Friday, June 29, 2018

Book Blogger Hop: June 29th - July 5th




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 Reviews.


Do you have an Instagram account? If so, do you only follow book folks?

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:

Yes, I have an Instagram account (@coffeeramblings), but I don't follow very many "book folks."


Linky List:

Wednesday, June 27, 2018

Release Day Tuesday: Big Hero 6: The Series - Back In Action! DVD


Yes, I'm well aware that today is Wednesday and not Tuesday. I meant to have this post published yesterday, but due to some computer issues, I'm just now posting it.

Anyway, Big Hero 6: The Series - Back In Action! arrived on DVD yesterday from Disney Home Entertainment, featuring the 44-minute Disney Channel Television Movie and six 22-minute episodes. Bonus features include 6 shorts - Baymax and Hiro; Baymax and Wasabi; Baymax and Go Go; Baymax and Fred; Baymax and Honey Lemon; and Baymax and Moch.



The adventures continue for tech genius Hiro Hamada and his healthcare companion, the lovable, inflatable Baymax! Picking up right before the end of the film, Hiro thinks Baymax is lost forever, until he finds the chip Tadashi designed to create Baymax. Hiro immediately gets to work rebuilding Baymax, but Hiro’s overconfidence and impatience get him into trouble. The stakes are raised for Hiro, Baymax and their friends – adrenaline junkie Go Go, control freak Wasabi, chem whiz Honey Lemon and fanboy Fred – as they fight to protect San Fransokyo as the legendary superhero team Big Hero 6.
Voice Cast: Ryan Potter as Hiro; Scott Adsit as Baymax; Jamie Chung as Go Go; Genesis Rodriguez as Honey Lemon; Khary Payton as Wasabi; Brooks Wheelan as Fred; and Maya Rudolph as Aunt Cass


Top Non-Touristy Destinations in Thailand That You Must Explore



Thailand is one of the most popular tourist destinations currently, It is known for its happening nightlife, economical shopping options, scrumptious foods, dense forests, diver wildlife and pristine beaches. That being said, what irks most travel enthusiasts is the little solitude for exploration in peace with so many tourists and over-crowded sights. Probably, the abundance of attractions in the country and that too at pocket friendly pricing attracts tourists in large numbers all around the year.

Fortunately, there is more to Thailand, than the popular Pattaya, Bangkok and Phuket. There are some of the much more exotic and picturesque destinations in the country, that are hidden gems and are not as touristy. If you are a travel enthusiast and want to explore Thailand while you stay away from the bustle and crowd, here are a few great options that you should not miss out.

Koh Samui

Although the island has started to attract some tourist attention in the recent past, it is still not as crowded as Phuket or Pattaya. Most tourists that come here are either wealthy luxury travelers or solo travelers who are in search of some secluded relaxation. This keeps the overall atmosphere of the island more natural, calm and peaceful. Koh Samui is a beautiful island that is dominated by beautiful white sand beaches and dense rain forests.

Contrary to popular myth, it is not dull and boring and have many attractions and Samui Tours that you can pick and choose from. If you are looking for something beyond beaches, go explore the iconic Buddhist temples, the beautiful wild life parks or have the ziplining experience for some adrenaline rush.

Krabi

Just like Koh Samui, Krabi attracts a few visitors but they are much less in number compared to the neighboring Phuket. Again, most tourists that drop by Krabi are those who want to stay away from the noise and crowd in Phuket. If you do not have the time or budget to go to Samui, Krabi offers a good alternative. Krabi comprises of Ao Nang and Riley Beaches. If you are looking for something more whitish and exotic than Riley is a better option, although it is pricier of the two at the same time.

Koh Lipe

One of the more remote and a rather less explored islands, Koh Lipe is popularly known as the Maldives of Thailand. With its pearl white sand and lush green back drop, the island has little night life but exotic and lavish accommodation options that will give you a true beach experience. The island is so enthralling that it even attracts visitors from the nearby Malaysian islands for day trips or short stays just to experience the beauty that lies on this paradise.

Friday, June 22, 2018

Book Blogger Hop: June 22nd - 28th




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 Danielle  @ PoetryBooksYA.


For all of you worker bees out there! How do you balance having a day job/career and managing your blog at night? Is it hard or easy to do, and what do people in your work life think of your blogs?

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'm horrible at managing my blog; especially this year! My mind has been elsewhere, so it takes me forever to finish writing one post.


Linky List:

A Study in Terror Blu-ray Review

Mill Creek Ent., 95 minutes; $14.95


Here are two facts about me that you probably didn't already know:

1. I'm a big fan of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes stories.

2. I've always been fascinated with Jack the Ripper.

So, with that being said, I guess you can say I was looking forward to watching the underrated 1965 British thriller A Study in Terror, which was recently released on Blu-ray from Mill Creek Entertainment.

Directed by James Hill, the film stars John Neville and Donald Houston as Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson, the famous England Detective Duo who find themselves on the hunt for a madman, a.k.a Jack the Ripper!

With Scotland Yard baffled by the horrifying murders of several prostitutes, Sherlock makes it his personal quest to unravel the mystery after a strange package arrives at his Baker Street home. While Dr. Watson would prefer not to get tangled up in Jack the Ripper's legacy, he tags along with Sherlock through the dark alleys of nineteenth century London, where they stumble upon a world of aristocracy, blackmail, and terror!


Final Thoughts

Thursday, June 21, 2018

DVD Review - Flower

Lionsgate; Rated R; 90 minutes

Why is it I don't watch very many indie films? I don't exactly have an answer to very my own question, except for the little fact that many of the films just don't intrigue me. If a movie catches my attention, then I'll most likely watch it.

The comedy-drama "Flower" was released to DVD yesterday by Lionsgate, which happens to be a low-budget indie film. It premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2017 and received a theatrically release back in March. This type of movie would have easily went under my radar, if it wasn't for me receiving a press release about the DVD.

Co-written and directed by Max Winkler, Flower stars Zoey Deutch (Before I Fall, Why Him?), Kathryn Hahn (TV’s “Transparent,” Bad Moms, TV’s “Parks and Recreation”), Tim Heidecker (TV’s “Tim and Eric’s Bedtime Stories”), and Adam Scott (Step Brothers, TV’s “Big Little Lies” and “Parks and Recreation”).

The film centers on Erica Vandross, a complicated and bold teenage girl who spends her after-school hours prostituting herself to older men and then she blackmails them with a little help from her two friends, Kala and Claudine (played by Dylan Gelulaz and Maya Eshet). What is she doing with all the cash she's making? Well, she's saving money to help bail her estranged father out of jail.

Erica's life is forever changed when her mother's boyfriend's son, Luke (played by Joey Morgan), is released from rehab. Luke is a depressed teenager who finds solace in food. His father (played by Tim Heidecker) has tried to get him help, but nothing seems to change Luke's depression. Well, that is until Erica works her charm on him. It turns out that Luke was sexually abused by Will (played by Adam Scott), a junior high teacher. Though he did report the abuse to the police, there was not enough evidence to press charges against the teacher.

To help her possible future stepbrother, Erica comes up with an insane idea that will expose Will's dark secret. However, things don't go as planned.


Final Thoughts

Wednesday, June 20, 2018

Q&A with Gary D. McGugan, author of The Multima Scheme



Amazon

Can Multima Corporation withstand another attack from organized crime? While billionaire John George Mortimer copes with treatment for cancer, the accomplished CEO must also ward off challenges for control of his sprawling fictional American empire both from within the company and from nefarious powers operating outside the law.

The Multima Scheme is a fast-paced account of the lengths to which organized crime can infiltrate large global corporations and seize control of respected businesses to conceal activities that are both illegal and immoral but generate billions. It’s also a story of survival – how individuals and organizations might react under intense pressures and the ease with which people can cross lines between what’s legal and what’s not.

Using his knowledge of how large multinationals operate – accumulated over 40 years working with major corporations around the world – author Gary D. McGugan weaves a tale of intrigue using a writing style that readers will find hard to put down once started.


What group did you hang out with in high school?

We were a small group that people today would probably think of as nerds. We were all members of the school debating club and loved arguing passionately both in competition and for personal enjoyment. We actually tried to carry on serious conversations in Latin or French. And we spent hours probing the mysteries of life and philosophy. No world problems were completely resolved, though a great many were tackled!

What are you passionate about these days?

Learning. I’ve been a lifelong advocate of continuous learning and use every opportunity to encourage people around me to remain curious, ask questions, challenge accepted wisdom, and read everything possible!

If you had to do your journey to getting published all over again, what would you do differently?

I would have tried to do it all quicker. Yes, I should have made writing a priority sooner. Once started, I should have devoted more time and energy to the project. After the manuscript was complete, I should not have procrastinated with my publishing decisions. Regardless, the experience has been rewarding on many levels.

eBook or print? And why?

Both. eBook is a wonderful format when traveling. One small device can hold dozens of works that otherwise would be prohibitive to carry. But there remains a certain satisfaction holding a book as one reads, particularly a hardcover version.

What is your favorite scene in this book?

There is a scene towards the end of The Multima Scheme when John George Mortimer is under extreme pressure during sensitive negotiations. I like that scene because readers clearly see his strength of character as he negotiates with the same finely-honed skills others might use playing a game of chess. 


Giveaway