Monday Mutterings

Hello all! I've got not one, not two but THREE posts up today! I've got two book reviews; "Worth Any Price" a historical romance by Lisa Kleypas and "Coyote's Mate" a paranormal romance by Lora Leigh, so please check them out and let me know if you've read them and what you think. I wanted to get both these reviews up today because it's the last day of November.

Tomorrow I am changing my blog banner for the 25 days of Christmas...the hunks are coming back!! So be sure to stop by tomorrow and check it out as they will only be here for 25 days, then it's back to my regular blog banner.

I am still watching season 2 of the British drama "Skins". I am liking it, though its probably one of those dramas that would appeal to everyone. I am also looking forward to watching the British season 3 of Robin Hood (must have MORE Richard Armitage!!) when that gets released to DVD. After Skins I have the Clive Owen thriller "The International" scheduled (co-stars Naomi Watts- love her) and then "G.I. Joe" staring the hot Channing Tatum - this is on my list just so I can look at Channing *grins*.

I am not currently reading anything...I want to read another YA (I am on such a YA kick lately) but I don't have any more YA in my TBR pile and I promised myself I would not buy myself another book until after Christmas. I think I need to go to the library!

So that is what's up with me, what is up with you? What are you reading or watching?

"Coyote's Mate" by Lora Leigh (Breed series)

I really enjoy Lora Leigh's books when I am looking for dominate alpha heroes and steamy sex. This author never fails to deliver those things in her book, especially in her Breed series. This series is about a group of people who have their DNA mixed with animals (some have wolf DNA, others lion DNA and others coyote DNA etc.).

These are fun erotic fantasy romance reads. The Breed book I read this month is "Coyote's Mate" by Lora Leigh. This is the second Coyote Breed book in the series but the whole Breed series is mixed up by the different breeds so you might want to check the book order on Lora Leigh's website.

*The first book in the Coyote series is "Soul Deep" and I am going to say it again- YOU MUST READ 'SOUL DEEP'!!!! It is ON FIRE HOT!!! The HOTTEST Lora Leigh book ever in my opinion (see my review in my tag cloud). OK, back to Coyote's Mate...

Synopsis : "For six years Anya Korbin worked with Del-Rey Delgato—the genetically altered rebel known as the Coyote Ghost—to free a group of coyote women kept in her father's lab. As Anya matured into a woman, she and Del-Rey grew close...but then he broke his promise and killed her father. Now she must deal with her animalistic desire for the one who betrayed her."

Del Ray is the alpha pack leader for his coyote breeds and since meeting Anya he's known two things; first, he's going to betray her and second, he's going to bed her. Being a breed he can scent her feelings, emotions and desire. He knows when she's turned on. What he didn't know was that he's got special glands in his mouth the swell and secrete a hormone when he kisses his mate (Anya) to turn her on and make her desire for him stronger. He also didn't know that during sex with his mate his penis would knot locking them together for nearly half an hour at a time while he delivers spurt after spurt of sperm in her in an attempt to impregnate her.

Neither of them were prepared for Del Ray losing control and taking her (a virgin) like a crazed animal when he is overcome with his need to mate.

This first mating damages their already damaged relationship after Del Ray betrays her, but Anya can't deny her desire and response to Del Ray - without the help of drugs to dull the desire and get her through the mating heat his hormones have triggered in her. She is hurt and turns away from him while diving into her work to get the coyote breed military base in topnotch working order. She is also dedicated to finding doctors and scientist who specialize in coyote breeds to help understand them and give them better treatment. Del Ray goes off on missions and they both suffer the pain that goes along with mates being separated. He can't stay away from her for long and when he returns things heat up again.

There are numerous issues and sub plots going on... breed military, breed science and research, sub characters with issues, the romance, the mating heat, trust issues, 'the coya' that is the official mated mate of the alpha and respect given to that position in the pack and of course there is the jealous other woman and smokin' hot desire and sex between the hero and his heroine.

I liked this continuation of the Breed series, but this coyote still can't beat 'Soul Deep'. Had I read this book first it probably would have rated higher, but after "Soul Deep" all the others in the series have paled in comparison-it was that good.

I give this book 3 stars out of 5.

"Worth Any Price" by Lisa Kleypas

When I see the author name "Lisa Kleypas" on a book that I haven't read yet its an automatic buy for me. This is one author that I don't have to read the back blurb (but I still do) all because she never fails to deliver a good if not great story. I had not read a historical romance all month so I dug around in my TBR pile and pulled out "Worth Any Price" by Lisa Kleypas not knowing it was book #3 in her Bow Street Runners Series. Actually I didn't even know there was such a series because none of the books I have by her mention the series.

Before I get to the review, I have to gripe about that. WHY OH WHY don't publishers and authors mention when a book is part of a series? Now this particular book was fine as a stand alone so it wasn't a major issue, but I personally hate reading series books out of order. Had this book said anywhere on it that it was in any series I would have looked to see if I had the first book so I could have read it in order. There is NOTHING anywhere on this book (inside or out) that mentions ANY series- yet its the 3rd book in a series. Even in her list of published books inside the cover don't mention a series, it's titles only. No division by series, no series mentioned. I really hate that. If a book is part of a series it SHOULD say so on the book somewhere- is that too much to ask?! OK, I'm done ranting - just needed to get that out of my system.

This is the romance story of Nick Gentry and Charlotte Howard. The book starts off with Nick's issues spelled out - he's a virgin in his 20's because of being nearly raped as a teen boy. He hates to be touched but the desire for sex is overwhelming so he forces himself to go to a house of prostitution for some relief. Nick's near terror of being touched mixed with his courage to face his fears and his overall sex appeal totally won me in the prologue of this story. He was so darn charming in the wounded hero way...I am such a sucker for a wounded hero and Nick is that wounded damaged horny badass with issues.

Fast forward a few years and Nick is a little better...he's still only had sex with one woman (the madame) but at least she's taught him to be an expert lover and able to tolerate human touch - at least during sex. Nick still has issues to work out and he is haunted by nightmares that wake him nearly every night in a cold sweat, but he's working on it. More tortured hero...

Charlotte Howard has runaway from her family because they were planning to basically sell her off to a perverted old man in exchange for financial gain and support. Charlotte refused to marry the old goat who abused her as a child, so she takes off and finds a job as a lady's companion. Nick is hired to find the unwilling runaway bride and return her so the old goat can marry her. Instead, Nick is drawn to the beautiful spunky girl who would rather work than marry for money. He offers her his protection...marry him and be his wife in all ways or be taken back to her family and marriage to an old pervert. Charlotte can't deny that Nick gets her all hot and bothered, so she agrees to marry him. She believes she is marrying below her station in life, but that doesn't bother her at all. She doesn't care about money or titles - this pleases Nick because unknown to her, Nick is really the 'lost' heir to a title that he has decided to ignore in favor of working as a Bow Street runner.

There are numerous issues to be sorted and worked out in this romance: Nick's real name and title, the jilted old pervert who seeks revenge, the money hungry Howard family, Nick's past haunting him, trust issues, love and lots of hot romance. Once again, Lisa Kleypas has worked her magic and wove a beautiful romance story that I did not want to put down. I think Nick is my favorite hero from this author because he is the most tortured and wounded hero by her that I have read to date. He is just so hurt and haunted by his past that it takes him so long to overcome his issues to trust, love and totally give all of himself to a woman...it was beautiful to watch it unfold on the pages of this book. This hero captured my heart from the very beginning and held it long after I finished reading his story. I really enjoyed this historical romance - one of Lisa Kleypas' best historicals.

I give is 4 stars out of 5.

My Sunday Sampler

I've got two reviews to write, but no time now. So I've decided to leave you with a Sunday sampler instead.

Bibs recommended. :o)

Enjoy...

Aren't they just lovely? I hope everyone had a great weekend!!

401st Post: "New Moon" review

This is my 401st post!! And it's going to be my review of the movie "New Moon" and it's cast. Funny thing is, I started this blog nearly a year ago with my review of "Twilight" and now, over 400 posts later I can't believe I am still here and now reviewing New Moon!

There WILL BE SPOILERS, so if you haven't seen the movie and don't want to know, stop reading this post.

This video is actress Kristen Stewart (Bella) and actor Taylor Lautner (Jacob) just talking while doing some photo's or movie filming- you decide.

First I have to say... MUCH BETTER ACTING by everyone! I was very impressed with the acting which I wasn't really thinking would improve that much, but it did. 'New Moon' far surpasses "Twilight" on EVERY level. The acting, dialogue, make up, scenes, directing, camera angles. If I had to gripe about anything in the production of the movie, it would be the sound track. I don't like it. I've been listening to it since October and I still don't like it. The sound track for "Twilight" was perfect - that was probably the only thing I thought was perfect in that movie. But I can live with a crappy sound track when a movie is this good- especially a movie made from a book that I loved. You never know, but hope for the best. This time it delivered.

The movie starts off with Bella's birthday and her nightmare of being old while Edward is still young and beautiful. She's turning 18 and is not happy to still be a living breathing human, but Edward will not end her life and make her an immortal. Jacob shows up at Bella's school to wish her a happy birthday and give her a dream catcher as a gift.



I loved the new amber contact lens. I think this made the movie more like the book. A small detail, but one I am glad they did. So its Bella birthday and the party at the Cullen's house doesn't go as planned. Bella gets a paper cut and Jasper tries to kill her.

Edward freaks and shoves Bella into a table where Bella ends up slicing her arm open and quickly clears the room of Cullens except for Edward and Dr. Carlisle Cullen who sews up Bella's arm and reveals the real reason why Edward will not change Bella into a vampire.

Edward worries vampires have no souls and are doomed to hell. He will not take Bella's soul and be the reason she is damned. Bella doesn't believe that vampires are soulless but she can't convince Edward of that.

A tortured Edward decides the best thing he can do for Bella is dump her and leave. So he does. Bella falls into an awful depression for months.

I thought the acting for this was perfection. If there is one thing Kristen Stewart is good at, it's acting like a corpse. The production and directing of the scene showing time going by while Bella sits like a zombie mourning the loss of not just Edward but all the Cullens was done very well.

Another character I appreciated much more in this movie than "Twilight" was Charlie Swan. He was good in the first one, but he was great in this one.
Worrying about Bella's depression and going after whenever was killing hikers (large bear, huge wolves...evil vampire? Yes!). So two big thumbs up for Charlie Swan! He truly brought the book character to life in the movie. Great job!

Then Bella begins to heal by spending time with Jacob. I loved all the scenes of them together. I thought the essence of the book was truly captured in these scenes. The director did an excellent job of portraying the evolution of the friendship and close bond between Bella and Jacob.

I loved the movie scene when Mike, Bella and Jacob go out together and both guys have a thing for Bella. Love the hands up waiting for her to hold their hands. Cute!Then after the movie Mike ends up with the flu and Jacob turns into a werewolf and has to end his friendship with Bella. Bella won't let Jacob go and fights to keep their relationship but Jacob tells her to leave and not come back. Again, a great scene and wonderful acting. You really feel the relationship between Bella and Jacob here.
A wet, hot ticked off Jacob... wow.
Jacob can't stand how things are left between him and Bella so he goes to see her- climbing up her house and into her bedroom window. He can't tell her his secret but he tells her she already knows and leaves her to figure things out. Bella dreams about the conversation she had with Jacob long ago about the 'cold ones' and Jacob's tribe being descendants from wolves.

When Bella confronts Sam and his "cult"- she gets more than she bargained for when she punches one of them and he turns into an enraged wolf right before her eyes.

I thought the special effects were much improved in this movie.


Also, I was glad they kept the size of the wolves large. I had worried that they would make them normal wolf size and just use real wolf footage as the pack.

This was better because the size of the wolves was a big deal in the books and helps account for Jacob's bulging muscles.

Adored the scene on the beach when Jacob rescues Bella from drowning. You can just see how much she means to him and how worried he is about her. There is chemistry on the screen between these two actors that makes it so wonderful.
After Bella's jump off the cliff, Alice thinks Bella is dead and returns to Forks to talk with Charlie. I loved Alice's face when she sees Bella is alive. She is both completely surprised and shocked. This was two fold because first she isn't expecting Bella to be alive and its the first time there is a blimp in her visions of Bella. She can't see Bella when Bella is with a werewolf.

While Alice and Bella are talking Jacob finds he just can't leave Bella even though he's not supposed to be there when the vampire Cullen family are in residence.

Alice leaves- till Bella puts the dog out - loved that and Jacob attempts to make his move. He's pushed because he fears all the Cullens are coming back and that Edward still has too strong a hold on Bella.

Just as they almost kiss...Edward calls and Jacob tells him Charlie is making funeral arrangements which of course Edward thinks is for Bella. So off Edward goes to plan his death and Alice flies back in the house to tell Bella they have to go to Italy to stop Edward.

Poor Jacob...he killed me in these scenes begging Bella not to leave. He was so intense and sexy here that he stole the whole movie in my opinion.

He truly is a great Jacob and I say that because after watching "Twilight" I was one of the people who wanted the role of Jacob recast for a larger more muscled Jacob - this was clearly before he poured his soul into the role and began working out like crazy to beef up for this role. He did wonderful, perfection and I am so happy they kept him as Jacob.


This movie was full of emotional highs and lows. One of the best was the passionate kiss between Edward and Bella when she saves him.

He can't believe she's still alive and she can't believe he would kill himself because she isn't in the world.

A true Romeo and Juliet moment and I loved it.

Some people complained about the fight scene between Edward and the Volturi because it wasn't in the book and because they thought it made Edward look weak. I disagree. I think the scene was wonderful and showed Edward's willingness to die for Bella, a mere human. And then when Bella puts a stop to the fight by begging the Volturi to let Edward live and kill her instead...just goes to show these two will do anything for the other one. I liked it and thought it added to the movie.

I was not a big fan of the vision of Bella in the future as a vampire (from Alice's head). From the roar of laughter in the theater I'd say I wasn't the only one. Too stupid looking. They could have shown her all vamped out beautiful and sparkling in the sun without the dopey running in the woods scene in a dress. Just didn't work for me.

My one other gripe was what the hell did they do to Alice's wardrobe?? She is so stylish in the books and in this movie she is first dressed in some smock looking thing in school and then this weird outfit in Italy. I didn't like it and don't think it worked with the character at all.


LOVED, LOVED, LOVED the final scene when Bella and Edward are driving along and suddenly Jacob is in the middle of the road. The whole audience gasped.
Jacob all ticked off and ready to rip Edwards throat out and Edward thanking Jacob for being there for Bella when he wasn't. You know Edward is hating himself here and the jealousy starts.

Then when Jacob changes into a wolf and Edward tries to put Bella behind him but she gets between them to stop them from fighting...great scene. One that I am sure we will see many times in Eclipse.

I was SOOOOOO not expecting the quick clip ending after Edward says what he says to her.
When he says that and it fades to black...great ending!

Leaves you hanging and begging for the next movie to come out.

I loved "New Moon". This one I will be buying on DVD and re-watching often.

"Wicked Deeds on a Winter's Night" by Kresley Cole

Book #3 in the Immortals After Dark Series is "Wicked Deeds on a Winter's Night" by Kresley Cole. This is the story of Lykae Bowen MacRieve and Mariketa the Awaited (very powerful witch).

Synopsis: "Her breathless kiss haunts him...
Bowen MacRieve of the Lykae clan was nearly destroyed when he lost the one woman meant for him. The ruthless warrior grew even colder, never taking another to his bed — until a smoldering encounter with his enemy, Mariketa the Awaited, reawakens his darkest desires. When sinister forces unite against her, the Highlander finds himself using all his strength and skill to keep her alive.
His slow, hot touch is irresistible...
Temporarily stripped of her powers, Mari is forced to take refuge with her sworn adversary. It's rumored that no one can tempt Bowen's hardened heart, but soon passion burns between them. Though a future together is impossible, she fears he has no intention of letting her go.
No deed is too wicked for her seduction...
If they defeat the evil that surrounds them, can Mari deny Bowen when he demands her body and soul — or will she risk everything for her fierce protector?"

I have been waiting for Bowen's story since the first book in the series (the BEST so far in my opinion). Lykae have one soul mate for eternity, once that soul mate dies the living mate is supposed to be so destroyed and heart broken that they take their own life and follow their true loves into death. Bowen's promised mate Mariah has been dead for hundreds of years, dead because Bowen turned into a werewolf during a full moon and when Mariah freaked an ran he chased her down. The worst thing you can do in front of a werewolf is run from him, he loves to chase down his prey. Bowen has been haunted by Mariah's death for centuries, but he never felt compelled to join her in death as other Lykae do when their true loves die. Because of this he is shunned by his own kind.

Bowen spends all his years in guilt and mourning searching for a way to bring Mariah back from the dead to him. One way he hears about is a prize that lets you go back in time. Bowen wants to go back in time to the night Mariah died to tell her she must not run from him. To win the prize Bowen must win a brutal race, much like the popular reality show The Amazing Race, only this race is for supernatural beings and is full of blood, pain and possible death at each turn of events.

During the race Bowen meets and races against a very powerful witch...Mariketa "Mari". They both feel aroused by the other. At first Bowen hates that Mari arouses him because no one is supposed to do that to him but his mate. He hasn't had sex in almost 200 years because no female has aroused him. After a while Bowen begins to think that perhaps Mari is Mariah reincarnated to come back to him. But Bowen has to be sure. The only way to be sure is to have sex with her, IF she gets pregnant then she is his true mate. If she does not get pregnant she is not his mate and he is bound to continue searching for a way to reunited with Mariah. When Bowen finds out Mari is on birth control, he has to try and talk her into stopping the birth control. When Mari finds out that Bowen isn't in love with her, but only wants a chance to 'test' her out during sex to see if she is the one, she is hurt and determined never to have sex with him.

The problem is...they are lost in the jungle and time is running out. The full moon is coming and if Mari runs from Bowen while he's a wolf...he'll kill her and if he has sex with her while he's a werewolf he will..."rend her in two" and "take her in the dirt like an animal" (page 252). Neither Bowen nor Mari want that to happen, so they decide to separate to give Mari as much time as possible to get as far from him as possible. The problem is, Lykae are extremely fast and can travel vast distances to find their mates when they are aroused and Bowen is constantly aroused by Mari. Anyone who stands between an aroused Lykae and his mate is doomed to death.

Bowen and Mari survive the jungle and the full moon, but can they survive Mari's full powers? There has never been such a power held in one witch before and its nearly too much for Mari to contain and control. When she falls under her own enchantment it takes something more powerful than witches magic to bring her back...it takes true love.

While I enjoyed Bowen's story, I always had issues with the book. First it seemed to drag much too long and there was only one sex scene- I like lots of sex scenes *grin*. While there was 'almost sex' scenes, it wasn't enough for me in a series like this- especially after book one which was phenomenal in my opinion. I had hoped for much much more for Bowen. While Mari was likable, she wasn't good enough for him in my opinion. While the beginning of the book dragged much to long, the end was slapped together with all the action happening at once. Because of the slow start, I actually put this book down several times to read other books. If not for the fantastic first book in this series, this might have been a DNF for me. That said, I am glad I finished it. It wasn't a bad book, it just wasn't a very good and not great.

I give this book 3 stars for 'good' (just barely- sexy hunk Bowen saved it) but not very good or great.

**spoiler**

If you are turned off by near beastly/human sex, you may not want to read this one as Bowen is turned during the full moon while he has sex with Mari (don't worry, she loves it and has control of the beast during the sex). If you like that sort of thing, you'll love the sex scene in this book as beastly and near out of control. If you want to read more beastly wild nearly out of control sex pick up the anthology "Primal Heat"- all hot werewolf sex (Jaci Burton's werewolf story in this book is seared in my brain). For more on that book check my tag cloud for my review.

Gobble, gobble, gobble...

My WTF Wednesday Post

Happy Hump day everyone! I have been having a great reading week. I finished reading "Wicked Deeds on a Winter's Night" by Kresley Cole (Immortals After Dark series). I really like this series, but so far none of them beat the first book in my opinion.

I then decided it's been far too long since I've read a historical romance or a book by Lisa Kleypas so I picked up "Worth Any Price" by the fabulous Kleypas. The hero in this book is quite possibly my favorite hero of all her books. I'll get more into that when I post my review - soon.

After I finished that book (which I could not put down) I picked up another Breeds book by Lora Leigh. These books are hit or miss with me so they often tend to sit in my TBR pile for a while. Since "Soul Deep" is my favorite Breed book (and hottest sex book of the year-see my review- tag cloud) I decided to read the next Coyote book in the numerous Breed series.

That means I am currently reading "Coyote's Mate"...I haven't formed an opinion on this book yet but it is much, much more into the back story and labs than "Soul Deep" was. Not sure if I like that or not at this point. I hope to finish this by Thanksgiving and get a review up for the weekend.

Some WTF day humor...

LOL...I love this one.

Now for the WTF Day Photos...

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I kid you not...this is a real gay Bob doll...

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Did no one see anything ...er freaky about this toy for kids?

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A rather graphic depiction of 'Fri-to-Lay'.

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Who the hell shaves a cock & balls into their head??!!

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I love funny signs!

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People need a kit to masturbate these days...???

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Fun place to work! :o)

Today's WTF Video...

"Shameless Embraces" by Lora Leigh

It's been six months since I read an erotic romance by Lora Leigh and even longer since I've read one of her steamy menage erotic books. But this month I picked up "Shameless Embraces" by Lora Leigh and it felt like last March all over again! Shameless Embraces is another book in the Bound Hearts menage series about men who share their women with other men to give their women the ultimate pleasure of having two guys at once. This book is actually two stories "Embraced" and "Shameless".

Synopsis:
Embraced: Book 6 in the Bound Hearts series.
"Marey has run from herself and from Sax for over three years. Lost years, hiding in the home her parents left her, living on the fantasy, too wary to reach out and make real the dreams of the life and man that torment her.
Sax Brogan is the embodiment of sinful and sexy-tall, dark, handsome and every inch of him the fantasy of Marey's dreams come to hot, throbbing life. And he's more than ready to claim his woman. Now the time has come for Marey to stop running and embrace not just the fantasy he represents, but also the reality. That is, if her ex-husband will let her live long enough to enjoy it.
Shameless: Book seven in the Bound Hearts series.
She's a temptation he can't afford.
Ian Sinclair, the man with no heart, the ultimate Trojan, the untouchable, the unreachable, may just have met his match.
As wild as the untamed winds, as innocent as love itself, Courtney's vivacious spirit shines as brilliantly as the brightest star. And he wants nothing more in life than to see the sweet innocence that is so much a part of her survive. That can never happen if he allows her to be drawn into the wicked, sexual excesses of his life.
He's a hunger she can't deny.
Courtney Mattlaw has understood her destiny her whole life. Her lifetime of happiness hangs on this moment in time, and forcing a man who feels he is unable to love, to trust his heart.
Haunted. Filled with loneliness. Incomplete. Ian is the very breath of her soul. She knows the battle to steal his heart could ultimately destroy them both, but it's a risk she must take.
When these two come together, sparks fly and the lust simmering between them ignites in a conflagration that will burn them to their souls and leave them … Shameless."

When I want to read some steamy erotica Lora Leigh is the author I go to first. While all the menages in this series begin to blur and all look the same, its still a fun read for Lora Leigh fans. The first book "Embraces" was all about Marey being hesitant about taking that step with Ian knowing that he would require her to partake in a menage- which she wanted but was afraid of. The second book was about Courtney knowing exactly what she wanted with Ian, but getting him to get over his hesitation in taking her there. The first story was just OK, nothing memorable and Marey and Sax were not my favorite characters in this series.

The second book was much more fun and engaging for me. I felt the story was more developed with Ian having personal issues from his past haunting him and Courtney being a smart young woman who knows what she wants and doesn't let fear of rejection stop her from trying to win the man she's loved for years. There is HOT chemistry between Courtney and Ian from the very beginning and it smolders until Ian snaps and finally gives them both what they want- hawt on fire sex. The threesome (when Ian finally gets to it) is sexy and introduces us to Khalid another guy in the club who likes to share women. Good story with hot sex.

I give this book 3 stars out of 5 stars.

My Weekend Round-Up

This weekend I have been reading and watching Netflix DVD's while I wait to get over this nasty cold I have. If you were reading my blog last March, you might recall that March is "Menage Month" on my blog. That means every book I read for the entire month of March has at least one menage sex scene in it.

Well I had dozens of menage books that I read that month and a few left over. This weekend I picked up one of the left over menage books; "Shameless Embraces" by Lora Leigh. This is actually two books in one -"Embraced" and "Shameless" and they are part of the 'Bound Hearts' series about men who share their women with other men in three-somes to give her the ultimate pleasure of two men at once. I read most of this series last March, but like I said there were just so many menage books to read in a month I couldn't finish them all! My review of "Shameless Embraces" will be posted tomorrow.

Now for the DVD's I watched. I've mentioned before on my blog how much I enjoy watching British television and movies ('Robin Hood', 'Vicar of Dibley', 'Two Fat Ladies cooking show' etc). Well this week I decided to try a series called "Skins" that is highly rated on Netflix.

Skins is about a bunch a college friends mucking up their daily lives in various assorted ways. Each character is very different from the next with their own issues, quirks and likability.

My favorite male character is Sid (guy in the hat and glasses) and my favorite female character is Cassie (blonde nutcase with food issues).
For whatever reason, Youtube is disabling ALL the video links to this show (I friggin hate that), but you can watch them on BBC America. It's too soon for me to rate this show, as I've only watched the first DVD in season 1 and have many more to view, but so far its made me want to see more.

I want to take a moment to say thank you for all the people who nominated me for blog awards this year. I really appreciate it.

The last two months when I took some time off from blogging I slacked off on posting the awards I received and I am really sorry about that. I just couldn't seem to keep up with blogging and life during that time, so I hope you'll forgive me for not posting the awards.

I hope to do better in the future about posting awards asap and to that endeavor I will start with thanking Rex Robot Reviews for awarding me with the 'Kick Ass Blog Award' over on her blog today. Thanks Rex Robot! I appreciate it.

The rules are you must post about the award and then nominate five other blogs to give the Kiss Ass Blog Award to.

It's so hard to pick just 5 blogs out of the many that I think are wonderful kick ass blogs. But here are my 5 picks in no particular order.

KB's "Babbling about books and more" blog - an assortment of interesting topics/book reviews can always be found on KB's blog.

Author Kendra Leigh Castle's Blog - Kendra is a wonderful author who has a fun blog that is a must stop every day for me.

Author Cheryl Brooks Blog - is a hot erotic blog filled with hot nekkid men, recipes, photos of Cheryl's home life, her trips and some short erotic stories she writes (check out her m/m erotic short stories- HAWT stuff!). *Adults only blog- full frontal nudity*

Cecile's All I Want and More Blog - this blog is by self proclaimed Hussy Cecile. You will find book and movie reviews, some of Cecile's own short stories and assorted thoughts and topics.

Lea's "Closetwriter" blog - Lea's blog has great book reviews, contests, FYI's on up coming book releases, author news and more. This is another must stop blog for me.

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Some funny videos...


Here's a video of a guy getting a Brazilian wax job while his friends video tape it in horror. If this had a embed code I would have posted it, but it doesn't (damnit!).

2010 Movie Trailers

Movies to look forward to...

This first one I like because its got Nicolas Cage in it, and I like him.


This looks amusing, different and interesting.


This one...wow...just wow. Great special effects.


Cool! Looks great!


Creepy...


And the one my kids can't wait to see because they LOVE the books...


VAMPIRES rule the world...for a while...


I hope this one is as good as it looks...


I love Johnny Depp...he's looking too creepy in this one!


So which movies are you looking forward to seeing? Three movies I want to see next year aren't included in this list. The first is "Remember Me" starring Robert Pattinson. I didn't repost it because I've already posted it twice on my blog. The second is "Brothers" again, already posted on my blog. And the third is "Eclipse" (3rd Twilight movie) which is done filming but has not yet released any photos or tidbits of the movie. As soon as I get any of those I will be posting them as that is my favorite book of the series and the movie I have most been waiting to see.

Robert Pattinson "The Haunted Airman" movie

I watched the movie 'The Haunted Airman' starring Robert Pattinson yesterday. I am still scratching my head today. I really don't know what happened in the movie, so I am hoping someone else who reads this saw the movie and can tell me what happened because I just don't get it. My review is going to be about what I saw and my thoughts which could be completely wrong because I honestly don't know what was going on in this movie. This will have spoilers, but since none of it made sense to me I wonder if reading spoilers would actually help this film.

Synopsis: "A wounded military aviator (Robert Pattinson) convalescing in a remote Wales mansion attempts to discern whether he's actually losing his mind or his psychiatrist is attempting to crack his fragile... A wounded military aviator (Robert Pattinson) convalescing in a remote Wales mansion attempts to discern whether he's actually losing his mind or his psychiatrist is attempting to crack his fragile psyche. Shadowed by his darkened past and plagued with horrific visions, the airman clings to sanity as his reality becomes warped beyond recognition." (From RottenTomatoes.com)

The movie starts off with Robert Pattinson's character Toby in a wheel chair arriving at an ominous mansion. He is brought there by his aunt - an aunt by marriage that Toby is hopelessly in love with and dreams of being with. At this point I am already lost in the movie. I can't tell if the aunt feels the same romantic feelings for Toby or not. She is very sweet to him, holding and kissing his hand and bringing him there for treatment. The problem is, I don't know even know if the doctor is good or evil and making things worse.

The aunt leaves Toby there, the big metal gates lock and Toby is essentially a prisoner at the mansion. The doctor tries talking to Toby, but Toby doesn't trust him and he's not sure way. The doctor lurks around corners always watching Toby - creepy. Toby writes letter after letter to his aunt telling her all his thoughts, concerns, plans to get better and feelings for her. He gets no response for a long time and begins to worry. His aunt is sort of his foundation in life. She calms him and gives him focus.

One day another inmate/patient meets up with the mailman and gets a letter for Toby from his aunt. The letter says that she hasn't heard a word from Toby and she wonders what is going on and if he's feeling better. Toby figures out that the doctor has taken all his mail and not mailed it while also intercepting all the aunts mail to Toby. The doctor confesses and admits to reading all the letters between Toby and his aunt...saying he had to get inside Toby's head to help him because Toby refused to talk to him. They forgive him, then Toby opens up...sort of. He talks about feeling elation and happiness when he dropped bombs on towns during the war, then later feeling sick about it.

At night Toby has nightmares about spiders. Spiders crawling all over the place. During the day he notices spiders in the mansion and on one outing on the grounds the doctor picks a spider off of Toby. The spiders are never explained. I have no idea why he notices them, has nightmares about them or has hallucinations about them.

The nightmares increase and now Toby is seeing his aunt dead in a coffin. The doctor begins drugging Toby at night, but that doesn't work either, he's not sleeping. When Toby wants to leave he finds the gates locked, then he's locked in his room. A nurse he had befriended seems to want to help him, but then Toby starts talking about the devil (where this came from is beyond me as nothing supernatural was mentioned before). She gets the doctor instead of helping Toby escape and Toby is drugged and kept in his room while his aunt and doctor worry over his sanity.

The next thing I know Toby wakes up during the night and sees his aunt getting it on with the doctor and he completely loses it and ends up killing her. That's the final scene. With all this going on there was a lot of back and forth from reality to fantasy. The main problem with that is that I could NOT tell what part of the film was the reality and what part was fantasy! I still don't know if the doctor was good or driving Toby insane. I don't know what the deal with the aunt was...did she really want to help Toby or was she working with the doctor to make him nuts?

I hate when I watch an entire movie and still have no clue what I just watched! Anyone else see this movie? What am I missing here? Someone fill me in please!
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While I totally didn't grasp what was happening in "The Haunted Airman", I do have high hopes for Robert Pattinson's next movie "Remember Me". I posted this video yesterday, but it really looks so good that I am reposted it today for anyone who missed it...

*And I am not going to see "New Moon" today as I had planned. This cold is just knocking me for a loop, so I decided I wasn't up to the long lines (its raining and thundering here- that doesn't help). And since I don't want to know any spoilers, I will not be visiting any blogs with "New Moon" movie reviews on them until I see the movie- which I hope will be very soon.

Have a great Friday everyone!!!

Rob Pattinson new movie "Remember Me"

This looks soooooooooo good!

My Thursday Post

As most of you who follow my blog know I've been sick since last weekend. Yesterday I was feeling a bit better, but this morning I am feeling totally miserable again. By now I thought I'd be much better, but now I am worried I may not be well enough to go see "New Moon" tomorrow. *gasp*
It's not that I can't wait a few more days to see the movie, that would suck, but it won't kill me. It's that I wanted to see it on the first day because I didn't want to hear any spoilers or reviews, thoughts, gripes or praises of the movie before I got to see it. I don't like to go into a movie with preconceived thoughts or ideas.
And lets face it, the Internet, television and all outlets of media are going to be reporting every detail and review for weeks to come. I had hoped to avoid that, but when its a big movie like something from Twilight or Harry Potter, there is just no getting away from it. So if I am not feeling much, much better by tomorrow noonish...I am not going to be a happy blogger!

OK, I'm done whining - I think, now it's time for a mild rant...AKA my point of view on the Harlequin Hoopla and the tantrum people are throwing.

In other news I am sure everyone has heard about Harlequin becoming a "vanity press" publisher and the uproar its caused in the publishing world. For an EXCELLENT article on what its all about in the very simplest and basic terms go HERE. In my own words...as a reader I don't give a shit. Now before anyone gets hot under the collar and tells me this is significant and will destroy Harlequin and its reputation and hurt its authors let me explain. There isn't a publisher out there who hasn't published a crappy author or dozens of crappy books - I know because I've read them and wasted my money on them. The fact is, picking up a book is always a hit or miss chance. The back blurb is what sells the book to me. That said, once I open the book there is no guarantee that I will like it. It doesn't matter what publishers name is stamped on the book. I have read more crappy books by Harlequin than good ones so this change really isn't going to mean shit to me as a reader. To me Harlequin has always been a quick fluff publisher and sometimes I am in the mood for that, but mostly I am not.

That said I have found some of my favorite authors in reading Harlequin romance...some being Maya Banks, Nora Roberts, Jessica Bird (AKA J.R. Ward), Dee Henderson, Heather Graham, Linda Howard (it was Harlequin that began my obsession with this authors books), LaVyrle Spencer, Bertrice Small and Dallas Schulze to name just a few. Those authors hooked me on their talent and kept me coming back for more under assorted publishers. I do not buy a book based on who the publisher is, I don't give a rat's ass who the publisher is. If the back blurb sounds interesting I will buy the book - some even with a horrible cover (I know some of you are book cover buyers...don't judge a book by its cover!!). I have read many books with bad covers only to discover a wonderful story.
I want to mention a book here that has a horrid cover, but is an excellent HAWT erotic paranormal anthology. The book is "Primal Heat" and its by Lora Leigh, Jaci Burton, Sherri L. King, Lorie O'Clare and it is not published by Harlequin but by Ellora's Cave.

My point in all this??? That publishers names or book covers do NOT sell ME books. The back blurb sells me books and if the author lives up to the back blurb with a good story I will keep buying books by that author no matter who publishes it. So when I see people some people getting all out of joint with Harlequin over the change to a 'vanity' publisher I have to wonder why? How will it effect you as a book purchaser or book reader? Have you never read a crappy book by a great publisher? If you're a Harlequin author you are still getting paid, promoted and published so why should it make any difference to you if Harlequin comes out with a vanity line of books?? Do you really think that suddenly people will stop reading your work because Harlequin is your publisher? That's ridiculous. If YOU are a good author YOUR fans will stick with you no matter who publishes your work. Your work stands and speaks for its self. If its a good story, we will keep coming back for more. If it stinks...nothing a publisher does will change that fact. Those are my thoughts on the whole Harlequin scandal that has some people throwing tantrums and ripping their hair out. This change at Harlequin doesn't effect or bother me personally at all. I know many of you have a different view and that's great, variety is the spice of life and keeps things interesting. I just felt like sharing my point of view for anyone interested.

Now, since it's Thursday I thought I'd do the whole "13 on Thursday" meme and share some of my favorite books based only on the books I have read this year.

Here are 13 books I recommend in no particular order. You can find my reviews for all of them in my tag cloud on the left sidebar or dig into my blog archives in the right sidebar.

I'd love to hear what books you read this year that you recommend to others.


1-"Lucky's Lady" by Tami Hoag (Contem. romance)

2-"Dangerous Games" by Lora Leigh (Contem. erotic romance)

3-"Colters' Woman" by Maya Banks (Erotic Menage romance)

4-"A Hunger Like No Other" by Kresley Cole (Paranormal romance)

5-"The Assignment" by Evangeline Anderson (M/M Erotic romance)

6-"Passion" by Lisa Valdez (Erotic Historical romance) *largest penis ever*

7-Entire Sookie Stackhouse series by Charlaine Harris (Paranormal romance)

8-Entire Harper Connelly series by Charlaine Harris (Paranormal mystery)

9-"Nauti Nights" by Lora Leigh (Erotic romance)

10-"Perfect Chemistry" by Simone Elkeles (YA romance)**BEST BOOK of the Year for me**

11-Entire Immortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare (YA Paranormal w/romance)

12-"Soul Deep" by Lora Leigh (Erotic Paranormal romance) HOTTEST sex ever

13-Black Dagger Brotherhood- first 4 books by J.R. Ward (Paranormal romance)