The GUY'S Perspective: Dark Heirloom by J.D. Brown

Mel's Book Blog is proud to introduce our newest addition to the team! 

 The Guy's Perspective with David. 

Nominated "Best Paranormal Fiction" in the 2012 Global Ebook Awards and 2013 EPIC Ebook Awards.
"You're a vampire" is so not what Ema Marx wants to hear when she wakes from a two-day coma in a cryptic yet exquisite castle in northern Finland. Unfortunately, it explains a lot. Like why she's able to see in the dark and walk through solid objects. What she doesn't understand is why the other vampires expect her to have all the answers. It's their fault she turned into one of them...right?
Jalmari's hatred for his old-man intensifies when he's ordered to bring that troublesome girl to their castle. He has a clan to run; there's no time for babysitting newborn vampires no matter how they were converted to their culture. But when a two-thousand-year-old premonition threatens to take the crown and his life, Jalmari sees no other choice than to take out the catalyst, Ema Marx. Fortunately for Ema, she could also be the clan's only savior.
The race to figure out her vampiric origins is on. And maybe she'll get the hang of the blood-drinking gig along the way...

*Warning!! This book has some sexuality so probably not appropriate for minors.

And it adds a new meaning to the term blood lust!*

Ema Marx is a 23 year old redhead living in Chicago.  Viciously attacked she becomes comatose for two days; After she regains consciousness she discovers she is not in Chicago anymore and that she is a“guest” of the man that held a knife to her chest.  Having been taken to a remote castle on an island in Finland, escape seems impossible. It doesn’t take long for her to discover that her captors are not human and that she is, in fact, no longer human either.  As if trying to get over the shock of the attack and kidnapping was not enough her captor, Prince Jalmari, demands to know who created her.  Jalmari would have killed her because she is of Romani descent but the demon inside of him has told him to spare her; and when the demon commands him he must obey. 

Ema is told she is only a guest but she knows different. Jalmari’s brother Jesu befriends her and helps her to discover her powers.  Jesu gives Ema a tour of the massive castle and then convinces her to move into her own room rather than stay in the “guest” room; he says it is more private and the room is soundproof.  Meaning the other vampires will not be able to hear what she says or does. Jesu teaches her restraint and control of her thirst for blood, only allowing her a sip at time.  She befriends a black cat that she finds in the big castle.  Something is strange about the cat since everyone at the castle says there are no pets there.  After her tour she explores the castle and discovers a library; the cat seems to be picking books for her to read, is that real or did she imagine it?  Since the books seem to answer some of the questions that have been nagging at her, it's probably not her imagination. 

Once, when she is alone in her room, she takes her frustration out on the wall hitting it as hard as she can.  But when she tried to pull her hand back she couldn’t; it was stuck!  Now what was she to do?  The room was soundproof so yelling was out of the question.  Perhaps trying to relax her muscles might free her hand; she free's herself alright, but not exactly how she thought!     

The book starts off a touch slow but after the first few chapters you will be hooked.  Looking back now, the slowness and not quite understanding what is going on just reflects Ema’s state of mind.  The author feeds you just enough information to keep you wanting more.  Learning the clans and the powers they have, Ema pieces together the clan's she must be part of.  There are a lot of twist and turns in the book.  Some things were predictable and others not so much!  The idea of Vampire/Vampyre clans each having some different powers is interesting and definitely adds to the story for this book.

Pleasure to read and I look forward to the next in the series.  Just like the last episode of the season on a TV show the book ends at the beginning of the next book with a big question waiting to be answered!  I would recommend anyone that likes vampire books to read this series or at least “Dark Heirloom”

The Concubine's Gift by K. Ford K.: Review

Bernice Babbitt, a sexually inhibited, thirty-nine-year-old woman, leads a peaceful life in the tiny resort town of Valentine, Nevada. Living only two miles from the famed bordello, The Honey Bunny Ranch, she can’t imagine what goes on behind its closed doors.
Things begin to change when Bernice buys an old, black-lacquer makeup case in an antique shop. The case once belonged to Blissful Night, the most famous and powerful concubine in Hong Kong. According to legend, Blissful Night could give a man more pleasure in one night than he would have experienced in an entire lifetime.
Inside the makeup case, Bernice discovers a forgotten jar of face powder, the secret to Blissful Night’s success. Thinking the face powder is an herbal concoction that will beautify her skin, Bernice begins to use it, only to find that the powder causes her to see visions of other people’s sex lives.
Bernice is horrified to discover that the only way she can rid herself of the visions is to blurt out sexual advice. Soon the entire town is in an uproar. But it isn’t until Bernice learns more about Blissful Night’s past that she knows what she must do. (from Goodreads)

**This book is for those 18 years & older**

When I was contacted by the author about reading this book, I'll admit the synopsis piqued my interest. Unfortunately, I was so busy it took me a month before I was able to finally start reading it. Once started, I flew right threw it  in about a day and a half. 

This is one of those fun, fast reads that you bring to the beach. It's both funny and provocative, not quite a romance but most definitely an adult read. It's a story about finding and being true to yourself, the role that family plays in our lives and the power of true friendship. I thoroughly enjoyed it! 

My Rating:

Treasured Thursdays: Twilight Style Part 3: An Ode to Charlie Swan

Treasured Thursday is a weekly event created by Touya over at The Reader's Garden that is all about our most treasured. I'm hosting it here now, for those of you who are interested in joining me. This month, as you all know by now, we are ALL about the Twilight Saga! So this week our topic is our most treasured human from the Twilight Saga. 


We girls talked about it and realized we all had the same answer: 

Charlie Swan

So now without further ado, here is why we each treasure Charlie. 

Honestly it's so easy to love Charlie Swan. He is, first and foremost, a DAD. Then the sheriff, then a friend..you get the idea. Bella comes first for him, always. It doesn't matter that she didn't live with him for most of her life or that she didn't get to spend much time with him. She is very obviously the center of his universe. It warms my heart to see that kind of relationship. Even when those involved would rather pull their own teeth out than actually admit it.  Beyond that, he's hilarious; in the books and the movies. I think Billy Burke is simply amazing as Charlie in the movies, they could not have found anyone who could do it better.  My favorite Charlie moment, though, had to be 'the talk' in Eclipse. Movie & book, it was superb and hilarious and real, (because you know dads and daughters HAVE those conversations all the time).

Without even seeing Mel and Tammy’s posts I already know I can’t be alone here, I honestly cannot. My most treasured human from Twilight is…

…Charlie Swan.

Without a doubt. I mean, really. This book is swarmed with supernatural creatures, left and right; if they’re not a vampire, they’re a werewolf, and if they do happen to be human, they’re not exactly addictive, I’d say. Just my opinion though.

Anyway, onto Charlie. I loved him, in both the books, and the movies (HONESTLY, who better could’ve been cast here?!). He is always so awkward around Bella and they almost never have a proper conversation, but it’s obvious they love each other. I love how protective Charlie is, and how he is only looking out for Bella’s best interest (even if she doesn’t agree with it some of the time). I might be biased, because my favorite thing EVER is Dad/Daughter interaction, but I just find them amazing, and Charlie… So blissfully oblivious… It’s such a breath of fresh air. I love it. I love Charlie, I love Charlie and Bella, I love it all. He is most definitely my most treasured!

Charlie; he is such a guy and trying so hard to make up for lost time with Bella. One of my fav scenes in Twilight is when he’s cleaning his gun and he cocks it “Bring him in” LOLOLOLOL , and he draws the Halo over his head… hysterical! The whole “talk” with him and Bella… “Virgin, ha... liking Edward a little bit more now.” He just cracks me up! I’m glad that they kept true to the books in the movies and showed the struggle he and Bella have to form and maintain that Father/Daughter relationship.

I'm Not This Girl by Nina-Marie Gardner Blog Tour: Review & Giveaway

The prequel to Nina-Marie Gardner's critically acclaimed debut, Sherry & Narcotics.

A cautionary tale of love and loss—beautiful, raw and heart-wrenchingly honest, "I'm Not This Girl" chronicles the hair-raising journey of shy outsider Lulu, who with her faithful mutt Trouble seeks for meaning, identity and redemption in a world turned upside down by her own catastrophic personality.

From the hipster enclave of Hollywood's Silver Lake Hills, to Manhattan at the peak of the dot com boom and bust; through the aftermath of 9/11, to a psychiatric hospital in the Arizona desert, only when Lulu finds her way back to London, the city where she was born, does she come to terms with the truth she's been running from. (from Goodreads)

I'm Not This Girl is the prequel to Nina-Marie Gardner's novel, Sherry and Narcotics. Spanning the globe, this novel brings us from London to LA to New York and then back to London again. This is a tale of loss, addiction, self discovery, desperation, and healing.

The story is told from the point of view of Lulu, the immensely self-destructive main character. At first it was a little hard to follow for me, but I got used to her style fairly quickly. Simply put, Lulu is a mess. Rather than try to change or get better she focuses instead on feeling good and trying to fit in. You see her start down the very slippery slope of partying and casual hook ups. Your heart breaks for Lulu as she struggles throughout the book.

This was an interesting look at a catastrophic personality perpetually on the brink of disaster. I will admit it was hard for me to read, but this isn't my normal type of read, I did enjoy it overall. This was a poignant story and I rooted for Lulu through the whole thing, would definitely recommend it.

My Rating:

And thanks to Nina-Marie Gardner for the giveaway, as well! 
*Please note that if you are NOT over 18 then you should not read this book!*

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About the Author: 

Nina-Marie Gardner was born in New York City. Her debut novel Sherry & Narcotics was published in May 2011 (Future Fiction London) and her second novel, I'm Not This Girl will be published March 2012. Her fiction has been published in 3AM Magazine and the anthologies Bedford Square and 3AM London, New York, Paris. A graduate of Yale University and the creative writing program at the University of London, Royal Holloway, she has lived and traveled extensively abroad. Currently she lives with her dog Lulu in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

For More on Nina-Marie Gardner: 

Twitter

Website

You can buy this book here:
Paperback:
Amazon.com
Barnes & Noble 
Lulu.com


Ebook:
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Smashwords

"Waiting on" Wednesday: What's Left Of Me by Kat Zhang

"Waiting on" Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're super excited about. This week, my pick is:

What's Left Of Me

The Hybrid Chronicles #1

By: Kat Zhang

Publication Date: September 18th, 2012

Eva and Addie started out the same way as everyone else--two souls woven together in one body, taking turns controlling their movements as they learned how to walk, how to sing, how to dance. But as they grew, so did the worried whispers. Why aren't they settling? Why isn't one of them fading? The doctors ran tests, the neighbors shied away, and their parents begged for more time. Finally Addie was pronounced healthy and Eva was declared gone. Except, she wasn't...


For the past three years, Eva has clung to the remnants of her life. Only Addie knows she's still there, trapped inside their body. Then one day, they discover there may be a way for Eva to move again. The risks are unimaginable--hybrids are considered a threat to society, so if they are caught, Addie and Eva will be locked away with the others. And yet...for a chance to smile, to twirl, to speak, Eva will do anything. (Amazon)


This looks very interesting to me. I'm curious to see what the samheck this novel is about! :D


This is my "waiting on", what's yours?

Teaser Tuesday: Intangible by J. Meyers

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly event hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. Anyone can participate! All you have to do is:

• Grab your current read

• Open to a random page• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

My teaser this week is from: 

Intangible by J Meyers

'He didn't know why the Shadows wanted the brother and sister, but if he allowed himself to dwell on it too long he knew in his gut that finding them meant their deaths.

So he didn't allow himself to think about it.'


Kindle Location 719

Creepy, huh? ;3


This is my teaser, what's yours?

Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer: Group Book to Movie Review & Giveaway

Readers captivated by Twilight and New Moon will eagerly devour Eclipse, the much anticipated third book in Stephenie Meyer's riveting vampire love saga. As Seattle is ravaged by a string of mysterious killings and a malicious vampire continues her quest for revenge, Bella once again finds herself surrounded by danger. In the midst of it all, she is forced to choose between her love for Edward and her friendship with Jacob --- knowing that her decision has the potential to ignite the ageless struggle between vampire and werewolf. With her graduation quickly approaching, Bella has one more decision to make: life or death. But which is which? (from Goodreads)

Well, now that you've read about our feelings on Twilight and New Moon, it's time once again to move along in the series to one of my personal favorites, Eclipse. This book, for me, was where ALL the action was in the series.  This is the 3rd book in the Saga and it's my second favorite out of them all. I loved the suspense and the romance.  However, there were things I didn't care for. 

I didn't enjoy Edward's attitude in this book at all. Honestly, why don't you just put a leash on Bella and get it over with? You understand that he's only trying to keep her safe, but, at the same time he knows how Jacob feels about her and it scares him to think he could lose her.  In my opinion, Edward lost some of his 'white knight' allure in this book because of his controlling behavior.  Also, Jacob got on my last nerve in this book! How many times does Bella have to say, "I'm with Edward"? I felt bad for him for a little while but after the "I'd rather you were dead" comment I have to say I was pretty pissed off. How can you claim to love someone, even as a friend and make a statement like that to them? 


 I loved the suspense in this book. It really keeps you on the edge of your seat as the story progresses.  Not knowing who is stalking Bella is a little nerve-racking, to say the least. I loved the banter between Edward and Bella as they discuss the ahem "terms" of their deal. I will say, I never thought Jacob had a chance of winning Bella, honestly. It is just so obvious to me that she and Edward were meant to be. It didn't seem like much of a triangle to me. Even when she admits to herself that she loves Jacob, she doesn't even consider staying human and being with him. She feels like she knows that she cannot live without Edward. To her, there was never a choice. 


Taking the good with the bad, I have to say I still LOVED this book. You learn SO much about the wolves, Rose and Jasper. I loved the talk between Charlie and Bella, and Alice begging Bella to let her plan a wedding . Overall, this was a must read in my opinion.

My Rating:

Now onto the movie. Honestly, I thought they did a much better job with this than they did with New Moon and Twilight. There were still low points, but they weren't as numerous in my opinion. I loved so many things about it, it's hard to know where to start. 


I loved the opening scene in the meadow. It was absolutely perfect, much better than the sham of a meadow they gave us in Twilight. With all the colors and Edward sparkling, it was visually beautiful. And then we have their conversation. It was fantastic. For once, I didn't want to throttle the screenwriter..at least not at that particular moment. The training for the fight with the newborns, was so well done, probably my favorite part of the whole movie, aside from the 'talk' with Charlie & Bella and the scene where Bella accepts Edward's proposal. 


Now onto the negatives. Even though I loved this movie, there were still quite a few moments where I just cringed. The end in the meadow where Bella gives her little speech. Ick. That is all I can say, ICK. It was just BAD. Then we have her horrible wig, I mean, come on, it was very obviously NOT her hair. Ick. And poor Alice, why do they give her grandma hair? Aside from that, I didn't love the tent scene. I thought that scene in the book was so perfect, they didn't do it justice.  And lastly, there was the scene at the end where Bella tells Jacob that she's choosing Edward even though she loves him. I really was hoping to see her heart break here; in the book, she has to pull over on the side of the road and Edward comes and brings her home.  He really redeems himself a lot, in my eyes in that part of the book and leaving it out was just wrong, in my opinion. I think it's important to show that she did love Jacob, too. And that choosing Edward did hurt her. 


One last complaint, and it's a BIG one. Why oh why did they recast Victoria?? I did not like Bryce in this role AT ALL. I'm sorry but Rachelle Lafevere was perfect! I hate when they change the actors in the middle of a series! I don't care what the reasons are, honestly. I just do not like it. 


Overall, I have to say this movie was well done. I liked David Slade's vision, the scenery was absolutely breathtaking and overall, I thought he stuck close to the book. So thank you, sir, for making Eclipse a great movie! 

My Rating:

Eclipse is the third novel in The Twilight Saga, and my least favorite of them all.

I know, I’m probably alone, but really. I loved the part where the Volturi came in, and I loved when Jasper was teaching the Cullen’s their fighting, but the rest? I was bored. Honestly? I found myself skimming paragraphs just to end a chapter, so I could go do something else. I was drifting off in my head for most of the scenes with the wolf pack, and any time Edward and Jacob found themselves in the same room on the same page I wanted to strangle myself.

Because really, that’s what this book is about. It’s Bella being in love with Edward, but not wanting to let Jacob go and therefore leading him on further by giving him a false hope that everything would be okay between them, and then rushing back to Edward when he got grouchy. It just frustrated me, because there was so much hope there, but Bella is on a deadline and doesn’t know how to see that Jacob is a better choice for her.

Sorry, I’m being harsh, but I just didn’t like this one novel.

Allow me to discuss what I did enjoy from Eclipse—The spinoff we got of it! The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner is the best thing we ever got. I loved Bree in Eclipse, even if she was only there for about 30 seconds, I wanted to jump into the book and beat Jane to death when she used her oh-so-wonderful gift. @#$%^… Ahem.

All in all, I didn’t really like Eclipse at all… But I love Bree.

My Rating: 

As for the movie, I liked it much more than I liked the book. Surprisingly. Though I was still wincing at the make-up. But I think Bella’s sexual tension and hesitation about Edward was brought into the light, and Jacob practically screaming that she had another choice was bluntly obvious.

I also loved how Rosalie’s story was depicted, and how we got to go see what happened in her head. I was sitting there trying not to vomit actually it gave me that many chills. This is where I fell in love with Rosalie, where she proved to me she has a story too and it would’ve been nice to see more of it.

But I have to say, a props to the casting directors for the newborns, but what in the world is this new redhead doing as my Victoria? She was far too docile and sweetie-pie and not nearly vicious enough. She looked SCARED when Edward was talking to Riley, like she thought this would ruin what she had…No. No, no, no, just NO. I understand the original Victoria (a MUCH better one, in my opinion) wasn’t able to film but… But why this chick? Why? I do not approve.

I’m nitpicking. I know. But it annoyed me. A lot.

Other than Victoria, I enjoyed the movie, much more than the book. So.

My Rating: 

Second best book of the series; Meyer has a knack for getting better as she goes.. Breaking Dawn, I rest my case! My favorite part in this book was the time Bella spent with the wolf pack and how the wolves and the vampires came together to protect the one thing these sworn, born enemies have in common; Bella. So much good stuff happens in this book; Jasper’s story, Rose’s story, wolf history and we finally meet the Clearwaters!

Another good thing with this book is that both Edward and Jacob are present. Although quite different, both add interesting elements to the story as we delve deeper into this fantastic love triangle Meyer has created.

So, the whole Newborn Army aspect played out more intensely on paper than in the movie. I was sitting on the edge of my bed, bug eyed, flipping pages, anxiously awaiting what would come to life on the next page. It is sometimes difficult to translate such things onto the screen. It’s funny to me that in book 1 & 2 Edward is trying to make Bella realize that she has something to LIVE for, he’s trying to help her grow up and realize there is more to life than just Bella/Edward… it’s actually Jacob in Eclipse that helps Bella realize this. Isn’t it ironic, don’t ya think?!

Alice and Bella, OhMyGod, I LOVE Alice in this book. “Don’t you love me Bella?” as I was reading this I could just SEE Alice whimpering, batting her eyelashes at Bella and I was laughing so hard I was crying. This whole chapter in Eclipse is one of my favs in the book; Edward whispering in Bella’s ear “Vegas” hysterical. Again, I could just SEE Alice rolling her eyes at Edward and giving him an exasperated sigh, with her little hand placed perfectly on that hip, eyes rolling. I’m rolling on the bed laughing my ass off now just remembering.

The cookout on the reservation with the wolfpack; I LOVED IT! Again, I was on the edge of my seat. So well written, so descriptive, Chapter 11.. Legends. Best damn chapter in the entire book! Tahi Aki and the third wife, cried like a baby. It was the perfect set up for this chapter, the cookout, sitting by the fire while Billy Black shares this prolific piece of the Quileutes history. You can tell at this part of the book that he still loathes the Cullens and probably always will, you almost hate them along with him this chapter is so well written!



Fav quotes: “What do you mean by ‘keep an eye on things’?” “I mean that if you see a wolf running around your house, don’t shoot at it.” Don’t know why exactly but maybe just a vision of Jacob as a wolf running circles in Bella’s backyard while Charlie is cleaning his gun had me about to pee my pants!

“That’s it, isn’t it? You’re trying to protect your virtue!” “No, silly girl. I’m trying to protect yours. And you’re making it quite shockingly difficult.” “Of all the ridiculous…………….” I can’t tell you how disappointed I was when Edward didn’t break a damn headboard in this chapter!

“You said you needed a space heater, and here I am!” Holy crapsicles! Again, I was laughing so hard I was crying; all I could see in my mind whilst reading this was a 7 foot tall Taylor Lautner standing at the entry of the tent with his arms spread wide and a shit eating grin on his face! This was an excellent chapter in the book as well, I think this is where Edward and Jacob actually bond; or as close as these two can get to bonding. The surprise for me at the end of this chapter is realizing Bella has been awake the entire time; I loved that part.. well done Meyer!

Jacob,

I’m breaking the rules by sending you this. She was afraid of hurting you, and she didn’t want to make you feel obligated in any way. But I know that if things had gone the other way, I would have wanted the choice.

I promise I will take care of her, Jacob, Thank you – for her – for everything.

Edward

Yeah, bawling like a baby again! This book ended harsh with Jacob trying to run away from himself.. I did, however, like that all his pack mates were right there “So sorry” Embry whispered “Wait for us” Quil complained. I’m tearing up again just thinking about it.

My Rating:

“Some say the world will end in fire, some say with ice. From what I’ve tasted of desire, I hold with those that favor fire”………. My favorite opening of all the movies; loved the actual Eclipse action and this opening line from Bella. Here we have our young lovers in their meadow as Edward is still begging Bella to marry him “Well, where I come from, at my age, it means I just got knocked up!” Charlie and Bella, once again going over the top to have this elusive Father/Daughter relationship and it’s so awkwardly fabulous you can’t help but be drawn into it. Holy shit, the scene in the kitchen “Dad, I’m a virgin” “Aahahahaha okay glad we covered that.” “Me too!” “Virgin, liking Edward a little bit more now.” I was laughing so hard in the theater people were staring at me! At the police station when they are talking about Bella going to Jacksonville. “That makes me so happy!” LOVE Charlie, he is just written and acted in both the books and movies as a very stereo typical father; absolutely clueless yet painstakingly trying with every fiber of his being to be a good father. Meyer really nailed this one, and thank god the directors and screen writer kept that going in the movies.

Bella’s visit with her mom; CRYING! Congraduation! OMG the blanket with the tshirts, wow another epic moment in our wonderful Twilight series J Renee has one of the best lines “You’re like magnets, he moves, you move” friggin loved this line. It is spot on of their relationship! Moms see more than you think they do, like it or not, we carried you for 9 months we have a connection and this is one of the rare moments we get to see this connection between Renee and Bella, I loved it! “Alright, enough with the heavy” showing her young spirited side, showing that oh so very brief glimpse of the part of her that Bella took with her, so much alike in this moment.

From here on out, it seems like 5 minutes pass and the movie is over, the train ride begins! The wolfpack and the Cullens aren’t just quite yet ready to play nice and you see that with Emmet and Paul (hate Paul, sorry but I really do!). He’s just trying to kill the bitch you stupid jackass wolf, stow your pride and step aside! Anyway………… the scene between Bella and Jacob “rather you really be dead than become one of them” WOW, my heart hurt when he said this, I can only imagine what Bella felt! And the banter between the wolves “I’m glad you’re here Bella, I wish Bella would call, I wish Bella wouldn’t call, maybe I should call Bella, maybe I should call Bella and hang up!” Comic relief. So, was it just me or, as Jacob is describing the imprinting (since I’d already read Breaking Dawn) I was actually seeing him imprint with Renesmee. Enter Riley, in Bella’s room, hovering over Charlie, I think I actually stopped breathing during this scene. Oh, Carlisle “who is it, someone we know?” ROSE “a passerby wouldn’t have left Bella’s father alive” and so it begins; the obviously strained “working” relationship between the wolves and the Cullens; YES!

“Something terrible is coming.. and we must all be ready, all of us.” Never taking his eyes off Bella. Poor unfortunate soul is all I can think about Billy Black at this moment!

Did anyone aside from me catch the 2 second look of pure hatred on Jasper’s face when Edward is talking about the Volturi wanting him and Alice but knowing they’ll never choose them as long as their family is alive. And now we come to it.. Jacob kisses Bella, and she breaks her hand, hitting his face, total misunderstanding. Charlie a/k/a Billy Burke didn’t even need any dialogue, his facial expressions said it ALL in this scene.

My beautiful bitch on wheels, Rose! Of course I’d love her part, where she tells her story “I was a bit more theatrical back then” she storms in on him in her wedding dress with her eyes glowing red. “That’s what I will miss the most, the possibilities. Sitting on a front porch somewhere, Emmet’s laughter, surrounded by our grandchildren.” Goddamn, I’m crying again! Did you catch it? Right before she says she was a bit more theatrical there is this crooked smile, evil grin thing… later on in the tent, when Edward momentarily contemplates the thought of killing Jacob, he has the exact same evil grin! Cinematic genius!!!

Graduation is significantly shorter and less engrossing in the movie; it’s still cute though “This isn’t the time to make hard and fast decisions, this is the time to make mistakes. Change your mind, then change it again, that way when somebody asks who we want to be; we won’t have to guess.. we’ll know.” Well, we are forced to like Jessica for 5 seconds!

Jasper is hosting our first annual “newborn” killing training expo! WooHoo!! The look on Jasper’s face “oh, one more thing. Never turn your back on your enemy.” Holy Christ, priceless! And then he tells his story to Bella “I didn’t know there was another way, until I found Alice. Oh, she seen me coming of course.” “You kept me waiting long enough.” “My apologies ma’am, I don’t know what I’d have become without you.” “Shhhh, you never have to be that again.” Such a private moment that Bella has to look away, we have one of these in every book and thank you god; they left these private moments in the movies!

“Isabella Swan, I promise to love you every moment of forever, will you do me the extraordinary honor of marrying me?” GASP, JesusMary&Joseph, squeeee, swoon, eeck! The tent scene, too funny! “I can’t sleep with all that teeth chattering going on.” “Forget it” “She may need her toe’s someday, and let’s face it, I am hotter than you.” So, with Taylor Lautner not being 7 feet tall this scene was bound to be difficult to film; they nailed it anyways! I did not, however, like how the “kiss” scene played out entirely differently in the movie than in the book.

Well, now we come to the end………….. “Jacob, I love you, you know I love you so… don’t make me choose. It will be him, it’s always been him.” Taylor Lautner should have gotten an Oscar for the look in his eyes, the pain and suffering he conveyed without even saying one word. Wow. Of course, we end with our young lovers and Bella’s speech about how she wasn’t ever really alive until she met Edward. “I’m gonna need that ring now; good thing your bullet proof.” Hahahahhaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.

My Rating: 

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Tammy's Two Cents:Review, Interview & Giveaway with Matt Posner

 

Teen Guide answers the important and confusing questions young people have about their bodies and their hearts. It's an advice book from two authors who care about young people and want to help them work through the tough issues that will be on their minds as they move through an emotionally complex time of their lives. Every question is answered in a conversational way, as if the author were sitting next to you speaking from the heart.
Co-authored by Matt Posner and Jess C Scott.

MATT and JESS answer questions about:

* Love vs. Lust
* Looks vs. Personality
* Whether you should have sex
* How important money is in a relationship
* Pornography (separating reality from fantasy)
* Sexual Orientation (is it okay to be "gay"?)
. . .and more

About the Authors:

* Matt's Bio: Matt is an NYC teacher who's willing to make controversial statements that he thinks are in your best interest. In his own words, Teen Guide "explains what mature, adult sexuality is and provides a useful guide to entering that sexual world at the right time." He is also the author of the School of the Ages series of novels featuring America's greatest magic school.

* Jess's Bio: Jess, a professional non-conformist, has a fresh youthful world view. Jess writes in a variety of genres including urban fantasy, young adult fiction, cyberpunk, and poetry. She's cool, supportive, and writes with both intellect and a lot of emotion. Her website is jessINK.com/teenguide.htm 

I titled my Amazon review “Should be required reading in High School!”

Let me just say, I wish Matt had written this book 10 years ago so that I could have shared it with my eldest son!  He and Jess really did hit every topic, it is also refreshing to have them talk about gay relationships without making it the mockery so many people do these days!  The guide approaches the subject(s) in such a way as not to make the reader uncomfortable; let’s face it, sex at any age can be confusing as hell.

The guide delves not only into the mechanics of sex but practicing safe sex as well.  I did recently see a review where the reviewer seemed to be chastising the authors for not pushing abstinence; really?!?!  Did you not get the point of the book?  Teenager’s hormones are already so far out of whack that a lot of times the act of sex is an afterthought.  Matt and Jess have produced a guide to assist with key points like safe sex, protecting yourself AND your partner, taking care of business the right way and building healthy relationships just to mention a few. 

Matt and Jess are informative, open and honest.  We have ourselves another great one from Mr. Posner, I expected nothing less!  J

5 Feathers for all our teenagers!  Parents too, if you have teens at home and your concerned about “The” conversation; perhaps this will help make it easier.

It has been several months since I last visited with Matt when I did a review for The School of The Ages, Ghost in the Crystal.  So I had to find out what he's been up to since then; here is my Q&A followup with Author Matt Posner (giveaway details to follow).

*What's new with you since our last interview?Right now I'm finishing up the school year and looking forward to my
summer work schedule. That's mostly teaching, but I will be putting
out three books this summer, if I can hold to my plans. Later this
month will be Sara Ghost, a novelette in the School of the Ages
tradition, but in a different vein. The story is told by Sara, who is
a non-magical teen who meets Goldberry and Simon. This story also
gives me a chance to take on a theme that has been common in YA
literature for at least a dozen years, reflecting a horrendous trend
in the lives of young people in America, the theme of cutting. Teens
cut themselves because they find no other outlet for their emotional
distress. The extent of this phenomenon is quite shocking. I don’t
like sensationalism in literature, but I’m taking it on anyway, and I
hope I have done it with some sensitivity and taste.
 I will use July for editing, and then it's The War Against Love,
whose cover you've been looking at.  Here's the cover gallery on my
website. http://schooloftheages.webs.com/apps/photos/album?albumid=13491973.
More about that book below.
Finally, in September (I hope) I will have How to Write Dialogue, a
how-to manual for aspiring fiction writers, featuring samples from
many of my buddies in the self-published circuit.  Check out this
list:  J.A. Beard, C.D. Echterling, Marita A. Hansen, Junying Kirk,
Stuart Land, Mysti Parker, Roquel Rodgers, and Jess C. Scott, with
forewords by Jess and by Tim Ellis!
*Give us a sneak peak at Teen Guide to Sex and Relationships.Teenagers these days are entering a very confusing world where their
friendships, romances, and sexuality are more complex and dangerous
than ever before. As a teacher, I have witnessed young people’s lives
being seriously harmed by problems with relationships, and I have seen
more teenage pregnancies than I can count. Also, the media presents a
lot of really messed-up images of how human interaction is supposed to
go, all based on what is being sold rather than what is good for kids.
Society is struggling to integrate more openness about homosexuality
and gender issues. Pornography is probably at an all-time high in
usage because of the Internet. Young people really need some guidance,
and sometimes they can’t or don’t want to ask their parents. As a
teacher, I want to help.
There really haven’t been any comprehensive books for teens that cover
all the topics and answer all the questions. They are always focused
on one narrow aspect (advice for girls, advice on dating, advice for
gay teens, etc.) and they are always slick, packaged products. Teen
Guide to Sex and Relationships answers questions for everyone, on
every subject. It’s also special because it has two authors. I provide
an older male perspective, conservative on matters of personal conduct
although politically liberal. My co-author, Jess C. Scott, is young
and cool, far less conservative than I am, and driven by her belief in
sincerity and deep emotional and spiritual connection. Together, we
give advice in the style of older friends cutting through the bullshit
and telling it the way it is. We aren’t therapists, psychologists, or
doctors; we’re just caring people. Our goal is not to promote teen
sexuality, but to give teens an understanding of what mature
relationships and mature sex are, so that they can find their path
toward those when the time is right.
The book has content about sexuality – ranging from what to touch and
how to the decision-making process of when and why or why not – and
content about relationships – how to find a relationship, make a
relationship work, and deal with the aftermath of a break-up. Our
focus is not a particular political agenda, but the health and
maturity of our readership. A reviewer has called us out for not
pushing abstinence more strongly; I thank him for his comments, but
although abstinence is a better option than sexual intercourse,
presenting it as the only option will come across to teens like an
attempt to brainwash them.
I should mention that Teen Guide is not only the best advice book out
there, but it is also the most inexpensive, both as an ebook and as a
paperback. Jess and I want it to reach as many people as possible;
we’re on a mission.
*Very excited for The School of The Ages, The War Against Love; can
you share any juicy details with us?

Thanks for asking, Tammy.  The title War Against Love tells you what
elements to expect in the book as my core cast turns fifteen and both
their power and the perils they face are magnified.

This novel intensifies the magic and the action as my kids get
involved in the magical war between School of the Ages and its
traditional enemy, the European Nazi magician group Gott im Himmel.
Dr. Archer has been dealing with this in the background since The
Ghost in the Crystal (where it is mentioned in the last chapter), and
it preoccupied him during Level Three’s Dream (when he was often
absent because of it) and now the war gets going for real, with
attacks and counterattacks in New York and all over Europe as Dr.
Archer, Simon, and Goldberry fight furiously to eliminate their
malicious foes.

That’s the war component:  the love component comes from an epic
romantic plot as Simon meets Ana Vorkina, the daughter of the
arch-mage of elementals, who lives in Prague. (Ana is on the cover, as
is Prague’s Charles Bridge at center right.) With her passion for
justice, her wildly flaring temper, and her deep sadness at the loss
of her mother, Ana is a perfect counterweight to Simon’s depression
and coldness, but is there really a chance for them to find each
other, or to stay together, with the constant threat of bloodshed?

This is a character-driven book. Simon, Goldberry, Robbie are changed
forever. Ana is a heroine you will never forget. Dr. Archer’s past and
deepest feelings are revealed. This novel is stuffed with horrendous
villains, including a serial killer, Pavel Rod, who is in the teaser
at the end of Level Three’s Dream, and King Wind, Avery’s estranged
father, not to mention the leader of Gott im Himmell, the mysterious
Kaiser Petrus, whose identity remains secret until near the end. I
also enlarge the core cast with a few new students, including Delphine
and her adorable French accent; the mysterious Miss Chatterjee; and
William Goodenough’s two junior henchmen, the abominable Jonathan
Twins (Jonathan and Josephine).

So, Matt has graciously offered up 2 hand written, signed pages from Teen Guide to Sex and Relationships!

The usual rules apply guys, you MUST complete all required sections below and the winner will have 24 hours to respond or we move on.  Best of luck! 
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Oh and just a little tease; I will be doing another interview and review with our good friend Matt when book 3 in The School of The Ages series releases, hopefully in August. 

Review: Secret Santa by Kristine Cheney

Holly Gordon's estrangement from her family makes loneliness of the Christmas season hit close to home. Volunteering for the annual Ashton Falls Secret Santa Program is more than a comfort, it's a blessing. Just knowing she's able to help another hurting soul experience the joy of a heartfelt Christmas makes her own reality a bit sweeter, that is, until Marcus Jenner ends up on her list. 


Marcus Jenner is more than a bronze, muscled looked. This Chickasaw loner isn't happy being placed on the town's Secret Santa list. Suffering from the blow of a devastating loss, he had chosen to withdraw from living almost completely. For the life of him, he can't figure out why this pretty little blonde keeps bumping into him, calling him by name, and insisting on giving him presents. Unfortunately for Marcus, every time she does, a billowing cloud of havoc seems to ensue. Why can't this uninvited vixen leave him alone?


They say time and fate have all the answers. Holly, in all of her innocence, is drawn to Marcus like a moth to the flame. But Marcus has no intentions of submitting to the threat of his newfound feelings. A painful exchange pushed their lives into a pendulum chaos. His demand for privacy is granted by Holly's hidden illness. Her sudden absence hits him hard, especially when the arrival of a stranger delivers the rest of his gifts. Right away, he knows something is horribly wrong. 


Love and selfless giving can rouse a wounded, sleeping heart. But sometimes a Secret Santa gets a few unexpected gifts of her own. (Goodreads)


I downloaded this book (on my new Kindle! Eek! There goes my paycheck.) because all I've heard from Tammy and Mel is, "Her books are fantastic!" and "Kristine is such a sweetie!" so I just had to see what all the hubbub was about. I recently downloaded all of her books, actually, but this is the first one I picked to read - I was in a "human" mood. 


When I started it, I didn't think it would live up to the hype. Just because I'm a disbeliever like that. But I started it this Friday morning, and I finished it Friday evening. I was captured from the very first page and simply could not put it down! Holly is such a cute character, and Marcus is a dick with a backstory, has such a miserable reason for being a jerk I couldn't make myself hate him. The background characters are well developed and the chapters flow seamlessly from one to the other. I found myself laughing like a maniac one moment to sobbing openly in a public space the next. 


I also like how Marcus and Holly were not behaving innocently at some points of the novel and I wasn't wincing while reading it, nor was I flushing beet red because, hello, I was in public when I read this baby. It let me know exactly what was going on and what these two were thinking without becoming so overly-graphic I wanted to shoot myself. It is insanely well written and I wish it was longer!


Which leads to my complaint. The only problem I had was how quickly Holly and Marcus fell all over each other. I mean, it would make sense if they were teenagers who didn't know any better, but they appear to be full-grown adults, who think they're bunnies. I know, I'm picky, but I love long, drawn-out love-stories that get you to the point of wanting to strangle a character because they're so flipping oblivious, and this story could've been drug out to at least 300+ pages.. And the only reason I bring this up is because I think it was so good, I want more. But oh, well. It's good either way.


Only other thing was when they were behaving like bunnies (or just doing some very nice leave-it-to-my-imagination touching and looking and thinking, which I find quite *swoon*esque), words got repeated a lot, and there was a lot of "masculine" and "feminine" said. I found it a little odd, as if we needed to be reminded which one was which.. That's all, though, I suppose. Just my personal taste.


All in all, I think this was a marvelous little story! It made me laugh, cry, shake my head and smile at all the right times, and made me feel like I was right in the story, watching these characters interact! Delightful! 

My Rating: