After TMZ.com broke the story earlier today, FOX News has confirmed that pop icon, Michael Jackson, has died at age 50 in Los Angeles, California. It has been reported that Michael Jackson suffered from cardiac arrest shortly after noon today and had fallen into a deep coma before his death. At 3:15pm PST today, Michael Jackson was pronounced dead.
His legacy will live on forever in his music that changed lives all around the world.
Sadly and tragically, Farrah Fawcett has passed away, losing her battle with cancer. From an on-line source, her long time love, Ryan O’Neal stated the following:
“After a long and brave battle with cancer, our beloved Farrah has passed away. Although this is an extremely difficult time for her family and friends, we take comfort in the beautiful times that we shared with Farrah over the years and the knowledge that her life brought joy to so many people around the world,” her longtime partner Ryan O’Neal said in a statement.
I’ll remember her role as Jill in Charlie’s Angels as well as the made-for-television movies that she acted so brilliantly. I will most remember her iconic status on those posters that were just everywhere and her having the hair that we all wanted!
Lucy Burns has not exactly made the best decisions… in fact, she’s accidentally killed her sister’s cat and made a deal with the devil… both of which were completely unintentional yet creating lasting effects on her life. No, it’s not such a great start to life, if you ask me! Now Lucy’s reality is one that she never truly wanted in the first place and she would do almost anything to escape it.
Although Lucy is gorgeous, timeless, and powerful, she wants for nothing other than a normal life with its normal flaws and pitfalls. If she eats that entire chocolate cake, she wants it to reflect in her hips. She wants to see those fine lines around her eyes and experience saggy boobs. Lucy wants to find love and not just exist as a sex goddess. She longs to see her family again. And, I’m sure, Lucy would love to have a dog that eats bones and not people.
When Lucy meets her musical idol, Teddy Nightingale, she learns that there is a loophole in her deal with the devil. She can get out of this deal, after all. But, the terms under which she has to get out of her contract are seemingly impossible… despite that, she’ll go to nearly any lengths to achieve her freedom.
The Review
Elizabth Leiknes blended chick lit and the supernatural into a spicy novella that was a fun little trist on a Sunday afternoon. After a long nap and in a quiet house, I put on my favorite fuzzy socks and immersed myself into a crazy tale of the unbelievable. I’ve wondered if I made a deal with the devil, sold my soul away for that greatness, what would it be that I would want for? Would it be fame, riches, or physical perfection? For Lucy, she was given the ability to be irresistible, brilliant, and gorgeous. I’ll admit that sounds fun… for a day or two. But, what this story reminded me is that my real life, flawed an all, is far greater than anything that I could wish or trade for.
That’s right… I’ll keep my poochy tummy, my adult acne, my argumentative kids, and my debt and live a life with purpose and with God guiding it. There is great evil in our world and it often wins out over good. People lie, steal, cheat, and murder… there is both an invisible and visible evil presence living and breathing amongst us. Part of walking a spiritual and good life is avoiding that evil and living for the love inside you. That’s what this tale reminded me, today. The bad guys, they’ll get theirs and I’ll leave my justice up to God… he does a much greater job at it than I do.
What else did this sinful little novel bring me? Simply, a fun little escape and a story in which I could do nothing but completely root for good over evil. You know… like Star Wars or ET… a story where you get lost to the fight and are absorbed in the fiction of.
On Sher’s “Out of Ten Scale:”
I’m a huge fan of the novella… this is the 3rd I’ve reviewed this year. I just love getting a concisely written story that I can engulf in one reading. The novella seems to bring across the message of the story across stronger and faster than that of the 400-pager. Comparable… I think to a 30-minute show to a made-for-tv movie… if you know what I mean.
I believe that Leiknes had a clever idea in creating Lucy Burns and her plight from the devil. She’s, at heart, a good girl trapped in bad circumstances. What could you not like about Lucy??? She’s just trying to be person she was born to be.
Elizabeth Leiknes and Lucy Burns get from me a rating, genre: Fiction:Novella, an 8 OUT OF 10.If you are spending the day at the pool… grab this read and get lost for a couple of hours in a story of the believable, unbelievable!
My heartfelt thanks to Harrison and Bancroft for this sinful read.
“Sarah Walters is a less-than-perfect debutante. She tries hard to follow the time-honored customs of the Charleston Camellia Society, as her mother and grandmother did, standing up straight in cotillion class and attending lectures about all the things that Camellias don’t do. (Like ride with boys in pickup trucks.) But Sarah can’t quite ignore the barbarism just beneath all that propriety, and as soon as she can she decamps South Carolina for a life in New York City. There, she and her fellow displaced Southern friends try to make sense of city sophistication, to understand how much of their training applies to real life, and how much to the strange and rarefied world they’ve left behind.
When life’s complications become overwhelming, Sarah returns home to confront with matured eyes the motto “Once a Camellia, always a Camellia”- and to see how much fuller life can be, for good and for ill, among those who know you best.”
I waited, rather impatiently, for the book to arrive. I wanted to read it realllllly bad!
Check the mailbox… not here yet.
Check it again… still not here.
Then, one day, it arrived! (“aaaaaahhhhhh……” as the skies are shining and the birds are singing…)
I was in the midst of a book the day that it landed on my doorstep. But, Girls in Trucks was zooming all the way to the top of the pile. It was going to be read next and it was getting preferential treatment.
So, I read it. It took me only a day. Let me tell you why I liked it…
It wasn’t a “heavy” book. It had plenty of substance and story, but it wasn’t that dark, heavy, deep read that sucks your brain out.
The cover makes me happy. I just love that dress, her hair, the bare feet. Yes, I just love that cover.
I could relate to Sarah Walters. Even though I’m not from the South, nor do I live in the North, I just get Sarah. I understand her needing real depth in her relationships and I just “get her” when it comes to her decisions. Although, I would have left Max much earlier than she did!
I got my dose of Sarah’s friendships and reading about her diverse relationships.
I was reminded about how important the kiss is in finding true love.
I need books like this in the midst of my reading list. Some times books just weigh to heavily on my mind. This one didn’t. Reading this book was, for me, like seeing that movie that I’ve been looking forward to. It just fit.
On Sher’s “Out of Ten Scale:”
I’ve already purchased and given away a copy to a girlfriend. Therefore, not only have I recommended it, but I’ve also passed it along. But, I think that I just have an affinity with this story… I wanted to like it and I did. It’s not comparable to some of the profound, intricate books that I’ve read this year. But, it’s just what the doctor ordered for me! And, since I get to put my opinion… I will rate this, in the genre: Fiction, a 9 OUT OF 10.It’s a great summer read and I wanted to drink a mint julep, run barefoot through the grass, and wear a pretty dress.
My heartfelt thanks to April at Cafe of Dreams and Valorie at Hachette for this summer escape.
Jillian and the guys spend a week on the Rocky Mountaineer… an incredible train that takes them through the Canadian Rockies. The views were absolutely spectacular and I felt as I experienced a bit of it, myself. So, how does Jillian start off the week? She pats them each on their tushie as they board the train. ALL ABOARD!
The first 1-on-1 date is dinner in the caboose with Robby the Bartender. He’s super cute and mixes a great drink… but, she’s concerned about his youth. To this, Robby explains to the cameraman, “Love has no age. Love doesn’t have a job. And, love can most certainly happen at any time.”
Robby: The poet who didn’t know it.
What did all of this romantic swooning get him? Kicked off the train in the midst of the forest. Well, actually it was at a train station and there was a white van to zip him away. But, he just looked so tragic there on the side of the train tracks as the rest of them rolled away.
Now down to 7 guys, Michael sheds a tear about Robby’s departure in discovering the reality that he may be separated from Jillian in an instant…like lightning striking.
So, Wes the camera-time-whore comes to secure another week of free camera publicity by visiting her in her private cabin to make sure that she’s okay after letting Robby go. She crawls into his arms. I notice that he has a tattoo on his arm with the name “Bobby” and a date of x/21/2000. Hmmm… does he have a child?
The crappy singer with a bad beard takes the opportunity to share with the camera that he will “always have Jillian wrapped around his finger.”
ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME?
And, the producers just let this schmuck stay on the show without telling her? Is it because they don’t want to admit a casting mistake? Shame on the producers! Shame Shame Shame!
Next on the agenda was a group date which included Tanner, Wes-the-camera-whore, Michael, Kiptyn, Jesse, and Jake. They get to go snow-shoeing. The group plays a game of hide-n’-go-seek in which Jillian hides in a small pit by the base of a tree. Jake the gorgeous pilot finds her and takes the opportunity to snuggle in the snow. No, he won’t give up… he wants that home town date.
Later that night in a gorgeous cabin/resort, Jake tries again to connect with Jillian. However, he’s interrupted by the boys just as he was going for the kiss. Kiptyn scores some 1-on-1 alone time in which his chemistry with Jillian is as plain as the nose on his face… it just exists. After their alone time proves to provide kisses, Tanner gets his shot.
Moving onto Tanner… his alone time with Jillian starts after they have a group conversation about what she wears to bed. This is followed by the guys sharing their bedtime wardrobe attire. Rather than Tanner telling what he wears, he just shows her what he looks like in his tidy-whiteys. Yes, he yanks down his jeans to his knees and flashes his body-in-underwear. Let me just tell you that Tanner is sporting some NICE thighs and a tight tummy. Probably more prevalent and noticeable is the considerable size of his “package.” After the shock of his jock, they go and hang out on a fuzzy rug by the fire and he gets to give her a foot massage. Here’s what Tanner has to say about this:
“She knows I have a foot fetish and she knows that I was blessed.”
You know what he was talking about, right?
Moving on, he gives the viewers his rating of Jillian’s feet… a 9-9.5. However, he does comment that they would be rated a 10 if she painted them “Mango-Mango.” WHAT? I don’t even know what that color is! He has more to say about her feet:
“Now that I’ve felt how soft her feet are, I want her to meet my family and I want to get the rose.”
“I love feet and she has the best feet in the world!”
Uh… no! I do! (*snicker*)
After the foot-fetish show, we get to watch her 1-on-1 time with Jesse… Mr. Tall All-American guy from the glacier last week… They kiss. I’m bored.
Michael and Jillian have some marshmallow, s’more time by the outdoor fire. They seem like a good fit, but she’s concerned about his age. While this is transpiring, Tanner admits to the group of men that he was the squealer about one of the guys (Wes) having a girlfriend. Although he names no names, Wes starts defending himself left and right while nobody else says anything. It is then that he announces to the group that he’s had 6 shows now and he’s gotten what he wanted…publicity on t.v. He goes on to tell the group that he might as well stay now and see if he can also get the girl.
Can you please tell me why NONE of the men relate this to Jillian if they “care for her so much?” I DO NOT GET IT!
The group heads to the hot tub… where else? Jillian gives Kiptyn the rose. I hate it when she gives roses in the hot tub. Nothing to pin it to.
Her final private date is with Reid The Realtor. After he asked the entire train staff for dating advice while the others were out on their date, he gets to enjoy a day on the slopes of Lake Louise. This black-diamond skier gives up his hobby to attempt snowboarding with Jillian. He sucked and she made the tackiest comment about the fact that she’s witnessed him ”falling head over heals” for her. PAHLEASE! Then, they go to an ice salon/parlor/lounge out in the snow. Everything is made of ice and sculpted SUPER RADICAL! I liked it.
Later, they go inside for some fireside romance over fondue. It is at this point that Reid shares his hypochondriac tendencies and anal retentiveness. This turns her on. He gets the rose and under-cooked beef.
Reid Washes His Vegetables… especially broccoli because people in the grocery store touch their butt and then touch the broccoli.
When the train ends its trail in Banff, they disembark the rail and are met by Chris Harrison. It’s time for the “MOST DIFFICULT ROSE CEREMONY EVER” in the gorgeous hotel. It is here that Jillian TOTALLY AND COMPLETELY chokes it by choosing Wes-the-television-time-whore over Jake-the-perfect-pilot. I’m angry!
The guys who are chosen to stay and enjoy home town dates:
Jesse.. The Tall American Guy
Kiptyn In The Kitchen
Reid and his Vegetables
Wes… PLEASE GO AWAY
Michael… he’s young, but committed.
The men who have to leave:
Jake… he claims that “nice guys finish last.” NO, they don’t! She’s out there, I promise.
Tanner… the well-endowed foot fanatic
Robby: You can make me a cocktail.
Last week I predicted she would “86″ Jake, Wes and Tanner. I was 2 out of 3 this week with Jake and Tanner. I think my election of Wes was just wishful thinking. They actually show previews of upcoming shows. Guess what’s happening? Jake comes back, outfitted in his pilot’s uniform, to tell Jillian about SCUMBAG WES. Wes denies it.
Wes shows her his love by taking her to visit his band and watch them perform. When is she going to WAKE UP!?!
My prediction for next week: Wes.
Stay tuned…
Jake won AGAIN for last week’s poll: “Who You Like The Most.”
Now, I need to know. Do you think Jillian will finally get rid of Wes?
Will Jillian Give Wes The Boot?
YES! It's about time we get rid of him and his publicity quest! (78%, 14 Votes)
NO! She's seen his true heart shine through the music. (22%, 4 Votes)
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After TMZ.com broke the story earlier today, FOX News has confirmed that pop icon, Michael Jackson, has died at age 50 in Los Angeles, California. It has been reported that Michael Jackson suffered from cardiac arrest shortly after noon today and had fallen into a deep coma before his death. At 3:15pm PST today, Michael Jackson was pronounced dead.
Sadly and tragically, Farrah Fawcett has passed away, losing her battle with cancer. From 
Author:
Elizabth Leiknes blended chick lit and the supernatural into a spicy novella that was a fun little trist on a Sunday afternoon. After a long nap and in a quiet house, I put on my favorite fuzzy socks and immersed myself into a crazy tale of the unbelievable. I’ve wondered if I made a deal with the devil, sold my soul away for that greatness, what would it be that I would want for? Would it be fame, riches, or physical perfection? For Lucy, she was given the ability to be irresistible, brilliant, and gorgeous. I’ll admit that sounds fun… for a day or two. But, what this story reminded me is that my 
I fell in love with the cover. 
On Sher’s “Out of Ten Scale:”
