The awesome Kelly at KellyVision started posting a weekly post highlighting whatever she happened to be obsessed with that week. I LOVE this idea, so much in fact that I will be doing it myself every weekend.
I feel like TV is really the only thing getting announcements right now. Everything is kind of on hold while we practice social distancing for the foreseeable future.
TV/MOVIES Trailer for The Forgotten West Memphis Three
The West Memphis Three case is one of those cases that I wish was definitively solved. It's always angered me that this case was so badly handled and that the three victims never really got justice.
There is a new two night special event airing on the Oxygen network (which we cannot get in Canada) that I am hoping to eventually be able to check out.
I am curious to see what new leads might come out of this special. It seems like they are doing a lot of forensic testing so hopefully something comes from it.
The first episode actually aired yesterday on the Oxygen Network, with the second to air this evening. I think it is available to stream on the Oxygen app in the United States for those interested.
Defending Jacob Trailer
This immediately caught my attention because it has Chris Evans in it. It also happens to be based on a book which also tends to make me pay attention to something.
This looks really good, and I am glad Chris is taking so many different kinds of roles right now. It is going to help distance him from just being seen as Captain America.
This will be on Apple TV+ in April and I cannot wait to check it out.
What are you obsessed with this week? Let me know in the comments.
Synopsis: A man and a woman have a romance while on a cruise from Europe to New York. Despite being engaged to other people, both agree to reunite at the top of the Empire State Building in six months. However, an unfortunate accident keeps her from the reunion, and he fears that she has married or does not love him anymore.
I have many friends who adore Cary Grant and ensured that they suggested his movies when I asked for recommendations. It is the main reason I have two of his movies on my list. One that came up a bunch of times was An Affair To Remember.
It starts out as a sweet enjoyable romance. Cary Grant is enticing charming and Deborah Kerr is very enjoyable as well. They certainly have chemistry (even though I think he had better chemistry with Katherine Hepburn in The Philadelphia Story) which is important for this genre. Especially the stuff on the ship! Their banter was fun and that the relationship was deepened by getting to know each other better was a bonus. It really was Cary Grant's charm that sold the romance for me though. I believed that he was worth waiting six months for by the time they get off the ship.
Their first kiss takes place off camera with the above shot being what we see and it still manages to exude sexual chemistry.
I also loved the comedic elements that are more prominent at the beginning of the movie. Everyone on the ship being so invested in what Terry and Nickie are doing and all of the humour around that was especially on point.
The story, naturally, has to have some obstacles for the couple to overcome and I found those to be well done but not original. This movie ultimately felt like a warm blanket on a cold day. It is comforting in its familiarity. It plays the usual tropes of the genre but that is what makes it so enjoyable in the end.
The ending packs the emotional punch that is needed and is even a bit of a tearjerker. It's a memorable scene that caps off the movie perfectly.
I highly recommend this to those who love their romances with a bit of drama mixed it. It has two solid performances from its main cast and a fantastic use of the Empire State Building. It also made me want to check out more Cary Grant movies (as this was only the second one I have seen him in).
When King Jameson declares his love for Lady Hollis Brite, Hollis is shocked—and thrilled. After all, she’s grown up at Keresken Castle, vying for the king’s attention alongside other daughters of the nobility. Capturing his heart is a dream come true. But Hollis soon realizes that falling in love with a king and being crowned queen may not be the happily ever after she thought it would be. And when she meets a commoner with the mysterious power to see right into her heart, she finds that the future she really wants is one that she never thought to imagine.
This sounds like a fun, romantic read that will definitely offer a distraction from everything going on in the world right now. It seems like Hollis might have two suitors vying for her attention! I enjoy a love triangle if it is done well so I am curious to see how this one might play out.
I love that all of Kiera Cass' books have pretty gowns on them. This one matches the synopsis perfectly.
Bound by blood.
Tempted by desire.
Unleashed by destiny.
Bryce Quinlan had the perfect life—working hard all day and partying all night—until a demon murdered her closest friends, leaving her bereft, wounded, and alone. When the accused is behind bars but the crimes start up again, Bryce finds herself at the heart of the investigation. She’ll do whatever it takes to avenge their deaths.
Hunt Athalar is a notorious Fallen angel, now enslaved to the Archangels he once attempted to overthrow. His brutal skills and incredible strength have been set to one purpose—to assassinate his boss’s enemies, no questions asked. But with a demon wreaking havoc in the city, he’s offered an irresistible deal: help Bryce find the murderer, and his freedom will be within reach.
As Bryce and Hunt dig deep into Crescent City’s underbelly, they discover a dark power that threatens everything and everyone they hold dear, and they find, in each other, a blazing passion—one that could set them both free, if they’d only let it.
With unforgettable characters, sizzling romance, and page-turning suspense, this richly inventive new fantasy series by #1 New York Times bestselling author Sarah J. Maas delves into the heartache of loss, the price of freedom—and the power of love.
House of Earth and Blood is a compelling mix of urban fantasy and murder mystery backstopped against a well developed setting that adds in emotional character arcs that offer satisfying conclusions at the end. It's a fun page turning read that I couldn't put down.
The world of Crescent City is rich and layered. It's a world populated by vampires, mermaids, fae, witches, angels and other beings. There are various Houses which each have their own system of power and hierarchy. The figureheads of these Houses all answer to the Archangels who have their own power dynamics. The angels in turn answer to a another group named the Asteri. It's a very politically driven book in that the power struggles and complexities directly impact the plot. It's all so intertwined that I was impressed at things that ended up connecting in the end. The world itself is very modern but with a twist. It is immediately recognizable with magical embellishments. It's those little details that made the world pop along with the creatures that inhabit it.
When we meet Bryce Quinlan she is broken. Her best friend's murder is a trauma that she hasn't healed from and, more importantly, hasn't wanted to let herself heal from. She carries her pain both both internally and externally. She is apologetically herself, and doesn't care what others think. The change within her is perhaps my favourite part of the story as she not only learns to open herself up to others again.
I typically do not like the typical alpha male stereotype that tends to be found in Maas books. They do nothing for me, and I often find them borderline, if not outright, abusive. Hunt read different for me. He's much more interesting than the other love interests in Maas' previous books. He has the required tragic backstory but it fits within the story seamlessly. It helps that Bryce calls him out on his behaviour, and that he trusts in her when it counts.
Trauma and the weight of it is such a vital part of this story. Both Bryce and Hunt are working through their own tragedies and each of them carry a guilt that is palpable. It makes their romance a salve and a light in the darkness they live in.
The romance is actually a pretty slow burn. Sure, there sexual tension jumping off the pages between the two of them, but it takes longer than I expected for anything to really happen. They learn to trust each other and a genuine friendship develops. They end up being good for each other in a lot of ways.
The relationship that feels the most important in this story is the one between Bryce and Danika. Their friendship is what propels the entire plot of the novel. Bryce is trying to find out who killed her friend. The emotional anchor echoes throughout the entire story. It pulses through Bryce's character and shades everything that she does. That connection is vital to the entire story and I was delighted to see such a strong female friendship have such a resonance. I would call it the real love story of this book. It's the most emotional part of the story and it hits all those buttons hard by the end of the story.
The mystery and its resolution ended up feeling really satisfying to me. There were multiple times that I thought we had the final piece of the puzzle only for it to get more complex and detailed. It was not as straightforward as I anticipated. This book is the first in a series so while the main questions do get answered those answers serve to upend everything and provide a very promising sequel.
Much was made of Maas releasing her first adult novel. Other than the inclusion of more swear words, I didn't find too much difference between her A Court Of Thorns and Roses series (especially the later ones) and this. I think that if you were okay with those that reading this wouldn't be too different. There are some sexy scenes, and even some actual sex but it is not the focus. It is rather tame considering. However, I feel this style suits Maas more. There is a ease with her writing that feels a little more natural than in previous books.
If you loved this author's other works you will absolutely devour this one. It has the elements that her books are known for. If you like urban fantasy I would definitely recommend giving it a try. It certainly made me desperate to get my hands on the sequel to fall back into this lush, imaginative world filled with characters I have come to care about. I cannot wait to see where Bryce's story takes her next.
The awesome Kelly at KellyVision started posting a weekly post highlighting whatever she happened to be obsessed with that week. I LOVE this idea, so much in fact that I will be doing it myself every weekend.
There is obviously not a lot to be excited about going on right now, but I had to highlight something that was released this week because I love it so much!
BOOKS The cover of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by VE Schwab (goodreads)
I love how simple it is and how it directly ties into the first part of the story (if you read the excerpt that was revealed on Entertainment Weekly you'll see what I mean). The seven stars are a reference to something and that makes me love the cover even more.
The sort of gold lettering is begging to be done in foil so I hope that happens as it would really make the cover pop out on shelves even more.
TV/MOVIES Vanity Fair's West Side Story Exclusive
I am very excited to (hopefully) see West Side Story this winter! Vanity Fair has an exclusive look at some stills from the movie and they are really pretty. I especially love this one of Tony and Maria.
Copyright @ NIKO TAVERNISE/TWENTIETH CENTURY STUDIOS
The rest of the stills are equally stunning and have me even more excited about this movie.
What are you obsessed with this week? Let me know in the comments.
We are all adjusting to our new (hopefully very temporary) normal of social distancing. Many of us are only leaving our homes for essentials such as food and medications.
I have been struggling with this adjustment and have been trying to cling to the things that do bring me joy such as calls with friends and family, reading, and catching up on movies and television shows.
You, like me, may be looking for recommendations on what to watch so I am going to offer a few of mine in this blog post.
Hopefully the blog will get back to normal with reviews and such next week. As you can imagine it has been hard to focus on anything production right now.
My recommendations for what to watch while social distancing/self isolating
MOVIES:
1. Stand By Me
This is one of my all time favourite (if not my favourite) movies. Everyone is perfectly cast, and the young main foursome have excellent friendship chemistry. It also boasts a Kiefer Sutherland performance that, along with his performance in The Lost Boys, still provides inspiration for villains in entertainment (look at you Billy from Stranger Things).
2. Scream
Even if horror movies are not your thing I think that you should watch this one. It has a very self aware tone, and definitely still holds up as well as it did when it was first released.
3. Clueless
This one is for pure feel good escapism. It's a charming and has a really cute Paul Rudd performance in it. It is one of those movies I watch when I am sick , or just on a rainy day.
4. The Philadelphia Story
I have been watching a lot of older Hollywood movies recently and was entirely charmed by this one. It has some of that time periods most well known actors (Katherine Hepburn, James Stewart, Cary Grant) and a fun plot that I really enjoyed.
5. 13 Going On 30
Adorably cute is the best way to describe this one. It's a comfort watch that leaves you feeling good. Jennifer Garner is really charming in this, and it has Mark Ruffalo playing the sweetest man ever.
TELEVISION:
1. Breaking Bad
This is, in my opinion, one of the best shows to have ever aired on television. If you some how missed watching this I highly recommend you get to it now. It offers amazing performances from the entire cast (with special mention to Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul) and the kind of meticulous plotting that leaves you in awe.
2. Stranger Things
This nostalgia filled show is pretty much the perfect distraction. You'll love all of the characters (even some of the ones you start out hating) and this is a show that actually cares about character growth. I am sure everyone has already watched it, but it is a must watch if you haven't.
3. Buffy The Vampire Slayer
One of my all time favourite shows, and one that I have revisisted a few times. There are quite a few seasons so you'll have plenty to keep you busy. It mixes the supernatural with some great character stuff that makes for a compelling show.
4. American Crime Story
Both seasons of American Crime Story (The People vs OJ Simpson, and The Assassination of Gianni Versace) are excellent and I highly recommend both. They are some of Ryan Murphy's finest work, and the casting for his shows is always impeccable and these two seasons are no exception. Sarah Paulson steals the show as Marcia Clark, and Darren Criss captivates as Andrew Cunanan.
5. Friday Night Lights
You do not have to like football to enjoy this. It is the characters and their connections that make this show resonate the way it does. You'll have so many favourites, and care more deeply about what happens to all of the characters than you expected to.
Those are the shows and movies I think you should add to your watch list. What I am going to be watching during this time of social distancing? Plenty of my favourites, along with the following:
1. The Sinner
The first two seasons of this are available on Netflix and I have heard nothing but good things. I have already watched the first season and am about to jump into the second.
2. On The Waterfront
I recently watched A Streetcar Named Desire and was introduced to Marlon Brando. This is apparently one of his best performances (it won him one of his Oscars) so I am looking forward to watch it.
3. Niagara
It is my April #2020PopCultureResolution pick and, sadly, I do not think we'll be out of this social distancing thing by April. It's one of the few Marilyn Monroe movies I have not seen yet.
4. A Star Is Born (1937)
I loved the 2018 version but have never seen any of the others. I am going to dive in with the 1937 version simply because I own it. I am looking forward to seeing if I love it as much as the 2018 one.
5. Schitt's Creek
I feel like a bad Canadian because I haven't seen this yet.
What are you watching right now? Let me know your recommendations and what you hope to get to in the comments.
Kelly from Kellyvision stops by the blog today to offer her suggestions on what to watch while we are all social distancing/self isolating/quarantined.
I'll be offering up my own recommendations tomorrow.
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I've read a bunch of articles saying that you shouldn't just watch TV shows and movies all day, that you should be exercising and doing projects, maybe trying to learn French or paint your apartment or deep clean everything.
I'm sorry, but there is a literal pandemic and I am going to cope with this the way I cope with everything: by staying inside and letting pop culture distract me.
If you are overwhelmed but want to stay informed, I would advise you to only watch local news. They will tell you what you need to know (as in, exactly how your area is doing). And that gives you a lot of time for binging.
I'm pretty sure there are three main types of people: the ones who want to forget everything scary and just have an escape; the people who are leaning in and the people who just want to watch the shows and movies they already love. I'm probably that third type, though I definitely bounce around for all three.
I'm going to recommend movies and shows, and I'll do them for Hulu, Prime and Netflix. Plus, I'll let you know what I plan on watching; please feel free to comment your suggestions and reactions or chat with me on Twitter (I'm @khager).
AMAZON PRIME:
If you want to escape, Prime has The Spy Who Dumped Me. You may not have seen it, but it is so funny (much funnier than it has any right to be) and it's one of the most fun movie experiences I've had in a while.
More of a lean in type? It has The Big Sick. It's not about a pandemic, per se, but the love interest has some weird disease and she spends half the movie in a coma. It's very funny and sweet, so don't put off watching it because of the illness part.
Need some comfort food? Prime has all of Downton Abbey! Also, Pretty in Pink, Bridget Jones's Diary, First Wives Club and Clue.
I'm hoping to watch Brittany Runs a Marathon and The Report, as well as binge the TV shows Hunters (about people hunting Nazis after World War II).
HULU:
It has the first season of What We Do in the Shadows (it's so funny!) and the show Little Fires Everywhere (with Kerry Washington and Reese Witherspoon, based on the book by Celeste Ng) starts Wednesday. I've got approximately 11 billion things in my watch queue, including the show version of High Fidelity, so it's probably getting all my time.
Also, it's got Spin the Wheel, a game show that I absolutely love. (You can win over a million dollars, based on the wheel and your own knowledge of pop culture. And it only has the most amazing people as contestants so you really root for them to win. It's my favorite thing.
There aren't many choices for leaning in. There's a documentary on Nostradamus.
*approximately 20 minutes later*
I just did a real deep dive into the rabbit hole of Hulu and there is a show called "Alone." Ten people are separated and left alone in middle of nowhere Vancouver. I mean, no matter how much you are slowly losing it, at least you have food and water and are indoors. So maybe that will help?
As far as old favorites go, Hulu wins the entire world as far as I'm concerned. Heathers, Say Anything, National Lampoon’s Vacation (also European and Christmas vacations), When Harry Met Sally, Some Kind of Wonderful and the original Hitcher. There's the Saved by the Bell: Wedding in Las Vegas and Dawson's Creek.
NETFLIX:
If you want to escape, I cannot recommend The Good Place and Schitt's Creek enough. Both are sitcoms that will make you literally LOL, and also make you cry a little. They're the best of who we are as people.
If you want to lean in, there's Pandemic (a TV series about preventing an outbreak) and they have Outbreak. It's not maybe the best idea, but I don't judge.
And as for old favorites? Netflix is about to make your day. They have Tootsie, Gilmore Girls, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Candyman and Rosemary's Baby. And I don't know if you've seen Step Brothers, but it's so, so fun.
I'm probably going to watch Love is Blind soon, because that's been recommended to me so many times.
I feel so behind on TV so I'm excited to see how much I can catch up on. (Or, barring that, how many times I just watch Clue instead.)
It's a scary time. Hide if you need to. We're in a great age of television and movies.
What happens when the person you find MOST impossible becomes impossible to resist? Opposites distract in this hilarious romantic comedy about America's least likely couple. There's just one thing standing between liberal Senate staffer Kate Adams and passage of the landmark legislation she's been fighting for all year: Ben Mackenzie, intimidating gatekeeper for one of DC's most powerful conservative senators. After Kate and Ben lock horns in a meet-not-so-cute, they vow to take each other down--by any means necessary. She thinks he's arrogant (and doesn't deserve those gorgeous green eyes). He thinks she's too quick to judge (and irresistibly distracting). But as their endless game of one-upmanship becomes Kate's favorite part of the day, she starts to wonder if her feelings for Ben are closer to attraction than animosity...and maybe their sparring is flirting. And when Kate realizes there's more to Ben than meets the eye, she's forced her to confront her biggest fear: In her sworn enemy, she may have found her perfect match.
Another Berkley release that sounds absolutely adorable. I love the whole 'enemies to lovers' trope and this one sounds like it'll have some great chemistry between the main characters.
Fall seems like the right time for this book to debut, and I can imagine reading it while enjoying a pumpkin spice latte.
There are only two ways a human can cross the gates of Bloodstone Institute: as a familiar to one of the blueblood vampires who attend the elite school or as a snack.
I’m neither, but I have to get in at all costs. My brother made a big mistake, and now I have to fix it by stealing from the most powerful and cruel vampire to ever come to Bloodstone, Lucca Della Morte. If that wasn’t almost suicidal, I need to get it done before the spell concealing my human nature wears off.
But I forget that I’m only pretending to be a vampire. I’m still human and susceptible to Lucca’s dangerous allure. His darkness calls to my soul. His savagery makes my blood sing. I’m falling for the dark prince, craving him in a visceral way that’s frightening and exciting at the same time.
If he discovers my secret, he’ll destroy me. And yet, I can’t help wanting to get closer. I never thought I had a death wish until I met him.
Havoc. That’s the name of this club. Appropriate. It’s dark, loud, and brimming with humans more than ready to satiate my hunger. It took me a while to get used to the noise. Night entertainment sure as shit has changed since the last time I was awake.
My latest snack is passed out on the VIP couch, utterly spent. Feeding and fucking go hand in hand, but unlike the human currently snoring next to me, I’m far from satisfied. My strength has returned, and thanks to all the blood I’ve drunk already, I’m almost caught up on what I missed in the past ninety-five years. Blood remembers.
Opposite me, Saxon is busy getting it on with some random girl. Ronan and Manu have disappeared to I-don’t-know-where. So much for my reawakening party. That’s my inner circle in a nutshell—a bunch of assholes. Not that I’m any better.
I catch the attention of the nearest bouncer, signaling him to get rid of the passed out human. I’m ready for the next one.
Not a minute later, I find my new target. A pretty little thing in black leather is walking over, carrying one single shot on her tray. Slender yet curvy in all the right places, blonde hair cascading down her back, and full lips begging to be tasted, she’s exactly what I need.
Immediately, my fangs descend, and my cock hardens. I watch her approach, not hiding the hunger that’s surely shining in my eyes now. When she stops in front of me, I can hear how fast her heart is beating; I can smell her fear.
Interesting.
Most humans who come to these places aren’t afraid of us. They know exactly what we want, and they give it willingly in the hopes of being turned. Little do they know we no longer have that power.
“What’s your name, sugar?” I ask, not hiding the craving in my voice.
“Re-Rebecca.” She clutches the tray harder while tremors run through her body.
A lie. That’s not her name. I’m not surprised she wasn’t truthful. She’s not afraid; she’s gripped by terror, which makes her even more alluring to me. I’m a predator after all.
Not taking my eyes off her face, I run my fingers up her naked legs. “What do you have for me, Rebecca?”
She doesn’t answer for a couple of beats. In fact, she’s not even breathing. I suspect she might bolt out of here at any second.
“A special shot. On the house,” she finally replies.
My lips curl into a grin. I was wondering when Derek Blackwater, the owner of Havoc, would send me a welcome gift. He was the last human to be turned into a vampire, and thus, he’s almost as old as I. But that’s as far my knowledge of his dark past goes. The guy is a mystery.
“Is that so?” My hand disappears underneath her skirt, and when I squeeze her ass, she gasps.
“Yes,” she breathes out.
My pulse skyrockets. Damn it. It’s normal to be thirstier soon after an awakening, but my reaction to this human is stronger than I anticipated.
With shaking hands, she hands over the shot glass. I don’t know what kind of drink this is, but I’m past the point of caring. I throw my head back and drink it in one single gulp. Immediately, my head becomes fuzzy.
With a frown, I stare at the empty glass, seeing double. “What the hell?”
I sense someone yank on my necklace, a piece of jewelry I never take off. The fucking human is trying to steal from me. My movements are sluggish now, which means she laced my drink with vampire’s bane.
Motherfucker.
The necklace chain snaps at the same time that I manage to get over the poison’s effect. I’m fully recharged, thanks to my ninety-five-year nap, and thus, I’m less susceptible to vampire’s bane’s effects. The thief is about to take off, but I grab her wrist, digging my nails into her soft skin, drawing blood. A single whiff of her scent changes everything. My vision turns crimson, my eyes zero in on her neck, and my ears only hear the sound of her blood pumping in her veins.
The desire to sink my fangs into her soft skin is no longer about retribution. This is pure and raw bloodlust.
I jump from the couch, trapping the girl between my arms. She struggles, she screams, but no one will come to her aid.
Sudden pain shoots up the back of my head, clearing my vision for a second. The human is pulled from me by Saxon, and then Manu is blocking my way.
“What the hell, Lucca! I leave you alone for a moment, and that’s what you do?” Her golden eyes are glowing in the dark, showing how angry she’s with me.
“She poisoned me with vampire’s bane,” I grit out, trying to control the feral instinct that’s demanding I rip the human’s throat to shreds.
“Let me go!” She fights Saxon’s hold.
“Take it easy, sweet cheeks. You’re not going anywhere.”
I don’t dare to move. I’m not over the bloodlust yet. I haven’t succumbed to it since the worst evening of my life centuries ago. Why now?
“What’s this?” Saxon pulls an object from the girl’s grasp.
“My necklace,” I say. “Bitch came here to steal from me.”
Saxon lobs it in my direction, and then Manu whirls around, displaying her talon-like nails. Fuck. Now she wants a piece of the human too.
No. She’s mine.
“Who sent you here?” my sister asks the girl.
The thief doesn’t have a chance to reply. Ronan comes running, his face twisted in the deepest frown and his entire body exuding anger. He spares a fleeting glance at the puny human in Saxon’s grasp and then turns to me.
“We’ve got company,” he says. “Tatiana’s sycophants are here.”
Damn everything to hell. They had to show up now. I could simply kill the human with a single blow and be done with retaliation. But my body immediately rejects that idea. I can’t do it.
With regret, I turn to Saxon. “Forget her.”
His eyebrows furrow while he watches me as if I’d lost my mind. I’m not sure I haven’t. Releasing someone who poisoned me and tried to steal from me is not my MO, but my revenge will have to wait. I have an older debt to settle and a message to send.
About Michelle Hercules:
Michelle Hercules always knew creative arts were her calling but not in a million years did she think she would become an author. With a background in fashion design she thought she would follow that path. But one day, out of the blue, she had an idea for a book. One page turned into ten pages, ten pages turned into a hundred, and before she knew, her first novel, The Prophecy of Arcadia, was born.
Michelle Hercules resides in The Netherlands with her husband and daughter. She is currently working on the Legends of Gattica series.
House Rules: Do your own dishes Knock before entering the bathroom Never look up your roommate online The Wheatons are infamous among the east coast elite for their lack of impulse control, except for their daughter Clara. She’s the consummate socialite: over-achieving, well-mannered, predictable. But every Wheaton has their weakness. When Clara’s childhood crush invites her to move cross-country, the offer is too much to resist. Unfortunately, it’s also too good to be true. After a bait-and-switch, Clara finds herself sharing a lease with a charming stranger. Josh might be a bit too perceptive—not to mention handsome—for comfort, but there’s a good chance he and Clara could have survived sharing a summer sublet if she hadn’t looked him up on the Internet... Once she learns how Josh has made a name for himself, Clara realizes living with him might make her the Wheaton’s most scandalous story yet. His professional prowess inspires her to take tackling the stigma against female desire into her own hands. They may not agree on much, but Josh and Clara both believe women deserve better sex. What they decide to do about it will change both of their lives, and if they’re lucky, they’ll help everyone else get lucky too.
Berkley has been absolutely knocking it out of the park with their romance titles the last while and The Roommate sounds like it is going to be no exception to this.
It sound like it is going to be a funny, sexy read that will help ease the pain of summer going away. It's September release may seem far away but something tells me this is going to be worth the wait!
Today we are sharing an exciting cover reveal for EMPIRE HIGH UNTOUCHABLES by Ivy Smoak! This is a contemporary romance, standalone that will be releasing July 9, 2020. Check out Ivy's facebook page for a chance to win a $50 Gift Card!
The Untouchables. That’s what everyone calls them. At least, it’s my best friend’s nickname for them. And since she’s the only one that talks to me at my new school, I’ll take her word for it. The nickname probably comes from the fact that they’re exorbitantly wealthy. Old wealth. The kind that isn’t flaunted around. But you can tell by the way they carry themselves. Or maybe the name just refers to the fact that they’re so beautiful it’s almost hard to look at them. No matter the reason for their nickname, it’s an ironic one. Because I’ve only been going to this school for a week and I already want to touch.
Ivy Smoak is the international bestselling author of The Hunted series. When she's not writing, you can find her binge watching too many TV shows, taking long walks, playing outside, and generally refusing to act like an adult. She lives with her husband in Delaware.
With COVID-19 cancelling events all over the world I wanted to use today's post to extend an offer to all authors out there (especially the debut authors).
There are plenty of authors who have had various events canceled or are going to have release events and tours impacted by the virus. If you are one such author and are looking for other ways to promote during this time I am offering up my blog for guest posts, Q and As, or anything else you are up for.
Reach out via email or Twitter and I will happily work with out to schedule something.
Today we have the cover reveal for Michelle Hercules’ Dark Prince! This book not only a paranormal romance that kicks off a series about vampires but it also releases on my birthday! What a fantastic birthday gift for myself!
Check out the gorgeous cover and be sure to pre-order your copy today!
Title: Dark Prince
Author: Michelle Hercules
Release Date: April 3rd
COVER DESIGN: Michelle Hercules
PHOTOGRAPHER: Michelle Lancaster (@lanefotograf)
MODEL: Chase Mattson
About Dark Prince:
There are only two ways a human can cross the gates of Bloodstone Institute: as a familiar to one of the blueblood vampires who attend the elite school or as a snack.
I’m neither, but I have to get in at all costs. My brother made a big mistake, and now I have to fix it by stealing from the most powerful and cruel vampire to ever come to Bloodstone, Lucca Della Morte. If that wasn’t almost suicidal, I need to get it done before the spell concealing my human nature wears off.
But I forget that I’m only pretending to be a vampire. I’m still human and susceptible to Lucca’s dangerous allure. His darkness calls to my soul. His savagery makes my blood sing. I’m falling for the dark prince, craving him in a visceral way that’s frightening and exciting at the same time.
If he discovers my secret, he’ll destroy me. And yet, I can’t help wanting to get closer. I never thought I had a death wish until I met him.
Michelle Hercules always knew creative arts were her calling but not in a million years did she think she would become an author. With a background in fashion design she thought she would follow that path. But one day, out of the blue, she had an idea for a book. One page turned into ten pages, ten pages turned into a hundred, and before she knew, her first novel, The Prophecy of Arcadia, was born.
Michelle Hercules resides in The Netherlands with her husband and daughter. She is currently working on the Legends of Gattica series.
Is America ready for its first queen? Power is intoxicating. Like first love, it can leave you breathless. Princess Beatrice was born with it. Princess Samantha was born with less. Some, like Nina Gonzalez, are pulled into it. And a few will claw their way in. Ahem, we're looking at you Daphne Deighton. As America adjusts to the idea of a queen on the throne, Beatrice grapples with everything she lost when she gained the ultimate crown. Samantha is busy living up to her "party princess" persona...and maybe adding a party prince by her side. Nina is trying to avoid the palace--and Prince Jefferson--at all costs. And a dangerous secret threatens to undo all of Daphne's carefully laid "marry Prince Jefferson" plans. A new reign has begun....
American Royals was such a fun read that I was immediately excited that there would be a sequel. The story leaves on a major cliffhanger so I am looking forward to continuing all of the amazing plot points.
This is pretty much frothy, soapy read that would make a perfect Netflix television show. It feels like beach reading but will help kick off the end of summer with a first of September release date. It'll be a perfect one to pair with Labour Day weekend.
The Goal by Elle Kennedy (goodreads)
The Princess Diarist by Carrie Fisher (goodreads)
My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell (goodreads)
Plus I had some ebooks on my list:
Interference by Harlow Cole (goodreads)
The Stars We Steal by Alexa Donne (goodreads)
Of Curses and Kisses by Sandhya Menon (goodreads)
Yes No Maybe So by Becky Albertalli and Aisha Saeed (goodreads)
She Died Famous by Kyle Rutkin (goodreads)
I managed to read five books which I think is an improvement (especially in a short month).
Here is what I managed to read in February:
Yes No Maybe So by Becky Albertalli and Aisha Saeed (goodreads)
Of Curses and Kisses by Sandhya Menon (goodreads)
The Stars We Steal by Alexa Donne (goodreads)
The Princess Diarist by Carrie Fisher (goodreads)
Wicked Sexy Liar by Christina Lauren (goodreads)
My #2020PopCultureResolution continues to be a success with me reading The Princess Diarist for Feb and watching A Streetcar Named Desire. Excited to continue with this in March.
Here is what I hope to read in March.
The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson (goodreads)
My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell (goodreads)
House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J Maas (goodreads)
House of Earth and Blood is such a thick book. At 799 pages it is legitimately hefty. I am reading The Devil in the White City and watching It Happened One Night for my #2020PopCultureResolution so look for reviews of both of those later this month.
I also have some ebooks I am hoping to get to. I am keeping this light this month.
Interference by Harlow Cole (goodreads)
Foul is Fair by Hannah Capin (goodreads)
In Five Years by Rebecca Serle (goodreads)
What books are you reading this month? Have you read any of the ones on my list? If so, let me know what you think in the comments.
