Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Canvas Champ Review & Giveaway



Christmas is barely over three months away and today is the perfect time to start making your gift shopping list. Buying toys and gizmos for the kids is an easy task, but figuring out what to buy an adult can be a little challenging.

Yes, you could just go ahead and buy some sort of gift card, but whoever you are giving the gift to may think you didn't put an effort into the gift. The perfect gift should be something that is more personal, something that you put a little thought into.

Recently, I was contacted by Canvas Champ, a picture to canvas company that was interested in me reviewing a 12" x 8" complimentary copy in exchange for my honest thoughts. I had reviewed a similar canvas company last year, so I thought "Why Not!"


Canvas Champ prices are reasonably priced compared to other companies. A 12"x8" canvas currently costs only $16.77. The canvas sizes ranges from 8"x8" to 30"x20," though you can customize your own canvas size up to 52". The company also sells peel and stick wallpaper, photo boards, metal prints, acrylic prints and canvas banners.

Now you're probably wondering what photo I wanted transfered to canvas. Well, the photo I picked is an old family picture that has my great-grandmother standing in the center with her siblings around her. My great-great-grandparents are the elderly couple sitting in the chairs. It isn't exactly the best photo in the world, but I thought if it turned out good, then I would give it my my grandmother for Christmas.

Review - Where Treetops Glistens


Where Treetops Glisten
by Tricia Goyer, Cara Putman and Sarah Sundin
Publisher: WaterBrook Press
Pub. Date: September 16, 2014
ISBN: 978-1601426482
Pages: 368
Buy Link: http://ow.ly/BwVP9
Blog Tour: http://litfusegroup.com/author/glisten

Review:

October won't arrive until tomorrow, but publishers are already releasing holiday titles. Now don't get me wrong, I do like reading a good Christmas story, but this time a year I'm more in the mood to read a R.L. Stine or Stephen King title. Being a blogger, I don't have any control over what books are available to review. After I already reviewed one holiday title this year, I was going to take a break until November, but once I saw Tricia Goyer, Cara Putman and Sarah Sundin were the authors of the new anthology, Where Treetops Glisten, I had to review it.

The anthology centers on the Turner family, whom are living in Lafayette, Indiana during the WWII. Cara Putman pens the first story, titled White Christmas, where college student Abigail Turner is still mourning the death of boyfriend. She has no plans on ever finding love again that is until she meets Jackson, a man that needs her help.

I'll Be Home For Christmas is written by Sarah Sundin and centers on Abigail's brother Pete, a fighter pilot returning home to try to put the war behind him. His faith seems to be a lost that is until he meets a young girl and his mother, a woman he once bullied when they were young.

DVD Review - The Paranormal Diaries: Clophill


The Paranormal Diaries: Clophill
Director: Kevin Gates, Michael Bartlett
Starring: Mark Andrews, Michael Bartlett
Studio: Image Entertainment
Release Date: September 30, 2014
Retail: $27.97
ASIN: B00KTFJ72I
Running Time: 88 minutes
Rating: Not Rated
Buy Link: Amazon

Review:

Fifteen-years ago, The Blair Witch Project jumped started the "found footage genre," and many other filmmakers had followed in its footsteps, including today's DVD release of The Paranormal Diaries: Clophill. The film is co-directed by Kevin Gates and Michael Bartlett and stars Craig Stovin, Criselda Cabitac, Kevin Gates, Michael Bartlett, Mark Jeavons and Rob Whitaker. Special features include: audio commentary with co-directors and cast and "Tales from the Graveyard" deleted scenes.

When you see the words "based on true events" on a horror DVD case, most likely the film is fictionalized or it is very loosely connected to the real events. In the case with this movie, it is a faux "ghost hunting" documentary, but if you don't know that before hand, you might be fooled into believing that the movie is actually real.

The film follows six paranormal investigators who travel to Clophill to investigate the strange occurrences that have occurred at the ruined St. Mary's Church. Over the years the area has attracted grave robbers, body snatchers, Satanists and cultists. The team is determined to unravel the mysteries of the "holy ground," but what they discover may just cost them their lives.

Monday, September 29, 2014

Review - The Sea House


The Sea House
A Novel
by Elisabeth Gifford
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Pub. Date: April 15, 2014
ISBN: 978-1250043344
Pages: 320
Blog Tour: http://litfusegroup.com/author/egifford
Buy Link: http://amzn.to/ZSbs53

Review:
 
Released earlier this year is the mystery-romance The Sea House by Elisabeth Gifford. Typically, the only romance books I read are the historical kind, but I was looking for something different to read and that is exactly what I got with this novel.

The Sea House centers a couple, Michael and Ruth, who moves into an old seaside house on the Scottish Island of Harris. At first glance the house is a dream come true, but this house has many secrets buried within it, including the remains of a baby, whose legs were fused together, as if it were a mermaid baby. As I guess you can say that the couple's plans on turning the house into a bread & breakfast are definitely put on a hold.

Being pregnant, Ruth becomes interested in the identity of the baby and the history of the house, which leads her to learn about an amateur evolutionary scientist, Reverend Alexander Ferguson, who once lived in he house during the 1800s. Alexander was investigating the legend of the selkies, a mermaid/seal people that have been sighted in the area for the centuries.

Sunday, September 28, 2014

Review and Giveaway - Gunman's Tally

Gunman's Tally
by L. Ron Hubbard
Studio: Galaxy Press
Release Date: March 21, 2013
ISBN: 978-1592122752
Pages: 120
ASIN: 978-1592123780
Running Time: 125 minutes
Buy Links: Audiobook, Paperback

Review:

Besides from listening to a a few children audiobooks on cassettes when I was a kid, I have never been a fan of audiobooks until I started reviewing titles from Stories from the Golden Age, which are short stories that were written in the '30s and '40s by L. Ron Hubbard. With a banquet of 153 stories, Galaxy Press has been releasing these titles onto audiobooks and paperbacks for a new generation of readers.

Recently, I received both the audiobook and paperback of Gunman's Tally, a western short story that was originally published in the November 1937 issue of All Western Magazine. This title also includes an additional title, Ruin At Rio Piedras. The audiobook is directed by Jim Meskiman and features the voice-actors of Shane Johnson, R.F. Daley, Christina Huntington, Jim Meskimen, Phil Proctor, Enn Reitel, Josh R. Thompson and Michael Yurchak.

Gunman's Tally centers on Easy Bill Gates, the landowner of the Las Pinas ranch who has a gentle heart. He had never succumbed to violence until his brother was murdered by the outlaw Fanner Marsten. He tracked down Fanner and struck him down. Little did he know that Fanner was one of the fastest gun in the west, so now Bill has a reputation as a gunslinger.

George Barton is the villain of this story and he wants to claim Las Pinas as his own. He is afraid of Easy Bill Gates, so he hires the fastest and meanest gunslinger to either run Bill off of his land or kill him in the process, but Bill won't give up his land without a fight.

Blu-ray Review - Krull



Krull
Director: Peter Yates
Starring: Ken Marshall, Lysette Anthony, Freddie Jones, Francesca Annis and Liam Neeson
Release Date: September 30, 2014
Retail: $9.98
ASIN: B00LU4URS0
Running Time: 121 minutes
Rating: PG
Buy Link: Amazon

Review:

Arriving on Blu-ray for the very first time on Tuesday September 30, 2014 is the 1983 cult classic Krull. The film was directed by Peter Yates (Bullitt) and stars Ken Marshall (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine), Lysette Anthony (Dark Shadows), Freddie Jones (Dune), Francesca Annis (The Libertine) and Liam Nesson (Taken, Taken 2). There are no extras or special features on the Blu-ray.

There were many science-fiction adventures released during the 1980s, including Krull, which in 1983 was one of the biggest budget ($45-50 million) films ever produced. The film was critically panned and was considered a box-office flop, taking in just over $16 million. Over the years, mostly thanks to reruns on TBS and TNT in the '90s, the film now has a cult following.

The film is set on the planet Krull where The Beast and his army of Slayers arrive to wreck havoc by kidnapping Princess Lyssa (played by Lysette Anthony). Her husband-to-be, Prince Colwyn (played by Ken Marshall), is the only survivor of the wedding massacre and seeks out to save the princess and is nursed back to health by Ynyr the Old One.

Saturday, September 27, 2014

DVD Review - Witch's Night Out



Witch's Night Out
Voice Cast: Gilda Radner, Bob Church, John Leach, Naomi Leach
Tony Molesworth, Catherine O'Hara, Fiona Reid, Gerry Salsberg
Studio: Mill Creek Entertainment
Release Date: September 16, 2014
Retail: $9.98
ISBN: B00LU4URQM
Running Time: 124 minutes
Rating: Not Rated
Buy Link: Amazon

Review:

Arriving on DVD for the very first time is the 1978 Canadian Halloween special, titled Witch's Night Out, which is a sequel to the 1974 special The Gift of Winter. 

Witch's Night Out centers on a witch bringing two children, Small and Tender, along with their babysitter (Bazooey) to a Halloween party that is taking place at the witch's mansion. The witch decides to show them a good time by turning them into a werewolf and Frankenstein's monster. The local citizens aren't too happy about the party and they create a mob to catch any supernatural creature.

As an added bonus there are 10 bonus Halloween episodes:

Friday, September 26, 2014

Book Blogger Hop: Sept. 26th - Oct. 2nd

Book Blogger Hop

Welcome to the new Book Blogger Hop!

If you want schedule next week's post, click here to find the next prompt question. To submit a question, fill out this form.

What to do:

1. Post on your blog answering this question:

  This week's question is submitted by Stephanie!

How will be reading in 100 year's time? Will there be any printed books left? How about ereaders? What might they look like?

2. Enter the link to your post in the linky list below (enter your Blog Name and the direct link to your post answering this week’s question. Failure to do so will result in removal of your link).


3. Visit other blogs in the list and comment on their posts. Try to spend some time on the blogs reading other posts and possible become a new follower.  The purpose of the hop is to give bloggers a chance to follow other blogs, learn about new books, befriend other bloggers, and receive new followers to your own blog.
  

My Answer: 

In my bleak version of the future, an apocalypse has occurred and there is no electricity, so all technology has become obsolete, including ereaders. All there is to read are the printed books that survived the destruction.


Linky List:

DVD Review - Thunder and the House of Magic



Thunder and the House of Magic
Director: Ben Stassen & Jermey Degruson
Voice Cast: Murray Blue, George Babbit,
Studio: Shout! Factory
Release Date: September 30, 2014
Running Time: 87 minutes
Rating: Not Rated
Buy Link: DVD, Blu-ray

Review:

Arriving on DVD and two-disc Blu-ray 3D Combo Pack from Shout! Factor and exclusively sold at Walmart stores on Tuesday September 30th is the animated film, Thunder and the House of Magic. Bonus Features include Origins, Character Animation, The Making Of the Soundtrack, Teaser and Trailer.

From directors Ben Assent (Fly Me to the Moon, Sammy's Adventures: Escape from Paradise) and Jeremy Degruson (A Turtle's Tale: Sammy's Adventure) comes this charming fantasy adventure about an abandoned cat, Thunder (voiced by Murray Blue), who sneaks into a old mansion that is owned by Lawrence (voiced by Doug Stone), a retired magician. The mansion has a little magic of its own, as an army of automatons and gizmos have come to life.

Thunder believes this is the perfect home for him and introduces himself to Lawrence, whom takes an instant liking to him, but Lawrence's other pets, Jack the Rabbit (voiced by George Babbit) and Maggie the Mouse (voiced by Shanelle Gray) doesn't like Thunder.

Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Review - Treasury of Bible Stories: Rhythmical Rhymes of Biblical Times


Treasury of Bible Stories: Rhythmical Rhymes of Biblical Times
Magnificent Tales
by Kelly Pulley
Publisher: David C. Cook
Pub. Date: September 1, 2014
ISBN: 978-0781409179
Pages: 352
Buy Link:http://ow.ly/BotGV
Blog Tour: http://litfusegroup.com/author/kpulley

Review:

With all the technology (cell phones, tablets, laptops, etc.) there are way too many distractions for kids when they should be reading a book. Now if you have ever read the Bible, then you probably know that it isn't exactly kid-friendly. Available now to own from David C. Cook is the Treasury of Bible Stories: Rhythmical Rhymes of Biblical Times Magnificent Tales by Kelly Pulley. Throughout 20 different stories the author retells the Bible in a family-friendly manner with dazzling illustrations to go along with each story.

The stories include:

Tricked by a Snake - The Slippery Story of Adam and Eve
Every Beast Times Two - The Salty Tale of Noah's Ark
Dreams That Were Dreamed - The Colorful Story of Joseph and His Brothers
Jochebed's Secret Joy - The Stirring Story of Baby Moses in the Nile
"Let My People Go!" - The Gripping Story of The Escape from Egypt
A Wall of Water - The Towering Tale of Moses Crossing The Sea
A Silly-Sounding Plan - The Dizzling Tale of Joshua at Jericho
A Shout for the Lord - The Convincing Story of Gideon's Doubt
The Biggest and Toughest - The Story of David's Big Faith
God's Bigger Plan - The Beautiful Story of Queen Esther
Dainel for Lunch - The Tasty Tale of Daniel in the Lion's Den
Food for a Fish - The Whopping Story of Jonah and the Whale
Good News of Great Joy - The Amazing Story of Jesus's Birth

Review - Before Amen: The Power Of A Simple Prayer


Before Amen: The Power Of A Simple Prayer
by Max Lucado
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Pub. Date: September 30, 2014
ISBN: 978-0849948480
Pages: 192
Buy Link: http://ow.ly/BbwcL
Blog Tour: http://litfusegroup.com/author/mlucado

Review:

Arriving next week in bookstores is Before Amen: The Power Of A Simple Prayer by the best-selling author Max Lucado. Though I'm well aware of the author's non-fiction works, this is the first time that I have read one of his books. I have nothing against reading self-help-type books, but the ones with a Christian theme can sometimes feel too preachy and a little force. So I was a little skeptical about reviewing a book about praying. I signed up to review the title based on the author's name alone.

This is definitely the hardest review I have ever written on this blog, as it is difficult for me to sum up the book in words. Max Lucado tackles the struggles people go through when praying. Yes, praying should be easy to do, but with all the stresses in life (paying bills, looking for a better job, raising kids, keeping a marriage working, etc.), you might not have time to pray or at least you probably won't have time to give a thoughtful prayer.

In the times of struggles many people turn to the Lord to help them get out of a bad situation, but praying isn't that easy, as most people forget to invite the Lord into their lives. Once the Lord is there, he brings many gifts, including patience and joy. You don't need to give a lecture to the Lord on your problems, as a simple prayer can work wonders.

Here is a "quotable, repeatable, portable prayer" that Max Lucado mentions in the book:

Tuesday, September 23, 2014

DVD Review - Nashville: The Complete Second Season


Nashville: The Complete Second Season
Starring: Connie Britton, Hayden Panettiere
Studio: ABC Studios
Release Date: September 23, 2014
Retail: $45.99
ASIN: B00FR23MT2
Running Time: 948 minutes
Rating: TV-PG
Buy Link: Amazon

Review:

Arriving today on DVD is Nashville: The Complete Second Season, featuring all 22 episodes. Bonus Features include: Nashville: On The Record Music Special, bloopers and deleted scenes.

Season 2 picks up directly after the cliffhanger-ending of Season 1. Rayna Jaymes (played by Connie Britton) is left in a medically induced coma after being in the car accident with Deacon Clayborne (played by Charles Esten), who takes the blame for being behind the wheel.

Meanwhile, Scarlett O'Connor (played by Clare Bowen) rejects Gunnar Scott's (played by Sam Palladio) proposal and moves out of their apartment. She moves in with her childhood best-friend, Zoey Dalton (played by Chaley Rose), who recently moved to Nashville and later starts dating Gunnar.

Upcoming country-singer, Will Lexington (played by Chris Carmack), becomes Gunnar's new roommate. Though Will is gay, he begins a relationship with Layla Grant (played by Aubrey Peeples) to help his reputation.

Still grieving over her mother's death, Juliette Barnes (played by Hayden Panettiere) becomes obsessed with changing her image from teen singer to a serious adult country-singer, which doesn't go well with Edgehill's new CEO, Jeff Fordham (played by Oliver Hudson).

 The episodes on the five-disc set are:

How Using a Balance Transfer Credit Card Can Drastically Improve Your At Home Business

Image: www.fsb-iowa.com/cms/838/Business_Credit_Cards

Work-from-home parents have become extremely popular over the last few years. Parents want the ability to spend time with their families but they also want to pursue their career dreams and contribute to the household income. Many families used to think that this was not a possibility, but so many families have proven that you can have it all.

There are a lot of tricks that you can use to make more money from home with little time commitment. So many parents have been trapped in financial debt that they cannot pursue these kinds of dreams. What they don’t realize is that one simple tool can help them create the financial stability that they need to expand their at-home business.

“Businesses have changed drastically overnight by using balance transfer credit cards, and there’s no reason that other business owners and entrepreneurs can’t have the same results,” says Jeffrey Weber of SmartBalanceTransfers.com.

You can establish credit for your business

Establishing credit for an at home business is not easy. Most often, you have probably been working out of a personal checking account for your business and have not even been creating any financial documentation for your at home business. Use a balance transfer credit card to begin building credit in the name of your business.

Review - The Stress Cure by Linda Evans Shepherd


The Stress Cure
by Linda Evans Shepherd
Publisher: Revell
Pub. Date: September 16, 2014
ISBN: 978-0800722838
Pages: 208
Buy Link: Amazon

Review:

I think every adult has been stressed at least one time during their life. Whether it is about money, your job, your marriage, your kids or countless other things, the pressure can get to you. Stress can cause an increase in temperament, weight gain, headaches and sickness. There are many books written on the topic of stress, but very few of them will actually help a person cure their stress. Instead these other books will help them avoid the cause of the stress, which isn't very helpful at all because stress is everywere.

Arriving in bookstores last week is yet another book on the topic, titled The Stress Cure by Linda Evans Shepard, which uses a different approach - prayer. The author suggests never to ignore or avoid the cause of your stress, but instead to find peaceful ways to deal with your day-to-day problems. Most of our problems are not hopeless, so the author recommends seeking guidance from the Lord to get through the tough times.

Yes, this might be a Christian approach to curing stress, but it is a more simple and effective way than what is suggested in other books. Throughout the book, the author quotes from the Bible, as well as quotes by Max Lucado, Billy Graham, Charles Stanley and a few others.

Monday, September 22, 2014

DVD Review - TV Guide Spotlight: TV's Spookiest Halloween Episodes



TV Guide Spotlight: TV's Spookiest Halloween Episodes
Starring: Elizabeth Montgomery, Barbara Eden, Sherman Hemsley, Sarah Jessica Parker, Roseanne
Studio: Mill Creek Entertainment
Release Date: September 16, 2014
Retail: $9.98
ASIN: B00LU4URPI
Running Time: 5 hours 23 minutes
Rating: Not Rated
Buy Link: Amazon

Review:

With just over 38 days until Halloween, it is no surprise that studios will be releasing gobs of horror films and Halloween themed DVDs this time of year. Last week, Mill Creek Entertainment released the DVD, titled TV Guide Spotlight: TV's Spookiest Halloween Episodes. The single-disc DVD features 14 episodes from  13 classic television shows.

The episodes are:

Bewitched (Season 4 - Episode 8) - Safe and Sane Halloween
I Dream of Jeannie (Season 3 - Episode 21) - My Master, the Ghost Breaker
The Jeffersons (Season 6 - Episode 4) - Now You See It, Now You Don't Part 1 & 2
Square Pegs (Season 1- Episode 5) - Halloween XII
The Facts of Life (Season 5 - Episode 6) - Halloween
The Cosby Show (Season 2 - Episode 6) - Halloween
Roseanne (Season 2 - Episode 7) - Boo!
Mad About You (Season 2 - Episode 6) - An Unplanned Child
Married With Children (Season 8 - Episode 7) - Take My Wife, Please
NewsRadio (Season 3 - Episode 7) - Halloween
Ned And Stacey (Season 1 - Episode 8) - Halloween Story
3rd Rock From The Sun (Season 3 - Episode 5) - Scaredy Dick
That '70s Show (Season 2 - Episode 5) - Halloween

Review - Raging Heat by Richard Castle


 
Raging Heat
Nikki Heat, book 6
by Richard Castle
Publisher: Kingswell
Pub. Date: September 16, 2014
ISBN: 978-1401324810
Pages: 304
Buy Link: Amazon

Review:

You know that a new season of ABC's Castle is just around the corner when a new Nikki Heat title is released to bookstores. If you have never watched an episode of the series, then you'll probably be slightly confused about the back-story of Nikki Heat. On the series, Nathan Fillion plays Richard Castle, a best-selling mystery author who tags along with NYPD Detective Kate Beckett to solve mysteries and help him get inspiration for his next novel. That novel happens to be titled Heat Wave and the novel was published in reality in 2009 under the name Richard Castle, which is actually a ghostwriter. Four sequels quickly followd with the sixth novel, Raging Heat, being released last week. The characters in the Nikki Heat series mimics the characters on Castle, which Nikki Heat is a version of Kate Beckett and Jameson Rook is a version of Richard Castle.

Raging Heat opens up with NYPD Nikki Heat investigating a serious of bizarre deaths, which one of the victims is found in a planetarium. All the deaths occur within a 36-hour time-span leading up to Hurricane Sandy. The crime scenes' evidence points towards Homeland Security Commissioner Keith Gilbert, whom is going to run for Senator.

Meanwhile, Nikki's boyfriend, the Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Jameson Rook, returns to NY after being on a writing assignment. Once again, Rook tags along with Nikki, as she investigates the murders and of course Rook has his own theory on who the killer is and he thinks Nikki has arrested the wrong suspect.

Review - Hidden in the Stars


Hidden in the Stars
Quilts of Love series
by Robin Caroll
Publisher: Abingdon Press
Pub. Date: Sept. 16, 2014
ISBN: 978-1426773600
Pages: 224
Buy Link: Amazon
Blog Tour:  http://litfusegroup.com/author/rcaroll

Review:
 
If you have never read a book from the Quilts of Love series, then you're missing out on some great storytelling. The series is published by Abingdon Press, featuring a different author with every new title. Each book has a new plot and a new group of characters, but each and every plot somehow involves a quilt. Typically these books are a straightforward romantic novel, but the newest entry, Hidden in the Stars, is completely different from the others.

Hidden in the Stars centers on Sophia Montgomery, a talented gymnast who has just been accepted as a member of an Olympic team, but all her dreams are quickly shattered when her mother and her are assaulted. Her mother is killed during the incident, but Sophia barely survives, losing her eyesight and injuring her hands. Out of nowhere the grandmother she thought was dead shows up to help Sophia slowly pick up the pieces.

Meanwhile, Detective Julian Frazier is investigating the attack and is determined to catch whomever killed Mrs. Montgomery and injured Sophia. The longer he works on the case, the stronger his feelings for Sophia become. Though he might be able to catch the murderer, he doesn't know if he can help mend Sophia's broken spirit.

Sunday, September 21, 2014

Review - Uncorked Ventures Wine Club


Since I started blogging in 2009, I have had many great opportunities to review a wide variety of products. I never thought I would be reviewing a bottle of wine, but when I learned that Uncorked Ventures were looking for bloggers to review their Wine Club, I eagerly signed up.

Luckily, I was one of the few bloggers that got accepted to review either 2 bottles from the Explorations Wine Club ($55 value) or one bottle from the Special Selections Wine Club ($50 value). The Explorations Wine Club includes two bottles of wine (1 white and 1 red), which costs $40 per shipment. The Special Selections Wine Club consists of two bottles of a limited production red wine, which costs $95 per shipment. All the wines have a +90 rating. Both Clubs can either be bought in a one shipment, 3-month shipment, 6-month shipment, 12-month shipment, quarterly, every other month or as a monthly shipment. 

By now you are probably wondering which club I picked to review, well I picked the Special Selections Wine Club. I'm not much of a drinker, but I do drink wine around special occasions and holidays. The wine I buy never costs more than $10, so I was excited to try a $50 bottle. The bottle of wine was delivered by UPS on Friday, which I had to sign for it.


The Special Selections Wine bottle that was sent to me was called VinRoc RTW (Red Table Wine), a 2010 wine from Napa Valley AVA. Due to the Atlas Peak, the soil is almost entirely volcanic and the temperatures are ten degrees warmer than the valley floor, though during the afternoon and evenings the area receives harsh winds and cool breezes from the bay. The volcanic aspects of the soil blends nicely with the grapes, giving the juices an unique taste.

DVD Review - My Little Pony: The Complete Series



My Little Pony: The Complete Series
Starring: Bettina Bush, Scott Menville, Keri Houlihan, Susan Blu, Katie Leigh, Sherry Lynn, Nancy Cartwright
Ellen Gerstell
Studio: Shout! Factory
Release Date: September 30, 2014
Retail: $29.93
ASIN: B00KTFJ6DS
Running Time: 720 minutes
Rating: PG
Buy Link: Amazon

Review:

Anyone growing up in the '80s will probably remember the overload of Saturday Morning Cartoons and weekday afternoon cartoons. Toy companies took advantage of the animation popularity and began making cartoon shows based on their toy-lines. Hasbro produced animated series based on their line of toys for Transformers and G.I. Joe, which were marketed for boys. The My Little Pony toy-line for girls was released in 1983 and it became so popular that Hasbro produced two TV-Specials that aired in 1984 and 1985, along with a feature film in the summer of 1986. A weekday animated series followed that September, featuring a 10-minute My Little Pony segment followed by another Hasbro cartoons (The Glo Friends, MoonDreamers and the Potato Head Kids). The series only lasted 65 episodes over the course of two-seasons.

Over the years there has been several DVD releases, but My Little Pony: The Complete Series will be released on a 4-disc set for the first time by Shout! Factory this Tuesday. The series is set in the magical Ponyland where the Little Ponies live a peaceful life at the Paradise Estate, but the Little Ponies have enemies that want to destroy them. Throughout each episode The Little Ponies must try to outwit witches, trolls, goblins and other creatures that try to do them harm.

The original untitled My Little Pony special was re-edited into the two-part episode, titled Rescue from Midnight Castle, and the TV-special Escape from Catrina was also re-edited into a two-part episode, which served as the series-finale.

Episodes on the the four-part disc are:

Friday, September 19, 2014

Book Blogger Hop: Sept. 19th - 25th

Book Blogger Hop

Welcome to the new Book Blogger Hop!

If you want schedule next week's post, click here to find the next prompt question. To submit a question, fill out this form.

What to do:

1. Post on your blog answering this question:

  This week's question is submitted by Stephanie!

How important is a book's cover to your overall impression of it?

2. Enter the link to your post in the linky list below (enter your Blog Name and the direct link to your post answering this week’s question. Failure to do so will result in removal of your link).


3. Visit other blogs in the list and comment on their posts. Try to spend some time on the blogs reading other posts and possible become a new follower.  The purpose of the hop is to give bloggers a chance to follow other blogs, learn about new books, befriend other bloggers, and receive new followers to your own blog.
  

My Answer: 

I try not to judge my final thoughts on the cover alone, but whether or not I liked plot, the characters and if the book was well written.


Linky List:

Review - Tried and True by Mary Connealy


Tried & True
Wild At Heart, Book One
by Mary Connealy
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers
Pub. Date: September 2, 2014
ISBN: 978-0764211782
Pages: 320
Buy Link: http://ow.ly/AS8Js
Blog Tour: http://litfusegroup.com/author/mconnealy

Review:

Now available to own on paperback and as an eBook is book one in the Wild At Heart series, titled Tried & True. The book is written by one my favorite authors, Mary Connealy. At first glance at the cover, I actually thought the book would have a contemporary setting, but instead it has a post-Civil War setting.

Tried and True centers on Kylie Wilde, a civilized young woman, who just happened to have served in the Civil War as a solider. Kylie and her two older sisters exchanged their skirts for trousers and pretended to be "boys" during the war. While her sisters continue the charade, so they can keep the special exemptions for serving in the war, Kylie has grown out her hair and has started wearing dresses again.

It doesn’t take Kylie long to get the attention of the local land agent, Aaron Masterson, who becomes instantly fascinated with her. As she gets closer to him, she reveals her deepest secret of serving in the Civil War. Being a civilized citizen, Aaron has the responsibility to inform the government of Kylie and her sister's fraud, but he doesn't want to risk the chance of losing her.

Wednesday, September 17, 2014

Review - Christmas At Rose Hill Farm


Christmas at Rose Hill Farm
An Amish Love Story
by Suzanne Woods Fisher
Publisher: Revell
Pub. Date: September 2, 2014
ISBN: 978-0800721930
Pages: 240
Buy Link: http://ow.ly/ARPVX
Blog Tour: http://litfusegroup.com/author/sfisher

Review:

I know that the holidays are getting closer when Christmas themed books start showing up in bookstores. Suzanne Woods Fisher is one of the most popular Christian authors and she has crafted a holiday tale, titled Christmas at Rose Hill Farm. Of course one the first things I noticed about the book is that there is a character named Billy, which coincidentally my name is also Billy!

Set in 1977, Christmas at Rose Hill Farm centers on Billy Lapp, an ex-Amish from Stoney Ridge that is working as a rose rustler for Penn State. He had no intentions of ever returning home, but life throws you unexpected situations and Billy finds himself returning to Stoney Ridge to investigate the origins of a "lost" rose that is found in the greenhouse at Rose Hill Farm.

When Billy originally left Stoney Ridge four years ago, he also left behind his love Bess Riehl. Since then, Bess has moved on with her life by getting engaged to Billy's cousin, Amos, though it did take three proposals for her to finally say "yes" to marriage. Bess and Amos are planning a quite Christmas Wedding, well that is until Billy made his return and old feelings start to return as well.

Review - Joyful by Shelley Shepard Gray


Joyful
Return to Sugarcreek, book three
by Shelley Shepard Gray
Publisher: Avon Inspire
Pub. Date: Sept. 2, 2014
ISBN: 978-0062204509
Pages: 256
Buy Link: http://ow.ly/BeIYd
Blog Tour: http://litfusegroup.com/author/sgray

Review:

There are some authors that never seem to fail with each and every new novel they released. Shelley Shepard Gray is one of these authors. I've been a fan of her work since I read the first book in the Sisters of the Heart series, Hidden, and her writing style keeps getting better with each new novel. Her newest book, Joyful, is the third installment in the Return to Sugarcreek series, which I eagerly signed up to review it through Liffuse Publicity Group.

Joyful centers on Elizabeth Nolt, a young Amish woman who had been dating Randall Beiler for the past two years that is until out of the blue, Randall breaks up with her. Heartbroken, Elizabeth has nobody to turn, except for grandmother.

Unknowingly to Elizabeth is the heartache the Randall is also feeling. He didn't want to break ties with her, but he had no other choice. Situations occured that forced him to push her away so he could take care of his younger siblings and run the family farm.

Tuesday, September 16, 2014

DVD Review - Petals on the Wind



Petals on the Wind
Director: Karen Moncrieff
Starring: Heather Graham, Rose McIver, Wyatt Nash, Baley Buntain, Nick Searcy Dlyan Bruce, Will Kemp, Whitney Hoy, Ellia English and Ellen Burstyn
Studio: LionsGate Home Entertainment
Release Date: September 16, 2014
Retail: $14.98
ASIN: B00KFNF17E
Running Time: 90 minutes
Rating: NOT Rated
Buy Link: Amazon

Review:

Arriving on DVD on September 16th is the Petals on the Wind based on the classic novel by V.C. Andrews. The film is directed by Karen Moncrieff and stars Heather Graham, Rose McIver, Wyatt Nash, Baley Buntain, Nick Searcy Dlyan Bruce, Will Kemp , Whitney Hoy, Ellia English and Ellen Burstyn. The DVD comes with a Digital Ultraviolet code. There are no extras or special features.

After the success of the made-for-television adaption of Flowers in the Attic back in January, it was no-brainier why Lifetime quickly gave the greenlight for the sequel Petals on the Wind, which made its debut on Lifetime back in May.

Unlike the book of the same name that picks up directly where Flowers in the Attic ended, the film adaption jumps ten years with new actors (Rose Mclver, Wyatt Nash and Bailey Buntain) taking over the roles of Cathy, Christopher and Carrie Dollanganger. Shoving a 450 page book into a 90-minute movie means there are many characters and scenes that had to be cut. Dr. Paul Sheffield, who adopts the children and later has a romantic relationship with Cathy, never appears, as the film opens up with his funeral. Cathy's ballet roommates, Yolanda Lange and April Summers, never appears, as well as Dr. Paul's sister,
Amanda Sheffield (Biddens).

Despite some changes, the main plot is still intact in the film with Cathy wanting revenge for what her mother did to her and her siblings. A few scenes with Carrie shows how she was tormented by her classmates and how her mother ignored her, which all leads to her death (it differs from the book). Then there is a side-story with Christopher dating Whitney Hoy, which isn't in the book.


Monday, September 15, 2014

Review - 125 Best Chocolate Chip Recipes: Quick, Easy, Fun Ideas


 
125 Best Chocolate Chip Recipies: Quick, Easy, Fun Ideas
by Julie Hasson
Publisher: Robert Rose
Pub. Date: September 15, 2014
ISBN: 978-0778800729
Pages: 192
Buy Link: Amazon

Review:

Being reissued by Robert Rose this week is the cookbook - 125 Best Chocolate Chip Recipes: Quick, Easy, Fun Ideas by Julie Hasson, featuring an all-new cover and 8 new color photographs.

As many of my readers already know, I do know my way around a kitchen; learning at an early age to cook my own meals and bake my own desserts, so naturally I was interested in reviewing 125 Best Chocolate Chip Recipes, which I received an advanced copy several weeks ago. The cookbook, or should I say baking book, features delicious recipes for bars, squares, cakes, pies, muffins, quick breads, puddings, hot and cold beverages and sauces, all of which uses chocolate chips!

The publisher, Robert Rose, has given me permission to share two tasty recipes.

Chocolate Mousse Cake, page 60, cakes

SERVES 12
Although this seems like a very labor-intensive cake, it really isn’t. In fact, it can be made a day ahead, making it a perfect do-ahead dessert. Plus, as an added bonus, it freezes beautifully.

Tip
You can garnish cake with a sprinkling of chocolate chips or sprinkle it with pieces of broken sandwich cookies.


Variation
Substitute another liqueur for the Kirsch (cherry brandy), such as Irish Cream, crème de cacao or crème de menthe.







10-inch (25 cm) spring form pan, greased
36 cream-filled chocolate 36
sandwich cookies
1⁄4 cup unsalted butter, melted 50 mL
Filling
23⁄4 cups semisweet chocolate chips 675 mL
4 cups whipping (35%) cream, 1 L
chilled and divided
1 tbsp Kirsch or other similar liqueur (see Variation) 15 mL
Topping
1 cup whipping (35%) cream, chilled 250 mL
3 tbsp confectioner’s (icing) sugar 45 mL
1⁄2 tsp vanilla 2 mL


1. In a food processor fitted with a metal blade, pulse chocolate sandwich cookies until finely ground. (You should have about 3 cups/750 mL.) Add melted butter and process just until combined. Firmly press cookie mixture onto bottom and up side of prepared pan. Freeze for 20 minutes to firm up crust.
2. Filling: Meanwhile, in a large microwave-safe bowl, combine chocolate chips and 1 cup (250 mL) of the cream. Microwave on High for 21⁄2 minutes, stirring every 30 seconds, until chocolate is shiny and almost melted. Stir until smooth. In clean food processor bowl, process chocolate mixture and Kirsch until smooth.
3. In a large bowl, whip remaining cream until stiff peaks form. Add cooled chocolate mixture and whip until incorporated. Spread filling over prepared crust and refrigerate until firm, about 6 hours, or overnight.
4. Topping: Whip cream with confectioner’s sugar and vanilla until stiff peaks form. Spread over chocolate mousse layer and refrigerate for 1 hour or until firm, or freeze for 20 minutes. Carefully run a knife around edge of pan before removing side. Do not remove bottom of pan. Slice and serve cake directly from bottom of pan.

Courtesy of 125 Best Chocolate Chip Recipes: Quick, Easy, Fun Ideas by Julie Hasson 2014 © www.robertrose.ca Reprinted with publisher permission.

Review - Love’s Fortune by Laura Frantz


Love's Fortune
The Ballantyne Legacy, book 3
by Laura Frantz
Publisher: Revell
Pub. Date: September 16, 2014
ISBN: 978-0800720438
Pages: 400
Buy Link: Amazon

Review:

Arriving in bookstores today is the third installment in The Ballantyne Legacy, titled Love's Fortune by Laura Frantz. I have never read the other books in the series, but the cover alone for the third book caught my attention. Plus, to me the book feels like a standalone novel.


Love's Fortune centers on Rowena "Wren" Ballantyne, a young woman living in Kentucky who's life is forever changed when she leaves her home and travels with her father to New Hope, Pennsylvania. She quickly learns of her father's heritage and meets her new family members, who introduce her to the high society life.

Jumping from one lifestyle to another is not an easy task and she struggles to fit in, that is until she meets James Sackett, a steamship pilot of the Ballantynes' shipping line. Though her newfound friend tries to help her fit in with her new surrounds, she still doesn't feel comfortable becoming the kind of 'lady' that her Aunt Andra wants her to become.

Sunday, September 14, 2014

DVD Review - Castle: The Complete Sixth Season



Castle: The Complete Sixth Season
Starring: Nathan Fillion, Stana Katic, Seamus Dever, Jon Huertas, Tamala Jones, Molly Quinn, Susan Sullivan
Studio: ABC Studios
Release Date: September 16, 2014
Retail: $45.99
ASIN: B00FR23QNE
Running Time: 984 minutes
Rating: TV-14
Buy Link: Amazon

Review:

Arriving on DVD on Tuesday September 16, 2014 from ABC Studios is Castle: The Complete Sixth Season, featuring all 23 episodes. Bonus Features include: A Few of Our Favorite Things - Cast and crew reveal their favorite Castle moments of the past six seasons, including an unaired "Caskett" highlight from the Season 4 finale. Plus fan Favorites in every category; On Location With Stana - Stana Katic shares insights into her creative process and reflects on the character she portrays, in this intimate diary of a day on set during the season finale; Audio Commentaries - Including character commentary with Detectives Ryan and Esposito; Castle Karaoke - Detective Ryan gets his groove on in this never-before-seen extended karaoke performance; Bloopers and Deleted Scenes.

Season 6 further develops Richard Castle (played by Nathan Fillion) and Kate Beckett's (played by Stana Katic) romance with their engagement, despite the fact that Beckett accept a job working for the Attorney General's office in Washington D.C., well only for the the first three episodes of the season before she returns to her duties as a New York homicide detective.


Castle's daughter, Alexa (played by Moly Quinn), returns from her vacation overseas and she brings back a boyfriend, Pi, which Castle doesn't take the news very well, resulting in Alexa moving into her own apartment. Meanwhile, Castle's estranged father (played by guest-star Josh Brolin) returns, only to bring danger to his family. Beckett finally takes the down the man responsible for her mother's death. All of this leads to the shocking cliffhanger in "For Better or Worse," which will be resolved in the seventh season premiere on Monday September 29th!

The 23 episodes on the five-disc set are:

DVD Review - Prisoners Of War: Season Two


 
Prisoners Of War: Season Two
Starring: Gal Zaid, Yael Eitan
Studio: Shout Factory!
Release Date: September 16, 2014
Retail: $29.83
ASIN: B00KTFJ6VK
Running Time: 715 minutes
Rating: TV-MA
Buy Link: Amazon

Review:

Now available to own on DVD for the first time in the United States is Prisoners Of War: Season Two, featuring all 14 episodes from the exciting second season. Bonus Features include an Introduction by Gideon Raff, Cast Interviews and Episode Commentaries with Creator Gideon Raff & Director Of Photography Itai Neeman.

Prisoners Of War first premiered in 2010 and has consistently been the number one drama in Israel over the course of two seasons. A third season is being planned. The series inspired Showtime's Emmy-award winning Homeland.

The second season picks up a few days after the events of season one with the discovery that Amiel Ben Horin, now know as "Yussuf," is still alive and he has been living as a Muslim in Syria. The biggest question is: "Has Ameil been turned into a terrorist?" Meanwhile, Uri and Nimrod struggle to pick up their lives after returning home. 

The episodes on the four-disc set are:

Review - All's Fair in Love and Cupcakes


All's Fair in Love and Cupcakes
by Besty St. Amant
Publisher: Zondervan
Pub. Date: Sept. 2, 2014
ISBN: 978-0310338451
Pages: 320
Buy Link: http://ow.ly/AZIVZ
Blog Tour: http://litfusegroup.com/campaigns/alls-fair-in-love-and-cupcakes-betsy-st-amant

Review:

With me enjoying a good romance book and my love for cooking/baking, it was a no-brainier why I would sign up to review a book titled All's Fair in Love Cupcakes by Besty St. Amant. While I'm not familiar with the author's other work, the title alone caught my attention.

All's Fair in Love and Cupcakes centers on Kat Varland, a twenty-six-year-old who is stuck working in her Aunt Maggie's bakery. Though she has a business degree, her real passion is baking, but she has no idea how to mix the to together. Her life changes when she receives a letter stating she has been accepted as a contestant on a reality TV bake-off called Cupcake Combat, but she never sent in an application. She quickly realizes that best-friend, Lucas Brannen, was the one who filled out the application and sent it in. Now Kat can finally see her future as a professional baker working at a famous bakery in New York city, but her dream may never come true, as there are other eager bakers wanting to win the competition.

Unknowingly to Kat, Lucas has been in love with her for years. He saw how her talents were being wasted, so he signed up her up for the reality show, hoping that it will spark some creativity for her, but when he learns that the prize is a job at a New York Bakery, he must deal with the fact that he may lose her forever.

Saturday, September 13, 2014

DVD Review - Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. - The Complete First Season


Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: The Complete First Season
Starring: Clark Gregg, Ming-Na Wen, Brett Dalton, Chloe Bennet, Iain De Caestecker
Studio: ABC Studios
Release Date: September 9, 2014
Retail: $45.99
ISBN: B00KMXQIYM
Running Time: 946 minutes
Rating: Not Rated
Buy Link: DVD, Blu-ray

Review:

Available to own on DVD and Blu-ray is Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. - The Complete First Season, featuring all 22 action-packed. Bonus Features include: Journey Into S.D.C.C., Marvel Studios: Assembling A Universe, 5 Behind-The-Scenes Field Reports ("The Malibu Jump," The Bridge," "Asgardian Bar Fight," "Classified" and "Cello Duet"), VFX Breakdown, Audio Commentaries with Filmmakers & Cast, Gag Reel and Deleted Scenes.

Picking up shortly after Marvel's The Avengers, Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. centers on the return of Agent Phil Coulson (Clark Gregg), literally from the dead, who assembles a brand new S.H.I.E.L.D team consisting of an ace pilot and weapon expert Melinda May (Ming-Na Wen), a black ops specialist Grant Ward (Brett Dalton), an engineering specialist Leo Fitz (Iain De Caestecker), a life sciences specialist Jemma Simmon (Elizabeth Henstridge) and a hacker Skye (Chole Bennet).

Agent Coulson leads his unique team to investigate the strange and beyond, from investigating a superhuman, who later becomes Deathlock, to helping Lady Sif battle the Asgardian Lorelei. the main focus of the team is to unravel the mystery of who the villain "The Clairvoyant" is. Other stories include Skye searching for her birth parents and Agent Coulson's journey to learn how he was resurrected.

To tie into the events of Captain America: The Winter Solider, Hydra takes over S.H.I.E.L.D from within and one member of Agent Coulson's team is a traitor.

Episodes on the five-disc set are:

Friday, September 12, 2014

Book Blogger Hop: Sept. 12th - 18th

Book Blogger Hop

Welcome to the new Book Blogger Hop!

If you want schedule next week's post, click here to find the next prompt question. To submit a question, fill out this form.

What to do:

1. Post on your blog answering this question:

  This week's question is submitted by Camille!

What books would you want to read again for the first time?

2. Enter the link to your post in the linky list below (enter your Blog Name and the direct link to your post answering this week’s question. Failure to do so will result in removal of your link).


3. Visit other blogs in the list and comment on their posts. Try to spend some time on the blogs reading other posts and possible become a new follower.  The purpose of the hop is to give bloggers a chance to follow other blogs, learn about new books, befriend other bloggers, and receive new followers to your own blog.
  

My Answer: 

The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson

Ghost Story by Peter Straub

Rosemary's Baby by Ira Levin

Six-Horse Hitch by Janice Holt Giles



Linky List:

Review: Followers by Anna Davies


Teenagers growing up the late '80s and throughout the '90s were intrigued and terrified by the line of horror books released under the Point Horror name. These books were written by authors such as R.L. Stine, Diane Hoh, Richie Tankersley Cusick, Christopher Pike, and Caroline B. Cooney. The popularity of the books declined in the late '90s, resulting in an eight year hiatus. The Point Horror made a comeback in 2013 by releasing two new titles, quickly followed by this year’s releases of Wickedpedia by Chris Van Etten and Followers by Anna Davis.

Followers is set at the prestigious MacHale boarding school during the winter break and centers on Briana Beland. She is out to prove that she is more than just her mother's daughter, so she auditions for the role of Ophelia in the school's production of William Shakespeare's Hamlet. While she has only been at the school for a brief period of time, she hasn't made any new friends, which is slightly difficult considering that there is a high competition to be the best studen, making every student her frendemy. Similar to other teens today, Briana turns to Twitter in order to have some sort of social life.


The Hamlet auditions turn deadly when somebody is killed, but this doesn't stop Briana's goal of landing a juicy part in the play. Sadly, Briana doesn't get the part, but instead she is assigned the role of "social media director." Once again, she turns to Twitter where she starts receiving messages from @hamletghost, someone who knows a bit too much about the murder, as well as the other murders that are soon to occur.

Thursday, September 11, 2014

Review - Gun Boss of Thumbleweed


 
Gun Boss of Thumbleweed
by L. Ron Hubbard
Director: Jim Meskimen
Voice Cast: Luke Baybak, Corey Burton, R.F. Daley, Jim Meskimen, Tamra Meskimen, Taylor Meskimen, Rick Pasqualone, Josh R. Thompson, Michael Yurchak.
Publisher: Galaxy Press
Pub. Date: June 23, 2013
Retail: $12.95
ASIN: 978-1592123841
Running Time: 2 hours 13 minutes
Buy Link: Audiobook, Paperback

Review:

Many people know that L. Ron Hubbard was the author of Battlefield Earth and the founder of the Church of Scientology, but he also wrote countless short stores that were published in "pup magazines" during the 1930s and 1940s. Galaxy Press has been releasing these short stories on audiobooks and paperbacks for a new generation of readers.

Gun Boss of Thumbleweed was originally published in the April 1949 issue of Thrilling Western, but it is now the main feature, as well as the title of the Galaxy Press's audiobook that was released last summer. The story centers on a gunslinger named Mart Kincaid, who is blackmailed into threatening locals to leave their land by the evil taskmaster, Gar Malone - a man who knows a bit too much about Mart's brother. Mart does attempt to do as Malone instructed, but he has a change of heart when he meets Drake and his daughter, Sally, whom own the land on the Singing Canyon. Mart decides that he has had enough of Malone's wickedness and fights against him and his hired guns.

The second story is Blood On His Spurs, which first appeared in the September 1949 issue of Thrilling Western. The tale centers on two men, Iron Jaw Bates and Larry McClean, who have been life long enemies. The two must put aside their differences to stop a group of deadly cattle rustlers.

Wednesday, September 10, 2014

DVD Review - SpongeBob ScaryPants Collection




SpongeBob Scary Pants Collection
Voice Cast: Tom Kenny, Clancy Brown, Bill Fagerbakke,
Rodger Bumpass, Mr. Lawrence Studio: Nickelodeon
Release Date: September 9, 2014
Retail: $14.99
Running Time: 200 minutes
Rating: Not Rated
Buy Link: Walmart

Review:

Arriving on DVD this week from Nickelodeon is SpongeBob ScaryPants Collection, featuring two previously released titles - SpongeBob SquarePants: Halloween - 5 Spooky Sea Tales & SpongeBob SquarePants: Ghouls Fools. The set is being released just in time for Halloween.

SpongeBob SquarePants: Halloween - 5 Spooky Sea Tales features 10 spooky episodes:

Scaredy Pants (from Season 1)
Imitation Krabs (from Season 2)
Frankendoodle (from Season 2)
I Was a Teenage Gary (from Season 1)
Squidward, The Unfriendly Ghost (from Season 1)
The Secret Box (from Season 2)
Band Geeks (from Season 2)
Welcome To The Chum Bucket (from Season 2)
My Pretty Seahorse (from Season Season 3)
Idiot Box (from Season 3)

Special features includes SpongeBob Scardey Pants Music Video and SpongeBob Video Game Sneak Peek.

Tuesday, September 9, 2014

DVD Review - Doctor Who: Deep Breath

*This is a sponsored post. All opinions are 100% mine.


After celebrating its 50th Anniversary last year, Doctor Who has returned for an eight season (series) with Peter Capaldi taking over the title reigns from Matt Smith. The eight season (series) premiered on August 23rd on BBC One and BBC America with the 80-minute episode, titled Deep Breath. Typically a DW fan would have to wait until the full season (series) DVD or Blu-ray release to own the first episode, but BBC America will be releasing Doctor Who: Deep Breath on a single-disc DVD and Blu-ray today, September 9, 2014. Bonus Features include: a Prequel Scene, Behind the Scenes, Doctor Who Lives: The Next Doctor and The Real History of Science Fiction: Episode 4 - Time.

Doctor (Peter Capaldi) and Clara (Jenna Coleman)
Deep Breath picks up shortly after the ending of The Time of the Doctor with newly regenerated Doctor suffering from a bit of post-regenerative trauma. The adventure beings with the TARDIS being spit out of the mouth of a Tyrannosaurus Rex that is causing chaos in Victorian London. The Doctor's latest companion, Clara Oswald (played by Jenna Coleman), is still in shock about the Doctor's new incarnation and seeks help from the Paternoster Gang - Silurian Madame Vastra (played by Neve McIntosh), her human maid/wife Jenny Flint (played by Catrin Stewart), and the Sontaran butler Strax (played by Dan Starkey).

While the Doctor tries to rest, the Paternoster Gang helps the local police deal with the Tyrannosaurus Rex problem.  Out of nowhere the Tyrannosaurus Rex spontaneously combusted into thin air.

The Doctor, along with Clara and the Paternoster Gang, investigates the strange occurrences, which leads them on the trail of human-like robots that is lead by a cyborg who wants to become human.


Monday, September 8, 2014

DVD Review - Cabin Fever: Patient Zero


 
Cabin Fever: Patient Zero
Director: Kaara Andrews
Starring: Ryan Donowho, Brando Eaton, Jullian Murray, Mitch Ryan, Lydia Hearst and Sean Astin
Studio: Image Enterainment
Release Date: September 2, 2014
Retail: $27.97
ASIN: B00KTLO2H2
Running Time: 95 mintues
Rating: Not Rated
Buy Link: Amazon

Review:

While I do consider myself a horror film buff, I do not know the reason why I ignored watching the original Cabin Fever directed by Eli Roth for so long. I guess maybe a movie about flesh-eating-virus didn't intrigue me at the time. I happened to stumble upon the DVD, as well as its sequel Cabin Fever 2: Spring Fever, in the $5 bin at Walmart a year or two ago. I always love a good bargain, so I purchased both movies. Surprisingly to me, Cabin Fever turned out to a well-crafted gorefest, but I can't exactly say the same thing for its 2010 direct-to-DVD sequel that was directed by Ti West (The House of the Devil). Yes, there is plenty of gore, but it also has a too much humor and the pot is all over the place.

After Spring Fever receive negative reviews from critics and horror fans alike, the franchise seemed to be dead that is until the direct-to-DVD prequel, Cabin Fever: Patient Zero, was released last week. Kaare Andrews ("V is for Vagitus" in The ABCs of Death ) takes over as director with Sean Astin and Currie Graham leading the cast of nobodies.

Filmed entirely in the Dominican Republic, the movie shows the birth of the flesh-eating-virus that claimed the life of Porter's son on a small remote island, while at the same time infecting Porter played by Sean Astin, but there is one little catch - Porter seems to be immune to the virus. A group a scientist, lead by Dr. Edwards (played by Currie Graham) are keeping him locked up, in the attempt to contain the virus and find a cure.

Sunday, September 7, 2014

Review - A Grand Design


A Grand Design
Quilts of Love Series
by Amber Stockton
Publisher: Abingdon Press
Pub. Date: August 19, 2014
ISBN: 978-1426773471
Pages: 208
Buy Link: Amazon
Blog Tour: http://litfusegroup.com/author/astockton


Review:

Normally, I try to have a review written a few days before the post date, but I didn't get around to reading A Grand Design by Amber Stockton until yesterday afternoon. You never know what to expect in each entry in the Quilts of Love Series, as each new installment is written by a different author with a new plot, setting and characters. Typically, the books in the series are short (under 250 pages) and some books are better than others, though all of them are still likeable.


A Grand Design has a modern setting and centers on Alyssa Denham, a woman who dreads the month of June, as she always has to buy bridal gifts for her co-workers. It seems everyone is finding love except for her. Actually, her life is stuck in a rut, as she has the same routine week after week. A while back her best friend, Libby, forced her to put her name into a bridal  magazine sweepstakes and out of the blue she receives notification that she has one a "getaway for two," but there is a slight problem - she doesn't even have a boyfriend. Plus, the getaway just happens to be on Mackinac Island, a place she hasn't visited for fifteen years.

Alyssa persuades Libby to go with her on the trip, where she plans on visiting her grandmother. Unknowingly to Alyssa and Libby, her grandmother has other plans for them, as she wants them to help her finish a friendship quilt that she had started years ago. The catch is that they have to locate each former member of her grandmother's sewing group or their relatives and pick up each quilting block. You can say that this wasn’t exactly the kind of vacation Libby was looking forward to.