Giveaway Winners →

...and finally it's time to announce the winners of the last blog giveaway. Instead of drawing just one name, two of you will be getting a copy of Rachel Hauck's book, Once Upon a Prince.

So, here they are...

Drumroll, please....

- Kellie from Nothing Less

- Kandra

Congrats to you both! I am so delighted for the both of you.

Both of you should have an email in your inbox requesting shipping information and all the details. I have asked both winners to get back to me by a set date, and if they do not comply, I reserve the right to draw a new winner.

Thank you to everyone who tweeted and shared about the giveaway - wish you could all have a copy! Be sure to keep an eye out over the summer months as they'll likely be more giveaways - it's a surprise what books will be up for grabs. I appreciate all your lovely comments and participation. Until next time...

Happy Weekend!

 

Once Upon a Prince by Rachel Hauck

Categories: Book, Fun, Giveaway

11 Things

Hello, hello! Instead of a review or a rambling topical post (which I’d had planned originally for today), I’ve decided to answer the "tag" questions from the kind Analiese who tagged me earlier this week! Thanks so much, Analiese – that was terribly kind of you! So below you’ll find the answers to this “11 Things” meme. 

Categories: Fun, Tag

Casting Scoop: Cinderella

Good afternoon, everyone! Just so you all know, I am loving your lovely comments from this past week. The latest on the blog is a review of the 2012 version of Great Expectations starring Jeremy Irvine, which I've love your thoughts on if you've seen - or if you haven't (if you have anything to add, please "click" over there), plus the book giveaway will be closing in 1 day and 10 hours, so if you've not entered by want too, make sure to do so.

Stopping by to give you all a brief update on the Cinderella news we've been chatting about - Charming has been cast! Multiple sources are confirming that actor Richard Madden has been cast for Disney's upcoming live-action version of Cinderella.

Here's what Variety is saying:

The King in the North is becoming Cinderella’s Prince Charming.

“Game of Thrones’” Richard Madden has been cast as the prince in Disney’s live-action version of “Cinderella.”

Kenneth Branagh will direct the film, which also stars “Downton Abbey’s” Lily James in the title role and Cate Blanchett as the wicked stepmother.

Allison Shearmur, David Barron and Simon Kinberg are producing “Cinderella” for Disney.

Madden joins Lily James (Downton Abbey), Cate Blanchett playing the evil stepmother and Kenneth Branagh

As most of you know, I am not overly fond of this choice but... I think just knowing that this is the actor who will be the "face" of Prince Charming, the idea has grown on me plus  I am determined to keep an open mind and who knows!? I may be surprised, and Richard my be the "perfect" choice. Bring on the promotional material!

If anyone has any thoughts, do share them below.

Categories: Cinderella, Disney, Fairy-Tale, Fantasy, Fun, Movie News, Re-make

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

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