My Picks of the Week! (11th March 2014)

Hello, Muses!

Sorry for the late post. I normally have the new releases posted on Mondays, but things have been a little crazy, so better late than never!

I should have a new review posted by Thursday which will include a giveaway, so stay tuned for that. Speaking of giveaway, you still have time to enter for a chance to win an AWESOME swag bag of goodies for Lisa Collicutt's paranormal romance The Devil's Flower. The swag bag includes a paperback copy, a mug, bookmarks, etc., open to Canadian and US residents. BUT WAIT! We didn't want to leave anyone out, so Lisa was nice enough to offer an e-book copy of The Devil's Flower for 1 lucky winner that lives anywhere else in the world! Click HERE to enter the giveaway. It ends 3/22.

Enjoy!

BOOKS (11th March 2014)

 

ADULT BOOKS

Billion Dollar Bad Boy (Billionaire's Club, #2)
by: Jackie Ashenden

Donovan Morrow, the charming, loveable, sexy face of the Morrow company, can’t seem to get a break. Despite all the wining and dining he does for his partners—both in business and in bed—he feels underappreciated. Always coming in second to big brother Jax, he’s considered the playboy of the family, and not someone to be taken seriously. Even more frustrating is when Victoria de Winter, the sexy, sultry manager of the Morrow’s company biggest rival, won’t give him the time of day or night. If only Donovan could show her how his darkest desires revolve around her, she wouldn’t keep blowing him off…

Victoria has always been a good girl. Working hard for the family business and engaged to a respectable man her parents approve of, Victoria thought she had her whole life figured out. That is, until Donovan Morrow entered her life. Victoria knows she shouldn’t lust after him—a direct competitor of her family and a notorious playboy, Donovan is all wrong for the stable life she has carved out for herself. But if this hot billionaire keeps pursuing her, Victoria can only resist for so long before she has to explore his darker, wilder side…

Release Date: 11th March 2014

Website | E-book

Black Box

by: Cassia Leo

From New York Times best selling author Cassia Leo, comes an epic love story about rewriting destiny.

Over the course of five years, Mikki and Crush cross paths on three separate occasions. Their first encounter changes Mikki's life forever, but their second meeting leaves them both buried beneath the emotional wreckage of a violent attack. Mikki is left with more questions and grief than she can handle, while Crush is forced to forget the girl who saved his life.

Now nineteen years old, Mikki Gladstone has decided she's tired of the mind-numbing meds. She books a flight to Los Angeles to end her life far away from her loving, though often distant, family.

Twenty-one-year-old Crush has always channeled his blackest thoughts into his music, but he's never had great aspirations. He decides to fly to Los Angeles to record a demo of the only song he's never performed in public; a song he wrote for a girl he doesn't even know: Black Box. He has no expectations of fame and he's never felt like his life had any purpose... until he meets Mikki in Terminal B.

When Mikki and Crush cross paths for the third time in Terminal B, neither has any idea who the other person is; until they slowly piece together their history and realize that fate has more in store for them than just another love story.

Release Date: 10th March 2014

Website | E-book | Paperback

Breathe You In (Sweet Torment, #1)
by: Joya Ryan

For years, Amy Underwood has been wracked by guilt over her sister’s fatal overdose. With one last shot at redemption, she is determined to open a drug treatment center—even if it means her shameful secret will be exposed. But when she sneaks into the biggest political event of the year in search of funding, she quickly discovers that in the world of fast-paced politics there is always a price—and this one could cost her everything.

Running for a second term, the young governor of New York, Roman Reese, finds that his privileged past and dark childhood could not only threaten the blue-collar vote—but his reputation and livelihood as a politician. So when he meets a sexy woman with big ambitions, he quickly strikes a deal: He’ll see that Amy’s clinic obtains funding, and she’ll play the down-to-earth girlfriend to help his electability. They’ll keep the relationship strictly business, scripted to the last detail, and end it when the polls close.

But secrecy and desire have a way of binding hearts. As Election Day draws closer, so do Amy and Roman—until the discovery of one final deceit threatens to tear them apart for good.

Release Date: 11th March 2014

Website | E-book | Paperback

Fearless (Ruin, #2.5)

by: Rachel Van Dyken

When I met Kiersten, time stood still. It was as if every cell in my body screamed HER. I couldn't look away, I couldn't walk away, I couldn't even move. My other half, my soul mate, was staring right at me. I had to have her. I had to make her mine. But I felt selfish doing that--knowing that I may not have endless amounts of time to give her...and even now that every things' over with and I've been given that time back.

Nothing is ever certain in this life.

Which is why I'm about to do something crazy, impulsive, daring.
After all, what type of person would I be if I didn't take my own advice?
I'm jumping off the cliff, I'm living fearlessly.

This is the continuation of Wes and Kiersten's story.

Release Date: 9th March 2014

Website | E-book

Friday Musings: New Movie Trailers and a... "Black" Doctor Who?

 So...life intervened this week which caused me to get a bit behind on my review schedule. I plan to do a double review next week to catch up. In the meantime, because I feel bad that I only posted on Monday, I figured to share what's been on my mind recently in film. Yup, because if books aren't on my mind, you can bet I'm thinking about movies or tv shows. Remember, my 2nd job is a cashier at a movie store!

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Out of the Furnace

Directed by: Scott Cooper
Starring: Christian Bale, Casey Affleck
Hitting Theaters: November 2013 (Limited), December 2013 (Worldwide)
Synopsis: From Scott Cooper, the critically-acclaimed writer and director of Crazy Heart, comes a gripping and gritty drama about family, fate, circumstance, and justice. Russell Baze (Christian Bale) has a rough life: he works a dead-end blue collar job at the local steel mill by day, and cares for his terminally ill father by night. When Russell's brother Rodney (Casey Affleck) returns home from serving time in Iraq, he gets lured into one of the most ruthless crime rings in the Northeast and mysteriously disappears. The police fail to crack the case, so - with nothing left to lose - Russell takes matters into his own hands, putting his life on the line to seek justice for his brother. The impressive cast of Christian Bale and Casey Affleck are rounded out by Woody Harrelson, Forest Whitaker, Zoe Saldana, Sam Shepard and Willem Dafoe.

Trailer

My Thoughts: I'm a huge Christian Bale fan and we haven't seen him in anything since the epic The Dark Knight Rises last summer. What I love about Bale is the fact that he is so grounded as an actor. One minute he is in a huge blockbuster film, the next we see him in something more low budget and down-to-earth, although no one should expect a less powerful performance. Add in Willem Dafoe, Forrest Whitaker, and Woody Harrelson and I can barely suppress my excitement!

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12 Years a Slave

Directed by: Steve McQueen
Starring: Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Fassbender
Hitting Theaters: October 2013 (Limited)
Synopsis:  Chiwetel Ejiofor stars as Solomon Northup, the New York State citizen who was kidnapped and made to work on a plantation in New Orleans in the 1800s. Steve McQueen (Hunger) directs from a script he co-wrote with John Ridley, based in part by Northup's memoir. Michael Fassbender, Brad Pitt, Benedict Cumberbatch, Sarah Paulson, and Paul Giamatti co-star.

Trailer

My Thoughts: I've been waiting quite awhile for a trailer to be released for this movie and now that it's here....wow. It literally gave me goosebumps. I originally was interested in 12 Years a Slave because Michael Fassbender was attached to it on top of the fact that I enjoy Steve McQueen's films. But I was almost brought to tears by Chiwetel Ejiofor's performance in one of the scenes-- if a 2 minute trailer can evoke that kind of emotion, I can only imagine what it will be like to sit through the whole movie. Oscar buzz begins!

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 Idris Elba...the new Doctor Who?

I don't know what it is about Idris Elba. The man is an amazing actor, has commanding stage presence, and oozes sex appeal. He's one of those actors that can have the smallest part in a movie but somehow has the ability to steal the scene away from the main headliner(s) (such as his parts in Thor, Prometheus, and Pacific Rim).

Recently it has been announced that Matt Smith is retiring from his role as Doctor Who. The internet has been abuzz with who should take on the iconic role. Amidst the rumors, Idris Elba's name was mentioned and I couldn't help but grin like a fool. While I was doing a little research to see how other fans were reacting to this idea, I noticed Elba is also being linked to the Bond franchise. The man just has the "it" factor. While I love watching him take supporting roles since he never fails to light up the screen, he is destined for bigger things. I can actually see him as the next Bond or Doctor Who.

While feedback has been mostly positive so far, there are those that are outraged at the idea of a "black" Doctor Who (and Bond). Does it matter that he is a British actor? Maybe, maybe not. It's sad we live in a society where we still can't get past the color of someone's skin.

In a recent interview, Elba, while flattered with the Bond and Doctor Who rumors, seemed to be more focused on pleasing his loyal Luther fans (hit BBC series) by seeing that his character makes it to the big screen. While I am personally not a Bond or Who fan, I think I would give both a shot if Elba was somehow involved..I guess we will just have to wait and see.

Luther- BBC Series Trailer