Sunday, June 23, 2013

Movie Review: Monsters University

Synopsis:  
Mike Wazowski and James P. Sullivan are an inseparable pair, but that wasnat always the case. From the moment these two mismatched monsters met they couldn't stand each other. Monsters University unlocks the door to how Mike and Sulley overcame their differences and became the best of friends. 




Running Time
1 hr 50 min
Genre
Animation
Director
Dan Scanlon
Cast
Billy Crystal, John Goodman
Release Date
June 21, 2013










Review:

A Must See for anyone with children. As an adult I have to admit that I saw Monsters Inc. back in the day and loved every minute of it. So of course I looked forward to the chance to see Monsters University and get a look at how Mike and Sully first met. However, you know what they say about high expectations. Although I enjoyed Monsters University, it just didn't live up to Monsters Inc in my opinion. That is not to say that it wasn't a good movie. Quite the opposite. I took my children, ages 8 and 10 to see Monsters University on Friday. They sat wide eyed in wonder throughout the entire movie. Never once did I hear "Mommy, I need to go to the bathroom." or "How much longer 'til it's over?" They sat engrossed, as did the dozens of other children in the theater watching the escapades of young Mike and Sully. When it was over I got "Can we see it again tomorrow?" This in my opinion equals success. So although I did find that it didn't quite do it for me, Pixar successfully reached its target audience.





Friday, June 21, 2013

Movie Review: The Guilt Trip


Blurb: Barbra Streisand and Seth Rogen are the perfect comedy duo as they embark on one mother of a road trip! The plan for a quick stop at Mom's takes a sudden turn when an impulse compels Andy (Seth Rogen) to invite his mother, Joyce (Barbra Streisand), on an 8-day, 3,000 mile, journey across the country. But the farther they go, the closer they get and Andy may realize that they have more in common than he ever imagined.

Review: This movie is for fans of Streisand. Really, just fans of Steisand, because she really steals the show here.

She's the perfect, overprotective and slightly obnoxious Jewish mother. Only her obnoxiousness is endearing and you really come to love her, because, well, it is hard not to love Babs when she's playing a comedic role.

Joyce is funny, sweet, crazy and just the kind of mom you'd want to see on the big screen in a cheesy road trip film like this.

I know if I were making this trek across country, I'd want her in the passenger seat.

Such fun!

Seth Rogen's Andy was dull and boring.

I like lovable geeks, like the Big Bang Theory guys. Andy does grow on you towards the end when things start to click in his head and he becomes a nicer guy and a better son.

There's definitely some fun and funny parts to this film (The Grand Canyon and the Steak House scenes), but unfortunately it isn't one to wow you with laughs.

It is always good to see Babs on the big screen, it is just a shame this movie isn't quite as fun as her outings with The Fockers.

However if you have $1.27 to blow, it isn't a bad 90 minutes just for her part in the flick.

Thursday, June 20, 2013

Cover Reveal: A Facade To Shatter


Release Date: Sept 17, 2013
Pre-order: Amazon
Book Blurb: Dismissed & Discarded: can he deny the forgotten Corretti?

Zach Scott wakes from nightmares to the echo of gunfire. So when he stirs from a trance and finds himself not in his fighter jet but at a party, pressed up against the soft, womanly figure of Lia Corretti, he quickly rages against her sweet pity.

For years the forgotten Corretti has hidden her pain behind a façade. So Lia recognises the shadows in Zach’s eyes. But there’s nothing familiar about the hot heat of Zach as he traps her to him. Can she lower her guard long enough to let him see all of her?

Friday, June 14, 2013

Cover Reveal: Wolf Fever - Milly Taiden

Blurb: 

When Raine Bowe volunteers for a sleep study for the extra cash, she didn't expect to wake in a lab or to be victimized by a mad scientist. She escapes with one objective--to find someone strong enough to wage war with the evil growing inside her. 

Ryder Storm is a man with a reputation--the bad boy of his own universe. He doesn't take prisoners, won't give into a sweet smile, and doesn't cut his pack an inch of slack. He knows the desperate woman in his bar is his the moment he lays eyes on her. He'll give her anything she wants, except the one thing she's begging for. Death.

Raine enlists Ryder’s help to unravel the mystery surrounding the hours she lost in the lab and to help tame the beast inside her. In their search for answers, the road will lead them to a twisted experiment involving shifters, humans, and the creation of the ultimate Alpha. He's ready for the adventure and she's ready for her answers. Neither are ready for the lust that calls down from the mating moon. But a wolf knows its mate, and an alpha will not stop until he or she gets what they want.










Author Bio:
Want to know about me? Milly Taiden (aka April Angel) was born in the prettiest part of the Caribbean known as the Dominican Republic. She grew up between New York, Florida and Massachusetts. Currently, she resides in New York City with her husband, bossy young son and their little dog Speedy.
She’s addicted to shopping for shoes, chocolate (but who isn’t?) and Dunkin Donuts coffee.


Contact Milly

Thursday, June 13, 2013

Cover Reveal: The Sound Of Letting Go

About THE SOUND OF LETTING GO: For sixteen years, Daisy has been good.  A good daughter, helping out with her autistic younger brother uncomplainingly.  A good friend, even when her best friend makes her feel like a third wheel. When her parents announce they’re sending her brother to an institution—without consulting her—Daisy’s furious, and decides the best way to be a good sister is to start being bad.  She quits jazz band and orchestra, slacks in school, and falls for bad-boy Dave.

But one person won’t let Daisy forget who she used to be: Irish exchange student and brilliant musician Cal.  Does she want the bad boy or the prodigy?  Should she side with her parents or protect her brother?  How do you know when to hold on and when—and how—to let go?

Stasia on twitter: https://twitter.com/swkehoe





Tuesday, June 11, 2013

For The Love Of Cats

My family has always had animals. Growing up, there were mostly dogs. It was my father that brought the first cat to our house. (My parents had a few cats before I was born, but I never had a kitty)

Like potato chips, you simply can't have just one cat. Soon our house was over run by little felines. Some people have children, I have cats.

I love their unique personalities.

Yes, dog's have them too, but cats are different. Dogs are easy to love and be loved in return. Cats are different. You can own a cat, but your cat can be totally indifferent to you, that's just how cat's are, but for some reason, this dog girl became a cat person.

In the course of the last 20 years, I've had over 20 cats. The hardest part is watching them when they pass. It is the circle of life, and doggies and kitties are only with us a short time. It is so unfair how short that time is.

I write about this because this past week, I lost one of my little furbabies, Blinky Mucker. He was only a year old.

I've only once had a kitten pass at such an early age, and it is heartbreaking. Blinky was from a litter of 5 and two of his siblings stayed with us. He was a beautiful ginger tabby. So friendly, talkative and full of love.

He seemed under the weather for a day or two, but nothing that made you think it was life threatened until Sunday, when he went downhill so fast it was unbelievable, and then he was gone.
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Some people say they can't handle losing and animal. Once one goes they never want another. I'm not like that.  I think my heart has a greater capacity to love animals then it does humans.

When I knew Blinky was going to pass, I kept telling him to look for kitties of mine that have gone to the Heavyside Layer. I told him to look for Mutchka, Buddah, Misty, Coco and most importantly, Itchy who looks so much like his mom. I told him, they'd help him get to where he needed to be, and that it was all right for him to go.

I'm the type of person that must always have an animal. I'm a self professed Crazy Cat Lady, but believe me, I have the capacity to love guinea pigs, hamsters, and the Critter Country's 2 toed sloth named Moe.

I love animals for many reasons:

~ The won't betray you.

~ Their love is unconditional.

~ You don't have to send them to college

~ They make great alarm clocks and foot warmers.

~ They are eternally innocent.

There are so many reasons. That's why I'm a sucker for these little cuties and why I've always taken care of strays in the neighborhood, so much so that most of them moved in with me. (Including one I'm quasi fostering for my sister until she gets one of her boy cats neutered)

I believe every animal deserves to know love in their lifetime and I'm just the girl to do it.

Blinky, you are a little furangel now and you are playing with some wonderful little furry friends that have gone before you. Tell my Mutchy I miss him terribly and that it isn't the same without Misty sitting on my monitor, or Itchy doing the pick me up dance...or Buddah begging for table scraps...and Coco being well Coo Coo.

I know you are in a happy place and I know you really weren't ready to go. You fought so hard little man and you didn't want us to see you when you left, but know this little Blinky Mucker, you were well loved by all of us, including your feline family.

Your human mama will never forget you.....

Book Trailer: The Perks Of Being A Beauty

Here's the fabulous new book trailer from Manda Collins for her new novella!

Monday, June 3, 2013

CBLS Book Barrage: Faelon






Faelon (Forgotten Touch #1)
by AJ Kelton
Gay Erotic Paranormal Romance
Publisher: MLR Press
Release Date: April 7, 2013
Heat Level: Sizzling
Word Count: 70,000

Available at:

Description:
Who knew that loving a Nephilim could be so dangerous.

Faelon, a 3000-year-old nephilim, fleeing a demonic master, found safety with the church. He has repaid their kindness by translating various artifacts. Father Donovan has watched as Faelon became a recluse, fearing those who would harm him.

Jax, wanting a change, moves to Salem, MA where he finds work as a churches security guard. Not believing that Faelon is a nephilim, he is forced to confront his own beliefs in the supernatural.

Can he learn to accept Faelon, and be the master he requires? Or lose the man he loves to the demons who would harm him.

Warning: This title is intended for readers over the age of 18 as it contains explicit sex scenes and/or situations (including BDSM) and adult language, and may be considered offensive to some readers.

Excerpt: 
Jax shivered as a cold wind blew through the door and ate up the warmth of the heater. It looked as if a storm was going to come in that night. Jax hoped it didn’t include ice and snow, but this was New England in October, so it was entirely probable.

“Did you walk?” He looked out past Faelon and didn’t see a car.

Faelon smiled as he watched Jax, waiting patiently to be invited in. “Yes, I walked. I don’t have a car, and it wasn’t that far really. Can I come in, or are you trying to heat up the whole outside? I will admit that there is a chill in the air; we might have snow by morning, but I don’t think your small heater will prevent winter.”

Jax shook his head, shaking himself out of his thoughts. “Of course, come in.”

“Thank you.” Faelon nodded, stepping into the house. He looked around at the front room. “Nice, cozy and so forth.”

“I haven’t lived here long, a couple of months.” Jax shrugged. “I guess I just never really thought about giving it more of a personality.”

“I like the way the house feels,” Faelon countered. “It suits you perfectly. I find I enjoy looking at your house. You’re not the kind of guy who would have pictures and plants, but I can see that you respect and value a good book. Many of these are historical in nature.”

“Well, I’m a researcher. That’s something that never really dies in a person, the love of history. I may be just a security guard right now but I would like to do some freelance research work.”

“Maybe sometime, when you have some free time, you could help me with some of the artifacts,” Faelon suggested as he turned away from the bookshelf. “You saw how much I have left to translate. There are some months when every one of those drawers holds something waiting for my attention.”

Jax stood, watching the dark-haired man examining his home. What was he doing here? Surely he couldn’t have come over just to talk about work. Finally, he decided to take matters into his own hands and do a little bit of research of his own.

“Did you walk over here to ask me to help you with some research?” He stepped in front of Faelon.

Faelon gave a slight shrug.

“Perhaps you have another reason for dropping by?” Jax asked, his hand running down Faelon’s chest.


About the Author:
AJ Kelton are the dynamic writing team of Angel and Jordan. The couple met online several years ago on an Alexander fan site and have been friends ever since. Angel soon found that Jordan had a flare for storytelling with several half-finished stories on her computer. Angel encouraged Jordan to finish the stories and with help in creative description she decided to send the stories off to MLR press. They were both shocked and excited when they got the news that Faelon was accepted for publication. While Jordan may have a flare for storytelling she doesn’t enjoy the smaller details in getting a story ready for publication. That is where Angel comes in; she spends countless hours getting the story ready after line edits, going over each line in proofing and formatting, making decisions such as covers and fonts, all things that Jordan just has problems focusing on.

Angel is always on the lookout for her perfect mate, a cross between Ethan from Under the Australian Sky and Evan from Marco. Until Mr. Perfect appears at her door, or in front of her booth wanting an autograph she loves to read, take pictures and attend concerts of all kinds. She loves all things 80’s. Angel lives in Texas with her two dogs, Daisy a beagle who she insists is nothing like snoopy and her Chihuahua Bonita.

When not writing Jordan loves to read anything from Amish romance to the dark taboo books of fiction both M/M and Het. She is a very avid reader, except when writing because she doesn’t want to be influenced by what she is reading. Jordan loves to travel and often her latest vacation spots show up in his books. While Jordan is always looking for that perfect place to live at the moment she can be found in Kansas.

Both writers have solo projects coming out in the future, Angel with Misunderstandings under the name Angel Rothamel. Jordan with Legion under the name Rider Jacobs.

Both authors would love to hear from you. You can contact them via their web page AJKelton@AJKelton.com. You can also find them on Facebook under both AJ Kelton, Angel Rothamel and Rider Jacobs.

Connect with AJ Kelton

a Rafflecopter giveaway LINK TO SCHEDULE: http://www.cblspromotions.com/2013/05/blogbarrage-faelon-forgotten-touch-1-by.html

Sunday, June 2, 2013

Let's Talk About Doctor Who

By now the world knows that Matt Smith is stepping out of the TARDIS for good at Christmas.

Fangirl hearts everywhere are breaking again. (While all the haters are saying good bye and good riddance)

Personally, I loved Matt has The Doctor, and I wish he weren't going, but Hollywood must be ringing his bell and sending telegrams and texts at a rapid pace.

I'll certainly miss him.

What comes next is the one thing I hate about the Who fandom.

Who comes next?

If I hear one more fangirl squeal that she wants David Tennant back, I swear to god I'll go berserk.

That isn't how the show works.

Yes, I love Tennant. I cried when he regenerated, but the show is about change...changing Doctors and companions.

And please, no female Doctors...

We now will have to listen to all the speculation, until the new Doctor is reveal, my guess is it will be over the summer, since that's when they are supposed to be shooting the Christmas episode.

Really Matt, thanks for spoiling Christmas for us.