A Mother's Secret
Hearts of the Lancaster Grand Hotel, book two
by Amy Clipston
Publisher: Zondervan
Pub. Date: June 3, 2014
ISBN: 978-0310335818
Pages: 320
Buy Link: http://ow.ly/xlHpQ
Blog Tour: http://litfusegroup.com/author/aclipston

Review:
 

Credit cards with rewards have gotten a bad reputation over the years. Between credit card debt to lack of good or useable rewards, many people have been turned off to the idea of credit cards. They see credit cards as a negative thing and will not even consider them as a viable financial option.

“It is unfortunate how many people misuse, or even don’t know how to use, credit cards. I have seen many people greatly improve their financial standing by using credit cards,” says Chris Mettler of CompareCards.com.

Maybe it is time for you to reconsider credit cards as well? Here are some common myths about credit cards with rewards to help you decide.

Applying for a credit card with rewards lowers your credit score

Many people think that every time that you apply for a credit card with rewards, it will negatively affect your credit score. In reality, this is only true if you are applying to numerous cards on a regular basis. If you do your research and pick a card that works best for you, applying for it shouldn’t affect your credit at all. Just don’t fall into the trap of applying for every credit card offer that comes your way.

You earn the most rewards when you carry a high balance on your credit card

For Weddings & a Kiss
A Western Bride Collection
by Margaret Brownely, Debra Clopton,  Mary Connealy, Robin Lee Hatcher
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Pub. Date: June 10, 2014
ISBN: 978-1401688547
Pages: 400
Buy Link: http://bit.ly/1qTiFK2
Blog Tour: http://litfusegroup.com/campaigns/four-weddings-and-a-kiss

Review:

Teen Wolf: Season 3 - Part 2
Starring: Colton Haynes, Tyler Posey, Dylan O'Brien
Studio: MTV / MGM
Release Date: June 17, 2014
Retail: $29.98
ASIN: B00JF5G8WU
Running Time: 528 minutes
Rating: Not Rated

Review: 

Arriving on DVD last week is MTV's Teen Wolf: Season 3 - Part 2, featuring 12 exciting episodes from the second half of season three. There is only one special feature on three-disc set, titled Following the Pack: The Fans of Teen Wolf.

Loosely based on the 1985 comedy of the same name that starred Michael J. Fox, the series takes a darker and more serial-drama type approach, while still leaving bits of humor here and there. The series is set in the small town of Beacon Hills and centers on a teenager Scott McCall (played by Tyler Posey), who is bitten by a werewolf and must somehow handle his new-found lycanthropy, which comes with many supernatural strengths and powers.

The second half of season three centers on Scott, Stiles and Allison experiencing weird hallucinations that is caused by their temporary deaths in the first half of the season. To make things worse, Scott is still struggling with becoming a True Alpha. Meanwhile, a new student named Kira might be the link behind the supernatural force attacking them.

The episodes on the three-disc set are:

This gripping crime thriller set on the U.S.-Mexico border has emerged as one of TV’s most acclaimed new shows. When a murder victim is discovered on the bridge connecting El Paso and Juarez, detective Sonya Cross (Diane Kruger) must work with her Mexican counterpart, Marco Ruiz (Demián Bichir), to catch a serial killer terrorizing both sides of the border. But their investigation will uncover shocking secrets and relentless danger that neither of them could possibly have imagined. The Bridge is a co-production of Shine America and FX Productions. In celebration of the show’s Blu-ray and DVD releases, we present to you the top 5 things you need to know about The Bridge. *Peabody Award, 2014

1. The part of Detective Marco Ruiz is not Demián Bichir’s first American role. 


Demián Bichir was a very successful actor in Mexico before finding footing in American entertainment. Bichir actually moved to New York, and later L.A., to pursue an acting career but couldn’t find any work. He decided to go back to Mexico where he was part of many popular telenovelas. Sexo, pudor y lágrimas (1999) proved to be his Mexican movie breakout after it became the number one film in the history of the country’s cinema. Bichir widened his American audience by playing the corrupt Tijuana mayor, Esteban Reyes, in the Showtime series Weeds (2008). He became only the second Mexican actor (Anthony Quinn being the first) to receive an Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role nomination for his performance in A Better Life (2011).

2. Diane Kruger wanted to be a ballerina.

You have probably been wondering where my Monday Morning Madness posts have been for the past few weeks. The truth is that I had to shove those posts aside, so I can work on some freelance writing assignments for the past two weeks. I needed the extra cash and signed up for the projects, which almost turned out to be a bigger project than I could handle. After limiting myself to only a few hours a sleep at night, I would drag myself out of bed around 3:30 AM, brew some coffee and begin typing vigorously for four to five hours. Freelance writing is only a side-job, a way to make a few extra dollars, so I have other demanding things to do during the day. If I didn't finish my writings in the morning, then I would finish it later during the day before my daily 7 PM deadline. Due to the project's workload was increased for the second week, I had to work on tomorrow's projects the night before, which limited my time to work on reviews for this blog. 

Power Rangers Megaforce: Ultra Defenders
Starring: Andrew Gray, John Mark Loudermilk, Christina Masterson, Ciara Hanna, Azim Rizk
Studio: LionsGateRelease Date: June 17, 2014
Retail: $14.98
ASIN: B00IKM5M58
Running Time: 92 minutes
Rating: Not Rated
Buy Link: Amazon

Review:

Arriving on DVD last week was the Power Rangers Megaforce: Ultra Defenders, the fourth volume of from the 2013 season, featuring four action-packed episodes, as five ordinary teenagers prepare to protect Earth from a future alien invasion. There are no extras or special features featured on the disc.

The concept of using bits and pieces of scenes from a Japanese children series, may have seemed a little silly or even campy at first, but Saban's Power Ranger franchise has proved to be a television phenomenon with the 21st season currently airing on Nickelodeon and a 22nd series, Dino Charge, scheduled to air next year, as well as a big-budget big-screen reboot of the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers in the works from Lionsgate. 

Power Rangers Megaforce was the 20th anniversary season and is meant to be a throwback to the original seasons, setting the franchise back to the fictional Angel Grove and featuring teenagers as the Power Rangers. Mentored by Gosei and aided by his robot assistant, Tensou, the Power Rangers are trained to protect Angel Grove against an alien invasion. Along the way, they ally with the robotic Earth's defender, Robo Knight.


From left to right: "Robo Knight" (far left), the Pink Ranger ("Emma," left), the Black Ranger ("Jake," left center), the Red Ranger ("Troy," right center), the Blue Ranger ("Noah," right) and the Yellow Ranger ("Gia," far right) star in Lionsgate Home Entertainment's POWER RANGERS MEGAFORCE: ULTRA DEFENDERS

 Episodes the on the single-disc are:

Seagrass Pier
The Hope Beach Series, book 3
by Colleen Coble
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Pub. Date: July 1, 2014
ISBN: B00GNNGURA
Pages: 336
Buy Link: http://ow.ly/xAP8O
Blog Tour: http://litfusegroup.com/author/ccoble

Review:

Before I started reviewing books for this blog, I was only aware of a couple of Christian fiction authors, but five years later, I have been exposed to dozens of authors, including Colleen Coble, who is now one of my favorite authors. The majority of the books I have read by her have a historical setting, but that is not the case with her upcoming novel, Seagrass Pier, as it has a contemporary setting and it is the third installment in the Hope Beach series.

Seagrass Pier centers on Elin Summerall, whose life was saved when she received a heart transplant. The operation seemed to be a success and there are no side effects, except for the small fact that Elin now has flashbacks and memories that aren't her own. These flashbacks are known as "cell memories" and the memories belong to the heart donor! She is soon haunted by donor's murder.

The media and other people think these "cell memories" are nothing but a publicity stunt, but FBI Agent Marc Everton thinks otherwise and believes Elin's story, which is good thing for her because the donor's killer is hot on her trail.

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 Becca!

Do you prefer Nook, Kindle, other reader, or paper book?

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: 

To read eBooks, I use either Kindle or Adobe Digital Edition, but I would rather have a hardback or paperback to read.

The Facts of Life: Seasons 1 & 2
Starring: Charlotte Rae, Lisa Whelchel, Kim Fields, Mindy Cohen, Nancy McKeon
Studio: Mill Creek Entertainment
Release Date: May 20th, 2014
Retail: $14.98
ASIN: B00IJZW4KW
Running Time: 706 Minutes
Rating: Not Rated

Review:

Arriving on DVD from Mill Creek Entertainment last month is the Season One and Season of Two of sitcom The Facts of Life, available in individual season sets or 2-Season Combo Pack featuring all 29-episodes.

Spinning-off from NBC's Diff'rent Strokes, the series originally had housekeeper Mrs. Edna Garrett (played by Charlotte Rae) becoming a housemother to the private all-girls school, Eastland School, where Kimberly Drummond (played by Dana Plato) attended in the Diff'rent Strokes in the first season finale (The Girl's School). Though she appeared in the first official episode (Rough Housing), Kimberly was dropped from there series, Mrs. Garrett stayed on as a housekeeper to teenagers to Blair Warner (played by Lisa Whelchel), Molly Parker (played by Molly Ringwald), Natalie Green (played by Mindy Cohen), Cindy Webster (played by Julie Anne Haddock), Nancy Olsen (played by Felice Schacter), Sue Ann Weaver (played by Julie Piekarski) and Dorothy "Tootie" Ramsey (played by Kim Fields).

The first season was rocky, airing only four episodes in the late summer of '79, six episodes in the spring of '80 and two episodes in the summer of '80. Ratings weren't great, but it somehow received a 16-episode second season order, but with major changes. Molly, Cindy, Nancy and Sue Ann was reduced to recurring background characters. Mrs. Garrett was upgraded to the school's dietitian. The first episode of the second introduced the new student, Jo Polniaczek (played by Nancy McKeon), a tough girl who drags Blair, Natalie and Tootie out to a bar, leading to their suspension from the school that is until Mrs. Garret agrees to be responsible for them. The four girls leave their dorm rooms and move into the storage room across from Mr. Garret's bedroom.

The changes in the series boosted the ratings incredibly, lasting 201 episodes and two television movies over the course eight seasons. Plus, there was a post-reunion television movie in 2001, minus actress Nancy McKeon.