The Other Woman...hilarious

                I haven't been to the movies as often as I used to, hence the decline of movie reviews, because well it's expensive and the times are against me in lining up so I can see all in one day, so much more convenient.  Plus as much as I love the movies, and believe me I DO LOVE them, there have not been as many that seeing the previews I think, I HAVE TO SEE THAT ASAP!!!  I did see Captain America The Winder Solider though as a fan of Agents of S.H.E.I.L.D. and Marvel doing everything in cannon…and me being OCD about seeing things in order, I had to see it to keep watching, plus I wanted to see it.  I didn't review it, not for any reason, just slipped my mind I guess but the point is I did go to the movies this weekend and saw The Other Woman.

                First I have to say I found this trailer on Youtube by during an accidental veg-fest.  You know when you go there to look at ne harmless video, then an hour or so later and 'X' amount of videos later you realize what time it is, yeah one of those.  I have to say I loved the trailer, the Timber song is also one of my current favorites that always get me moving my head and making my day a bit better so it was a hit in the trailer.  Also the trailer seemed to have a good mix of what its about and funny moments that make you want to see it to see all of them.  See for yourself:

                So basically a woman (Cameron Diaz) falls for  guy (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) and goes to surprise him but finds his wife instead.  Jerk.  The wife is played the hilarious Leslie Mann,  who is crazy and neurotic and is crushed by the truth and at a loss of what to do.  She has no one to talk to by the mistress, so she turns to her.  They become unlikely friends as they discover another mistress (Kate Upton).  The three of them end up bonding over the fact that this guy was able to play them all and finding a way to plot to take him down. 

                The movie was cheesy and simple but it was funny as can be.  Oh was it funny, my stomach hurt by the time I left I was laughing so hard.  The girls, particularly Diaz and Mann were fabulous and that hilarity seemed so natural.  And Nikolaj (AKA Jamie Lanster) nailed it yet again as a sexy douche bag with two hands though.  Overall it was a barrel of laughs.  Besides what female doesn't love a good girl power movie and getting even with a lying man.

 Rating: 5 Grappling Hooks

                Okay so as usual share your comments below.  Have you already seen this or plan to see it?  Now the other day I mentioned this coming movie review but also that I would be posting an author interview on Sunday May 4th with Colette Ballard whose book Running on Empty I previously reviewed.  I'm super excited to spread the word on not only the interview, because lets face it as a book nerd connecting with an author is amazing, but also on the release of the paperback of the book May 6th. 

                With that being said I also mentioned hosting a giveaway.  I am waiting to hear back on one part of that, but yes I will be hosting a giveaway and hope you will all enter to win, the tab will be located in Sunday's Interview post so stay tuned.  

Grimnirs by Ednah Walters

                Grimnirs was an ARC from NetGalley and book 2.5 in the Runes series series by Ednah Walters.  Now I read book 1, Runes some time back and really liked it, eager to read more but at the time there was no information on book 2.  So when I saw this book, similar cover I was excited and even more so when I was approved.  Then I checked and saw it was book 2.5 and realized I had missed something.  I had checked back periodically after reading book 1 but somehow missed book 2 Immortals.  So I had to read it before starting this one.  So I made a quick purchase on my kindle and was on a roll.  This review will have some spoilers for the previous 2 books, so be warned.

                The first thing about Grimnirs is that is isn't from Raine's prespective as the previous books but this time from Cora's.  Instead of Cora being a supporting character she was front and center and Raine and Torin were in the secondary status.  With that being said it takes place towards the end of Immortals when Cora returns home from PMI where no one has visited her for a month and she is feeling pretty crazy and abandoned.  The guy she's been in love with secretly for years is gone without even a simple goodbye and now all she wants is normal.  No more seeing souls or the reapers, Grimnirs, collecting them.  She is in no way looking for a new guy, until Echo appears in her bedroom, not a surprise I'd mind finding in my bedroom, just saying.  Bright side is him being around makes the souls stop bothering her.  Echo is hot, but not her type, even if the connection is there.  He's arrogant, cocky, and oh yeah a Grimnir.   Not the type of guy to have around for 'normal' but then again, normal may be over rated and who can control the heart.

                I liked seeing things from her prospective, you get a fresh take on the story as a whole and after what she went through it would have been hard to explain any other way.  It brought new characters and a new take on the ones readers of the series already love.  Plus watching Cora go through this psychological and emotional trial made her character so much more endearing.              Plus it gave us a different view on the new comer Echo who the Valkyries are not so fond of.  He's mentioned, as are Grimnirs in general, in the previous books but he wasn't what I was expecting.  Cora falls for him despite logic and is able to see a different side to him because he is able to show her a different side.  It expands how he became top Grimnir, Hel's favorite.

                Also as a series as a whole as much as I love Raine and her perspective, seeing her from her best friends eyes was nice.  You see different things, things you never think about yourself but others see when they look at you.  I'm looking forward to book 3 Seeress which comes out today…well it was listed to come out today but it was posted on Amazon last night so I have it down loaded and I will start it on my lunch hour today.

Rating:  5 Magic Portals

                Let me know what you think below in the comments please for both my review as a whole, the book/series itself, etc.  Next I did see a movie this weekend and I will be posting my review on that shortly and I was also granted another great opportunity to host an author interview.  I'm excited and it is scheduled for next Sunday May 4th, it will be Colette Ballard for her paperback release of Running on Empty.  I'm stoked for this and I'm even thinking of hosting my very first giveaway, so check back and share your thoughts as always.

Charming: Cover Reveal!

                Hello Bloggers!  So if you remember a few weeks back, a month really if you get technical I did an interview with this fabulous author I know and adore Krystal Wade for her latest release Shattered Secrets and she mentioned a new book also getting close to release.  Well I have a bit of an interactive treat for you, the cover is now revealed!  It's a jigsaw puzzle!  I love doing these online, so much easier and you don't worry about losing pieces.  Anyways enjoy! 

Popular YA author Krystal Wade has a thrilling new young adult novel coming out in October, 2014! The spine-tingling suspense in CHARMING will get your heart rate up.  We promise you.

About CHARMING:

They say what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, and that's great . . . as long as you don't die.

Sixteen-year-old Haley Tremaine had it all: top-notch school, fantastic family, and a bright future, but all of that changed when an accident tore her family apart. Now, an alcoholic father, a bitter younger sister, and a cold headstone bearing her mother’s name are all she has left.

Chris Charming has it all: a powerful CEO for a father, a prestigious school, and a fortune at his fingertips, but none of that matters when he lands a reputation as a troublemaker. Struggling to follow in his father’s footsteps, he reaches out to the one person he believes truly sees him, the one person he wants: Haley.

Little do they know someone's determined to bring the two together, even if it means murder.

Add CHARMING to your TBR pile on Goodreads!

 Author Bio

Krystal Wade can be found in the sluglines outside Washington D.C. every morning, Monday through Friday.  With coffee in hand, iPod plugged in, and strangers - who sometimes snore, smell, or have incredibly bad gas - sitting next to her, she zones out and thinks of fantastical worlds for you and me to read.

How else can she cope with a fifty mile commute?

Good thing she has her husband and three kids to go home to.  They keep her sane.

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Veronica Mars: The Movie

                So I'm a bit behind, as usual but in my defense I've been recovering the last few days, I am now free of my annoying glasses.  Yep I bit the bullet and let the doctors laser my eyeballs, clearly they gave me drugs to make it happen so I didn’t freak out like a ninja.

                Anyways I had been super excited for this movie ever since I heard it was officially happening.  Thank you fans and kickstarter.  I loved this show and it hardly seems like 10 years have passed.  To prepare I did marathon 3 seasons of this funny and addictive show.  I was breaking Veronica Mars.  To get back in touch with my character where they left things.  Now there were no showings near me in the limited release, and I was devastated.  Then as I happened to be on the phone with my mother at the time, she was checking movies to watch with dad that night and mentioned she saw it was listed On Demand…I was in shock and quickly snatched up my own remote hoping my provider also had it available and score they did and cheaper than a movie ticket.  So I lucked out got it cheaper than a ticket and got to watch it from the comfort of my own home in my pjs with real food.         

                Also for people who might not know after the show was canceled on the season 3 DVD the producers put the season 4 pitch, this mini start of the show that kinds tells where it would be going.  Post college and FBI academy first day with the FBI.  Well the trailer made me wonder…things ended different for our teenage detective.  With that in mind I do think not knowing anything about the show you may be lost in part of the joy and intrigue  This movie was simply put, made for fans of the show.

                9 years later, Veronica has escaped Neptune and that life and has created a new one for herself.  When Logan needs her help and she can't resist the pull.  Just a quick visit to help an old friend before starting her new job and life with everything going for her, right? 

                We have all our favorite characters from the show.  To name a few, Veronica, duh, Logan, Daddy Mars, Wallace, Mac, Dick, Piz, Weevle, Vinny, Sacks, Leo, and so many more.  A reunion or our people, literally at the Neptune High 10 year reunion.  Whatever happened to all those 09ers, PCHers, and everyone else? 

                What I loved about this, aside from seeing my characters back together in Neptune, was how it felt natural.  It's been 9 years, they have each changed some as everyone does over time and as you grow but at the core they are still the same.  They kept that essential quality that made them, who they were and who the fans loved.  So with veronica being the trouble magnet that she is clearly trying to get back in the saddle for a farewell case, one last gig, will spell trouble.  Old tricks of the trade with new knowledge and in a town that is the epi-center for the class war with the rich 09ers and the poor.  What's a girl to do?  And can I mentioned seeing Logan in uniform, ummm…hello an hit pause for a moment.

I'm with Veronica on this one, he should wear this and only this.

                The only bad things I can say about this really are simple.  The first which might have been only be a problem with my provider, I wouldn’t be surprised, was during the club and party scenes the music was so loud it drowned out the conversation no matter what tricks I tried with my volume.  The other were some small changes that yes over time you expect change but new home, new offices, jobs (again Logan in uniform people), a little explanation as to how they ended up there would have been nice.  Maybe it is just me being a needy fangirl but I wanted a bit more details on our beloved characters. 

                Overall I give it 5 Marshmallows it was similar to the a season, condensed in a single movie.  Full of all the stuff the fans love.  I have watched it a handful of times and can't wait to see it again. What about you?  Have you seen it?  Were you a fan of the show?  What were your thoughts?  Please share below.

Divergent: The Movie

                AMAZING.  Yep, I loved it.

                For those of you living under a rock who don't know what Divergent is it’s a film adaptation of the first book in a trilogy by Veronica Roth.  It's a dystopian world years after a war where society split into 5 different factions to help balance peace.  Those who valued each trait above all others would live in and devote themselves to their faction, be it bravery for Dauntless, selflessness in Abnegation, wisdom and learning in Erudite, honesty in Candor, or peace for the Amity.  Each year there is a choosing ceremony where you must chose a faction.  Faction before blood.  Everyone is given a test before, a test meant to show them where they should be but the choice is yours.  Now when your test is inconclusive on one faction and you show a proclivity for multiple then you are Divergent and as society is unable to put you in a nice little box you are a threat to the peace, and dangerous.  So you must hide what you are, hide within a faction.  Easier said than done.

                Our heroin Tris is raised in Abnegation with her family and is unsure where she belongs.  She doesn't want to leave her family of course but the life there doesn't come as easily for her, she doesn't jump in with the selfless action as easily as others.  Her test only confuses her more and when the time comes he chooses Dauntless.  A huge thing.  A complete 180 actually.  She starts her new life right away and is thrust into it without preamble, and Dauntless are tested immediately.  In the book and movie we follow her initiation, see not everyone will make the cut and if you don't you become factionless, basically the homeless who belong nowhere.  She, along with her class some of who are transfers like herself, must adapt and train to stay in the race under Four and the much more aggressive and boundary challenged Eric.  In a competition it is easy to make enemies which she does but she is also able to make a few friends in this dangerous new world.

                And then there is Four, a strong silent type that is oh so pleasant to gaze upon.  Tris, like all the females in my group, is drawn to him in some way.  He confuses her.  He's a bad ass but he also seems to be more reigned in than the others who take the 'Dauntless' thing to the extreme.  He's a trainer and clearly someone who finished top of his class but he doesn't stand beside the harsher things that develop as more brutality than honor. 

                There is something for everyone, even those who aren't avid readers and just want to see a film.  It has a ton of action from jumping on and off moving trains, war games, training, and simulations.  All of that was great for the story and was visually appealing and the stunt coordinators I give them props because it has to be hard to choreograph all of that action and make it cohesive and look legit.  Speaking of visuals, with both of our leads seeing them in the fear scapes/simulations.  Talk about a nightmare.  One minute you're fine the next…your worst fears.  And yes a semi spoiler but honestly it was in the trailer, someone is dive bombed and attacked by birds…clearly would have been one of my fears only the sadistic serum would probably have made mine chickens.  I can't remember if that happened in the book and I forgot or if I just blocked it for obvious reasons.  But I digress, everything down to the clear difference in the factions in terms of colors, style, even textures came across on the screen vividly. 

*Visuals

                Now as a book to movie adaptation, how does it stack up?  I think it did a pretty good job.  Clearly some of the more graphic/violent stuff had to be shot in a creative way and some things were left out in that regard.  Also some things were tweeked to fit, some things sounds great on a page but the translation might not work so well to the screen but it worked.  They left out the 3rd phase of the initiation, a major conflict between two characters that comes into play in the next book and makes one of the characters more sadistic psycho than teasing jerk, so I am curious how that will play out.  Also some of the lesser relationships and connections were there on the outskirt but it wasn't as clear, to those who hadn't read anyways.  And there wasn't much explanation about the tattoos which was a bit of a bummer because I liked there talks, and why Tris got the ones she did and the ones she's missing.  Though I did not mind Four explaining his to her as we got to see the impressive artwork over his very nicely shaped and defined back. 

                And the biggest change is the end.  Now don't freak, the end doesn't CHANGE the story just how it unfolds.  There was more Jeannie.  Now I read the whole series in December so they are pretty fresh in my mind and I was worried this would mess with the flow.  For me it seemed to up the ante, gave use more action and some satisfaction on one part (you'll know it when you see it).  Now this does change things for the next book some and I'm curious to see how this change in the ending with the other changes will reflect in Insurgent.  I'm excited to see it. 

                Overall I loved this movie, I've seen it 3 times and I can't wait to see it again.  I think it managed to be true to the book for us fans and also deliver a good movie to everyone else.  I give it 5 Zip lines.

Rook by J.C. Andrijeski

                So I got Rook by J.C. Andrijeski from NetGalley, and I started reading.  As I did I went to look it up, for curiosity to see when it would be available for sale and found out that it isn’t an ARC as I suspected but a re-release from 2011.  Yep and there are already 7 books in the Allie’s War series and 3 novellas out.  They are for more mature YA audiences with stronger themes of torture, sex, rape, war, genocide, all make for an interesting story for sure but if you are a bit of a light weight be warned. 

                Now knowing me, and my inability to wait for things…I am currently reading book 5.  I finished this one a while back, 2 weeks I think, but I didn’t write my review right away because honestly I wanted to know what happened next and just kept reading.  These books are long, longer than most of the books I have been reading as of late so it took longer than I expected and I have taken a break to reflect and update my blog with some reviews.  I’m behind again. 

                The story is pretty original, with supernatural elements with a new race Seers that come with this own rules and quirks and differences.  The books also deal with a lot of mythology and fate vs. free will.  Are you destined to do one thing, can you change destine or are you fated to a certain path?  I liked that and it has some pretty interesting characters who…well they change A LOT over the course of each book and the series thus far as a whole.  Some moments you can’t stand someone, then something happens, and you rethink your opinion of them.  It’s a rollercoaster. 

                Now when I say the characters change a lot and develop that is an understatement.  I can’t give much detail without ruining the story but our main character Allie is new to this whole world.  She knew about Seers but had no idea she was one…or how it could be possible in this day and age given all of her tests.  So she has to struggle with that and how every move she makes seems wrong and the one person she knows is trying to protect her, confuses her with his odd behavior and half truths.  New world and she is the Bridge, this important being that everyone respects but she doesn’t understand the importance of that and is still programmed with the prejudices from her human upbringing.  Then we have Revik who is confused himself with his conflicting emotions.  He fights his natures, holds secrets when honestly would be so much easier.  Plus it seems many of his misunderstandings with Allie and her intentions should be cleared up when he can read her thoughts, clearly confused, but he’s so awkward it doesn’t seem to matter. 

                And there is a good bad guy, Terrian.  I mean that in a way that is hard to be.  There are so many way a bad guy can simply be just that a bad guy, the evil one for the purpose of the story and not be something else.  To be a real good bad guy, for me anyways, you have to have more going on, a complex personality that I still hate because, well you’re evil, but I can appreciate you better as a character for having depth.  Not to mention her human friends and family, Cass and Jon, find their lives changed as well knowing their friend is now something different and everyone is out for her in one way or another and that means they are at risk as well.  Like I said there is a lot going on in each book. 

Books 2-5, which is where I'm currently at.

                Rook manages to keep the pace moving along and keep things going and there is always something happening.  I’m a little fuzzy about one small part but it may have been my eagerness to keep going that I missed a small piece but that didn’t hinder my enjoyment.  Learning about the new rules of the world with Seers and the government in a world where they exist.  New things like the barrier and light bodies, all visually appealing.  Seeing things differently when looking at it with light. 

                My only complaint with the book was that it made me feel like a slow reader.  I normally read through my lunch hour at work and I can knock out a good 10-20% of a book.  I would manage like 3% and at first I thought it was me, that my reading speed was really getting off but then I looked and realized this book, all the books thus far in the series, are all twice the size of the books I’ve been reading so that explained that.  So my real complaint was that most of the chapters are a bit longer, which isn’t too much of a thing but it makes it harder to try and rationalize one more chapter before bed when it doesn’t take 45 mins to read one chapter is all. 

                Overall I enjoyed this book and give it 5 Stars, clearly I liked it as I’m currently on book 5.  Bright side is no waiting for the next book right?  Well not so much I did some research and found out there are at least 2 more full books planned and 2 more novellas…hopefully the wait won’t be too long.  I don’t know if I will be able to post much of a review of the others as I would give too much away, but feel free to always check out my goodreads page as I’ll be posting them there slowly but surely.  

Shattered Secrets by Krystal Wade

                So if you scroll back you will see I had the wonderful chance to interview the author of Shattered Secrets, Krystal Wade on the release day March 3^rd.  I’ve been excited for it to come out and couldn’t wait to read it.  I even put off starting the next book in a series I started reading (Allie’s War, review of the first book to come).  I read the book the same week, however, it has taken me a bit to post my review.  I am sorry for the delay, originally I got bit by my muse for my own WIP and you never turn town inspiration.  You must obey when it says write.  Then as I got that bit out I stated to have been having some…technical difficulties that are finally being resolved and I rewrote my review I can post.  I also just backed up all of my work just to be safe. 

                Long story short when not at work I read until my eyes couldn’t stay open any longer and then dreamed about the two stories in combination.  That was very….lets just call it interesting.  Then I woke up and read until I finished.  Now…I have to wait to know what happens next but I can share my thoughts and spread the word on this book.

                There is A LOT going on in this book.  Boy troubles should be Abigails’ biggest concern, that is until she’s kidnapped and learns her normal life is anything by normal.  She’s different.  Which explains some of her boy troubles but also opens up a whole new can of worms.  A crash course in who/what you are and instructions to read a huge and conflicting book with secrets handing over your head and people trying to capture you?  Just a normal day.  What do you do?  Who do you trust? 

                There is a lot to learn in the world of Kalós, influencers of human emotions.  She wants to stick to the only person she feels she can trust…but there always seems to be secrets clouding her wherever she goes.  It makes figuring out this new mess so much more difficult.  Everyone seems to have a motive or agenda. 

                Abigail is a pretty strong girl who is pushed into an impossible situation.  She is confused and she has no clue what to do and stumbles along trying to make the best decisions she can.  She feels real; just an awkward girl trying to make sense of life.  Derick is the same.  A guy who likes a girl, it’s the only thing that makes sense anymore.  But can they work things out?  Are they meant to be together?  There are so many other great characters as well that have their own complexities and I look forward to learning more about them. 

                One of the things that struck me about this book, that I can’t talk about too much without giving things away is the battle within.  Every person goes through things each day, each to a different degree, that shape us into who we are.  So when you are forced to make a decision, how do you choose the right answer?  Can something that seems right, but goes against who you are as an individual make it wrong?  When faced with two truths, would you go with your gut even if it meant something bad might happen or would you go against your nature for the greater good? 

                Anyways I really enjoyed Shattered Secrets and hope you will as well.  This book is out and ready to be bought or downloaded now.  Tell me what you think in the comments below.