Jane Eyre musical - starring James Barbour

All right, I don't usually condone bootlegs, but what are you going to do when musicals are never, ever put on official DVD? So forgive me, but I don't care!

I am in LOVE with the musical of Jane Eyre. My heart sings along with the performers and I never once imagined being able to see it live. Until my darling, sweet sister found this one, lone person on Youtube who had posted almost the entire production!

I'm only on video 2, but am even deeper in love with it now than I was before, and when James Barbour's Rochester sings As Good as You, I literally forgot to breathe! My temperature totally ratcheted up a few notches!

So, watch, enjoy, bask in the glory of the Jane Eyre musical of 2000! May you love it as much as I!

Read More

Book Review: Severed Trust by Margaret Daley

Severed Trust by Margaret Daley

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



- I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

In the small town of Summerton, life is normal. Kids go to school, parents go to work . . . and people pop prescription pills for fun. Kelly discovers the hard way that being accepted into a pill party isn't all it's cracked up to be, especially when another attendee ends up dead. But she's too scared to talk, not even to her best friend Lexie, and certainly not to Lexie's Uncle Ethan who just happens to be a Texas Ranger. Secrets and lies pile up and Ethan is desperate to get to the bottom of the mystery, especially before someone he loves gets hurt.

This is one of those books with a plot so true-to-life that it's terrifying. Pill parties are real. Kids don't just take heroine or cocaine to get high. It can just be a combination of pills snitched from their parents. So, in this regard, Margaret Daley addresses a very real issue that tends to get glossed over in literature, even Christian lit. Prescription drug addiction is real and it can ruin your life.

Now, on to the book itself, I couldn't really put it down. I started it sometime early this morning, before church, and just finished it now. Which means that the story was compelling enough to keep me reading. However, I will say that I think Ms. Daley had a few too many main characters. She changes perspective several times to represent these characters and it was hard for me to remember who was related to who and what their connection was to someone else. Also, I think it climaxed too quickly and with too easy of a resolution. I'm not sure what I expected, but not everything tidily wrapped up, well mostly wrapped up since I'm still not sure about one guy's motive in showing up again in his ex-wife's life.

Ultimately, the book would have been better had it been written strictly for teens. Because I read a lot of teen lit, I found Ms. Daley's voice to match teen lit better than adult. I connected with Kelly and Lexie much better than her adult characters. The teen voice just worked. I would like to see what she would do with a book written solely for teens. I think she would wow the Christian market and I hope she considers it someday.

On the whole, Severed Trust was a very compelling read about a terrifying subject, made all the more scary because it's real.



View all my reviews

Read More

Book Review: Rules of Murder by Julianna Deering

Rules of Murder by Julianna Deering

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



- I received a free, advance copy of Rules of Murder from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for an honest review.

Drew Farthering, wealthy heir to the Farlinford Processing company, adores murder mysteries. He even has the latest Agatha Christie novel on standing order from the local bookstore. But he never imagined that murder would show up on his own doorstep on the night of a glamorous party, and not just one murder, but two. And now, since murder has assaulted his homestead (huge though it may be), Drew takes it upon himself to put his nose for mystery to good use. With his closest friend Nick Dennison (son to the Farthering's family retainer) in tow, Drew determines to outwit the criminal mind wreaking havoc on his family. Add to the mix the lovely Madeline Parker (niece to Drew's stepfather) and the author has created the perfect concoction for a 1930s English mystery.

For anyone who enjoys the era of Wodehouse's Jeeves & Wooster or Agatha Christie's Poirot this book offers the highest appeal. The author knows the vernacular used in 1930s England by the young and horrendously wealthy, and particularly understands how to take a young man like Drew Farthering (would-be-detective) and make him interesting and fun. Because Drew is fun. He and Nick are such delightful pals, scampering around and trying to solve the murders that crop up on Drew's estate. The characters are likeable, from start to finish. Of course, loving Wodehouse's Bertie Wooster as I do, it only made sense I would adore such ridiculously playful characters as Drew and Nick. To some, I'm sure, they will seem silly and immature, but to me, they are delicious.

Ms. Deering's writing style is simplistic and minimalist, just as I like it. No absurdly big words that require a dictionary or long sentences where the reader forgets where the author was headed. She utilizes active descriptors instead of passive, helping the reader place themselves right in the thick of the action. And her characters are flawlessly designed. Drew and Nick, despite being cut rather from the same playful cloth, or unique from one another in character design. Madeline is a likeable heroine instead of annoying. I cheered for her and Drew. She brings out the best in him and that is what every heroine is called to do with her hero. Even his constant use of "My Darling" was rather adorable instead of irritating!

It isn't easy following in the footsteps of the great mystery writers like Agatha Christie and Dorothy L. Sayers but Julianna Deering makes an exquisite go at it. I admit, she had me going. Not so much that she had me fooled, but she fooled me into thinking she hadn't fooled me. I was disappointed for awhile, thinking I had the mystery all figured out long before I was even halfway through the book. There were too many cliches running around that made me originally think the novel mediocre at best. But the ending was a slam-bang finish and had me slapping my palm to my forehead in impressed disbelief. It's not easy to surprise a mystery connoisseur and I applaud her for managing just that!

I now salivate at the thought of a second book and wish Ms. Deering the best possible success!



View all my reviews

Read More

Book Review: Into the Whirlwind by Elizabeth Camden

Into the Whirlwind by Elizabeth Camden

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



- Reviewed for Bethany House as a free advance copy in exchange for an honest review, which I have given.

Mollie Knox never imagined her precise, orderly world would ever shatter, but shatter it did, on a dry day at the beginning of October in 1871 when fire ignited all of the Chicago skyline. Running her father's watch business might have never been something she would have chosen for herself, but she excels at the fine craftsmanship and, better yet, the accounting aspect of the 57th Illinois Watch Company, named after her father's time during the Civil War. That night, as the fire blazes, Mollie finds herself fleeing for her life with Zack Kazmarek, the attorney for Hartman's, Inc. who purchased the majority of her watches for resale. Yet, despite the upheaval of losing almost everything, Mollie determines to start her life afresh, refusing to wallow in self-pity, she determines to rebuild her father's company, although now she has a little matter of Zack's unexpected adoration for her to contend with.

I'm a romantic in some ways, but not in others. I fear that for me Elizabeth Camden's main mistake was having a hot-headed hero. Don't get me wrong, I sometimes enjoy that type of hero, and I liked Zack very much by the end, but it was a long time in coming. I expected him to be cool and collected, logical, which is the persona he presents to the reader up until we realize he is almost goofy with love over Mollie. Goofiness in the male hero has never entirely been my cup of tea. Especially when halfway through the novel, a second man is introduced, Colonel Lowe, who I liked much more. I didn't buy into the author's storyline for him because it just not seem plausible so a little of the magic for me was lost right there.

However, with that out of the way, apart from the generally overdone romanticism near the first 3rd of the novel, I was quite thoroughly enchanted by Elizabeth Camden's story. She has a charming way with words that really paints a vivid image in the reader's mind of this historic setting and the fire as it destroys Chicago. The imagery is quite breathtaking. I couldn't ask for a better heroine than Mollie, who I respected as a strong woman, and I especially loved the little character of Sophie, the child Mollie and Zack find during the fire and care for until her family finds her. She is such a horrendous brat but only because she has nothing to do, nothing to occupy her time, and I loved Elizabeth Camden's gentle nudge that children need something to occupy them and they must not be too spoiled or it will ruin their character. That's a fantastic message she incorporated and I applaud her for it.

So, overall, a very enjoyable read. I wouldn't mind picking up a few of Camden's other books when I have the time.



View all my reviews

Read More

Make a Difference in Jesus' Name

"Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me."

Matthew 24:35-36

Today I looked into the eyes of shame and hopelessness hidden behind perfectly treated blonde hair and glitter eye shadow. Such a tiny little thing, probably only twenty, humiliated and ashamed that she needed help from a food pantry. Meek as a mouse, she accepted the food offered to her, tears so very near the surface. Wheeling her cart out to her neighbor's car and helping her load it into the trunk, we managed to make everything fit with a bit of squeezing. Then I turned to her, gently gripped her shoulders, and told her to never be ashamed or embarrassed for needing help. Because we've all been there and now our greatest gift is the opportunity to give to those who need it. She hugged me like I was her only friend in the world and it was only by the grace of God that neither of us burst into tears. I'll be there next week and the week after and every week with the hopes that the Lord opens a door for me to show her more of His love.

Read More

Major Crimes: Guilty - Chapter 4

Story: Major Crimes: Guilty

Chapter: Four

Lead Character: Rusty

Rating: T for thematic elements (M only in 1st chapter for off-screen abuse of a minor)

Summary: One of Rusty's clients catches up with him, and it's up to Sharon to stop him.

Moi: I guess I'm making up for not updating in so long! School starts on Monday so let's see how far I can get until then. Also, I'd say this story takes place maybe halfway through the 2nd season. I just got caught up on the latest episode and obviously my Rusty hasn't shattered Kris's heart yet. So sad! *sniffle* Thanks for the reviews, guys, keep them coming.

(Click here to read)

Read More

Major Crimes: Guilty - Chapter 3

Story: Major Crimes: Guilty

Chapter: Three

Characters: Rusty and Kris

Rating: T for thematic elements (M only in 1st chapter for off-screen abuse of a minor)

Summary: One of Rusty's clients catches up with him, and it's up to Sharon to stop him.

Moi: Please don't roast me for taking so long to update! But consider this, at least now we know Kris is a girl! I wouldn't have known that if I'd kept going with the story before the start of the 2nd season. Thanks for reading, and for reviewing. I appreciate each one of your thoughts and encouragements. I know the story isn't an easy one to read, so I commend you for coming along with me

(Click here to read)

Read More