Monday, May 21, 2012

My Picks of the Week! (May 22nd)


Good Morning, Muses!

So hopefully everyone had a chance to read Saturday's post on a few updates/changes that go into effect today. If not, you can check it out HERE. There aren't too many huge releases this week but I tried to pick a few that I know have been talked about.

In Adult books, I've been hearing some buzz about 2312 by Sci-fi writer Kim Stanley Robinson. In Young Adult, I pre-ordered a copy of Dark Kiss by Michelle Rowen. Every time I look at that cover, I swear it looks like Edward Cullen...

In movies, Perfect Sense and This Means War are on my to-watch list this week. Oh, and as a part of my updates/changes, I promised to let everyone know which movies were going to be coming out in blu-ray-dvd combo packs. This Means War and Red Tails both come out in combo packs while Perfect Sense and Woman in Black do not. Speaking of Woman in Black, Harry Potter fans will be anxious to see Daniel Radcliffe in something new and what better way then to star in something very grown up.

Finally, in TV Series, Sherlock Season 2 arrives on both dvd and blu-ray. The River, ABC's failed attempt at horror also comes out on Tuesday. Teens will be happy with the release of MTV's hot series Teen Wolf: Season 1. Season 2 premieres on Sunday, June 3rd.

Enjoy!



BOOKS (MAY 22nd)


ADULT

2312
by: Kim Stanley Robinson

The year is 2312. Scientific and technological advances have opened gateways to an extraordinary future. Earth is no longer humanity's only home; new habitats have been created throughout the solar system on moons, planets, and in between. But in this year, 2312, a sequence of events will force humanity to confront its past, its present, and its future.

The first event takes place on Mercury, on the city
of Terminator, itself a miracle of engineering on an unprecedented scale. It is an unexpected death, but one that might have been foreseen. For Swan Er Hong, it is an event that will change her life. Swan was once a woman who designed worlds. Now she will be led into a plot to destroy them.

Release Date: 22 May 2012
Website | Hardcover | E-book


Midnight's Master
(Dark Warriors, #1)

by: Donna Grant

Gwynn Austin has no idea why her father has disappeared on a mysterious trip to Scotland. When she goes on a desperate mission to search for him she finds more than she bargains for in a ruggedly handsome, wickedly exciting Highlander who exudes danger and mystery. And when she discovers her own link to Scotland, she’ll have to trust her heart to help lead her...

Propelled through time by powerful Druid Magic, Logan Hamilton uses his
immortality and powers of the god inside him to help prevent the awakening of an ancient evil in the modern world. He never expects to find help in the form of a beautiful, alluring, and all too tempting woman whose passion and strength matches his own. Together, Logan and Gywnn must fight for their love—before a demon from the past destroys them both…

Release Date: 22 May 2012
Website | Paperback | E-book


Shadow Bound
(Unbound, #1)

by: Rachel Vincent

If you live in the dark long enough, you begin to forget the light…

KORI DANIELS is a shadow-walker, able to travel instantly from one shadow to another. After weeks of confinement for betraying her boss, she’s ready to break free of the Tower synd
icate for good. But Jake Tower has one final job for Kori, one chance to secure freedom for herself and her sister, Kenley, even if that means taking it from someone else…

The job? Recruit Ian Holt—or kill him.

Ian’s ability to manipulate the dark has drawn interest from every syndicate in the world, most notably an invitation from Jake Tower. Though he has no interest in organized crime, Ian accepts the invite, because he’s on a mission of his own. Ian has come to kill Tower’s top Binder: Kori’s little sister.

Amid the tangle of lies, an unexpected thread of truth connecting Ian and Kori comes to light. But with opposing goals, they’ll have to choose between love and liberty…


Release Date: 22 May 2012
Website | Paperback | E-book


YOUNG ADULT


Cold Kiss (Cold Kiss, #1)
by: Amy Garvey

Be careful what you wish for. . . .

When Wren's boyfriend, Danny, died, Wren decided that what she wanted—what she had to do—was to bring Danny back. And so, in a heartbroken fury, armed with dark incantations and a secret power, she did.

But the Danny who returns isn't the boy Wren fell in love with, and she must hide him away while her life unravels around her. Then Gabriel transfers to her school and somehow he knows what she has done—and he wants to help make things right.

But Wren alone must undo what she has wrought—even if it means breaking her heart all over again.

Release Date: 22 May 2012
Website | Papaerback | E-book


Dark Kiss
(Nightwatchers, #1)

by: Michelle Rowen

I don't do dangerous. Smart, über-careful, ordinary Samantha-that's me. But I just couldn't pass up a surprise kiss from my number-one unattainable crush. A kiss that did something to me...something strange. Now I feel hungry all the time, but not for food. It's like part of me is missing-and I don't know if I can get it back. Then there's Bishop. At first I thought he was just a street kid, but the secrets he's keeping are as intense as his unearthly blue eyes. If he's what I think he is, he may be the only one who can help me. But something terrifying is closing in, and the one chance Bishop and I have to stop it means losing everything I ever wanted and embracing the darkness inside me.... NIGHTWATCHERS When angels and demons must work together, something beyond evil is rising..

Release Date: 22 May 2012
Website | Paperback | E-book


Fated
(Soul Seekers, #1)

by: Alyson Noel

The first book in a magnificent new series about a girl who can navigate between the worlds of the living and the dead by #1 New York Times bestselling author Alyson Noël.

Lately strange things have been happening to Daire Santos. Animals follow her, crows mock her, and glowing people appear out of nowhere. Worried that Daire is having a nervous breakdown, her mother packs her off to stay in the dusty plains of Enchantment, New Mexico with a grandm
other she’s never met.

There she crosses paths with Dace, a gorgeous guy with unearthly blue eyes who she’s encountered before...but only in her dreams. And she’ll get to know her grandmother—a woman who recognizes Daire’s bizarre episodes for what they are. A call to her true destiny as a Soul Seeker, one who can navigate between the worlds of the living and the dead. Her grandmother immediately begins teaching her to harness her powers—but it’s an art that must be mastered quickly. Because Dace’s brother is an evil shape-shifter who’s out to steal her powers. Now Daire must embrace her fate as a Soul Seeker and find out if Dace is one guy she’s meant to be with...or if he’s allied with the enemy she’s destined to destroy.

Release Date: 22 May 2012
Website | Hardcover | E-book


Of Poseidon
by: Anna Banks

Galen, a Syrena prince, searches land for a girl he's heard can communicate with fish. It’s while Emma is on vacation at the beach that she meets Galen. Although their connection is immediate and powerful, Galen's not fully convinced that Emma's the one he's been looking for. That is, until a deadly encounter with a shark proves that Emma and her Gift may be the only thing that can save his kingdom. He needs her help--no matter what the risk.

Release Date: 22 May 2012
Website | Hardcover | E-book



Shift

by: Em Bailey

Olive Corbett is definitely NOT crazy.

Not anymore. These days she takes her meds like a good girl, hangs out with her best friend Ami, and stays the hell away from the toxic girls she used to be friends with.

She doesn’t need a boyfriend. Especially not a lifesaver-type with a nice smile. And she doesn’t need the drama of that creepy new girl Miranda, who has somehow latched on to Olive's ex-best friend.

Yet from a distance, Olive can see there's something sinister about the new friendship. Something almost... para
sitic. Maybe the wild rumours ARE true. Maybe Miranda is a killer.

But who would believe Olive? She does have a habit of letting her imagination run away with her…


Release Date: 22 May 2012
Website | Hardcover | E-book


The Lost Code
(The Atlanteans, #1)

by: Kevin Emerson

WHAT IS OLDEST WILL BE NEW, WHAT IS LOST SHALL BE FOUND.

The ozone is ravaged, ocean levels have risen, and the sun is a daily enemy. But global climate change is not something new in the Earth’s history.

No one will know this better than less-than-ordinary Owen Parker, who is about to discover that he is the descendant of a highly advanced ancient race—a rac
e that took their technology too far and almost destroyed the Earth in the process.

Now it is Owen’s turn to make right in his world what went wrong thousands of years ago. If Owen can unlock the lost code in his very genes, he may rediscover the forgotten knowledge of his ancestry…and that less-than-ordinary can evolve into extraordinary.


Release Date: 22 May 2012
Website | Hardcover | E-book


Taken by Storm (Raised by Wolves, #3)
by: Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Bryn knows first-hand that being the alpha of a werewolf pack means making hard decisions, and that being human makes things a thousand times worse. She's prepared to give up her humanity, but the wolf who promised to Change her is waiting - though for what, Bryn doesn't know. Still human, she must take her place in the werewolf Senate, the precarious democracy that rules the North American packs. Standing side by side with werewolves who were ancient long before she was ever born is enough of a challenge, but Bryn soon learns that the Senate has been called to deal with a problem: the kind of problem that involves human bodies, a Rabid werewolf, and memories that Bryn, Chase, and the rest of their pack would rather forget. With bodies stacking up and political pressure closing in from all sides, Bryn and her pack are going to have to turn to old enemies and even older friends for help - especially when it starts to look like this time, the monster might be one of their own.

Release Date: 22 May 2012
Website | Hardcover | E-book


MOVIES & TV SERIES (May 22nd)




MOVIES

Perfect Sense
Directed by: David Mackenzie

Starring: Ewan McGregor, Eva Green

Susan is a scientist whose research has caused her to neglect virtually everything else in her life, including love. That is until she meets Michael, a talented chef, and suddenly everything starts to change not just in Susan s life, but in the entire world. While Susan and Michael are experiencing new and unforeseen depths of feeling, all around the globe a new epidemic is causing people to lose their sensory perceptions. Are Susan and Michael s increasingly intense feelings for each other in spite of the epidemic, or because of it? A life-affirming look at what it means to love and be loved in turbulent times, director David Mackenzie s PERFECT SENSE is equal parts touching romance and chilling thriller.

Release Date: 22 May 2012
Website | Blu-ray | DVD


Red Tails
Directed by: Anthony Hemingway

Starring: Cuba Gooding Jr., Terrence Howard

Academy Award Winner Cuba Gooding Jr. and Academy Award Nominee Terrence Howard lead a powerful ensemble cast in this high-flying epic inspired by the real-life adventures of the first African-American combat unit to serve in World War II. Italy, 1944. As the war takes its toll on Allied forces in Europe, a squadron of black pilots known as the Tuskegee Airmen are finally given the chance to prove themselves in the sky...even as they battle discrimination on the ground. Featuring jaw-dropping aerial action and thrilling special effects, Red Tails is a breathtaking tribute to the unsung heroes who rose above extraordinary challenges and ultimately soared into history.

Release Date: 22 May 2012
Website | Blu-ray | DVD


This Means War

Directed by: McG

Starring: Tom Hardy, Chris Pine, Reese Witherspoon

Spy flick meets romantic comedy in this surprisingly entertaining film about two CIA agents who find themselves in competition for the affections of the same beautiful woman. Agents FDR (Chris Pine) and Tuck (Tom Hardy) are accustomed to using whatever means necessary to complete a mission--and that mentality has a tendency to bleed over into their personal lives. The two agents are also close friends, so when they discover they're both dating Lauren (Reese Witherspoon), they enter into a gentleman's agreement that stipulates they not interfere with one other, allow Lauren to choose the best man for her, and walk away from Lauren if seeing her begins to affect the men's friendship. The agreement quickly degenerates into a pissing contest of epic proportions thanks to the men's competitive natures and the arsenal of government resources at their disposal. Oblivious to the rivalry and the high-tech circus going on around her, Lauren desperately tries to figure out which of the two men is right for her. Her married friend Trish (Chelsea Handler) offers plenty of advice, assuring Lauren that just because she's dating two guys at the same time, "You're not going to hell, but if you are, I'll be there to pick you up." What makes this film so good is its perfect blend of high-action spy caper, laugh-aloud humor, and romance--all skillfully delivered by a talented cast.

Release Date: 22 May 2012
Website | Blu-ray | DVD


Woman In Black
Directed by: James Watkins

Starring: Daniel Radcliffe

Fans of classically structured haunted house/ghost stories will relish the skillfully unnerving chain of events in The Woman in Black, whether or not they're fans of Harry Potter. Radcliffe plays Arthur Kipps, a young solicitor tasked with resolving the affairs of a recently deceased woman and her brooding estate in the gloom of the remote Victorian England-era village of Crythin Gifford. The mood is melancholic all around, starting with Kipps himself, who lost his wife to childbirth a few years earlier. His employer has had just about enough of his moping about and gives him the assignment as a last resort to save his job. When he arrives in the small village, the icy response he receives does not bode well for successful completion of his mission. All the townspeople want him gone, and possibly for good reason. Many of their children have died mysteriously gruesome deaths that they blame on the titular black-clad woman whose own child was tragically sucked to his death in the muck surrounding her seaside mansion. This new stranger who wants to unearth the deadly secrets trapped in the decrepit old house is a threat they cannot abide, and sure enough the deaths keep on coming as he delves deeper into the dark recesses of the house and the history of its ghostly occupant.

Release Date: 22 May 2012
Website | Blu-ray | DVD


TV SERIES

My Babysitter's a Vampire: Season 1

Starring: Matthew Knight, Vanessa Morgan

The series follows the adventures of a geeky freshman boy named Ethan Morgan (Matthew Knight), a Seer who has visions when he touches anything paranormal, his best friend Benny, a spellmaster, and his vampire babysitter Sarah (Vanessa Morgan) as they chase down supernatural forces. They are often aided by Rory, their dorky friend who was turned into a vampire in the pilot film, and Erica, Sarah's best friend, who also became a vampire in the pilot film.

Release Date: 22 May 2012
Website | DVD


Rizzoli & Isles: Season 2

Starring: Angie Harmon, Sasha Alexander

Homicide detective Jane Rizzoli (Angie Harmon) and forensic pathologist Maura Isles (Sasha Alexander) are close friends, complete opposites and on the case in all 15 gritty episodes based on the best-selling novels by Tess Gerritsen. Season Two sees brash Jane healing emotional and physical scars as old loves re-appear and her mother Angela (Lorraine Bracco) deals with divorce. Meanwhile Jane's ex-con brother Tommy (Colin Egglesfield) has eyes for cerebral Maura, whose own family life is complicated by her adoptive mother Constance (Jacqueline Bisset) and a biological dad with a link to the Mob. And in an explosive season finale, Jane must choose between her job and Maura. Can their friendship survive?

Release Date: 22 May 2012
Website | DVD


Sherlock: Season 2

Starring: Benedict Cumberbatch, Martin Freeman

Nominated for 4 primetime Emmys, Sherlock is back with Benedict Cumberbatch as Holmes and Martin Freeman as Watson in three new stories. In A Scandal in Belgravia, Sherlock gets embroiled in the complex plans of the dangerous and desirable Irene Adler, and finds himself employing every one of his remarkable skills to survive as the unlikely duo square off in a battle of wits... and perhaps emotions? The Hounds of Baskerville whisks the increasingly popular detective and Watson to the wilds of Dartmoor, and face to face with the supernatural lurking in the eerie landscape. Meanwhile, Moriarty is still out there in the shadows, and is determined to bring Sherlock down - at whatever the cost - in The Reichenbach Fall. With beguiling performances, witty scripts and some of the most intriguing characters ever created, it's no wonder that Sherlock has proven to be a worldwide success.

Release Date: 22 May 2012
Website | Blu-ray | DVD


Teen Wolf: Season 1

Starring: Tyler Posey, Crystal Reed

The series revolves around social outcast Scott McCall, a young lacrosse-playing student at Beacon Hills High School. His life drastically changes when he is bitten by a werewolf one night. Upon discovery that he is a werewolf, with the help of his best friend, Stiles, and the mysterious werewolf, Derek, he is forced to learn to balance his newfound identity among the many dangers that it presents with his teenage life. He must keep his loved ones safe and balance the relationships he shares with each person around him. Scott is also having trouble with keeping his secret from the girl he loves, Alison.

Release Date: 22 May 2012
Website | DVD


The River: Complete Series

Starring: Bruce Greenwood, Joe Anderson

Embark on a thrilling journey as Oren Peli, director of Paranormal Activity, and Executive Producer Steven Spielberg, bring chilling legend and lore to life. Paranormal thriller The River follows the story of world famous wildlife expert and TV personality Dr. Emmet Cole (Bruce Greenwood), host of the beloved series The Undiscovered Country. After Cole goes missing deep in the Amazon, his family, friends, and crew set out on a haunting and treacherous adventure to find him. Led by his wife, Tess (Leslie Hope), and estranged son, Lincoln (Joe Anderson), the rescue mission will lead them deep into the unexplored regions on the Amazon River. A place where nature is cruel, magic is real, and nothing is what it seems. Uncover the ancient secrets of the Bouina in the heart-pounding first season of ABC's The River, and dive even deeper into the mystery with never-before-seen bonus features. The shocking truth is waiting to be discovered. If you dare...

Release Date: 22 May 2012
Website | DVD

2 comments:

  1. Cool Highlights! :)
    I am now following you too ^^

    here's my blog:
    http://aliaaelnashar.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you! I am now following you in return! :)

      Delete