Tuesday, August 6, 2013

Writing a Romance Novel For Dummies Review & Giveaway

Writing a Romance Novel For Dummies
By Leslie Wainger
Publisher: For Dummies
Pub. Date: May 7, 2004
ISBN: 978-0764525544
Pages: 384
Buy Link: Paperback

Review:

Have you ever wanted to write a romance novel? I'm sure there are many aspiring writers and romance reader junkies that have dreamed about becoming a romance writer. Now you can learn about the romance publishing industry and how to write your own novel with Writing a Romance Novel For Dummies by Leslie Wainger, executive editor of Harlequin Books; with a forward by New York Times bestselling author Linda Howard.

Get in the inside scoop from Leslie Wainger, who has been editing romance for nearly thirty-five years. She teaches you about what reader are looking for in a good romance novel. You'll learn the difference between contemporary and mainstream genres; subgenres and niche markets; where to set up the perfect writing spot; creating alpha males and fiery females; adding the perfect conflict, climax, and resolution to a plot; setting a great romantic scene; outlining your novel; showing vs. telling; how to get into a character's mind; writing great dialogue; and writing a passionate love scene.

Barnie's CoffeeKitchen Pronto! French Roast Review


Anyone who knows me knows that I love my coffee. I can't function without it. Despite the fact the name of this blog is Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer, I very seldom get to review actually coffee products, so I was more than excited to get to tryout Pronto! French Roast Liquid Coffee Brewsticks from Barnie's CoffeeKitchen, Florida's original coffee company for over 30 years.

Any coffee lover knows there are many brands releasing single instant coffee sticks, which I have problem tried them all. Barnie's CoffeeKitchen Pronto! is the first brand I have heard of that has actual liquid in the brewsticks!

The concentrated liquid coffee is made from 100% Arabica beans. Each box comes with 6 liquid coffee brewsticks. The directions are simple. Just add one brewstick to a 10 oz. of hot or cold water, stir, and enjoy the delicious taste of freshly brewed coffee.

Monday, August 5, 2013

Monday Morning Madness #25: Smurfs 2 Bombs (kinda) and Two Disney Classics Get The Diamond Treatment in 2014


Looks like The Smurfs 2 didn't do so well at the US box-office as it came in 3rd place with only $18.2 million ($27.8 million over the 5-day weekend), but it did well overseas with $52.5 million, meaning there will be a Smurfs 3 in the near future (July 24, 2015 to be exact), whether we like it or not. I grew up watching the blue Smurfs cartoon and as an adult I continue to collect each new DVD release. I have mix feelings for 2011's The Smurfs live/CGI film, which I have only watched once all the way through. The CGI looked spot on, but the script was horrible. It doesn't take a genius to create a decent plot as there are plenty of stories from the cartoon and the original Peyo comics to adapt into a screenplay, but it seems Hollywood (for the most part) is missing any creative thought.

I could be wrong; maybe The Smurfs 2 is good, but I highly doubt it. I'm sure it falls in the the horrible sequel category as Garfield 2 and the Alvin & the Chipmunks sequels.

At least Disney isn't remaking their classic animation movies, but instead they are releasing them onto their Blu-Ray Diamond Edition Collection series. In 2014, Disney will release Sleeping Beauty (October 2014) and The Jungle Book (February 2014) to this prestigious collection for a limited time. Both films have been hidden in the Disney vault, but are being released with high definition picture and sound clarity for whole new generation to enjoy. The Little Mermaid Blu-Ray Diamond Edition Collection is coming out this October.

Sunday, August 4, 2013

DVD Review - Liberty's Kids: The Complete Series

Liberty's Kids: The Complete Series
Voice Cast:  Kathleen Barr, Reo Jones, Chris Lundquist, Kevin Williams
Studio: Mill Creek Entertainment
ASIN: B00CMDPTTA
Release Date: July 16, 2013
Retail: $12.98
Running Time: 14 hours 26 minutes
Rating: TV-Y7

Review:

I consider myself a cartoon fan, but there have been many shows over the last fifteen years that have quietly went under my radar, including PBS's 2002-2004 series titled Liberty's Kids, which is set during the American Revolution. The series found its way onto DVD in 2008, but has been out-of-print for quite sometime. Mill Creek Entertainment recently released a 4-disc set of the Liberty's Kids featuring all 40 episodes.

Set in 1773, British teenage girl, Sarah Phillips, travels to the Thirteen Colonies to search for her missing father, Major Phillips, and stays as a guest at Benjamin Franklin's home. She takes a job as a reporter for Franklin's newspaper as she believes a viewpoint from a British girl is just want the newspaper needs. She befriends fourteen-year-old James Hiller, eight-year-old Henri Richard Maurice Dutoit LeFevbre, and Moses. At first Sarah is dedicated to her home country England, but towards the end of the series she clearly understands why the Thirteen Colonies wanted their freedom.

The episodes on the four-disc set are:

Saturday, August 3, 2013

Review - The Letters

The Letters
The Inn at Eagle Hill: Book One
By Suzanne Woods Fisher
Publisher: Revell
Pub. Date: August 1, 2013
ISBN: 978-0800720933
Pages: 320
Buy Link: http://ow.ly/nibGe
Blog Tour: http://litfusegroup.com/books/the-letters

Review:

In book one of The Inn of Eagle Hill series, widower Rose Schrock is turning the Amish community of Stoney Ridge upside down when she decides to open a bed and breakfast in her very own farmhouse. The church members and even her own mother-in-law disapprove of a woman running a business. A bed and breakfast may not be what she had dreamed of doing, but she doesn't have much of a choice as her late husband left her in debt.

Rose's only support is from her neighbor and horse trainer, Galen King, who helps her turn the farmhouse basement into a bed and breakfast. As she gets ready to take in her first guests, she prays that the Lord will look over each one. To her surprise, the Lord is looking out for her and may be sending her an unexpected love, Galen.

DVD Review - Breaking Bad: The Fifth Season



Breaking Bad: The Fifth Season
Starring: Bryan Cranston, Anna Gunn, Aaron Paul, Dean Norris, Betsy Brandt
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Release Date: June 4, 2013
ASIN: B0060MYKYY
Retail: $55.99
Running Time: 375 minutes
Rating: Not Rated

Review: 

AMC's hit series Breaking Bad is coming to a close with the premiere of the final season on Sunday, August 11, 2013, which some people consider it as the second half of season five, while others are referring it as season six. I'm calling it the final season and I can't wait to watch it next Sunday as it has been nearly a year since the shocking cliffhanger. I've been a big fan ever since episode one of the series; I even got parents hooked into watching it. To prepare myself for the final eight episodes, I watched The Fifth Season on DVD this week.

The episodes on the three-disc set are:

Episode 1: Live Free or Die picks up shortly after Walter (Walt) White made his deadly move on his boss and meth dealer, Gus Fring, and he tries to destroy all the evidence pointing back to him, but the DEA (which his brother-in-law Hank is an agent) has already collected Gus's laptop. In a state of panic, Jesse Pinkman comes up with a plan to wipe the memory clean from the laptop, even though it is being stored in the DEA's evidence locker.

Episode 2: Madrigal - To make up the money his wife (Skyler) lost, Walt desperately wants to restart the meth-making business. With Jesse agreeing to assist him once again, they try to convince Gus's former cleaner, Mike Ehrmantraut, to join their new venture.

Episode 3: Hazard Pay - With Mike becoming a third partner, Walt and Jesse seek out their lawyer's, Saul Goodman, help in finding a new location for their business. Everything is in place and going fine, until Walt learns of some extra costs.

Friday, August 2, 2013

Book Blogger Hop: August 2nd - 8th

Welcome to the new Book Blogger Hop!


Grab the Button!

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.)



How do you turn down a review request?


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:
Typically, I would offer the author a book spotlight, a guest post, or an interview, if I'm not interested in reviewing their book. Lately, due to my lack of blogging time, I refer a fellow blogger about the review request.

Linky List: