L.H. Nicole's Blog, page 2

2016 Fall YASH & A King Will Rise cover reveal!

Hi there! It's October 4th and that means today kicks off the Fall YA Scavenger Hunt! It's one of my favorite things of the year and I'm thrilled to be apart of it again.
My host page is over on my main site so be sure to click the link below to take part and get your chances to win some great books, and the biggest giveaway I've ever done! 1 lucky USA resident will win a prize package worth over $70 dollars including a custom made ring inspired by my LEGENDARY SAGA!
http://lhnicoleauthor.com/2016/10/04/2016-fall-yash-j-keller-ford/
Speaking of my Legendary Saga and the YASH I also means that the cover reveal for A KING WILL RISE!!!
I can't show it here because it's my exclusive content for the Hunt so you'll have to navigate your way through #TeamBlue to to find it! Or you can go to Goodreads and add A KING WILL RISE to your TBR list!

I love giving all my readers a chance at my giveaways so here is my big giveaway that you can enter multiple times :)
Head over to the hunt to find my content and learn about some really great books you can win :D
<3 always LHa Rafflecopter giveaway

I'm back!

No I didn't fall off the face of the earth, LOL!via GIPHYI have been taking after my new "boss" and using deep dark magic holes that transport me through my worlds at a moments notice. I'm finally deciding to pop my head out for a hot moment so I can check in and give you all some nice and anticipated news!
Book 4 of my LEGENDARY SAGA will be published before year end! There has been some shifting and changes that have had to happen, which is one of the reasons I have been so silent, but now they are all worked out and things are flowing rather nicely!
A KING WILL RISE cover reveal will be in early October, so be sure to stay tuned. It's my favorite cover yet and WOW :) I also have made it through the current round of edits which have been the hardest so far.
For A KING WILL RISE I'm planning several very special giveaways and contests with some unique, and cool prizes, that I've never done before. It's all very exciting and I can't wait to start sharing bits of the final book in Aliana's quest with the world!
I also want to update you all on some signings I will be appearing at in 2017!
Once again I will be at RT Convention in Atlanta, GA

I will also be singing in Roanoke, VA at the Roanoke Author Invasion! This one is a very cool event that I'm stoked to get to be apart of, not only because of the many amazing authors that are slated to attend, but because this is a book signing with authors that don't normally get all the attention in brick and mortar stores or on all the big book publishing/review sites. There are several authors that are attending that I am THRILLED I'll get the chance to meet, mostly because I love their books :) I hope that those who live in VA will take the time to come see me there!


It's funny, I was chatting with a few author friends a while ago and we were talking about reviews and the people who read our books. It occurred to me that I've never really taken the time to properly thank my readers and everyone who has taken the time to write a post a review or rate my books. Good or bad, I know doing those things takes time and I wanted to say thank you to everyone who has taken the time!
So many of us authors live and die by ratings and we as readers understand how important they are. For me personally I always read at least six or seven reviews on a book before I make a decision if I want to get it or not. If you have books that you've had feelings--again, good or bad---about, please take a moment to pop onto Amazon, B&N, Goodreads or any other book review sites you use and leave those ratings or reviews. You will have the gratitude of all the authors if you do :)

On the off chance that you have stumbled on my humble blog by accident I've got information on my books below :) And if you haven't already, get your copy of RELICS OF CAMELOT and get caught up before A KING WILL RISE!


LEGENDARY (LEGENDARY SAGA # 1)AMAZON ~ B&N ~ iTUNES ~ GOODREADS








CLAIMING EXCALIBUR (LEGENDARY SAGA # 2)AMAZON ~ B&N ~ iTUNES ~ GOODREADS





RELICS OF CAMELOT (LEGENDARY SAGA # 3)AMAZON ~ B&N ~ iTUNES ~ GOODREADS ~ KOBO




<3 always LH

RELEASE DAY RELICS OF CAMELOT

It's finally here!!!

RELICS OF CAMELOT is now live to the world and ready to pull you back into the Epic quest of King Arthur, Aliana, Lord Daggerhorne and the NEW Knights of the Round Table!! And so is a great giveaway with 2 people winning $20 gift cards and exclusive swag! (Enter at the end of this post!)

Relics of Camelot (Legendary Saga #3)by L.H. Nicole (Goodreads Author)Making a devil’s bargain with a Fae queen is a dangerous thing.
Thrown back to the golden days of Camelot, the Destined One needs to find the object that will lead her and the Knights of the Round Table to the Grail of Power. But Aliana must also figure out and complete a mystery task before she can return to her own time. The consequences of revealing Camelot’s future to King Arthur or any member of the Round Table family could be devastating. She is forced to keep secrets, feeling more alone than ever, even with the support of new friends and allies. With the unwelcome knowledge of their looming deaths, will she be able to resist the temptation to save the people she loves?
The attentions of Sir Galahad and King Arthur are a delightful yet confusing distraction. Her feelings for Arthur—even this version of him who doesn’t know her—continue to grow. The sparking sensation she’d felt whenever she touched Sir Galahad is mysteriously missing, but she can’t deny a continued connection with the protective knight.
Weapons powerful enough to destroy even Excalibur surface along with a shadowy figure that even seems to have influence over Mordrid. The time of the eclipse grows ever closer and everything Aliana thought she knew will once again be tossed into question again as she continues on her Legendary quest.
AMAZON: RELICS OF CAMELOTB&N: RELICS OF CAMELOTIBOOKS: RELICS OF CAMELOTKOBO: RELICS OF CAMELOTSimon and Schuster: RELICS OF CAMELOTEven better, in honor or RELICS's release we have put LEGENDARY & CLAIMING EXCALIBUR on sale!

LEGENDARY (LEGENDARY SAGA # 1)AMAZON ~ B&N ~ iTUNES ~ GOODREADS








CLAIMING EXCALIBUR (LEGENDARY SAGA # 2)AMAZON ~ B&N ~ iTUNES ~ GOODREADS





We all know I can't do a release without giving you a new teaser so here is one of my FAVORITE scenes from RELICS OF CAMELOT! It's an Arthur/Aliana moment too <3 <3


“Why have you wondered alone from the camp, Aliana?”Aliana whirled around, frightened by Arthur’s silent appearance, stumbling off balance.  Arthur’s hot hands gripped her waist, helping to steady her. Her own hands came up to rest on his hard chest. “You scared me.”“Good.” He frowned darkly. “You should not be off on your own. I told you I would only allow you’re here if you stayed by me or Merlin or Galahad.”Aliana’s cheeks heated. “I’m sorry, I just needed some space to shake off…everything.”His temper cooling, one of his hands came up to twist strands of her hair around his fingers. “Since I am here, is there any way I can help you?” His eyes burned, and Aliana felt her own insides heat to match the fiery intensity building between them. Her pounding heart tightened in her throat, her breath coming a little faster as desire for the king raced through her. Surprisingly, being wrapped in his arms was making the stress of the day fade away. “I don’t know. You holding me seems to be helping.”Tiny little tingling sensations brushed her skin. She hadn’t been this close to Arthur since her Arthur had kissed her on the beach. She couldn’t help her eyes dropping to his mouth quickly, remembering the way he’d kissed her, with such pent up passion. His summertime scent, slightly sweet and fresh like morning dew, surrounded her. A part of her healing heart ached for Arthur to kiss her again.
A low grumble came from Arthur’s chest. “You can’t look at me like that. I’m not strong enough to resist,” he moaned gruffly. Arthur leaned in slowly, his intense eyes searching hers for any sign of rejection. But she didn’t have the resistance to deny him.
There are many more goodies like this on my site L.H. Nicole Books just go to the Relics of Camelot extras page and you'll see a whole bunch of them, and not just for RELICS, but for LEGENDARY and CLAIMING EXCALIBUR too! 

Also this week is the Spring YA Scavenger hunt and I'm on Team Red! If you want to take part, and have dozens of chances to win books, gift cards, and so many other book prizes (over 100!!!) then check it out here: 2016 Spring YASH #TeamRed Find the author hosting me on the hunt and you'll get even more RELICS fun!

THANK YOU to all my readers and fans for making my first series such a wonderful one! I am truly grateful and blessed to have found such amazing readers. I hope you'll share my series with more readers because we all know word of mouth is the best way to find new and great books to fall in love with :)
<3 always LHa Rafflecopter giveaway

Spring Fun, Sale & RELICS OF CAMELOT teaser

Hey everyone!! March is almost done, which means Spring is here and bringing with it all the Spring craziness!



This year I've got a pretty packed schedule between my real world job and my writing world, just to make things really interesting. The biggest piece of Spring fun is the release of RELICS OF CAMELOT! We've all been waiting and waiting and it's finally here. You can pre-order it across all platforms but here are two to make life easier:

Amazon
iTunes

Making a devil’s bargain with a Fae queen is a dangerous thing.
Thrown back to the golden days of Camelot, the Destined One needs to find the object that will lead her and the Knights of the Round Table to the Grail of Power. But Aliana must also figure out and complete a mystery task before she can return to her own time. The consequences of revealing Camelot’s future to King Arthur or any member of the Round Table family could be devastating. She is forced to keep secrets, feeling more alone than ever, even with the support of new friends and allies. With the unwelcome knowledge of their looming deaths, will she be able to resist the temptation to save the people she loves?
The attentions of Sir Galahad and King Arthur are a delightful yet confusing distraction. Her feelings for Arthur—even this version of him who doesn’t know her—continue to grow. The sparking sensation she’d felt whenever she touched Sir Galahad is mysteriously missing, but she can’t deny a continued connection with the protective knight.
Weapons powerful enough to destroy even Excalibur surface along with a shadowy figure that even seems to have influence over Mordrid. The time of the eclipse grows ever closer and everything Aliana thought she knew will once again be tossed into question again as she continues on her Legendary quest. Goodreads
 But there's so much more to it all than just this! RT is in Vegas this year and I'll be joining 90 other YA authors throughout the week at panels, parties and so much more. I'll be at the Book signing on Saturday with copies of all of my books (hoping my publisher gets copies of RELICS there in time ;P).
As a treat, I convinced my publishers to put LEGENDARY and CLAIMING EXCALIBUR on sale from now until the end of RT! LEGENDARY is $0.99 and CLAIMING EXCALIBUR is $1.99, and yes this sale is across all platforms!!


Still there's more. Tonight, March 24th is the first showings of Batman vs. Superman, and me being the proud geek I am have tickets for the first showing at 6 PM here in DC! I promise there'll be no spoilers but all I can say is I am jumping out of my skin with excitement just wanting the day to be over so I can see this movie.



And I've got one last Spring goodie! The first YA Scavenger Hunt of 2016 starts March 29th (the same day RELICS OF CAMELOT releases) I am apart of #TeamRed and as my usual I'll be giving away extra prizes in addition to the main giveaways for each team on the hunt. Normally the hunts are only 72 hours, but this time, since we have 9 teams, the hunt will run from March 29th -April 3rd to give all you amazing readers time to really see what's on offer from so many great authors :)
And now that I've killed a little more time, I need to get back to kitchen life so I can get out of here to go see one of my top 3 most anticipated movies of 2016!
Wait...wait...one more thing before I go: A new RELICS OF CAMELOT teaser :)


“Are you excited for the games tomorrow, Aliana?”Aliana turned, her face almost colliding with Galahad’s wide chest, her heart beating in her ears. Her eyes looked up to meet his laughing blue ones. “You really must stop sneaking up on me, Galahad.”He smiled broadly. “It would seem I have a talent for finding you when you are lost in your thoughts.”Aliana’s stomach started to fill with butterflies. Before the very perceptive knight could read her she turned back around, leaning her elbows on the cold stone of the rampart. “Are you excited for the games?”He took a spot next to her, his arm brushed against hers as he mimicked her pose. “There are many things about these coming festivities that excite me.”Aliana glanced at him briefly as he looked down at the arenas.  “You mean you’re excited to prove you are the best of the knights of Camelot?”“Perhaps.” His body presses a little closer against hers. “There are few things that I enjoy more than facing a worthy opponent. And these games bring out the best in Camelot and the other kingdoms.”Aliana giggled lightly. He is such a guy!“You laugh at me?”“No.” She glanced at him. “Well, maybe. Part of me is afraid to ask what you enjoy more than beating on other warriors.”His grin widened. He turned his body so he was facing her, one arm leaning on the stone wall. “I enjoy being with those I hold most dear.” He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. Heat raced through her, but not the silver sparks that she had had always felt from his touch. Her ears and cheeks turn red. In movies and TV, this is the part where the girl would look at the guy and they would share a passionate kiss. But Aliana’s resolve had already weakened once. She took a step back. She wasn’t sure she was ready to let it happen again.

<3 always LH

RELICS OF CAMELOT cover reveal!

I can finally put this gorgeous cover out to the world and I am so freaking excited about this!!!! Even better I can officially announce the release date is March 29th!
Finally you can see what happens next to Aliana, Sir Galahad, king Arthur, Dagg and all the other members of the new Knights of the Round Table!!!!!
3.2.1.

Making a devil’s bargain with a Fae queen is a dangerous thing.Thrown back to the golden days of Camelot, the Destined One needs to find the object that will lead her and the Knights of the Round Table to the Grail of Power. But Aliana must also figure out and complete a mystery task before she can return to her own time. The consequences of revealing Camelot’s future to King Arthur or any member of the Round Table family could be devastating. She is forced to keep secrets, feeling more alone than ever, even with the support of new friends and allies. With the unwelcome knowledge of their looming deaths, will she be able to resist the temptation to save the people she loves?The attentions of Sir Galahad and King Arthur are a delightful yet confusing distraction. Her feelings for Arthur—even this version of him who doesn’t know her—continue to grow. The sparking sensation she’d felt whenever she touched Sir Galahad is mysteriously missing, but she can’t deny a continued connection with the protective knight.Weapons powerful enough to destroy even Excalibur surface along with a shadowy figure that even seems to have influence over Mordrid. The time of the eclipse grows ever closer and everything Aliana thought she knew will once again be tossed into question again as she continues on her Legendary quest.
You can also pre order the book on AMAZON (please ignore the wrong cover...I think they are having issues LOL)
Check out a preview below :) In walked Morgana, her long curled hair laced with thin braids and a few small flowers. She wore a blue dress similar in fashion to what Aliana and the other girls wore with accents of grey. Her hazel eyes went to Merlin’s immediately and she smiled so brilliantly it was like being struck with lightning. Aliana couldn’t believe what she was seeing. The blonde girl who had murdered her parents, tried to kill her and her friends and even sided against her cousin, the king, looked as fresh and joyful as a summer day at the beach.Morgana approached the table, stopped long enough to curtsy to Arthur and moved to her seat next to her Druid lover.“We were worried you wouldn’t return from the market in time, Morgana.” Arthur said in way of a greeting.“My apologies, sire. I got tied up helping a woman home.”Really? There was no way this was the same power-hungry-vixen-witch that had made her life, and that of her knights and family, so miserable and dangerous.
We do not know when she turned to the side of evil, Aliana. She may well be sincere at this time. Dagg’s words rubbed her the wrong way, but he was right. None of the guys knew when or why she had started to betray them.
Here are the links to the first books in the series for you to check out, incase you are just learning about my series! It's perfect for lovers of Fantasy, Romance, YA, magic, dragons, all the things that make for an Epic book ride ;P
LEGENDARY (LEGENDARY SAGA # 1)AMAZON ~ B&N ~ iTUNES ~ GOODREADS








CLAIMING EXCALIBUR (LEGENDARY SAGA # 2)AMAZON ~ B&N ~ iTUNES ~ GOODREADS







For those who may be going I'll be at RT in Vegas April 11-17 and I will be signing in the giant book fair with copies of all three of my books!!! I hope to see you there :)
<3 always
LH Nicole

Party Time

Time for a party people!! A Facebook party to be exact (first I've ever hosted....so excited!)

https://www.facebook.com/events/971760536204594/

What is this party for, you ask? It's simple really.
Three times a year I organize and run a mentor program for members of the YARWA where budding authors and authors who “haven’t quite made it yet” get paired up with mentor authors who are multi published and absolutely fantastical!  To celebrate our first successful year I’m throwing a party for the mentors where we’ll host games, give away tons of prizes and just have some general fun.Don’t let the YA of this all fool you. We’ve got authors who are published across many genre’s and will be giving away books that span whole spectrum of romance. That's one of the many great things about the YARWA, the diversity in authors! I’ll also have some Advance Reader Copies of RELICS OF CAMELOT!!!! I haven’t decided on all the games I’m gonna do yet, but I’ll have some fun stuff related to my Legendary Saga series and a little bit about a new series I’ve got coming!Check out the authors taking part and be sure to pop over and join the party! It’s going to be 2 days of great fun and great books ;P
So far I've got over 40 books (print and e-book) that will be given away, over $50 in gift cards, 2 tickets to an amazing author signing and a few swag packs! And the prizes are still not all counted yet so there will be even more to give away! It's so exciting really.

Don't miss your chance to chill with some great authors, score prizes and hopefully find some new books to add to your TBR pile :)

Until then, later!
<3 always LH

Dating a Modern Day Prince Charming

Okay, I wasn't going to do another post today, but I saw this article as I was scrolling through FB and I just had to share a few thoughts. **See disclaimer at bottom of post**
What little girl didn't dream of one day capturing her own Prince Charming? I know I still do, and as a YA romance writer I can guarantee all my heroes are going to be a "Prince Charming" in some kind of way, whether it's Sir Galahad, King Arthur, Wade, Percy or even one of my other heroes from my books that aren't out yet......I can go on. But enough from me, on to the article:
19 Ways Dating Prince Charming Would Be Totally Different In 2016
by  Talia Koren on Elite Daily and Love Is A Mother F*cker (with my comments thrown in)

Once upon a time, Prince Charming was stoic and classically handsome. He might have worn a cape, because let’s be real, Prince Charming was almost a superhero. His one power: wooing the ladies.So, maybe it’s not the norm anymore for dudes to be living in castles. Instead of attending social events like fancy balls, we go to bars.Today’s average Joe won’t run around the city to find the hookup who left her right shoe at his place.Even though we don’t live in a world where fairy godmothers actually exist, that doesn’t mean there’s no real Prince Charming. He could be the guy who picked your glove out of a slush pile or held your hair as you puked in the unisex bathroom of a bar. If you come across 2016’s Prince Charming, you’ll know.
1. He’d be on Tinder, but his brief profile is equal parts funny and mysterious. It includes his current job (pretty impressive, but he’s not braggy about it) and a couple of his niche interests. He’d make a joke about being a sucker for something semi-embarrassing, like astrology.  I've never been on Tinder but someone like this would catch my eye.
2. In photos, he’s posing with his puppy and doing something outdoorsy. It’s not an LL Bean catalog, it’s his life.  Or he could have a pic at a sporting even or **cough**comic con type place (yes, I'm a nerd)
3. There are no gym or mirror selfies to be found. Not a single damn one. Preach sister!
4. The modern day Prince always texts you back within the first 20 minutes of receiving one from you. He’s okay with phone calls, too. A total must
5. Most importantly, his “read” receipts aren’t on. Whew.  'nuf said
6. This Prince holds witty conversation, showing you he’s interested without seeming too thirsty. To quote Sherlock "Brainy's the new sexy" A man who can hold his own in a conversation of wits and voice his opinion without being a jerk is a huge thing!
7. He adds you on Facebook and Instagram first, freeing you from that anxiety-ridden wait. OK!
8. He’ll always like your profile pics and Instagram posts as they appear, but he’s not going to double-tap your tweet from 2011. He’s supportive, not creepy.  Hummmmmm
9. This Prince takes selfies like a pro and might even post a couple of you, too. He remembers your good side. how charming ;P
10. Modern Prince Charming remembers you mentioning your love of lavender. For no damn reason, he picks you up a lavender-scented body lotion.  Can we say brownie points :)
11. Instead of ordering showy flowers to your desk at work, he sends his Seamless login so you can order yourself lunch on him. Talk about making co-workers jealous.
12. If you got stranded in the rain with only 15 percent battery on your cell, he’d probably treat you to an Uber ride. We all have those awkward damsel-in-distress moments.  My hero......
13. When it comes to sex, modern day Prince Charming makes sure you orgasm before he does. He communicates, asking if what he’s doing feels good.  I think this may be the biggest ask of all. But you can't sound creepy when you do it. This isn't "Trainwreck" people **shivers in dread**
14. He doesn’t complain about “The Bachelor,” and even shares his HBO GO password without being weird about it.  Love a man who is not afraid to have a TV addiction
15. He could probably make choosing a movie to watch on Netflix the most magical moment ever, especially because he has no shame. His favorite flicks are some of your guilty pleasures. So many ways to go with this one....I can't choose
16. He’s up for anything, even if the new restaurant you pick is out of the way and has strangely mixed Yelp reviews.  And he offers to buy. I'm fully aware women can pay, and I support that, but I also think there are times where you value yourself enough to not feel downgraded because the guy is paying.
17. On girls’ night, he surprise Venmos you enough cash for a drink on him.  Yes please.
18. He’s well aware the biggest turn on is letting you do your thing. Prince Charming isn’t possessive, because he knows you’re coming home with him. Princes are suave as f*ck, by nature.  There is something to be said for a little possessiveness. Just not the "me Tarzan you Jane" type.
19. Imagine what Cinderella, Rapunzel and the rest could have achieved with a modern day Prince on their arms. A girl can dream, right?  Forget celebutante power couples. Real people couples......The possibilities are endless!

 So maybe a few of these are a little...meh. But I gotta say a modern day Prince Charming is a total game changer from old school Prince Charming. Me personally, I'd favor a blend of both, leaning slightly more towards the old school side, but only a tad. This is why I love writing YA heroes, and I'll admit it now, most of my heroes are going to fall somewhere in this range. :)

<3 LH

Disclaimer--this article was published on Elite Daily's website and written by Talia Koren. I am reposting what she wrote and linking back to the source article..--Now what comes after the list is all me.
http://elitedaily.com/women/dating-pr...

Suicide Squad

We've all heard a million and a half things about it and goodness knows that many have thrown out all their thoughts and feelings about it. Me personally, I've always been beyond crazy excited for this one!
We all know I'm a proud geek and I can't even begin to say how happy I am that the DC comic universe is finally starting to get it's life! I've always preferred the DC characters to Marvel, honestly I didn't really even start to care about Marvel until the first THOR and I saw the drool worthy Chris Hemsworth as the Viking God of Thunder. Then Chris Evans got thrown in as Captain America and.....well I was hooked, mostly to see incredibly hot men in very scintillating tight uniforms.
 But I digress.
Now, clearly Warner Brothers isn't quite the marketing warmonger Disney/Marvel is, but you gotta give them credit. When Suicide Squad, and it's cast, were first announced it got a ton of hate. Yet now...it's one of the biggest anticipated releases of the year. Anyone who can sway public opinion like that has some serious chops. Then add amazing cool posters like the ones floating around here and I'm even more excited.
I think what appeals to me most about this--outside the fact that Katana and Harley Quinn are two of my all-time fav bad girls--is that this movie is about the villains. Seeing Superman, Batman, Aquaman, Wolverine, Captain America and all the rest of those guys is all great, but Villains just always have a little more character and charisma to them. I mean look at Heath Ledger's Joker!!!! I don't know how anyone will ever top his performance, but I think Jared Leto will do the roll justice. Or maybe I should say bad justice :)
Clearly I don't have all the posters here, as there is quite the assembled cast of villains for this movie, but the ones here are the ones I'm most excited for.
Funny thing is, as far as I can see the only superhero that's going to be making an appearance here is Ben Affleck's Batman. I'm thinking, since one of the most exciting plots of the movie is Harley's origin story, that that's where the Dark Knight will come in. Same with Joker. Oh man... I am so crazy excited for this!!
I popped over to Wikipedia to drop in a quick little bio on all out bad guys for this movie for those who are still trying to learn more.
    Will Smith as Deadshot: An expert marksman and assassin. Smith stated that Deadshot and Harley Quinn are "allies" in the film, but that they do not know what is happening with the other characters.
    Jared Leto as Joker: A psychopathic supervillain. Leto described his role as "nearly Shakespearean" and a "beautiful disaster of a character" about portraying the villain, he stated "I took a pretty deep dive. But this was a unique opportunity and I couldn't imagine doing it another way. It was fun, playing these psychological games. But as the same time it was very painful."
    Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn: A crazed supervillain and former psychiatrist. Producer Richard Suckle described the character as "a fan fav. Funny, crazy, scary... You can't come up with enough adjectives to describe all the different things you see her do."
    Joel Kinnaman as Rick Flag: A military officer. Tom Hardy was previously cast in the role but was forced to drop out due to scheduling conflicts.
    Jai Courtney as Boomerang: An assassin who utilizes deadly boomerangs. About his role, Courtney stated, "he is an absolute bogan, in the purest sense. [David Ayer]'s first instruction was, 'find your inner shitbag'."
    Jay Hernandez as El Diablo: A former Los Angeles gang member who can summon flames. Hernandez sets his character apart from his teammates as he "just wants to stay out of the fight", while "most of [the Squad members] are happy to get out there and kill people".
    Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje as Killer Croc: A supervillain who suffers from a skin condition that causes him to develop reptilian features.Akinnuoye-Agbaje described the character as "a cannibal with rage issues".


At this point there's only one thing left that seems a mystery to me. Scott Eastwood. He announced back in March of 15 that he was cast in the movie, but nowhere does it saw what his role is. Not even a hint. There's speculation sure, but I'm dying to know what role he'll take on here. And Scott's not the only actor listed as a top billed star to not have a character assigned to his name on IMDB. There are three other start, all in the top line of casting who don't have a character assignment...............now what on earth could that mean? I mean seriously and I the only one curious about what DC may have up there sleeve here? Or maybe I'm just getting myself way too excited and seeing possible movie epicness because I’m so excited to see Suicide Squad.
I fear I shall have to wait until August to get my answers, unless someone lets a major spoiler slip between now and then. Once can only hope, right? Don't forget to mark your calendars. August 5th, SUICIDE SQUAD!!!
<3 always LH

Top Spy Movies of 2015

It's no secret I'm a big movie fan! For me TV and movies are my destressers--aka my favorite means of escapism. I totally blame my dad for my love of action and spy movies, I used to always watch Bond films and so many others with him when I was little. I've always wanted to tell a spy story, but from the YA side of it. There are many great YA spy books out there, but I feel like there can never be enough :)
But I digress..................
Since 2015 saw so many great spy movies released I wanted to do a comparison, my own kind of review for the best 4 spy movies of 2015.

#1
 At the height of the Cold War, a mysterious criminal organization plans to use nuclear weapons and technology to upset the fragile balance of power between the United States and Soviet Union. CIA agent Napoleon Solo (Henry Cavill) and KGB agent Illya Kuryakin (Armie Hammer) are forced to put aside their hostilities and work together to stop the evildoers in their tracks. The duo's only lead is the daughter of a missing German scientist, whom they must find soon to prevent a global catastrophe.

 For me this was an easy pick for the best spy movie of the year. Yeah, it didn't get the reviews MI:5 did, (I'll address that below) but Henry Cavill and Armie Hammer....not only are they drool worthy to look at all day, but they played their parts to perfection! Napoleon Solo (Cavill) was just this cool, always calm, always in control character no matter what cra-cra situation he landed in; and he was hilarious to boot! Illya Kuryakin (Hammer) was also a-maz-ing in his performance. I didn't know he could pull such a believable Russian accent! I give that yes, Illya was the not the out of control agent in the 60's TV show, but the way Guy Richie turned this movie into a hilarious, WWII male c0*K measuring contest with plenty of action blended in, was genius. I also loved our kick a$$, snarky, you'll never guess her real purpose heroine: Gaby! The little east german chop shop girl was easily the surprise of the movie!
Clearly there was almost nothing I didn't like about this one. I even ADORED the bad guys in that yes please blow them all up kind of way! :) If you haven't seen this one yet SEE IT NOW !

Fav quotes: 
Solo: I'm here to have a friendly chat about your father, Dr. Udo Teller. Hitler's favorite rocket scientist. 
Gaby: That doesn't sound very friendly.
~~~
Solo: I told you. We're teaming up with the Russians. Doesn't get any more Russian than the Red Peril here.
~~~
Illya: We need two purses please. And every day and a clutch. And grab that belt...No...No not the Dior, the Rabanne.
Solo: You can't put a Paco Rabanne belt on a Patou.
Illya: She's not going to wear a Patou.
Solo: What's wrong with a Patou?
Illya: Nothing, if you're fat. The Dior goes with the Rabanne.
Solo: It won't match

#2
Despite having solid field training, CIA analyst Susan Cooper (Melissa McCarthy) has spent her entire career as a desk jockey, working hand-in-hand with dashing agent Bradley Fine (Jude Law). Using high-tech equipment and a hidden earpiece, Susan is the guardian angel who helps Bradley avoid danger. However, when Bradley is assassinated by Bulgarian arms dealer Rayna Boyanov (Rose Byrne), Susan wrangles her way into her first undercover assignment to help capture Boyanov and avenge Bradley.

Oh let me count the many many reasons I loved this movie. Okay, there are way to many to list them all but here's the top  5 best things!
1- This ain't your typical spy film! Just look at the cast and plot!!
2- The humor was off the charts, split your side great.
3- Who doesn't love seeing the stereo typical "suave, bad ass spies" get out shined and put in their place by a big chick who's smarter than all of the CIA combined?
4- The ridiculous covers they made her use, not to mention the character's full names. Bradley Fine, Susan Cooper, Rayna Boyanov, Rick Ford and Matthew Wright?!?!!?!? Total spy standard ;P
5- Plot, Plot, Plot, Plot!!! YESSSSSS!
Basically every other great thing about this movie is related to my 5 reasons above, I totally love this one and recommend it to everyone! The only reason it's not #1 on the list is because while I loved it so hard, it fell just short of the dynamic that I saw in Man from U.N.C.L.E.

Fav quotes:
Susan: Oh my God, Fine, I don't know how you do things like that!
Fine: **fixing his hair in a mirror** Hey, who's the finest of them all?
Rayna: **cocks gun aimed at Fine's head** I don't know. I'm guessing...you?
~~~
Ford: Here's what we do. I go into the Face/Off machine, get a whole new face. I turn up, they never know it's me.
CIA Director Crocker: Do you have quarters? Because it costs 50 cents.
Ford: What, I gotta pay?
~~~
Crocker: Imagine my surprise when I saw footage from this drill back on the Farm.
Watches Susan kick total a$$
Crocker: I must have watched this 15 times now... because what the F*ck? I almost put it up on YouTube!
Susan: I was, to say the least, uncomfortable, with the event. The instructor was not harmed.

#3

A cryptic message from the past leads James Bond (Daniel Craig) to Mexico City and Rome, where he meets the beautiful widow (Monica Bellucci) of an infamous criminal. After infiltrating a secret meeting, 007 uncovers the existence of the sinister organization SPECTRE. Needing the help of the daughter of an old nemesis, he embarks on a mission to find her. As Bond ventures toward the heart of SPECTRE, he discovers a chilling connection between himself and the enemy (Christoph Waltz) he seeks.

I have seen every Bond film ever made. Many several time over. I can even quote a lot of them at the drop of a hat. SPECTER was definitely better than Skyfall! And the movie did as promised and brought back a lot of the more lighter, humorous, colorful megalomaniac villains and a more womanizer type Bond. I still have a hard time seeing Lord Voldormort as the new M...but he pulls it off. (All this one needed was a quick "he who shall not be named" drop to make it even better). But as much as I love Daniel Craig, he's jus not Sean Connery.................oh that voice..........(can we say Dagg inspiration ;D) But I digress again.
SPECTRE was good, very good, in almost every aspect. I loved the villains, I loved the action, I loved Dave Batista and so many more things. But this most recent installment of the Bond franchise just let me wanting.......what I don't know. I can't exactly put my finger on what didn't sit well with me on this one, but the amazing cast definitely helped fill this unexplainable hole, especially with BBC's Moriarty as C!!!!! SPECTRE is still a great see and something I think most everyone can enjoy!

Fav quotes:
Dr. Bad Guy: Why did you come? Bond: I came here to kill you. Dr. Bad Guy: And I thought you came here to die. Bond: Well, it's all a matter of perspective.~~~
M:Not a good feeling being watched, is it? C: Don't tell me you're responsible for this. M: No, but my quartermaster is and he's extremely talented. C: Oh, bravo. But in case you hadn't realized it, you two are out of a job so you're trespassing. M: I'm afraid you've got the wrong end of the stick, Max. We're going to stop this system going online, and then I'm going to bring you in. C: On what grounds, exactly? M: Poor taste in friends.~~~
Bond: [over the phone] Who was that? Moneypenny: He's just a friend. Bond: At this hour of the night? Moneypenny: It's called life, James. You should try it some time.
#4
With the IMF now disbanded and Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) out in the cold, a new threat -- called the Syndicate -- soon emerges. The Syndicate is a network of highly skilled operatives who are dedicated to establishing a new world order via an escalating series of terrorist attacks. Faced with what may be the most impossible mission yet, Ethan gathers his team and joins forces with Ilsa Faust (Rebecca Ferguson), a disavowed British agent who may or may not be a member of this deadly rogue nation.


And now we come to the bottom of the list. Yup, you heard me, the latest installment of this over the top-used to be something franchise comes in dead last. That's not to say this was a bad movie, it wasn't. BUT......really.......after so many years you give us the same boiler plate plot and typical humorous lines thrown into "impossible" mission dialogue............sigh.
ROGUE NATION was definitely worth seeing, and I will watch it again on netflix or with my dad or whatever, but I am so DONE with the same things over and over and over and over from the Mission Impossible movies. Ethan is always betrayed, hunted by his own people, has to rely on his friends to get him out of things...bla bla bla bla. For me there were only 4 things that salvaged this for me.
1- Ilsa Faust--talk about the most amazing and realistic bad a$$ spy chick ever!! On this I agree with the critics: she was the surprise and stand out star that stole the movie!
2- Sean Harris as Solomon Lane (aka bad guy). I adore Sean Harris! And he does bad so well.
3- The comic relief, because it kept this thing alive and from tumbling over the cliff.
4- Like you would expect from Tom Cruise and MI movies, the action! This is the one boiler plate thing I don't mind! Love me a good fight sequence :)
So yes, see this one if you want, but I would wait until you don't have to pay to see it.

Fav quotes:
Benji: [Ethan wants to drive the car just after he was resuscitated after drowning in a water tank] Whoa, whoa, whoa, are you sure you wanna drive? A minute ago you were dead. Hunt: What are you talking about? Benji: [Benji gets in the car] This is not gonna end well.~~~
Brandt: You said you could find Ethan and Benji. Luther: I said I could LOCATE them, you have to find them. Brandt: How are we gonna find them here? [they find Ethan and Benji, Ethan waves his hand on Brandt and Brandt waves back]Brandt: Found them. [Brandt attemps to follow them just to find out that Ethan and Brandt are being chased by gang of motorcyclers which pass by their car]Brandt:  Aw, c'mon! It's a high-speed chase and you just had to bring a four-wheels to it! Luther: You bought the car! Brandt: You just had to have it! ~~~
Benji: She tried to shoot me! 
Ethan: That doesn’t make her a bad person.

Honorable mention (2014 title)

Gary "Eggsy" Unwin (Taron Egerton), whose late father secretly worked for a spy organization, lives in a South London housing estate and seems headed for a life behind bars. However, dapper agent Harry Hart (Colin Firth) recognizes potential in the youth and recruits him to be a trainee in the secret service. Meanwhile, villainous Richmond Valentine (Samuel L. Jackson) launches a diabolical plan to solve the problem of climate change via a worldwide killing spree.

You want a classic spy movie feel with a new edge, this is the movie for you. If this had released in 2015, it would certainly have been #3 or maybe even #2 on my list. This one had everything you could want and all done in a way only Sam Jackson movies seem able to deliver. Newcomer Taron Egerton was great in his roll of boy from the wrong side of the tracks just trying to get by and help his mom and little sister. Colin Firth proved he is Way WAy WAY more than Mr. Darcy and can do the reserved humor at the same time as totally kicking bad guy a$$ and taking names. Samuel Jackson, is there a movie that he's done that isn't good? I can't think of one, but I am also a huge fan of his so I might be biased. Like all the spy movies, it's got the action, intrigue and inappropriate humor nailed. The cast was well put together and the movie was better than I had expected it to be. The visual effects, script, plot were all on point. I just wish it had gotten more buzz than it did when it was in theaters. This is a hidden gem in the spy movie world and if you haven't seen it, I highly recommend you do! It's a great movie night choice :)

Fav quotes:
Hart: [to bigoted church lady] I'm a Catholic whore, currently enjoying congress out of wedlock with my black Jewish boyfriend who works at a military abortion clinic. So, hail Satan, and have a lovely afternoon, madam.
~~~
Hart: The suit is the modern gentleman's armour. The Kingsmen are the new knights.Eggsy: How deep does this fucking thing go? Hart: Deep enough~~~
Valentine: Do you like spy movies, Mr. DeVere? [Hart notices Gazelle sitting behind him, pointing one of her bladed legs toward him]Hart: Nowadays, they're all a little serious for my taste. But the old ones... marvelous. Give me a far-fetched theatrical plot any day. Valentine: The old Bond movies. Oh, man. Ah, when I was a kid, that was my dream job: gentleman spy. Hart: I always felt that the old Bond films were only as good as the villain. As a child, I rather fancied a futuristic colorful megalomaniac. Valentine: What a shame we both had to grow up.
And my movie rant/gushing is done for today.........
<3 always L.H.

Relics of Camelot Sneak Preview

I've been gone quite a while but I have a way to make up for it :)
For those of you who have read the first book of my series LEGENDARY you may remember a few lines about Aliana learning she needed to make her own maps a she went traveling after an unfortunate incident in China. Remember? If not here's the part:

Pausing to check her GPS, Aliana pulled out a small notebook and marked her spot on the map she’d made. After an unfortunate incident in the mountains of China not long ago, she’d become paranoid about getting lost when traveling by herself. Fortunately, she wasn’t likely to run across anything more dangerous than a snake in these woods.“Then again, considering how much I hate snakes, that could still be pretty bad.” 
And now that you memory has been refreshed I'll get to the point. For those who asked and wondered, you'll finally get the story behind that little adventure. And to help that along, here's a nice teaser from that part of RELICS OF CAMELOT!



“Do you remember when you were in the mountains of China a few years ago?”Boy did she! It was the first trip abroad she had taken after her parents died, well before she discovered that she was adopted. “I was there for one of Wade’s tournaments, and I went to visit a monastery in the Wudang Mountains.”“Yes, and you decided to go wandering off just before sunset, on your own, with no map or guide.” Aliana earned his disapproving frown. “You nearly scared the life out of me when you fell down that hill, and hurt your leg like you did.”Aliana flinched, both from the reprimand and the phantom pain of the long gash that had been torn on her calf making it hard to put weight on. “Yeah. I admit it wasn’t my smartest move.”He sighed. “Do you remember what happened next?”Aliana shivered. She wouldn’t soon forget. “That king cobra came along. I was so scared.”“I know.” He stroked her hair again. “But a tiger saved me. It came along and somehow scared away the snake.” She looked at the tiger on his silk tunic. “That was you!” 

I will tell you this has been edited slightly to keep from giving away a major spoiler. I'll be interested to see if you can figure it out before the book releases this winter :D
Also RELICS OF CAMELOT is up on Goodreads, go over and add it to your TBR list if you're as excited as I am for it to come out.



If you have stumbled onto this blog/post yet have not read or heard of my LEGENDARY SAGA then you can click the links below to learn more and download the first chapters from amazon or iBooks or B&N!
LEGENDARY (LEGENDARY SAGA # 1)AMAZON ~ B&N ~ iTUNES ~ GOODREADS








CLAIMING EXCALIBUR (LEGENDARY SAGA # 2)AMAZON ~ B&N ~ iTUNES ~ GOODREADS







<3 always LH