Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Book Release Day Blitz: Beth Ciotta - Fool For Love

Author: Beth Ciotta
Title: Fool For Love
Publisher: St Martin's Paperbacks
Publish Date: Aug 28, 2012
Buy: Amazon
Book Blurb: SHE’S CRAVING A SWEET NEW LIFE…
Call her a fool, but chef-in-training Chloe Madison wants to have her cake and eat it too. So when her boyfriend dumps her for some French tart, she decides to start over from scratch—with a new life and job in Sugar Creek, Vermont. What could be sweeter than cooking for an eccentric lady who’s crazy for desserts? What could be more tempting than joining a club called the Cupcake Lovers? Just one thing: local business-hunk Devlin Monroe…
AND HE’S THE ICING ON THE CUPCAKE Although he’s  the grandson of Chloe’s fun-loving boss, Devlin Monroe is all work and no play. Micro-managing the family business, he doesn’t have time to indulge in life’s  sweetest pleasures—until he meets Chloe. How can he resist such a vibrant, beautiful woman who brings so much passion to the table? But when old grudges and secrets threaten to destroy the Cupcake Lovers, Devlin must decide if his feelings for Chloe are a recipe for disaster—or a sinfully delicious ever-after…

Saturday, August 25, 2012

Great New Song!

This is Anna Johnson's entry to Dodge's "Inspired By You" competition. The song is called City Life and it is pretty damn good.

Take a listen.


Sunday, August 19, 2012

Single Review: There Ain't No Sweet Man That's Worth The Salt Of My Tears

There Ain't No Sweet Man That's Worth The Salt Of My Tears, is the first single from Diana Krall's latest release Glad Rag Doll, that will hit stores on Oct 2.

The song has a vaudeville flair, taking the listener back to the early 1900s. The first thing you'll notice about this song is the guitar. It suddenly feels like Krall is channeling her husband for her version of Fred Fisher's classic song, but no it isn't her husband, it is the producer, T. Bone Burnett.

Suddenly the jazz songbird who is famous for songs like "Peel Me A Grape," and "The Look Of Love," is doing more than letting the music focus on her piano and voice. In short, Diana is rocking out just a little and it works. In fact, knowing that she's working with T. Bone Burnett, one can only hope that a project with her husband, Elvis Costello is in the works. A music lover can dream, right?

Krall usually does sexy in a subtle way with her music, but this is far from subtle, it is sultry and in your face. It is definitely different and very unexpected, but it is also pleasant and it is nice to see an artist step out of their comfort zone and create something wonderful and she's done that here.

Friday, August 17, 2012

Single Review: Matchbox Twenty - She's So Mean


Have you ever heard a song by a band that you absolutely love that makes you think, OMGWTF happened to them?

Well, it has happened to Matchbox Twenty, with their new song She's So Mean.

It isn't that there is anything wrong with the song if you compare it to all the other songs being played on the radio. It is catchy and it will worm its way into your head, but it is so fluffy, and that's not what you come to expect from Rob Thomas and the rest of the Matchbox Twenty boys. These are the guys that did "3 a.m.," "If You're Gone," and "Unwell," along with a host of other songs. They wrote songs that had substance. This song has none of that. Sure it is a fun listen, and yes, it is wonderful to have new material from the guys, but fluff is not what Matchbox Twenty usually does.

It makes you wonder if the guys are trying for chart success rather than putting out quality music. I mean they are hitting that age where the industry stops caring.

It is just a shame that they have come to this. The only good thing is that even when putting out potboilers, Matchbox Twenty still rocks.

Sunday, August 12, 2012

Movie Review: The Muppets

Blurb: Muppet domination continues with a hilarious new movie from Walt Disney Studios. Jason Segel, Academy Award(R) nominee Amy Adams (Best Performance By An Actress In a Supporting Role, Junebug, Doubt, The Fighter) and Academy Award winner Chris Cooper (Best Performance By An Actor In A Supporting Role, Adaptation) join everyone's favorite Muppets and an all-star celebrity cast in a comic adventure for the whole family. While on vacation in Los Angeles, Walter, the world's biggest Muppet fan, his brother Gary, and friend Mary uncover the diabolical plot of a greedy oil millionaire to destroy the Muppet Theater. Now, the Muppet-loving trio must reunite Kermit, Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear and their friends to stage the greatest Muppet telethon ever and save their beloved theater. The gang is back together again in a must-own movie full of irresistible music and family fun.

Review: I dare you to not love this movie. The Muppets is a great family film, but it is also a trip down memory lane for those of us that grew up in the late 70s and early 80s. It is like revisiting childhood, only with celebrities from the here and now, like Jack Black, Selena Gomez and Neil Patrick Harris.

There's nothing ground breaking here, but there is a whole lot of funny and some fun songs, as well as some old favorites. Think of it as a kid's version of Avenue Q. Plus all kids need to know about Kermit, Miss Piggy, Fozzi and Gonzo!

It is great to see The Muppets back on the big screen. It would be better if it was the small screen though...imagine the celebrity guests they could have! Gaga on The Muppets? Or Katy Perry?

But really, this movie is all that is cute and fun. If you need to smile, this is the film to rent!

Friday, August 10, 2012

Friday Funny

I was trolling YouTube for stuff to amuse me when I found this



I love the combination of scary pictures from the People Of Walmart website and the song. This absolutely made my day, plus Jessica Frech has a great sense of humor.

OH and here's version two of the song


Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Thanks Papa Nez

I'm so totally annoyed that The Monkees are touring this year.

Yes, you read that right, The Monkees are touring.

Micky, Peter and Mike.

Nice, Mike. After Davy dies, you jump on The Monkees bandwagon. Something you didn't do much when the band toured many times over the last 30 years.

In 1986, I would have tossed all my money (which wasn't much as I was only in grade school) to see the prefab four together, but that wasn't to be.

Was Nez present any of the other times I saw The Monkees?

Nope, cos I wasn't lucky enough to live in the UK.

Are you in that much need of money that you'll do this, Mike? Cos I hate to say this...The Monkees without Mike were good...the Monkees without Davy? Not worth the bother if you ask me.

Saturday, August 4, 2012

Movie Review: The Duchess


Blurb: Set in the late Eighteenth Century, the story follows the life of Georgiana Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire. While her beauty and fashion made her famous, extravagance and gambling made her infamous. She is married to the cold and much older William Cavendish, the 5th Duke of Devonshire. Despite the Duke's blatant infidelities, Georgiana becomes a fashion icon, a doting mother, a shrewd political operator, and darling of the common people. Reeling from her husband's affair with her best friend, Lady Bess Foster, Georgiana takes on her own lover, the future prime minister Charles Grey, with whom she gives birth to a child in secret, Eliza Courtney.

Review: I'm a sucker for period films and I loved Keira in the Pirates films and Ralph Fiennes is well...fine. The film is beautifully done. You feel like you are back in time with Georgiana.

The film skips through time a bit to show the progression of her life. It starts at Georgina's 17th year as the typical aristocratic girl. Not sure if she was in her first season in the marriage mart or not, but one thing you learn is that she is a leader not a follower.

Georgiana is the great great great great aunt of the late Princess Diana, and in some ways, you can see history repeating itself in the future. Her marriage to William was not a love match, though she hoped it would be. The only good thing about her husband's mistress is that for all accounts, she was G's good friend. I'm not sure how a friendship like that survived the passing of time but it did, and you'll learn that when she died, she gave her friend and husband's mistress her blessing to become the next Duchess!

The story was definitely compelling. The acting was remarkable, especially by Keira, though Ralph as William was also wonderful, you loved and hated him for his behavior. What was really amusing was his love of his dogs. It is hard to imagine these dogs wandering about with ease in a castle and William seemed more at ease with the animals than with his wife.

Charles Grey is the other man in the picture. His an up and coming politician who knew G before her marriage. Their relationship would have been idyllic. It is hard not to want these two to end up together, but in regency England, well you know it isn't going to happen, and this film doesn't take too many liberties with the Duchess' life.

It is hard to decide how you feel about Lady Bess. I like how the movie hints at her relationship with G, making it possibly more than just friendship.

In a lot of aspects of the film things are left unsaid, but one thing is for sure, her life and marriage certainly would have kept modern day paparazzi busy.

 Rating:  4 out of 5 stars

Thursday, August 2, 2012

Heavy Metal Phantom!

For all the lovers of Phantom of the Opera out there..YOU MUST WATCH THIS! This is absolutely stunning!