Howdy, my Muses!
Hopefully these releases will give you a little pick-me-up on this Monday morning. In Adult books, the paperback release of Anna North's America Pacifica hits bookshelves and it sounds so intriguing! An 18 year old girl lives on one of the last habitable islands on earth after North America has succumbed to a second ice age! How did I miss this when it came out in hardback? The Taken by Vicki Petterson also sounds interesting-- I absolutely love the cover art!
In Young Adult, I am currently reading an ARC (Advance Reader Copy) of Lies Beneath by Anne Greenwood Brown that is coming out this week. I'm also looking forward to checking out My Life in Black and White by Natasha Friend and The Vindico by Welsey King. X-men meets the Breakfast Club? Hmm...
In Movies, I am sure everyone is excited for the release of Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows (and is the only movie that is being released in a blu-ray/dvd combo pack this week might I add!) and maybe even Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance. I am not a huge Holmes or Ghost Rider fan (I love the character, but do not like Nicolas Cage who plays Ghost Rider), so I am more interested in In Darkness, based on a true story about Jews that were hidden in the sewers during the time when the ghettos were being "liquidized." I am not a huge Tyler Perry fan, but for some reason Good Deeds has caught my attention and several customers at the movie store I work at part time told me it was actually good.
Lastly, in TV Series, there are a few ABC shows that are being released on dvd after being canceled this past season such as Missing starring Ashley Judd and GCB from the creators of Sex and the City. Fans of the long running show Entourage can add its last season to their collection with the release of season 8. I personally am excited for the release of The Tribe: Season 1, Part 2. I really hate that the seasons are being split up, but hey, as long as they keep coming out in a timely fashion, I will be a happy camper.
Until next week, Enjoy!
BOOKS (June 12th)
ADULT
America Pacifica
by: Anna North
Eighteen-ye
ar-old Darcy lives on the island of America Pacifica--one of the last places on earth that is still habitable, after North America has succumbed to a second ice age. Education, food, and basic means of survival are the province of a chosen few, while the majority of the island residents must struggle to stay alive. The rich live in "Manhattanville" mansions made from the last pieces of wood and stone, while the poor cower in the shantytown slums of "Hell City" and "Little Los Angeles," places built out of heaped up trash that is slowly crumbling into the sea. The island is ruled by a mysterious dictator named Tyson, whose regime is plagued by charges of corruption and conspiracy.But to Darcy, America Pacifica is simply home--the only one she's ever known. In spite of their poverty she lives contentedly with her mother, who works as a pearl diver. It's only when her mother doesn't come home one night that Darcy begins to learn about her past as a former "Mainlander," and her mother's role in the flight from frozen California to America Pacifica. Darcy embarks on a quest to find her mother, navigating the dark underbelly of the island, learning along the way the disturbing truth of Pacifica's early history, the far-reaching influence of its egomaniacal leader, and the possible plot to murder some of the island's first inhabitants--including her mother.
Redemption (Penton Legacy, #1)
by: Susannah Sandlin
The wor
ld’s vampire population is on the brink of starvation since the vaccine to treat a global pandemic rendered human blood deadly to them. Their only hope for survival is a handful of rural areas that the vaccine never breached.The tiny town of Penton, Alabama, is one such enclave, where the immortal Aidan Murphy has established a community of vampires and their willingly bonded humans. Together, they live in peace—until Aidan’s estranged brother descends upon the town and begins attacking its humans. Whether the rampage is a result of his centuries-old feud with Aidan or the civil war threatening to erupt in the vampire world matters not. All that matters is the blood.
Desperate to save his adopted family, Aidan breaks one of his cardinal rules, kidnapping an unvaccinated human doctor—and unexpectedly falling in love for the first time in nearly four hundred years.
Shadow's Edge (Night Prowler, #1)
by: J.T. Geissinger
Fans of L
aurell K. Hamilton and Karen Marie Moning will be captivated by this edgy, sensual new paranormal series about an ancient dynasty of shape-shifters locked in a centuries-old battle for power, and the dangerous attraction between their leader and the woman who may be the downfall of them all.Deep within the primeval forests of southern England, a race of beautiful, savage shape-shifters lives hidden from the everyday world. Bound together by ancient bloodlines and a ruthless code of secrecy that punishes traitors with death, the Ikati send their leader Leander on a mission to capture one raised outside the tribe before she can expose their secret. When Leander tracks the unsuspecting outsider to Southern California, the hardened warrior is prepared for a fight—but not for the effect the sensual young beauty has on his heart.
Jenna spent her childhood in hiding, on the run from someone—or something—her parents refused to discuss. She trusts no one, not since her father’s mysterious disappearance, not since her mother’s sudden death, and definitely not since she began exhibiting strange, superhuman abilities. When handsome, enigmatic Leander appears, promising answers to the mysteries that shroud her past, she knows she shouldn’t trust him either. But their connection is undeniable, and as powerful as the enemy hell-bent on destroying every one of their kind…
The Taken (Celestial Blues, #1)
by: Vicki Petterson
He’s a fal
len angel. She’s a rockabilly reporter. Together they must solve a deadly string of murders plaguing the mortal and the immortal worlds.Griffin Shaw used to be a PI, but that was over fifty years ago when gumshoes hoofed the streets . . . and he was still alive. Now he’s a Centurion, an angel who assists other murdered souls through their journey to the afterlife. But while Shaw might be an angel … he’s no saint. Haunted by the mysterious events surrounding his own death, he seizes a chance to wreak some vengeance when he witnesses a deadly attack on journalist Katherine “Kit” Craig.
Joining forces, the unlikely avengers take to the streets, hunting a killer whose trail of bodies stretches across Las Vegas and into an immortal netherworld. It is a dangerous trek that lead them into the darkest corners of Sin City and into the heart of an evil conspiracy extending beyond the lights of the Strip that could destory them both.
But destruction isn’t the only threat Griffin faces. The closer he gets to Kit, the more he finds himself bewitched by her mortal charms. Can he resist falling under her spell? And does he want to?
YOUNG ADULT
Crazy
by: Amy Reed
He’s f
alling in love—and she’s falling over the edge of sanity. From the author of Beautiful and Clean, a heartwrenching exploration of a romance marred by mental illness.Connor knows that Izzy will never fall in love with him the way he’s fallen for her. But somehow he’s been let into her crazy, exhilarating world and become her closest confidante. But the closer they get, the more Connor realizes that Izzy’s highs are too high and her lows are too low. And the frenetic energy that makes her shine is starting to push her into a much darker place.
As Izzy’s behavior gets increasingly erratic and self-destructive, Connor gets increasingly desperate to stop her from plummeting. He knows he can’t save her from her pain... but what if no one else can?
Fear, The (Enemy, #3)
by: Charlie Higson
The sickn
ess struck everyone sixteen and over. Mothers and fathers, older brothers, sisters, and best friends. No one escaped its touch. And now children across London are being hunted by ferocious grown-ups who are hungry, bloodthirsty, and not giving up.DogNut and the rest of his crew, in search of the friends they lost during the fire, set off on a deadly mission from the Tower of London to Buckingham Palace and beyond, as the sickos lie in wait. But who are their friends and who is the enemy in this changed world?
Flirting in Italian
by: Lauren Henderson
Four girls.
One magical, and possibly dangerous Italian summer. Family mysteries, ancient castles, long hot nights of dancing under the stars . . . and, of course, plenty of gorgeous Italian boys! Convincing her mother to send her on the study course in Italy wasn't too hard - she thinks Violet is doing it for her university applications. But secretly, Violet's a girl on a mission. Recently, while visiting a museum near her London home, Violet stumbled across a painting of a beautiful young Italian aristocrat who could be her twin. She can't stop wondering about the girl in the portrait; the resemblance is uncanny, she's determined to find out whether there's a connection between them. And maybe, just maybe, she'll get to meet some handsome Italian boys while she's investigating...
For Darkness Shows the Stars
by: Diana Peterfreund
Gener
ations ago, a genetic experiment gone wrong—the Reduction—decimated humanity, giving rise to a Luddite nobility who outlawed most technology.Elliot North has always known her place in this world. Four years ago Elliot refused to run away with her childhood sweetheart, the servant Kai, choosing duty to her family’s estate over love. Since then the world has changed: a new class of Post-Reductionists is jumpstarting the wheel of progress, and Elliot’s estate is foundering, forcing her to rent land to the mysterious Cloud Fleet, a group of shipbuilders that includes renowned explorer Captain Malakai Wentforth—an almost unrecognizable Kai. And while Elliot wonders if this could be their second chance, Kai seems determined to show Elliot exactly what she gave up when she let him go.
But Elliot soon discovers her old friend carries a secret—one that could change their society . . . or bring it to its knees. And again, she’s faced with a choice: cling to what she’s been raised to believe, or cast her lot with the only boy she’s ever loved, even if she’s lost him forever.
Inspired by Jane Austen’s Persuasion, For Darkness Shows the Stars is a breathtaking romance about opening your mind to the future and your heart to the one person you know can break it.
Lies Beneath
by: Anne Greenwood Brown
Calder W
hite lives in the cold, clear waters of Lake Superior, the only brother in a family of murderous mermaids. To survive, Calder and his sisters prey on humans, killing them to absorb their energy. But this summer the underwater clan targets Jason Hancock out of pure revenge. They blame Hancock for their mother's death and have been waiting a long time for him to return to his family's homestead on the lake. Hancock has a fear of water, so to lure him in, Calder sets out to seduce Hancock's daughter, Lily. Easy enough—especially as Calder has lots of practice using his irresistable good looks and charm on ususpecting girls. Only this time Calder screws everything up: he falls for Lily—just as Lily starts to suspect that there's more to the monsters-in-the-lake legends than she ever imagined. And just as his sisters are losing patience with him.My Life in Black and White
by: Natasha Friend
What if
you lost the thing that made you who you are?Lexi has always been stunning. Her butter-colored hair and perfect features have helped her attract friends, a boyfriend, and the attention of a modeling scout. But everything changes the night Lexi's face goes through a windshield. Now she's not sure what's worse: the scars she'll have to live with forever, or what she saw going on between her best friend and her boyfriend right before the accident. With the help of her trombone-playing, defiantly uncool older sister and a guy at school recovering from his own recent trauma, Lexi learns she's much more than just a pretty face.
My Life Next Door
by: Huntley Fitzpatrick
A gorgeous debut about family, friendship, first romance, and how to be true to one person you love without betraying another“One thing my mother never knew, and would disapprove of most of all, was that I watched the Garretts. All the time.”
The Garretts are everything the Reeds are not. Loud, numerous, messy, affectionate. And every day from her balcony perch, seventeen-year-old Samantha Reed wishes she was one of them . . . until one summer evening, Jase Garrett climbs her terrace and changes everything. As the two fall fiercely in love, Jase's family makes Samantha one of their own. Then in an instant, the bottom drops out of her world and she is suddenly faced with an impossible decision. Which perfect family will save her? Or is it time she saved herself?
A dreamy summer read, full of characters who stay with you long after the story is over.
Rapture (Fallen, #4)
by: Lauren Kate
The sky
is dark with wings . . . .Like sand in an hourglass, time is running out for Luce and Daniel. To stop Lucifer from erasing the past they must find the place where the angels fell to earth. Dark forces are after them, and Daniel doesn’t know if he can do this—live only to lose Luce again and again.
Yet together they will face an epic battle that will end with lifeless bodies . . . and angel dust. Great sacrifices are made. Hearts are destroyed. And suddenly Luce knows what must happen.
For she was meant to be with someone other than Daniel. The curse they’ve borne has always and only been about her—and the love she cast aside. The choice she makes now will be the only one that truly matters.
In the fight for Luce, who will win?
The astonishing conclusion to the FALLEN series. Heaven can’t wait any longer.
Stronger (Super Human, #6)
by: Michael Carroll
The criti
cally acclaimed Super Human series reaches its shocking conclusion.All Gethin Rao wants is to be like every other boy his age. But normal twelve-year-olds aren't blue. And they certainly aren't thirteen feet tall. That's what happens when his superpowers kick in. And from that moment on, his life is never the same. Treated as a villain--a monster--Gethin spends the rest of his life on the run or as a prisoner in a secret military facility.
When he finally escapes, he falls in with a group of superpowered teens and becomes the one thing he never thought he'd be: a hero. But as the years pass by and he takes the name Brawn, Gethin learns that being a good guy is a lot more difficult than he thought.
Michael Carroll delves deeper into the life of one of his favorite characters and in the process gives readers his most satisfying, exciting adventure yet, which leads directly into his Quantum Prophecy trilogy.
The Vindico
by: Wesley King
X-Men
meets The Breakfast Club in this darkly humorous adventureThe Vindico are a group of supervillains who have been fighting the League of Heroes for as long as anyone can remember. Realizing they're not as young as they used to be, they devise a plan to kidnap a group of teenagers to take over for them when they retire--after all, how hard can it be to teach a bunch of angsty teens to be evil?
Held captive in a remote mansion, five teens train with their mentors and receive superpowers beyond their wildest dreams. Struggling to uncover the motives of the Vindico, the teens have to trust each other to plot their escape. But they quickly learn that the differences between good and evil are not as black and white as they seem, and they are left wondering whose side they should be fighting on after all . . .
With fast-paced action, punchy dialogue, and sarcastic humor, this high-stakes adventure from a talented new YA voice pulls you in from the first page.
Tokyo Heist
by: Diana Renn
Sixteen
-year-old Violet loves reading manga and wearing scarves made from kimono fabric, so she’s thrilled that her father’s new painting commission means a summer trip to Japan. But what starts as an exotic vacation quickly turns into a dangerous treasure hunt.Her father’s newest clients, the Yamada family, are the victims of a high-profile art robbery: van Gogh sketches have been stolen from their home, and, until they can produce the corresponding painting, everyone's lives are in danger -- including Violet's and her father's.
Violet’s search for the missing van Gogh takes her from the Seattle Art Museum, to the yakuza-infested streets of Tokyo, to a secluded inn in Kyoto. As the mystery thickens, Violet’s not sure whom she can trust. But she knows one thing: she has to solve the mystery -- before it’s too late.
MOVIES & TV SERIES (June 12th)
MOVIES
A Little B
it of HeavenDirected by: Nicole Kassell
Starring: Kate Hudson, Gael Garcia Bernal
A Little Bit of Heaven is a love story set in New Orleans about an irreverent young woman who unexpectedly falls in love with her doctor. Marley Corbett (Kate Hudson) is young, beautiful, and wildly funny, but she's afraid of opening herself up to true love and commitment. Though she uses her humor to prevent matters from getting serious, a life-changing visit to her doctor (Gael Garcia Bernal) sends both of them on an eye-opening adventure of mutual discovery, leading to revelations neither thought possible.
Almost Kings
Directed by: Philip G. Flores
Starring: A
lex RussellWith their father lost in anger and self-loathing, "Truck" Wheeler has raised his younger brother Ted as best as he could, considering he's just a teenager himself. In return, Ted idolizes his brother. Now, during their one year of high school together, Ted will realize there are troubling aspects to Truck and his party-hardy gang, "The Kings." Sometimes, acceptance comes with a price.
Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance
Directed by: Mark Neveldine, Brian Taylor
Starring: Ni
colas Cage, Idris ElbaNicolas Cage reprises his role as Johnny Blaze in Ghost Rider Spirit of Vengeance. In this gritty new vision for the character, directed by Neveldine/Taylor (Crank), Johnny is still struggling with his curse as the devil's bounty hunter - but he may risk everything as he teams up with the leader of a group of rebel monks (Idris Elba) to save a young boy from the devil... and possibly rid himself of his curse forever.
In Darkness
Directed by: Agnieszka Holland
Starring:
Robert WieckiewiczFrom acclaimed director Agnieszka Holland, In Darkness is based on a true story. Leopold Socha, a sewer worker and petty thief in Lvov, a Nazi occupied city in Poland, one day encounters a group of Jews trying to escape the liquidation of the ghetto. He hides them for money in the labyrinth of the town's sewers beneath the bustling activity of the city above. What starts out as a straightforward and cynical business arrangement turns into something very unexpected, the unlikely alliance between Socha and the Jews as the enterprise seeps deeper into Socha's conscience. The film is also an extraordinary story of survival as these men, women and children all try to outwit certain death during 14 months of ever increasing and intense danger.
Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows
Directed by: Guy Ritchie
Starring: R
obert Downey Jr., Jude Law, Noomi RapaceSherlock Holmes (Robert Downey Jr.) has always been the smartest man in the room...until now. There is a new criminal mastermind at large-Professor Moriarty (Jared Harris)-and not only is he Holmes' intellectual equal, but his capacity for evil, coupled with a complete lack of conscience, may actually give him an advantage over the renowned detective. When the Crown Prince of Austria is found dead, the evidence, as construed by Inspector Lestrade (Eddie Marsan), points to suicide. But Sherlock Holmes deduces that the prince has been the victim of murder-a murder that is only one piece of a larger and much more portentous puzzle, designed by Professor Moriarty. The cunning Moriarty is always one step ahead of Holmes as he spins a web of death and destruction-all part of a greater plan that, if he succeeds, will change the course of history.
Tyler Perry's Good Deeds
Directed by: Tyler Perry
Starring
: Tyler Perry, Thandie NewtonA successful, wealthy businessman, Wesley Deeds (Tyler Perry) has always done what's expected of him, whether it's assuming the helm of his father's company, tolerating his brother's misbehavior at the office or planning to marry his beautiful but restless fiancée, Natalie (Gabrielle Union). But Wesley is jolted out of his predictable routine when he meets Lindsey (Thandie Newton), a down-on-her-luck single mother who works on the cleaning crew in his office building. When he offers to help her get back on her feet, the chance encounter with someone so far outside his usual circle ignites something in Wesley. This one good deed may finally spark his courage to exchange the life that's expected of him for the life he's always really wanted.
TV SERIES
Entourage: Season 8
Starring: K
evin Connolly, Adrian GrenierHBO presents the final Season of Entourage, the Emmy® Award-winning hit comedy series. Vince, Eric, Drama, and Turtle have been through a lot over the years, chasing dreams, women, and good times. Through the highs and lows their friendship has kept them together. This season, find out if the guys can compete on their own in the fast lane of high-stakes Hollywood. It's time to fasten your seat belts!
GCB: Complete Series
Starrin
g: Leslie Bibb, Annie PottsWelcome, y'all, to ABC's GCB: The Complete First Season. From Darren Star, creator of Sex And The City, and inspired by the devilishly fun novel, GCB dishes the dirt on the return of a "prodigal daughter" to her upscale Dallas community, where everyone hopes she's home for good... and not evil. Back in high school, original mean girl Amanda Vaughn (Leslie Bibb) mercilessly tormented her less attractive classmates. Twenty years later, after her hubby is busted for a Ponzi scheme - and meets his maker in a particularly scandalous way - a disgraced Amanda is back to start life anew under her mother's (Annie Potts) palatial roof. But will the good women of her hometown welcome her with open arms or dole out some kick-ass karmic payback? Let's just say, hell hath no fury like cosmetically enhanced, resident church diva and scripture scholar Carlene Cockburn (Kristin Chenoweth)! Start off your GCB collection and relive all 10 episodes, including "sin-tillating," never-before-seen bonus features in this divinely decadent boxed set.
Gene Simmons Family Jewels: Season 6, Part 1
Starring:
Gene Simmons, Shannon TweedLegendary rock god and multi-hyphenate Gene Simmons returns with his unconventional family for an all-new season of A&E's hit series GENE SIMMONS FAMILY JEWELS. Season six answers the question will Gene, the God of Thunder, finally tie the knot with his beloved partner Shannon? The longest-running celebrity family-based series on television begins with a shocking moment for America's most traditional, non-traditional family. With Nick and Sophie away at college and Gene's rock star ego at an all-time high, Shannon decides she needs to re-evaluate their relationship and leaves her longtime boyfriend. Now Gene and Shannon must decide if they want to movie on with the next phase of their lives together. Viewers will get a fly-on-the-wall look at the state of Gene and Shannon's relationship and explore never-before-seen corners of their personal lives, including Gene's emotional visit to Israel, a special visit to the troops and a relationship-telling trip to Belize.
Gene Simmons Family Jewels: Season 6, Part 2
Starring:
Gene Simmons, Shannon TweedLegendary rock god and multi-hyphenate Gene Simmons returns with his unconventional family for an all-new season of A&E's hit series GENE SIMMONS FAMILY JEWELS. Season six answers the question will Gene, the God of Thunder, finally tie the knot with his beloved partner Shannon? The longest-running celebrity family-based series on television begins with a shocking moment for America's most traditional, non-traditional family. With Nick and Sophie away at college and Gene's rock star ego at an all-time high, Shannon decides she needs to re-evaluate their relationship and leaves her longtime boyfriend. Now Gene and Shannon must decide if they want to move on with the next phase of their lives together.
In GENE SIMMONS FAMILY JEWELS SEASON SIX PART 2, viewers will see everything that leads up to Gene and Shannon's big day - an engagement party, bachelor and bachelorette parties, wedding boot camp and, of course, an exclusive look at the nuptials few predicted would ever take place.
Missing: Complete Series
Starring:
Ashley Judd, Sean BeanHow far would you go to save the person you love most in the world? Emmy Award nominee* Ashley Judd stars in Missing, ABC's riveting new series, bursting with international intrigue and thrilling twists and turns. Becca Winstone (Ashley Judd) learns that her son, Michael, has disappeared while studying abroad, and it's a race against time when she travels to Europe to track him down. It soon becomes clear that Becca is no ordinary woman, but a former CIA agent deactivated after the devastating death of her husband, Paul Winstone (Sean Bean). If she wants to find her son alive, Becca will have to rely on old friends, as well as old enemies, ex-lovers, and spies, and will be forced to reopen old wounds. Her resourcefulness, skill, and determination will be put to the test - but a mother's love knows no limits. ABC's action-packed drama grabs you from the very first minute and never lets go. Relive Becca's search through the streets of Europe, complete with exclusive bonus features that take you even deeper into her journey.
Sarah Jane Adventures: Season 5
Starring:
Daniel Anthony, Tommy KnightCreated by Doctor Who showrunner, Russell T Davies, Season Five sees the bubbly Sky, the Starchild given to Sarah Jane by the Doctor to look after, settle into Bannerman Road and discover she has telekinetic powers... although she has no idea how to use them! Her loveable enthusiasm and zest for life combined with her natural curiosity give Sarah Jane more than one heart-stopping moment. A fast and funny mix of action, drama and special effects, Sarah Jane's adventures grip young audiences across the world.
Scandal: Season 1
Starring: Ker
ry WashingtonFrom the creator of Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice comes a captivating saga of illicit relationships, unchecked power, and shocking political intrigue. Go behind the closed doors of Washington D.C.'s elite and watch as the plot unfolds in Scandal: The Complete First Season. When trouble rears its ugly head - headline-making, life-ruining trouble - there's only one person to call: the legendary Olivia Pope (Kerry Washington). With her steadfast rule of always trusting her gut, Olivia leads an expert team of crisis management consultants skilled at making even the most sordid, salacious scandals disappear. But as these self-proclaimed "gladiators in suits" begin to reveal the cracks in their armor, will the masters of damage control be able to control the damage in their own personal lives? Relive every episode of this exciting political thriller, plus exclusive, never-before-seen bonus features, and get your fix of the ultimate "fixer."
The Tribe: Season 1, Part 2
Starring: Ca
leb Ross, Meryl CassieAfter a mysterious virus wipes out the entire adult population, the world's kids must learn to take care of not only themselves, but also of one another. With limited technology and life experience, can the children create a new functioning society, even stronger than the one before? Perfectly blending the stylized post-apocalyptic look and feel of Mad Max with the teen angst of Degrassi,. The Tribe is one of the most remarkable series to hit the airwaves.
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