First print endorsement!

Yes, I'm quotable. *wink* This is a seriously awful picture, but my phone is not the greatest - I will take a better picture with my real camera tonight. But I am so excited about being featured in the endorsements section of Irene Hannon's latest, Fatal Judgment, that I just couldn't wait to share. :)

This quote is from my review of In Harm's Way - you can read the full review here (it was my favorite of Hannon's first series!).

Cowboys & Aliens

Okay, I freely admit that any film called Cowboys & Aliens would generally be automatically dismissed by yours truly. But see, I have a thing for cowboys. And cowboys played by freaking DANIEL CRAIG?! I am SO THERE. (Did I mention that Harrison Ford is in this movie too?)

I was going through my emails and found where I'd emailed myself the trailer to this film a couple of weeks ago, with the intent of sharing it on the blog. So better late than never, right? Here you go:



Here's a story summary from the film's IMDB page, from the studio:

The Old West.. where a lone cowboy leads an uprising against a terror from beyond our world. 1873. Arizona Territory. A stranger with no memory of his past stumbles into the hard desert town of Absolution. The only hint to his history is a mysterious shackle that encircles one wrist. What he discovers is that the people of Absolution don't welcome strangers, and nobody makes a move on its streets unless ordered to do so by the iron-fisted Colonel Dolarhyde (Ford). It's a town that lives in fear. But Absolution is about to experience fear it can scarcely comprehend as the desolate city is attacked by marauders from the sky. Screaming down with breathtaking velocity and blinding lights to abduct the helpless one by one, these monsters challenge everything the residents have ever known. Now, the stranger they rejected is their only hope for salvation. As this gunslinger slowly starts to remember who he is and where he's been...

And just because these pictures are so fabulous, they deserve to be shared too... :)

Cowboys & Aliens is slated to open July 29, 2011.

What's been missing from The Princess Bride?

What's the one thing that could make The Princess Bride even MORE awesome? Lightsabers, that's what.

Michael Buble - 12.5.10

Saturday night I received a text from a dear friend informing me that there were four tickets in my name at Will Call for the Michael Buble show the next night. *dramatic pause* Excuse me while I squeal with joy again. :) This is my third Buble show, and I perhaps have to rank it as the best yet. Here's some pictures (our seats were center stage, row 14, so this is the first time I've been able to get some really good concert shots):

I think this one may be my favorite:

Buble is an amazing live performer. He's got a stereotypical frat boy's sense of humor, so it's a bit on the crass side. But the guy is hilarious and undeniably talented, and I'd wager you'd be hardpressed to find a performer who loves what he does as much as Michael makes glaringly apparent in his shows. The guy really does give his all for his fans. Till next time, MB! :)

Coming Soon: Review of The Silent Governess

The final "Coming Soon" post for the INSPY nominees in the historical fiction category is The Silent Governess by Julie Klassen. People, I can not WAIT to share my review with you. :) Here's a bit about the book:

Olivia Keene is fleeing her own secret. She never intended to overhear his.
But now that she has, what is Lord Bradley to do with her? He cannot let her go, for were the truth to get out, he would lose everything--his reputation, his inheritance, his very home.


He gives Miss Keene little choice but to accept a post at Brightwell Court, where he can make certain she does not spread what she heard. Keeping an eye on the young woman as she cares for the children, he finds himself drawn to her, even as he struggles against the growing attraction. The clever Miss Keene is definitely hiding something.


Moving, mysterious, and romantic, The Silent Governess takes readers inside the intriguing life of a nineteenth-century governess in an English manor house where all is not as it appears.

Coming Soon: Review of Her Mother's Hope

Her Mother's Hope, the first installment of Marta's Legacy by Francine Rivers, is also up for the INSPY Award in historical fiction. You can look for my review of this novel in the coming weeks following the INSPY Award winners annoucement on December 13th. Here's a bit about the story to get you interested:

The first in an epic two-book saga by beloved author Francine Rivers, this New York Times best-selling story explores the complicated relationships between mothers and daughters over several generations.


Near the turn of the twentieth century, fiery Marta Schneider leaves Switzerland for a better life, determined to fulfill her mother's hope. Her formative journey takes her through Europe and eventually to Canada, where she meets handsome Niclas Waltert. But nothing has prepared her for the sacrifices she must make for marriage and motherhood as she travels to the Canadian wilderness and then to the dusty Central Valley of California to raise her family.


Marta's hope is to give her children a better life, but experience has taught her that only the strong survive. Her tough love is often misunderstood, especially by her oldest daughter, Hildemara Rose, who craves her mother's acceptance. Amid the drama of World War II, Hildie falls in love and begins a family of her own. But unexpected and tragic events force mother and daughter to face their own shortcomings and the ever-widening chasm that threatens to separate them forever.

Coming Soon: Review of The Fiddler's Gun

Another novel nominated for the INSPY Award in the historical fiction category is The Fiddler's Gun by A.S. Peterson. In the coming weeks after the winners are announced on December 13th, you can expect to see a review of The Fiddler's Gun here on the blog. Until then, here's a bit about the story to whet your appetite:

America is on the brink of war with England, and Fin Button is about to come undone. She's had it with the dull life of the orphanage, and she's ready to marry Peter and get away from rules, chores, and a life looked after by the ever-watchful Sister Hilde. But an unexpected friendship forms between Fin and the fiddle-playing cook, Barimaeus, which sets her on a course for revolution.

With Bart's beloved fiddle and haunting blunderbuss as her only possessions, Fin discovers her first taste of freedom as a sailor aboard the Rattlesnake. She's hiding some dark secrets, but there are bigger problems for the crew - they are on the run from the Royal Navy, and whisphers of mutiny are turning the captain into a tyrant.

When Fin finally returns home, will she find Peter still waiting, or will she find that she's lost everything she once held dear?

Oh happy day!

This is fantastic, amazing, unbelievably good news! BBC America just announced that they will premiere the new season of Primeval January 1st, the same day as in the UK! Yes, yes, YES!!! My excitement just cannot be adequately expressed by mere typing...

You can read more info about the new season here (thrilled to find out that Ciarán McMenamin is joining the cast, I LOVE him!). Here's some excerpts from the press release:

When rips in time called anomalies started opening across the UK, dangerous creatures from the past and future began appearing in the most unexpected places, endangering lives and putting the whole of humanity at risk. A crack team of specialists were appointed by the government to deal with these "creature incursions." This job has proven deadly for multiple team members and threats continue to escalate.

Ciarán McMenamin (Jericho, Demons), Alexander Siddig (Clash of the Titans, 24, Syriana, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine) and young Irish actress Ruth Kearney join the team at the Anomaly Research Center (ARC) after the government loses faith in Home Office official Lester's (Ben Miller) ability to run such a dangerous and expensive operation on his own. The anomaly operation is now a public/private partnership, part-owned by the government, and partly by charismatic scientist Philip Burton (Siddig).

With Connor (Andrew-Lee Potts, Alice), Abby (Hannah Spearritt) and Danny (Jason Flemyng, X-Men: First Class, Snatch) trapped in the past at the end of season three, the ARC has found new recruits to take their place: Matt (McMenamin), the new field leader, who's more than just an ex-soldier. He's a zoologist, with an uncanny ability to understand animals. A private man, Matt carefully guards the secrets of his past and the real reason he joined the team. Unconventional Jess (Kearney) now runs operations from the ARC Control Centre. She is highly efficient and her work ethic is second to none, though she is human enough to nurse an unrequited crush on Captain Becker (Ben Mansfield).

The new season picks up approximately one year after the last season ended - Abby and Connor finally escape from the Cretaceous period, only to be followed by a giant Spinosaurus, the largest of all known carnivorous dinosaurs. A new ARC team springs into action, leaving Abby and Connor's place within the team in jeopardy while their former leader Danny is still missing.

There's also some exciting Doctor Who-related news in this release - for the first time that I'm aware of, the Doctor Who Prom special will air on Christmas Day in the US (along with the Christmas special that evening). The Prom is a live concert event featuring stars Matt Smith and Karen Gillan.

And here's a new Primeval teaser: