Sunday, September 18, 2016

Review - Bullseye by James Patterson & Michael Ledwidge


Little, Brown, and Company; 369 pages; $28
James Patterson is one of the busiest authors as it seems like he has a new title out every few weeks, from kids books to adult thrillers. Plus, he just launched the new Bookshots novellas.

For the last few days, I've been reading Bullseye by James Patterson & Michael Ledwidge, which I believe is the 9th installment in the "Michael Bennett" series (minus the "Chase" novella). I hate to admit this, but I haven't read every book in the series, though I do own a copy of each book.

The series focuses on a NYC police detective named Michael "Mike" Bennett, who is always finding himself hunting down serial killers, assassins, and crazies. When Mike isn't chasing down criminals, he's trying to be a good father to his ten adopted kids! Yep, I said ten kids. His wife had died several years ago, so he relies on his elderly priest grandfather, Seamus, to help out with the kids from time to time. Then of course there is the nanny, Mary Catherine, who just happens to be Mike's girlfriend/significant other.

Bullseye opens up with Mike having to leave his family on a Saturday morning as a major international crises was in the making - a possible planned assassination attempt on newly inaugurated President of the United States, who is currently flying on Air Force One and will make a stop in New York City.

Why would someone want to harm the President?

Well, it happens to involve starting another Cold War with Russia.

Saturday, September 17, 2016

Blu-ray Review - Disney's Beauty and the Beast: 25th Anniversary Edition



Rated G; 85minutes (theatrical version);$39.99; Amazon
Being released this Tuesday from Walt Disney Home Entertainment is Disney's Beauty and the Beast: 25th Anniversary Edition Signature Collection 2-disc set (Blu-ray + DVD + Digital HD, featuring four different versions of the film - Original Theatrical, Special Edition, and a Sing-Along version (on Blu-ray and Digital HD & Disney Movies Anywhere)). A Work-In-Process version is available on Digital HD & Disney Movies Anywhere.

Originally released to theaters in 1991, Beauty and the Beast was the first animated film to receive an Academy Award nomination for best picture. Directed by Gary Trousdale and Kirk Wise, the film features the voice talents of Paige O'Hara, Robby Benson, Richard White, Jerry Orbach, David Ogden Stiers, Angela Lansbury, Bradley Michael Pierce, Rex Everhart, Jesse Corti, Hal Smith, and Jo Anne Worley.

Based on the fairy tale by Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont, Beauty and the Beast tells the story of a Prince Adam who had refused to let a beggar into his castle; in return for his rudeness a curse was put upon him, turning him into a beast. The beggar gives him a magic mirror and a magical rose. He has until his 21st birthday to find a woman that will fall in love with him, despite his beast-like looks. If he fails to do so, he will remain a beast forever.

Ten years later, a man named Maurice takes shelter inside the castle, but unfortunately this upsets the Beast, who tosses the man inside a dungeon. Shortly later, the man's daughter, Belle, finds his horse, Phillipe, and goes searching for him. She stumbles upon the castle and finds her father, but she also finds the Beast. Being a loving daughter, Belle offers to replace her father as prisoner, and the Beast agrees to her terms.

After being put in the dungeon very briefly, the Beast has a change of heart and gives Belle her own room. This is where she learns that a curse had been put on the Beast's servants (Lumière the candlestick, Cogsworth the clock, Mrs. Potts the teapot, and her son Chip the teacup) too. All the servants instantly like Belle, and they all help her see the good side of the Beast.

Friday, September 16, 2016

Book Blogger Hop: Sept 16th - 22nd


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 Elizabeth @ Silver's Reviews!

Have you ever wanted to write a book? If so, what genre would you choose? And...have you been successful in writing a book?

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: 

 Yes, I want to write a book one day. A few of my children short stores have been published in magazines, e-zines, and anthologies. I'm trying to talk myself into participating in the National Novel Writing Month this year in November.


Linky List:

Review - Time For Bed, Sleepyhead: The Falling Asleep Book

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

ZonderKidz; 32 pages; $16.99; Amazon

Do you remember not wanting to go asleep when you were little? I recall my mother forcing me to go to bed when I was a kid. I wasn't even tired, but I was forced to sleep anyway. Of course I was just a kid and I didn't understand why it is was important to get a good night's sleep.

Now available to purchase in bookstores from Zonderkidz is the children's picture book, titled Time For Bed, Sleepyhead: The Falling Asleep Book written by Daniel G. Amen, M.D. and illustrated by Gail Yerrill.

Review - The Berenstain Bears' Holiday Cookbook: Cub-Friendly Cooking with An Adult


Zonderkidz; 96 pages; $12.99; Amazon
With the holidays just around the corner, many families will be doing a lot of cooking and baking. Zonderkidz just released The Berenstain Bears' Holiday Cookbook: Cub-Friendly Cooking with An Adult by Mike Berenstain.

The first Berenstain Bears' book was published in 1962, written by the late Stan and Jan Berenstain. Their son Mike has taken over writing and illustrating the newest titles, which now uses Christian themes in the plots. There are over 300 titles in the franchise with over 260 million copies sold around the world in 23 languages.

The Berenstain Bears' Holiday Cookbook is 96 pages and features Berenstain Bear illustrations as well as photographs of meals, snacks, and desserts.

The cookbook is split into six different sections: Valentine's Day, Easter, Fourth of July, Fall Festivities, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Each section has a one-page introduction from the Berenstain Bears with one Bible scripture. There is a kitchen measurements chart on the last page.

The recipes includes:

Valentine's Day - Pink Party Popcorn; Red Bear-y Smoothie; Tomato Soup with Grilled Cheese; Lovey-Dovey Banana Bread; Yummy Chocolate Strawberries; and Sweetheart Chocolate Cake.

Easter - Carrot Chips; Easter Bunny Shake; Rabbit Food; Easter Ham Panini; Honey Bear's Favorite Mashed Potatoes; and Krispie Easter Eggs.

Fourth of July - Stars and Stripes Bites; Sparkling Raspberry Lemonade; Firework Fruit Explosion; Bear Country Pot of Beans; Celebration Sloppy Joes; Red, White, and Blue Banana Split; Freedom Trifle.


Popcorn & Coffee: Hans Christian Andersen Double Feature


Mill Creek Ent.; Not Rated; 354 minutes; $14.98; Amazon

Now available on a 2-disc DVD set from Mill Creek Entertainment is the Hans Christian Andersen Double Feature, featuring the 2001 2-part mini-series Hans Christian Andersen: My Life As A Fairytale and the 2002 2-part mini-series Snow Queen.

Produced by Hallmark Entertainment, Robert Halmi, SR., and Robert Halmi, JR., Hans Christian Andersen: My Life As A Fairytale was directed by Phillip Saville. It stars Kieran Bew, Emily Hamilton, James Fox and Simon Callow.

The real Hans Christian Andersen created many fairy tale classics, such as The Little Mermaid, The Snow Queen, Princess And The Pea, The Ugly Duckling and The Emperor's New Clothes. The mini-series is a fictionalized biography starring Kieran Bew in the title role, where the viewers get a glimpse of author's younger years. At the same time, his fairy tale characters are weaved into the story.


Snow Queen is based on Hans Christian Andersen's "The Snow Queen" and is produced once again by Robert Halmi, JR. and Hallmark Entertainment. Directed by David Hu, the film stars Jeremy Guilbaut, Chelsea Hobbs and Bridget Fonda.

Thursday, September 15, 2016

Popcorn & Coffee: The Devil's Mistress


Mill Creek Ent.; Not Rated; 190 minutes; $14.98; Amazon

I have always ignored films, mini-series and television series that have a historical setting in the 1600s and 1700s. I can't explain it, but those eras just never appealed to me. However, after getting addicted to Starz's Outlander in 2014, I'm now trying to give these types of productions a try; which lead me to review The Devil's Mistress.

Originally titled "The Devil's Whore", it was a four-part British mini-series that aired in 2008. It was later retitled as "The Devil's Mistress" when it was released to the United States in 2011 as two 2-hour episodes. In early August, Mill Creek Entertainment released the mini-series to DVD, but it's been edited to 190 minutes (shown in two parts).

Written by Peter Flannery and directed by Marc Munden, the mini-series stars Andrea Riseborough, John Simm (Life on Mars), Michael Fassbender (X-Men flicks), Peter Capaldi (Doctor Who), and Dominic West.

Set during the English Civil War, The Devil's Mistress centers on the fictional character Angelica Fanshawe (played by Andrea Riseborough), a young woman who is forced to marry her cousin Harry (played by Ben Aldridge). Their marriage isn't great, but she tries to make the best of it. Harry gives up his manor to the enemy, which was the worst thing he could do as the King Charles I (played by Peter Capaldi) has him killed by a firing squad.


After her husband's death, Angelica is kicked out of her home and is forced to live on the streets as a beggar. Eventually, she decides to take her life into her own hands and joins the rebellion. She later marries Thomas Rainsborough (played Michael Fassbender), a former Royal Navy captain turned Roundhead. However, despite being in love with Rainsborough, Angelica must deal with her feelings for her friend  Edward Sexby (played by John Simm).