Book: A Path Toward Love

About the Book:

Author: Cara Lynn James

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Publication Date: 2012

Genre: Christian Fiction, Romance

Rating: 3 1/2 out of 5

My Thoughts: Eight years ago Katherine Wainwright rebelled against her family, society and her best friend, Andrew and married a man she thought she knew. Coming from a wealthy family from one of the most prosperous in New York society, she eloped with Charles and has lived in Florida ever since. Now her husband’s father has died and she is a widow whose one dream is to see her father-in-laws citrus groves returned to their former glory. She wants to do this for her father-in-law who she loved and because her life – her work in Florida somehow feels like home. When her father and Andrew come to Florida to convince her it’s time to return to New York and her family, Katherine is faced with a decision: Leave everything she has come to love or return to the people she hasn’t stopped loving.

Categories: Book, Christian, Fiction, Historical, Review, Thomas Nelson

Downton Abbey // Photos, Part 2

I am freaking out right now... but in the best possible way! *grin* I came across more photos of the upcoming third series of the charming Downton Abbey. As most of you know, this is apparently the only thing that can tempt me to post twice in one day and therefore toss my usual blog schedule out the door. Either way... these were too tempting to pass up. 

Take a look and let me know what you think of the new season!

Categories: Costume Drama, Downton Abbey, Fun, ITV, Series

Review: Front of the Class (2008)

About three times a year we get to see a decent television production that once aired on local CBS stations (now ABC) and bears the Hallmark Hall of Fame emblem. Front of the Class is one of the more memorable titles in a string that have included dramas, comedies plus even the occasional costume film, and yes, the rare failure.

Categories: CBS, Drama, Hallmark, Hallmark Hall of Fame, Movie, Review, TV

Laugh of the Day: The Avengers

So I came across this photo-set on Tumblr today (thanks, Charity!) and thought it was quite funny! Normally we see these heroes - and heroine, in life or death situations and as earnest, serious defenders so this is a switch. I think Thor is my favorite - he looks like such a baby here. Needless to say, they all made me smile that is for sure. What do you think? 

They're cute, right? 

Categories: Captain America, Fun, The Avengers, Thor

Review: Marple - Series One (2004)

St Merry Mead is a quiet village, a place where gossip flourishes and even the slightest hint of scandal is the source of ladies conversation at afternoon tea.

Colonel Lucius Protheroe (Derek Jacobi) has made a reputation as one of the most despicable residents. He thinks himself superior to everyone else, and finds pleasure in putting down the local vicar, Leonard Clement (Tim McInnerny), even going so far as to covertly express the matter in front of the entire congregation. This is something that Leonard’s new wife (Rachel Stirling) takes offense at. Much younger than her husband, Griselda Clement is often the topic of conversations… especially when it comes to a struggling artist living in the village. Lawrence Redding (Jason Flemying) has a reputation as quite the ladies’ man and in St. Merry Mead alone he is associated with several of the ladies. Commissioned to paint Colonel Protheroe’s daughter, Lettice (Christina Cole), the Colonel is outraged to discover his daughter is suggestively posing for the portrait while his second wife, Ann (Janet McTeer) attempts to keep peace in the household.

Categories: British, Crime, Crime Drama, Drama, ITV, Marple, Masterpiece Mystery, Mystery, Review, Series, Sleuth, TV

Review: Upstairs, Downstairs - Series One (2011)

Battles of words and, of greater import, ratings were waged between BBC’s continuation of the classic series and ITV’s recent spin Downton Abbey. From my understanding the latter came in just over the top (at least, where ratings were concerned) but with such a similar plot line, it is sometimes distracting to know which was better.

Categories: 2011, BBC, British, Costume Drama, Downton Abbey, Drama, Heidi Thomas, Keeley Hawes, Politics, Re-make, Series

11 Things // 'Tagged'

Today, I am answering the questions of one of those 'tag' posts because I was 'tagged' by my good blog-y (that's not even a word, right!?) friend, Rosie! Thanks so much, Rosie! That was so sweet of you. Since I have done these before and I think everyone probably got tagged, I won't make up new questions (I wouldn't want to bore you all with repetitive ones) or chose any bloggers but I'd love  it if any (or all!) of you would accept this and use Rosie's questions - if you do, make sure you stop in again and leave a link as I would love to read your post. *smile* So without further ado... here are the questions and my answers. 

Categories: Blog, Fun

Feminism vs. Femininity

Feminism has come a long way since the days when women were once content to be in their kitchens, donning their apron baking bread and keeping a clean house. In certain cultures and back in the days when women were something for their husband’s to show off on their arm, they almost fit the same persona as children – “seen but not heard.” I have never been a girl to buy into all the women’s lib nor am I involved in any such organizations but it is safe to say women in society have come a long way since those early days of suffrage work. Even on the small screen, women are reaching new heights and taking the modern culture by storm with its messages to young women everywhere that the female persuasion can do anything she sets her mind to.

Categories: Culture, Femininity, Life, Opinions

Coupon Link: ABC TV on DVD

Hey, Bloggers! I don't know how many of you buy TV on DVD or if you are "ABC fans" but if you do, bookmark the site, ABCTVCoupononDVD[dot]com. Here you will find coupons for ABC's upcoming television releases (one worth a $10.00 value!). Right now they have the first season of Revenge available. I picked up the season for $27.99 at Best Buy (price good until Saturday) and got the ten dollars off that sale price. (What a deal!) 

It is my understanding that ABC will also release a coupon for Once Upon a Time (out 8/28) and the upcoming fourth season of Castle. Just thought I'd drop by to share those savings...

New posts from this past week are: 

• The Hunger Games (film)
• Taylor Swift's, "We are Never Ever Getting Back Together"
• Tidewater Inn (book)

Hope you are all having a happy-faced kind of week. 

Categories: ABC, TV, TV Show

Tidewater Inn by Colleen Coble

About the Book:

Author: Colleen Coble

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Publication Date: 2012

Series: “Hope Beach Novels” (book 1 of 3)

Genre: Christian Fiction, Mystery

Rating: 4 ½ out of 5

My Thoughts: Libby Holladay has been alone since she was a child. Her father left her and her free-spirited mother wasn’t much of a role model. Now that her mother has passed away, Libby has no family but she runs a successful business restoring historic buildings and her business partner, Nicole is her best friend. Following a trip to Hope Beach to scout out some potential work sites, Nicole is kidnapped! Not only does this send Libby on a frantic search to find her but she also saw it happen on a security camera. In trying to save the footage, she mistakenly erases the evidence which then puts her under suspicion by the local law enforcement… will she be able to prove her innocence? And what happens when she unearths secrets about her family that she never knew?

Categories: Book, Christian, Colleen Coble, Contemporary Fiction, Drama, Fiction, Litfuse, Mystery, Review

Review: The Hunger Games (2012)

Promoted as the movie of the summer – and quite possibly, even the film of the year, after I read the novel this past winter (if you want the truth, curiosity got the best of me), I was left baffled by what the appeal of the story was. Still… that didn’t stop me from having a rental copy held the first day it was on DVD.

Categories: Action/Adventure, Adaptation, Blockbuster, Drama, Jennifer Lawrence, Movie, Review, Suzanne Collins, Teen, The Hunger Games

Taylor Swift: We are Never Ever Getting Back Together

About the Song:

Released: 2012

Writing Credits: Taylor Swift, Max Martin, Shellback

Label: Big Machine Records

Genre: Country, Pop

Rating: 3 ½ out of 5

Debut: #1

The Story: A back-and-forth relationship that has been a series of ups and downs finally ends.  

My Thoughts: Since she first appeared on the scene, Taylor Swift has enjoyed a nearly fairy-tale story with the closest thing anyone will ever get to “overnight” success. This week, she released an all-new single from her upcoming fourth album, Red. Typical to any T-Swift song, this is one of a love story gone wrong focusing on the struggles that come up in many relationships. This one isn’t exactly lyrically mellow though it is vocally, but it allows complications to rule its premise with a volatile romance that consists of break ups before turning around to "kiss and make up" – though it is fun version of a cliched scenario! As a result, this is one of Taylor’s more “flirty,” fun songs. It has some cute conversational additions, almost after-thoughts (like Taylor adding the zinger “like ever” to her claim she won’t be sucked into the relationship again), which makes the song more infectious – and a tiny bit sassy.

Categories: Country, Music, Pop, Review, Single, Taylor Swift

Downton Abbey: Series Three // First Photos

I feel like I am getting ahead of myself because (unfortunately), series three of Downton Abbey won't make it across the pond until January - February for those of us who await the DVD's. It hardly seems right that U.S. viewers cannot get it at the same time as the Brits but then... I am sure, to be fair, they have thought the same thing abut other productions we get first over the years. And yet... we do survive! Barely, mind you. *wink* Despite the fact that I haven't ever watched this on the computer... I may have to "cheat" and watch at the very least, episode one. We'll see how resolute I am while everyone is a-twitter with the excitement when it premieres overseas next month. 

Until then... I came across this charming collage of pictures from the third series today - it is the first "real" set of photos I've seen. Isn't it great!? I think it looks lovely - notice the new "roaring twenties" fashions? *squeal* To say I am excited is an understatement. This even got me to post a second time today - quite unusual for me. 

Tell me... what do you all think about this upcoming season? 

Anyone else as "giddy" about this as the rest of us? ♥

Categories: BBC, British, Costume Drama, Downton Abbey

Did You Hear About the Morgans? (2009)

Despite a deep-rooted dislike of the top two billed stars, the promotion for this leading up to its eventual theater release looked too funny to ignore... so I didn’t.

Categories: Comedy, Drama, Movie, Review, Sarah Jessica Parker

Olympic Highlights: Part 2

WOW! What a wonderful 2012 summer games. I didn't even watch half of the events and/or matches and still was impressed by our U.S. athletes - well done to all of them! I'll even confess that I got caught up in some of the athletes from Great Britain. Knowing it was in England was probably reason why but it was fun to see some of their athletes do well given that they usually don't put up such a strong showing. Here is "part two" of the events that I was most interested in.

Categories: America, Fun, Olympics

Review: The Bourne Legacy (2012)

When the “face” of this franchise, Matt Damon was quoted as saying he wouldn’t return to the series unless it was also directed by the same man behind the camera of the two prior “Bourne” movies, filmmakers and Universal either had to give up the multi-million dollar franchise (yeah, like that was going to happen) or change the face of it. Jason’s legacy was “bourne” with this, the fourth film of the series.

Categories: Action, Action/Adventure, Adaptation, Drama, Jason Bourne, Jeremy Renner, Move, Review, Sequel

Review: Spider-Man 3 (2007)

Darker perspectives and villains enter Peter’s life in this, the third and final film in the “original” franchise of the Spider-Man trio from Columbia Pictures and director Sam Raimi.

Categories: Action, Action/Adventure, Blockbuster, Comic Book, Fantasy, Kirsten Dunst, Marvel, Movie, Review, Spider-Man

Review: White Collar - Season Three (2011)

Conflict rules the third – and possibly best yet, season of the always engaging cat-and-mouse game that is White Collar.

Categories: Comedy, Drama, Matt Bomer, Review, Season Three, TV, TV Show, USA Network

Review: Red Eye (2005)

With a combination of suspense and one of my favorite Hollywood actress’, it was inevitable that I’d see this thriller; it was just a question of when.

Categories: Drama, Movie, Mystery, Rachel McAdams, Review, Thriller

Define Life

4. a corresponding state, existence, or principle of existence conceived of as belonging to the soul: eternal life.

5. the general or universal condition of human existence: Too bad, but life is like that.

How do you define life? Does it conjure up thoughts of wealth? Power? Prestige? Is it a job you’ve been working towards? Or maybe it is nothing more than the act of breathing in and out. These are the questions asked in the drama, Life or Something Like It. The story is about a materialistically satisfied television reporter who also thinks her personal life is a golden. During a story about a street “prophet,” she is told that she has less than a week to live and in a panic fueled frenzy, she begins to question everything about her life: Does it have meaning? That is a question. What would we do if we were in a situation like that? Would we squander the time or use it meaningfully? Like so many of the masses, usually, the most meaningful thing in life is what is closest to our heart – and for most of us, that is the people in our lives.

Categories: Culture, Life

Review: Superman Returns (2006)

Though not any more special than the rest of the super hero flicks on our televisions, if there is only one thing to be said about this re-boot of an icon in the world of Comic Book crazes, it raises the bar higher than most feel-good movies.

Categories: Action, Action/Adventure, Adaptation, Comic Book, DC Comics, Movie, Review

The Bounty Hunter (2011)

With two of the most recognizable stars in Hollywood taking on leading roles opposite each other, a director who is no stranger to the arena of rom-coms and some snappy promotion, The Bounty Hunter is the latest attempt to see how many Hollywood clichés can be squeezed into its allotted time slot.

Categories: Chick Flick, Comedy, Gerard Butler, Jennifer Aniston, Movie, Review

Book: Lethal Legacy

About the Book:

Author: Irene Hannon

Publisher: Revell

Publication Date: 2012

Series: “Guardians of Justice” (book 3 of 3)

Genre: Christian Fiction, Suspense

Rating: 4 ½ out of 5

My Thoughts: RITA-award winning author, Irene Hannon brings the third story in the “Guardians of Justice,” or the Taylor siblings’ saga, to a close. As a detective, Cole is used to long hours and stressful work but he is tired of life in the fast lane – tired of having someone new on his arm every family event. When he meets Kelly Warren, a red-headed beauty who claims her father’s death was no suicide, Cole begins to re-evaluate his life, and he begins to hope that he has finally found someone to share his life – Kelly.  This is the basis for Cole’s story and it is one that, again feels a bit repetitive though having just jammed reading all three of these books in the span of a month, I think I can safely say, this is far and above a great read (even in comparison to Fatal Judgment).

Categories: Book, Christian, Contemporary Fiction, Fiction, Irene Hannon, Revell, Review, Series, Suspense

Review: Charlie's Angels - Season One (2011)

Based of the 70’s era show by the same name and produced by Aaron Spelling, there was one thing this show was in dire need of: a fresh perspective. Those of you who have seen the original know that it elects eye-rolling and groans, which is why when I learned producers re-booted the series for the 2011 TV season, I was thrilled to pieces – that is exactly what the show needed.

Categories: ABC, Crime Drama, Minka Kelly, Review, Season One, TV, TV Show

Olympic Highlights: Part 1

Okay. So.. I have a confession. Basically, I promised myself I wouldn't post about the Olympic games because, well... everyone was going to be watching, writing, blogging, tweeting and posting on Facebook about them but I that has kind of already been nixed on my Twitter as I've posted a few things here and there. To change up from the norm, I thought I'd post a few of my highlights (complete with pictures!) - and then the question for you all: What have been your favorite moments and who are you rooting for?

Categories: America, Fun, Olympics

Femnista: Sci-Fi and Fantasy

Good evening, readers! The newest issue of Femnista has launched - this month's theme was "Sci-Fi & Fantasy." In this issue you will meet again with countless Marvel heroes, be swept into the fascinating world of Stardust (welcome, Jessica!) and introduce yourself to the first "western" sci-fi. 

The next two themes are filling up fast but if you would like to write for Femnista, up-coming is "True Stories" and the genius of Alfred Hitchcock. Don't wait if you want to get in on contributing or if you have suggestions for any 2013 themes, please share them as we'd love your input. Here is the list of topics taken for the next issue: 

Sept / Oct 2012: Based on a True Story
 

Topics Taken: The Vow, Sophie Scholl, Soul Surfer, Seabiscuit, Amadeus, Catch Me If You Can, Secretariat, Walk the Line, The Social Network, Marley & Me, Freud's Last Session, The King's Speech, The Blind Side. (2 spots left.)

Submissions due: Sept 17.Sept 17

Until then, click on the link below to download the latest issue or find the "read Femnista" drop-down tab on the right sidebar to scroll through it on-line. Enjoy!

Femnista: July/August 2012 - Sci-Fi and Fantasy 

If you enjoy this publication, please...

Re-blog the issue on Tumblr

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Categories: Fantasy, Femnista, Sci-Fi, Webzine

An Unfinished Life (2005)

Ever since the death of her husband Jean Gilkyson (Jennifer Lopez) has dealt with some pretty hard knocks in her life – thanks to one too many wrong choices. Following her husband’s tragic death, Jean walked away from any ties with family and has been raising her young daughter (Becca Gardner) on her own. Fleeing from an abusive relationship, Jean knows she cannot run forever so with funds running low, she winds up at her father-in-law’s doorstep, hoping he’ll be willing to take them in. Einar (Robert Redford) hasn’t ever come to terms with the death of his son… or the one person he holds responsible for his death: his elusive daughter-in-law. What she has kept from him all those years is unforgivable.

Categories: Drama, Jennifer Lopez, Movie, Review