past"), Mitchell Hope, China Anne McClain ("A.N.T. Farm"), Thomas Doherty ("The Lodge"), Dylan Playfair ("Some Assembly Required"), and Anna Cathcart ("Odd Squad"). The DVD comes with a FREE Necklace with 5 Villain Icons.

Descendants 2 is the sequel to the hit musical fantasy television movie, Descendants, that aired on the Disney Channel in 2015. The original film centered on the teenage children of Disney's villains leaving the Isle of the Lost, so they can start anew in United States of Auradon. The sequel picks up several months later, where Mal, the daughter of Maleficent, (played by Dove Cameron) is having trouble adjusting to being a celebrity as King Ben's girlfriend. She's also having problems living a princess-like life. Eventually, she gives up, packs her bags, and runs away back to the Isle of the Lost. With a little help fro Dizzy Tremaine, Mal restores her purple hair, and returns to her villainous ways.

After learning Mal has left Auradon, Evie - the daughter of The Evil Queen (played by Sofia Carson), Carlos de Vil - the son of Cruella de Vil (played by Cameron Boyce), Jay - the son of Jafar (play by Booboo Stewart), and King Ben - the son of Beast and Belle (played by Mitchell Hope), sneaks into the Isle of the Lost to find her. Unfortunately, King Ben is spotted and is later kidnapped by Uma, the daughter of Ursula (played by China Anne McClain), and her gang of villains, who ransoms the king in exchange for the Fairy Godmother's wand.

Mal and her pals must come up with a way to save King Ben and defeat Uma and the other forgotten villains.

Bonus Features are:

  • Cast Secrets - Personal secrets are revealed by cast members Dove Cameron (Mal), Cameron Boyce (Carlos), Sofia Carson (Evie), Booboo Stewart (Jay) and China Anne McClain (Uma) during the filming of the movie. 


  • Bloopers - The cast cracks up on set during some crazy takes.

Monday, August 14, 2017

Mickey and the Roadster Racers: Start Your Engines DVD Review


Disney; Rated TV-Y; 72 minutes; Walmart

Arriving on DVD tomorrow from Disney Home Entertainment is Mickey and the Roadster Racers: Start Your Engines, featuring six entertaining episodes and a bonus episode "Goof Luck Charm." There are no special features on the single discs, but the release does comes with a FREE Roadster Racers Flag (9" x 14").

Mickey and the Roadster Racers debuted earlier this year on Disney Junior; replacing the the popular Mickey Mouse Clubhouse series. The series centers on Mickey, Minnie Mouse, Donald the Duck, Goofy, Daisy, and Pluto racing around Hot Dog Hills (and the world) as the Sensational Six. Typically, the race against Pete, who's drives the Super Crusher, and a variety of look-alike relatives.

Each episodes is split into two 11-minute segments, one about Mickey and Roadster Racers and the other is "Happy Helpers," where Minnie and Daisy where they go around Hot Dog Hills doing odd jobs.

Voice-cast includes Bret Iwan as Mickey Mouse; Russi Taylor as Minnie Mouse; Bill Farmer as Goofy/Pluto; Daniel Ross as Donald Duck; and Tress MacNeille as Daisy Duck.


The episodes on the DVD are:
  • Agent Double-O-Goof - As the Sensational Six gets ready to have to tea with the visiting Queen of England (voiced by Jane Leeves), Goofy is mistaken for Agent Chauncey Chips (voiced by Peter Serafinowicz).
  • It's Wiki Wiki Time - Donald heads to Hawaii for a vacation, but he doesn't have a chance to relax, as the Sensational Six unexpectedly show up for a race.
  • Ye Olde Royal Heist - Set in London, Mickey and Minnie celebrates their raceversary.
  • Abra-Ka-Goof! - Goofy thinks he has turned Gordon Gear (voiced by Jeff Gordon) into a rabbit.
  • Guru Goofy! - Donald tries to learn "mindfulness" from Goofy, so he can be ready for the big race.
  • Going Upppppppppp! - The Sensational Six are excited to participate in the first-ever Hot Dog Hills hot air balloon race. Well, that is until Pete's cousin joins the race.
Bonus Episode
  • Goof Luck Charm - Daisy borrows Goofy's lucky rubber duck in the hopes of winning the upcoming race.

Friday, August 11, 2017

Book Blogger Hop: August 11th - 17th




Instructions: Select all code above, copy it and paste it inside your blog post as HTML


Welcome to the new Book Blogger Hop!

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 is submitted by Kristin @ Lukten av Trykksverte!

Do you participate in readathons and/or reading challenges?

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 don't have time for readathons. I gave myself a reading challenge earlier this year on Goodreads, but I keep forgetting to put in the books that I've read this summer.


Linky List:

Thursday, August 10, 2017

Interview & Giveaway with Amy Jareck


Now available on Amazon, Kobo, iTunes, and Barnes & Noble is the suspense romance Hunt For Evil, book one in the ICE series, by Amy Jarecki. Book two, Body Shots, will be released on August 29th.


The author has taken a few minutes out of her busy schedule for a Q&A about her new novel.



When did you become interested in storytelling?

I have always loved to write from the first day I picked up a pencil, but I didn’t write my first novel until the late 90’s. After I took writing classes and went to conferences, but wasn’t published until 2011.

What was your first book/story published?

My third manuscript, a Native American historical novel, was picked up by a small press (Boy Man Chief). It sold about 250 copies, but won The Spark Book Award and the Utah League of Writer’s award for Best Manuscript. The awards gave me the confidence to keep writing!

What inspired you to write Hunt for Evil?

I love to read suspense novels, but as a romance author, my writing style is more suited to romantic suspense. I dreamed up the concept for the ICE Series when I felt like I needed to write something new (I’m known for writing Scottish historical romance). ICE (International Clandestine Enterprise) is a highly secret agency headquartered in Iceland and dedicated to ridding the world of international terrorism. The first book, HUNT FOR EVIL, introduces ICE headquarters and builds the world with a highly perilous mission faced by Logan Rodgers and Olivia Hamilton.

What character in Hunt for Evil is the most/least like you, and in what ways?

Wednesday, August 9, 2017

Interview with Christopher Draven


Now available in both print and eBook formats is the supernatural thriller Hunted: A Jonathan Harker Novel by Christopher Draven.


Slinging Spells with Broken Ribs Isn't Easy

Jonathan Harker, mage and life-long demon hunter, wakes to find himself tied to a chair and severely wounded. His captor, a demon in service to a summoner who wants Harker alive.

Armed with impossibly powerful magic and a gang of demon toughs, the summoner has snared Harker in a deadly trap. Nothing is ever easy, and being new in town has left Harker with few allies. However, with help from a Fortune-Teller named Clover and a self-described "Kitchen Witch" named Momma Dee, Harker fights back.

To prevail, Harker must walk unprepared into a pit of demons and black magic - and come out alive on the other side.

The author has taken a few minutes out of his busy schedule to talk about his new novel.



When did you become interested in storytelling?

From a young age, I loved reading and hearing stories. My mom would read to me each night, even when I was in elementary school – only she didn’t read me children’s books. My mom read out loud books by Terry Brooks, Anne McCaffrey, and others.

I grew up on tales of Allanon setting fields of grass alight with Druid’s Fire and Lessa’s quest to bring back the missing Wyers.

In the fourth grade, there was a local contest for children writers. My teacher led our class in the exercise of writing a short story. She submitted several of the stories for consideration, and I won the contest.

And then I was hooked.

The rest of my life, even my career choices, were guided by a desire to write and tell stories.

What was your first book/story published?

I have written several Non-Fiction books, under a pen name or as a ghost writer. Hunted: A Jonathan Harker Novel was my debut novel.

What inspired you to write Hunted?

Jonathan Harker was my inspiration. He is a vital part of the literary world, and yet he is often forgotten by pop culture. As I considered what would happen next for the character, the story grew up around him.

What character in Hunted is the most/least like you, and in what ways?

Tuesday, August 8, 2017

Summer Reads: A Name Unknown by Roseanna M. White

*This is a sponsored review. All opinions are 100% mine.

Bethany House; 432 pages; $15.99; Blog Tour; Buy Link

Now available from Bethany House is the historical romance "A Name Unknown," book one in the Shadows Over England series, by Roseanna M. White.

While I do read novels set around WWII, my favorite historical fictions are the the ones set in the 1800s. By the cover alone for "A Name Unknown," I thought maybe the novel was set in the late 1800s, judging by what the woman on the cover is wearing and her hairstyle. However, as it turns out, I was wrong about what era the novel is set in. The novel is actually set around WWI. Despite being slightly disappointed with the era, I went ahead and read the novel. (Yes, I know! I should read the blurb before signing up to review it.)

Monday, August 7, 2017

Interview & Giveaway with Deborah Camp


Now available on Amazon is the paranormal romance Through Her Eyes, book four in The Mind's Eye series, by Deborah Camp.






When did you become interested in storytelling?

Since childhood. I had an active imagination and was always making up stories and characters.

What was your first book/story published?

My first novel was published by Simon&Shuster in 1978. It was one of the first in the Silhouette imprint line.

What inspired you to write Through Her Eyes?

I’ve wanted to write this series for a long time, but was worried I couldn’t do it justice and couldn’t determine how graphic it should be sexually. Then I read “Fifty Shades of Grey” and I loved it. That book gave me the courage to write the first book of the Mind’s Eye series and every one after that. “Fifty” showed me that others liked to read about flawed characters who find redemption in the love of others.

What character in Through Her Eyes is the most/least like you, and in what ways?

Trudy is more like me because she’s unsure of herself, self-conscious, and wonders how in the heck she ever landed such a sexy beast (i.e. Levi Wolfe). She is also independent and pushes back when someone pushes her. I have a bossy nature (like Levi) and a smart mouth. Trudy can be sassy, too, but I usually tone her down in rewrites because she comes off sounding too much like me and I don’t want my readers to think she’s a shrew.

What is your favorite part in Through Her Eyes?

Well, I like the sexy scenes. LOL. My favorite part (as a writer) is The End. My favorite part (as a reader) is the scene when Levi tries to explain to Trudy how her nurturing side causes conflicting emotions in him. He’s never had anyone try to take care of him, coddle him, worry about him. He likes it, but doesn’t know how to respond to it, and he finds that he just can’t handle it yet.

What was the hardest part to write?

Fight scenes are the hardest because I want the reader to be able to see it clearly – who is punching who and where – and feel it. Every blow. Every piercing pain. I want them to be in that fight and not be confused for one second about who landed what jab or who fell backward or which person saw stars, etc. I do a lot of rewriting of fight scenes.

What would your ideal career be, if you couldn't be an author?

I would be a lounge/supper club singer. I like to sing love songs and ballads.

Friday, August 4, 2017

Book Blogger Hop: August 4th - 10th




Instructions: Select all code above, copy it and paste it inside your blog post as HTML


Welcome to the new Book Blogger Hop!

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 is submitted by Elizabeth @ Silver's Reviws!

Do you ever go "way back" to when you first started blogging and look at your old review posts? Do you see any differences from then to now?

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:

Yeah, I've went back a few times and read some of my very first reviews, which several of them were short and badly written.


Linky List:

Thursday, August 3, 2017

Interview & Giveaway with Tanith Davenport


Now available from Totally Bound is the paranormal erotic romance Echoes of Love by Tanith Davenport.



Paranormal writer Kala Westenra, staying with her best friend Vika in Norway, is hunting for a new subject for an article, and finds it when she hears footsteps in the hall twenty minutes before Vika's hot brother Tor Viitanen arrives home. This, Vika tells her, is the vardoger - a Norwegian ghost, a future echo which always precedes a person's arrival.

Kala plans to stake out the hallway to catch the vardoger in the act - and is shocked when, on its arrival, it kisses her. Her feelings for Tor have been hidden ever since she first met him two years ago; could it be that the vardoger is acting on Tor's secret desire for her?

As Kala and Tor work together to understand what is happening with the spirit, their longing for each other begins to overtake them - but the vardoger has more to show them than they expected...

The author has taken a few minutes out of her busy schedule for a Q&A about her newest novel. 



When did you become interested in storytelling?

I've been writing all my life, although only started writing erotic romance when I was about 27. I've always loved to write and usually wrote some form of romance, apart from a brief attempt at a school story in my teens which, thankfully, disappeared with my old computer.

What was your first book/story published?

My debut novel was The Hand He Dealt, about a gaming management student who gets into a complicated relationship with her best friend and her best friend's boyfriend. It was great fun to write and Ash is still my favourite of all my heroes.

What inspired you to write Echoes of Love?

I read an article in the Fortean Times about vardogers, which struck me as particularly interesting because of the way they were presented - it was stated that vardogers aren't considered scary in context because they're handy for household scheduling. That gave me a few ideas about how I could give them a new twist.

Wednesday, August 2, 2017

Silicon Valley®: The Complete Fourth Season Digital HD Giveaway


Now available to own on Digital HD is the hit HBO® comedy series SILICON VALLEY®: THE COMPLETE FOURTH SEASON, featuring all 10 episodes from the 2017 season. The series will be arriving on Blu-ray on Digital on September 12, 2017, which will include three hilarious, never-before-seen deleted scenes.



There are many changes for the Pied Piper guys in season four, as they pursue their video-chat app, PiperChat, but Richard (played by Thomas Middleditch) has a hard time letting go of his dream to put his algorithm to better use. As Dinesh (played by Kumail Nanjiani) flirts with notoriety while Gilfoyle (played by Martin Starr) looks on in amusement, Erlich (played by T.J. Miller) searches for his next big break, Jared (played by Zach Woods) attempts to pivot with the company, and Big Head (played by Josh Brener) enters the world of academia. Over at Hooli, Gavin (played by Matt Ross) finds himself threatened by Jack Barker (played by Stephen Tobolowsky), while Monica (played by Amanda Crew) struggles to bounce back at Raviga after her fallout with Laurie (played by Suzanne Cryer). Sharp, irreverent and hilarious, Silicon Valley continues to lambast the self-important world of tech in a season that finds the Pied Piper guys looking to leave their mark, even as they continue to fumble along the road to success.


Giveaway Details

  • Silicon Valley®: The Complete Fourth Season Digital HD
  • (code can be redeemed on www.hbodigitalhd.com)
  • 1 Winner
  • Sponsored by HBO Home Entertainment
  • Must be 18+ age to enter.
  • USA Entries Only
  • Winner will be emailed the Digital code.
  • Giveaway Ends August 16th!



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VEEP®: The Complete Sixth Season Digital HD Giveaway




Now available on Digital HD is the Emmy®-Winning HBO® comedy series VEEP®: The Complete Sixth Season, featuring all 10 episodes from the 2017 season. It will be released on Blu-ray and DVD on September 12, 2017, which will also include seven exclusive new audio commentaries featuring cast (Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Tony Hale, Reid Scott, Matt Walsh, Timothy Simons, Sam Richardson, Sarah Sutherland, and Clea DuVall), David Mandel, and additional Writers, Directors, and Producers.




Created by Armando Iannucci (Oscar® nominee for co-writing In the Loop), the sixth season of VEEP® centers on Selina Meyer (Julia Louis-Dreyfus), who has been out of office for the first time in years after her loss in a Senate vote to resolve an Electoral College tie last season. To secure her legacy and find her place in the world, while much of her staff pursues endeavors of their own, Season 6 finds Selina and her band of fellow misfits hilariously attempting to make their mark while navigating the political landscape in Washington and beyond.


Giveaway Details

  • VEEP®: The Complete Sixth Season Digital HD
  • (code can be redeemed on www.hbodigitalhd.com)
  • 1 Winner
  • Sponsored by HBO Home Entertainment
  • Must be 18+ age to enter.
  • USA Entries Only
  • Winner will be emailed the Digital code.
  • Giveaway Ends August 16th!


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Tuesday, August 1, 2017

Popcorn & Coffee: Dragon Wars: D-War


Mill Creek Ent.; PG-13; 91 minutes

Do you like watching cheesy B-flicks? Well, you can find plenty of them in the $5 DVD bin at Walmart, including the recently re-released of Dragon Wars: D-War.

Based loosely on the 1989 role-playing video game, Dragon Wars: D-War was released to theaters in 2007. Directed by Hyung Rae Shim, the film stars Jason Behr, Amanda Brooks, Robert Forester, Craig Robinson, Aimee Garcia, and Chris Mulkey.

Ever since he was a child, Ethan Kendrick (played by Jason Behr) has known he has the ability to change an Imoogi into a Celestial Dragon. Now as an adult, working as a news anchor in L.A., he realizes his destiny will finally be foretold when an evil Imoogi, known as "Buraki," is unleashed and brings forth the "Atrox Army," an army of supernatural dragons and warriors, to destroy the world.

This is where Sarah Daniels (played by Amanda Brooks) comes into the story, a young woman who is an incarnation of Yuh Yi Joo. Before the dragon army can get to her, Ethan shows up in the nick of time and rescues her. Well, at least for the time being, as there a prophecy that needs to be fulfilled in order to destroy the Imoogi and the dragon army, so a sacrifice is needed.

The film earned nearly $100 million at the box-office, which isn't too bad considering the budget was round $35 million. However, it was later revealed the special effects went way over-budget, costing nearly $99 million.