Cover Reveal: The Only Exception

Book Blitz: Obscura Burning

Obscura Burning by Suzanne Van Rooyen

Published December 7th 2012 by Etopia Press

Goodreads - Amazon - B&N - OmniLit

The world's going to end in fire…and it's all Kyle's fault.

Kyle Wolfe's world is about to crash and burn. Just weeks away from graduation, a fire kills Kyle's two best friends and leaves him permanently scarred. A fire that Kyle accidentally set the night he cheated on his boyfriend Danny with their female friend, Shira. That same day, a strange new planet, Obscura, appears in the sky. And suddenly Kyle's friends aren't all that dead anymore.

Each time Kyle goes to sleep, he awakens to two different realities. In one, his boyfriend Danny is still alive, but Shira is dead. In the other, it's Shira who's alive...and now they're friends with benefits. Shifting between realities is slowly killing him, and he's not the only one dying. The world is dying with him. He's pretty sure Obscura has something to do with it, but with his parents' marriage imploding and realities shifting each time he closes his eyes, Kyle has problems enough without being the one in charge of saving the world...

-----------------------------------------------------------

Excerpt:

Closing my eyes, I imagine New Mexico burning, can almost smell it, the pungent pine,

fireball mesquite, and smoldering cacti. I should be worried about the damage the UV’s

doing to my scars, but after tonight, none of that will matter.

Just when you think it can’t possibly get any hotter or the mercury will explode, the

temperature rises just a few more degrees. Today, Coyote’s Luck lies in a simmering

mirage, hotter than any hell imaginable.

The crush of mesquite huddling between the tombstones offers little respite from the sun.

Sticking to the dappled shade, I thread my way toward Danny’s grave. I’m not alone.

She looks like a ghost with the white sundress fanning around her legs, her long black

hair teased by the warm breeze. For a moment, I think it’s one of the ch’iindi made flesh,

until she turns at the sound of my step.

Gabriela, her face a teary-eyed frown. She folds her arms and returns her gaze to the

grave. When did she get so thin? She was always so voluptuous, a shorter, less saggy

version of her mother. Now she looks more like a sixteen-year-old kid, barely there in

layers of cotton.

We stand in silence, both just staring at the grave. The rosaries dangle over the stone, tied

in knots around the stems of already dead flowers. There’s a white and blue beaded one,

the one that was attached to Danny’s bed, the one he’d kiss at night before going to sleep.

“I miss him so much,” Gabriela says eventually.

“So do I.”

“I blame you, you know.” She casts me a sidelong glance.

“Maybe you should.”

She nods and sniffs and fingers one of the blooms turned brown by the heat.

“Dead, all of it.” She tears the petals from the stalk. “Little Maria, now Daniel.” She turns

her dark eyes on me, searching for something I wish I could give her.

“This is killing my parents. Daniel was their only son. They’ll never have more children.

Once, I had a brother. Now I’m alone. Sister to dead siblings.”

That’s the most Gabriela’s ever said, to me at least. I’m stunned into uncomfortable

silence. There’s nothing I can say that’ll make it right. But tonight, maybe there’ll be

something I can do.

“I wish I could make it right.” My words sound so pathetic.

She harrumphs and digs her sandaled toe into the dirt. “Nothing can make Daniel dying

right.”

“I’m sorry.” There is nothing else I can say without trying to explain the whole confusing

story and Gabriela’s not the type to believe in rifts in reality.

“Tell Daniel you’re sorry. He’s the one who died because of you.” She takes a deliberate

step away from me, crosses herself, offering prayers in Spanish to the ether.

“I loved him, you know.” Maybe I am to blame, but she makes it sound like I don’t give a

crap that he’s dead.

“Obviously not enough.”

-----------------------------------------------------------

AUTHOR BIO:
Suzanne van Rooyen is a freelance writer and author from South Africa. She currently lives in Finland and finds the cold, dark forests nothing if not inspiring. 

Suzanne is the author of the cyberpunk novel Dragon’s Teeth (Divertir), the YA science fiction novel Obscura Burning (Etopia) and has had several short stories published by Golden Visions Magazine, Space and Time and Niteblade. Niteblade nominated her short story Where dreams are grown for the Pushcart Prize. Her non-fiction articles on travel, music and other topics can be found scattered throughout the Internet. 

Although she has a Master’s degree in music, Suzanne prefers conjuring strange worlds and creating quirky characters. When not writing you can find her teaching dance to ninth graders or playing in the snow with her shiba inu.

Suzanne is represented by Jordy Albert of the Booker Albert Agency.

Author Links:

Website

Goodreads

Facebook

Twitter

-----------------------------------------------------------

a Rafflecopter giveaway

-----------------------------------------------------------

Have you read anything by Suzanne?
Is Obscura Burning on your tbr list?

Have a great day!

Book Review: Losing It by Cora Carmack

Virginity.

Bliss Edwards is about to graduate from college and still has hers.

Sick of being the only virgin among her friends, she decides the best way to deal with the problem is to lose it as quickly and simply as possible-- a one-night stand.

But her plan turns out to be anything but simple when she freaks out and leaves a gorgeous guy alone and naked in her bed with an excuse that no one with half-a-brain would ever believe.

And as if if that weren't embarrassing enough, when she arrives for her first class of her last college semester, she recognizes her new theatre professor.

She'd left him naked in her bed about 8 hours earlier.

Goodreads - Amazon - iBooks - B&N

My Thoughts:
I first saw this book on iTunes  I had never heard of it, but it was #1 on the list of iBooks. So I decided to go ahead and get it. And for $3.99? I'd say it was definitely worth it.

I really loved the synopsis. I could tell immediately that I was going to like this book. And when I started reading it, I thought I had it all planned out, like I knew what was going to happen. But it changed, which I liked.

I'd say this book is a romance. Not erotica in anyway for those who are wondering. It's all about Bliss and Garrick and what is going on. Because nobody really knows, not even them. And it's just an all around good story.

As far as characters go, I liked them all. Bliss was very likable  She was a regular college student with dreams and ambitions. Even though she was a virgin, it was believable. Her character just seemed like a virgin. So inexperienced and everything. I also liked Kelsey & Cade, her best friends, their friendship was easy. And since they were all studying acting it made their bond even closer.

Let's talk about the love interest: Garrick! Oh. Oh my. Him and all his hotness and his British accent. The way that he is described just makes me want him. And then the fact that he turned out to be her teacher, wow. Lifetime fantasy right there! Bliss is too lucky to have lived it! I liked how there was an epilogue from Garrick's point of view. And we got to see what happened after her graduation and with them.

Overall I gave it 3 stars, I think it would be more like a 3.5. The only reason it didn't get 4 is because the book wasn't really about anything else besides what was going on with Bliss and Garrick. It had stuff to do with her friends, but nothing else was mentioned. And I felt like I would have gotten a better picture of her life if other things had been put in there.

Have you heard of this book?

Have you read it yet?

Are you planning on it?

Leave me a comment 

and let's chat about it :)

Movie Review: Hope Springs

IMDB - Rotten Tomatoes - Amazon - Official Movie Site

Release Date: August 8, 2012

DVD Release: December 4, 2012

Plot Summary:

Kay (Meryl Streep) and Arnold (Tommy Lee Jones) are a devoted couple, but decades of marriage have left Kay wanting to spice things up and reconnect with her husband. When she hears of a renowned couple's specialist (Steve Carell) in the small town of Great Hope Springs, she attempts to persuade her skeptical husband, a steadfast man of routine, to get on a plane for a week of marriage therapy. 

Just convincing the stubborn Arnold to go on the retreat is hard enough - the real challenge for both of them comes as they shed their bedroom hang-ups and try to re-ignite the spark that caused them to fall for each other in the first place.

Cast:

-Meryl Streep

-Tommy Lee Jones

-Steve Carell

My Thoughts:

This is a must see for Meryl Streep fans. I really love her, I think she is one of the most amazing actresses ever. This movie was however pretty sad because their marriage is getting boring and she desperately wanted to spice it up and help it out a little, but he is so old fashioned. He didn't want to go to therapy, he didn't want some random guy telling him what to do in his marriage. But it really worked out for the best.

It had it's serious moments and lots of funny moments. I think everyone should watch this movie. 

Reasons To Watch It:

- It has Meryl Streep.

- Who doesn't love old people in love?!

- Tommy Lee Jones still has it.

- It's a feel good film.

Screenshots :)

Are you a Meryl Streep fan?

Did you watch Hope Springs?

If not, is it on your list?

Waiting on Wednesday: From Ashes

Waiting On Wednesday #15!  "Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.
This week my pick is:

From Ashes by Molly McAdams

Expected Publication: Dec 11, 2012

Synopsis: When Cassidy Jameson's best friend Tyler took her to Texas with him when he left for college, she was expecting his cousin, their new roommate, to be a Stetson-wearing cowboy since his family owned a ranch; not this incredibly gorgeous guy with a husky Southern drawl that seemed to make the world stop whenever she looked at him. Because of her past, she's only ever trusted two men in her life, Tyler and her dad whom passed away when she was six. But there's something about Gage that draws her to him in a way she can't explain, only problem? He's always telling Tyler that he doesn't want Cassidy living there and sees her as nothing more than his little sister.
Gage Carson was excited his cousin Tyler was coming to live with, and go to college with him. When he'd called to ask if he could bring his friend Cassi with him, Gage didn't care. Gage had heard about this mysterious friend since they were kids and felt like he already knew her. Nothing would prepare him for watching her jump out of Ty's Jeep though. Not only was Cassi the most beautiful girl he'd ever seen, but there was something about her that within seconds of meeting her, made Gage want to protect her, and make her his. Too bad Tyler made it a point to remind Gage on a daily basis that he was dating her and she was completely off limits.
For a year and a half, Gage and Cassidy dance around their feelings for each other as Tyler continues to keep them apart; until one day Tyler unknowingly pushes her right into Gage's arms. With Tyler unable to keep lying to them, they finally start a relationship both have been craving since their first meeting. But when an accident and disaster sends her back to Tyler and California, will Cassidy be able to come face to face with the demons from her past to live a life she and Gage deserve; or will the fact that she once again ran to Tyler be the final push that ends Cassidy and Gage for good?
Goodreads - Amazon - B&N

I haven't heard much about this book, I just happened to see it on  B&N.com and it sounds really good. What are  you waiting on? 

Book Review: Where She Went by Gayle Forman

It's been three years since the devastating accident . . . three years since Mia walked out of Adam's life forever.

Now living on opposite coasts, Mia is Juilliard's rising star and Adam is LA tabloid fodder, thanks to his new rock star status and celebrity girlfriend. 

When Adam gets stuck in New York by himself, chance brings the couple together again, for one last night. 

As they explore the city that has become Mia's home, Adam and Mia revisit the past and open their hearts to the future-and each other.

Told from Adam's point of view in the spare, lyrical prose that defined If I Stay, Where She Went explores the devastation of grief, the promise of new hope, and the flame of rekindled romance.

Goodreads - Amazon - B&N - Audible

My thoughts:
I can tell this is going to be a review of few words, because this is definitely one of those books when I say- just go read it. But I'll try...

As I said in my review of If I Stay, I listened to Where She Went on audiobook. It only seemed right since I had listened to If I Stay. I knew that it was set a few years after the whole accident thing. And I knew that he had become famous and she had went off to Juilliard. But I wasn't sure exactly where they were going to pick back up.

It was really great hearing about what happened shortly after the accident. And learning why they're not together. And really seeing how things played out. Because when it starts out, you're left in the dark. We thought everything would be all good after she healed, I mean not perfect, but you know? Pretty good.

So it's 3 years later and nobody knows what happened. We don't know why they are broken up. Why they haven't talked in 3 years. And Adam's in New York and he goes to her concert. I really didn't expect that, but I love the way he talks about how her music makes him feel. It really speaks volumes.

One thing I really loved was the lyrics that were in the beginnings of each chapter. And he would say what album and what track. I think it really gave a lot of insight into how he was feeling.

Overall, I loved the first book and really thought the sequel was done really well. I would recommend this to my friends. They're good, quick read. I gave it 4 stars on Goodreads. 

Have you read If I Stay?

How about Where She Went?

Leave me a comment and tell 

me what you thought about them.

Book Review: Switch by Megan Hart

Don't think. 

Don't question. 

Just do. 

The anonymous note wasn't for me. Don't get me wrong, I'm not in the habit of reading other people's mail, but it was just a piece of paper with a few lines scrawled on it, clearly meant for the apartment upstairs. It looked so innocent, but decidedly-- deliciously-- it was not.

Before replacing the note--and the ones that followed --in its rightful slot, I devoured its contents: suggestions, instructions, summonses, commands. Each was more daring, more intricate and more arousing than the last... and I followed them all to the letter.

Before the notes, if a man had told me what to do, I'd have told him where to go. But submission is an art, and there's something oddly freeing about doing someone's bidding...especially when it feels so very, very good.

But I find that the more I surrender, the more powerful I feel--so it's time to switch up roles.

We play by my rules now.

[Goodreads - Amazon - B&N]

My Thoughts:

Okay... I'm just gonna come right out and say it... This book was crap and a major let down... So let's get into the why. First off, this is the first book I've read by Megan Hart. I had others planned to read first, like: Dirty & Tempted. But I was walking through Wal-Mart and happened to see this on one of the end caps. And I thought she's a best selling author, and the synopsis sounds good, I'll take a chance and get it. Man! I was so wrong! Big mistake on my part...

The first part of this review will be spoiler free and then I will begin my rant and I'll talk about the entire book, even the part that I couldn't bare to read, but looked it up because I had to know what happened. 

So, in the synopsis it says "Don't think. Don't question. Just do." It should say "Don't think. Don't question. Just keep on walking." Pass this book up! When I read the synopsis I assumed she would find these letters and start some sort of relationship with the person sending them. And by the last part, "we play by my rules now," I figured she would be the more dominant person in said relationship. This book has absolutely nothing to do with domination or submission. Or anything that the synopsis might hint into to.

This book is about a woman who is obsessed with stationary and starts finding these notes in her mailbox, so she starts following the instructions and replaces the notes in the correct box. The stupid thing is... How is it fun if the other end doesn't know you're even playing, let alone complying? So in the book, you pretty much just go along with her daily life, it's nothing special except she's a slut. At least we have something to read about.

Now I'll go on with my rant... The beginning of this book she's going partying with her friend. And pretty much looking for someone to have to sex with. She ends up seeing her ex husband. And has sex with him. And there's a lot of flash backs. They're fairly boring. The sex scenes are okay, not horrible, but not great. She does use some weird terminology, maybe I'm just sheltered, but I have never heard anyone ever refer to a penis as a prick. I do know that it's used to call someone a dick. But never heard it actually used as a name for a penis.

So finally she meets the guy that is receiving the letters and she has a little date with him. I think that part of the book was actually interesting because I was thinking it could really take off, it could really turn out to be a great book. But then it didn't. So she has sex with pretty much everyone, including her boss. And then ends up getting back with her ex husband. That's pretty much the end.

Have you read Megan Hart?

Did you read Switch?

Did you like it?

MSMC #4: Grown Ups

This is just a thing I created for myself as a sort of challenge. There are a lot, and I mean a lot, of movies that people would call "must see movies" that I have not seen. So whenever I watch one of the movies on my must see list I'll do a post on it and tell if it really is a "must see". And hopefully they are all wonderfully epic movies :)

If you have any suggestions on movies I should put on that list, please leave a comment and tell me about it! 

[IMDB - Rotten Tomatoes - Amazon - Official Movie Site]

Plot Summary:

Thirty years after graduating from high school, five former basketball teammates gather at the lake house where they celebrated their biggest victory to mourn the passing of their late coach. Over the course of the Fourth of July weekend, the five friends realize that just because they've all grown up and started families doesn't mean that they've lost that old spark. Adulthood is what you make of it, and no one at the lake house is eager to be the grown-up of the gang.

Release Date: June 25, 2010

DVD Release: November 9, 2010

Cast:

-Adam Sandler

-Kevin James

-Chris Rock

-David Spade

-Rob Schneider

-Salma Hayek

-Maria Bello

-Maya Rudolph

-Joyce Van Patten

-Ebony Jo-Ann

-Di Quon

-Steve Buscemi

-Colin Quinn

-Tim Meadows

Favorite Scenes:

-The tree rope.
-Fixing the car.
-The water park.
-The arrow in the foot.
-The basketball game & fireworks.

My Thoughts:
I don't know why I never watched this movie. Everybody was talking about it when it came out, I heard it was good and hilarious and all these wonderful things. Now I finally see why... If you haven't watched this movie yet, you need too.

I thought it was going to be mostly all jokes, but it wasn't. It's actually a really good family movie. And you know those parts in movies when you want certain characters to be better or ahead of others, so bad stuff happens to them and then you feel horrible. Stuff like that never happened. And I loved it, because it really kept it an all around good movie. I was happy the entire movie, there were several laugh out loud moments, but mostly just happy.

I guess I was in need of this movie, because I honestly can't find anything wrong with it. I loved all the family things all of them did, especially because they showed how a lot of kids are now days. All consumed by cell phones, iPod's and video games. It was nice to see good ole fashioned outside family fun. It's making me want to take my kid out and have some real fun.

I really loved all the jokes they made towards each other. They were really good jokes. The ones that you would say "Ooooooooo" to, but nobody ever really got offended and that really kept the movie light and didn't cause any conflict.

Screenshots :)

So, the question I always ask 

in my Must See Movie posts...

Was it epic?! I'd say YES!

If you haven't seen it, you must

go borrow/buy/rent it soon!

I really think it's a movie that

the whole family will enjoy!

Have you seen it? What'd you think?

Leave a comment and let's talk! :)

The Poets Korner: Forgive Me

Forgive Me

Forgive me love 

For I have sinned

I let my guard down 

And let you in

I gave you all my entirety

I'm left with nothing 

But the shell of me

I feel it still

Your heart beats for me

But no longer will you 

Play keeps with me

Discarded like an old rag doll

You let me slip

You let me fall.

The Poets Korner: Remembering To Forget

Remembering To Forget
Woke up this morning
Then I closed my eyes again
I remembered you were gone

I remembered that picture on the night stand was face down
I remembered how I missed you
I forgot how to forget

And before I woke up it was working so well
My uncurious unconscious dictated my feelings
Filing my head with music and happiness up to the ceiling

Where the only thing that mattered was jumping sheep
With pink polka dots
Wearing green hats

Woke up this morning feeling loss
I remembered your favorite song
I remembered how you smiled when I sang it
I forgot how to forget

The most important thing
The one thing I needed to remember I let slip
Sliding out of bed

I slowly started to push you back
Into the depths of my mind
Starting my day, I’ve pushed you out of the way

Here in the waking world I remember how to forget
A smile crosses my lips  

Movie Review: Jeff, Who Lives at Home

'The first step to finding your destiny is 

leaving your mother's basement.'

IMDB - Amazon
Rotten Tomatoes
Official Movie Site

Release Dates:

-Austin Film Festival: Oct. 22, 2011

-Theaters (Limited): Mar. 16, 2011

-DVD & Blu-Ray: June 19, 2012

Cast:

-Jason Segel

-Ed Helms

-Susan Sarandon

-Judy Greer

-Rae Dawn Chong

Plot Summary: 
Dispatched from his basement room on an errand for his mother, slacker Jeff might discover his destiny (finally) when he spends the day with his brother as he tracks his possibly adulterous wife.

My Favorite Scenes:
-Opening scene
-The cemetery
-The Restaurant
-Spying in the hotel
-Sharron at the water cooler

Reasons to watch it:

-It was awesome: 5+ stars

-A lot of funny, feel good moments.

-Well done acting and real emotions.

-It's really good for an independent film.

-The wife is possibly cheating = good stuff.

-Susan Surandon has some girl on girl action. 

-Come on, who doesn't like Jason Segel & Ed Helms. 

-And with them, you know it's gonna be funny.

Reasons not to watch it:

-None! But if i must.

-If you are lame.

-If you hate good movies.

Some screenshots for fun!

Have you watched it?
If so, comment and let's talk.
If not, what are you waiting for?!?

Have a wonderful day!