The Bourne Initiative Summer Reading Giveaway

** I partnered with Grand Central Publishing to share this giveaway **

I'm big fan of the Jason Bourne novels and movies, so I'm going to enjoy adding the new book, The Bourne Initiative, to my summer reading list.  Originally created by bestselling author Robert Ludlum, the Jason Bourne series was later adapted into films that have become modern classics. Now, New York Times bestselling writer Eric Van Lustbader carries on Jason Bourne's story with a new novel about the rogue secret agent who has lost his memory.



To share my enjoyment of the Jason Bourne novels, A GEEK DADDY is hosting a great giveaway courtesy of Grand Central Publishing.  One lucky winner will receive a prize pack consisting of 10 books from the series ranging from the fifth novel, The Bourne Betrayal, to the newest release, The Bourne Initiative.  This will provide an incredible summer of reading for whoever wins the prize pack!

To be eligible to win must be over 18 years old and have a United States mailing address (No P.O. Boxes please).  Just complete the entries in the form below before July 3, 2017 for a chance to be randomly selected to receive the prize pack:

a Rafflecopter giveaway
About The Bourne Initiative

Jason Bourne—the rogue secret agent who has lost his memory—returns in this stunning new thriller from Eric Van Lustbader, continuing Robert Ludlum's classic series. 

Gen. Boris Karpov, head of the feared Russian FSB, is dead. But Karpov has reached out from the grave with an unstoppable cyber operation he conceived in the months before his murder, aimed at the heart of the United States—a way to steal the president's nuclear launch codes. Who has taken over the operation? Karpov trusted only one man: Jason Bourne. But can Bourne be working against his own country?  Gen. Arthur MacQuerrie, chief of the Dreadnaught Section of NSA and Morgana Broussard, head of the mysterious Meme, LLC, are convinced of Bourne's treasonous act, and will do everything in their power to kill him.

Flushed from cover, hunted by the best assassins in the business, wounded and nearly killed, Bourne's only hope is to join forces with his bitterest enemy, a Somali magus named Keyre, whose terrorist forces Bourne once decimated. Now Keyre is more powerful than ever, with a burgeoning international network—a man who can help Bourne, but to what end? Lying in wait is the young woman Bourne saved from Keyre's torture, who now calls herself the Angelmaker. Both seductive and deadly, the Angelmaker loves Bourne, watches over him, but from whom does she take her orders? Is she ally or adversary?

These are questions Bourne must answer before he can unravel the mystery of Boris Karpov's last legacy, a weaponized code that may very well bring about the unthinkable: a violent end to America.

Click here to read an excerpt from The Bourne Initiative.

DISCLAIMER & GIVEAWAY RULES A Geek Daddy has not been financially compensated for this post and  hosting the giveaway but did receive the same prize being awarded for personal use. The prize is provided by Grand Central Publsihing. Must be a US resident over the age of 18 to participate. Must submit eligible entries through the rafflecopter format for a chance to win. Winner when notified by email has 48 hours to reply by providing a valid mailing address within the United States to accept the prize. Grand Central Publishing will be responsible for shipping the prize to the randomly selected winner.  By participating in this promotion you waive any liability of any kind against the publisher of this blog as we are facilitating this free opportunity as a benefit to our readers.

Family Game Night: CHRONO BOMB!

** A Geek Daddy received a complimentary Chrono Bomb! game courtesy of Patch Products for this review **

Now that school's back in session for our kids, we're getting back into the routine of making Friday's a FAMILY FUN NIGHT where we either spend the evening playing games or watching a movie together.  It's a time devoted to chilling out from the stresses of the week and to enjoy some bonding time together. For our first Family Fun Night of the school year, we had a fun secret agent themed time playing the game Chrono Bomb! from Patch Products and watched the movie Spy Kids for a good time.

Chrono Bomb! is a game where you have to make your way through a "laser field" to defuse a bomb before its timer ticks down to zero and goes boom!  You create the laser field using 27.5-feet of string weaving it through clamps to create an obstacle course to crawl and hurdle through to get to the bomb.  In addition to the timer clicking down, if you bump against the string once or twice it knocks off more time from the clock and a third time sets off the bomb - kaboom!   Race through the maze without setting off the bomb to see who can defuse it the quickest.



For some extra challenge to the game you can mix in some playing cards to the course.  Picking up the cards spread throughout the laser field before you are allowed to defuse the bomb can add another level of difficulty to the game.  There is also a free app that can be used with playing the game to provide some interesting twists to the action.

While the game may look a bit tricky to put together it really was easy to assemble.  Place the included clamps around your designated play space, roll out the string through an easy to use spinner device, which makes it easy for both laying out your laser field maze and putting it away, and throw three AAA batteries in the bomb to activate the timer and you are ready to go.   The sensor that connects the string to the bomb's timer worked really well for us and my kids were frequently frustrated when they brushed up against a string and the timer sped up or the bomb blew up...which is a big part of the fun of the game!  Knowing that touching the string would really impact the game really added to the thrill level of Chrono Bomb! and kept the kids honest about how they approached going through the maze.


Chrono Bomb! brought out our inner 007 in this secret agent themed game.   It was a nice change of pace to spend the evening playing something different from a board game or video game during our Family Fun Night.  It was pretty funny to see some of the positions and moves players have to distort themselves in to get through the maze.  Plus it got to be pretty competitive going head to head racing to get the best times.  I have to say my kid's size was an advantage in crawling through and slipping around the "laser beams" and my daughter ended up the Chrono Bomb! champion for the night.

This game gets A Geek Daddy nod of approval because it has players both engage in aerobic feats and focus on thinking about how they are going to accomplish a task.  It is something unique to play that can easily be set up inside and entertains kids while keeping them active.  Chrono Bomb! is perfect for keeping kids amused on a rainy day, having their friends over on a winter afternoon or enjoying time together on a family fun night.  Play over and over again by constantly building new courses to challenge players to achieve the best time.

Chrono Bomb! is recommend for ages 7+.  For more information, visit www.patchproducts.com/p/chrono-bomb

I "SPY" A SECRET AGENT SPOOF FEATURING MELISSA MCCARTHY COMING OUT ON BLU-RAY & DVD

 

What do you get when a desk-bound CIA analyst volunteers to go undercover to infiltrate the world of a deadly arms dealer in an attempt to prevent a diabolical global disaster?  A hilarious spoof on secret agent movies starring Melissa McCarthy in the blockbuster hit SPY which film critic Leonard Maltin referred to as "her funniest movie yet."  Jason Statham, Jude Law and Rose Byrne join McCarthy in delivering hysterical performances in SPY which earned more than $100 million  during its theatrical run in the United States and a 95% fresh rating on RottenTomatoes.com. In anticipation of the movie's release on Blu-ray and DVD on September 29, 2015, A Geek Daddy is sharing a few fun facts about Hollywood's newest Queen of Comedy, Melissa McCarthy, and giving away a SPY Blu-ray/DVD combo pack.

Did you know Melissa is a Saluki?  She studied fashion at Southern Illinois University (who are know as the Salukis from their school mascot).  In fact she originally made her way to New York to be a fashion designer but after a fateful night at an open mic night decided to take a shot at being a stand-up comedian instead.  Melissa s still very talented when it comes to fashion though and designed her own gown that the actress/comedian wore to the 2011 Emmys where she won the award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series.



While Melissa McCarthy may be best know for her breakout role in the 2011 comedy hit Bridesmaids where she received an Academy Award nomination for her part in the film, she had already been acting for more than a decade at that point having a primary supporting role in the television series Gilmore Girls from 2000-2007 and Samantha Who? from 2007-2009.  She currently stars in the CBS prime time sitcom Mike & Molly where she earned her an Emmy in 2011 for the role of Molly Flynn.  One of my wife's all time favorite TV shows is Gilmore Girls.  For a lot of years she watched reruns of Gilmore Girls every afternoon when returning home from work and we had to make time to watch every new episode whenever they aired.  So for our family Melissa McCarthy will always be Sookie from the Gilmore Girls.

Speaking of her big role in Bridesmaids - other than playing one in the movie, Melissa has been a bridesmaid in real life once - at her sister's wedding.

Melissa has a really sharp memory.  When she has hosted Saturday Night Live she hasn't used cue cards.  Melissa has memorized EVERYTHING for these "live" SNL performances.  Wow! That's impressive!  In fact, she's earned 2 Emmy nominations for hosting SNL (2012 / 2013).

What is the most embarrassing thing that happened to you as a kid?  For Melissa who grew up in the rural farming community of Plainsfield, Illinois it was climbing up into a neighbor's silo and not being able to get back down.  She had to be rescued by a friendly farmer who climbed up, got her unstuck and brought her down to earth.

Since Bridesmaids, Melissa has had roles in the films Spy, The Nines, The Back-up Plan, Life As We Know It, Identity Thief, The Heat, and The Hangover Part III.  She will be starring in the upcoming Ghost Busters remake that is scheduled to be released in theaters across the USA on July 15, 2016.  Ghost Busters is being directed by Paul Feig who also directed McCarthy in the movies SPY, The Heat and Bridesmaids.

Thanks to our friends at Fox Home Entertainment, one lucky A GEEK DADDY blog reader will win a free Blu-rayDVD combo pack of SPY.  Must be a U.S. or Canadian resident over 18 years old and submit one or all of the following entry methods to earn up to 3 entries prior to 11:59 pm EST on Sunday September 27, 2015:

 E-mail thegeekdaddy [at] yahoo [dot] com your name and mailing address plus tell us your favorite Melissa McCarthy role. Email subject line should be SPY (1 ENTRY)

Visit our Facebook page and on the contest post leave a comment telling us about your funniest moment  at work or school where you were caught out of your comfort zone like McCarthy is in the movie SPY (2 ENTRIES)

All valid entries will be assigned a number in the order they are received and one number will be  selected to determine the winner using random.org.  E-mails will only be used to contact the winner and deleted following the selection of a winner.

McCarthy is armed and hilarious in this comedy from director Paul Feig. Deskbound CIA analyst Susan Cooper is about to become the world’s newest — and unlikeliest — secret weapon. When her partner (Jude Law) falls off the grid and another top agent (Jason Statham) is compromised, Susan volunteers to go deep undercover and bring down a deadly arms dealer. Loaded with wise-cracking action and adventure, SPY is a mission impossible to resist!


Of course the Blu-ray and DVD come loaded with a bunch of bonus features in addition to the movies:

SPY BLU-RAY SPECIAL FEATURES

• Unrated Cut 
• 3 Redacted Scenes 
• 15 Classified Alternate Scenes 
• Top Secret Gag Reel 
• Extra Top Secret Behind-the-Scenes Gag Reel 
• Director of Intelligence Feig Makes the Cast Do His Bidding 
• Susan and Her Men 
• Super Villain Rayna Can't Keep It Together
• The Many Deaths of Anton 
• The Trouble With Covers 
• The Great Rick Ford 
• For Your Eyes Only: Jokes-A-Plenty 
• The Handsy World of Spies 
• Speaking is an Art Form 
• Super Villains of the Animal World 
• How Spy Was Made 
• The Filmmakers Tell You How Spy Was Made While You Watch The Movie! aka The Commentary Track (Jessie Henderson, John Vecchio, Paul Feig, Robert Yeoman, Walter Garcia) 

SPY DVD SPECIAL FEATURES

• Top Secret Gag Reel 
• Extra Top Secret Behind-the-Scenes Gag Reel 
• Susan and Her Men 
• The Great Rick Ford 
• The Filmmakers Tell You How Spy Was Made While You Watch The Movie! aka The Commentary Track (Jessie Henderson, John Vecchio, Paul Feig, Robert Yeoman, Walter Garcia) 

 DISCLAIMER:  A Geek Daddy Blog will be responsible for selecting the winner of this contest, but Fox Home Entertainment is responsible for fulfillment and delivery of the prize.  By participating in this contest you waive any liability towards A Geek Daddy Blog or its publisher that may arise from your involvement with this promotion.  If you win this prize on another blog, you will not be eligible to win again.  Winner is subject to eligibility verification. Prize will be delivered by UPS or FedEx so no P.O. Boxes are allowed as mailing addresses. A Geek Daddy Blog did not receive any financial compensation but did receive a review DVD for the blog and the prize that is being awarded to one of our readers for this contest.  A Geek Daddy Blog is hosting this contest as a benefit to our readers. Any opinions in this post are my own.  #SpyInsiders

Dynamite Entertainment to Explore Early Years in the Career of 007 in Comic Books, Graphic Novels & Digital Comics Beginning in 2015

Bond, James Bond, the British Secret Services' agent 007, will begin to have his adventures chronicled in comic books beginning in 2015 with the announcement of Dynamite Entertainment acquiring the license rights to publish comic books, graphic novels and digital comics starring the character from Ian Fleming Publications Ltd. The fictional secret agent was created by author Ian Fleming in 1953 who featured James Bond in 12 novels and 2 short-story collections.  007 has also been the inspiration for 23 movies ranging from DR NO in 1962 to SKYFALL which was released in 2012. A 24th James Bond film is currently in production slated to open in US theaters on November 6, 2015.  According to the licensing agreement the upcoming comic books by Dynamite Entertainment featuring Fleming's iconic 007 secret agent will re-live the exploits that have thrilled and captivated fans for over half a century in fresh visual adaptations of the classic Bond stories.

Dynamite Entertainment is planning on creating a series of brand new adventures with a focus on the defining, yet largely undocumented, early years of James Bond's career.  These comic books will draw inspiration from the James Bond canon to explore 007's origins, those raw early years before he gambled with his life in the franchise's first novel by Ian Fleming, Casino Royale.  Dynamite is also promising to include familiar faces from the 007 mythos in their series including criminal masterminds, hired henchmen, those glamorous Bond Girls, and secret service allies.

"James Bond is one of the greatest cultural icons in the world.  His author and creator, Ian Fleming, was not only in touch with popular culture in his time, but also saw ahead of his time, and his written work will outlive us all<" said Nick Barrucci, CEO and Publisher of Dynamite Entertainment in the announcement of the publisher gaining the 007 license.  "The character, the structure and the source material is so incredibly strong.  The original prose storytelling serves the basis for one of the most successful film franchises ever, a franchise that reinvents itself to be in tune with each generation.  By doing so, it allows the character to be an ever-progressive pop culture phenomenon, one that energizes existing fans and engages new fans, thus helping to ensure that Bond's relevance and importance will live forever.  The high-octane action, the charm, the unquestionable allure of this man of action - it all stems from Ian Fleming.  We are excited to build upon Fleming's source material with new canonical stories, and are honored at Dynamite to be a small part of his legacy, to be able to bring new stories to fans around the world."

Corinne Turner, Managing Director of Ian Fleming Publications, added during the announcement of this new partnership, "It's over sixty years since the publication of Casino Royale and now more than ever it's an exciting time to be a Bond fan. We're thrilled that 007 will be revisiting the world of comics, as Fleming's novels have a long and successful history in this medium, ever since  they began to be published as newspaper comic strips in the late fifties.  Dynamite are the perfect partners to take on the challenge of continuing this legacy, and we are very much looking forward to working with them."

Dynamite Entertainment is actually one of A GEEK DADDY blog's favorite comic book publishers because it has created itself a retro niche in restoring the glamor to fictional and fantasy heroes of past generations for the enjoyment of today's audience.  Their titles include Battlestar Galactica, The Bionic Woman, Buck Rogers, Dresden Files, Flash Gordon, The Shadow, Green Hornet, The Lone Ranger, Lord of the Jungle (Tarzan), The Six Million Dollar Man, The Twilight Zone, and John Carter Warlord of Mars.  Dynamite does a nice job of presenting these titles with an artistic nod to their original portrayals ( a 1940's vibe for Flash Gordon, 50's for the Lone Ranger, 60's for the Green Hornet and 70's for Battlestar Galactica and The Six Million Dollar Man for example) and through writing intriguing and interesting stories that mix in classic characters and themes from these franchise's canon while also expanding on the adventures and journeys by adding new elements and figures to the mix. 

Now James Bond is joining the lineup and A GEEK DADDY is excited to see what Dynamite does to bring 007 to life in a comic book format.  Keep an eye out on book store shelves (brick & mortar and digital) in 2015 for this new comic book series.