Movie Review: Book Club

Book Club is a rom-com starring ageless beauties Jane Fonda, Candice Bergman, Diane Keaton, and Mary Steinbergen.  These four friends break away from their usual boring literary masterpieces and read Fifty Shades of Gray.  The book awakens their sexuality.  Jane Fonda finds love with Don Johnson.  Candice goes online to get laid.  Diane finds love with a pilot.  Mary Steinbergen resparks her sex life with her husband.  

My Review: The story is more like Fifty Shades of Sex in the City- geriatric style.  There are some laughs, mostly delivered by Bergman. All in all, it is an enjoyable film that provides an escape.  The ladies still got it going on-especially Jane Fonda at eighty years old!  My husband hates her and refuses to go to any movie with her in it.  Nevertheless, I hope for a sequel.  This film would definitely appeal more to women than men.    4/5 Stars.

Book Review: Dark Matters by Blake Crouch

Dark Matters is a sci-fi novel that explores the idea of what if-what if I did this or that, how would my life have turned out? or what if I could do it all over again, etc.  The protagonist of the story is a physicist with a promising career ahead of him.  He knocks up his girlfriend and chooses to marry her and have their child.  His career becomes secondary to his family.  He settles for teaching college over winning scientific advancement awards.  One night, he goes to a bar to celebrate with his college buddy who has just won a prestigious award.  The award should have been his, but he humbly lets his friend enjoy the accomplishment.  On the way home, his life is changed forever.  He gets abducted and then imprisoned in a facility that he had built within another parallel universe.  

Confused?  Crouch (Wayward Pines) does a great job explaining it all.  You don't need a degree in sting theory or time travel.  I whipped through the first half of the book with the speed of lightning.  Our hero travels though several parallel universes to find his wife (or the same wife that he last remembered).  This ultimately is a love story that cancels out all regret.  Crouch did an amazing job drawing me into the possibilities of other life options through science.  The second half of the book was a let down.  Without spoiling the ending, I didn't understand it.  Over all, I would have to give the book 3 stars (five for the first half and then 1 for the second half).  If anyone can explain the ending, please leave a comment!

XPresso Tours Presents: Moonlight and Midtown by Christina Bauer

Moonlight And Midtown
Christina Bauer
(Fairy Tales of the Magicorum #1.5)
Published by: Monster House Books
Publication date: May 27th 2018
Genres: Fairy Tales, Fantasy, Young Adult

After battling werewolves and evil aunties, Bryar Rose is ready to enjoy her new life. No more crazy aunties. Her curse is toast. And Bry’s new man, Knox, is literally a dream come true. Best of all, Bry will soon attend a regular high school. Forget those sketchy tutors! To get ready, Bry is dedicating the rest of her summer to some serious back-to-school shopping with her best friend, Elle. It’s a blast, except for one thing:

Mysterious strangers are following Bry across Manhattan.

All these stalkers have oddly familiar scents and an uncanny ability to slip into the shadows whenever Bry tries to confront them. Even worse, their presence is making Knox act crazy with a capital C.

But Bry’s having none of it. Enough of her life has already been ruined by secrets. With Elle’s help, Bry plans to confront these strangers, find out what they want, and send them packing. Trouble is, the truth about their identity won’t be so easy to manage, especially when Bry finds out how these stalkers could change her future with Knox…and not for the better.

***An interim novella between WOLVES AND ROSES and SHIFTERS AND GLYPHS***

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About The Series
The Fairy Tales of the Magicorum series includes WOLVES AND ROSES (Book 1), MOONLIGHT AND MIDTOWN (Novella 1.5) and SHIFTERS AND GLYPHS (Book 2, Fall 2018). Eight full novels are planned in total.

—

EXCERPT:

“That’s why packs have Alphas,” says Knox. “You need to set her loose, and then, let her attack me.”
Every inch of my body goes on alert. “Attack you? Why?”
“Your wolf has been through a lot. Ritual fighting is how wolves work out their place in the pack. Your wolf needs a firm hand.”
I stare at my palm. “Firm hand?”
“I’m not talking about physical power here. I’m talking magic. My power is Alpha energy, but you’ve got your own magic. Once I subdue your wolf, I think you’ll get the idea.”
My head feels woozy. “Ritual combat? Really?”
“Yes. Release your wolf and attack me. Now.”
I hug my elbows. “I’m not sure. If I’m patient, my inner wolf might just calm down on her own.”
“That’s not how wolves work, even when they aren’t of the magical variety. And a werewolf? Our animals are far more intense. I’m your Alpha, and if I let this go on for one more minute, I’m putting you at risk.”
Something in his tone sets my nerves on edge. “Meaning?”
“Your wolf will go feral. When it happens, it’s fast and intense. Your wolf will take over and you’ll disappear.”
I suck in a shaky breath. “She wouldn’t.”
My wolf’s voice sounds in my head. “We will run! I demand we shift NOW!”
That manic tone to her voice is now higher than ever before. Every inch of my body trembles with the urge to shift. I reply to my wolf in my mind.
“Didn’t you hear what Knox said?” Normally, my wolf can’t help but listen in on most of my conversations. “Our mate thinks you’re going feral.”
“Mate?” The manic tone to her voice hikes up an octave. “We have no mate. All we have is the need to run.”
A chill runs up my spine. “You don’t remember our mate?”
“No mate! Run, now!”
My blood chills. No matter what happens, my wolf always knows her mate. In fact, my usual complaint is that she won’t shut up about him.
This is really happening. My wolf is going feral.
All of a sudden, it’s like I can’t pull in enough air. “You’re right. My inner wolf is losing her mind.”
“Hey, I won’t let that happen.” Knox rests his hands on my shoulders. “Breathe, Bry.”
It takes serious concentration, but I slow my racing pulse a little. “Okay.”
“Now, you need to set your wolf loose and trust me. Can you do that, yeah?”
“I can try.”
“Good.” Knox pulls off his dress shirt over his head and tosses it aside. “Set her loose.”
Normally, the urge to shift is a constant tug of war between me and my wolf. Most times, all it takes is for me to stop fighting the urge to shift. After that, I turn furry. So that’s what I do now—I drop my guard and let my wolf take over.

Author Bio:
Christina Bauer knows how to tell stories about kick-ass women. In her best selling Angelbound series, the heroine is a part-demon girl who loves to fight in Purgatory’s Arena and falls in love with a part-angel prince. This young adult best seller has driven more than 500,000 ebook downloads and 9,000 reviews on Goodreads and retailers. The first three books in the series are now available as audiobooks on Audible and iTunes.
Bauer has also told the story of the Women’s March on Washington by leading PR efforts for the Massachusetts Chapter. Her pre-event press release—the only one sent out on a major wire service—resulted in more than 19,000 global impressions and redistribution by over 350 different media entities including the Associated Press.
Christina graduated from Syracuse University’s Newhouse School with BA’s in English along with Television, Radio, and Film Production. She lives in Newton, MA with her husband, son, and semi-insane golden retriever, Ruby.

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RABT Presents: Keys to Success from a Completely Unsuccessful Person by J. Cunningham

Excerpt 1

Success is not an accident.

I mean, it can totally be an accident, if you’re born into a wealthy family or win the lottery or something then it can definitely be an accident, but actual standard everyday can’t-buy that- online success is something that most of people will need to

work towards.

And it is very rare in this world, this success thing, to see someone with the fortitude, the aptitude, the cajones if you will, to be successful and continually being successful like me.

You see, success isn’t just the coming together of numerous serendipitous factors in some grand and awesome fashion. Success is a set of behaviors and a mindset that will allow you to truly become successful.

I will explain this further later, but for now, you may be wondering, what does success mean? I mean success could mean many things to many people in many places or situations. Is it

even definable??

Well success means freedom. It is the freedom to say or do whatever you want without concern. It means doing the things you don’t want to do when you want to do them. Success is the ability to have fun and travel to expensive locations on private jets and eat the best foods and drink the best drinks with all the famous

people. Success is receiving VIP treatment when you walk into a concert, or bar, or speakeasy, or some fun event and not having to wait in line with the rest of everyone less successful than you are.

B: Success is also choice. Would you like the grey Maserati or the blue one? Well why not both??

Lastly, success makes you feel awesome!

“Look at me and my two Maseratees! Aren’t I the cat’s pajamas?!”

Doesn’t all this sound like fun?

That’s because it is fun! And I know this because I’m successful, and I get to do fun stuff like this all the time in my successful life. And whether you know it or not, success is something that you can achieve as well and turn into a reality for yourself.

Thankfully, I’m your guide to awesomeness. I’m your mistress of joie de vivre. Your travel planner to the city of Successtown! In other words, in order to help get you there, I am here to help get you there. I am gonna show you the way to find your success and unlock what you really most likely have inside of

you already but just aren’t’ able to properly work out yourself!

RABT Presents: Black Star Renegades by Michael Moreci

Sci-fi/YA

Date Published: January 2

Publisher: St. Martin’s

In the tradition of Star Wars, a galaxy-hopping space adventure about a galactic kingdom bent on control and the young misfit who must find the power within before it’s too late.

Cade Sura holds the future of the galaxy in his hands: the ultimate weapon that will bring total peace. He didn’t ask for it, he doesn’t want it, and there’s no worse choice to wield it in all of space, but if he doesn’t, everyone’s totally screwed. The evil Praxis kingdom is on the cusp of having every star system under its control, and if that happens, there’ll be no contesting their cruel reign. Especially if its fanatical overlord, Ga Halle, manages to capture Cade and snag the all-powerful weapon for herself.

Cade can’t hide from Praxis, and he can’t run from the destiny that’s been shoved into his hands. So he only has one option:

He has to fight.

Cade’s not going to let destiny send him on a suicide run, though. With some help from his friends―rebels and scoundrels alike―Cade’s going to use this weapon to chart a new destiny for the galaxy, and for himself.

He just has to do so before everyone around him discovers that he’s a complete and total fraud.

Blending the space operatics of Star Wars and the swagger of Guardians of the Galaxy, Black Star Renegades is a galaxy-hopping adventure that blasts its way from seedy spacer bars to sacred temples guarded by deadly creatures―all with a cast of misfit characters who have nowhere to go and nothing to lose.

About the Author

Michael Moreci is a bestselling author who’s the creator of numerous original comics series and has written and collaborated on multiple established properties. His sci-fi trilogy, Roche Limit (Image Comics),is currently in development for television with SyFy, and it was recognized by many publications as being among the best comics of 2015.  It’s been called the “sci-fi comic you need to read” by Nerdist and io9, and Paste Magazine named it one of the “50 best sci-fi comics” of all time.  Moreci has also written stories for iconic characters such as Superman, Wonder Woman, The Flash, and Conan the Barbarian.

In 2018, Moreci's debut novel, Black Star Renegades, was released with St. Martin's Press. Drawing inspiration from the space operatics of Star Wars and the swagger of Guardians of the Galaxy, Black Star Renegades is a galaxy-hopping adventure that blasts its way from seedy spacer bars to sacred temples guarded by strange creatures--all with a cast of misfit characters charged with saving the world.

His second novel, The Throwaway—an espionage thriller—is slated for release with Tor in June 2018. A sequel to Black Star Renegades will be released in 2019.

He lives outside Chicago with his wife, two children, and his dog.

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Goddess Fish Presents: His Wicked Love by Anya Summers

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Anya will be awarding a $15 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Mason Stewart is in a pickle. He and his brother are the co-owners of the Black Elkhorn Lodge and Resort. Their dream stands at the precipice of utter ruin because their previous chef embezzled every last dime of savings they had for the lodge. In a last ditch effort to save his business from the brink of annihilation, Mason hires a new chef for their restaurant; sight unseen.

Nothing can prepare him for Emily, the red-haired siren who waltzes into his resort, carting a set of chef knives and demanding to see her new kitchen. She challenges his authority. She inflames his every wicked desire. She is everything he has ever wanted. And he can’t touch her. He’s her boss. And it would be wrong to give in to the incendiary heat between them… wouldn’t it?

Read an Excerpt: Well, if those numbers didn’t just chafe his ass.

Mason checked and re-checked the account ledgers. He’d been over them more times than any sane person would, but he wanted—needed—to be certain they were correct. The loss they’d sustained three months ago had been substantial. With what was left, they’d be lucky if the Black Elkhorn Lodge and Resort didn’t shut its doors by Christmas.

“Are you sure about the numbers?” Cole asked.

Mason glanced across the expanse of his mahogany wooden desk at his brother. There were lines of tension in his shoulders and tanned features that were so much like their dad’s, including the dark chocolate shade of his hair that he wore past his shoulders and his brown eyes nearly the color of soot. Whereas Mason took more after their mom, with his lighter shade of brown hair and eye color—in a manly way, of course.

His gut twisted. Despair and dread seized him.

Mason detested himself for their current plight: the lodge nearly bankrupt. And it was all his fault.

Before all this, Mason had prided himself on reading other people. He’d been cocky about it. As a Dom, he’d considered his ability to size up a person to be top notch. But their last chef had proven him wrong. His arrogance had cost them. Mason hadn’t seen the fraud and deceit behind the chef’s apron before the no-good piece of trash had embezzled nearly every penny the lodge had.

He could still remember when he’d discovered the theft. The disbelief, the anger. His normal fun-loving personality had vanished overnight. The lodge, the dream their parents had conceptualized and that he and Cole had actualized, had tail-spun out of control. They had gone from having excess capital with savings to spare, to barely limping along and teetering on the brink of collapse.

In the last three months, they’d had to liquidate their investment portfolio just to keep their noses above water. But the costs of running the lodge were considerable. It took capital to make this place run.

“I’m sure. We are well and truly fucked. If we make it until Christmas and are able to pack guests in, maybe we can string things along enough to begin rebuilding,” Mason replied. But word had spread about their legal woes no matter how much damage control they’d tried to do. Without a functioning restaurant on the property, the Black Elkhorn Lodge and Resort had received cancellations in droves. The once prosperous getaway hemorrhaged funds daily.

“Well, with the restaurant currently closed, we’re losing a stream of revenue right there,” Cole said, telling Mason something he already knew. Still, he was glad they were both on the same page.

Frustrated, he slammed the account ledgers shut and irritably ran a hand over his face. The irritation was all self-directed. Mason couldn’t remember the last time he’d genuinely smiled. In the three months since the bottom had been yanked out of their business and a person he’d trusted had robbed them blind, there hadn’t been much reason to smile. When he observed himself in the mirror every morning, he no longer recognized the person in it. The haggard expression and grim line of his mouth. The permanent scowl and self-loathing.

Life, for Mason, had once been a bountiful banquet, and he’d never given it deeper thought than the fun to be had. Now, it was a steaming pile of horse manure. He replied, “I realize that. While you were leading the fishing expedition trip this past week, I contacted Le Cordon Bleu on the west coast for a recommendation. We need a chef running the restaurant if we have any hope of staving off further losses. I figured we need all the help we can get at this point. Not to mention, it could be a potential draw in our advertising to have a fully trained chef from such a reputable institution. As much as we adore her, Tibby can’t handle the load or full responsibility. Not that she’s not capable, but she balances her time here with her daughter’s needs. I can’t make a single mom give me more time than she’s able. Our new chef should arrive today.”

About the Author: Born in St. Louis, Missouri, Anya grew up listening to Cardinals baseball and reading anything she could get her hands on. She remembers her mother saying if only she would read the right type of books instead binging her way through the romance aisles at the bookstore, she’d have been a doctor. While Anya never did get that doctorate, she graduated cum laude from the University of Missouri-St. Louis with an M.A. in History.

Anya is a bestselling and award-winning author published in multiple fiction genres. She also writes urban fantasy and paranormal romance under the name Maggie Mae Gallagher http://www.maggiemaegallagher.com/. A total geek at her core, when she is not writing, she adores attending the latest comic con or spending time with her family. She currently lives in the Midwest with her two furry felines.

Visit her website here:

http://www.anyasummers.com
Visit her on social media here:

http://www.facebook.com/AnyaSummersAuthor
http://www.twitter.com/AnyaBSummers
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15183606.Anya_Summers
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Anya-Summers/e/B01EGTVRKC/
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/anya-summers
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anyasummersauthor

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Movie Review: Chappaquiddick

Chappaquiddick was about the death of Mary Jo Kopechne.  In the summer of '69, Teddy Kennedy and his staff held a party in Chappaquiddick, Massachusetts.  He left the party with Mary Jo and drove them both over a bridge.  According to this script, Teddy Kennedy did nothing to save her life and everything to cover his ass.  The film highlighted the event and the week that followed.  Teddy pled guilty to reckless driving and the sentence was suspended (or nothing happened to him).  He lived out the rest of his long life as a senator from Massachusetts.

My Review:
The film left out the ugly rumors about the supposed affair Mary Jo and Teddy were having as well as the baby she might have been carrying.  However, the director didn't leave out how the Kennedy family very early on got control of Mary Jo's body.  The truth of her actual cause of death and potential pregnancy was missed.  The doctor who briefly examined the body stated that she probably lived another twenty-five minutes after the crash and could have been saved.  
Teddy Kennedy's father (Joe) hired a team of lawyers and a doctor to cover many things up.  For example, his driver's license was suspended and then with one phone call it wasn't.  Another interesting example was the "concussion" he suffered which was why he didn't contact the police for 10-12 hours after the accident.  And then there was an implied pay-off of the Kopechne family.  Teddy might have told a friend and his cousin the real story, but his story changed several times throughout the week, and his cousin never spoke to him again.  
Overall, the film was well done-extremely well-acted and loved the timeline put in place.  I was surprised about the unsympathetic tone the film took on about the great Teddy Kennedy.  I inaccurately assumed Hollywood protected their Democrats, but that was my error over stereotype, not the movie's.  On a side note, I wondered if Teddy Kennedy's sequel would ever come out-the time when he covered his nephew's ass for a rape charge after an evening of drinking.  This was an excellent movie for history buffs and those who remembered the event.  5/5 Stars

MyReadingAddiction Presents: Shamanism by August Lageman

Inspirational / Self Help

Date Published: 6/26/17

Publisher: Jan-Carol Publishing, Inc.

This book grew out of the first seven years of August Lageman’s practice as a shaman. The book shows how the teachings of the Four Winds Society actually work with clients. In addition, August kept an open mind and integrated tools and insights from other forms of healing such as reiki and Holographic Healing. This book demonstrates how a person with a rocky childhood can heal from early wounds with the help of skilled shamans. August writes from his heart. You will learn how a shaman needs to be ready for the unexpected.

About the Author

August had a career as a pastor, a college teacher, and a psychotherapist. He served in the military for over twenty-nine years and did enlisted service in the US Marine Corps in the early sixties. Then August was commissioned as an officer in the Army Reserves and National Guard, serving both in the reserves and on active duty. He retired with over twenty-nine years of service as a full colonel in 2003. August trained as a shaman in the Four Winds Society, graduating in 2010.

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MyReadingAddiction Tours Presents: Durable Goods by Patricia Hale

Book #2 of the Cole and Callahan Thriller Series

Thriller

Date Published: April 15, 2018

Publisher: Intrigue Publishing

Detective John Stark approaches the PI team of Griff Cole and Britt Callahan with a postcard he’s sure is from his estranged daughter, Kira. She’s been listed as a runaway for three years by Portland, Maine police, but John isn’t convinced that her continued absence is by choice. As Stark’s long-time friends, Cole and Callahan agree to look into the postcard marked only with the letters O.K.

The postmark leads them to Oracles of the Kingdom, a farm where women sell fresh produce in return for a fresh start with God. But nothing seems right about the town or the farm and Britt goes undercover to look for Kira. Once inside, she realizes Oracles of the Kingdom is not the refuge it appears. And when she's trafficked over the Canadian border she’s on her own, over her head and losing clarity between hero and victim.

About the Author

Patricia Hale received her MFA degree from Goddard College. Her essays have appeared in literary magazines and the anthology, My Heart’s First Steps. Her debut novel, In the Shadow of Revenge, was published in 2013. The Church of the Holy Child (9/17) is the first book in her PI series featuring the team of Griff Cole and Britt Callahan. The second book, Durable Goods, will be released April 15, 2018. Patricia is a member of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, NH Writers Project and Maine Writers and Publishers Alliance. She lives in New Hampshire with her husband and two dogs.

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Goodreads Book Giveaway

Durable Goods

by Patricia Hale

Giveaway ends May 06, 2018.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

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