Monthly Archives: December 2013

Happy New Year 2014!

Posted on December 31, 2013 | Leave a comment

 photo by manboobz.com

Happy New Year Everyone!  

All the best in 2014!

 

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Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Posted on December 20, 2013 | 2 comments

                      photo by http://www.wallpapersku.blogspot.com

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO EVERYONE!

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Catching Fire – The Movie

Posted on December 19, 2013 | 4 comments

I have to say right up front that this movie was amazing!  I loved the story, the costumes, the special effects, the cinematography…everything!

The movie starts with Catniss and Peeta going home after winning the Hunger Games.   They don’t get much time to enjoy their win however as they are quickly on the road to do a ‘victory tour’ of the other districts and we see the beginnings of a rebellion coming on, much to the dismay of President Snow.  The whole point of ‘The Hunger Games’ is to quell any type of rebellion among the masses that serve the Capitol and since Catniss has found a way to supercede that purpose, President Snow wants her gone.  They come up with a brand new game in this movie in which all the previous victors (including Catniss) have to go back into the arena and fight each other to the death, thus quelling any chance of rebellion.  Catniss would no longer be the Mockingjay and the source of the peoples hope.

The new Hunger Games is totally different from the first right down to the design of the arena.  The participants have to fight poisonous  rain, crazed man eating monkey type creatures,  raining blood, electrified fences, and even mocking jays that cry out like their loved ones in a psychologically terrifying never ending call for help that they can never answer.   The game this time is truly twisted and sadistic.

I don’t want to ruin the movie for anyone so suffice it to say this movie was fantastic.  There were some issues I had with the movie, but they mostly have to do with the pieces missing from the book.  The book was an amazing story and unfortunately you cannot pack all of that into a two hour movie.  Pretending that I haven’t read the book, the movie on its own was a great sequel to The Hunger Games.   I am truly looking forward to the next movie.

I have to add that the costumes and scenes from the movie were so out of this world and they really captured the spirit of the book.  My favorite has to be the wedding dress that Catniss wears on stage and is transformed by Cinna.  It is truly amazing.  The special effects are phenomenal.

I shouldn’t leave without saying something about the cast.  I am a big fan of Woody Harrelson and he does an amazing job as Haymitch.  I love Jennifer Lawrence as Catniss.  She is everything I imagine Catniss to be.  All of the cast is great right down to Donald Sutherland as President Snow.  I enjoyed all of the actors, they did an amazing job.

Well I don’t want to give anything else away so let me know what your thoughts were on the movie.  Did you like it?  Hate it?  Have you read the book? Please leave a comment.

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WWW Wednesdays (Dec 18)

Posted on December 18, 2013 | 3 comments

• What are you currently reading?
• What did you recently finish reading?
• What do you think you’ll read next?

My Answers:

Unravel Me (Shatter Me, #2)Recently Finished: Unravel Me (shatter me #2) by Tahereh Mafi.  I loved this book!  I will post a review shortly.

A Demon Made Me Do It (Demonblood, #1)Currently Reading:  A Demon Made Me Do it. (Demonblood #1).  I just started this so no comments yet.  It has lots of promise though. 

Next for me? I just downloaded both of these on my Kindle.  Not sure which I will read first.  And of course you never know what else might show up before I get to either of them!  

Stir Me Up Divergent (Divergent, #1)

Stir Me Up by Sabrina Elkins

Divergent ( Divergent #1) by Veronica Roth) 

PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT with either the link to your own WWW Wednesdays post, or share your answers in a comment here (if you don’t have a blog). Thanks! :D

WWW Wednesday is a meme hosted by Should Be Reading. Check out their blog!

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What Ebenezer Scrooge Can Teach Us About Great Writing

Posted on December 17, 2013 | Leave a comment

Great Post by Author Kristen Lamb. Really get the in and out of good story telling using a popular Christmas tale.

Kristen Lamb's Blog

Screen Shot 2012-12-24 at 9.22.47 AM

One of my all-time favorite movies for the holidays is The Muppets Christmas Carol. I believe I’ve seen this movie a few hundred times. I’ve worn out three VHS tapes and at least three DVDs. I play the movie over and over, mainly because, well, duh,  MUPPETS! I drive my husband nuts playing this movie over and over…and over. I’m worse than a three-year-old.

But, Muppets aside, also I can’t get enough of the music. Also, I love the story of A Christmas Carol no matter how many times I see it, no matter how many renditions, and I am certainly not alone. Charles Dickens’ story of a redeemed miser is a staple for holiday celebrations around the world and across the generations.

This story is virtually synonymous with “Christmas,” but why is it such a powerful story? Why has it spoken so deeply to so many? Why is…

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Teaser Tuesday (Dec 17)

Posted on December 17, 2013 | 9 comments

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

My Teaser:

Whoever says Hell is the worst place imaginable obviously never spent a day at Dove Creek High School.  There needs to be an inscription on its front gates reading, “Abandon all hope, ye who enter here.”

opening lines

A Demon Made Me Do It (Demonblood, #1) A Demon Made Me Do It (Demonblood #1) by Penelope King.

I haven’t actually started this yet, but it looks so cool. 

PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT with either the link to your own Teaser Tuesdays post, or share your ‘teasers’ in a comment here (if you don’t have a blog). Thanks! :D

Teaser Tuesday is a meme hosted by Should Be Reading. Check out their blog!

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Happy Friday 13th

Posted on December 13, 2013 | Leave a comment

 photo by http://www.freefever.com

Happy Friday 13th everyone.  I couldn’t resist when I saw this picture.  I have no idea why Friday 13th is considered such a bad day.  I’m not superstitious and I LOVE Black cats.  Have a terrific day!

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Wordless Wednesday (Dec 11)

Posted on December 11, 2013 | 2 comments

Baby Turtle Eats Strawberry Teh Cute Cute Puppies Cute Kittensphoto by http://www.okiraa.com

I love Wordless Wednesday.  I get a kick out of finding the best picture that makes me laugh or go ‘OMG that is so adorable’.  So please  LEASE LEAVE A COMMENT with either the link to your own Wordless Wednesday post, or just a comment (if you don’t have a blog). Thanks! :D

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WWW Wednesdays (Dec 11)

Posted on December 11, 2013 | 3 comments

• What are you currently reading?
• What did you recently finish reading?
• What do you think you’ll read next?

My Answers:

A Voice at Midnight Water (Akasha, #1)Recently Finished: A Voice at Midnight by Elizabeth Cole and Water (Akasha #1) aby Terra Harmony.  Both were good.  Reviews are posted.

Unravel Me (Shatter Me, #2)Currently Reading: Unravel Me (Shatter Me #2) by Tahereh mafi  I had to put this down to finish a couple others first so am only now really getting into it.  So far it is good.  I will post a review as soon as I am finished.

Next for me?

I am not really sure, but I have this on my kindle which looks very promising.

A Demon Made Me Do It (Demonblood, #1) A Demon Made me do it. (Demonblood #1) by Penelope King.

PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT with either the link to your own WWW Wednesdays post, or share your answers in a comment here (if you don’t have a blog). Thanks! :D

WWW Wednesday is a meme hosted by Should Be Reading. Check out their blog!

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Teaser Tuesday (Dec 10)

Posted on December 10, 2013 | 19 comments

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

My Teaser:

Her mouth was a little small for the rest of her features, but her lower lip was full enough to make him wonder…

Tristan decided he should stop wondering about her, at least while she was in the same room.

15% on kindle

A Voice at Midnight A Voice at Midnight by Elizabeth Cole

This was a delightful little read that I couldn’t put down so I thought I would share as my Teaser Tuesday.  Review posted here:

https://cynthiastacey.com/2013/12/09/a-voice-at-midnight/

PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT with either the link to your own Teaser Tuesdays post, or share your ‘teasers’ in a comment here (if you don’t have a blog). Thanks! :D

Teaser Tuesday is a meme hosted by Should Be Reading. Check out their blog!

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A Voice at Midnight

Posted on December 9, 2013 | 1 comment

A Voice at Midnight A Voice at Midnight by Elizabeth Cole.  Published November 17, 2013 by SkySpark Books.  CDN $0.99 Kindle edition.

Can two troubled souls break a ghostly curse and find true love?

Veronica Swift dreams of traveling the world, but at the insistence of her stepfather, she must leave her dreams behind in order to find a husband. She retreats to historic Wyemont Castle for the Christmas holiday. There she encounters two very different men…and her childhood memories of a ghostly woman in white.

Tristan Ryder lost everything after a terrible turn of luck during the war. Penniless and disgraced, Tristan’s last hope is to help his old friend, Elliot Bantham, find a suitable match during their holiday at the castle.

But the legendary ghosts of Wyemont Castle interrupt the festivities. It seems the spirits have their own plans for the guests. Will Veronica and Tristan unlock the secret surrounding Wyemont? Or will it draw all of them deeper into the tragedy? (Goodreads excerpt)

I was given a copy of this book as a read for review.  I have to say I am really glad I came across this little gem of a story.  I was so engrossed that I read it in one sitting.  It was cute and romantic and exciting and suspenseful and everything that you would want out of a historical romance.  I loved it.

I always love historical romance books.  I love how we get swept up in the emotions of the characters.  This was no exception.  Veronica and Tristan are the cutest couple and you know they have to end up in each other’s arms no matter what gets in the way.  What makes this book different is the ghost story aspect that makes there union both interesting and more difficult. The story itself is very engaging and you absolutely have to know what happens to the ghosts.  I love how the author entangles the story of the ghosts and the story of the main characters and interweaves it into a wonderfully romantic story.

The story is very short (95 pages) but an exceptionally wonderful light read.

I give it 5 stars!

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Water (Akasha #1)

Posted on December 4, 2013 | Leave a comment

Water (Akasha, #1) Water (Akasha #1) by Terra Harmony.  Published Sept 26, 2011 by Patchwork Press.  CDN $0.00 on Kindle.

Elemental powers in the palm of her hand…and it won’t be enough to save her. When Kaitlyn Alder is involuntarily introduced to a life of magic, she becomes part of an organization hell-bent on saving the Earth. Just as her new-found life holds promises of purpose, romance, and friendship, the organization divides and a rogue member holds Kaitlyn hostage. Now one of the most terrifying men the human race has to offer stands between her and Earth’s survival. (Goodreads excerpt)

Where to start? I was a little apprehensive going into this book when I was made aware that it had scenes of rape and brutality…not my thing at all.  However, I am really glad I did.  I really enjoyed he story.  I love stories with magic, especially when you mix it with science and make it more believable.  The story line was original and engaging and kept me reading intently.  The suspense was great and I kept trying to figure out what was going to happen.  Even the end left on a cliff hanger that was both satisfying as an end to this book, yet still made me want to know what happens next.

I enjoyed the interaction between Kaitlyn and Micah.  There was always a bit of mystery to him that I found intriguing.  Is he good…bad…somewhere in the middle?  I liked the love story blossoming between them while you still keep it in the back of your mind if Micah has an ulterior motive.

As for the rape that I mentioned…I don’t usually include spoilers, but it is there in the story.  I found that it was not necessarily needed, although I understand that the writer wanted you to get the full effect of what was happening to Kaitlyn.  Personally, I would have preferred he beat the crap out of her than rape her and it would have the same effect.  Having said that, it didn’t detract too much from me liking the story.  What it did was make me angry as the SOB.  Which is probably the point.

Overall, I enjoyed the story and give it 4 stars!

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Wordless Wednesday

Posted on December 4, 2013 | 1 comment

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Do You Have “As You Know, Bob…” Syndrome?–How Writers Can Butcher Dialogue & How to Fix It

Posted on December 2, 2013 | Leave a comment

Great post as usual by Author Kristen Lamb and guest WANA International Instructor Marcy Kennedy.

Kristen Lamb's Blog

Writing a stand-out novel involves a lot of individual pieces working together in perfect concert. If there’s no solid plot? Readers get confused, lost or bored. If the plot is great, but the characters are all one-dimensional paper dolls? No one cares. If we butcher grammar, spelling and formatting? It’s a formula for dismal sales or even a long line of one-star reviews from ticked off readers.

Hey, the world may think writing fiction is easy, but we all know differently ;).

One of the best ways to move plot forward with increasing momentum and to create living, breathing characters is by harnessing the power of dialogue. As an editor for twelve years, I can tell you dialogue is one of the single largest components of writing great fiction, and it’s the part that’s most often butchered. The story can be great, the setting, the prose?

….and then comes…

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