Friday, August 31, 2012

Sorry...

Hi guys, I'm sorry that I didn't post anything today. I was busy last night and did not get a chance to.
Today I will not post a book review but I promise I will later. I will tell you what book I am reading right now to give you a preview of a book that I will read later on. Right now I am in the middle of reading This Scarlet Cord by Joan Wolf. So far I am really enjoying it. It is a retelling of the story of Rahab from the Bible.


Thursday, August 30, 2012

Music Thursday

Today for Music Thursday I'll share a song from the musical Chess with you.
This is "The Arbitor."

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Bible Verse Wednesday



John 3:16-17

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Broadway Tuesday

Today I'm sharing with you a few pictures from a great musical, Les Miserables. This is partially what my dream cast of Les Mis would be:
Jean Valjean.....Hugh Jackman! (He's going to be in the movie. I like Rob Evan and John Cudia, also, BTW)











Javert....Norm Lewis (or Philip Quast)















Fantine....Lea Salogna (Or Ruthie Henshall or the amazing Patti LuPone)


Cosette.....Judy Kuhn

Marius.....Michael Ball (Yes, that is him with dark hair. I guess it is dark for the part.)

Eponine......Samantha Barks


Monsieur Thenardier....also played by....Michael Ball! LOL


Madame Thenardier....Jenny Galloway

Enjolras..... Ramin Karimloo

Gavroche......any cute/funny little boy! Besides Nick Jonas.



That's the end of my cast list! There are lots of other actors I liked, but these are the ones off the top of my head. What are your thoughts?

Monday, August 27, 2012

Book Review Monday

A while ago I read one of the most awesome books ever! It is Waterfall by Lisa T. Bergren. This was my first book by Lisa Bergren and I loved it!
Here's a book description from the publisher: "Gabriella has never spent a summer in Italy like this one.
Remaining means giving up all she’s known and loved … and leaving means forfeiting what she’s come to know—and love itself.

Most American teenagers want a vacation in Italy, but the Bentarrini sisters have spent every summer of their lives with their parents, famed Etruscan scholars, among the romantic hills. In Book One of the River of Time series, Gabi and Lia are stuck among the rubble of medieval castles in rural Tuscany on yet another hot, boring, and dusty archeological site … until Gabi places her hand atop a handprint in an ancient tomb and finds herself in fourteenth-century Italy. And worse yet, in the middle of a fierce battle between knights of two opposing forces.

And thus she comes to be rescued by the knight-prince Marcello Fiorelli, who takes her back to his father’s castle—a castle Gabi has seen in ruins in another life. Suddenly Gabi’s summer in Italy is much, much more interesting. But what do you do when your knight in shining armor lives, literally, in a different world?"


Here's what I thought: I really liked the characters in this book. Gabi is the perfect heroine. She is a typical American teenager spending time in  Italy because her mother is working there. Gabi and her sister Lia are bored and wander into an ancient tomb and place their hand on a hand print inside of the tomb....and are transported back into medieval Italy.  Gabi is found by a group of knights led by a young man named Marcello. She cannot find her sister, Lia, and worries about what may have happened to her. Gabi is caught in the middle of a battle between two groups of knights and has no way to find Lia.
I could not put this book down. I loved it. Loved it! I recommend it to everyone. Go to your bookstore or your library and get it now and read it! :)
This book is the first in the River of Time series.

Sunday, August 26, 2012

Bible Verse Sunday

Mark 11:24
Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

Friday, August 24, 2012

Book Review Friday

I just finished reading Cowboy Christmas by Mary Connealy. As with all of the other books written by the talented Mary Connealy, I really enjoyed reading this.

Here is a brief summary book description from the inside of the book: "Get ready for a fun and suspenseful Christmastime romance. Trouble follows singer Annette Talbot to Wyoming—and rancher Elijah Walker finds himself directly in its path. Though still wounded by the betrayal of his ex-fiancĂ©e, Elijah finds himself attracted to the secretive singer. When it appears Annie is a threat to his mother’s life, Elijah must decide if Annie’s deep faith and love of God is genuine or if it’s all just a ruse. He decides to trust her—until he discovers she’s a wanted woman. As Christmas draws near, will Elijah respond to God’s gentle persuasion to find the truth before he loses Annie forever?"


Here is what I thought: I really liked the characters and all of the action found inside these pages. Annie Talbot flees St. Louis after her singing job becomes not what she agreed to. Trouble follows her as the people she used to work for chase her down and spread rumors about her, trying to kill people she loves in order to get her back to sing for them so they can attract gamblers.
Annie is repeatedly saved by Elijah, a man who refuses to trust anyone after the woman he thought he loved killed his own father. When false rumors surface about Annie's past, Elijah thinks that she is lying and cannot be trusted.


This book was funny, interesting, and suspenseful. I loved it! 

Thursday, August 23, 2012

Music Thursday

Today for Music Thursday I am going to share with you a song I really like that is from the sequel to Phantom of the Opera, Love Never Dies. Here is Ramin Karimloo singing "'Til I Hear You Sing."


Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Bible Verse Wednesday



Matthew 11:28

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Broadway Tuesday

Okay today I am going to share an interview with a Broadway actor that I found on the New York Theatre Guide website.



Here is Alan Bird interviewing the amazing Adam Pascal. This interview was done in January of this year.







"Q & A with Adam Pascal, who stars as 'Huey Calhoun' in the Broadway premiere of the musical Memphis, playing at the Shubert Theatre.

Birthday?
October 25, 1970

Place of birth?
Manhattan N.Y.

You now live in?

Los Angeles CA.

Did you go to training school, if so which one?
No

Your first stage performance was?
Cabaret, Stagedoor Manor Performing Arts Camp 1978.

Career highlight to date?
Performing With Brian May from Queen at the Royal Albert Hall.

What roles would you most like to play?
Hedwig, Pink Floyd, The Phantom.

What's the best advice you have ever received?

"Don't go into show business."

What has been your most embarrassing moment on stage?
The numerous times I have fallen on my ass.

What is the most annoying part about your job?
Having to look for a job after one ends.

Briefly tell us how you become involved with Memphis?
It was a role that I had pursued for a couple of years and only when Chad Kimball decided to depart and it became available did the producers consider me and brought me in to audition.

Briefly tell us about the character you play in Memphis?
Huey Calhoun is a young white man from Memphis who discovers the music being made by the black community in the smoky clubs and gospel churches of the south during the early 50's. What he is hearing are the roots of rock and roll. He falls in love with this music as well as a young black singer named Felicia whom he becomes determined to make a star.

If you had not become a performer, what might you have done instead?
No idea, It never occurred to me there was an option.

Who are your favorite actors/actresses?
I don't have any, I hate actors :)

If you could meet anyone in the world dead or alive who would it be and what would you say to them?
Michio Kaku- "Can you explain the aspect of string theory that deals with reality having to do with the collapsing of wave forms upon observation?"

Favorite after-show haunts?
Home.

What was the last Broadway show you saw?
Next to Normal.

What was the last book you read, and name some of your favorite authors
Michio Kaku, Neil Degrasse Tyson, Richard Dawkins, Michael Crichton. Last book was Parallel Worlds: A Journey through Creation. Michio Kaku.

What was the last film you saw, and name some of your favorite movies?
Last film was Hugo. Favorites are The Godfather, Jaws, Braveheart, Hair, Animal House....

Favorite TV programs?
Seinfeld.

Favorite holiday destinations?
Home

Do you have any hobbies?
No.

Do you have any superstitions?
No.

If you were stranded on a desert island, what three items would you take with you?

A lighter, A knife and a Gun.

What are your future plans?
I try not too plan to much as life seems to dictate the path I end up on."



Again, this interview was taken from a different website.





Monday, August 20, 2012

Book Review Monday



Lately I have been obsessed with the Kincaid Brides Series by Mary Connealy. A couple of days ago I reviewed Out of Control, the first book in this series set in the beautiful Rocky Mountains of Colorado. Today I will review the middle book in the series, In Too Deep.



Here is what the back cover of the book says: "In 1866 Colorado, Ethan Kincaid agrees to a marriage of convenience with the same casual disregard he gives every decision. Audra Gilliland, young mother of two, accepts his proposal because she wants to stop being a burden to her newly married stepdaughter.
And suddenly both of them are in far deeper than they'd planned.

Ethan doesn't expect Audra to affect him so profoundly, and when she begins to, he's terrified of the pain he's felt before when someone he loved was seriously injured on his watch. He's determined that his new wife will do as he says so he can keep her safe from the dangers that lurk on their ranch.

Audra has been cared for all her life by one man or another--and they've done a poor job of it. Now she's planning to stand up for herself. And her new husband had better agree or get out of her way!

What will it take to transform two wayward hearts fearful of getting in too deep into two trusting hearts ready to risk falling deeply in love?"

I really enjoyed this book. Like others by Mary Connealy, it is very funny and well-written. 
Ethan has never let himself get attached to anything ever since his little brother almost died in a terrible accident in a cave when they were younger. Since then, he has always pasted a smile on his face and never really cared about anything that happened.
Audra decided that she would not be some weak little dandelion fluff and be commanded around by everyone when her last husband died. She plans to stand up for herself from now on and not let anyone control her anymore.

I loved all of the characters both in this book and in this awesome series. I would recommend anyone to read it!

So, what do you think of this? Does it look good? What are you currently reading?

Sunday, August 19, 2012

Bible Verse Sunday



Ephesians 6:11-12

Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Friday, August 17, 2012

Book Review Friday

Recently I read the book Long Trail Home by Vickie McDonough. It is part of the Morgan family Texas Trails series. I have reviewed other books in this series here before and stated that there are six books all together, but they can be read separately. Here is a brief book description taken from the back of the book to give you an idea of what it is about.

"A weary soldier returns from the War Between the States to Discover his parents dead, his family farm in shambles, and his fiancée married.


Riley Morgan takes a job at the Wilcox School for Blind Children in an attempt for a new life after the Civil War. By helping the children and the pretty blind woman, Annie, he begins to find renewed hope. But everyone's future at Wilcox School is disrupted when the owner dies suddenly and the school is in jeopardy of being closed by the man who stands to inherit it. Riley's remaining confidence in the future is shaken when Annie's secret is revealed and Riley attempts to make peace with God.

Doubt meets hope, and fear gives way to faith in the Morgan family."

Okay, here is what I thought about it. I liked this book as I liked most of the others I have read in this series. Annie went to a school for the blind when she was about eleven years old, pretending to be blind so she could be taken in. Before that, she pick-pocketed the streets with her father. When her father abandoned her, she was left to either continue pick-pocketing or die. The woman at the school, Laura, realizes that Annie is obviously not blind but takes her in anyway, encouraging her to not inform anyone that she is not blind because her landlord has a rule that only blind children may live or be taught there. 
Riley Morgan went to fight in the war after his dear younger brother, Timothy, died from a rattlesnake attack when he was younger. He comes home from the war to discover that his fiancee has married and did not even notify him. He then takes a job at the Wilcox School for Blind Children. 
Trouble ensues when the owner of the school dies and his cruel nephew demands they leave.
I really enjoyed this book and all of the characters were well-written. I liked Annie's struggle with how to tell everyone she had been lying to them the whole time she had known them because she was not really blind.
I would recommend this book and I will continue reading this Texas Trails series.



So, what do you think of this book? Would you read it? Does it sound interesting? What are you currently reading?

Thursday, August 16, 2012

Music Thursday

For Music Thursday, today I'm going to share a song with you that I really like. It is called "Lost in the Wilderness" and it is from the musical Children of Eden. Here Chad Kimball is singing it.

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Bible Verse Wednesday

Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Broadway Tuesday



For Broadway Tuesday I'm sharing an article I found at Broadway World about the newest revival of Jekyll and Hyde. Here it is:"The international musical sensation Jekyll & Hyde, starring Tony Award nominee Constantine Maroulis in the dual title role of Dr. Henry Jekyll and Edward Hyde and Grammy Nominee and R&B superstar Deborah Coxas Lucy, will play the Fisher Theatre, November 27 - December 2, 2012.


Conceived for the stage by Tony and Grammy Award nominee Frank Wildhorn and Steve Cuden, the four time Tony Award Nominated musical JEKYLL & HYDE features a book & lyrics by two-time Oscar winner, Emmy winner and four-time Tony Award Nominee Leslie Bricusse, music byFrank Wildhorn, and will be directed and choreographed by Tony Award Nominee Jeff Calhoun.

After four thrilling, chilling years on Broadway and multiple world-wide tours, this dark and dangerous love story from Oscar and Grammy winnerLeslie Bricusseand Tony and Grammy Award nominee Frank Wildhornreturns in a stunning new production that includes all the classic songs (This is the Moment, A New Life, Someone Like You) that first grabbed audiences by the throat and transformed JEKYLL & HYDE into a theatrical phenomenon.

The musical is based on the acclaimed novella The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde byRobert Louis Stevenson, about a London doctor who accidentally unleashes his evil alternate personality in his quest to cure his father’s mental illness.

JEKYLL & HYDE was first introduced as a concept album in 1990 featuring Colm Wilkinson and Linda Eder, and shortly thereafter had its world premiere at theAlley Theatrein Houston starringChuck Wagneras Jekyll/ Hyde andLinda Ederas Lucy. Following a 30-city National Tour, the Broadway production opened at The Plymouth Theatre on April 28, 1997 and earned four Tony Award nominations. Directed byRobin Phillipsand choreographed byJoey Pizzi, the production starredRobert Cuccioli, who earned a Tony Nomination as well asJoseph Jefferson, Outer Critics Circle and Drama Desk Awards for his portrayal ofJekyll/ Hyde,Linda Eder, who won the Theatre World Award for her Broadway debut, as Lucy and Christianne Noll as Emma Carew. After 1543 performances, and featuring such replacements asSebastian BachandDavid Hasselhoffin the title role, the production played its final performance on January 7, 2001. The show’s popularity catapulted well beyond the Great White Way and, within the subsequent decade of its world premiere, JEKYLL & HYDEbecame an international sensation with multiple tours in the UK and North America, and over a dozen recordings from Germany, Spain, Austria, Hungary, Sweden, the Czech Republic, Japan and South Korea, among others."
Okay, I thought this article was really interesting. I have seen Jekyll and Hyde and I have also seen Constantine Maroulis live in Rock of Ages and thought he was a great performer.  So, what do you think? Do you like Constantine? Do you think he'd be a good fit for the role? I'd love to hear from you.

Monday, August 13, 2012

Book Review Monday



Today I'll review another of MaryLu Tyndall's books, The Red Siren.

Here's what I thought:


 I would say that this is a great book! It was a wonderful start to the Charles Towne Bells series and left me wanting more of the wonderful characters in a good way. Faith is headstrong, determined, and brave, and a wonderful heroine. She loves her sisters so much that she resorts to piracy so they don't have to marry cruel men. I thought it was very cool to have a female pirate! Dajon was also a great main character that I liked a lot. I found many characters with a variety of different characteristics just as I would in real life and I found it amazing. I realized I was anxious to see Faith's fate. I recommend this book to everyone!

Sunday, August 12, 2012

Bible Verse Sunday


Psalm 24:8-10

Who is this King of glory?
The Lord strong and mighty,
the Lord mighty in battle.
Lift up your heads, you gates;
lift them up, you ancient doors,

that the King of glory may come in.
Who is he, this King of glory?
The Lord Almighty —
he is the King of glory.


Friday, August 10, 2012

Book Review Friday



Today for Book Review Friday I will review a book I read a while ago but I kept wanting to read it again...and again...and again: The Redemption by MaryLu Tyndall.

Here is what I thought about it: I LOVED this book! It was a swashbuckling tale filled with an abundance of history and romance! All the characters were realistic and strongly built with human-like faults and quirks. Charlisse, a young lady venturing to find her father--a father she's never met--all on her own, is an admirable heroine and I liked Captain Edmund Merrick, a Christian pirate, very much! When the ship Charlisse is on wrecks, she is abandonded on a tropical island and is left to starve and fend for herself. That is, until the charming Captain Merrick comes along and finds her while he stops on the island to careen his ship. It turns out that he is actually out to find the most terrible pirate in the Caribbean, a man who also turns out to be Charlisse's own father. I definitely stayed up late at night reading this book as fast as I could and wondering what would happen to Charlisse and Merrick. All in all, this was a great read and I definitely would recommend it to my friends.




So, does this look interesting to you? Would you read it? What are you reading now?

Thursday, August 9, 2012

Music Thursday

Today for Music Thursday I decided to share a song from one of my favorite musicals with you: The Phantom of the Opera.
Here are Sierra Boggess and Ramin Karimloo singing the title song.
I found this video interesting because it has subtitles in Spanish.  It's fun to watch it being translated.

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Bible Verse Wednesday

Proverbs 2:11
Discretion will protect you,
and understanding will guard you.

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Broadway Tuesday

For Broadway Tuesday, I thought I'd share some information about the musical Memphis.  Yes, I already reviewed it on this blog, but it is only fitting that I mention it because it had its very last Broadway performance on Sunday.  :(
It made me sad just thinking about the last time Adam Pascal got to say "Goodnight and HOCKADOO!"  Here is an awesome CG image in honor of this "fantastical" musical: 
Watch this video: The Tonys performance of this Tony-award-winning musical.

Also, I recommend listening to the amazing Adam Pascal singing "Memphis Lives in Me."


"And I adored it."

Monday, August 6, 2012

Book Review Monday

For today I am going to review Out of Control by Mary Connealy. Here's what the back of the book says: " Julia Gilliland has always been interested in the natural world around her. She particularly enjoys her outings to the cavern near her father's homestead, where she explores for fossils and formations, and plans to write a book about her discoveries. The cave seems plenty safe--until the day a mysterious intruder steals the rope she uses to find her way out.

Rafe Kincaid has spent years keeping his family's cattle ranch going, all without help from his two younger brothers, who fled the ranch--and Rafe's controlling ways--as soon as they were able. He's haunted by one terrible day at the cave on a far-flung corner of the Kincaid property, a day that changed his life forever. Ready to put the past behind him, he plans to visit the cave one final time. He sure doesn't expect to find a young woman trapped in one of the tunnels--or to be forced to kiss her!

Rafe is more intrigued by Julia than any woman he's ever known, but how can he overlook her fascination with the cave he despises? And when his developing relationship with Julia threatens his chance at reconciliation with his brothers, will he be forced to choose between the family bonds that could restore his trust and the love that could heal his heart?"


Read Out of Control. I LOVED this book.


This book was hilarious. It is the first in the "Kincaid Brides" series. I enjoyed Julia's character, even though she was really, and I mean REALLY, obsessed with fossils. I liked the setting because Colorado is one of my favorite states and the caverns described are fascinating. I fell in love with the Kincaid family-- overcontrolling oldest-brother Rafe, grinning middle-sibling Ethan, and crazy youngest, Seth. There was nothing I did not like about this book. I would recommend it to anyone who likes this genre or this setting.


So, would you read Out of Control? Have you read any other of Mary Connealy's books? What are you currently reading? I'd love to hear from you.

Sunday, August 5, 2012

Bible Verse Sunday

Psalm 41:13
Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel,
from everlasting to everlasting.

Friday, August 3, 2012

Book Review Friday



Hi everyone! For today's book review, I will tell you about Cowgirl Trail by Susan Paige Davis. Here's what it says on the back cover to give you an idea about what it is about: "Cowgil Trail is part of a six-book series about four generations of the Morgan family living, fighting, and thriving amidst a turbulent Texas history spanning from 1845 to 1896. Although a series, each book book can be read on its own.

In 1884 Maggie Porter returns to the Rocking P Ranch. The sanatorium was not able to save her mother and now her father's health is failing. When the cowboys walk off the job leaving no one to drive the cattle to market, head ranch hand, Alex Bright, cannot convince the men to stay. How could Alex let this happen?

Maggie is desperate to save the ranch and she turns to the town's women for help. The new cowgirls must herd, rope, and drive the cattle to market. With only two days left, outlaws charge the small band of cowgirls in an effort to start a stampede. The cattle begin to scatter. Will they lose everything? Where will their help come from?"


Okay, here is what I thought about it: Maggie returns to her family's ranch, the Rocking P, after her mother's death to find her father's health failing. The cowboys there are threatening to strike, including her childhood crush, Alex. She decides she must take everything into her own hands and gathers her female friends to help her do the men's job on their own. The women take the cattle on their own and head out on the Cowgirl Trail.I thought that while this book had a lot of potential for being a great read, at times it was a little bit boring. I enjoyed other moments, but at other times it seemed to drag on. I liked all of the characters, and most were well-written. I would have liked a little more contact between the two main characters, Alex and Maggie. It seemed like most of the time they were apart from each other. I liked the idea of strong females taking matters into their own hands and doing men's jobs like herding the cattle all on their own. I did enjoy this book, but it dragged on in parts.
It can stand alone, but it is also part of the Texas Trail Series. I have not read the whole series; only this book and End of the Trail. I liked End of the Trail better, but Cowgirl Trail was an okay read.
I was given a copy of this book by Moody, the publishers, in exchange for my honest opinion in a review.


So, would you read this? Does it look interesting to you? What are you reading right now?

Thursday, August 2, 2012

Music Thursday

For today's Music Thursday, I think I will share Defying Gravity from Wicked.  This performance is of Idina Menzel as Elphaba and Kristin Chenoweth as Glinda.  They are performing at the Tony Awards.  Enjoy!


Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Bible Verse Wednesday

Happy August Everyone!  Here's today's Bible Verse:
Romans 8:28
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.