Back from Vacation

My vacation was fantastic!  I had so much fun!  We went to the M&M store, the Cocoa Cola store, the Aquarium in Mandalay Bay, AND I got to see some White Tigers!  (I was thinking of Ren and Kishan from the Tigers Curse series the entire time!)  Take a look!

Ren 1

Ren 2

Ren 2 behind the waterfall

Kishan (Sadly this black tiger is only a statue)

See!  It was awesome!  I really wish Ren and Kishan had transformed for me but I think they were afraid of all the witnesses.  But it was still fun to stop by and say hi to them!  (And if you haven't read the Tigers Curse series and have no idea what I am talking about please CLICK HERE immediately!)

Oh yes! And while I was visiting Ren and Kishan, I got to see this! 

Totally awesome right?!?!?!

So after seeing Ren and Kishan I got to walk through hotels and see some fun stuff including this awesome guy on the ceiling! 

Look at the awesome dragon!  Seriously, I want one! Or two. . . 

AND let me just say, The Venetian is my FAVORITE hotel in Las Vegas!  Look at this beautiful awesomeness! 

I was standing at the top of a waterfall inside the hotel when I took this picture.  A beautiful pond right in front of me and a mask inside a garden down further!

Amd so, Why was I in the Venetian?  Well because I went to see The Phantom of the Opera, of course!

That's right! I  got to go see The Phantom of the Opera before it closes in Vegas in September!  How was it?  Absolutely fantastic!  I LOVED IT! And I cannot wait to go see it on Broadway next year!

This is my 'Phantom' shirt! 




This is a mask I got while in The Venetian/Palazzo!

AND this is a Stuffed Dragon my wonderful Brother (in law) helped me win when we went to Circus Circus! 

Yep, totally one of the best vacations ever! 

Vacation time!

So I'm pretty sure you all know by now that I am a HUGE 'The Phantom of the Opera' fan. . . .

So this shouldn't surprise you, but I am going to Las Vegas today (Friday) and won't be back until Monday. And. . . I get to see 'The Phantom of the Opera' live for the first time ever!  Ahhhh I CAN'T WAIT!  

Anyway,  I will be posting lots of pictures when I get back (I'm buying a couple dragons while I'm there as well) and I will share my wonderful experiences when I get back!  

Soooo. . . Have a good weekend, read lots of awesome books and I will post next week when I get back! 

The Hobbit~ A Review

If you've never heard of The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings series, you've been living in a Hobbit hole! 

The Hobbit- Goodreads blurb:

In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit. Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole, filled with the ends of worms and an oozy smell, nor yet a dry, bare, sandy hole with nothing in it to sit down on or to eat: it was a hobbit-hole, and that means comfort.Written for J.R.R. Tolkien’s own children, The Hobbit met with instant critical acclaim when it was first published in 1937. Now recognized as a timeless classic, this introduction to the hobbit Bilbo Baggins, the wizard Gandalf, Gollum, and the spectacular world of Middle-earth recounts of the adventures of a reluctant hero, a powerful and dangerous ring, and the cruel dragon Smaug the Magnificent. The text in this 372-page paperback edition is based on that first published in Great Britain by Collins Modern Classics (1998), and includes a note on the text by Douglas A. Anderson (2001). Unforgettable!

My Thoughts: 

When I tried to pick a book to do a review for this week I had a hard time deciding.  I've read so many good books recently and I wasn't sure which one I would write about this week.  And then I picked up The Hobbit.  

I've already read it as well as the Lord of the Rings series but I just felt like re-reading it again.  And it has been so long since I last read them that I had forgotten so much about them!  Like how J.R.R Tolkien wrote the books!  I forgot what it felt like to read The Hobbit.  I forgot that it feels like the author is telling the story and it's not just another book.   I also discovered a lot of things that he put in the book that nowadays authors are told to NEVER put in a book.  

Things like, 

*Giving your characters the easy way out, 

*Repeating the same thing over and over and over

*Telling instead of Showing

I could point out a lot more mistakes but I will keep the list small.  

But setting aside all the mistakes I have found, I still give the book Five Musical Notes.  

The story is so intriguing, it's an easy read.  

I've heard from so many people that it is a complicated book to read and follow but I am reading it and I discovered that it really isn't that hard of a book to read! 

One thing I love about the book are all the songs.  When I saw the trailer for The Hobbit part 1: An Unexpected Journey I about cried with joy to see that they put the songs in the movie.  They wrote music for them and the songs will be sung!  

Also, have I mentioned how much I LOVE the actors they got to play in The Hobbit? 

(I think they found the PERFECT Bilbo Baggins)

Not sure?  Haven't seen the trailer?  Go Watch the Trailer!. . .Now! 

Another one of those "Real Life Experiences' vs 'Perfect Movie Moment'

Here is another one of those Movie moments that really didn't turn out like it should have.

  I was told that riding a motorcycle would be really fun.  And of course if you watch any movie where someone is riding a motorcycle, it totally looks awesome, like nothing can go wrong, your hair flies behind you, looking like you belong on the big screen. . . etc.

Yeah well on Friday (7-13-14) I had to ride with my brother on his motorcycle to work.  The ride to work was OK, I couldn't really see because I didn't have sun glasses and the wind was blowing in my face.  My nostrils filled with air and it kinda felt like I was drowning so I had to keep my mouth open so I could breathe.  Even with a helmet, my hair was flying everywhere and I'm pretty sure I made a lot of people laugh with the facial expressions the wind helped me make.

But this is not even the bad part yet.  No, no.  

You see, the ride home was HORRIBLE!  For the first half of the ride home, it was much like the ride to work.  But then we hit this wall of icy cold air and from there on out it gets bad.  Again, without glasses I was forced to close my eyes almost the entire time.  And this wouldn't be such a problem except I have to be able to lean when the driver leans so that we don't get into an accident.  And even if I could have seen, I still wouldn't have been able to lean because the wind was rocking me back and forth like I was a plastic bag.  

AND to top all of that off, I was soaking wet because it started raining on us.  And not only was it raining, but because we were on a motorcycle, the rain was BEATING us.  Hitting like tiny rocks.  They stung and were cold.  So I was being tossed about, freezing cold, soaking wet and being beaten by rain drops.  Yeah. . . what part of Big Screen Ready did the weather not understand?  

So again, Hollywood has failed me and let's just say, I never want to ride a motorcycle again.  

The only good thing that came out of this, is I can now realistically write about what it feels like to ride a motorcycle.  So if I ever have a character who rides a motorcycle, I will be able to perfectly describe what it feels like. 

Why I love Loki/ Tom Hiddleston- *Avengers Spoilers*

Have you ever fallen in love with a villain?  I mean the ACTUAL villain of the show/book?  I don't mean you just sorta kinda like how the villain works or looks or what he says. . .etc.  I mean, HAVE YOU EVER FALLEN IN LOVE WITH A VILLAIN?  Like obsessed over a villain?

Well I have, and I am going to tell you why.  Loki- Thor's brother is a true, dark hearted villain.  He tries to kill the Avengers, he hates his brother (who he disowns as his brother) and he tries to take over the world.

So why do I love him?

Reason #1:  He has class.  He isn't some bum off the street who thinks he can just take over.  He actually has a plan.  And he truly believes in himself.  (Most heroes don't have that quality.)

Reason #2:  He knows what he is doing.  He doesn't just walk in and start shooting people.  He doesn't just kill everyone in sight.  He has got a plan.  In the opening scene for Avengers, you see him kill some people but he carefully selects three people and takes control of them because he knows they will be useful!

Reason #3:  He's got a killer smile.  Yes, I'm serious.  When he smiles you know two things. A. He's evil and B. He thinks he is about to win.   (And Tom Hiddleston has a gorgeous smile.)

Reason #3:  Some of the things he says is just hilarious!  Oh yeah, and he has some awesome facial expressions.   Like uh. . . when the Hulk pounds him into the floor?  Yeah I about peed cause I was laughing so hard.  (Did you know he actually moans in that seen?  I didn't hear it the first 4 times I saw the movie because everyone was laughing so hard.)

Reason #4:   He gets the job done. During one of the fight scenes between Loki and Thor, they couldn't get it to look right while filming so Tom just told Chris to hit him.  For real.  There was no way a real hit could look fake and they needed to finish the scene.  So, Chris hit him.  (Yeah Tom said he was sore after that.)

Reason #6:  He is good looking and an incredible actor!  Yes I know, most people think I am crazy.  Everyone argues about their favorite Avenger and who is the best looking and on and on and on..  My family thinks I am crazy because I said that Loki was the best looking guy in the movie.  But, it's true!  He is.

But if you asked me who my favorite Avenger is, my answer is Captain America.  (See, I'm not totally crazy!  I still like the good guys!)

Oh and my favorite scene with Loki?  The part in Germany.  I love how he walks down the steps totally full of himself, confident.  I love how he just flips over his scepter like it's another day at work, and hits the guy upside the head with it.   (I don't like the whole hitting part but the way he does it is just amazing).

And I love when he has everyone kneeling before him and he says "In the end, you will always kneel before me." and the old man stands up and says "Not to men like you." and Loki says "There are no men like me."  and the old man says "There are always men like you."

Just in that small scene you see that Loki believes he has everything and that no one is his equal.

So why do I love Loki?  Because I love a great villain!  Without an interesting villain,  there is no reason to vote for the heroes.

Side Note:  Once a month starting now, I will be spot lighting a favorite villain.   Loki came first because Avengers is currently my favorite movie.  I've seen it in Theaters six times now.   Besides, hardly anyone realizes that I am a comic nerd.   Like, as in I know all about the original stories and how they all connect and the purple dude in the end of the Avengers movie?  His name is Thanos.  (Most don't know that.)

One more thing:  Did you know that if you are an author you are a Thor as well?  AuThor!!  See?!?! Authors are heroes who wear Mother's drapes.  

LOOK, LOOK, LOOK!

Yes, I know today is book review day.  but how could I not share this???

Do you know what book this is???

The Secret Empire by Paul Genesse~ (Book three in the Iron Dragon Series)

Do you know who's mentioned in the acknowledgments of this book??

Looky, looky, looky!  (Yes, that is a real word).  It's me!!!!!

To learn more about this amazing book/series and its wonderful author, CLICK HERE! 

And to read my review of the book and see why my name is in the acknowledgement, 

CLICK HERE!  

Battle of the Hero's and Villains!

Most people watch movies and read books and immediately pick out who is the Villain and who is the Hero.  Who is good and who is bad.  Right vs Wrong.  Beautiful vs Ugly.  I could go on but it doesn't matter how I word it, the meaning is the same.   So. . . what if we were wrong? 

 What if the person we deem evil, is really the good guy?  

I'm going to use certain movies as examples (they are easier than books to reference). 

Movie #1: The Phantom of the Opera:

*Spoilers from the movie*

Good:	Bad:
Raoul	The Phantom

The saddest thing about this movie, is the fact that most people don't even realize the Phantom of the Opera (or Opera Ghost) has an actual name.  (And I don't mean just in the movie)

I have only met three people who knew the Phantom has a name- It's Erik.  

Right off, he is deemed the bad guy but how can one say that without knowing who he is?  Erik wasn't born evil.  He wasn't born a murderer.  He was taunted, tortured and beaten because of his looks.  And the only way he was able to free himself was by taking away the life of the man who held him prisoner like an animal.  

I'm not saying that was his best choice or the right choice, but it was the choice he made and despite that choice one girl still helped him.  She could see the pain he was going through.  Now understanding a little bit about his past, do you still see him as an evil phantom out to kill everyone?  

Well maybe so but let's go a little deeper.  Are you aware that he didn't really know what he was feeling?  He thought it was Love and so he felt hurt when Christine didn't feel the same.  And Christine still cared about him, just not the same way.  What Erik felt was lust.  But the moment when she kisses him he realizes that what he did was wrong.  He begins to understand what he really felt and he knows that he cannot hold her prisoner because he truly understands what love is.  

And while Erik is going through this learning process and making mistakes and learning from them,  what is Raoul doing? "Protecting" Christine because he loves her.  But if you truly love someone, would you honestly use her as bait to capture someone you believe to be a monster?  

Would you tell everyone that he only way to end The Phantom of the Opera is to kill him because he is evil? Raoul knew what happened to Erik and yet he still deemed him a monster.  He never gave Erik a chance to change.  

So, truly is Erik/Phantom of the Opera/Opera Ghost the bad guy?  Is he truly Evil or has he made mistakes he doesn't know how to fix? 

Movie #2: Harry Potter Series

*Spoilers*

Good:	Bad:
Harry Potter	Severus Snape

I'm pretty sure by now everyone is aware that Professor Snape was never truly a bad guy.  But most people were upset when they believed that he was.  And most readers jumped right to the conclusion that he was evil.  Right from Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone.  Everyone believed that he put a hex on Harry's broom and he kept getting in their way.  When I read Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows I cried like no other while reading about who Snape really was.  What he did for Harry.  

And more tears were shed when I watched the movies!  

In this case, he truly was never a bad guy.  But he had to show everyone that he was so that he could keep Harry Protected.  And that is what makes it so sad and beautiful.  He gave away everything to make sure Harry Potter was able to destroy the man who killed the one person Snape loved.  And even through all of that, Snape cared for Harry.  He just couldn't tell him that.  

I was so mad at J.K Rowling for killing everyone throughout the Harry Potter series but when I read what really happened with Snape, I couldn't care about any of the other characters.  I didn't care who lived or died.  I wanted Snape back.  I wanted to turn back time and fix it.  Make everything alright again.  

Snape has truly become one of my favorite literary characters because of what he did.  (And Alan Rickman did an incredible job playing him).  Snape is my favorite. . .Always. 

Movie #3:   Avengers

*Lots and lots of Spoilers*

Good:	Bad:
Nick Fury, Avengers, Shield Agents	Loki

This movie is the opposite.  I'm not defending Loki (although he is my favorite villain ever. . . but we will discuss that later this week). Yep you guessed it,  I'm calling one of the mentioned above 'good guys' a bad guy.  Wanna guess which one?  

Nick Fury.  And no, I'm not really deeming him a villain but he is pretty evil.  Now, every  super hero has to make sacrifices and maybe do a little evil to make a lot of right happen.  But Nick Fury is ruthless and lied to all the Avengers just to make sure they would work together.  Yes, Phil died.  Yes, he died believing that the Avengers were the only ones who could stop Loki.  And Yes, he really did want Captain America to sign those vintage cards.  

But telling them that he had the cards in his pocket, AND wiping blood on them to make it convincing, Was. Just. Wrong.  You don't do that. You don't.  Yeah, yeah, yeah the Avengers needed the push.  They weren't getting along but did they really need to be lied to?  

Stooping so low as to "planting" cards (and putting blood on them) is something a villain would do.  That is something Loki would do. The good guys shouldn't do it to each other just because they can't get along.  

No, Nick Fury is not a villain.  But he can be pretty evil.  

So do you agree?  Disagree?  

They do this with a lot of cop shows.  NCIS, Numb3rs, NCIS LA, Unforgettable, Suits, White Collar, Psych, Monk,  CSI, Law and Order. . . etc 

They have "Guests" come on and pretend to be good guys and it turns out that they are the villain(s) and vica versa. . . They make you think one person is the villain and really they are the hero.  

So who is your hero? And who is the villain? 

10 points for Gryffindor. . . or whicever house you belong to.

A great big thank you to all those who participated in the Very Harry Potter Giveaway!  (Don't worry if you missed out, I will be doing another one around Christmas!) 

And a great big congratulations to our winners:

 The first prize winner (A Pair of Very Harry Earrings which you can see HERE) is

Adrienne McElwain!!

And the Second prize winner (A beautiful Harry Potter Bracelet, which you can also see HERE) is

Matt Ferrell!! 

Become~ A Review

Book Synopsis: 

It's never too late to choose . . .

Sixteen-year old Desolation Black wants nothing more than to stay in Hell where it’s cold and lonely and totally predictable. Instead, she’s sent back to Earth where she must face the evil she despises and the good she always feared.

When Desi is forced to embrace her inner demon, she assumes her choice has been made—that she has no hope of being anything other than what her father, Lucifer, has created her to be. What she doesn’t count on, is finding a reason to change—something she’s never had before—a friend.

My Review:

Ali Cross keeps you reading until the end.  I finished Become in just a few short hours, unable to put the book down.   The story starts out with a hopeless young girl, content with living in Hell forever.  It ends with a heart wrenching, tear jerking moment filled with  hope.  Desi is a believable character.  Well written and truly someone you can feel for.   And truly grows throughout the story.  

If you haven't read this story yet, don't worry.  It's never too late to choose to read it!  

Without a doubt

Oh yes, and did I mention that this book has a gorgeous cover?!?!?!?!

Want to learn more?  Come check out Ali Cross's amazing web site HERE! 

Back from camp and doing a Harry Potter Giveaway!

YAY! I'm back from Girls Camp!  Real showers, real food, and my very own real bed! No need to worry about Bug Spray or sun screen or waking up at 6am every morning.  No worrying about making sure everyone is doing their chores and getting up on time.  No stressing about having enough food for 45 people for four days!

Home Sweet Home, oh how I missed you!  And I missed all my blogging buddies! How are you all?  What's up?  (Oh how I love the internet). . . Don't get me wrong, Girls Camp is wonderful and I love it.  But some things are just hard living without.  

My wonderful Secret Sister gave me candy bars with Writing Quotes attached.  On the last day she gave me a beautiful hand decorated mug with a quote from one of my favorite books (Tigers Curse).   

Now, I do believe I promised a fun giveaway upon my return from camp. . . . So. . . we are gonna do a

Harry Potter

giveaway! 

Why? Because it sounds fun and I can!

The Prizes:

Winner #1 wins

this beautiful Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows earring set! 

Winner #2 wins 

this beautiful Harry Potter book series bracelet! 

This giveaway is going to be super fun and easy! 

How to enter:

Leave your favorite quote from Harry Potter in the comments. 

Do not forget to include your e-mail in your comment so I can contact you if you win.  

Winner will have 48 hours to respond to claim the prize.  If I haven't heard back by then, I will choose another winner. 

(Winner will be chosen at random). 

US only. Sorry.  

This giveaway begins on July 2nd ends on July 5th at midnight.  Winners will be announced on July 6th.