PUT on your ugly sweater and snuggle with a cozy book next to a warm fire. Egg nog on the side table is optional ;-)
I am cracking this one open...
A Noël Killing
by M.L. Longworth
-Mystery, Cozy, Christmas, France | Goodreads
Christmastime in the south of France is as beautiful as ever, but when a shady local businessman drops dead in the middle of the festivities, Verlaque and Bonnet must solve the case while keeping the holiday spirit alive
Antoine Verlaque, examining magistrate for the beautiful town of Aix-en-Provence, doesn't like Christmas. The decorations appear in the shops far too early, festive tourists swarm the streets, and his beloved Cours Mirabeau is lined with chalets selling what he regards as tacky trinkets. But his wife and partner Marine Bonnet is determined to make this a Christmas they can both enjoy, beginning with the carol sing at the Cathedral Saint Sauveur, a beautiful service in a packed church.
Just as the holiday cheer is in full swing, a man is poisoned, sending the community into a tailspin. The list of suspects, Verlaque and Bonnet quickly discover, almost fills the church itself, from the visiting vendors at the Christmas fair to the victim’s unhappy wife and his disgruntled business partner. In A Noël Killing, with the help of an ever-watchful young woman named France, the pair must solve the murder while the spirit of the season attempts to warm Verlaque’s stubborn heart.
Happy National Ugly Christmas Sweater Day (details)
PUT on your ugly sweater and snuggle with a cozy book next to a warm fire. Egg nog on the side table is optional ;-)
I want to try this one...
Christmas Camp
by Karen Schaler
-Holiday, Christmas, Romance | Goodreads
Haley Hanson’s idea of the perfect Christmas is escaping to the Caribbean to work so she can avoid all the traditional Christmas distractions. Over the years, she’s sacrificed her personal life to climb the corporate ladder at a prestigious Boston advertising agency. Now she just needs to land a coveted Christmas toy company account to make partner. But first, her boss, Larry, thinks she needs a holiday attitude adjustment, so he ships her off to a Christmas Camp at Holly Peak Inn to help her find her Christmas spirit.
Arriving at the charming mountainside inn, Haley meets the owner’s handsome son, Jeff, and feels an instant spark, but resists the attraction, refusing to be distracted from her goal of doing all the required Christmas tasks as fast as possible so she can get back to work.
At first Haley struggles with all the traditional Christmas Camp activities. It’s not until she finally allows herself to slow down, live in the moment, and let Christmas back into her heart, that she begins to grow closer to Jeff. But when he finds out Haley’s come up with a plan to help his dad save the struggling inn while he’s been trying to convince his dad to sell it, their relationship takes a serious holiday hit. Now it will take the magic of the season to bring these two hearts together.
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* header image source: Mark Darcy from Bridget Jones Diary (here)
Lovely Books and Things
My Weekly Books and Films Update
Linking up with: Stacking the Shelves (details) Sunday Post (details) Mailbox Monday (details)
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Managed to get some reading done this week of short novels, magazines and graphic novels.
I have been searching my bookshelves this week to figure out which book (excluding requested review copies) will be THE ONE to open the new year with - for First Book Of The Year 2018 hosted by Book Journey (details) Have you picked yours?
Current happy things:
1. See's nuts and chews chocolates
2. Release of Kpop song Instagram by Dean and album Her by DPR Live
3. Decorating cookies from the Trader Joe's Ugly Christmas Sweater Cookie Kit
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Library:
Lies Jane Austen Told Me
by Julie Wright
-Chick-lit, Jane Austen Amazon | Goodreads
LOOKS like a fun one.
Small Wonders
Life Portrait in Miniature
by Tatsuya Tanaka
-Photography, Miniatures Amazon | Goodreads
LOVE the whimsical creations and scenarios. Ready to go see the new Matt Damon film, Downsizing after looking through this.
AND watched: on AmazonPrime
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (2017)
season one
tv series
Creator: Amy Sherman-Palladino
Stars: Rachel Brosnahan, Alex Borstein, Michael Zegen
-Comedy, Drama | imdb | my rating: 5
A housewife in the 1950s decides to become a stand-up comic.
LOVED how this was done with its colors and soundtrack. Learned some behind the scenes stuff about comediennes.
The Big Sick (2017)
Director: Michael Showalter
Writers: Emily V. Gordon, Kumail Nanjiani
Stars: Kumail Nanjiani, Zoe Kazan, Holly Hunter, Ray Romano
-Comedy, Drama, Romance | imdb | my rating: 5
Pakistan-born comedian Kumail Nanjiani and grad student Emily Gardner fall in love but struggle as their cultures clash. When Emily contracts a mysterious illness, Kumail finds himself forced to face her feisty parents, his family's expectations, and his true feelings.
STANDS up to the hype. Enjoyable film about interracial relationships particularly in regards to the Muslim religion.
A group of eccentric assassins are fed up with Gunther, the world's greatest hitman, and decide to kill him, but their plan turns into a series of bungled encounters as Gunther seems to always be one step ahead.
For post-Fall Film challenge bonus round: eight. how i met your mother. Cobie Smulders
FUNNY, cute take on hit men.
AND watched: on DVD
Ghost in the Shell (2017)
Director: Rupert Sanders
Screenplay: Jamie Moss, William Wheeler, Ehren Kruger
Based on the comic: Shirow Masamune
Stars: Scarlett Johansson, Pilou Asbæk, Takeshi Kitano
-Action, Crime, Drama | imdb | my rating: 3
In the near future, Major is the first of her kind: A human saved from a terrible crash, who is cyber-enhanced to be a perfect soldier devoted to stopping the world's most dangerous criminals.
For post-Fall Film challenge bonus round: twelve. lethal weapon. Chin Han
LIKED the visuals. The story was okay. Reminded me a bit of Blade Runner.
Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children (2016)
Director: Tim Burton
Screenplay: Jane Goldman
Writer/based on the novel by Ransom Riggs
Stars: Eva Green, Asa Butterfield, Samuel L. Jackson
-Adventure, Drama, Family | imdb | my rating: 4
When Jacob discovers clues to a mystery that stretches across time, he finds Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children. But the danger deepens after he gets to know the residents and learns about their special powers.
For post-Fall Film challenge bonus round: twenty-three. the west wing. Allison Janney
INTERESTING peculiar characters. I liked the world building and curious to read the book for more details.
50/50 (2011)
Director: Jonathan Levine
Writer: Will Reiser
Stars: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Seth Rogen, Anna Kendrick
-Comedy, Drama, Romance | imdb | my rating: 4
Inspired by a true story, a comedy centered on a 27-year-old guy who learns of his cancer diagnosis, and his subsequent struggle to beat the disease.
For post-Fall Film challenge bonus round: twenty-four. the x-files. Donna Yamamoto
PERSPECTIVE of young adult cancer patient is portrayed in a thoughtful way.
AND watched: online
Flight of the Living Dead (2007)
Plane Dead (original title)
Director/Writer: Scott Thomas
Writers: Sidney Iwanter, Mark Onspaugh
Stars: David Chisum, Kristen Kerr, Kevin J. O'Connor
-Action, Horror, Sci-Fi | imdb | my rating: 4
A fellow scientist accidentally escapes containment aboard a plane during turbulence. After she is gunned down by a security guard, she reanimates as a zombie, killing and infecting several passengers and crew members on board the flight. A U.S. federal air marshall, along with a police officer, a flight attendant and a handful of survivors, must ride out the horrific flight just long enough to stay alive.
For post-Fall Film challenge bonus round: ten. judging amy. Siena Goines
FOUND slithering zombies in this one. Little bit of campy, science, military and a plane load of zombies.
I did not get to watch all the Hallmark Christmas movies I had planned. But did find this SNL skit about the films in general amusing. Gotta love James Franco ;-)
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* comment and TELL me what you have acquired for your shelves recently
