Shout Out To My Amigas!

I'd like to dedicate this post to my wonderful friend/book soulmate Isalys!


So, Isalys and I have this "thing" that we do on Sundays. We spend the ENTIRE afternoon roaming around B&N and we browse EVERY section. First, right when we walk through the doors, we stop... and we sniff the air. Why you ask? Because we sniff books!

We love how when we walk through those doors the smell of books just smacks us in the face. After sniffing the air like little love struck puppies, we'll walk (slightly skip) through the center aisles and browse the clearance section and check out the different tables scattered throughout the store to see what goodies they have for us this week. We literally stop at every table to browse EVERYTHING. After, we'll proceed down the aisles to our favorite little sections which include (but are not limited to) the European History section *sigh*, YA - Young Adult Section *double sigh*, and the Romance Section (Isa is totally into bodice ripper books right now so I'll throw in a *triple sigh* for her!). After we spend a few hours of doing this and we have enough books in our hands to make them start cramping, we'll head down to the cafe. We always order the same things... our favorite Black Tea and the brownie that we split :) We will then sit for a few more hours and flip through all the books we have.

I'm explaining all of this, for one, so you can get to know us, and two because last weekend I spotted a TOTALLY awesome book in the bargain section that we both fell in love with! It's called King and Queens by Richard Cavendish! Unfortunately there was only one left so I told Isa that she should get it, and she did :) Well guess what my wonderful friend did next?? She went to another B&N that was nearby and bought me the same book!!! Is that not awesome or what?! I was sooooo extremely happy and touched by that wonderful gesture that I couldn't contain it! I even called my mom to tell her! LOL!

So Anyhoo... I just thought I'd take the time to share this little tidbit with you all and let everyone know how cool my book soulmate is!

I'd like to thank Nely for "hooking us up" with a wonderful Chuck E Cheese package the other night for our friends birthday party!! Thanks My friend!

Here is a picture of my wonderful book:


I love my bookish girls!

Fresh Friday 07.24.09

Isalys's Choice:

Grilled Bruschetta Chicken

Prep Time: 5 min| Total Time: 29 min | Makes: 4 servings

What You Need:

4 small boneless skinless chicken breast halves (1 lb.)

1/4 cup KRAFT Sun-Dried Tomato Dressing, divided

1 tomato, finely chopped

1/2 cup KRAFT Shredded Low-Moisture Part-Skim Mozzarella Cheese

1/4 cup chopped fresh basil or 1 tsp. dried basil leaves

Make It!
PLACE large sheet of heavy-duty foil over half of grill grate; heat grill to medium heat. Meanwhile, place chicken in resealable plastic bag. Add 2 Tbsp. dressing; seal bag. Turn bag over several times to evenly coat chicken with dressing. Refrigerate 10 min. Remove chicken from bag; discard bag and dressing.

GRILL chicken on uncovered side of grill 6 min. Meanwhile, combine remaining dressing, tomatoes, cheese and basil.

TURN chicken over; place, cooked-side up, on foil on grill. Top with tomato mixture. Close lid. Grill 8 min. or until chicken is done (165ºF).

Vanessa's Choice:
Quick Double Chocolate Mousse

Prep Time: 15 min| Total Time: 5 min| Makes: 6 servings

What You Need:

1-1/2 cups cold fat-free milk, divided

2 squares BAKER'S Semi-Sweet Chocolate

1 pkg. (2.1 oz.) JELL-O Chocolate Fat Free Sugar Free Instant Pudding

2 cups thawed COOL WHIP FREE Whipped Topping, divided

1/2 cup fresh raspberries

Make It!

MICROWAVE 1 cup milk and chocolate squares in large microwaveable bowl on HIGH 2 min.; whisk until chocolate is melted. Add remaining milk and dry pudding mix; beat 2 min. Refrigerate 20 min.

WHISK in 1-1/2 cups COOL WHIP; spoon into 6 dessert dishes.

TOP with remaining COOL WHIP and berries.

♥Deeee-licious♥

Thursday's Thoughts 7.30.09...Earn extra giveaway points

While on yesterday's discussion topic of Vampires, we thought we'd make today's quiz about them too :)

1. Who was the Hungarian countess who killed young women to bathe in their blood, believing this would keep her eternally youthful?
2. This fictional character was frequently played by Bela Lugosi?
3. This vampire first appeared in Ann Rice's "Interview With the Vampire"?
4. This character appeared in the 1922 German silent film "Nosferatu, eine Symphonie des Grauens"?
5. This character was created in 1981 as a hostess for the horror movie program "Movie Macabre"?
6. This female vampire is the title character in the novelette by British writer Sheridan Le Fanu?
7. What historical figure did Bram Stoker base his character of Dracula upon?
8. In the movie "The Lost Boys" which character was the head vampire?
9. Which character in Poppy Z. Brite's "Lost Soul"' was not a vampire?
10. Who was the vampire in the 1960s' soap opera "Dark Shadows"?

Rules:
• All answers must be submitted via EMAIL only to
booksoulmates [at] gmail [dot] com.
Simply post a comment saying that your answers have been sent.
• Each question is worth 1 extra point for a potential maximum of 10 points.
• Each point is redeemable for an extra entry in the giveaways
(that's up to 10 extra entries)
• Everyone has until Wednesday, 8.12.09 to submit their answers for this quiz.

NOTE: Answers submitted to this quiz will be applied to entries for
Wicked Wednesday Giveaway 7/29 - 8/12

Wicked Wednesday Winners 07.29.09

Here are the winners for our July 15th giveaway :)

1. HouseMouse88
2. Miss Cindy
3. througthehaze
4. I Heart Book Gossip
5. Belinda M.




1. Jane (Janie1215) *New Winner*
2. Fallen Angel
3. Renee
4. Roddy Bride
5. Mariee




Blog Tour
1. Pam
2. Elaing8
3. HodgePodgeSPV
4. Vicki
5. Sharon54420

CONGRATULATIONS :)

All winners were chosen using random.org and all extra points earned were included. Everyone has already been contacted via email and we look forward to your reply with your name & mailing address (no PO Boxes please). Your prize will be shipping directly from the Publisher's office.

If for any reason, you did not receive our email and you see that you have won, then please feel free to just email us your contact info.

♥Don't forget to check out our current blog tours♥
Light of Burning Shadows
Summer House

♥ And our latest giveaways♥
The Moon Looked Down (7/22 - 8/5)
The Lost Dog and Blue Star (7/29 - 8/12)

Wicked Wednesday Giveaway 7.29.09

Wicked Wednesday Giveaway!
(Yes, it's our favorite day of the week too! Woot Woot!)
July 29 - August 12

Current Giveaways
The Moon Looked Down by Dorothy Garlock

♥ 1st Book Up for Grabs ♥
The Lost Dog by Michelle de Kretser

Synopsis:
Tom Loxley, an Indian-Australian professor, is less concerned with finishing his book on Henry James than with finding his dog, who is lost in the Australian bush.
Joining his daily hunt is Nelly Zhang, an artist whose husband disappeared mysteriously years before Tom met her. Although Nelly helps him search for his beloved pet, Tom isn't sure if he should trust this new friend.
Tom has preoccupations other than his book and Nelly and his missing dog, mainly concerning his mother, who is suffering from the various indignities of old age. He is constantly drawn from the cerebral to the primitive--by his mother's infirmities, as well as by Nelly's attractions. THE LOST DOG makes brilliant use of the conventions of suspense and atmosphere while leading us to see anew the ever-present conflicts between our bodies and our minds, the present and the past, the primal and the civilized.

♥ 5 Copies Available ♥

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

♥ 2nd Book Up for Grabs ♥
Blue Star by Tony Earley

Synopsis:
Seven years ago, readers everywhere fell in love with Jim Glass, the precocious ten-year-old at the heart of Tony Earley's bestseller Jim the Boy. Now a teenager, Jim returns in another tender and wise story of young love on the eve of World War Two. Jim Glass has fallen in love, as only a teenage boy can fall in love, with his classmate Chrissie Steppe. Unfortunately, Chrissie is Bucky Bucklaw's girlfriend, and Bucky has joined the Navy on the eve of war. Jim vows to win Chrissie's heart in his absence, but the war makes high school less than a safe haven, and gives a young man's emotions a grown man's gravity. With the uncanny insight into the well-intentioned heart that made Jim the Boy a favorite novel for thousands of readers, Tony Earley has fashioned another nuanced and unforgettable portrait of America in another time--making it again even realer than our own day. This is a timeless and moving story of discovery, loss and growing up, proving why Tony Earley's writing "radiates with a largeness of heart" (Esquire).

♥ 5 Copies Available ♥

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

{Special Note: Please Read}
Dear Friends,
If you're one of the lucky winners of any giveaway we've hosted and you have not received an email from us, please feel free to just send us your addresses via email to booksoulmates[at]gmail[dot]com. We know you'll be understanding when we say that we haven't gotten around to emailing everyone! We love hosting the giveaways and feel, being the book lovers that we are, that we're sharing something special with you all. As you all know, besides maintaining this fabulous blog, we're either going to school, work, with our families, or reading :) We DO try to get to everyone as fast as possible but sometimes life just gets in the way. So we'd really appreciate it if you'd be kind enough to just forward your addresses to us.
Thanks for understanding!
Your Book ♥ Soulmates :)

Rules:
• To enter the giveaway you must leave a comment. Please leave your email address otherwise we will not be able to get in touch with the winners.
• Books will be delivered directly from the publishers so the giveaways are only available for U.S. and Canada residents. No P.O. boxes please.
• Winners will be drawn Wednesday, August 12 at Noon and posted August 13. The winners will have until Sunday, August 16 to contact us via email with their mailing addresses. If the winner has not contacted us by the due date, we will be randomly choose another winner as this is only fair to the other participants.
• Alternate winners will be drawn by Sunday at Noon.
• Winners will be chosen using random.org!

Ways to earn extra entries:
+1 for commenting on the giveaway post
+1 for being a follower of our blog
(Please indicate this in your comment.)
+1 for following us on Twitter
(Please indicate this in your comment and provide us w/ your Twitter name.)
+1 for comments on other posts throughout the week
(You may reference which other posts you've commented on.)

♥ Feel free to contact us via email at booksoulmates[at]gmail[dot]com if
you have any questions ♥

Good Luck!

Blog Tour: Summer House by Nancy Thayer

Synopsis:
From the New York Times bestselling author of Moon Shell Beach—a moving new novel about an unexpectedly magical summer for three generations of women.

At thirty, Charlotte Wheelwright remains the dreamer she’s always been. But when she begins an organic garden on a portion of her grandmother’s land, Charlotte learns to plant her feet in solid ground and begins to build a new life.

More often than not, ninety-year-old Nona Wheelwright contentedly spends her time reminiscing about days gone by. But with her family’s annual reunion and financial meeting looming, Nona must give up her days of quiet solitude to soothe her easily riled up family.

For decades Charlotte’s mother, Helen, who married into the illustrious Wheelwright family, has been pressured to adhere to their way of life. But when, during the course of the family’s annual summer retreat, she discovers her husband’s betrayal, Helen wonders if she sacrificed her dreams for the wrong reasons.

Artfully written and set on the glorious island of Nantucket, Nancy Thayer’s Summer House is a vibrant and stirring novel about family, love, and daily choices that affect entire lives.

Author Site

Review:
"Summer House" is the story of a family told from the viewpoints of three different women (all members of the family of course). Nona is the 90 year old grandmother and matriarch of the family, Helen is her 50-something daughter-in-law and Charlotte is her 30-year old granddaughter (Helen's daughter). The Wheelwright family gathers at their summer house in Nantucket, where Charlotte is currently residing with Nona, to have a "family meeting" where they discuss various issues and hopefully squeeze in a little vacation time.

Throughout the chapters, the narrative protagonist switches between these three women letting the reader get a little insight into each of their lives & concerns.

Charlotte is focused on her pride & joy -- her organic garden. She started the garden on a portion of her grandmother's land a few years before and turned it into a successful business. She is the "dreamer" of the family, but she's realizing that investing so much time & energy into her garden has made her much more grounded than she ever was.

Helen probably carries the biggest burden of the family. She has been molded into being the perfect wife and Wheelwright. However, the price for being the perfect wife -- giving up her own dreams & aspirations. This was a summer of secrets revealed for her. She learns of her husband's infidelities which makes her question the decisions she's made over the course of her life. Such as, has she been a good wife? a good mother? Charlotte is still unmarried with no prospects for a husband or children. Oliver, the middle child, is living in San Fran with his partner Owen and her youngest is an alcoholic and drug addict who makes an appearance at the summer house with a new pregnant wife in tow.

Nona is getting up in years and spends much of her time reminiscing of her past in the 1940's. She lost her beloved husband, Herb several years before which left her as the head of the family. And even though she is far from her youthful days, the family still respects her. With the family gathered at her home, she has given up her peaceful daily routine and has accepted that she might have to be the one to reign in her crazy family.

No family is perfect or without its share of drama and this book is about how each member of the family affects another and how to deal with their issues. With the story written from the viewpoint of three women all in different phases of their lives, it illustrates how age affects perspective...the same event has three different sides!

This is a perfect summer read :)

Vampires Suck (Online Article)

Hi all!
Here's an online article our friend Brooke shared with us on facebook.

It made us wonder what you all think about the "New" kinds of vampires out there.
Does anyone care that the new vamps aren't the old-school blood sucking kind, but rather they are the caring, over-protective boyfriends?

Does it bother anyone that these new vamps are wayyyy too "emo" sometimes? They seem to have adopted a "woe is me" kind of attitude rather than the "I'm a creature of the night" mentality.

In addition, has anyone considered how many different species of vamps are out there now? Think about it...from fangs to fangless, from glittering in the sun to incapacitated by sunlight, from distinct markings & tattoos to blending in with humans and even walking along side them. It seems every writer has developed their own version of what a vampire is. Most authors today don't necessarily seem compelled to follow Bram Stoker's recipe of the ever-seductive predator of the night.

Vampires have always fascinated and captured the imagination of people. They were elusive and mysterious and now it's almost as if they walk amongst us. Many folks out there have dedicated more than just reading or movie time, but even lifestyles to them. How do you feel that these "new kinds" of vamps are affecting their image?

Overall, what do you all think about all the types of vamps in general - from Bram Stoker's "Dracula" and Anne Rice to the Sookie Stackhouse's "Bill and Eric" and Stephenie Meyer's "Twilight".

Which type of vamp do YOU prefer?

(Thanks Brooke!!)
♥♥♥♥♥♥

Vamps Suck
Actually, they don't. And that's the problem
By Grady Hendrix

Last week at Comic-Con, the big story wasn't comic books—it was vampires. Some 2,000 young women set up a tent city outside the San Diego Convention Center on Tuesday, sleeping rough so that they could attend the Thursday panel on New Moon, the upcoming sequel to vampire blockbuster Twilight.

It's just another sign of the massive popularity of vampires. Yet, like many people who acquire mega-celebrity, the vampire has developed an eating disorder. Read the books. Watch the movies. You'll see vampires who manage nightclubs, build computer databases, work as private investigators, go to prep school, lobby Congress, chat with humans, live near humans, have sex with humans, and pine over humans, but the one thing you won't see them do is suck the blood of humans.

No, bloodsucking is so yesterday. It's so 1994. It's so Anne Rice. Today's vampire is a good listener. He cares about our love lives and our problems, which is strange because we're supposed to be his food. Humans just assume that we are the center of the universe and so, faced with a literary creation that should, by all rights, just conk us over the head and suck us down like Slurpees, we've decided that we're too fascinating to be eaten. And so the modern vampire stalks, seduces, sleeps with, and cries over us. They don't eat us.

The original Dracula in Dracula loved to drink blood. He has "white sharp teeth, behind the full lips of the blood-dripping mouth." He forces Mina Harker to his bosom, where "[h]er white nightdress was smeared with blood, and a thin stream trickled down [his] bare chest," and he compels her to drink his blood, like a "child forcing a kitten's nose into a saucer of milk. ..." This bodily fluid fetishism was par for the course for the next 79 years, until Anne Rice's Interview With the Vampire, when Ms. Rice started to tweak up the Gothness. In her books, vampires were better known for being immortal than for sucking blood, which makes their fascination with humans even more mysterious: After living among us for hundreds of years, haven't they heard all of our jokes by now?

At least Anne Rice's vampires were still primarily bloodsuckers. The first sign that something was awry came with the introduction of Angel in Buffy the Vampire Slayer. A prime example of the brooding, crying-on-the-inside, leather-jacketed emo boy of the '90s (see also: Dylan McKay, Beverly Hills, 90210; James Hurley, Twin Peaks), Angel was a vampire who had a soul. He fell in love with Buffy, teared up a lot, and believed in random acts of kindness. Angel, in short, sucked. Or, rather, he didn't suck, which was the problem. When he did suck, he took limited amounts of blood from consenting human women, or sucked blood against his will, or sucked rat blood.

Rat blood.

Think about it. Faced with the impact of his diet on humans, Angel accepts a yucky, cruelty-free substitute, then endlessly lectures other vampires about their moral failings because they don't do the same. He's not a vampire—he's a vegan.

But the ladies loved him, and he launched a sensitive-vampire industry. These days, you have Laurel K. Hamilton's Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter series, Charlaine Harris' Sookie Stackhouse novels (from which we derive True Blood), Richelle Mead's Vampire Academy books, and Leslie Esdaile Banks' Vampire Huntress Legends series featuring Damali Richards, a spoken-word artist who fights vampires, a detail which guarantees that I'm rooting for the vampires. But most damaging of all are Stephenie Meyer's Twilight books.

At least Angel, Anita Blake's vampires, Sookie Stackhouse, and most of the rest of them have a lot of sex. But Edward Cullen, immortal star of the Twilight books, does not have sex. Edward tells Bella, his human paramour, that they need to wait until they're married before doing the deed. In the meantime, he's fascinated by her, beguiled by her, he can't stay away from her—but he can't touch her. Instead, he lies next to her in bed and moons over her as she sleeps. Leaving aside the fact that he's a 90-year-old man, this is what stalkers do, not boyfriends.

Just as America's young men are being given deeply erroneous ideas about sex by what they watch on the Web, so, too, are America's young women receiving troubling misinformation about the male of the species from Twilight. These women are going to be shocked when the sensitive, emotionally available, poetry-writing boys of their dreams expect a bit more from a sleepover than dew-eyed gazes and chaste hugs. The young man, having been schooled in love online, will be expecting extreme bondage and a lesbian three-way.

The bigger problem here is that we're breeding sexually incompatible human beings, and vampires are to blame. I can see a time coming when the birth rate is going to precipitously decline. And what that means is that vampires are going to run out of food. But if Charlaine Harris, Laurel K. Hamilton, Stephenie Meyer, and all the others are right about the souls of their emo, Goth, velvet-wearing, crybaby vampire spawn, then maybe some kind of mass, Kurt Cobain-inspired, "You'll miss me when I'm gone," specieswide suicide is what vampires have been after all along.

Upcoming Release: House of Night's Tempted by P.C. Cast

Synopsis:
So…you’d think after banishing an immortal being and a fallen High Priestess, saving Stark’s life, biting Heath, getting a headache from Erik, and almost dying, Zoey Redbird would catch a break. Sadly, a break is not in the House of Night school forecast for the High Priestess in training and her gang.

Juggling three guys is anything but a stress reliever, especially when one of them is a sexy Warrior who is so into protecting Zoey that he can sense her emotions. Speaking of stress, the dark force lurking in the tunnels under the Tulsa Depot is spreading, and Zoey is beginning to believe Stevie Rae could be responsible for a lot more than a group of misfit red fledglings. Aphrodite’s visions warn Zoey to stay away from Kalona and his dark allure, but they also show that it is Zoey who has the power to stop the evil immortal.

Soon it becomes obvious that Zoey has no choice: if she doesn’t go to Kalona he will exact a fiery vengeance on those closest to her. Will Zoey have the courage to chance losing her life, her heart, and her soul? Find out in the next spectacular installment in the House of Night series, TEMPTED.

Websites:
House of Night
Tempted

Pre-order yours today from Amazon

Scheduled Release Date: October 27, 2009

That's only 90 days away =)

Blog Tour: Light of Burning Shadows by Chris Evans

Synopsis:
"They might be doomed, damned, and buggered for all eternity, but that didn't mean they couldn't sparkle like a diamond in the sun and grin like a skull in the moonlight on their way to oblivion."

Musket and cannon, bow and arrow, and magic and diplomacy vie for supremacy once again in this second epic fantasy adventure from acclaimed author Chris Evans. As the human-dominated Calahrian Empire struggles to maintain its hold on power in the face of armed rebellion from within, the Iron Elves' perilous quest to defeat the power-hungry elf witch, the Shadow Monarch, takes on greater urgency.

The Iron Elves, shunned by their own people for bearing the mark of the Shadow Monarch, and desperately wanting to forever erase this shame, became legendary for their prowess on the battlefield as the Calahrian Imperial Army's elite shock troops. But when their commanding officer, Konowa Swift Dragon, murdered the Viceroy of Elfkyna, he was exiled, and these brave elves were banished to a remote desert outpost, doomed and leaderless, their honor in tatters.

Recalled to duty to reform his regiment from the dregs of the Imperial Army, Konowa thwarted the plans of the Shadow Monarch at the Battle of Luuguth Jor -- ensuring that the fabled Red Star, a source of great natural energy, did not fall into Her hands. Now Konowa must cross storm-tossed seas to seek out the lost elves and the prophesied return of another Star somewhere in a desert wasteland roiling with mysterious power, infernos of swirling magic, and legends brought back to life in new and terrible ways. And the fate of every living creature will come to depend on a small band of ragged and desperate soldiers, whose very loyalty to the Empire they have sworn to serve is no longer certain. When death is but a temporary condition, a terrifying question arises: who is the true ally -- and fearsome enemy -- in a growing conflict that threatens all?

Chris Evans' Site: Iron Elves
Simon & Schuster - Chris Evans Author Page

You can also check out these tour participants:
Must Read Faster: http://mustreadfaster.blogspot.com/
The Epic Rat: http://epicrat.blogspot.com/
Drey’s Library: http://dreyslibrary.blogspot.com/
Carol’s Notebook: http://carolsnotebook.wordpress.com/
The Crotchety Old Fan: http://crotchetyoldfan.wordpress.com/
A Journey of Books: http://ajourneyofbooks.blogspot.com/
A Book Bloggers Diary: http://abookbloggersdiary.blogspot.com/
Horror & Fantasy Book Review: http://horrorandfantasybookreview.blogspot.com/
Booksie’s Blog: http://booksiesblog.blogspot.com/
Temple Library Reviews: http://templelibraryreviews.blogspot.com/
Fantasy Freak: http://fantastyfreak.blogspot.com/
The Mad Hatter’s Bookshelf & Review: http://booktionary.blogspot.com/
Pick of the Literate: http://bookrevues.blogspot.com/
Books Joseph Reads: http://booksjosephreads.blogspot.com/
Morbid Romantic: http://www.morbid-romantic.net/
Poisoned Rationality: http://lastexilewords.blogspot.com/

Tuesday's Teasers 07.28.09

Today's new releases:

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading and it asks us to...

• 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 Teaser Tuesday participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teasers!

This week, we're both reading the same book so we're going to provide two different quotes from the same novel.
Hope you guys don't mind too much

Here is Isalys's teaser for this week:
"In the meantime, she would have to keep her hands to herself and off Fielding. A task she knew would be as challenging as finding a way to rid herself of the curse."
~p. 120

Here is Vanessa's teaser for this week:
" 'Miss Worthington, if you're going to kiss me, you must do so with more passion than that.' He placed one hand beneath her chin. Absently, she realized that his other hand was kneading the back of her neck, but his mouth demanded most of her attention as it moved elegantly, seductively across her own. This was kissing..."
~p. 84 (and also on preview page)

Both quotes from "Seduce Me" by Robyn Hart.
Don't forget to check out our blog tour for this novel coming up
on Wednesday, August 5th.

Technical difficulties...

Good morning friends!

As you can see, we our currently experiencing technical difficulties with our page...and frankly, we have no idea why!

Our sidebar has inexplicably placed itself at the very bottom of the page. All the content is still visible and still the same, just not where it should be.

We are trying to figure out why it's doing this but it may very well be a problem with Blogger itself. In the meantime, if you guys wish to access something from our sidebar, just scroll on down!

Thanks :)
Book ♥ Soulmates

Fresh Friday 07.24.09

Vanessa's Choice:
Appetizer Pizza Breadsticks

Prep Time: 10 min| Total Time: 32 min| Makes: 16 servings

What You Need:
1 pkg. (1 lb. 7 oz.) DI GIORNO Pizza, Thin Crispy Crust Four Cheese
2 Tbsp. olive oil
1/3 cup KRAFT Grated Parmesan Cheese, divided
1/4 tsp. ground red pepper (cayenne)

Make It!
PREHEAT oven to 400ºF. Brush edges of pizza crust lightly with oil. Drizzle remaining oil evenly over pizza.

MIX 3 Tbsp. of the Parmesan cheese and the pepper; sprinkle evenly over pizza. Place pizza directly on center oven rack.

BAKE 20 to 22 min. or until edges are golden brown. Sprinkle with remaining Parmesan cheese. Cut pizza into quarters; cut each quarter into eight thin sticks. Serve as dippers with Taco Bell Home Originals Thick 'N Chunky Salsa, if desired.

Isalys's Choice:
Chocolate-Peanut Butter Candy Dessert (No Bake)

Prep Time: 15 min| Total Time: 3 hr 15 min| Makes: 12 servings

What You Need:

12 OREO Cookies, crushed

2 Tbsp. butter, melted

1/2 cup peanut butter

2 cups cold milk

2 pkg. (4-serving size each) JELL-O Chocolate Instant Pudding

2 cups thawed COOL WHIP Whipped Topping, divided

2 Tbsp. hot fudge ice cream topping

1/4 cup candy-coated peanut butter pieces

Make It!
MIX crushed cookies and butter; press firmly onto bottom of 8-inch square pan.

PLACE peanut butter in large bowl. Gradually add milk, stirring with wire whisk until well blended. Add dry pudding mixes. Beat 2 min. or until well blended. (Mixture will be thick.) Stir in 1 cup of the whipped topping. Spread onto prepared crust; top evenly with remaining 1 cup whipped topping.

REFRIGERATE 3 hours or until set. When ready to serve, microwave fudge topping as directed on package; drizzle over dessert. Sprinkle with candies. Store leftovers in refrigerator.

Thursday's Thoughts 7.23.09...Earn extra giveaway points

Today's quiz is about

Disney's Alice in Wonderland

1. What English childhood actress provided the voice of Alice?
2. While Alice is up in the tree, what lesson is her sister trying to get her to pay attention to?
3. In the flower garden, what is the Rose's child's name?
4. What was the Caterpillar's height?
5. By what name does the White Rabbit call Alice while she is passing by his house?
6. After the doormouse hears the word 'cat', what do the Mad Hatter and March Hare have to put on his nose to calm him down?
7. According to the song 'A World of My Own', how will cats and rabbits be dressed up?
8. In the very beginning of the movie, what does Alice, concealed in a bottle, have to float in?
9. The Cheshire Cat shows Alice a shortcut to the Queen of Hearts' castle. What did she have to go through?
10. After the Walrus and the Carpenter, the Tweedles tried to do another skit for Alice, but she left. Do you remember the name of this second skit?

Rules:
• All answers must be submitted via EMAIL only to
booksoulmates [at] gmail [dot] com.
Simply post a comment saying that your answers have been sent.
• Each question is worth 1 extra point for a potential maximum of 10 points.
• Each point is redeemable for an extra entry in the giveaways
(that's up to 10 extra entries)
• Everyone has until Wednesday, 8.5.09 to submit their answers for this quiz.

NOTE: Answers submitted to this quiz will be applied to entries for
Wicked Wednesday Giveaway 7.23.09

Here's the link to the trailer for Tim Burton's version due to
hit theaters on March 10, 2010.
You Tube

Wicked Wednesday Giveaway 7.22.09

Wicked Wednesday Giveaway

July 22 - August 5

Current Giveaways:
How To Score by Robin Wells
Tamed by a Laird by Amanda Scott

♥ The Moon Looked Down by Dorothy Garlock ♥
Author's Website

The new Americana romance from bestselling author Dorothy Garlock, this time set against the backdrop of WWII.

Sophie Heller's family immigrated from Germany to Victory, a small town in Illinois, before WWII began. Now that the war has affected the town, the townspeople discriminate against Sophie and her family. When a train derails, it is an accident but the Heller family is blamed. Coming to Sophie's rescue is a teacher from the high school, and despite their cultural differences, a romance starts to bloom.

♥ 5 Copies Available ♥

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

{Special Note: Please Read}
Dear Friends,
If you're one of the lucky winners of any giveaway we've hosted and you have not received an email from us, please feel free to just send us your addresses via email to booksoulmates[at]gmail[dot]com. We know you'll be understanding when we say that we haven't gotten around to emailing everyone! We love hosting the giveaways and feel, being the book lovers that we are, that we're sharing something special with you all. As you all know, besides maintaining this fabulous blog, we're either going to school, work, with our families, or reading :) We DO try to get to everyone as fast as possible but sometimes life just gets in the way. So we'd really appreciate it if you'd be kind enough to just forward your addresses to us.
Thanks for understanding!
Your Book ♥ Soulmates :)

Rules:
• To enter the giveaway you must leave a comment. Please leave your email address otherwise we will not be able to get in touch with the winners.
• Books will be delivered directly from the publishers so the giveaways are only available for U.S. and Canada residents. No P.O. boxes please.
• Winners will be drawn Wednesday, August 5 at Noon and posted August 6. The winners will have until Sunday, August 9 to contact us via email with their mailing addresses. If the winner has not contacted us by the due date, we will be randomly choose another winner as this is only fair to the other participants.
• Alternate winners will be drawn by Sunday at Noon.
• Winners will be chosen using random.org!

Ways to earn extra entries:
+1 for commenting on the giveaway post
+1 for being a follower of our blog
(Please indicate this in your comment.)
+1 for following us on Twitter
(Please indicate this in your comment and provide us w/ your Twitter name.)
+1 for comments on other posts throughout the week
(You may reference which other posts you've commented on.)

♥ Feel free to contact us via email at booksoulmates[at]gmail[dot]com if
you have any questions ♥

Good Luck!

Blog Tour: Ravens by George Dawes Green

The Boatwrights just won 318 million dollars in the Georgia State lottery. It's going to be the worst day of their lives.

When Shaw McBride and Romeo Zderko pull up at a convenience store off I-95 in Georgia, their only thought is to fix a leaky tire and be on their way again to Florida-away from their dull Ohio tech-support jobs. But this happens to be the store from which a 318,000,000 million dollar Jackpot ticket has just been sold -- and when a pretty clerk accidentally reveals to Shaw the identity of the winning family, he hatches a ferociously audacious scheme: He and Romeo will squeeze the family for half their prize.

That night, he visits the Boatwright home and takes the family hostage, while Romeo patrols the streets nearby, prepared to murder the Boatwrights' loved ones at any sign of resistance. At first, the family offers none. But Shaw's plot depends on maintaining constant fear-merciless, unfaltering terror-and soon, under the pressure, everyone's sanity begins to unravel . . .

At once frightening, comic, and suspenseful, RAVENS is a wholly original and utterly compelling novel from one of our most talented writers.

Author's Website
Audio Clip

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥
Giveaway July 22 - July 29

We have 3 Copies Available!
♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

{Special Note: Please Read}
Dear Friends,
If you're one of the lucky winners of any giveaway we've hosted and you have not received an email from us, please feel free to just send us your addresses via email to booksoulmates[at]gmail[dot]com. We know you'll be understanding when we say that we haven't gotten around to emailing everyone! We love hosting the giveaways and feel, being the book lovers that we are, that we're sharing something special with you all. As you all know, besides maintaining this fabulous blog, we're either going to school, work, with our families, or reading :) We DO try to get to everyone as fast as possible but sometimes life just gets in the way. So we'd really appreciate it if you'd be kind enough to just forward your addresses to us.
Thanks for understanding!
Your Book ♥ Soulmates :)

Rules:
• To enter the giveaway you must leave a comment. Please leave your email address otherwise we will not be able to get in touch with the winners.
• Books will be delivered directly from the publishers so the giveaways are only available for U.S. and Canada residents. No P.O. boxes please.
• Winners will be drawn Wednesday, July 29 at Noon and posted July 30. The winners will have until Sunday, August 2 to contact us via email with their mailing addresses. If the winner has not contacted us by the due date, we will be randomly choose another winner as this is only fair to the other participants.
• Alternate winners will be drawn by Sunday at Noon.
• Winners will be chosen using random.org!

Ways to earn extra entries:
+1 for commenting on the giveaway post
+1 for being a follower of our blog
(Please indicate this in your comment.)
+1 for following us on Twitter
(Please indicate this in your comment and provide us w/ your Twitter name.)
+1 for comments on other posts throughout the week
(You may reference which other posts you've commented on.)

♥ Feel free to contact us via email at booksoulmates[at]gmail[dot]com if
you have any questions ♥

Good Luck!

Participating Sites will be:
July 20
http://www.iheartmonster.com/
http://mustreadfaster.blogspot.com/
http://luanne-abookwormsworld.blogspot.com/
http://abookishmom.blogspot.com/
http://www.foreigncircuslibrary.blogspot.com/
http://booksandneedlepoint.blogspot.com
July 21
http://aseaofbooks.blogspot.com/
http://stephaniesbooks.blogspot.com/
http://www.thisbookforfree.com
http://proudbookworm.blogspot.com/
http://thetometraveller.blogspot.com/
July 22
http://www.reviewfromhere.com/
http://nevernotreading.blogspot.com/
http://www.frommipov.blogspot.com/
http://bellasnovella.com/
http://mindingspot.blogspot.com/
July 23
http://booksiesblog.blogspot.com/
http://dreyslibrary.blogspot.com/
http://memybookandthecouch.blogspot.com/
http://bridget3420.blogspot.com/
http://bookingmama.blogspot.com/
http://BookSoulmates.blogspot.com
http://www.bookwormygirl.blogspot.com/
Giveaway for this day: http://dreyslibrary.blogspot.com/
July 24
http://bookinwithbingo.blogspot.com/
http://bookrevues.blogspot.com/
http://www.myspace.com/darbyscloset
http://www.myfriendamysblog.com/
http://justjenniferreading.blogspot.com/
http://www.readingwithmonie.com/

Wicked Wednesday Winners!

Good afternoon ladies :)

The winners for the July 8th giveaway have been selected and here they are:

1. Etriv
2. Pam Duncan
3. Mishia
4. Nicole D.
5. JWX4





1. Sharon (sharr1226) *New Winner*
2. I Heart Book Gossip
3. Busy Bee
4. Sharon54220
5. Belinda M.






1. Lee
2. Texas Heartland
3. BookMagic418 *New Winner*
4. Mama Hill
5. HodgePodgeSPV

Blog Tour Winners:
1. Jane (janie1215)
2. Melissa
3. Kytaira
4. Roddy Bride
5. Couch Papaya

CONGRATULATIONS :)

All winners were chosen using random.org and all extra points earned were included. Everyone has been contacted via email and we look forward to your reply with your name & mailing address (no PO Boxes please). Your prize will be shipping directly from the Publisher's office.

If for any reason, you did not receive our email and you see that you have won, then please feel free to just email us your contact info.

Holy Hot Werewolf ♥

Good morning ladies!

Perez Hilton has published on his site a new promo pic of cutie Taylor Lautner as Jacob Black for New Moon. I must say that Taylor has been promoted from cutie to MAJOR hottie!!!

Check it out and try to keep the drooling to a minimum! LOL

He's just beautiful!!
**sigh**

Click here if you want to visit Perez's site.

'Atlas' may no longer be shrugging

The 37-year effort to bring "Atlas Shrugged" to the screen is finally gaining momentum.

Sort of.

Oscar winner Charlize Theron has been meeting during the past several months with Lionsgate and producers Howard and Karen Baldwin, who are developing the project's latest iteration, about starring as main character Dagny Taggart.

Theron has been eager to play the role but has been concerned that a feature would lose many of the nuances of the monster-sized novel. So the Rand adaptation would, under a plan she and producers discussed, be turned into a miniseries for Epix, the pay-cable network Lionsgate is forming with MGM and Viacom/Paramount.

The project, according to this plan, would be to make the mini one of the fledgling network’s programming linchpins. While insiders are not ruling out the possibility of releasing a condensed version to theaters, the main thrust would be the network, where the mini could be used to lure the book’s legion of fans to subscribe.

Theron, who recently signed with WME after years without an agent, has a history of embracing difficult roles. She took the role of a prostitute-turned-killer in “Monster,” which won her an Oscar. She’s also had parts in the sexual-harassment drama “North Country” and the upcoming apocalyptic tale “The Road.”

But her involvement remained uncertain at press time.

While those familiar with the discussions say she has been driving the development process, her reps say that she has recently come to a decision but has not yet informed the studio or producers. WME and longtime manager J.J. Harris told THR late Monday that Theron "is not moving forward with the project."

The uncertainty surrounding Theron's involvement continues a long tradition of murkiness for “Atlas Shrugged,” the project with more go-rounds than Ayn Rand’s book has pages.

Regarded as a difficult book to film, an “Atlas” project nonetheless has been tried by countless producers, dating back to an attempted effort with writer-producer Albert Ruddy in 1972 (he and Rand couldn't see eye-to-eye on creative issues).

Most recently, the Baldwins and Philip Anschutz tried at Crusader Entertainment and the Baldwins, who produced “Ray” and other well-regarded pics, took it with them when they split from Anschutz.

Angelina Jolie had been loosely attached to the material with the Baldwins but has a number of projects that could go first, and producers are keen to shoot “Atlas” next year. That’s in part because of the timeliness of the material but, more important, because an option with the Rand estate expires if principal photography does not begin in 2010.

With Theron's involvement, it could finally get a boost, especially since financiers also have come aboard; a high net-worth individual is said to find the themes resonant is said to be close to investing in the project. If Theron’s involvement falls through, Lionsgate and producers could bring on another lead, with several other well-known actresses expressing interest.

A 1,000-page novel filled with Rand’s ideas about the future of Western civilization, “Atlas” centers on Taggart, a railroad executive trying to keep her corporation competitive in a world she sees as hostile to innovation. Among its most famous passages is a 50-page speech from mysterious character John Galt, regarded as a veiled expression of Rand’s own ideas.

The book, which has sold tens of millions of copies since being published in 1957, has gained new traction in this era of Wall Street bailouts and corporate responsibility. Those opposed to Washington intervention have frequently cited it as a cautionary manifesto.

Producers own several drafts of the script adapting the difficult material, including one by “Braveheart” scribe Randall Wallace, which compressed the longer, more miniseries-friendly version by James Hart. It’s possible that several drafts could be synthesized to create the basis for a mini.

Although the miniseries idea is a new twist for Lionsgate, it has been considered before for “Atlas,” most recently as a development project a decade ago at TNT. Rand, who died in 1982, had favored television over film, thinking the medium would give her ideas more room to breathe.

Epix was created in part as an output pipeline for the films of the three studios but also is developing original programming. This year, it announced it was developing the pilot “Tough Trade,” a country music-set drama from “Weeds” creator Jenji Kohan.

Still, there are business obstacles for Epix, which has no carriage deals with cable or satellite operators. Some Wall Street analysts wonder how a network might be launched in a climate of consolidation — and one in which HBO, Starz and Showtime are competing for pay-cable subscribers.

But insiders hope the fact that there’s now another outlet for premium programming — and a climate favorable to prestige longform projects on the small screen — could ensure Hollywood finally is shrugging no more.

Maybe.

By Steven Zeitchik
http://www.riskybusinessblog.com/2009/07/with-charlize-atlas-is-no-longer-shrugging.html

Questions:
What do you all think?
Has anyone read Atlas Shrugged? (It's on my TBR list)