Entries Tagged 'Artist' ↓
May 13th, 2009 — 4 Stars, Artist, Contemporary, Doctor, Enemies, Estranged, Friends, Ghost, Movie Reviews, Rogues and Rakehells, Time Travel, United States of America
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This is a fabulous contemporary update of the Christmas Carol
. Matthew McConaughey is Connor Mead. Connor is the new Mr. Scrooge, except he’s gorgeous, charming, and wealthy. So what’s wrong with the guy? Connor is a miser, just like Scrooge. How? Unlike Scrooge, Connor withholds love/feelings instead of money/possessions. Just like Scrooge, Connor gets visited by 3 ghosts and is forced to learn just what kind of man he really is.
The first ghost is the Ghost of Girlfriend Past. She is a 16 year old girl to whom Connor lost his virginity. Played by Emma Stone, she’s hardly recognizable in braces, frizzy red hair in pigtails and a crazy outfit. If it wasn’t for Stone’s distinctive voice I wouldn’t have been able to place her at all from her role in House Bunny.
Noureen DeWulf plays Melanie, the Ghost of Girlfriend Present. As Connor Mead’s overworked secretary she is the most consistent woman in his life. Melanie’s job includes scheduling everything from photo shoots to play dates. She draws the line at breaking up with his women (a firm believer in karma). DeWulf is fantastic and a sheer joy to watch on screen.
Nadja, Ghost of Girlfriend Future, is played by Emily Foxler. Beautiful and ethereal she leads Connor through the life he can expect if he doesn’t change his ways. Silent like the angel of death from Christmas Carol, she is nevertheless affective in communicating to the audience.
Daniel Sunjata is the wedding beefcake brought in to sex up Jenny Perotti’s love life. It bugged me the whole movie how gorgeous he was and how familiar his face and unable to place him. Ladies before you go to IMDB.com he’s James Holt from the Devil Wears Prada. He plays a sincere, sweet, and intelligent man, luckily for him when Jenny and Connor reunite he is not left out in the cold.
Jenny Perotti, played by Jennifer Garner, is the love of Connor Mead’s life. We watch them as youngsters, as teenagers, as just starting out in life adults and as established adults. Jenny is the girl next door, the one right under your nose. She’s been hurt by Connor in the past. If only being around him didn’t make her feel for him all over again she could move on with her life… will Connor learn his mistakes and if he does can he get her to believe in him again?
I predict Ghosts of Girlfriends past becoming a favorite among many. It certainly is one of mine!
Rating: 4 Stars
May 11th, 2009 — 3 Stars, Artist, Contemporary, Guest Reviews, Sports, Susan Elizabeth Phillips, United States of America
By: Marcia, guest reviewer
Dean Robillard, quarterback of the Chicago Stars, is trying to get his head straight after recovering from a serious game injury. Driving into a small Colorado town in his Aston Martin Vanquish wearing his Dolce Gabbana boots and his gorgeous killer smile, he spots a woman inhabited beaver suit with a large flapping tail, walking down the road. The beaver has no head; the woman has a very cute and dainty one. So begins book number seven in the Chicago Stars series and although it mentions characters from earlier in the series, it serves well as a stand-alone book.
As it turns out, the beaver is Blue Bailey who has been supporting herself with odd jobs and sketching portraits since dropping out of art school. She has large ‘grape lollipop’ eyes and fragile features along with a bad haircut and clothes from Wal-Mart. She is stranded in Colorado after coming to join her lover, Monty. Monty did not tell her he had acquired a younger, bustier girlfriend. He has also taken all but eighteen dollars of her cash. Blue’s bank account has also been cleaned out and her car is broken. There is a confrontation between Monty and Blue and Blue is thrown out of her rooming house for lack of funds. For the entertainment value alone, Dean offers her a ride out of town.
The journey they eventually embark on is different than they expect. On the way to love, they both have to confront the mutual abandonment issues that have been long ignored. Parental neglect, drug and substance abuse, abandonment, insecurity, anger and resentment are treated with sensitivity and humor. This book is very funny with a smooth, fast moving engaging plot and snappy dialog. Unfortunately, Phillips’ deft writing breaks down at the conclusion, which seems cliché and sloppy. Otherwise Natural Born Charmer would give any work by Nora Roberts or LaVyrle Spencer a run for their money.
3 Stars
Have you read any of the others in this series? If so, tell us about them! Before you leave take a few moments to read some of our other guest reviews.
Originally posted 2008-09-12 05:47:51. Republished by Old Post Promoter
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May 6th, 2009 — 3.5 Stars, 4 Stars, ARC, Artist, Bastard, Contemporary, Doctor, Mistaken Identity, Robin Kaye, United States of America
Robin Kaye’s second book, Too Hot to Handle is witty and enchanting. Too Hot to Handle is the sequel to Romeo, Romeo. It follows Rosalie Ronaldi’s sister, Annabelle, on her tumultuous journey into love. Luckily for her, she has a sturdy cast of lively friends and a dog there to help her figure it all out. Her journey starts with this humorous first line: Ghosts don’t have sex, do they?
Of course the answer is no, but the distressingly dashing Doctor Mike Flynn looks almost exactly like her late boyfriend Chip Larsen. They could have been twins. Sure, his mouth is a little different, his nose broken and healed could have once been Chip’s nose, his eyes the same shape if different colors and his package is certainly better equipped… but other than that the similarities are shocking.
Annabelle’s past with Chip was rocky at best. Chip was not a very good boyfriend, even his sister thought so, but Annabelle never got the chance to really figure that out on her own. When the cancer came back, Chip refused to go through chemo again despite Annabelle’s and his family’s begging. Despite the heaviness of the emotional issues, this is still a romantic comedy.
Mike Flynn is working at a dead-end practice. His research though thorough wasn’t enough to prepare him for the realities. He’s going to be blackballed for bringing notice to a sloppy ill-informed partner. His only shot is to get out before it becomes common knowledge about his disagreements. Meanwhile his love life is pitiful, he’s tired of seeing the girls that Nick has let go, he wants a girl of his own and believes he struck gold with Annabelle who he met at her sister’s/his best friend’s wedding.
Mike’s background and Annabelle’s history will do their best to keep them apart. Life is messy, but with the help of a domestic god and busybody friends, family, and neighbors can it be cleaned up?
Rating: 3.5 - 4 Stars
Buy: Too Hot to Handle
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April 27th, 2009 — 4 Stars, ARC, Artist, Comedy of Manners, Contemporary, Executive, Libby Malin, United States of America
Anne’s found another job three thousand miles away from her current one and she couldn’t be happier. Life for her has stalled, and she’s eager for it to start again. On the day she goes into work to tell Mitch that she resigns, no quits, that he plans to fire one of his communications team members. Mitch decides to make a game of the experience and won’t tell them who he’s going to fire, instead he’ll make them work to keep their jobs. The loser voted off the island as it were could easily turn out to be the winner in this farce, because the loser will be sent home with six weeks of severance pay for every year worked. For Anne that’s two years worth of salary. Immediately her plans change, she won’t tell Mitch she’s quitting, she’ll get him to fire her!
Fire Me is the direct opposite of The Devil Wears Prada
. Instead of vying for approval from the boss that can’t be pleased, our heroine is trying to attract his attention and disapproval. The book takes place in a single day and I devoured it in the same time frame. For hijinxs and crazy shenanigans that’ll leave you chuckling to the bewilderment of those around you, I highly suggest this book.
Along her trip to the land of pink slips, Anne finally notices Ken. She struggles to keep her secret and gets both irritated at sweet Ken’s helpfulness to sooth over all her over the top schemes and falling just a little bit in love with the white knight routine. Ken is the new graphic design manager for the communications team. He’s only been working for six months and finds Mitch to be a charlatan and takes great pleasure in mentally dissecting the man. He also has a thing for Anne, whose face he’s been trying to capture in the moment right before her smile takes off and lights her up.
It’s hard to work romance into a single day but Libby manages to do it. There are stolen kisses in the elevator, a lunch date, and some lovely emotional concern for the other by both parties. Ken thinks Anne is taking the news and pressure badly, not realizing what she’s up too and Anne works to keep Ken’s name away from Mitch’s axe. While the heroine and hero are not officially together at the end of this story the possibility is there. They meet up the next morning after the ridiculous day before and the promise is wonderfully uplifting.
Rating: 4 Stars
Buy: Fire Me
PS - this would make a great movie!
March 25th, 2009 — 4 Stars, Artist, France, Guest Reviews, Historical Romance, Necromancer, Paranormal, Susan Carroll
By: Marcia, guest reviewer
The Courtesan is the second novel about the Cheney Sisters, wise women from the Faire Isle. It takes place against the backdrop of sixteenth century France with Catherine de Medici and Henry Valois playing significant roles as antagonists. Primarily it is the story of the second Cheney sister, Gabrielle, but is also a continuation of the first novel, The Dark Queen.
Gabrielle Cheney was, in her younger years, a talented painter and sculptor, but has lost her art as a result of being raped by a man she thought was a gentleman and suitor. She has since decided that the only way to protect herself and her sisters is to gain influence and power. She knows that men find her desirable and she leaves Faire Isle and makes her home in Paris becoming the consort of wealthy, influential men. Gabrielle feels responsible for the death of Nicolas Remy and is haunted by his memory. She has befriended a fellow wise woman, Cassandra Lascelles, who is a necromancer. Gabrielle approaches Cass and asks that Cass conjure Nicolas from the dead so that Gabrielle can ask his forgiveness. Cass is unable to contact Nicolas but does make contact with Nostradamus, who predicts that Gabrielle will become consort to Henry of Navarre and rule France at his side.
Captain Nicolas Remy is known as ‘the Scourge’ by the Catholic citizens of France and is loyal to the Huguenot, Henry of Navarre. In the end of the first book, The Dark Queen, he is dying in an alley on St Bartholomew’s Eve while someone is stealing his boots. He had been fighting to save Henry of Navarre and his comrades in arms when they were attacked by Catherine de Medici’s troops. Now Catherine de Medici is keeping Henry prisoner and Nicolas is determined to free him and return to Navarre. He has returned quietly to Paris with only one man by his side. Ironically, it is the man who was tried to steal his boots. He desperately needs Gabrielle’s help. Gabrielle believes Henry of Navarre needs to remain in Paris.
There are many things standing in the way of love for Nicolas and Gabrielle besides the obvious conflict of interest. The court of Catherine de Medici is a dangerous place of political intrigue, dark magic and witch hunters and there is trouble at every turn. This is a wonderfully written book that combines history, paranormal fiction and romance into a delightful story with authentic and interesting characters while still remaining to be lighthearted and fun to read.
Rating: 4 Stars
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Originally posted 2008-11-24 19:55:43. Republished by Old Post Promoter
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March 17th, 2009 — 5 Stars, Artist, Book Review, England, Historical Romance, Jacquie D'Alessandro, Poor Eyesight, Spectacles
You know how they say you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, well I do. I picked up Jacquie D’Alessandro’s Sleepless at Midnight last fall because of the cover. It was sensual while not being risqué. I bought it when I read that the heroine snuck into his room to spy on him bathing. I was not disappointed. What followed was some of the best dialog I had ever read in a romance novel with a touching story besides. In addition to the witty repartee the bedroom scenes should be noted. They are exceptional: steamy, sticky, and sexy.
Miss Sarah Moorehouse is plain, bespectacled, and unfashionably tall with a naughty side a mile long. She forms secret clubs, reads a novel that would raise eyebrows, sneaks into men’s private rooms, and draws pictures of naked men in her sketchbook. Matthew Langston finds her fascinating.
However, Matthew can’t afford to find her so. He has to fulfill two death bed promises to his father. The first is restoring the estate and the second is getting married within a year of the old man’s passing. His father’s last few words were about a windfall hidden on the estate. If he could find it before time was up he could marry the woman of his dreams and not the one of the pretty heiresses staying at his house party.
Rating: 5 Stars
Happy Readings!
Originally posted 2008-11-17 15:25:15. Republished by Old Post Promoter
February 21st, 2009 — 4.5 Stars, Artist, Bride Stealing, Historical Romance, Movie Reviews, Seas, Survival, Virgin Heroine
Titanic is one of the highest grossing films in romance. Romeo and Juliet were not as star-crossed as Rose and Jack. Interesting how both couples names start with R and J. Before you ask, Rose and Jack are a fictional couple not based on historical accounts. A J. Dawson did exist but he was a Joseph Dawson who worked down in the boilers. The romance was invented to keep moviegoers engross in the unfolding historical catastrophe.
I found this interesting website that looks into the fact and fictions of the movie compared with real life and it makes for a really great read. There are also several actors and actresses paired against photos of their namesakes in the movie. This was fun to see because some are very uncanny in how alike they look.
Jack Dawson, played by Leonardo DiCaprio in this disaster film, wins a poker hand and gains a ticket on the RMS Titanic for its maiden voyage for America. Excited by this once in a lifetime opportunity Jack Dawson rushes to the harbor and scrambles as quickly as he can onto the departing vessel. As his ticket is a third class ticket, he’s living below deck much like the ship hands were. Life is an adventure for him and every moment was not to be wasted. His life’s philosophy is to make it count.
Rose DeWitt Bukater, played by Kate Winslet, is a poor little rich girl stuck in an engagement she does not want with the snobby and slimy Cal Hockley, Billy Zane. Distraught by the life she sees unfolding before her, Rose attempts to commit suicide off the back of the boat. Jack casually smoking nearby comes to her rescue as her attempt almost succeeds and she slips off the railing.
Her shriek alerts Cal and sailors who were nearby and they hotfoot it to the scene. One glance and it appears that Jack was attempting to rape poor Rose which would have lead him to be locked up were it not for Rose’s intervention and a quick story. Jack confirms her telling.
From there the pair meets up again and again, sneaking off and running around the ship. They fall head over heels in love and Rose gets the nerve to act on the lust she feels building inside her for Jack. One risky and risqué nude drawing later and Rose has had enough of proper conventions and respectable distance. They make love in a car, steaming up the windows as they pursue the phantom edge of ecstasy.
After this fated moment, the story turns as the RMS Titanic hits the iceberg and time as Jack and Rose knew it runs out. Desperate to see her safe, Jack struggles to get Rose to safety and in the process is framed for theft, locked up below level with frigid water rushing every second into the room. Their story is heart wrenching and tear jerking as they fight for their love swearing to do so to their dying breaths.
The movie won 11 Academy Awards. Here’s the list:
- Best Picture
- Best Director
- Best Costume Design
- Best Visual Effects
- Best Sound Mixing
- Best Sound Editing
- Best Original Score
- Best Film Editing
- Best Original Song
- Best Art Direction
- Best Cinematography
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Originally posted 2008-10-23 10:44:27. Republished by Old Post Promoter
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January 23rd, 2009 — 5 Stars, Artist, Book Review, Contemporary, England, Gentry, Jane Austen, Regency, Sally O'Rourke, Time Travel, United States of America, Writer
You have to love the cover of this book. Wow! The male model is scrumptious! Anybody know who he is?
This story revolves around one question and one question only… do you believe in fate?
Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy is one of many Fitzwilliam Darcys. It’s a family name, one that’s been used many times over the centuries. His family established Pemberley Farms in 1789 for horse breeding. In the 1800s when Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice was first published in America it caused quite a scandal. If Rose Darcy, the first mistress of Pemberley Farms, hadn’t been absolutely positive her husband, Fitzwilliam Darcy, had never set foot on English soil she would have left him. The current Mr. Darcy is extremely interested in learning how Jane Austen came to know about the Darcys and Pemberley Farms. He’s bought old documents in his quest to find out if Austen’s Darcy was based on a real man.
Eliza Knight is a romantic at heart. Her talents lie with fine arts, think painting not writing. When she encounters a charming little vanity table and mirror in an antique seller warehouse she snaps it up. In the process of cleaning the wood and putting the table together Eliza discovers two letters. One from a Mr. Darcy directed to a Miss Jane Austen which is opened and a sealed letter from Jane Austen to a Mr. Darcy. Surprised, Eliza is unsure if it is a hoax or not, but in case it is not she leaves the unopened letter sealed not wanting to be known as the fool artist who ruined a historical artifact of great importance. In her quest to authenticate the letters, Eliza burns to find out if Austen’s Fitzwilliam Darcy ever existed.
The novel is broken into three volumes, following the setup of Jane Austen’s novels. The story is charming and completely engrossing. You can’t help but believe in true love and happy endings by the end of this book. I highly recommend this novel to all readers and especially to those that love Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. The Man Who Loved Jane Austen is one of the best renditions of this timeless classic I have ever had the pleasure of reading… soul stirring.
Rating: 5 Stars
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August 19th, 2008 — 1.5 Stars, Arabia/Middle East, Artist, Contests, Guest Reviews, Jane Porter, Kidnapping, Kings, Princes, Sheiks, Chiefs, Sheik/Desert
Cara Lynn writes to us her first romance novel review in response to the $10 gift card contest! LRP is very happy to have her with us today! If you would like to win a copy of a book by the author of this novel please see the end of the post for more information.
It’s pretty unfair for me to review this book, as this genre isn’t my particular favorite. However, they do get published!
When Tally finds herself kidnapped by Sheikh Tair, a fierce desert warrior, she comes up against the proverbial immovable mountain. I am not surprised. Tally is a photographer, and she has taken some compromising photos, or they could be. And not only that, her translators are more than they appeared, as they are enemies of the Sheikh. He isn’t at all convinced that she is innocent. However, he is more than willing to put her into his harem and to test her loyalties more than once.
She is determined to escape, but not knowing the land, finds herself in dangerous situations, where she needs to be rescued. And you guessed it, by Tair.
Ultimately, the Sheikh marries her (as you can tell by the title) and they fall in love – or do they. Perhaps they fall in lust. As in many Harlequin books, there are banter and arguments, but underneath it is respect for the man who is always wealthy and rich. Let’s face it, who would put up with these attitudes if he weren’t! The woman is always denigrated to an extent, which grates on me after a while – or from the beginning. It seems like an intelligent woman would use that intelligence to discern what kind of man the man is and not waste her breath on verbally fighting him. Of course, part of that is supposed to be sexual tension. How to rate the sex in this book? I didn’t feel like they had any chemistry. But that’s just me. Perhaps you did. I appreciate the fact that the sex is not crude. On the other hand, she doesn’t think she’s in love with him. And on the other hand, she is not a virgin, so she knows the ropes. And they both think the sex is great.
If you want a mindless read, or if this is your genre, you will enjoy this book. I’d have preferred it, if she had determined how he governed, what his daily life was like, what the issues of survival were, how she could contribute if she were his consort. (I can’t see her ruling.) Because she is less than prepared along these lines, she finds herself kidnapped by the men who had been her translators. She is rescued in about a page. I think this could have been extended too, over some of the other things in the book. But it fits the genre. After all, the Sheikh’s mother is from the West and married his father in similar circumstances. Perhaps one of the earlier Sheikh books by another author tells the generic story of their meeting.
Rating: 1.5 Stars
Thanks Cara Lynn for the review! RRN would be most happy to hear from you again!
If you’ve just finished reading a romance novel and want to write review but weren’t sure how check out LRP’s submission guidelines for tips and advice to get started.
SavvyThinker is holding a contest on an autographed copy of Odd Mom Out by Jane Porter. See her blog for more details.
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