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Maryse's Book Blog

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Bella Andre – The Sullivans Series Reading Order

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This series keeps coming up over and over again in my quest for new contemporary romance novels and I’ve gotta say… with the high number of great reviews, I’m anxious to try these!

In fact, Jennifer just updated me with this:

“I actually just finished that series…I truly enjoyed it. I did think the books were a little on the short side …, but I would recommend this series for anyone to read.”

About the series:

“… bestselling author Bella Andre introduces you to a fun and emotional contemporary romance series about the Sullivan family. Because when a Sullivan bad boy falls…he falls hard. And it’s forever.”

Ruh roh. The description said bad boy. I’m in trouble.

         

Happy Belated Birthday to My Blog… Let’s Celebrate With a Megan Hart Book Giveaway!

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WINNER ANNOUNCEMENT!!! –> Congratulations Kandyce Harris! You win a signed copy of Megan Hart’s Virtue and Vice book!!

I did it again. I missed my blog’s first birthday (a couple of years ago), and then I just missed it’s third! It’s official. I AM a bad blog mommy!!

My blog’s birthday was February 28th. But guess what! Middle of February, I did have a blog celebration when I met up with some of my best book buds, AND AND!! They presented me with the most gorgeous blog scrapbook (personally crafted by Sherry) that I will be featuring in a post. You’ll get to “virtually” look through it with me. It’s just awesome!!

AND!!! AND!! Megan Hart sent me an awesome box of goodies to giveaway. Bookmarks, temporary tattoos… all sorts of trinkets. And best of all? FIVE signed books (the latest book in her Order of Solace Series – “Virtue and Vice”). She said:

 “It’s the fourth in the series, but none of them are in order so can easily be read before the others.”

I will be giving them away in some near-future posts, but right now, right off the bat, I will be giving away ONE of the signed books (and some miscellaneous random Megan Hart memorabilia) in this very post!

How to enter for a chance to win a copy? Just leave a comment below, and this Friday night (Friday March 16th 2012) by 9pm EST, I will randomly select one winner.

The winner will be contacted and will have 48hrs to respond with a mailing address (must respond by Sunday March 18th 2012 – 9pm EST at the latest), so if you are picked, do not delay or you will lose your chance.

Here’s a suggestion. If you want to enter to win the book, leave your comment, and you may also pre-send me your mailing address, by email, in case you do win (please don’t post it in your comment). In a couple of my past giveaways, there were some issues with getting the mailing address on time, so to avoid this, if I pick your name, and I already have your address, then all is good. Sorry for my international readers, this is a open to U.S. residents only (but you’re welcome to comment and join in any time!!).

And while you’re here, if you haven’t already joined me (actually “us”, ’cause we’re a big group now) on Facebook and Twitter, whatcha waiting’ for?!

For Us Fifty Shades Fanatics – A Compilation List of the Media Attention

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The news links are still coming in fast and furious and the media is still going crazy with this Fifty Shades trilogy. Interesting stuff to read and watch (and on occasion, frustrating, ’cause I still tend to think they’re overdoing it with the whole “sex” aspect).

As Jan on my Facebook page mentioned:

Jan: I got frustrated watching Good Morning America talking about 50 Shades. All they talked about was how hot and sexy the book is. They seem to be missing the point that it has hit the best seller list, because it also has a great story and fascinating characters.

Of Course, I will never eat Ben & Jerry’s ice cream or ride in an elevator without a smile on my face.

Maryse’s Book Blog: LOL!! True though. They sure are running with the whole *sex* thing. Like I said. They missed the point, it goes so much deeper then that. But I suppose the media and “sensationalism” go hand and hand. As the old adage goes… “Sex sells 😉 “

But there are just so many reports and video clips, it’s getting hard to keep up. So I’ve done my best to compile a list for us to look at, at our leisure 😉

“What do women readers want?  Judging from this literary juggernaut – an erotic novel about a shy undergrad in sexual thrall to a kinky exec – the mix includes S& M, highbrow references (our heroine quotes Thomas Hardy) and a hero with mom issues.  Degrading to women?  Not really.  If you can overlook the clunky writing, James’s word-of-mouth hit is a fun ride.”

  • Publisher: Vintage (May 25, 2011)
  • Sold by: Random House Digital, Inc.

 

Like Crazy – A Movie With a Book Feel… My Mini Movie Review

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Like Crazy
Okay, I don’t normally write movie reviews, but OMG this one grabbed me by the heart and squeezed. HARD! I’ve still got a lump in my throat. I don’t know where to go with this other then to say… beautiful. Intense. BIG. But… it’s indie so it’s got that “not so typical” style. It’s got a subtle “thing” going on. That whole, “well that scene would have been too obvious, and isn’t necessary for you to *get it*” vibe. And then sometimes, it full on slaps you in the face!

You know… that realism that I sometimes look for in my books, when I’m in the mood for something deeper? The ones that aren’t black and white, that aren’t always pretty but that have so much power to captivate anyway. Even though you find yourself in TONS of uncomfortable moments, even though you’re squirming, even though you wish there was a “bad guy” so you could give yourself a reason for how it’s making you feel… this one’s like that. The bad guy is a simple, unfortunate mistake that has the strength to potentially ruin something so beautiful. Over and over again.

What’s it about? An English student nearing the end of her student Visa in the U.S. unwittingly falls for an American classmate. It. is. BEAUTIFUL. Their “falling in love” moments – WOW!! Not in your face obvious, but so delicately handled, you just know. You feel it. You’re smiling and in love with them. And when it’s time for her to go home, (not forever, just to satisfy the Visa obligations), she can’t bear to leave him. And they spend two extra months in bliss. But at some point, she must return to England, even if for just a few days. And the emotional roller coaster doesn’t stop from there.

Life (and love and at a distance). It interferes with their attempts at keeping the relationship intact. But they are so in looooooove!!! How can you not root for them, right? Sounds like it might have the potential for sweet and fluffy?

Don’t be fooled. This is NOT. Gorgeous, and heartbreaking (and in many more ways then you might expect).

I rarely watch movies these days, because I’d rather be reading, but am thrilled my husband brought it back from Red Box for $1!! He said it sounded like all of those girly-books we read. HA! Well, he was spot-on for a certain style of book I might enjoy. It had a bit of a Megan Hart feel to it (just in terms of a love story that is grittier than some of the fun stuff I read). This one magnifies an unavoidable reality, that is so often glossed over in other films. Now I’m not saying it’s *like* her books, just in terms of the grittier realities of life, love and choices.

There was one scene… at the airport. Oh. *clutching my chest*. Too much. Agonizing.

Heart is still in my throat. I did EVERYTHING possible to not cry. Does it end well? Ah ah ah. I wish I could tell you, but I’m not gonna say. Again. If you decide to watch it, just be prepared. If you’ve watched it, feel free to email me so we can discuss!

Some loved it. Some are picking it apart. To me, I liked it simply because it moved me. I could see it. I could understand it for what it simply was. I felt it from all sides explored. It is what it is.

I just…

It affected me that much. I had to tell you.

Marie Force – The Fatal Series Reading Order

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About book #1:

Washington, D.C., Metro Police Detective Sergeant Sam Holland needs a big win to salvage her career–and her confidence–after a disastrous investigation. The perfect opportunity arises when Senator John O’Connor is found brutally murdered in his bed, and Sam is assigned to the case. Matters get complicated when Sam has to team up with Nick Cappuano, O’Connor’s friend and chief of staff…and the man Sam had a memorable one-night stand with years earlier. Their sexual chemistry still sizzles, and Sam has to fight to stay focused on the case. Sleeping with a material witness is another mistake she can’t afford–especially when the bodies keep piling up.

       

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