New Little Critter Apps plus Mercer Mayer AUTOGRAPHED Book Giveaway

It’s Spring Break and for lots of families that can mean only one thing – Road Trip! Making travel time fun is of great importance to parents, so what better than TWO fun new “trip” themed apps starring beloved author Mercer Mayer’s Little Critter to help?  The Trip - Little Critter Reading Adventure and The Trip – Little Critter GamePak are now available in iTunes, Barnes & Noble, Amazon, and Google Play.

Both apps have been produced by the talented Appy Award-winner John R. Sansevere (Little Critter: Where is My Frog) and to celebrate, publisher Silver Dolphin Books has a Little Critter book, autographed by Mercer Mayer to offer as a giveaway! 

About the Apps!

The Trip – Little Critter Reading Adventure ($3.99).   

Check out the FIVE GOLD STAR review this app has received from

Here’s just a peek at what Best Apps for Kids have to say:

Quality:  “The beautiful illustrations, fun characters, interactive scenes and in-app games guarantee that this app will provide hours of entertainment.”

Education: “The learning possibilities on this app are endless.”

Entertainment: “There are so many different games and hidden extras in this game, that it will keep your child entertained for hours.”

Value: “At only $3.99, this app is the perfect purchase for your little one. It’s such a fantastic app. There are lots of in-app games to play, loads of fun facts, heaps to learn and oodles of fun to be had.”

Child Friendly: “You’ll be able to hand your tablet over in confidence.”

Based on Mercer Mayer’s classic book of the same name and featuring his incredible original artwork, The Trip – Little Critter Reading Adventure invites children to travel along with Little Critter and his family on an action-packed road trip.  Kids can help Little Critter choose the route the family will take and explore the countryside, the city, the beach and more; fix the car when it breaks down; move a horse stuck in the middle of the road; feed the seagulls; and even find time to grab a hot dog. All this while playing lots of games with Little Sister along the way to pass the time!  

Recommended for ages three to seven, the app emphasizes basic pre-school and early elementary curriculum. An inventory collection and selection feature is incorporated, designed to build critical problem-solving skills; alphabet flashcards hidden on every screen teach and reinforce letter recognition; and successful completion of six puzzles—including sequence and matching games—unlocks six collectible gems used to play an arcade-style game.  Other features include text highlighting, visual interactive item clues and professional audio narration and dramatization, which help to keep non-readers engaged with the story.

The beloved characters, gentle humor, and solid family values emphasized in Mercer Mayer’s Little Critter book series remain the same, and now kids can extend that book experience by engaging with the characters and story in ways that they could not have before.

And guess what, Mercer Mayer likes it too!  “Silver Dolphin Books and producer Jon R. Sansevere have delivered an amazing extension of my original book,” said Mercer Mayer.  “The storytelling and interactivity have exceeded my expectations, and the level of engagement between Little Critter and today’s young readers is all very exciting.”

The Trip – Little Critter GamePak ($3.99)

Kindertown.com, the Educational App Store for Parents says:

“Free play sticker areas are very well designed with a blend of discovery as the stickers you choose come to life in different areas of each scene.  Overall a fun app filled with a variety of learning games.”

Available simultaneously is The Trip – Little Critter GamePak, an extension of the reading adventure app, which includes over 50 fun and engaging activities featuring Little Critter.  Divided into two sections, the GamePak includes five game themes including Dot-to-Dot, Mazes, Matching Pictures and Words, and How Many?   

The GamePak also features Digistix – a section that features over 175 digital stickers across five game themes, inspiring the imagination and fostering creativity.  In two special beach and camp activities, Digistix stickers that are tapped, dragged and dropped into the scenes react differently depending on where they are placed, enabling kids to move and change the scenes to create a new adventure every time.  Featuring helpful words of encouragement from Little Critter throughout, The Trip – Little Critter GamePak, is regularly priced at $3.99, but is available for the first 30 days after release for $2.99.

 

And the fun doesn’t stop here! Silver Dolphin Books is celebrating the release of the apps by launching its YEAR OF FUN CONTEST at the same time!

Enter Silver Dolphin Books’ YEAR OF FUN contest at the Silver Dolphin Books Facebook page, and enter to win FREE kids apps and books for an entire year! Starting April 1, every week for four weeks, one lucky winner will win every kids app that Silver Dolphin Books’ launches in 2013.  Fun new apps will feature Mercer Mayer’s Little Critter and Richard Scarry’s Busytown characters; plus some all-new characters you will love to meet!  Each winner will also get to select one FREE book for every month in 2013 from the Silver Dolphin Books new releases collection.   Plus, you can encourage your friends to sign up for extra entries!

And finally, coming soon to the Silver Dolphin Books blog are six FREE The Trip – Little Critter-themed activities to download including Dot-to-Dot, Maze, Word Match, Word Search, Coloring, Spot the Difference.

·       Like  Silver Dolphin Facebook page

·       Follow on Twitter. Follow @SilverDolphin for all of our latest news and updates!

·       Visit the  blog, which is full of fun information for parents and kids.

To celebrate the new apps, Little Critters if offering a Mercer Mayer autographed copy of the beautifully illustrated Just a Little Critter Collection, a 176-page hardcover collection of seven Little Critter stories in one book (SRP: $9.99). Just a Little Critter Collection is the perfect way to introduce children to Mercer Mayer's tales, with stories including Just For You, When I Get Bigger, I Was So Mad and All By Myself.

 
To enter, just fill in the Rafflecopter form below. This giveaway will end on 4/20/13. The winner will be notified via email and will have 48 hours to reply. Thanks again to Little Critters for offering this fantastic prize.  

a Rafflecopter giveaway

***Please note that I received no form of monetary compensation for this post. Information was provided by the company or their representative. This is not a review.  Please note that I  am not responsible for the delivery of this prize and can not be held accountable if, for any reason, is it not received. Furthermore, I am in no way liable for any injuries that may result from the use or misuse of this product. ***  

Winners

 The winner of the Sizzling PR Destiny Giveaway is #321

• Name: Witchy Sage
• Email: witchysage@
• Option: Like Author Laura DeLuca

The winner of the Destiny Cover Reveal Giveaway is #13844

• Name: Melanie Lewis
• Email: pink_kharma40@
• Option: Follow atwc1tours on Twitter

The Baby Signing Book Review

***Product was received in exchange for an honest review.***

THE BABY SIGNING BOOK, SECOND EDITION

Includes 450 ASL Signs for Babies & Toddlers

Featuring 100 additional ASL symbols, plus more case studies.

The interest surrounding baby signing only continues to increase as more parents embrace this means of communication with babies before they can talk. Sign language gives babies a way to express their wants and needs, easing frustration for both baby and parent.

This bestselling course in baby signing has been updated to include more ASL symbols, additional case studies and updated information. Part 1 of the book provides an introduction to signing with babies and young children. Part 2 is an illustrated dictionary of 450 ASL signs. Part 3 provides songs and rhymes you can sign with your child.

Special features include:

• The top five signing tips
• A program that parents can customize according to their family’s needs
• Answers to frequently asked questions
• Instructions on the five distinct components of ASL signs: body space, hand shape, movement, palm orientation and facial expression 
• Age-specific advice on how to teach sign language as your child develops

By simply following this book, a special world of communication awaits you.

SARA BINGHAM is the founder of WeeHands, the world’s leading children’s sign language and language development program for babies, toddlers and preschool children. She is a mother of two and a frequent contributor to parenting magazines and baby-related professional websites. Sara lives in Ontario.

288 pages total • 7" x 10" • ISBN 978-0-7788-0451-2

Index • $24.95 US / $24.95 CA / £16.95 UK

Publication date: March 30, 2013

Our Thoughts

This book is fantastic!  I've never found a book that explains things out as much as this book does. Coming from a family with a deaf relative signing is very important to not only me, my husband, and my children since it is the only way to communicate with my uncle. Growing up we didn't have books on ASL to learn from so I learned on the fly. My grandma and mom taught me as much as they could but I still sometimes struggle with more complex wordings. 

The Baby Signing Book is a great jump off for those parents who really want to teach their children to sign. The beginning of the book is full of a lot of basic information, answers to common questions, and suggestions on introducing signs and what age those signs might be usefully introduced. The rest of the book is full of 450 signs that include detailed explanations of how to sign the word, remember the sign, when it was introduced and when your child reproduced the sign correctly.  There are extra resources in the back of the book for more information too. 

This is a great book to start introducing signs. I know that my children appreciate being able to communicate with my uncle and it gives them the option of a second language! To purchase the book from Amazon click here. Five Stars for this book! 

***Please note that I received no form of monetary compensation for this post. The opinions expressed in the review are my own and were not influenced in any way.***

Introducing Annmarie Gianni Skin Care Product: Repair Serum

RepairSerum • 15 mL • Great for Sun-Exposed or Mature Skin

Our Repair Serum is carefully formulated to transform your skin naturally. Using vegan stem cells derived from oranges, we have created a new way for your skin to build collagen, repair itself and prevent aging. This active blend of stem cells, along with Superoxide dismutase (SOD) -- a powerful antioxidant -- will make a noticeable difference in aging skin when used continuously over the course of 30-40 days. This serum is high in Vitamin C and has the essential oils of Lavender and Sandalwood, which are skin-lightening and balancing.

Benefits:

• Regenerates, repairs, and brightens skin
• Plumps dull or sluggish skin
• Helps fade discolorations and evens skin tones over time with continuous use

For Best Results:

Apply liberally to clean skin. Use especially on sun spots and age spots to lighten and brighten. Best used after our Aloe-Herb Cleanser. We recommend using the serum every day for a month or more to allow time for the skin cells to begin the regeneration process. After you can use everyday or 3-4 times a week depending on your needs.

Made with:

Love, Aloe vera juice; Uva Ursi (and) Licorice root (and) Amla berry extract; Citrus-derived Stem Cells; Jojoba oil; Castor oil; Vegetable glycerin; Helichrysum extract; Aspen bark extract; Rosehip seed oil extract; Rosehip oil extract; Seabuckthorn berry oil extract; Essential oils of Lavender, Sandalwood; Superoxide dismutase; Hyaluronic acid; Xanthan gum; Rosemary oleoresin.

It’s totally natural, effective and is everything you’d expect from a product that we’ve produced.

Our Thoughts:
Review by Anne

Before

When the offer to try out the new Repair Serum from Annmarie Gianni Skin Care, I jumped on it.  It’s natural (a requirement for me!) and is meant to repair and rebuild sun-damaged and mature skin.   I’m only in my 30’s, but our 4-year long TTC journey filled with stress, anguish, losses, hormones, and major and minor surgeries turned my once-beautiful skin into a scar-covered mess with wrinkles.  For the first time in my life, I have to use foundation and concealer just to cover the damage, much less any active blemishes.  I used to be able to just dust on some powder, maybe a dab of concealer, and go.

After 3 weeks of Repair Serum

I got the travel-size sample Repair Serum and managed to make it last just over 3 weeks (they recommend at least 30 – 40 days to allow the skin cells to begin the rebuilding process – and I definitely noticed a difference in my skin!  I noticed a difference in just the first week!  My skin is lighter and more even-toned.  I thought I had a pretty good handle on blemishes – but this helped keep them at bay, too.  I am really interested to see what at least 40 days of use would do!  It’s a bit on the expensive side for the size, but as one who works with natural skin-care ingredients, I completely understand the cost that goes into it.  It’s worth the price!


***Please note that I received no form of monetary compensation for this post. The opinions expressed in the review are my own and were not influenced in any way.***

Art Imitates Life -- Even When its Not Intentional

 Banner created by Lisseth from Read-A-HolicZ


If you've read any of the books in the Dark Musicals Trilogy, you'll notice the basic theme is life imitating art. In Phantom, Demon, and Hyde, Justyn and Rebecca find their lives start to mirror the world of the characters they portray on the stage. However, this duality can also work in reverse. Sometimes art can imitate life--even when it's not intentional.

 A few weeks ago, something miraculous happened in my life. The kind of thing that normally only occurs on soap operas or old episodes of Unsolved Mysteries. The younger brother I spent the last few years searching for finally made contact. Ironically, I was sitting at my desk, writing a chapter in Hyde when he replied to an email I sent him over a year ago on face book. Because we weren't "friends" it had gone into his junk folder. My fingers trembled as we chatted back and forth and I made so many type o's my editor would certainly have narrowed an eye. It was an amazing moment because not only had I found my brother Omar,  I also found a kindred spirit.

So this might be a touching story of reunited siblings, but what does it have to do with The Dark Musicals Trilogy? Let me explain. Lord Justyn, the hero in the series, has a special place in my heart. He was a character that has always felt real to me on a level I couldn't quite explain. Now I think I figured out why Justyn was so special. I think I was channeling my brother when I created him.

The first and most obvious similarity between Justyn and Omar is their passion for music.  Omar plays a variety of instruments including guitar, bass, keyboard, drums, and sitar! Yes, I said sitar, an instrument that makes an appearance in more than one of the Dark Musicals books. Strangely enough, I had literally just added a sitar player into a scene in Hyde the exact moment I received his email. I always say, there are no coincidences. But best of all, my brother Omar is an amazing singer!!! He has even performed on stage in musicals, just like Justyn.

Where wardrobe is concerned, Omar's taste runs more to punk than goth, but he certainly wears a lot of black from what I've seen. He also has the same style of black hair, the same physical build, and certainly the same charming mannerisms as Justyn. Neither of these guys are an alpha male, but personally that is how I prefer it. However, music and physical appearances are not the only common denominator between Omar and Justyn. While their spiritual paths are very different, Justyn being Pagan and Omar practicing Sufism, their basic philosophy is similar. They both embrace diversity and free thought in all aspects of life, and express this through their art. With heart and minds open, they see that the things that make us different aren't as important as the humanity that unites us.

Finally, and probably most importantly to fans of Lord Justyn, Omar shares Justyn's unique sense of romance. So many people have told me the scenes where Justyn sings to Becca make them swoon. A few others have rolled their eyes and claimed no man would ever be that charming in real life. Now I can prove those doubters wrong. This was my brother's status on face book just a few days ago. Of course, with Justyn it would have been an opera song instead of Queen, but still...

"There use to be a gazebo here, fifteen years ago I slow danced with a beautiful girl under it, there was no music, so I just sang, it was a queen song ...still one of my favorite memories, I should write a poem about it."

So yes, and you can see, art can imitate real life, even when you didn't intend it to happen. I started writing Phantom years before I ever knew Omar existed, and yet you'd think I had based Lord Justyn on him. But there really is a deeper connection  here than what is happening in my fictional world. Lord Justyn might be a guy, but a lot of his thoughts are MY thoughts. In many ways, Justyn is a masculine version of myself which tells me that, even though Omar and I only recently met, we have more in common than most of the relatives I've known all my life. Omar is an amazing artist who embraces spirituality and is the type of man I can be proud to call my brother.  This  journey between us has only just begun, but it's one I am looking forward to exploring.

If you are interested in learning more about Omar, check out his music pages. Sarmust, his mystical dance /punk activist /indie rock group, are taking the Washington DC underground by storm. Evil Art Form is his other project which offers electronic music with a bit of a dark side--just one more way he's like Justyn. Listen to the lyrics, let them embrace your soul, and let our story be a reminder that there is always something magical waiting around the corner just when you least expect it. 

Phantom, Book One int he Dark Musical Trilogy, Inspired by Phantom on the Opera

Purchase

Amazon * Smashwords * Barnes & Noble

Demon, Book Two in the Dark Musicals Trilogy, inspired by Sweeney Todd

Purchase

Amazon * Smashwords * Barnes & Noble

Custom T-Shirts from Dress United

***Free product received in exchange for an honest review***

If you have a business, promotional items are a great way to get people to remember you. Back when I was working as an insurance agent, my desk was filled with cute little knick knaks and gadgets from the other companies I dealt with. Pens from adjusters. Memo pads from insurance companies. Even squishy balls from and stuffed animals from clean up services. When it came time for me to decide who I wanted to write a policy with or which cleaning service to recommend to my clients when their pipes broke, having these promotional gifts for business in front of me often times led me to giving out those names. So using promo items does serve a purpose, and one of the best things to use are the custom T-shirts like the ones you can create at Dress United. It make people think about your business and encourages them to use it.

I am a restaurant owner, blogger, and author and the custom shirts from Dress United are the perfect way to advertise all my business endeavors. T-shirts with our restaurant's name on them fly off the shelves, and even our breakfast staff wear them for the morning shift. For my novels, what better way to advertise than with a pretty shirt with the book on the cover. I was able to create one and the system was very simple to operate. I uploaded the cover of my book and was able to line it up just how I wanted it on the shirt. I could also chose between multiple colors including black, white, red, green and more to see which one looked best with the design.  The whole process took only a few minutes.


There are plenty of other uses for the custom shirts at Dress United in addition meeting your promotional needs. They are great for sports teams, clubs, or even special occasions like bridal showers or birthday parties. Quick, easy, and affordable, the design process at Dress United is the best I've tried to date and I will definitely be using them again for all my promotional needs.Visit their website to see their simple process and be sure to follow them on face book to keep up with new products and promotions.




***Please note that I received no form of monetary compensation for this post. I did receive a sample of the product to try in order to write a fair and honest review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own and were not influenced in any way. ***

Bachelorette on Blu-ray & DVD

 ***Free copy provided in exchange for an honest review***
 

Anchor Bay Entertainment and RADiUS-TWC announced today the Blu-ray™ and DVD release of BACHELORETTE, the first multi-platform film to hit #1 on iTunes as well as the highest ranking performer on Rentrak having reached the #4 spot amongst Cable Providers.

BACHELORETTE has grossed in excess of $7 million thus far on VOD.  

Starring Kirsten Dunst, Isla Fisher, Lizzy Caplan and Rebel Wilson, BACHELORETTE was written and directed by Leslye Headland (on whose play the film is based) and produced by Will Ferrell and Adam McKay's Gary Sanchez Productions (Step Brothers, "Funny or Die"). BACHELORETTE follows three frisky bridesmaids who, on the night before an old friend's wedding go searching for a little fun but find much more than they bargained for. BACHELORETTE heads to retail on March 19, 2013 for an SRP of $29.99 for the Blu-ray™ and $24.98 for the DVD. Rolling Stone film critic, Peter Travers, said BACHELORETTE "would make the cruelest bridezilla blush." Matt Pais of RedEye called the film "funnier than Bridesmaids." Wrote film critic, Stephen Holden, in his review for The New York Times, "Bachelorette comes at you with the crackling intensity of machine-gun fire."

When it comes to raucous, raunchy and riotously inappropriate pre-wedding behavior, why should guys have all the fun? Control freak Regan (Dunst), smart-mouthed Gena (Caplan) and bubble-headed Katie (Fisher) celebrate the impending nuptials of their longtime, high school whipping girl Becky (Wilson) in an epic girls' night out filled with strip clubs, ex-boyfriends and innumerable unmentionables (among them, Becky's wedding dress). It's the ultimate chick flick comedy for everyone to love, honor and cherish forever.

BACHELORETTE Blu-ray™ and DVD special features include Bloopers, Behind the Scenes of Bachelorette featurette and a feature commentary with writer /director Leslye Headland.

Learn more about BACHELORETTE at: www.bachelorettemovie.com.

  

**OFFICIAL BOX ART Download: http://bit.ly/Bachelorette_Box_Art

**OFFICIAL TRAILER Download: http://bit.ly/Bachelorette_BlurayDVD_Trailer

------------------------- 

BACHELORETTE streets on Blu-ray™ & DVD on 3/19/13! 

-------------------------  

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

Deirdre Synan for Brigade Marketing                                                     

deirdre@brigademarketing.com

    

BACHELORETTE BLU-RAY™

Street date:      March 19, 2013

Pre-book:         February 20, 2013

Catalog #:        BD60458

UPC:               013132604589

Run time:         87 Minutes      

Rating:             R

SRP:               $29.99

Format:            Widescreen

Audio:              5.1 DTSHD-MA

BACHELORETTE DVD

Street date:      March 19, 2013

Pre-book:         February 20, 2013

Catalog #:        WC60456

UPC:               013132604565

Run time:         87 Minutes

Rating:             R

SRP:               $24.98

Format:           Widescreen

Audio:              Dolby Digital 5.1

 Our Thoughts

I went into this movie expecting to watch a flat out comedy, but I got a little more than I excepted. The film is primarily a dark comedy about a group of bridesmaid who accidentally destroy the bride's gown, and frantically try to repair the damage before the wedding. While there are definitely some humorous scenes in the film, its a dark humor and might even be considered a little vulgar to some people. These women are also dealing with a lot of personal tragedy. One is bulimic, one has is addicted to coke, and one has a drinking problem, and those  are only some of the self destructive traits they possess. It was a decent movie and worth watching once, but probably not something I would sit through twice. 3 Stars.


***Please note that I received no form of monetary compensation for this post. I did receive a sample of the product to try in order to write a fair and honest review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own and were not influenced in any way. ***

Free Book - Fairy Tale by Andrew P. Weston (18 + Only)

 

For the third year running, a ritualistic serial killer has struck again in the week leading up to Halloween, leaving a gruesome and bloody trail in his wake.

It’s the same every year. One murder every day, until his quotient of seven has been reached. Butchery doesn’t begin to describe what happens to those who he gets his hands on. Then the killer vanishes – only to return twelve months later as merciless as ever.

When he does resurface, he appears to strike randomly and at will. It cannot be established exactly how the killer selects his victims, or why. As such, the detective leading the case is no closer to discovering the identity of the ruthless predator than he was when the slayings began.

It’s only when the detective gets an unexpected break that things get interesting…

Fairy Tale is available exclusively on Amazon and today you can get it for free!

 

About the Author

Andrew P Weston was born in the city of Birmingham, UK and grew up in the towns of Bearwood and Edgbaston, eventually attending Holly Lodge Grammar School for Boy’s where he was School Captain and Head Boy.
He was an active sportsperson for the school and a variety of rugby, martial art, swimming, and athletics teams throughout the city.
On graduation in 1977, he joined the Royal Marines and served in a number of roles both in the UK and abroad.
In 1985 he joined the Devon & Cornwall Constabulary, serving as a police officer in a variety of uniformed and plain clothed departments until his retirement in 2008.
Over those years, he wrote and illustrated a selection of private books for his children regarding the life of a tiny kitten, called, “The Adventures of Willy Whiskers”, gained further qualifications in Law and Religious Studies, was an active member of Mensa and continued to be an active sportsperson, providing lessons free of charge to local communities.
An unfortunate accident received on duty meant Andrew had to retire early from the police force, but after moving to the sunny Greek island of Kos to speed up his recuperation, he was at last able to devote time to the “Guardian Concept” he had developed over his years in the military and police.
When not writing, Andrew enjoys Greek dancing and language lessons, being told what to do by his wife, Annette, and hunting shadows in the dark. He has not managed to catch any yet, but is sure he came close on 2 occasions.

Connect with Andrew

Twitter
Face book
Blog

Book Spotlight & Giveaway: A Scholar's Journey: The Divine Tempest

A Scholar's Journey: The Divine Tempest

A Scholar’s Journey: The Divine Tempest is a no-holds-barred fantasy brawl. It begins when the God of Justice and Retribution opens The Abyss and unleashes a vengeful demon upon the mortal realm of Therra. Now it is up to scholar Penndarius Greyson and his tormented protector, martial artist Soren Luna Mortalitas, to stop a crisis that would send shockwaves through the very fabric of creation. In addition, Penndarius is waging an internal battle with a disembodied presence attempting to possess his mind. The two heroes must avoid death or capture, but there is a catch: They have only one day to solve a riddle older than history before a dark host of unstoppable demons is released into the world. The Divine Tempest includes warring factions, betrayal and redemption, and of course, Herrick Erickson-Brigl's trademark: epic fight scenes. This is the lean, hard-hitting first installment in a series that follows Penndarius’s growth as the avatar of the God of Creation and Soren’s reclamation of his lethal family’s humanity. Purchase A Scholar's Journey: The Divine Tempest on Amazon.

About Herrick C. Erickson-Brigl

Herrick Erickson-Brigl has been reading fantasy since he first learned to read and writing it nearly as long. While in college, Herrick's passion for writing culminated in his first novel, entitled *A Scholar’s Journey: The Divine Tempest*. He is currently completing his second book in that series. Follow the Author: Website | Twitter

Kickstarter Campaign

Herrick is also kickstarting the editing for his second book "A War of Lies"  



View Herrick's Kickstarter Page here! The author is giving away a Kindle, a $20 Amazon GC, and an ebook. Fill out the form below a Rafflecopter giveaway

My Favorite Quotes from Phantom

Tomorrow is the big day! Its the release of Demon, Book 2 is the Dark Musicals Trilogy. But today I thought I would share a few of my favorite quotes from Phantom, Book 1 in the series.  You may have to click on the images to see the quotes.

Phantom is now on sale for only $1.99 exclusively on Amazon. Get your copy today before you fall behind in the series.

Purchase

Amazon * Smashwords * Barnes & Noble

Phantom, Dark Musicals Book #1

The “Phantom” was a musical phenomenon that Rebecca had always found enchanting. She had no idea that her life was about to mirror the play that was her obsession. When her high school drama club chooses “Phantom” as their annual production, Rebecca finds herself in the middle of an unlikely love triangle and the target of a sadistic stalker who uses the lines from the play as their calling card.

Rebecca lands the lead role of Christine, the opera diva, and like her character, she is torn between her two co-stars—Tom the surfer and basketball star who plays the lovable hero, and Justyn, the strangely appealing Goth who is more than realistic in the role of the tortured artist.

Almost immediately after casting, strange things start to happen both on and off the stage. Curtains fall. Mirrors are shattered. People are hurt in true phantom style. They all seem like accidents until Rebecca receives notes and phone calls that hint at something more sinister. Is Justyn bringing to life the twisted character of the phantom? Or in real life are the roles of the hero and the villain reversed? Rebecca doesn’t know who to trust, but she knows she’s running out of time as she gets closer and closer to opening night. Only when the mask is stripped away, will the twenty first century phantom finally be revealed.

And just one more thing I had to share. Yesterday, Stephanie from Militant Recommender made my day! Not only did she post a fabulous review of Phantom, she also drew a cartoon of Justyn and Becca! Here is a quote from her review.

  "The Recommender LOVED Justyn! He is such a real presence, someone smart, charming, witty, self-possessed and not afraid to be himself in a high school world that treats him snarkily."

 To see the full write up, be sure to visit her blog. If you want to countdown the release to Demon, come join us for the virtual release party on face book!

CHANCE IN A MILLION Complete Collection On DVD

***Complimentary product received in exchange for an honest review***

Featuring all three seasons of the star-studded, award-winning comedy, Chance in a Million Compete Collection arrives to DVD from Acorn on March 19, 2013. Two-time BAFTA nominee Simon Callow (Four Weddings and a Funeral, Shakespeare in Love) stars as Tom Chance, a man who seems cursed by fate. When he meets Alison Little (Oscar® nominee Brenda Blethyn, Vera, Pride & Prejudice, Secrets & Lies), they begin a courtship marred by a barrage of absurd coincidences and ludicrous circumstances. Broadcast on public television in the mid-80s and winner of three Pye Television Awards for writing, the DVD 3-disc set includes all 18 episodes, plus an alternate pilot episode, episode commentaries, and more ($59.99, AcornOnline.com).

Tom Chance seems cursed by fate. When this “marvelously original comic character” (Daily Express) meets Alison Little, a sheltered, earnest librarian, the two embark on an unconventional courtship. Tom’s peculiar speech patterns and bumbling comportment sweetly complement Alison’s cheery aloofness. Despite the cosmic forces seeking to drive them apart—including law enforcement, rude waiters, unrequited loves, petty criminals, and Alison’s overbearing parents—Tom and Alison nobly weather ludicrous circumstances as they blunder into life together and emerge all the more lovable for it.

Bonus: Alternate pilot episode (28 min.), four episode commentaries with Simon Callow and writers Andrew Norriss and Richard Fegen, and a note from Simon Callow

Street Date: March 19, 2013                        SRP: $59.99

DVD 3-Disc – 18 episodes - Approx. 451 min., plus bonus – SDH subtitles

My Thoughts

New television can't complete with the classics. Chance in a Million was aired on public television in the mid-eighties, and though I was too young to appreciate it at that time, I certainly enjoyed this DVD box set. There's something about nerd romance that has always appealed to me, and this show gives you a comic look at that sort of relationship. Tom Chance is a silly but lovable character who falls for the local librarian. An unconventional courtship ensues despite the fact that the universe seems to be ripping them apart. They are faced with a slew of challenges from the stereotypical overbearing parents who just don't approve of Chance to hilarious run ins with criminals and with the law. Each episode will lead to side slitting laughter. Definitely a great series for any lover of slapstick comedy.

 If you are interested in checking out Chance in a Million for yourself, it is available at Acorn Media  for the low price of $59.99 for the DVD set.  If you are looking for a good laugh, then this is the perfect series for you.


***Please note that I received no form of monetary compensation for this post. I did receive a sample of the product to try in order to write a fair and honest review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own and were not influenced in any way. **