Great Expectations (2012)

Last year, the works of Dickens celebrated a milestone, and with that came a handful of new adaptations. Not the least of which was not one but two re-makes of Great Expectations. Typical Dickens, the story is dark and not without its finer points – the most important being, with wealth comes great responsibility. 

Categories: Adaptation, British, Costume Drama, Dickens, Drama, Movie, Review

Giveaway Reminder →

Just stopping by with a quick reminder that the book giveaway ends in 2days and 5 hours, exactly. If you'd like to enter, click on the link below for all the deets and a synopsis of the book. Also, I was honored to be a part of the blog tour for Rachel Hauck's newest, so you can also find a review of the book posted here.

 

Good luck, all!

 

Once Upon a Prince by Rachel Hauck

 

Enter the Giveaway: Once Upon a Prince

Categories: Book, Fun, Giveaway

Megan and Liz: Bad for Me EP

About the EP:
Tracks: 7
Writing Credits: Elizabeth Mace, Megan Mace, Martin Johnson, John Feldman
Release Date: 2012
Rating: 4 ½ out of 5 

Review: Blending their well-matched vocals and harmonies, sisters Megan and Elizabeth Mace are a duo whose music may have started out humbly with their fantastic covers but have evolved into compositions of their own, iTunes singles and now, a 7-track EP that is quite enjoyable – full of summertime feel-good songs that are difficult not to like. Getting their start on YouTube, the girl’s sang some covers of well-known hits like ‘Just a Kiss,’ ‘Want U Back’ or my own favorite ‘Enchanted’ (which sounds better than the original recording in my opinion). It is their YouTube following that has earned them a name and subsequently this EP. The first song is the title track. Its sassy realization of indulging something that is “bad” is reminiscent of Taylor Swift’s “I Knew You Were Trouble” in the message even if the arrangement isn’t quite as catchy, the tune was released prior to ‘Trouble.’ Following that up are four less memorable albeit finger snapping songs in ‘Dare,’ (a great beat overrides a typical lyrical story about taking a chance on love) ‘Boys Like You,’ ‘Closer to You’ and the song which just barely passes inspection in a almost-word-confusion (the word "beach" sounds like something entirely different) and is still a  perfect summertime, breezy song, ‘Sunset Somewhere.'

It’s hard to pinpoint exactly what genre Megan and Liz are in. This EP is proof of that - they're a little country, with some great portions of pop and sass mixing in. Most of the songs do tend towards pop tunes that generally stay upbeat with some great instrumentals and complimentary vocals (even if they are break-up songs) plus the writing is actually quite good, and then they turn around and surprise the listener with a moody Miranda Lambert-esque song in ‘Like I Would.’ It’s lyrically a wonderful story as it ponders what may have happened had a girl with a past and emotional baggage accepted her popular, “basketball” star boyfriend instead of leaving him to marry a cheerleader type – the kind of “girl you marry.” It’s a sweet little song that leaves wishes to chance and is full of wistful memories and pretty musical arrangements.  

If you are fans of Taylor Swift or any popular pop sensation, give a listen to Bad for Me. It’s a great collection of songs that is really too short for its own good. I, for one am a fan of these ladies who cannot wait for that full-length album – and a new single coming in the next month. Check out some of their songs in these cute lyric videos!  

 

 

Categories: Music, Pop, Review

Jack Reacher (2013)

How often does a movie come along that kind of blows your mind? Not in the sense of explosions or cool effects rather by the elements it doesn’t have. If you are confused, stick with me. All shall be revealed.

Categories: Adaptation, Drama, Movie, Mystery, Review, Tom Cruise

Once Upon a Prince by Rachel Hauck

About the Book:

Author: Rachel Hauck

Publisher: Zondervan

Publication Date: 2013

Series: “Royal Weddings” (book one)

Genre: Christian Fiction; Romance, Contemporary

Rating: 5 out of 5

Susanna Truitt likes plans. She’s not a spontaneous person and is such a planner that she's religiously stuck with a 12-year plan; one that should have ended with her high school, marine boyfriend asking, will you marry me? Instead he proposes a break-up, leaving Susanna without a plan B. Now she’s nearing thirty, living in the home of her best friend’s aunt and working at her parent’s rib shack restaurant while she attempts to start her fledging landscape architect career. What’s a girl to do? The most natural response is to meet a prince, of course! That’s when Nate Kenneth walks into her life. He is the one hitch in Susanna’s life… and as it turns out, he may be the one person who can change everything.

Categories: Book, Christian, Contemporary Fiction, Fairy-Tale, Fiction, Litfuse, Rachel Hauck, Review, Romance, Series, Zondervan

Book Giveaway →

Hey, there, everyone! Happy Friday to you all. We've made it to another weekend and for all intents and purposes are smack dab in the middle of May. If you'll allow me a moment of incredulity and clichéd sayings, may I just say: where does the time go!? May has always been a busier month around my house. My family has several birthdays during the month and it's time to turn attention to the gardening season, a time of year that always earns a "thumbs down" from me since, well... I don't have a green thumb. But enough about all that.

Just recently I finished reading one of the most delightful contemporaries of 2013 (do I sense it making my "best of" list!? You betcha') At first, I thought I wasn't part of the tour for this book, prompting me to order a copy and this morning, am pleased to be able to offer a copy of Rachel Hauck's newest novel, Once Upon a Prince up for grabs to one of my loyal followers and friends. Seriously, dear readers, I adored this book. Any girl who swooned over Prince William and Kate's wedding or romance simply must read this.

Find out all the deets below and read what the book is all about!

Categories:

Doctor Who: Season Five (2009)

For years, I’ve heard on-line contacts and friends brag about the British fandom that is Doctor Who. It was never something that appealed to my cinematic tastes but 2013 was the “turning point” for me and in recent months, I took a second look. Now starting with the “new doctor,” Matt Smith (can I just say it: he’s adorable!), I gave it a fighting chance.  

Categories: BBC, British, Doctor Who, Fantasy, Karen Gillian, Matt Smith, Sci-Fi, Series