Tuesday, April 9, 2013

My Picks of the Week! (9th April)


 Hello, Muses!

As the banner says above, there is not much going on with this week's releases. It's like the calm before the storm. So, perhaps enjoy this short reprieve.  Or maybe you will find one or two things on my list to keep you busy until next week. Either way, enjoy!





BOOKS (9th April)

ADULT

A Wild Ride
by: Andrew Grey

Dante Rivers just lost the rodeo by two one hundredths of a point: he’s frustrated as hell, needs to get laid, and he knows just where to go. That night he meets Ryan Abbott and catches his eye—Ryan watched the rodeo and is still riding high on the rush. The chemistry between them ignites, but Dante, unable to deal with complications, leaves while Ryan’s asleep.

Ryan figures he’ll never see Dante again, but they’re fatefully reunited when Dante’s grandfather, Hy, hires Ryan to help straighten out some old investments. The attraction between Ryan and Dante still sizzles. Sex slowly turns to more, but obstacles abound: Hy’s failing health, Dante’s homophobic sponsor, an attack on Ryan, and Dante’s own struggle with his identity. Any one thing would be enough to separate them permanently… unless they both decide to hang on for the wild ride.


Release Date: 8th April 2013


All or Nothing (Trust No One, #1)
by: Dixie Lee Brown

Dixie Lee Brown launches her Trust No One series with this tale of a hunted woman and the only man who can save her life . . . if she'll let him.

Someone wants Cara Sinclair dead. One minute she's halfheartedly enjoying an Oregon Coast casino, and the next she's being chased by hit men. Rescued by a total stranger, Cara must decide whether she can trust her safety to this Joe Reynolds and his team of ruthless mercenaries. The more time she spends with Joe, the more her desire for him grows. But can he truly protect her, or is she placing them all in mortal danger?

Joe agreed to protect Cara as a promise to a dying man. He never expected to feel such heat between them, or her total lack of faith in him. Now he must convince her that her only hope lies with him. Because Joe is starting to realize that he won't be satisfied with just saving her life . . . now, he wants it all.


Release Date: 9th March 2013


Noah
by: Ben Ryder

Callum Walker is feeling listless in his life in London. When his job takes him to Canada to install communications software for a new sports arena, he’s glad for a change of scenery.

During his stay, he befriends Noah Lukas, the strikingly handsome star player of the Toronto Bobcats professional hockey team. Callum knows nothing will ever come of it, but he can’t stop his attraction. As their bond grows, Callum learns more about – and falls more for—Noah through his sensitive and humble interactions with fans, his gentlemanly reaction to flirtations from arena staff, and his frank apprehension over his impending retirement. Their friendship evolves from workout partners to confidants, and then to even more. But Callum’s time in Canada is limited, and circumstances may divide him from a love he wasn’t looking for.

Release Date: 10th April 2013


Plague Nation (Ashley Parker, #2)
by: Dana Fredsti

Sequel to the thrilling zombie novel PLAGUE TOWN.

The undead have been defeated in Redwood Grove, CA, but reports of similar outbreaks are coming in. What seemed to be an isolated event is turning into a pandemic.  The last thing Ashley Parker wanted when she went to college was to join the military, but she is one of a select few who are immune to the virus. Gifted with enhanced speed, strength, and senses, she’s recruited by a shadowy international organization that’s existed for centuries, its sole purpose to combat the zombie threat.

Dark secrets begin to emerge, and when an unknown enemy strikes, Ashley and the other zombie hunters—known as “wild cards”—embark on a desperate mission to reach San Francisco. If they fail, the plague will sweep the nation unchecked. And the person she cares for most may die. Or worse.


Release Date: 9th April 2013

Second Chance at Love
by: Diana DeRicci

The hole in Tony Teagan’s heart is slowly shrinking. Since losing the love of his life, he’s buried himself in running West TonDe Press, but now he can remember the good times. Still, that doesn’t mean he’s ready for a new man in his life. Then he meets nighttime delivery guy Brandon, who appears on his doorstep with Thai food. Tony’s interest is piqued despite their ten-year age difference, and Brandon is all for a new relationship. Relinquishing his hold on his deceased lover is the hardest challenge Tony will face, but if his future is combined with Brandon’s, he may have a second chance at love after all.

Release Date: 10th April 2013


Take Me, Break Me
by: H.C. Brown

Reno Rocket, bass player for the rock band Dazed, thinks he’s on the straight and narrow but is his girlfriend just a cover for his confused sexuality? When the new lead singer, Tanner Star, walks in, Reno's libido snaps to attention. His attraction to the famous rock star is immediate and disconcerting. Performing with Tanner every night blows Reno’s mind, and the moment Tanner grinds against him on stage, “curious” takes on a whole new meaning.

Tanner wants more than a lover. He wants a sub, and he’s willing to guide Reno into the world of BDSM. In turn, Reno wants to be everything to Tanner—lover, sub, and partner—but he fears the ghost of Tanner’s dead boyfriend will come between them.

At first they manage to find a balance and life is idyllic… until one rash action by Tanner plunges their new love affair into chaos. Will Reno admit to the world that he’s gay and face the media and his family’s wrath, or will he deny the love and exquisite attention Tanner’s world has brought him?

Release Date: 10th April 2013


YOUNG ADULT

Dead River
by: Cyn Balog

My friends and I are spending prom weekend at a remote wooded cabin on the Dead. The Dead River.

I thought it was going to be just us.

I was wrong. 

Nothing is what it seems in this creepy paranormal thriller by Cyn Balog.



Release Date: 9th April 2013


Inferno (Chronicles of Nick, #4)
by: Sherrilyn Kenyon

The heat is on, and a new threat to humanity has risen…

Nick has his driver’s license and he’s not afraid to use it. But turning sixteen isn’t what he thought it would be. While other boys his age are worried about prom dates and applying for college, Nick is neck deep in enemies out to stop him from living another day. No longer sure if he can trust anyone, his only ally seems to be the one person he’s been told will ultimately kill him.

But life spent serving the undead is anything except ordinary. And those out to get him have summoned an ancient force so powerful even the gods fear it. As Nick learns to command and control the elements, the one he must master in order to combat his latest foe is the one most likely to destroy him. As the old proverb goes, fire knows nothing of mercy, and if Nick is to survive this latest round, he will have to sacrifice a part of himself. However, the best sacrifice is seldom the sanest move. Sometimes it’s the one that leaves your enemies confused, and you even more so.

And sometimes, you have to trust your enemy to save your friends. But what do you do when that enemy is you?


Release Date: 9th April 2013


Mojo
by: Tim Tharp

All Dylan wants is mojo. What is mojo? It's power. The ability to command respect. It's everything Dylan doesn't have. He gets no respect at school, and when he finds the dead body of a classmate, even the police push him around. All the thanks he gets for trying to help the investigation with his crime drama skills is a new nickname at school: Body Bag. So when Dylan hears about a missing rich girl from the other side of town, he jumps at the chance to dive into this mystery. Surely if he cracks a case involving a girl this beautiful and this rich, he'll get not only a hefty cash reward, but the mojo he's looking for.

His investigation takes him into the world of an elite private high school and an underground club called Gangland. As Dylan—along with his loyal friends Audrey and Randy—falls down the rabbit hole, lured by the power of privilege, he begins to lose himself. And the stakes of the game keep getting higher.


Release Date: 9th April 2013


Renegade (Ripper, #2)
by: Amy Carol Reeves

Brimming with romance and danger, the suspenseful Ripper series continues

The Conclave—a secret group with twisted ideals and freakish practices—has been wiped out, thanks to Arabella Sharp. Now there’s a new malevolence afoot. Fishermen are getting killed, their partially devoured bodies washing up on the shores of Scotland. Is the Ripper responsible? Or have the Conclave’s sinister experiments left behind something more monstrous? Abbie fears the worst when her beloved Dr. William Siddal vanishes. To save the man she loves, Abbie must comply with the Ripper’s dreadful orders—and put her own life in grave danger.



Release Date: 9th April 2013


Revenge of a Not-So-Pretty Girl
by: Carolita Blythe

Faye doesn't mean to hit the old lady she and her friends are mugging. But she does. The old lady isn't moving, but Faye has no reason to feel guilty for leaving her there. The old lady might be ancient and wrinkly now. But back in the day, she was as beautiful as they come—a famous movie star. And everyone knows that pretty and mean always go together.

But Faye does feel guilty. So she comes back.

Slowly, Faye and the old lady form an unlikely friendship, one that pulls Faye out of her life with her abusive mother and destructive "friends" and allows the old lady relief from her loneliness.

But in an unfair world in which the pretty girls, no matter how mean, always seem to get everything, while Faye gets nothing, will Faye be able to keep from slipping back to her old ways? Will her mother ever be happy? Will her father ever come home to stay? And what if Faye goes her whole life without Michael Jackson ever loving her back?

Faye is an honest, straightforward narrator who is likable even in her most flawed moments and will be cheered on by readers of every age and from every walk of life.


Release Date: 9th April 2013


The Shadow Girl
by: Jennifer Archer

Sometimes I forget for an hour or two that she's with me. Sometimes I convince myself that she was only a dream. Or that I'm crazy.

For as long as Lily Winston can remember, she has never been alone. Iris, a shadowy figure who mimics Lily's movements and whispers in her ear, is with her always—but invisible to the rest of the world. Iris is Lily's secret.

But when Lily's father is killed in a tragic accident, his cryptic final words suggest that he and Lily's mother have been keeping secrets of their own. Suddenly, Iris begins pushing Lily more than ever, possessing her thoughts and urging her to put together the pieces of a strange puzzle her father left behind. As she searches for answers, Lily finds herself drawn to Ty Collier, a mysterious new boy in town. Together, Lily and Ty must untangle a web of deception to discover the truth about her family, Iris . . . and Lily's own identity.


Release Date: 9th April 2013


Stone Demon (Iron Witch, #3)
by: Karen Mahoney

After being tricked into opening the doorway to the Demon Realm by Aliette, the Wood Queen, Donna Underwood is faced with a terrible ultimatum from the newly released demon hordes. They demand that the alchemists deliver the Philosopher's Stone, or their reaper storm will plunge the world into a devastating modern-day Dark Age.

Donna is sent to London, England, where she must complete her alchemist's training and learn how to recreate the Stone. But time is running out. Between facing the vengeful demon king, Demian, and collecting the Stone's elements, Donna realizes she must give her own life in order to succeed. And this time, even braving death may not be enough to save the world.


Release Date: 8th April 2013


Strangelets
by: Michelle Gagnon

17-year-old Sophie lies on her deathbed in California, awaiting the inevitable loss of her battle with cancer…
17-year-old Declan stares down two armed thugs in a back alley in Galway, Ireland…
17-year-old Anat attempts to traverse a booby-trapped tunnel between Israel and Egypt…

All three strangers should have died at the exact same moment, thousands of miles apart. Instead, they awaken together in an abandoned hospital—only to discover that they’re not alone. Three other teens from different places on the globe are trapped with them. Somebody or something seems to be pulling the strings. With their individual clocks ticking, they must band together if they’re to have any hope of surviving. 

Soon they discover that they've been trapped in a future that isn't of their making: a deadly, desolate world at once entirely familiar and utterly strange. Each teen harbors a secret, but only one holds the key that could get them home. As the truth comes to light through the eyes of Sophie, Declan, and Anat, the reader is taken on a dark and unforgettable journey into the hearts of teens who must decide what to do with a second chance at life.


Release Date: 9th April 2013



MOVIES & TV SERIES (9th April)


MOVIES

Brilliant Mistakes
Directed by: Paul Brighton

Starring: Daniel Dambroff

When a devastating accident nearly kills Gabby and renders her in a vegetative state, Marcus stands determined to make good on his promise to marry her. Challenged by this unfortunate event, Marcus meets Elliot Thurston, a published author of the novel "Brilliant Mistakes," a story about the author's personal regret. A fan of Elliot's writing, Marcus forms with him a bond of common loss, dreams and goals. While Elliot brings color and life to Marcus' seemingly uncertain future, Marcus' trust in others is soon yet again shattered. Brilliant Mistakes' hopeful and inspirational ending will undoubtedly leave audiences' hearts unable to quite fit in their chests.

Release Date: 9th April 2013


Down the Shore
Directed by: Harold Guskin

Starring: James Gandolfini, Famke Janssen

In what critics are calling his most powerful lead role since "The Sopranos," Golden Globe-® winner James Gandolfini stars as Bailey, the owner/operator of a rundown kiddie amusement park on the wintry Jersey shore. But when a mysterious French stranger appears carrying the ashes of Bailey's younger sister and claiming to be her husband, dark secrets begin to be unearthed. Now with the help of his childhood best friend and former lover (Famke Janssen of TAKEN and TAKEN 2), Bailey must confront his own deadly past and desperate future. Edoardo Costa (LIVE FREE OR DIE HARD) co-stars in this haunting drama about shattered dreams, shocking crimes and final chances that live DOWN THE SHORE. 

Release Date: 9th April 2013


Hyde Park on the Hudson
Directed by: Roger Michell

Starring: Bill Murray, Olivia Williams

In June 1939, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt (Bill Murray) and his wife Eleanor (Olivia Williams) host the King and Queen of England (Samuel West and Olivia Colman) for a weekend at the Roosevelt home at Hyde Park on Hudson, in upstate New York - the first-ever visit of a reigning English monarch to America. With Britain facing imminent war with Germany, the Royals are desperately looking to FDR for support. But international affairs must be juggled with the complexities of FDR's domestic establishment, as wife, mother, and mistresses all conspire to make the royal weekend an unforgettable one.

Release Date: 9th April 2013


Late Bloomers
Directed by: Julie Gavras

Starring: Isabella Rossellini, William Hurt

In this romantic comedy, Mary (Isabella Rossellini) and Adam (William Hurt) aren't your typical older couple, they're high functioning and stylish and to their great surprise, they've entered the senior category. Adam is in frantic denial, desperately looking for the fountain of youth as Mary decides to deal with the situation by doing what she does best, taking care of her husband and family. After 30 years together, the married couple confronts the unpalatable realities of getting older and concludes that emotional absence is the easiest way to cope. But at what point does distance become divorce? A clash soon becomes inevitable as their children, grandchildren, parents and friends try to reconcile them. The stellar cast includes Joanna Lumley, Kate Ashfield, Simon Callow and Doreen Mantle. Co-written and directed by Julie Gavras. 

Release Date: 9th April 2013




Orchestra of Exiles
Directed by: Josh Aronson

Starring: n/a

A Film by Academy Award© Nominated Director Josh Aronson. The thrilling story of how one man helped save Europe s premiere Jewish musicians from obliteration by the Nazis.
 
In the early 1930's Hitler began firing Jewish musicians across Europe. Overcoming extraordinary obstacles, violinist Bronislaw Huberman moved these great musicians to Palestine and formed a symphony that would become the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra. With courage, resourcefulness and an entourage of allies including Arturo Toscanini and Albert Einstein, Huberman saved nearly 1000 Jews - and guaranteed the survival of Europe s musical heritage.

Featuring commentary by musical greats including Itzhak Perlman, Zubin Mehta and Joshua Bell, Orchestra of Exiles is a timeless tale of a brilliant young man coming of age, and the suspenseful chronicle of how his efforts impacted cultural history.

Release Date: 14th April 2013


Womb
Directed by: Benedek Fliegauf

Starring: Eva Green, Matt Smith

Young and shy Rebecca befriends Tommy while visiting her grandfather in a remote coastal area, but their profound fairy-tale romance comes to an end when Rebecca must follow her mother to faraway Tokyo. Twelve years later, Rebecca (Eva Green), now a young woman returns to settle in her late grandfather's beach house. She seeks out childhood friend Tommy (Matt Smith). their reunion is marked by a strong mutual attraction, but their passionate relationship is short-lived when Tommy is killed in a freak car accident. Devastated, Rebecca feels life cannot go on without Tommy, so she turns to the controversial "Department of Genetic Replication" for an option. Although wary of the potential repercussions, Tommy's parents (Lesley Manville and Peter Wight) reluctantly agree to supply Rebecca with the necessary DNA sample for her to clone a new Tommy in her womb. Writer and director Benedek Fliegauf (Dealer) brings us this haunting and heartbreaking one-of-a-kind sci-fi love story.

Release Date: 9th April 2013



TV SERIES

Boss: Season 2

Starring: Kelsey Grammer

Mayor Tom Kane's (Kelsey Grammer) grip on Chicago is as powerful as ever. With high doses of medication, he's able to beat back the physical symptoms of his debilitating brain disease, but it comes at a cost. Committed to his unorthodox agenda, Kane cuts out the cancers within the political machine he helped build. As corrupt heads roll and his list of enemies grows, Kane's virtuous actions begin to erode the very foundation of power he's worked a lifetime to build. In order to maintain it, Kane must govern as he always has - ruthlessly. 

Release Date: 9th April 2013


Inside Men: Season 1

Starring: Steven Mackintosh, Ashley Walters

John (Steven Mackintosh, Luther; Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels; Camelot) is a manager of a cash counting house suffering through a mundane life. When an irresistible opportunity arises to make him instantly rich, he enlists two fellow colleagues - security guard Chris (Ashley Walters, Outcasts, Hustle) and forklift driver Marcus (Warren Brown, Luther) - as the group of inside men to change their fortunes and lives forever. A psychological study of how everyday men cope once they step out of their comfort zones, Inside Men is a thrilling and explosive journey across the moral line.

Release Date: 9th April 2013


Merlin: Season 5

Starring: Colin Morgan, Bradley James

After three years of peace and harmony, the future of the Camelot couldn't be brighter. But as King Arthur and his new Queen look to bring the kingdom into a bright future, the seeds of Camelot's destruction are drawing together. The evil Morgana is hiding in the darkness. As an old face returns to the castle and gains a position amongst Arthur's inner circle, Merlin must protect the king more than ever... For the new arrival is Mordred, the druid boy whose destiny is to end the king's life and bring chaos down on Camelot. But as the death song of King Uther haunts the castle and Guinevere crosses over to the dark side, both Merlin and Arthur find that their destiny is approaching... the battle of Camelot is about to reach a deadly conclusion... and nothing will ever be the same again.

Release Date: 9th April 2013



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