Karin asked me to share a bunch of fun facts about myself as sort of a getting to know you (getting to know all about you… getting to like you… getting to hope you like me… ahem) post so here it goes.
For those of you who don’t know already, I write and run a romance novel book blog called Love Romance Passion. I’m pretty kooky and not a little bit bonkers (don’t worry all the best people are so I’m in good company.) I love historical romances, blind heroes, and fairy tales.
I helped donate over 600 books last year to the library. Not all of them mine, but a goodly number.
I watched more mini-series shows last year than in all previous years of my life combined. You really need those extra 2.5 hours to tell a love story. Le sigh…
I frequently think about writing a novel but haven’t gotten past chapter 3. I used to write a crap load of epic length fanfic you’d think this would be no sweat.
I started a blog with my youngest sister about young adult novels, called Literature Young Adult Fiction. We’re in serious need of guest bloggers and reviewers.
I started reading and loving more contemporary romances since I began blogging. I read them before but in far fewer numbers.
I like scruffy beards on men but not full grown beards. I’m also a thigh girl – no cotton padding need apply. Okay, okay you caught me… physically fit (read defined muscles) hunky men in general are my cup of tea… sheesh.
I just got business cards made up with both blog URLs. Woohoo.
I have yet to attend a book blogger conference – but I really want to do it. Anybody got extra cash lying around to send my way? Pretty please?
I have never seriously dated anyone and casually dated only twice. Where’s my blinded, emotionally scarred, vampire Duke McBroodyPants?
I love Bollywood movies but am too cheap to get a Netflix account when I have a perfectly good library (and they don’t stock Bollywood movies.) There’s also zero Indian stores where I live so I don’t even have that option.
How’d I do? Do you feel more informed than before the start of this post?
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Recently a friend gave me this book for Kindle. I have to say it was a delight. 522 people have rated this book 4 1/2 stars at Amazon, so I am in good company. The Kindle version is available for $5.99.
Sophie Kinsella also wrote the shopaholic books.
The story
Emma Corrigan faces the usual difficulties of a young woman. She has a boyfriend who is perfect in every way, including looks, but he’s not perfect for her. She has kept herself hidden in the relationship, and he thinks she likes everything that he does. Not! Her family is enamored with her cousin Kerry who can do no wrong, in their eyes, and is a successful businesswoman. She has, however, not treated Emma right.
Emma’s job at Panther Cola involves the usual office politics, and Emma has her own ways of getting around them. No one takes her seriously, even her immediate boss, who has promised her a promotion, but has no intention of giving it to her. And she would like to have it as much for herself as a statement to her family.
Enter a business trip that isn’t the most successful. Feeling sorry for her, one of the flight attendants upgrades her to first class (business) and she is seated next to Jack, a man who must be successful, mustn’t he, to be in that seating also.
And then the plane hits enormous turbulence, and Emma in her extreme fear tells the man everything — everything — in her life — her family, her doubts about her boyfriend, her job, things about the office, her roommates, her sex life, her weight, what her perfect date, she thinks, would be.
And it is very, very funny.
And then, as books do, while they part at the airport, they meet again in the office, for lo and behold he owns the company she works for.
And she is not to mention that she met him on a plane coming back from Scotland.
He knows everything about her, but she knows nothing about him. He is very secretive about his own life. And he becomes moreso as the book goes on. The speculations as to why are both serious and funny.
How the story is told
For the most part, the story is told in Emma’s stream of consciousness. It is a testament to Kinsella’s ability that we never tire of it. And it is very funny!
Along the way
Emma divests herself of her perfect boyfriend, gains her voice in many ways, and earns our respect and sympathy. She is spot on in her assessments of much in the office, and Jack becomes her ally as well as her lover. As he says, she is the only one who has told him the truth, albeit on the plane.
The sex
There isn’t much. Most of it is off-screen and talked about in retrospect. And it is funny, and much like you’d expect with Emma.
My view
I give it 5 out of 5. I really enjoyed the humor, which isn’t forced, in the book. I liked the resolution in the end. It was very satisfying and believable. There were a couple of twists and turns along the way.
Have you read it?
If you are looking for something light, yet with some deep concepts, with a lot of humor, you could do a lot worse than this book. Let me know if you enjoy it as much as I did.
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I’m happy to share this online interview with Jane Porter. She was gracious to spend some time with us. I think you’ll agree that she is a voice we’d like to hear more of.
Jane, I so much enjoyed your book Flirting with 40, and I’m really looking forward to it being a movie! Thanks so much for joining us today.
I understand you have options on another book(s)? I have a friend who has had options also. It’s quite exciting to see it come to fruition on screen. Did you write the script or have any say in the script?
Hi Karin, thanks for inviting me! It’s a pleasure to chat with you. I didn’t write the script. Sony contracted a scriptwriter for the job and she did it beautifully. I was lucky enough to get a peek at it while it was in progress and it was really cool to be included, even briefly, in the process.
The whole book-to-movie experience is great. I spent a week on the set in Hawaii and had a lot of fun. I got to be an extra in beach scenes on two different days, and then wear a headset and sit behind the director and listen in as they filmed. I have to say that it’s been a bit surreal having a movie made of my book, especially starring Heather Locklear.
Were you able to give any input into the casting?
I was asked for suggestions so I got my readers who hang out on my board to help me. We had lots of fun coming up with possibilities but in the end, it was really up to the studio. I n the end it was great that Heather could take the role as she’s a Lifetime viewer favorite.
How did you find yourself writing in the genre that you write in? How did you become an author?
I wrote my first story in pre-school. I was four or five and I’ve written stories ever since. My father was a professor and he wrote-and my mother loved literature and was already reading to us-so writing seemed natural to me. I thought all kids sat down and made up stories, and growing up my favorite books featured girls who wrote as well like Jo from Little Women or Laura from the Little House on the Prairie.
I chose to write stories that appeal to women – that are about women and real life because it’s a topic that fascinates me the most. I love women. I think we women have to be compassionate towards each other, but also ourselves and being a teacher, I just found it easy to write stories that encourage and support each other.
What is your favorite type of romance to read? Is it the same as what you write?
I love historical and paranormal romances! I was on a Mary Balogh binge for a few months, and because I go on binges I’ll read as much as I can by a particular author and then rotate authors to get a new style. Some of my favorite authors this past year include JR Ward, Loretta Chase, Mary Balogh, and Anna Campbell. Outside romance I read everything I can by Marian Keyes, although Watermelon is probably still my favorite. One of my favorite books I’ve read this year is Seeing Me Naked by Liza Palmer. It’s wonderful and I highly recommend it.
I notice that you have a book title contest. That’s fun! Have you done this before? I often wondered whether it was the author that titles a book or the printing house.
They are fun! I’ve done them before and it’s always interesting to see what titles everyone comes up with for the same story. Unfortunately as an author, I don’t really have much say in the title but the publisher asks for input and that’s my purpose for hosting the title contest. I want ideas and suggestions and I send them all to my editor once they come in and after that, it’s out of my hands. Marketing has the final say on titles because they know exactly what has better chances o selling the book.
How do you decide character names?
Sometimes the names just pop into my head as I think of the story and I know it’s the right one. Other times, it takes some time and inventive research to find the right name to fit the right character.
What advice do you have for others who are interested in writing?
As with anything, don’t give up. Don’t accept defeat. Keep learning, keep applying what you learn about the craft, about the world, about you to the story. Writing is a muscle and requires muscle. Learning to write well takes time. It’s like hitting the gym to build a bicep. You only get a better, stronger muscle by working it. Well, the same is true for writing. Of course good writers make it look easier than it is so don’t be discouraged if you have to write and rewrite.
What are some challenges in writing romance? Any particular genre of romance more difficult to pull off? What kind of research do you do, if any? Is there anything you wish you’ve seen in a romance novel — and are you writing it for us?
I love writing romance and find it very rewarding as love really does make the world go round. I don’t know if one genre is harder than another to pull off. I’m fascinated by them all and enjoy researching for my Harlequin Presents. I tend to read lots of historical accounts, biographies, travel logues, travel books, cook books, and magazine articles when outlining and planning a new book. I want to know as much as I can about a country and culture and the conflicts between men and women in that culture. Obviously a sheikh from Dubai will have a different way on interacting with women than an American or an Italian. The climate is different in every country, as are the foods and customs and I don’t just want to write a ‘romance’, I want to write a rich layered fantasy that seduces the reader and the senses.
I prefer personally to read a more emotional, intense romance. I love deep conflict and angst and sensual love scenes but those love scenes must come out of the character’s emotion and conflict, not just stuck on top. Great writers are writing these books and I’m just lucky I’m able to read them!
Do you ever get writer’s block? If so, how do you handle it? What do you find difficult, if anything, about writing? And what do you like the best?
I don’t believe in writer’s block. I see difficulties in writing related more to craft or knowledge, or sometimes physical fatigue. Sometimes I make a mistake writing a story which leads me to a dead-end. I won’t know I’ve taken a wrong turn until I can’t seem to move the story forward, or if I’ve begun to make a series of wrong decisions. Then I just end up in a muddle and I won’t write for awhile until I figure out where I went wrong.
The most difficult part of writing for me is the time alone, and also the wear and tear on the body from sitting in one place so long and typing like mad for hours. I have to be sure to get lots of exercise when I’m writing hard as the days tend to be long and it’s easy to get carpal tunnel like symptons in my wrist and elbow.
Was it difficult to get published? How did you find your agent?
It was hard. Lots of hard work – but totally worth it. It took me fifteen years to sell my first book. I had over twelve rejected manuscripts before I finally sold my first book in January 2000. I actually write for two publishers–very different stuff–and since January 2000 I have written and sold 30 novels. It’s been an a lot of work but I’m living my dream. I’m read around the world. I’m published in over twenty-five countries and nineteen languages. I even have Sony and Lifetime making a movie out of one of my books (Flirting with Forty). This is why I didn’t quit. I wanted to see if I could do it. I wanted to know I could achieve it. I wanted to prove that anything is possible.
Do you work on deadlines now? How long does it usually take you to write a book?
Yes. I think every writer’s life revolves around deadlines. We just have to develop a system to handle them as works best for us.
I try to plan in advance as much as possible and then block out time. If I know I’m on deadline for a book, the last 4-6 weeks will be grueling with 10-18 hour days at the computer so before and after I block out dedicated mom time, time where I don’t need the sitter over, and I plan a fun trip or weekend activity with the boys. Same thing for my social life. Once I’ve been freed from my deadline, I try to catch up with girl friends and have coffees and lunch as when I’m writing hardcore I literally only leave my house to take kids to school and sport events. When the pressure is on me, everything falls away but work and kids.
What about bedroom scenes? What makes a good one? (I know I’ve been turned away from books where it was crude.)
These can be tricky and I can read things I can’t write, but I’m writing fewer love scenes than I used to. I think we all know what sex is and in a book where there isn’t a lot of emotion a love scene reminds me of a game of Twister–right hand on yellow dot, left foot on blue–so for me, the love scene must not just be about physical desire and physical pleasure but the emotional, psychological and spiritual connection between the two.
How do you define love?
Love validates the self. Love makes one feel important and valued and real. Which is why I like to write about all kinds of love in my books–not just romance, but love between friends, sisters, parents and children. Love really does make the world go round.
What do you hope your readers will gain from your books?
As I touched on above , I write about women, for women. If we want the world different for our daughters we have to be the ones to demand change and although I have boys not girls, I want the world different for all the little girls coming after me. I want to be strong, powerful, courageous and encourage children to be the same. We should teach our girls to be brave and encourage them to face discrimination and talk about what makes us hurt and what makes us hope and make sure that we’re part of the decision making. It’s important girls understand that life’s hard, sometimes very hard, but it’s also gorgeous and fascinating, challenging, rewarding and complex and that there will be times life is going to smack you and hurt you and knock you to your knees but you can get up. Falling down won’t break you. Falling down is just part of getting stronger and smarter and more compassionate. Falling and failing happen to all of us. And this is why I write. I want women to know what it’s taken my forty years to figure out–that life is only as good as you give, and you have to fight hard for what you want, including fighting for happiness. We all deserve love, joy, freedom, peace and respect. We all deserve the good stuff but the good stuff doesn’t just fall into our laps. We’re going to have to work for it.
What do you do to relax and get away from writing? I’m sure you find ideas all around you! Is there something that really gets you away from it all?
When not writing, I read, and travel. Love to travel, be with my kids, love new places and new experiences. I am always looking for a new adventure!
What are your hopes for the future?
More books, more time with friends, more travel, and hopefully, one more baby.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with us? When can we expect your next book?
I’m so glad you invited me to join you. This has been great fun. I always have lots of contests and conversations over on my website, www.janeporter.com, including info on my next book which is a July ‘09 release from 5 Spot. For the Harlequin fans, I’ll have another book out late in 2009 as well.
Thank you, Jane, for being here.
Jane has offered us a signed copy of Odd Mom Out, her September book which is the first of the two connected novels set in Bellevue. If you’d like to be included in this contest, leave a message here, and we will include you in this contest.
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Book Girl and I went to see this one the other day. I thought I was going to another movie — Letters to Juliet! But When in Rome is one we thought we’d like to see from the previews, and the other one will be coming out soon, so we will see that one then. I did feel silly, however, to wrap my head around seeing a different movie than I expected!
When in Rome is a cute fantasy movie. Beth (Kristen Bell) is a workaholic, a young curator at the Guggenheim, working for Celeste (Anjelica Huston who plays her with delight.) Unlucky in love, she heads to Rome for her sister’s (Alexis Dziena) (who plays her usual dipsy part) whirlwind wedding. While there, she meets Nick (Josh Duhamel) and when it looks like her hopes for this possible relationship are dashed, she takes coins from the fountain, instead of tossing a coin to wish for love.
You can imagine the fun when the men who tossed the coins begin to pursue her aggressively. One is Danny DaVito, who is the only one who can deliver the lines he is given. Another is Jon Header (Napoleon Dynamite) — he gets more handsome by the day — who plays his part hilariously. Dax Shepard plays a ripped model, hilariously, in love with himself, now in love with her. Then there is the painter…
It takes her a while to realize they have been hit by a love spell because of the coins she took. Half the fun is how she is going to get out of it.
The cast includes a lot of all-stars. In addition to those mentioned, Don Johnson plays her father. Peggy Lipton is Priscilla. Even Shaq turns up.
Our theater was fairly full. There was a woman behind us with an infectious laugh. She belongs in a soundtrack. It was as much fun listening to her enjoy the movie, as it was for us to enjoy it.
There is one twist I didn’t see until the very end. It adds some fun too.
Have you seen this movie?
I give it 2.5 or 3 stars. It’s not Shakespeare, but it sure is fun. If you want to have a lot of laughs, suspend reality, and just have a good time, this is a movie to more than while away some time with.
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Various genres of Harlequin books offered free for Kindle as PDF files can be found here. Be sure to choose Free Books for your option. The site says that by May they will offer different ebook formats (again.)
Some titles have been offered previously at Amazon, which is easier, one step shopping if you have Kindle.
I have found some pdf files (a couple of ARCs) dropped directly into my Kindle have minuscule print and are too light to read. For some reason, the option to increase print size does not work. But when I sent those files to my Kindle at free.kindle.com, then dropped them in as azn files, they work perfectly, just as they should.
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I saw this movie today, and it was surprisingly funny. I hadn’t particularly wanted to go, but I was glad I did.
The entire audience laughed a lot. There were only a few really dumb things, and one character I could have written out, but the main character is so delightful and watchable and innocently kind that she is a pleasure to watch. And she holds many lessons.
There are a couple of questionable things for very young children and some bad language, but not a lot. My girls would love it, at 10 and 12. I think they can handle it.
Shelley (Anna Farris is charming in the part and makes the movie) is living the life of her dreams at the Playboy Mansion. She feels the mansion has given her the home she never had before. (The movie begins with a short montage of her early childhood spent in an orphanage, until she finally found acceptance and a sense of family. This is not dwelt upon, but you might need to be aware of it.)
Hugh Hefner plays himself in several cameos in the movie. It’s good to see his health has improved. I hadn’t realized he was in it.
When Hugh goes off for a time, immediately after Shelley’s 27th birthday party, she is presented with a letter from him giving her 2 hours to leave the premises as she is now ‘too old.’ 27 is now evidently 59 in Bunny years.
How she finds herself the housemother of what likely began as Zeta (Zeta Tau Alpha) but morphed into a close cousin in name, is part of the poignancy and fun. The girls in the house need to pledge 30 girls in order not to lose their charter. How she turns them into a viable sorority is a delight.
There is a typical sorority bitch that has shown up in several movies. (And there is a Bunny bitch too.) In a way this movie is like a female version of Sydney White, but we liked it better. (The theater rated it 3 out of 5.)
It’s easy to imagine Elle Woods living this life. (Colin Hanks plays her love interest.)
She’s definitely a likeable bimbo, and you can’t help but root for her. Many scenes touched my heart.
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We got to the theater about 10:45 last night, and they were letting us get our seats. They had sold out 4 theaters, which was probably par for the course, because one of the other theaters in town had done the same. Next to us was a girl and her father. He had never read the books.
My disclaimer is that I’ve read the books, but found them hard to get into, and I consider them OK, but not great.
Anyway, we had a good time. Except for the first couple of scenes (which are like the book — dorky/hokey teen) — and we hoped it wouldn’t be like that for the entire movie (and it wasn’t) — we enjoyed the movie. I’d give it a 4, except for those scenes, so it’s a 3. And I bet if we saw the movie again, those scenes would not bother us, because we know where its heading.
Interestingly, the father next to us said he wouldn’t give it a 5, but he’d give it a 4, and he intended to read the books.
I heard people behind me saying at the movie’s end that they are switching teams from Team Jacob to Team Edward.
Then this morning’s paper gave it a 1.5. No, no, no.
I loved the relationship between the teen friends — well cast — and Bella. Bella is just perfect for the part, very beautiful and easy to watch. (I agree with the reviewer that it would be fun to see her part played by the one friend.) Sometimes these teen friends (and ‘teen’ vampires) are the best parts of the movie. The Cullen father gets some swoons when he first appears on screen.
And the exceedingly bad vampires have fun with their parts.
Nothing can compete with the scenery. Or the screen kisses. Or the spectacular baseball game…and the ensuing scene with the bad vamps.
I loved the relationship between Bella and her father. It was true to life and very funny in parts, just the way teens and their parents/fathers are.
I disagree with the reviewer who said there was no humor. We laughed at a lot of the friends’ convos and Bella and her dad.
I was afraid how I’d take the ballet school scene, but it was very well done. Scary, but not frightening. After all, we know where the story is heading. James is the vampire you love to see die.
And we loved the ending. It was just right. All the way over CG wondered if it would end at the last chapter or the first chapter of the beginning of the book.
OK, where is Book 2’s movie? Count us in for the first night midnight showing. CG is already talking about seeing this one again.
In one sense it is refreshing to see a movie where the romance is unrequited. Bella and Edward have chemistry and double entendres, but they also have innocence and love, the unfoldment of learning about the other, caring and the desire to protect (even if the protection is necessary because of the protagonist.)
Even I liked it!
Karin
Be sure to visit InkyProductions at Etsy to see CG’s Twilight pendants. I love mine!
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One genre I generally will read is romantic suspense. It’s a little softer than suspense, which hits too close to home for me now.
Drue Allen’s first book, The Cost of Love, is romantic suspense at its best. I hope she has plans to make this a series.
Format: hardback
Length: 311 pages
ISBN: 9781594148590?
Publisher: Five Star
Pub Date: March, 2010
In the interests of transparency: I was given a pdf to read by Love Romance Passion who received it from Drue prior to publication. I put it on my Kindle, and unfortunately it didn’t format perfectly, which was super annoying, but the book was so good, I could overlook all that.
In the meantime, if you like the romantic suspense genre, you will love this book. It is not erotica. It is very suspenseful! Every page is a page turner. Everyone is suspect. I missed entirely who the baddie is.
It becomes clear that the bad guys are domestic, but that isn’t clear for a while. Who are the mole(s)…
My take:
I give this 8* out of 5, that’s how good it is. Make no mistake, it is suspenseful; there are murders and gruesome details… believable characters… and more.
Would a man like this book?
I think so. It has plenty of action. I think it would make a wonderful movie — now who to cast…
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Review Handbags and Homocide by Dorothy Howell Handbags and Homicide is a Haley Randolph Mystery. If you like Stephanie Plum, you will love Haley Randolph, with a cast of characters as quirky and loveable as the SP books, what's not to love!...
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It’s always fun to find a new author — especially when they have beaucoup books already in print!
Thanks to Susan for sharing the author, Cherry Adair who writes a genre I enjoy reading, romantic suspense.
I decided to order some from the library. The reference librarian said — Do you want all? strongly hinting that there were a lot. Ha! Yes, I did. So now I have a huge stash to read. Unfortunately, I can read them faster than she can write them! It looks as though each book gives enough of a recap to make it understandable if you read them out of order.
It is also available as a Kindle version.
Kiss and Tell is the second in the TFLAC series. I’m guessing The Mercenary is first.
While predictable, in a good way, I give it 5 stars. The odds of all this happening in a short period of time are thankfully small.
When Marnie Wright goes to her grandmother’s cabin, shortly after her grandmother dies, in order to think out her life, she doesn’t expect to meet a mercenary who pretty much has received a burn notice. When a storm comes up, washing away the bridge, and a tree falls on her cabin, she is ‘rescued’ by Jake Dolan (and her dog.)
But the bad guys — or is it the good guys — are running rampant in the woods, dressed in spy gear and speaking a special language known only to TFLAC members (or not.)
Trouble is, no one knows where he is and he hasn’t been followed.
So, of course, someone knows where he is. I figured that out right away, though Jake and Marnie do not. Who that someone is, is a main part of the story.
Romance
Believable and strong.
Strong feminine lead
Marnie is strong, feisty, hard to resist in every way. It’s great to have a strong feminine lead. She is not trained in warfare, but never underestimate the power of a woman who refuses to lie down and die.
Male lead
Jake has been burned by a woman he thought he loved. She tried to kill him by slitting his throat. So when Marnie shows up, similar in coloring to this previous woman, his defenses are up. Lucky for him he has designed a high tech lair to which they retreat, complete with infrared cameras.
Violence
Yes.
One by one the baddies are picked off. In this genre, you know the main characters will come out on top a la James Bond. You don’t have to worry about that. Along the way, they pick up assorted injuries, are in several fights (rough ones.)
While there is violence, it seems very far removed from real life — at least in once sense, until we think of terrorists — so it is not something I worry about in a dark alley.
If you want a good read — and an all too fast one — you can’t go wrong with this book.
Hints of the next book
Marnie has four brothers, all over protective, and her father owns a computer company (where she works.) One brother is a doctor; one a military man; one a photog; one owns a cattle ranch. But we are given hints in this book that they all are more than they seem. On thin ice is previewed in the back of this book, but it is not the second book, so far as I can tell. But as I said, they all pretty much can stand alone.
I’m on to the second one.
Have you read any of her books?
Do you have a favorite?
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Handbags and Homicide is a Haley Randolph Mystery.
If you like Stephanie Plum, you will love Haley Randolph, with a cast of characters as quirky and loveable as the SP books, what’s not to love!
I knew this was going to be a good book, when I laughed my way through the first chapter. And, of course, since retail is in my blood, it was even funnier.
Haley Randolph is in trouble, big time. She is a purse aficionado, and she knows her ins and outs of handbags. Her mother has a trust fund, but Haley wants to make it on her own. And it necessitates a lot of cash because she can’t resist a good multi-$100 handbag, for every outfit.
First, she gets a job through connections to a tony law firm — then is let go under suspicion.
At the same time she has a second job working retail at Holt’s Department Store, a store whose merchandise she doesn’t like. It’s a hoot to see how she manages to ‘work’ in all the areas of the store, not get anything done, yet do more than others who actually work.
Then she finds a dead body in the stock room, and she is a suspect.
It’s up to her to clear her name on both counts.
Along the way, she picks up some friends — and some purses. She helps customers put together outfits that are actually wearable.
Her stream of consciousness is a hoot.
There is very little romance in it, less than in a SP book, but there are similarities in the number of men interested in her. She has an almost-boyfriend.
In my head I kept hearing the voice of Isla Fisher as Rebecca Bloomwood in Confessions of a Shopaholic.
If you want a book to make you laugh, this is it. I give it 5*.
And for those of you who like a good series, the second book is already out:
PURSES AND POISON, the second book in the series, finds Haley still working at Holt’s Department Store. When her sort-of boyfriend Ty Cameron’s ex-lover is poisoned and suspicion falls on both Haley and her mom, Haley launches her own investigation. From the L.A. club scene, to the Fashion District, to the elegant Biltmore Hotel, Haley must find a way to catch a murderer, get the guy, and find the purse of her dreams.
And a third:
Howell also writes historical romance novels under the pen name Judith Stacy. She’s has 23 other books and almost 3 million readers worldwide. So it’s a good bet we can expect more from her, in this series too. This is the first book I’ve read of hers, but it won’t be my last.
And good news for Kindle owners: the first two books listed here are available for Kindle. $4.47 and $9.99.
Have you read this one?
If you are a fashionista, don’t miss this one — or if you simply love purses.
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Are you going to New Moon when it premieres?
Are you going to sparkle?
The story behind the story
A few weeks ago on Aromaleigh’s forum, for theme week, it was my turn to suggest the week’s theme. I was telling Book Girl, and she suggested having a Vampire Week, based on the movie Twilight, and the book series.
So that’s what I suggested. I suggested doing a vampire look based on Twilight, using any colors, so long as their skin sparkled in sunlight, which is easy to do with Aromaleigh.
Many entered into the spirit of it, even if they hadn’t heard of the book(s) or movie. That particular theme week had 1582 views and 74 responses, to date. Even Kristin, the founder of Aromaleigh, contributed a look.
The Twilight DVD came out at midnight Friday night, and we were there — in two cities! Book Girl was out of town.
Twilight Sparkle supernatural powder
This is the first one I’ve tried in this set of three. The glitter is very fine and shows up on my hand. On my face, it is a very sheer, sheeny look, not a glimmer look. My own mix is more sparkly, though there is more sparkle in the AL. I applied it with a FO brush.
Twilight Sparkle contains distinct shimmering iridescent glimmers. In the sunlight or under bright light, it shimmers like radiant tiny diamonds. Apply over skin that you have applied lotion to (preferably with a high SPF, of course!), the effect is even more pronounced, and the product will stay longer on your skin. Twilight Sparkle may slightly lighten your skin, but it is formulated to be suitable for many skintones, in a transparent base.
FOTD
I chose to wear it in my FOTD today in honor of the DVD debut.
FOTD AL Eyes + NYX Lips + I felt like bright turquoise today, and that made me think immediately of the colors that Aromaleigh has. Eyes: all Aromaleigh, except where noted: Crease: caribe, pure hue Outer corners: aqua nightmare, gothic lolita Inner...
FOTD Meow AL Eyes, Zalan lips The lips are a match for my shirt, only deeper, not as red as they show up with flash. IdealEyes description My view: They are pearlized, not frosted, with a high sheen, so I felt...
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Today we have a guest writer reviewing for us. I’ve not read this book, but it will definitely go on my to-read list. If you have read the book, or any by this author, how do you rate them?
Karin
In The Land of Mango Sunsets, author Dorothea Benton Frank illustrates that coming of age is not just for the young. In fact, if we have the kind of meaningful, eventful life that spurs personal growth, we probably ‘come of age’ several times.
The Land of Mango Sunsets, like all of Frank’s books, revolves around the low country of South Carolina; a place where southern ideals still reign true and sultry seascapes soothe and heal.
In this case the heroine, Miriam Elizabeth Swanson has been living in New York City for all of her adult life. In traveling home to Sullivans Island she finds freedom from childhood angst, outgrown perceptions, as well as strength after a soul crushing divorce, by forgiving her dying mother. She also finds true love, but romance is an aside to personal growth and the healing of her relationships with her grown children.
Frank manages to tell this story with humor and sensitivity so that it is not in anyway sad or depressing. It is a thoroughly enjoyable and uplifting book. Reviewed by Marcia.
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A friend loaned me her copy of the book eat, pray, love, because she liked it so well and felt I would too. I knew by the first few pages that I wanted a copy of my own.
It took me quite a while to work my way through the book, but in that way I could savor it. It’s a rare book that is so enjoyable.
Gilbert has a wonderful way with words.
And the good news is that it is being made into a movie with Julia Roberts starring. That should be interesting!
The book is her chronicle of searching across Italy (where she eats her way, while learning Italian), India (where she is in an Ashram searching for God, finding herself in silent devotion and in words and communion with others), and Bali (where she finds love and helps a woman buy a home.)
Along the way we see her work through the angst of her difficult divorce. She moves from a sense of no belief to profundity. It is by turns funny, touching, endearing, sad…
If you’ve read it, how did you like it? And if you haven’t, treat yourself.
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Arranged is one of those sweet movies that I just can’t say enough good about.
A friend recommended this movie to me, and she had it Tivo’ed, so we were able to watch it. She said she liked it as well the second time. I’ve since ordered my own copy.
The story centers around two young women, one is an Orthodox Jew and the other is Muslim. They work in the same school and become friends. Both women are good, in the best possible way, and do not walk the path of other women teaching in their school. They both revere God in their own ways.
They soon find they have something else in common — their fathers are arranging marriages for them. In some ways the suitors are similar to the suitors in My Big Fat Greek Wedding. Each one is worse than the other, but fortunately the girls have a say in it. The Jewish matchmaker is doing her best, but it isn’t very good.
The principal is overbearing and rude, trying to change them both.
But the young women are magnificent. So are their fathers, mothers, grandmother, etc.
Both families are portrayed with love and the (arranged) marriages of the parents seem to be happy. The Muslim mother is in her daughter’s favor. The Jewish mother is more of a caricature.
The ending is a double delight. Triple, when you count the epilogue. There is a happy surprise in the first ending. Watch the way the Muslim girl changes the way she wraps her scarf. That’s all I’m saying about that!
There were some slight errors in the film, but hopefully it will not detract from your enjoyment of it. It is rare to see religion portrayed kindly.
Sometimes I think a matchmaker might be a very good thing!
Have you seen this movie?
This is a movie I think you could enjoy again and again, finding new things in each screening. It strengthens your own faith, which is not a bad thing.
A perfume compliment Light Blue I love to get perfume compliments but they are rare. For the most part, I wear perfume to please myself. I am very careful in large groups or going to dinner or around people who...
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