Summer Movies and more...

The weather has not been good where I live this summer. It’s been cool with a lot of foggy and damp days. I’ve still managed to find pockets of time to get out and enjoy the sunshine when it does show.

And when it’s rainy, I enjoy the movies. I’ve seen some great ones this summer. Here are a few of them: 

1. The Lion King—Amazing remake.

2. Hobbs and Shaw—So much fun and action. 

3. Yesterday—A quieter movie. Great music and an overall wonderful story. 

4. Spiderman: Far From Home—It’s everything you want and expect from a Spiderman movie. 

5. Aladdin—Even better than I anticipated. I loved it. 

6. Rocketman—Biopic of Elton John. Unflinching and honest. And great music. 

7. The Secret Life of Pets 2—A great family movie. 

8. Shaft—Three generations of Shaft men. Definitely fun and filled with action. 







If you love space mercenaries, you’ll love the Marks Mercenaries. These brothers are tough and focused. Their goal—finding their sister who was abducted years ago.

The first four books in the series have been released—Rescuing Rory, Unexpected Angel, Liberating Lacey, and Salvaging Abby.

Here’s a tease from Liberating Lacey, book 3.

Teaser: 

“What happened this afternoon? Did security find you after?”

He was stunned by her genuine distress. No one, other than his brothers, had ever shown the tiniest bit of concern over his well-being. Because of his physical size and level-headedness, even his parents had stopped worrying about him by the time he was twelve, assuming he could take care of himself. 

Letting his blaster hang by its shoulder strap, he cupped her face in his hands. “I’m fine.” He kept his voice low, barely a whisper. The last thing he wanted was to be discovered with Lacey. “You?”

She’d taken the bigger risk. 

She shrugged. “They’re used to me being odd, so there was no problem.” There was an underlying thread of acceptance, as well as an echo of old hurt in her words. 

He forced himself to ignore it. It was time to get down to business.
But he, the man who never lost focus during a mission, got distracted by a pair of seeking green eyes, a pert nose, and a set of lush lips. 

Silently cursing himself a fool, he leaned down and pressed his mouth against hers. After this afternoon, he expected her to push him away, maybe even slap him. Hell, she could call for security if she wanted. 

That cooled his ardor. But before he could pull back, Lacey went up on her toes and kissed him back. She was a space siren, an apparition brought on by too many months in deep space. If he weren’t careful, she’d lure him to his death. 

But what a way to go.

Liberating Lacey 
Marks Mercenaries, Book 3 

Garth Marks and his brothers are space mercenaries and traders. Their life’s mission is to find their younger sister, who was kidnapped ten years before. Their search has led them to Eden, a planet that is home to a cult-like group. 

Lacey Freshlan wants to get away from Eden, and the strangers who have come here might be her ticket out. Garth is willing to use the sizzling attraction between them to get information from her, but he won’t agree to take her with him. As much as he’s drawn to her, Garth won’t risk the safety of his family. 

When Lacey foils a plot to poison them, Garth takes her with them when they flee. But they are not free yet. Betrayal and lies lead to a battle not only for their safety but also for their hearts.


Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07TW5VSFR/ Evernight Publishing: https://www.evernightpublishing.com/liberating-lacey-by-n-j-walters/ Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/946620 Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/liberating-lacey-n-j-walters/1132291334 Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/liberating-lacey-5

N.J. Walters is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author who has always been a voracious reader, and now she spends her days writing novels of her own. Vampires, werewolves, dragons, time-travelers, seductive handymen, and next-door neighbors with smoldering good looks—all vie for her attention. It’s a tough life, but someone’s got to live it.


 
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Summer Movie Picks

I love going to the movies. I especially like going to the afternoon matinees, which tend to be less crowded. Thankfully my job allows me to do that.

I’ve already been to some of the big movies—Deadpool 2, Avengers: Infinity Wars, and Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, but there are more movies yet to come.

Here are 5 of the movies I’m looking forward to seeing during July and August.

Ant-Man and the Wasp. I love a good action movie and Marvel knows how to do it right. I figure this will be lots of action and fun.

Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again! Love me some Abba songs. I mean, what’s not to love? It should be fun with lots of great music.








Mission: Impossible – Fallout. I’ve seen the rest of them so I’ll see this one. The stunts scenes are always great.

Christopher Robin. I love Winnie the Pooh and this story looks to be wonderful. I can’t wait to see Pooh, Piglet, Eeyore, and Tigger.








The Meg. It’s got Jason Statham. It’s got a big shark. I’m there. LOL

And if you’re looking for something to read, check out the Dalakis Passion Boxed Set, which contains the first three books in the series for the low price of $4.99.  

The first three books in the sizzling Dalakis Passion vampire romance series, from New York Times and USA Today bestselling author N. J. Walters!

 

Harker’s Journey

From the first moment Johanna Harker read Bram Stoker’s Dracula, her life changed forever. The book unleashed an obsession with vampires that was all the more compelling for the intensely erotic dreams that filled her nights. It wasn’t long before she was consumed with thoughts of the dark creature who returned to ravish her in her dreams again and again . . .

 

Lucian’s Delight

For years Delight Deveraux suffered from a recurring nightmare of being savagely attacked and assaulted, until the night a mysterious stranger appears in her dream to rescue her. When the same scene plays itself out in real life just days later, with the same mesmerizing dream man coming to her rescue, Delight suddenly finds herself swirling in a haze of passion and confusion, between what’s real and what’s not. But Lucian Dalakis is real, and he intends not just to save her but to bind her to himself for all time . . .

 

Stefan’s Salvation

Laurel Rose McCaffey never minded being branded an outsider, even when it meant carving out a solitary life for herself in the wooded hills of North Carolina. Now resort developers want to take her land, and vicious locals who stand to benefit from the deal have begun making threats. When a dark stranger enters her life, first as a protector, then as a lover, Laurel Rose is both fascinated and frightened by his mysterious power and all-consuming sensuality . . .

 

BUY LINKS:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Dalakis-Passion-Boxed-Set-Salvation-ebook/dp/B07FK4T6M6/

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/877398
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1129074034
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/dalakis-passion-boxed-set-books-1-3

 

N.J. Walters is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author who has always been a voracious reader, and now she spends her days writing novels of her own. Vampires, werewolves, dragons, time-travelers, seductive handymen, and next-door neighbors with smoldering good looks—all vie for her attention. It’s a tough life, but someone’s got to live it.

               

Visit me at:

Website: http://www.njwalters.com
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Mid-Winter Entertainment

It’s mid-winter, a time when Christmas is far behind us and spring feels as though it’s never going to get here. I know I find this time of year the hardest. It’s cold, it’s snowy, and I spend too much time huddle inside.

It’s a wonderful time of years to go to movies, which I do. I love to take myself out to the theatre, usually to the afternoon showing as there aren’t as many people around, and settle in and enjoy being taken away for a couple of hours. I tend to sit the third row back from the front. Yes, I’m a creature of habit. I also never bother with snacks, as I usually take myself out for lunch before I see the movie since the theatre is in the local mall.

Lately, I’ve seen several fantastic movies.

The 15:17 to Paris, a movie about three Americans who discover a terrorist plot aboard a train while in France. It’s a true story, but what makes it even more interesting is that the three men actually play themselves in the movie. It’s a reminder that we are not defined by our failures and that ordinary people can do extraordinary things.

The Shape of Water highlights the strange and beautiful relationship between a lonely, mute janitor and an amphibious creature behind held in captivity. It’s set at a top secret research facility in the 1960s. While there are some gratuitous nude scenes at the beginning, the love story is beautiful and the storyline makes you consider the definition of monsters, and that it takes more than a surface appearance to be one. It really is what’s on the inside that matters.

Black Panther is the latest movie from Marvel and lives up to the hype. T’Challa returns home to take his rightful place as King of Wakanda, but secrets from the past and threats from the present collide to place not only himself but also his country in danger. This movie is visually stunning, has a complex storyline, and the women are FIERCE!

While I love going to the movies, the mid-winter is also a wonderful time to read. And if you’re looking for a book, Wolf in her Soul is on sale for a very limited time for only 99-cents. If you haven’t checked it out yet, now might be the perfect time.

 

Wolf in her Soul

Salvation Pack, Book 8

Detective Reece Gallagher has spent the last decade working as a cop in Chicago so he can search for her—the red-haired woman who haunts his dreams. He’s just about ready to give up and go home to Salvation, North Carolina, when he finally finds her. But she’s the assault victim on a case he’s working on, and there’s a full-blooded werewolf who wants her dead. He needs to keep her safe and convince her she’s his mate.

                            
Hannah Burdette has a secret she’s never told anyone. But there is someone who knows who—or rather, what—she is. There’s a stalker after her who plans to rid the world of her “impure” blood. When the cop she meets turns out to be a werewolf and claims she doesn’t have to be alone anymore, she’s wary. But where better to hide from a bloodthirsty hunter than in the middle of North Carolina with the security of a pack surrounding her?

 

Buy Links:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075DFB2QN/

Entangled Publishing: https://entangledpublishing.com/wolf-in-her-soul.html
B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/wolf-in-her-soul-nj-walters/1125587752?ean=9781640630819
iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/wolf-in-her-soul/id1279288595
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/wolf-in-her-soul-1

 

N.J. Walters is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author who has always been a voracious reader, and now she spends her days writing novels of her own. Vampires, werewolves, dragons, time-travelers, seductive handymen, and next-door neighbors with smoldering good looks—all vie for her attention. It’s a tough life, but someone’s got to live it.

               

Visit me at:

Website: http://www.njwalters.com

Blog: http://www.njwalters.blogspot.com
Newsletter Group: https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/awakeningdesires/info
Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/N.J.WaltersAuthor
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MY TOP 10 ROM-COMS

I'm a sucker for romantic comedies, and while I've tried to coerce the boy into getting in touch with his feminine side by watching some with me, alas, his 15-year-old self says, "Uh, no thanks. I'm going to watch anime on my phone." 

That's okay. I've seen these rom-coms so many times, I feel like I'm in them. Behold, my top 10!


10. Pretty Woman

      If you can get over the whole Cinderella hooker thing and forget the fact that most prostitutes on Hollywood Blvd. wind up dead from an overdose in a back alley somewhere, this is an adorable movie. Why? Because Julia Roberts is freaking adorable in it. Her charm is undeniable. And even though no one watching will ever believe Ms. Roberts is hooker material, she and Richard Gere have great chemistry together.  

9. 50 First Dates

    Many people cannot stomach Adam Sandler films because most of them are, well, dumb, but this one is actually quite endearing. I love Drew Barrymore, and she brings a lot of heart to this role as someone who replays the same day over and over again. The ending always makes me cry, further reinforcing my belief that every woman deserves a man who loves her that much, despite the obstacles. 

8. Crazy, Stupid Love

    A surprisingly insightful film about marriage and relationships, and believing the grass is always greener...This was my first time seeing Emma Stone in anything, and I now have an official fangirl crush on her because she's so damn cute in this. Ryan Gosling pulls off the whole Casanova player thing without being a douchebag, but I gotta say, even if he had been a big ole D-bag, it wouldn't have mattered once he takes off his shirt. Yes, he's that yummy. Meow. 


7. Moonstruck

    I have a special place in my heart for this one, probably because I grew up in an Italian family so I can relate to many of the elements in this movie, and also because they filmed the bakery scenes a block from my childhood home, so that was pretty exciting. Cher is feisty in this one; she does the best slap across the face out of anyone. And anyone who has been married for more than 20 years will appreciate the rocky-patch realism of Cher's parents, the ever talented Olympia Dukakis and Vincent Gardenia. 

6. Love Actually

    You either love it or hate it. People argue it's not a Christmas movie, but I watch it every year during Christmas. There's a storyline for everyone, with a great cast of characters, so unless your heart is made of stone (in which case, Die Hard may be more your speed), I can almost guarantee you'll be singing "All I Want for Christmas Is You" for 2 entire weeks after. If nothing else, watching it for Bill Nighy's cheekiness alone makes it worth it.

5. Hitch

    Kevin James as a leading man? I know, I know, but he pulls it off with a lot of help from Will Smith, who excels in the art of smooth-talking the ladies. And even though supermodels who are thrown into movies usually bomb heavily, Amber Valletta manages to convey a nerdy charm that makes it a bit more believable that she could ever fall for a bumbling idiot like James. 

4. The Proposal

    Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds. Enough said.

3. You've Got Mail

     This movie captures that delicate, still somewhat innocent period right before the explosion of the digital age, when you had to wait to get home before you could check your email. Ooooh, the anticipation was positively delicious, and Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks convey it well. Unfortunately, it accurately depicts the downfall of small mom and pop businesses due to being swallowed up by huge corporate entities (an inevitable phenomenon that makes me cry), but if you focus on this enemies-to-friends budding romance, it'll take you back to a kinder, gentler time.    

2. Dirty Dancing

    Where do I start with this one? Bad boy/good girl is one of my favorite tropes and no one does it better than Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey. The dancing, the bodies, the music, the heat between these two...make for one hot film. 

1. When Harry Met Sally

    I've probably seen this movie a thousand times and still, it never gets old. Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal are masters of timing. The dialogue is fast, tight, and so spot on, and director Rob Reiner does a fabulous job with the 10-year + time span. The unlikeliest of couples ultimately become the couple you cannot imagine apart, or coupled with anyone else in this friends to lovers story. There is still no better Profession of Love speech than this one by Crystal at the end. Sigh. Swoon.

What are some of your favorites?

Tiffany N. York wishes she lived every day in a romantic comedy, preferably with either of the two Ryans (Reynolds or Gosling), or both. To learn about her two romantic comedies, The Accidental Cougar and The Meatball Mistress, visit her website at tiffanynyorkauthor.com 

  

Happy Day after Turkey Day and Black Friday Day! From the Decadent Divas

Hope everyone had an AWESOME Turkey Day and is enjoying Black Friday HOPEFULLY off from work and relaxing with friends and family!

Do any of you guys do the whole Black Friday thing??

It's so not my idea of a fun time so I'll be laying on the couch watching movies all day!! 

Plus all my Christmas shopping is already done. SCORE!!!

Mwah!

Decadently Yours,
Jennifer Kacey

Jennifer Kacey is a writer, mother, and business owner living with her miniman in Texas. She sings in the shower, plays piano in her dreams, and has to have a different color of nail polish every week. The best advice she’s ever been given? Find the real you and never settle for anything less.

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Have you seen Ant-Man yet? No? Why the hell not?

Seriously? What are you waiting for?

The big question that had been asked prior to the release of Ant-Man was how was it going to fit into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Since the-powers-that-be at MCU failed (in my opinion) to make the connection between worlds with every movie after the first Avengers, I wondered about that too.

My fears of disappointment were settled from the very first line of dialogue. “Stark!”

Turns out Michael Douglas's character, Dr. Hank Pym, worked for shield. Bam! Just like that, we are in the MCU. But the connections didn't stop there. With Ant-Man, the creators took those few seconds to show where the movie fits into the universe. And they did it simply and beautifully. I won't give away any spoilers. It’s more fun if you discover those gems on your own.

What I also loved about Ant-Man, besides the adorable Paul Rudd and his hysterical Guardians of the Galaxy-like crew members, were the fight scenes. I swear, it seems as if every superhero movie must destroy at least a good percentage of the planet. There are only so many scenes of mass destruction I can take. I don't know if the possibilities presented with having characters that are smaller to scale than the average human inspired the filmmakers, or if they just put forth that little bit of energy into providing something new, but we had awesome fight scenes that went beyond  the spectacle of exploding buildings. From a battle on a toy train to the inside of the briefcase (Yes, the inside of a briefcase!)  it was fantastic. And my eyes didn't grow tired by trying to separate shrapnel from story telling. J

But don’t take my word about the greatness of this move. Go see Ant-Man. And stay until after the credits roll. Yes, I screamed and my fists shot into the air victoriously. 

Until next time y'all!

Anna- The Super Diva

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to the next Sprawling A book!

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Lazy Sunday- Movie Time!

The heat wave continues in the northwest, and instead of working on my next  project, my girls and I spent the day broadening their classic movie knowledge. In other words, it was too hot to think, so we watched movies all day. Hey, it's Seattle. We don't do air conditioning up here. :)

Over the last few years, I've been introducing my girls to the movies I loved as a kid, and as an adult too. Today's offerings were Return to Me with David Duchovny and Minnie Driver. I cry at least three times. Father of the Bride parts one and two, and Teen Wolf. A few weekends ago it was That Thing You Do and Mrs. Doubtfire, and before that was True Lies. Still makes me laugh. Oh, and there was Footloose, While You Were Sleeping, Sleepless in Seattle, Notting Hill, and Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.

It's fun watching them enjoy my favorite movies from when I was their age, especially when technology comes into play. "Why didn't they call them on their cell phone?" Is a question I hear often. I also like to watch them work out the plot and conflicts as the movie plays out. Squid, my oldest, is really good at guessing what is going to happen next.

Since the Chicklets are on the younger side, I have to wait a bit longer to share my favorite move (besides The Avengers) which is Four Weddings and a Funeral. And I realized Squid is about the same age I was when I first saw Dirty Dancing, which is a frightening thought. Still debating when is the best time to share that movie, but Patrick Swayze is so dreamy. I may have to watch that one by myself.

Tomorrow I'll be back to grindstone and rewriting everything I had written for the next installment in the Elite Metal series, but for now I'm trying to talk Squid out of watching Teen Wolf Too. Yeah, there are lots of other movies I'd rather return to than that one.

Stay cool y'all!
Anna the Super Diva

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The Flu Season is Here! How Will You Survive?

According to the news we are experiencing the worst flu season ever. And yes, I too have succumbed to the ickiness. What strikes me as funny is this is the first year I ever received a flu shot and I still became sick. :)

So this last Thursday I stayed home and wrote. And wrote, and wrote and wrote and wrote. Hey, I was on a deadline.

But usually when I'm not feeling so great, what I like to do is plug in a favorite movie. By favorite I'm talking about a movie I know every line to. A movie I know so well, that when it's on broadcast television, and they edit out parts, I get pissed. With a movie I can give my brain and eyes a rest and just relax in the tranquility of the familiar.

So in honor of the flu season, I present my list of go-to movies to help you get past the crud. These are movies that make me laugh, (but not too hard because you don't want to start a coughing fit) and won't make you cry too much, because really, you already have enough snot to deal with.

In no particular order:

Four Weddings and a Funeral- I love this movie so much I saw it in the theaters six time. I even named one of my children after a character. (No, I won't tell you which)

While You Were Sleeping- I love Peter's family. And Jack!

The Avengers- Seriously? Do I even need to tell you why?

The Goonies- Goonies never say die!

Overboard- It's a hell of a day at sea sir. (I have no idea why I like this movie so much)

Footloose- Let's dance!

Sleepless in Seattle- WWMFEO

Groundhog Day- Let's move here.

Ever After- Dougray Scott as the prince! And Angelica Houston as the wicked stepmother. Awesome.

Never Been Kissed- Who wouldn't want Mr. Coulson as a teacher?!


There is my short list. Really, I could go on and on.

So for all of you sneezing and hacking like me, I wish you well.

Until- achoo- next time!

Anna- The Super Diva

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Now on sale for $2.99!

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Just Say No to Christmas Crack- Hallmark Channel

The following is a public service announcement.

Every year my holiday scheduled is packed with parties, shopping trips and scrubbing the house before the family comes over. And that’s not including fitting in time to write as well. Yet every year I find myself powerless in resisting the holiday time-suck that is the Christmas movie season on the Hallmark and Lifetime channels.

I don’t know how it happens. One minute I’m wrapping presents and then WHAM! I’m over an hour into the latest syrupy-sweet Cameron Mathison spectacle. It’s crazy, and I feel as if I must warn you of this phenomenon and how it grips you in its sparkly, jolly claws.

Now many will make the argument that these movies are formulaic. Why watch if you already know what’s going to happen? To which I say, “Duh!” That’s why we like them. We know the hero or heroine will meet someone who challenges the way they see the world, they’ll have to overcome an obstacle, a misunderstanding of some kind will occur, but in the end all will work out well because these people will realize they are stronger together than they are apart. Sounds familiar? It should. But we as consumers want the emotional ride with the safety net of knowing there will be a happily ever after. We want the pretty and the ho-ho-ho, and the sad and the happy. And want it over and over again.

This year one of the movies that snagged me mid-yuletiding was The Road to Christmas with Clark Gregg and Jennifer Grey. The movie had potential, but they made Grey’s character so unlikable I kept thinking she was Hydra. And then there was the Nine Lives of Christmas. Three words- Brandon Routh, Firefighter. J

Paul or Cody? As if there's a doubt.

But the one movie I rant about all of the time is The Christmas Card. Why? Because they think it's even a possibility that Faith will choose Paul over Cody.

Really!? Really?!? Hmm, whiny, selfish, milk-toast Paul or sweet, hard-working, dreamy Cody? No contest! And every time that sappy little town sucks me in, I want to scream at the screen for Faith to jump on that motorcycle, ride into the sunset, then ride that man into the ground. I also want Ed Asner’s house.

And do you know who else’s house I want? Candace Cameron Bure’s in Christmas Under Wraps, and Josh Hopkin’s  in 12 Men of Christmas. Yes, I do love a well-constructed log cabin, and they have the best ones in these Christmas movies.

So take heed my friends. If you have anything, and I mean any tiny thing you wish to accomplish this month, stay away from the Hallmark and Lifetime Channels.  But… if you do happen to get pulled into the red and green twinkle light abyss, tell me which movie is your favorite.

Till next time!

Anna- The Super Diva

Website- http://annaalexander.net/ 

Now on sale for $2.99!

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