Savvy Thinker » Romance http://savvythinker.com thinking about life, playing with makeup Tue, 22 May 2012 15:37:11 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Review Ghost of Girlfriends Past http://savvythinker.com/review-ghost-of-girlfriends-past/ http://savvythinker.com/review-ghost-of-girlfriends-past/#comments Mon, 14 May 2012 12:29:48 +0000 Karin http://savvythinker.com/?p=3259
  • The Past In Light Of The Present February 22, 2007 The Past In Light Of The Present...
  • Pink Panther 2 We had a lot of fun seeing this movie yesterday....
    • ]]>

    Well, this was a totally fun movie!

    Matthew McConaughey has superb comic timing, as well as believability when he delivers a changed monologue. And I have to say that he looks a lot like a young Paul Newman here.

    Michael Douglas must have had a blast riffing on his own life to a degree, making fun of everything most folks might have believed about him. He looks mighty good in this movie. Either he's had work done; the work has settled; or he might not be quite as thin as he was, which is better on him than the other way. Anyway, he's a hoot delivering lines spoofing himself (and Hugh Hefner) with a straight face.

    I'd like to see the outtakes. Both Matthew and Michael have a twinkle in their eye. That in itself is fun to watch.

    Jennifer Garner is good always. She has a very expressive face.

    I enjoyed seeing Breckin Meyer. I expected him to play a part similar to the one he played in Kate and Leopold, but he played this differently.

    Anne Archer looks good in this movie. It was like seeing her in Clear and Present Danger. She brings a lot to the part, just with her facial expressions. She plays a mature woman who doesn't cross a line into sleaze.

    We walked out of the movie saying that it was one we wanted to own.

    Have you seen it?

    Karin

    Originally posted 2009-05-01 17:20:49.

    Related posts:

    1. The Past In Light Of The Present February 22, 2007 The Past In Light Of The Present...
    2. Pink Panther 2 We had a lot of fun seeing this movie yesterday....
    ]]>     http://savvythinker.com/review-ghost-of-girlfriends-past/feed/ 0     Last Chance Harvey http://savvythinker.com/last-chance-harvey/ http://savvythinker.com/last-chance-harvey/#comments Fri, 27 Apr 2012 05:01:23 +0000 Karin http://savvythinker.com/2009/01/23/last-chance-harvey/
  • Stranger than Fiction (movie) College Girl brought this 2006 moviehome from the library today....
    • ]]>

    I saw this movie last week -- and again on a recent cruise. A love story for grownups.

    It was an enjoyable slice of life, well acted by its two veteran actors: Emma Thompson and Dustin Hoffman.

    This is not a romantic comedy; rather, I would call it a romantic drama. And since the romance takes place in a grown up way with mature adults, rather than teens or early adulthood, it might be more enjoyable for a mature audience. There is no sex or nudity, unless you count Dustin Hoffman in the shower, looking his age.

    Eileen Atkins plays the part of Emma's mother. She is terrific in the part. Vulnerability crosses her face in every scene, simply in nuances of facial expression.

    Hoffman is on his way to London for his daughter's wedding. It's going to be one of the harder weekends of his life. He learns that his daughter wishes her step-father (played by James Brolin) to give her away, then that he is fired.

    All the action takes place over the wedding weekend.

    Liane Balaban is gorgeous as his daughter.

    Along the way he fails to meet Thompson when she tries to ask him a questionnaire in the airport and when they take the same taxi -- as one gets out, the other gets in. Later, when he misses his plane home, they connect in a believable way in the airport lounge.

    That leads to his return to the wedding reception and their giving love a chance. I had to suspend reality to think the reception was still going on after his long morning/afternoon away. It was nice to see a resolution within the families. I mentioned to my daughter that he was treated differently when he was alone compared to when he had Emma with him.

    On the whole, I recommend it. I give it a 2.5 stars; my daughter gave it a 2.

    Have you seen it?

    Karin
    www.savvythinker.com

    Originally posted 2009-01-23 18:57:56.

    Related posts:

    1. Stranger than Fiction (movie) College Girl brought this 2006 moviehome from the library today....
    ]]>     http://savvythinker.com/last-chance-harvey/feed/ 0     Review Explosive Eighteen by Janet Evanovich http://savvythinker.com/review-explosive-eighteen-by-janet-evanovich/ http://savvythinker.com/review-explosive-eighteen-by-janet-evanovich/#comments Thu, 29 Mar 2012 02:54:38 +0000 Karin http://savvythinker.com/?p=8346
  • Review Plum Lovin’ by Janet Evanovich To honor the release of the movie, One for the...
  • Review Visions of Sugar Plums (a Stephanie Plum Holiday novel) by Janet Evanovich To honor the release of the movie, One for the...
  • Fearless Fourteen by Janet Evanovich Fearless Fourteen continues the comic saga of Stephanie Plum and...
    • ]]>

    Janet Evanovich is in high form in Explosive Eighteen. I've found a couple of the latter books to be rather lackluster, but this one is full of our favorite characters, with a laugh or two on every page, with both ridiculous situations -- and dangerous ones, and the quandary of which lover would best suit Stephanie. She is such a likeable character that the morality issue really never quite comes up. Would that we all had such a dilemma!

    The story
    Well, you know Stephanie is going to be after the bad guys and the not-so-bad guys (and women.) She gets herself into some serious jams, but she has Ranger to have her back, and Morelli is on call, when he isn't working. (I think he works too much and isn't really there when she needs him, to the extent that Ranger is.) (OTOH, she says she loves him. And she feels Ranger has his own issues to deal with.)

    Grandma Mazur is up to her old tricks, and this time she is with Annie Hart (and another love potion...)

    We are dropped in the middle of the story when Stephanie comes back from Hawaii early, leaving Morelli and Ranger to fight it out. We learn more about the whys and wherefores later in the book. (And I'm not telling.)

    On the plane, the fellow she sits next to either gives her an envelope containing a picture on purpose, or he inadvertently drops it in her bag, thinking it is his, as they are identical. And then he is found murdered.

    And doncha just know that a lotta bad guys are after that photo, all thinking that Stephanie has it, but she threw it out at her parents' and the trash has already been picked up. And Stephanie can't get the picture right, when she sits with a (two) sketch artist(s.) (It turns out the picture is not at all what we suspect and very clever indeed.)

    Meantime Joyce Barnhardt shows up at Stephanie's apartment, when everyone thinks she has been crushed in a car at the junkyard.

    And Lula is exactly what is needed to give this book all the breeze and humor you could possibly want -- and interesting costume getups. Not to mention that it is easy to picture her now that Sherri Shepherd nailed the part in the movie.

    Have you read it?
    I rate it 5* out of 5. It is definitely a keeper. I got the book from the library (waiting for it, because I was number 180 something on the list or so...and will pass it to Book Girl and a friend before it is due back.) It is seriously good to have so many laughs.

    It is available for Kindle:

    Karin
    www.savvythinker.com



    No items matching your keywords were found.


    No items matching your keywords were found.

    Related posts:

    1. Review Plum Lovin’ by Janet Evanovich To honor the release of the movie, One for the...
    2. Review Visions of Sugar Plums (a Stephanie Plum Holiday novel) by Janet Evanovich To honor the release of the movie, One for the...
    3. Fearless Fourteen by Janet Evanovich Fearless Fourteen continues the comic saga of Stephanie Plum and...
    ]]>     http://savvythinker.com/review-explosive-eighteen-by-janet-evanovich/feed/ 1     Review: My life in ruins (movie) http://savvythinker.com/review-my-life-in-ruins-movie/ http://savvythinker.com/review-my-life-in-ruins-movie/#comments Wed, 28 Mar 2012 04:58:18 +0000 Karin http://savvythinker.com/?p=3689
  • Review Ghost of Girlfriends Past Well, this was a totally fun movie! Matthew McConaughey has...
  • Underdog Have no fear, Underdog is here! Who let the dogs...
  • Finding Joy short movie This is a short inspirational movie from Simple Truths. It's...
    • ]]>

    Bookgirl and I went to this movie last night. It's amazing how bad a critic can make a movie sound. It got zero stars in our local paper by a syndicated critic.

    There were about 10 people at the late showing, including us. All women. We all had fun.

    Yes, yada yada, it's not Shakespeare. It's not sci fi or adventure. It's probably not a guy flick.

    It's just a light romance with a bunch of quirky tourists (we were glad we'd never traveled with quite such quirks) who bond throughout the trip in endearing ways. There's some humor, a bad guy, a quirky employer. It is all done light heartedly. Yes, there are cliches. But that makes it interesting, just to see how they play out. (The older lady who steals is one of them.)

    Nia Vardalos is as beautiful as ever. She has a wonderfully expressive face. I think it's too bad the movie got no stars, because it will probably be gone before anyone hears word of mouth that it is a very nice movie to while away some time in.

    I hadn't realized that Richard Dreyfuss is in it. He also has an expressive face. Nuances in the eyes.

    One caveat: Nia walks around the ruins in unbelievably high heels. We've been to Olympia, Delphi, and Athens, so it was lovely to see this scenery again, including the Pantheon at night (magical!) But there is no way I could have walked in any of them with high heels without turning an ankle. Delphi had quite steep slopes with a lot of gravel. I was afraid coming down I might just slip on the gravel. No way would I navigate in heels.

    The bad guy gets his comeuppance. Georgia (Nia) finds love. There's some comedy; some pathos. We get to see the views.

    I want to go to Greece again.

    What's so bad about going to the movies just to have a good time.

    Karin

    Originally posted 2009-06-08 13:29:34.

    Related posts:

    1. Review Ghost of Girlfriends Past Well, this was a totally fun movie! Matthew McConaughey has...
    2. Underdog Have no fear, Underdog is here! Who let the dogs...
    3. Finding Joy short movie This is a short inspirational movie from Simple Truths. It's...
    ]]>     http://savvythinker.com/review-my-life-in-ruins-movie/feed/ 0     Review SEALed with a Kiss by Mary Daughtridge http://savvythinker.com/review-sealed-with-a-kiss-by-mary-daughtridge/ http://savvythinker.com/review-sealed-with-a-kiss-by-mary-daughtridge/#comments Mon, 26 Mar 2012 16:28:51 +0000 Karin http://savvythinker.com/?p=6815
  • Review SEALed with a Ring by Mary Margret Daughtridge SEALed with a Ring is third in a trilogy (so...
  • Review Kiss and Tell by Cherry Adair (Book 2) It's always fun to find a new author -- especially...
  • Review Hide and Seek by Cherry Adair (Book 3) Hide and Seek is the third book in the T-FLAC...
    • ]]>

    SEALed with a Kiss by Mary Daughtridge is a warm-hearted, lovely story filled with genuine characters and a lot of love.

    It's a story that makes you glad you read it. The story-line is believable and the characters' falling in love is equally so.

    I enjoy the books by Suzanne Brockman, so I thought I might enjoy this series. This is more a love story than a story about the military SEALs, though the main character's SEAL training comes in handy in the end.

    Navy SEAL Jax Graham has been given an ultimatum by his commanding officer: fix the situation with his 4 year old son, no excuses. Jax' ex-wife has died. She had kept his visitation to a minimum and his job had kept it even further. A SEAL never knows when he must be ready to go at a moment's notice. Her mother will gain custody, but that is not a good situation.

    So Jax takes his 2 week vacation, on orders, with his son.

    Family therapist Pickett Sessoms is in the same place, at the same time, closing a beach cottage against a coming hurricane. She enters the equation, helping Jax regain his confidence as a father, while he learns how to talk to his son, who is smart enough to know a few things, but too young to connect the dots.

    There wasn't much that was contrived or hard to believe in this book. The characters are well drawn, and their awakening to love comes naturally and at an acceptable pace.

    These are people you really care about, as the story moves forward. Even the dogs are well drawn.

    In many ways the love in this story reminds me of the love that is in Morning Glory by LaVryle Spencer. The characters have fully lived, picking up wounds along the way. Each of them heals wounds of the other, gently and with love.

    Have you read the book or any others of Daughtridge? I will be reading more in this series.

    Head's up: the ex-mother-in-law drinks and is verbally abusive to her little grandson; Pickett has celiac disease, which is mentioned, but not to distraction...

    I give it a 5 out of 5.

    The book is available for Kindle.

    See my review of SEALed with a Promise here.

    Karin
    www.savvythinker.com




    Originally posted 2010-05-21 23:04:33.

    Related posts:

    1. Review SEALed with a Ring by Mary Margret Daughtridge SEALed with a Ring is third in a trilogy (so...
    2. Review Kiss and Tell by Cherry Adair (Book 2) It's always fun to find a new author -- especially...
    3. Review Hide and Seek by Cherry Adair (Book 3) Hide and Seek is the third book in the T-FLAC...
    ]]>     http://savvythinker.com/review-sealed-with-a-kiss-by-mary-daughtridge/feed/ 0     All through the night (book) http://savvythinker.com/all-through-the-night-book/ http://savvythinker.com/all-through-the-night-book/#comments Fri, 03 Feb 2012 06:59:06 +0000 Karin http://savvythinker.com/2008/05/31/all-through-the-night-book/
  • Review Kiss and Tell by Cherry Adair (Book 2) It's always fun to find a new author -- especially...
  • The Land of Mango Sunsets (book) Today we have a guest writer reviewing for us. I've...
  • People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks Based on a true story, but fleshed out with fictional...
    • ]]>

    Suzanne Brockmann writes interesting books, and this is no exception. I stumbled across one of her books a few years ago. She writes military fiction (Navy Seals) with characters you enjoy, rolled up with passion for work and each other, as well as the requisite love story, a little danger and a lot of action. I haven't read her books in any particular order, but each book concentrates more on one of the characters than another in a continuing saga of sorts.

    This book is a love story about a hero and a hero. It is not heterosexual. She writes with compassion and understanding. Her son Jason is gay, she tells us in an addendum, and she lives in Massachusetts with her husband, author Ed Gaffney.

    The book is set in Boston where Jules and Robin are going to be married, taking each other as life partners. Along the way, both of their lives are endangered -- Jules because of his work and Robin because he is (they are) peripherally stalked.

    I wouldn't say this is the best of her books. There is less action, though what there is takes place in Afghanistan. For the most part, it is a love story. She ties present feelings and actions to past and childhood events. She makes you care for her characters' hurts, which is a skill in itself.

    Have you read any of her books?

    Karin

    How well did you like All through the night?Online Casinos
    1 star
    2 stars
    3 stars
    4 stars

    Web Polls

    Originally posted 2008-05-31 09:11:07.

    Related posts:

    1. Review Kiss and Tell by Cherry Adair (Book 2) It's always fun to find a new author -- especially...
    2. The Land of Mango Sunsets (book) Today we have a guest writer reviewing for us. I've...
    3. People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks Based on a true story, but fleshed out with fictional...
    ]]>     http://savvythinker.com/all-through-the-night-book/feed/ 0     Review The Unsung Hero by Suzanne Brockman http://savvythinker.com/review-the-unsung-hero-by-suzanne-brockman/ http://savvythinker.com/review-the-unsung-hero-by-suzanne-brockman/#comments Sun, 22 Jan 2012 00:15:51 +0000 Karin http://savvythinker.com/?p=3902
  • Review Breaking the Rules by Suzanne Brockman Suzanne Brockman has been called the reigning queen of (romantic)...
  • Review Finding Margo by Suzanne O’Leary The premise of Finding Margo was interesting to me, so...
  • We need a hero — ethics in adoption We thought we had done everything we could to ensure...
    • ]]>

    Suzanne Brockman writes several series. This book is from her Troubleshooter's series, stories of US Navy Seal Team Sixteen. Each book details the story of another member of the team, as well as intertwines the characters more and more.

    I'm not sure if this is the first book, but it's a good place to start. I have liked some of the stories more than others, but I like the concept.

    I picked this book up again recently and found myself rereading it, something I rarely do.

    From Suzanne Brockman's website:

    After a near-fatal head injury, U.S. Navy SEAL Lieutenant Tom Paoletti catches a terrifying glimpse of an international terrorist in his New England hometown. When he calls for help, the Navy dismisses the danger as injury-induced imaginings. In a desperate last-ditch effort to prevent disaster, Tom creates his own makeshift counterterrorist team, assembling his most loyal officers, two elderly veterans of the Second World War, a couple of misfit teenagers, and Dr. Kelly Ashton -- the sweet "girl next door" who has grown into a remarkable woman. Once known as the town’s infamous bad boy, Tom has always longed for Kelly. Now he has one final chance for happiness, one last chance to win her heart, and one desperate chance to save the day....

    HERO: Lt. Tom Paoletti, U.S. Navy SEAL Commander
    HEROINE: Dr. Kelly Ashton, pediatrician
    LOCATION: Baldwin’s Bridge, Massachusetts

    You can call these romance books with a twist. The twist is, of course, saving the day.

    In this book, various voices narrate the action. I particularly liked this. It was believable and not just a writing device. It actually allowed the reader to catch glimpses of the inner persons. And woven through the book are the narrations of a romance and heroic actions during WWII in France. These actions have direct bearing on the circumstances in the book.

    There is to be a ceremony honoring the hero of Baldwin's Bridge (Tom's uncle -- and until this point in time Tom never knew of the actions of his uncle in OSS) -- and his uncle plans to give an interview to a reporter detailing the real hero (Kelly's father.)

    The characters rise to the occasion, get the bad guy(s), save the day, fall in love -- what more could you want from a story.

    And the romance develops over a slow pace -- the entire book -- with a lot of stream of consciousness and flirting and some serious, but not crude, sex.

    Tom has been told that his kind of head injury may result in paranoia. And he has bad headaches throughout the book.

    When he first catches a glimpse of the man he strongly believes is the Merchant, he recognizes the odd way he puts his backpack on his shoulders. He has altered his appearance some, if indeed it is the Merchant. Tom feels it is his duty to report this sighting, but it is not well received. No legitimate source of intel has anything, but the fact that it is believed the Merchant died of his injuries in the last encounter.

    Tom continues to catch glimpses of him -- as well as the tattoo that members of the Merchant's team use to identify themselves.

    But has he seen him or hasn't he? Does he just imagine there is danger when there is not? Even though paranoia usually means thinking that only oneself is in danger, whereas here he sees the possibility of others' being in danger, he must decide if he should pursue following this lead, even if it means he could be medically discharged from the Seals.

    He calls in as many of his trusted team as he can, making them know it is not an order, that they are acting on their own time (vacation.) Good thing he did too.

    The action gets very fast paced at the end where they must find the bomb and save the day.

    Have you read any of Brockman's books or series?
    Which is your favorite? This is one of mine. I kept putting it down so as to savor the finish.

    Karin

    Originally posted 2009-06-28 10:22:39.

    Related posts:

    1. Review Breaking the Rules by Suzanne Brockman Suzanne Brockman has been called the reigning queen of (romantic)...
    2. Review Finding Margo by Suzanne O’Leary The premise of Finding Margo was interesting to me, so...
    3. We need a hero — ethics in adoption We thought we had done everything we could to ensure...
    ]]>     http://savvythinker.com/review-the-unsung-hero-by-suzanne-brockman/feed/ 0     Review Divorced, Desperate and Dating by Christie Craig http://savvythinker.com/review-divorced-desperate-and-dating-by-christie-craig/ http://savvythinker.com/review-divorced-desperate-and-dating-by-christie-craig/#comments Sun, 25 Dec 2011 02:24:12 +0000 Karin http://savvythinker.com/?p=7260
  • Kindle 2 Book light from M-edge I decided to order a light for my Kindle2 (international...
  • Good news for ebooks The times they are a' changing... Ebook blog I subscribe...
  • Review: The Ex-Boyfriend’s Handbook By Matt Dunn The cover says: “Eddie will do whatever it takes to...
    • ]]>

    It's been a long time since I've enjoyed an author and book, as much as I enjoyed Christie Craig's Divorced, Desperate, and Dating. This book is easily as good, if not better, than Janet Evanovich's series featuring Stephanie Plum. Seriously. If you like Stephanie Plum, you will love this book. And the good news is that it is part of a trilogy, so there is more on offer, including other books by this author.

    I suppose you would call this romantic suspense, but there is so much wit and humor in it, that it crosses genres, as far as I'm concerned.

    I managed to pick it up when it was offered for free on Kindle. Yippee!

    Make no mistake, the sex is hot and heavy, but it is realistic. The hero and heroine do not jump into bed at the first available moment, but there is a lot of sexual tension as they determine how far they will take the relationship.

    Sue Finley is a murder mystery writer. She researches how to kill her victims. Her good friend is married to a police officer, whose good friend is Jason Dodds, also a police officer. It just so happens that 4 months earlier, she and Jason had shared a spectacular kiss. He asked for her number, but he hasn't called her back.

    In the meantime, she has begun to date Paul who is just odd enough to give you the willies. She is considering breaking it off.

    And then she starts getting threats to kill her that are copycatting the book she has written, but is not yet published.

    At first, it seems like a loathsome prank or publicity stunt, though she realizes it is not. Then it escalates into serious territory. Re-enter Jason Dodds to save the day -- and he does. He is one of the first to take the threats seriously, and he refuses to leave her until the person behind the threats is discovered. He has, what he thinks, are good reasons for not calling her after their kiss, but that goes out the window when they are in close proximity.

    There really is some suspense here, but it doesn't get into the horrors of suspense mysteries, thankfully. I wanted to finish the book to know where it was going.

    The story is peopled with odd characters, similar to the Stephanie Plum stories. Her mom is a character, and her grandparents keep tabs on her life. There is a lot of love, even with peoples' eccentricities.

    I really enjoyed the book. I give it 4 out of 4 *, and I will look for her other books.

    Click here to read it on your kindle. It's not free any longer, but it is worth every penny!

    Have you read any of her books or this one?

    Karin
    www.savvythinker.com

    New Red Silicone Soft Cover Case Compatible w/ Kindle 4 Tablet eReader New Red Silicone Soft Cover Case Compatible w/ Kindle 4 Tablet eReader Paypal 0 Bid US $8.05 1d 1h 19m
    Black Silicone Case fits Kindle 4 Ereader Amazon Black Silicone Case fits Kindle 4 Ereader Amazon Paypal 0 Bid US $5.35 1d 1h 19m
    White Silicone Case fits Kindle 4 Ereader Amazon White Silicone Case fits Kindle 4 Ereader Amazon Paypal 0 Bid US $5.35 1d 1h 19m
    Amazon Kindle Wifi eReader Tablet Pocket Neoprene Case Cover Sleeve Green Amazon Kindle Wifi eReader Tablet Pocket Neoprene Case Cover Sleeve Green Paypal US $9.90 1d 1h 29m
    Amazon Kindle Wifi eReader Tablet Pocket Neoprene Case Cover Sleeve Red Amazon Kindle Wifi eReader Tablet Pocket Neoprene Case Cover Sleeve Red Paypal US $9.90 1d 2h 36m
    Amazon Kindle Wifi eReader Tablet Pocket Neoprene Case Cover Sleeve Red Amazon Kindle Wifi eReader Tablet Pocket Neoprene Case Cover Sleeve Red Paypal US $8.69 1d 7h 22m
    Amazon Kindle Wifi eReader Tablet Pocket Neoprene Case Cover Sleeve Green Amazon Kindle Wifi eReader Tablet Pocket Neoprene Case Cover Sleeve Green Paypal US $8.69 1d 7h 26m
    Rocketfish RF-ERCL-02-Clip On LED Light Kindle / Nook / Kindle DX eReaders Rocketfish RF-ERCL-02-Clip On LED Light Kindle / Nook / Kindle DX eReaders Paypal US $7.98 2d 3h 2m
    White Silicone Case fits Kindle 4 Ereader Amazon White Silicone Case fits Kindle 4 Ereader Amazon Paypal US $5.95 2d 16h 59m
    Retro Love Heart Print Brown Fabric cover case for Kindle Kobo E-reader all make Retro Love Heart Print Brown Fabric cover case for Kindle Kobo E-reader all make Paypal US $21.33 2d 23h 58m

    No items matching your keywords were found.


    Originally posted 2010-10-22 20:27:39.

    Related posts:

    1. Kindle 2 Book light from M-edge I decided to order a light for my Kindle2 (international...
    2. Good news for ebooks The times they are a' changing... Ebook blog I subscribe...
    3. Review: The Ex-Boyfriend’s Handbook By Matt Dunn The cover says: “Eddie will do whatever it takes to...
    ]]>     http://savvythinker.com/review-divorced-desperate-and-dating-by-christie-craig/feed/ 0     Review The Proposal http://savvythinker.com/review-the-proposal/ http://savvythinker.com/review-the-proposal/#comments Sun, 18 Dec 2011 12:23:30 +0000 Karin http://savvythinker.com/?p=3814
  • Review Ghost of Girlfriends Past Well, this was a totally fun movie! Matthew McConaughey has...
  • Review When in Rome Book Girl and I went to see this one the...
  • Review: My life in ruins (movie) Bookgirl and I went to this movie last night. It's...
    • ]]>

    Bookgirl and I went to The Proposal this morning. The theater was probably about 2/3 full -- a good crowd! And there were some men, not a lot, but a few.

    We thoroughly enjoyed the movie and laughed our way through it. It was sweet, poignant, a hoot (especially Gammy (Betty White) who steals every scene she's in -- in a good way), a little raunchy (not too bad) -- just all round fun.

    A summer escape. Yep, that's what it is. We get enough of the other just in the news.

    You can be pretty sure it has a happy ending. Believable, but happy. Who doesn't want to see life wrapped up happily in a couple of hours?

    And we saw two people who are fun to watch, not to mention all the others in the film too. Bookgirl particularly liked Mary Steenburgen as the mother. Craig T. Nelson is the father. Ryan Reynolds is easy on the eyes, for sure, as the male lead. I'd go see him again in a heartbeat. We always like Sandra Bullock. I liked the relationships within the family.

    Judging from the size of the crowd, I think a lot of us are looking for happy movies that aren't sugary.

    Or are a little sugary, but not like syrup.

    I heard from a friend that she saw it on Sunday with a friend, and they both liked it too.

    Well, sure, it's predictable. Maybe even a rehash, but hey, it's fun to watch. One quick nude scene, more suggested than actual. And more of Sandra B -- which is to be expected, even if not fair.

    So there you have it! If you are in the mood, go for it! Have you seen it? I give it a 3. And a 7 for scenery. I'd like to be back in Sitka this summer.

    Karin

    Originally posted 2009-06-22 15:11:17.

    Related posts:

    1. Review Ghost of Girlfriends Past Well, this was a totally fun movie! Matthew McConaughey has...
    2. Review When in Rome Book Girl and I went to see this one the...
    3. Review: My life in ruins (movie) Bookgirl and I went to this movie last night. It's...
    ]]>     http://savvythinker.com/review-the-proposal/feed/ 0     Review Strategic Moves by Stuart Woods (Stone Barrington novel) http://savvythinker.com/review-strategic-moves-by-stuart-woods-stone-barrington-novel/ http://savvythinker.com/review-strategic-moves-by-stuart-woods-stone-barrington-novel/#comments Wed, 07 Dec 2011 20:50:53 +0000 Karin http://savvythinker.com/?p=7590
  • Lucid Intervals by Stuart Woods What's not to like about a Stone Barrington book! Stuart...
  • Review: Hothouse Orchid by Stuart Woods I started out looking for the newest Stuart Woods book...
  • Reckless Abandon, by Stuart Woods Stuart Woods has written a lot of books, nearly all...
    • ]]>

    There's nothing better than a new Stone Barrington novel, when it works, and this one works.

    I got Strategic Moves from the library. This is book # 19 in the series, count 'em.

    It has the usual cast of characters
    This is one reason the books are so fun. There is Stone, of course, the ex-cop, now lawyer; Dino, his friend, a cop; Elaine, who owns the restaurant they love to eat in; Lance Cabot, the CIA man; now there is Mike Eggers, who owns a security company whose late owner was killed in a mistaken identity; and there is Herbie Fisher, the irritating little man who is always in the middle of things, through no fault, ahem, of his own. Even Holly Barker makes an appearance.

    Add in a few beautiful women, a couple of homicides, a man who is adept at disguises, and you have a recipe for fun.

    The story
    You just have to smile at the convoluted storyline...too complicated to talk about, but not too complicated to follow.

    But Stone has his clients' best interests at heart, and he always manages to best the ones who would like to best him. He is loyal to his friends, and they know who they are. And he has the right ones -- not only does he have security, but he has the best wire-and-bug man in the business, even better than the CIA.

    When a Mercedes falls out of the sky and a parachute is found not too far away, you just know that Barrington is somehow mixed up in it.

    How about romance
    Well, Stone always has some lady friend, but the action is off page, though the clever asides are not.

    Have you read this one?
    Have you read any other Stuart Woods novels (he has several series going.) Do you have a favorite?

    Lynn, you would like these. They aren't quite Castle, but they are of a similar bent.

    I give it 4**** out of 4. It was a pleasure to read.

    See my review of Lucid Intervals.

    Buy: Strategic Moves (Stone Barrington, Book 19)

    Buy: Strategic Moves (Kindle Edition)

    Karin
    www.savvythinker.com



    Strategic Moves: A Stone Barrington Novel, Stuart Woods, Good Book Strategic Moves: A Stone Barrington Novel, Stuart Woods, Good Book US $6.98 17h 14m
    Strategic Moves by Stuart Woods (2011, Hardcover) - Excellent condition! Strategic Moves by Stuart Woods (2011, Hardcover) - Excellent condition! Paypal 0 Bid US $1.99 1d 25m
    Strategic Moves by Stuart Woods (2011, Hardcover) Strategic Moves by Stuart Woods (2011, Hardcover) Paypal US $4.00 1d 2h 49m
    Strategic Moves (Stone Barrington, Book 19) Strategic Moves (Stone Barrington, Book 19) US $1.99 1d 5h 21m
    Stuart Woods - Strategic Moves (2011) - Used - Trade Pa Stuart Woods - Strategic Moves (2011) - Used - Trade Pa Paypal US $4.99 2d 14h 1m
    Stuart Woods H/B Son Of Stone,Bel-Air Dead,Lucid Intervals,Strategic Moves,.... Stuart Woods H/B Son Of Stone,Bel-Air Dead,Lucid Intervals,Strategic Moves,.... Paypal US $4.50 3d 16h 45m
    Strategic Moves: A Stone Barrington Novel by Stuart Woods (2011, Paperback, R... Strategic Moves: A Stone Barrington Novel by Stuart Woods (2011, Paperback, R... Paypal US $6.49 4d 5h 24m
    Strategic Moves (Stone Barrington, Book 19), Stuart Woods, Good, Hardcover Strategic Moves (Stone Barrington, Book 19), Stuart Woods, Good, Hardcover Paypal US $5.98 5d 59m
    Strategic Moves: A Stone Barrington Novel by Stuart Woods (2011, Paperback, R... Strategic Moves: A Stone Barrington Novel by Stuart Woods (2011, Paperback, R... Paypal US $5.98 5d 7h 1m
    Strategic Moves by Stuart Woods (2011, Hardcover) BCE Strategic Moves by Stuart Woods (2011, Hardcover) BCE Paypal US $5.95 5d 19h 44m

    Originally posted 2011-02-21 07:43:40.

    Related posts:

    1. Lucid Intervals by Stuart Woods What's not to like about a Stone Barrington book! Stuart...
    2. Review: Hothouse Orchid by Stuart Woods I started out looking for the newest Stuart Woods book...
    3. Reckless Abandon, by Stuart Woods Stuart Woods has written a lot of books, nearly all...
    ]]>     http://savvythinker.com/review-strategic-moves-by-stuart-woods-stone-barrington-novel/feed/ 0