Amanda Ashby's Zombie Blog Party

http://amandaashby.blogspot.com/

This is the place to go for a way cool zombie party with lots of prizes and hilarious moments. I'm telling you, you don't want to miss out!

Angels' Blood

Supernatural Creature?

I was searching for supernatural creatures when I found the Auk, a bird extinct since approximately the 1840s,

They were hunted for their meat, but because of their large size and the sounds they make, they were believed to be witches.

There's an interesting little story about them at

http://www.shanmonster.com/witch/familiar/greatauk.html

Gothicool Site of the Day

Black Hemlock Poison Ring
Mircalla Bracelet

Aracnathea Lace Choker

So, this site is based in New Zealand and it would probably cost a mint to get them to ship to the United States, but look what I found! I think I'm in love.

You can see them at:

http://www.thornapple.co.nz/

Thornapple Bootique, what a wicked cool name!

How about a stay at Nora Roberts' B & B

I just saw on Susanna Carr's blog that Nora Roberts has opened a bed and breakfast inn in Boonsboro, Maryland. Could this be another reason to hate her? Just kidding......she's just so darn successful that it hurts. LOL

Check out the article here:
http://www.usatoday.com/life/books/news/2009-02-11-nora-roberts_N.htm

Lots of Winners

Winner of Valentine's Contest #3

is commenter #8

tigger9

Winner of Valentine's Contest #4

is commenter #6

Gail

Winner of Valentine's Contest #5

is commenter #1

CrystalGB

Winner of Valentine's Contest #6

is commenter #11

Debby

Congratulations to all of you!

Please contact me at deidre_durance@hotmail.com with your mailing addresses by next Monday, February 23rd.

Blue Diablo

Check out the prizes on Ann's blog!!!

http://www.annaguirre.com/archives/2009/02/10/blue-diablo-blowout/

The Book Binge is giving away 5 copies of Karen Rose's Kill For Me!!!

Hurry over to The Book Binge to try your luck at one of five copies of Kill For Me by Karen Rose!

No really, hurry! Contest ends Friday, February 13th.

http://thebookbinge.com/search?updated-max=2009-02-09T14%3A00%3A00-08%3A00&max-results=4

Winner of Valentine's Contest #2

and the winner is

.............

JeanP

Congratulations!

Please email me at deidre_durance@hotmail.com with your mailing address.

Valentine's Contest #6

Want to win the movie Wild at Heart, a candle covered in hearts, Time for Two Romantic Classics CD & some Ferrero chocolates?

Tell me the most romantic movie you've ever seen to be entered.

Contest ends February 15th at 11:59 p.m. eastern time.

Valentine's Contest #5

I have an Avon cosmetic bag covered in hearts, a rose photo album, a Flowers mini calendar and some Russell Stover chocolates with a sweet little bear to giveaway.

To be entered, tell me your favorite romantic song.

Contest ends February 15th at 11:59 p.m. eastern time.

Valentine's Contest #4

Want to win a lovely heart photo frame, flower clip bookmarks and some Ghirardelli mixed chocolates?

Tell me what your favorite candy is for Valentine's Day or otherwise to be entered.

Contest ends February 15th at 11:59 p.m. eastern time.

Valentine's Contest #3

Want to win a romantic Islands calendar, Avon Sensual Moments Bubble Bath, a cute sequined heart that you can poke into a plant or decorate with and of course, some chocolate in the form of Dove Rich Dark Chocolates.

Tell me your most favorite romantic place, whether it be a vacation spot, local hang-out or whatever in order to be entered.

Contest ends February 15th at 11:59 p.m. eastern time.

Winner of Valentine's Day Contest #1

The winner is...............

purplg8r

Congratulations, you won a copy of Faery Special Romances by Jacquie Rogers!

Check your email.

Free Lora Leigh Short Story: Nighthawk

Sign up for it here:

http://us.macmillan.com/AuthorExtras.aspx?AuthorKey=3081622&m_type=4&m_contentid=10229#cmscontent

Valentine's Day Contest #2

I have a bath gift set to giveaway. I should have taken a picture, but I'm so lazy about picture-taking. Anyhoo, if you'd like to win, tell me the worst Valentine's present that you ever got.

Ends February 10th 11:59 p.m. eastern time.

Look!!! I added a picture. LOL

Anti-Valentines Day Contest at Breezing Through

http://breezingthroughbooks.blogspot.com/

Check out this contest where you could win three way-cool books!

What have you got to lose?

Movie Review: The Secret Life of Bees

The Secret Life of Bees (2008)
Starring: Queen Latifah, Sophie Okonedo, Dakota Fanning
Director: Gina Prince-Bythewood
Rating: PG-13
http://www.amazon.com/Secret-Life-Bees-Queen-Latifah/dp/B001NLJ3NU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1233847974&sr=1-1

I had read the book for this previously and the movie follows it pretty closely.

Set in South Carolina during the 60s
Dakota Fanning plays Lily, a fourteen year-old girl who must live with the fact that she killed her mother at the age of four. Her relationship with her father, T. Ray, played by Paul Bettany is never a great one. Her only true friend is a black woman who works for her father, Rosaleen, played by Jennifer Hudson. When Rosaleen goes to town one day to register to vote, she is beaten by local white men. She is carried to a hospital where Lily sneaks her out. With nowhere else to go, Lily has a few mementos to help her find out about her mother's life and one of them is a label from Black Madonna Honey. She and Rosaleen travel to meet the makers of the honey, three black women with months for names. Queen Latifah plays August, the main honey maker, Alicia Keys is June, and Sophie Okonedo is May, a not-quite right and emotional young woman who must visit a "Wailing Wall" in her back yard when she gets too upset to do anything else.
Lily makes up a story about them traveling to her aunt and needing a place to stay and a job to get the traveling money. August takes them in and Lily becomes her apprentice beekeeper while Rosaleen helps May in the kitchen. They soon become accustomed to their new lives. Lily makes friends with Zach, a young black male who also works for August. Eventually, their new happy lives are disrupted by a tragedy, which is followed by the loss of one of the sisters. Afterwards, Lily feels she must hone up to her true reason for searching out the owners of Black Madonna Honey and she learns more about her mother. Meanwhile, her father has been searching for her and finally figures out where she is. He confronts her at the house and demands that she come home with him. The remaining sisters ask him to allow her to stay and he ends up storming out, leaving her in their care, at the only place she has ever felt at home.

This is an endearing story that is heartwarming and at the same time makes you take a second look at the past and how far we've come as a nation.

I highly recommend this movie as well as the book to anyone wanting a good true-to-life drama about family, friends and the power of hope.

Book Review: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and Other Tales of the Jazz Age

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (Coyote Canyon Press Classics) (Paperback)

by F. Scott Fitzgerald

108 pages

http://www.amazon.com/Curious-Benjamin-Button-Coyote-Classics/dp/0979660777/ref=pd_bbs_sr_10?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1233846117&sr=8-10

This actually contains several four of Fitzgerald's short stories and takes practically no time to read. It's refreshing to read about a by-gone era sometimes and the language is understandable which isn't always the case with classics.

The first story is The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, which of course was made into a motion picture and starring Brad Pitt.

The story starts out telling us about Benjamin's father, who is a prominent citizen and is waiting for the birth of his first child. When Benjamin is born, he is an old man and the hospital is more than ready to get rid of him. Things get quite comical as his father is forced to buy him a going home outfit, but can't shop in the newborn section. The story progresses with Benjamin's father insisting on treating him like a child which makes for several hilarious moments. One is of Benjamin getting along rather nicely with his grandfather while smoking cigars. Benjamin later serves in the military and goes to college. As time goes by, Benjamin begins to get younger and eventually marries a lovely and popular woman, but he tires of her rather quickly when she ages and he only gets younger. They end up parting ways and Benjamin returns to his "childhood" home. When he is very young looking, he finally gets to go to grade school. The story begins to fade as he becomes very babyish and doesn't remember things. I'll leave the actual ending for you to read as this was a very enjoyable story. I was reading this in the car while waiting to pick up my son from school and was actually laughing out loud. I read some of the funny parts to my six year old daughter who just had to giggle too.

Bernice Bobs Her Hair

Bernice is a pretty though un-popular and boring girl who is staying with her popular cousin. She goes to social events with her cousin, where young men begrudgingly dance with her. After a while, she becomes concerned and asks her cousin for help. She helps her with her clothing and advises her on appropriate conversation. Bernice begins to tease others with the thought that she just may bob her hair and would anyone like to be present at the barber shop when she does so. This goes along for a while and Bernice's cousin begins to get a bit jealous of the attention that Bernice is getting. While talking with others, the cousin says that Bernice actually has no intention of getting her hair bobbed. This pushes Bernice to either do just that or admit to not being serious about the deed. Everyone follows Bernice to the barber shop to see her get her hair bobbed. Unfortunately, the new do is unflattering, but Bernice is now committed to it. She feels it is time to go home and while her cousin apologizes for pushing her to get the bob, Bernice is not satisfied, so after packing her things, she does one last thing before leaving her cousin's house. I'll let you read the story to find out.

The Jelly-Bean

This is the story of a ne-er do well who has a lot to learn about the world.

Dalyrimple Goes Wrong

The story of a military hero who returns home to celebrations but soon realizes that the glory fades. He must find a job and make a living. He is un-satisfied with the job and turns to a life of crime for excitement. The ending is kind of a surprise as Dalyrimple's aspirations become political.

In conclusion, this was a nice short read that I recommend to pretty much anyone and there are several belly laughs to be had, which is always nice.

New Winner for Shiloh Walker's Hunting the Hunter

..............is lastnerve!

Congratulations!

Please contact me at deidre_durance @ hotmail.com

Brenda Williamson Research Links

I was entering the Samhellion Swag Hunt when I stumbled upon this list of research links at Brenda Williamson's site. Looks like some interesting ones. Head over and check them out at

http://www.brendawilliamson.com/research.htm

Oh, and if you want the link to the Swag Hunt, here it is...

http://www.thesamhellion.com/swag.htm

Valentine's Day Contest #1

Would you like to win an autographed copy of Faery Special Romances by Jacquie Rogers? Well, of course you would. How, you ask? Simply comment on this post telling me what you hope to get for Valentine's Day. Good luck! This contest will end February 8th at 11:59 p.m. eastern time.

Winner of Scarpetta

Commenter #16 is the winner!

That's you Stacie!

Please send me your mailing info at deidre_durance@hotmail.com