Heather McCoubrey's Blog, page 3

My Favorite Movies - "H" is for Hope Floats

Hope Floats begins with Birdee on a television talk show, thinking she's going to get a makeover. Instead, she finds out her husband is having an affair and wants to divorce her. When a movie begins that way, how can you not watch the movie in its entirety? What follows from that intense beginning is a movie full of drama, pain, love and acceptance.

I know a lot of people didn't like this movie and did not like Sandra Bullock or Harry Connick Jr. in their respective roles, but I thought both of them did an amazing job and they were perfect for the part. I loved this movie for its realness. This story happens in real life and I love that Hollywood made it.

I can't pick just one scene as a favorite, but I will say that I think the most powerful scene is when Bill (Birdee's ex-husband) tells Bernice that she can't go with him because he needs time alone with his new wife. Bernice is devastated and tries to chase Bill down the driveway. Birdee walks over, picks Bernice up and walks to the front porch with the struggling child. They sit on the front porch for a long time, Birdee holding Bernice, comforting her daughter and trying to take away the pain. I cry every single time I watch that scene.

You will need a box of tissues when you watch this movie, maybe even two boxes. But you won't be disappointed in the movie, this I promise. It will take you by the heart-strings and tug you along. You won't be able to escape, and when the story finishes, it will become a part of you forever.

Article Type: A to Z ChallengeImage: 

My Favorite Movies - "G" is for Goonies

"Hey You Guuuuys!"

Goonies, one of my all time favorite kid movies. This movie has it all: bullies, adventure, romance, danger and pirate's treasure. It doesn't get any better than that. Released in 1985, Goonies is one of the typical 80's movies. The life lessons are abundant, the teenage angst laughable and the bonds of friendship are unbreakable. And the take-away quotes are enough to keep you going for a week, at least!

Chunk has it going on - he's funny without trying to be and the comic relief he provides is enough to keep the movie from being too dark. Mikey is the voice of reason and without him, the adventure never would have happened. Mouth, well, with a name like that - what do you expect? And then there's Data - the Asian boy who's smart as a whip and isn't shy about it.

The scenes where they're underground, going through the booby traps and working their way to the pirate's treasure - it's almost like Indiana Jones & the Temple of Doom for kids! If you haven't watched this with your kids, I encourage you to make a bowl of popcorn and make it happen this weekend. It's still available on Netflix instant watch!

After all, Goonies never say die!

Article Type: A to Z ChallengeImage: 

My Favorite Movies - "F" is for Ferris Bueller

Bueller, Bueller...don't lie, you read that in the monotone drone of Ben Stein, didn't you?

This is a movie that no matter what I'm doing - if it comes on the television, I sit down and watch it. I can't help it.

I've seen Matthew Broderick in a lot of movies, but I have to say I think this is his best role. He's smart, he's wily, he's charming - he's just plain likeable. You want him to get whatever he wants. It's fun to watch all the scraps he manages to extricate himself from while he's skipping school for a day. Not to mention all the fun things they seem to be able to accomplish in that time. A trip to the art museum, a baseball game, fancy dining...it's amazing - I can't even get all my errands run in during the time my children are at school.

It's neat to see Jennifer Grey in a different role, too. On Tuesday, we saw her in my post about Dirty Dancing. She played a somewhat shy girl, who didn't realize how strong she was until close to the end of the movie. Here she plays the know-it-all, jealous sister who'll do anything to get her brother into trouble. And she's got quite the powerful, high-kick when she's scared out of her mind by the scheming principal of their school who breaks into their house trying to catch Ferris in his lies.

This is just a fun, light-hearted movie and one of my all-time favorites.

Article Type: A to Z ChallengeImage: 

COVER REVEAL - Perfect Weddings

Every bride wants a perfect wedding and that includes Georgina Winters. Amy Perfect is the crème de la crème of wedding planners so who best to plan Georgina’s wedding … except the man Georgina plans to marry is the same man who jilted Amy three years ago. Will her plan to give Georgina the most imperfect wedding backfire on her? Is this the chance for Amy to win back the love of her life, or will insufferable Ben Garret put a spanner in the works? Arab princes, spoilt brides and wedding catastrophes make Perfect Weddings a page-turning romantic comedy that will keep you guessing until the very last page.

Happy Cover Reveal day to Lynda Renham and huge congratulations on the upcoming release of her novel Perfect Weddings! Isn't this cover fabulous? Lynda's novel will be released on April 20th and I have to say, here's another book I can't wait to read.

In celebration of her latest release, Lynda is hosting giveaways for newsletter subscribers. To subscribe to Lynda's newsletter, all you have to do is head over to her website and subscribe. The giveaways include a signed copy of her book and much more.

Lynda Renham-Cook has been writing for as long as she can remember and had her first work published in a magazine at age nine and has continued writing in various forms since. She has had several poems published as well as articles in numerous magazines and newspapers. Recently she has taken part in radio discussions on the BBC. She has studied literature and creative writing courses and is currently working on her next novel. Lynda lives with her second husband and cat in Oxfordshire, England. She is Associate Editor for the online magazine The Scavenger and contributor to many others. When not writing Lynda can usually be found wasting her time on Facebook. Lynda can be found on her website, on Facebook and on Twitter. Her books are also available on Amazon.com.

Thanks for stopping by and Happy Reading!

xoxo

~Heather

Image: 

My Favorite Movies - "E" is for E.T.

E.T. - ultimately a movie about best friends - who can and will come in all shapes and sizes. It's a fabulous lesson for children to learn and personally I think it's a lesson that is best learned at a young age. It's available on Netflix instant watch right now and I can't wait for the weekend, so I can make a bowl of popcorn and watch it with my children. I hope they enjoy it as much as I do.

I was obsessed with this movie as a child. Even now, as an adult with three children, I still cry when watching it. And seriously, how incredibly adorable was Drew Barrymore at six years old? I remember watching the movie the first time and being fascinated with the idea of a good alien landing in my backyard and becoming my friend. Why doesn't cool stuff like that happen in real life? I thought it was fantastic that E.T. liked Reese's Pieces and that he could bring plants back to life. I remember wishing I had a psychic connection to a friend and being so sad when it seemed as if E.T. and Elliott were going to die. And oh, how my heart swelled in happiness when E.T. was able to escape and go home.

I always wanted a sequel to be made...I would have loved to get that follow-up to everyone's lives and to know if E.T. ever returned to Earth and to Elliott, if only just to visit and catch up. What about you? What was your favorite part of E.T.?

Article Type: A to Z ChallengeImage: 

My Favorite Movies - "D" is for Dirty Dancing

"Nobody puts Baby in the corner."

I don't care who you are - you know this line and you know where it comes from. When he pushes past Baby's father, grabs her hand and tells her to "Come on" ... oh my gosh, *swooooon*!

This movie has it all - a totally hot, sexy Patrick Swayze in his prime. Could that man dance?!?! It has love, betrayal, drama, mystery. It's the perfect movie. Did I mention the star of the movie being amazing?

The movie was released in 1987 making it almost 30 years old. (Now *I* feel old!) It's a classic, another movie people love to watch over and over and quote it just as often.

How about the scenes in the water? Or when Baby is practicing her dance moves on the bridge? Or when she risks everything to save a woman she barely knows? Or Johnny's tough guy shell with the heart of gold inside?

I can't think of one second of the movie that I dislike or wish wasn't included. It's just *that* good! What's your favorite part of the movie?

Image: 

COVER REVEAL - Behind the Strings

As one of Nashville’s hottest music bloggers, Celia Westbrooke spends her days chasing stories and her nights mingling with country music’s rising stars. Her life is a whirlwind, but it keeps her mind from remembering a past she left behind. That is, until a new assignment forces her to face the one person she thought was gone forever.

Logan Kent is on the fast track to country music stardom. It was the dream he had worked his entire life for. A dream that cost him the one person he ever truly loved. The same dream, that five years later, will be the reason she returns.

In the heart of Music City, Celia and Logan will be forced to relive the remnants of a relationship they thought would never be. And just when they think they have what it takes to put all the pieces back together, one night could tear it all apart. Secrets will be revealed, loyalties will be tested and both will be left to decide if what they really want, is worth what they’ll lose in the process.

Doesn't that blurb just reach out and grab your attention? Don't you want to skip over to Amazon and buy this book? Yes? I do too, but unfortunately it's not available until May 17th!

But all is not lost! Courtney Giardina's latest release, Behind the Strings may not release until May, but today is the Cover Reveal!! Isn't it gorgeous? I'm so in love with this cover and it makes me want to read the book even more!

Here's a little taste of Behind the Strings to whet your appetite!

Excerpt

The back patio was pretty empty at that point in the night. There were a few stragglers standing around smoking cigarettes, but based on the screams that echoed through the open doors, most of the crowd was focused on trivia. My weight fell heavily upon the railing. The breeze was calming against the warmth of my skin. It had a cool, gentle touch to it. I almost thought that’s what it was that set firmly on my bare shoulder for a minute until I heard a voice behind me.

“You okay?” Jesse asked.

His lips grazed my ear and I began to shiver.

“No, Jesse, I’m not okay.” I said, pulling his hand from me. “I told you I can’t do this.”

“I don’t know why you’re fighting this so hard,” he said. “I see it when you look at me. I know you want this too.”

My eyes were now facing him. “Jesse, you don’t want me.”

“Yes I do.”

“No, you don’t.”

“And why not?” He asked.

“I’ve had a lot of disappointment in my life. I’m tired of being let down. I’m tired of trying to hold on to people who will never give me what I need. I’m happy with my life the way it is. And then you come around and you do something to me I can’t explain. You bring up this feeling inside me that I thought I had buried.”

I let him step closer and rub his hand on my cheek. A chill rushed through me as he moved his body again toward mine.

“Do you know how badly I want to kiss you right now?”

I turned my head away from him even though I wanted the same thing. I had wanted to kiss him again the second we stopped outside my car that night. I wanted to kiss him at Logan’s party and I wanted to kiss him right now, but I resisted

“You don’t want to kiss me,” I said.

“And why do you say that?”

“Because if you did you would’ve done it already.”

I saw the dimple creep up as he smiled. He stepped closer to me and slid his hand around to the back of my neck. Slowly he leaned in. I closed my eyes and waited until his lips met mine. Each time he started to pull away he would come back stronger and firmer than before. My hands fell to his chest and I was so distracted by the sensation flowing through me that my mind went blank.

When we finally came up for air, a puff of stale smoke brought me back to the bar scene I’d forgotten we were in the middle of. Jesse’s forehead leaned against mine, and even as I inhaled the toxic fumes I couldn’t help but smile.

“Just give me one chance,” he said.

“Oh, Jesse, I make everything so complicated.”

“My whole life is complicated. I’m a musician.”

“That right there,” I said, “is what I’m afraid of. I write about people like you every day. You even said yourself, it’s a world like no other.”

“I’ll tell you what, look me in the eye and tell me you don’t want me to kiss you again and I’ll go away.”

I thought about it long and hard. I had fought my entire life to keep people like Jesse away from me. I couldn’t rationalize why he of all people was making it so difficult. As much as my head wanted to say it, my heart was winning this time. I wanted Jesse to keep kissing me the way he just did and the way I felt when he touched me; I didn’t want it to go away. Right as I was about to answer I heard Logan call out to us from the doorway.

“Everything all right out here?” he asked.

I looked over at his inquisitive eyes. I didn’t know how long he had been standing there or what he saw, but this was the second time he had found us immersed in a conversation like this. I could only imagine what he was thinking. I glanced back over at Jesse before I stepped passed him and started to walk inside.

“I got a little light-headed,” I said as I met Logan in the doorway.

He put his hand on the small of my back. “Want me to take you home?”

“Oh no, I’m feeling much better now. I think I just needed some air.”

“I had to make a phone call,” Jesse said persuasively. “I found Celia out here so I thought I’d keep her company once I was done.”

The three of us all walked back to the table, Jesse a couple steps behind. With Logan coming out before I had a chance to answer, I thought Jesse would be reminded of his insecurities. I felt as if our conversation had turned in the other direction. I knew the night Logan had called when I was with Jesse that my relationship with Logan was a blurred line to him. One he first hesitated about crossing. And now, after he had fought so hard to get me to make a decision, one that was in his favor, I was afraid that now he was going to be the one to walk away.

Party & Giveaway Information!!

I know, fabulous, right? I can't wait until this book releases! So while we're waiting, head over to Courtney's Facebook page and join the party! For giveaways, teasers and more fun surrounding the release, join the Behind the Strings Facebook Release Party and don’t forgot to add Behind the Strings to your Goodreads Reading List!

Keep checking back, I'll be doing a review of Behind the Strings once it releases!

xoxo

~Heather

Image: 

My Favorite Movies - "C" is for Clueless

After my post on Friday, and even my post on Saturday, you're probably wondering if I've lost my mind. Happily, I can tell you that's not the case! This movie brings back a ton of memories, was responsible for my embarrassing Valley Girl phase, and is now responsible for my various one-liners that most people don't get. It's a cult classic that's over 20 years old and while some of the lines may be out of date (Hello Elton, the 90's called and they want their Cranberries CD back), most everything else can be updated to fit in with the times.

In no particular order, here are a few of my favorite lines from the movie, enjoy!

Cher: "Ugh. As if!"

Dionne: "Hello, that was a stop sign."

Cher: "I totally paused."

Amber: "Whatever"

Amber: “My plastic surgeon doesn’t want me doing any activity where balls are flying at my nose.”

Dionne: “Well, there goes your social life.”

Cher: "Oh my god, I am totally buggin'."

Tai: “If I’m too good for him, then how come I’m not with him?”

Dionne: “Murray, I have asked you repeatedly not to call me ‘woman.’”

Cher (to Tai about Amber): “She’s a full-on Monet. It’s like a painting, see? From far away, it’s okay. But up close, it’s a big old mess.”

Cher: “You see how picky I am about my shoes, and those only go on my feet.”

Cher: “That was way harsh, Tai.”

Cher: "So okay, I don’t want to be a traitor to my generation and all but I don’t get how guys dress today. I mean, come on, it looks like they just fell out of bed and put on some baggy pants and take their greasy hair (eww!) and cover it up with a backwards cap and like, we’re expected to swoon? I don’t think so." (This one, in my opinion, still applies today!)

Cher (about Josh): "OK, so he is kind of a Baldwin." (See, here is an example of the line requiring an update. Today we could use "OK, so he is kind of a Hemsworth.")

Image: 

Author Interview - Beth Albright

Good morning! Today, I have the lovely Beth Albright on my blog. She's dropped in for an author interview while she's promoting her new book Stardust in Dixie, with Goddess Book Tours. I've asked her to talk about her favorite vacation spots because in a few short weeks my husband and I will be taking our annual anniversary trip. We try to travel to different places each year but this year we're going back to Sint Maarten. The first time we went was 11 years ago, the year before our first child was born. We're staying at a different resort this time and I'm eager to see how the island has changed since we last visited. The last time my husband and I got away was a year and half ago, when I was seven months pregnant with our third child, so I'm pretty excited to get away and relax with my husband for a week, sans kids. I know everyone has different ideas of vacation and downtime, so I was excited to get Beth's answers about how she does vacation and downtime.

1. Where is your favorite vacation spot?

I love both the beach and the forest! So I have several. I loved being in Northern California where we lived for 3 years—this is where the forest meets the sea. So many little spots exist there including Sequoia National Forest where we vacationed in winter. The snowdrifts were above my head. We literally had to walk through snow tunnels to get from our cabin to the lodge. I loved Lake Tahoe, the wine country and Monterey, all such gorgeous vacation spots. But I also love the blue-green waters of the Gulf Coast. I vacationed there as a child growing up in Alabama and still it relaxes me like no place else, with clear warm waters and sugar white sand. Most recently, we went to Victoria, British Columbia in Canada. It was over New years and so cold and rainy but Victoria is like no place else, especially in the winter. Just breathtaking.

2. What was the best vacation you ever took?

Oh so many, there is no way to choose. Though I am from Alabama, we have lived out west for 10 years and we have seen the entire west coast from Canada to San Diego. I love Seattle and all of the North West. We even went through Forks and all the places from the Twilight saga. But before this we lived in the East so I have seen from Toronto down through Florida, all of it. There is no way to pick a favorite—every single trip had a special flavor and memory of its own! The standouts were a trip over the winter to Washington DC and Williamsburg. We spent New Years Eve at the Kennedy Center in D.C. listening to the symphony, and then dancing to big band 40s swing into the New Year. I remember dancing with my son that night—a memory that will stay with me forever. That was so spectacular and so memorable. We took my son on a huge trip when he was 12 years old all around Eastern Canada, through Niagara Falls and back through my hubby’s hometown where we were able to show my son my husband’s childhood home. We knocked and the new owners let us in to explore the house. It was just surreal and so magical for the two of them, seeing my husband’s boyhood bedroom and all the memories came flooding back. My husband lived there when I met him and I spent many holidays there before his mom sold it. Just so many trips and vacations to name only one.

3. When you're vacationing, do you go alone, with your husband, with your children? Do you have separate trips for each?

No, I have never been without my husband and son on a vacation since our son was born. We are a lucky family in that we genuinely like each other and like being together. My hubby and I have been to a few B&Bs when our son was little but once he could have fun and be involved we always went together. This way we share all the same travel memories. Our son is moving away to grad school so we look forward to visiting him and exploring even more places together.

4. Do you write while on vacation?

Only ideas, jotting notes here and there. Never out of choice. But one time when I was writing my first series for Harlequin/MIRA, THE SASSY BELLES, they needed a major overhaul of one of my books and gave me only a couple of weeks to get it done. After crying on the floor of my closet because I was so new and didn’t understand the business whatsoever, I re-wrote the book on a huge important vacation. My son is heavily into ancestry. So, for Christmas, we had gotten him a trip to central Pennsylvania where he had mapped gravesites, wedding churches of every generation back to the 1600s. He was ecstatic. But my book was due so I sat in the car as we crisscrossed the snowy Pennsylvania countryside with my laptop on my legs and my head down. It was so sad. I was up till 4 and 5am in the hotel rooms and was exhausted as my son happily discovered grave-markers and took pictures. I swore on all those graves I would never ever find myself missing family moments for writing. NEVER! Life is short and our son will be gone and having a family of his own so these moments are precious. Never again! So NO—I do not write on vacation.

5. Do you prefer stateside or overseas?

I love both! So many unique places to discover. I love history so anything anywhere with a story. Show me a cobblestone street and I am a gonner—whether it’s Paris or Charleston!

6. Are you a beach or mountain girl?

Both. So we visit both a lot. Living in California was amazing for both but now I have lived in Arizona for the last 7 months—and am still working to get used to the dessert. I can get the mountains here but I so so miss the water! I may never get used to it! So I send a lot of time taking pictures of sunsets. They are spectacular here.

7. Cruise or all-inclusive?

I actually like neither. I like the freedom to be on my own, no set times, nothing formal. I like to explore and discover surprises. My husband is amazing with a map and finding secret spots and unknown highlights and so is my son. They are my guides as we explore together. We have so much fun; all of us are so into history so we do nighttime ghost walks, mostly for the historical aspects. We love exploring old homes and castles. I would love to do a river cruise with lots of stops to explore.

8. If you could go anywhere (a place you've not been before), where would you go?

I have several fantasy trips I think about. I would love to explore the many countrysides of France, especially the coast and the Bordeaux regions and then jet away to Bora Bora and Fiji—the entire South Pacific in general is my fantasy get-away.

9. Do you plan your writing and releases around vacations?

Yes, in a way. I make sure that if it’s my son, or hubby’s birthday, or mine or my mom’s or Christmastime, or any major getaway holiday I will have already released my book so I will never have it be the center of the event again. I need to celebrate the people in my life without distraction. I am so lucky to be able to do this. My son’s birthday in coming up and I knew I would be releasing the current book, Stardust in Dixie, before his day. Those days work now as my deadline. We are taking another quick trip away and I didn’t want to be sitting in the car with my laptop watching him and my hubby have fun.

10. When you have down time, how do you use it? Manicures, shopping, reading, hanging with family?

Oh, I am a girly girl—yes mani/pedis, massages, shopping, and board games and movies—all of the above. But the more pampering I can get the better! I do lots of cooking, cleaning and organizing too because I am an OCD clean freak, so I can’t help myself. I wish I could. Oh did I mention margaritas??—that is a wonderful way to spend some down-time! Salty and on the rocks, by a poolside somewhere in Fiji!

Beth's new book Stardust in Dixie is available now on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Kobo! Here's the blurb to whet your appetite:

Abigail Harper Cartwright was coming undone.  As the promotions director for Tuscaloosa radio station, a huge upcoming Mother’s Day live event could make or break her career.  But at the same time, two former lovers have stumbled back into the picture turning her life upside down.

One old boyfriend – who works for a competing radio station, seems to be out to sabotage everything she does, while another may just be her knight in shining armor. But after being dumped during a very public marriage proposal, he may not be able to give Abby a second chance.

To make matters worse, a nosey neighbor has started an epic turf war and azalea bushes, a stolen mailbox and some front porch graffiti are the result. As event day draws near, the dirty tricks at work get more intense and Abby has to call on her sassy sisters to help get to the bottom of it.

And Abby’s new/old love has another love of his own – a three year old thoroughbred horse whose name holds the secret to some long harbored feelings. It all culminates in some Derby Day and Mother’s Day fireworks that will get your heart pounding and tears flowing.

Beth Albright is the author of the award-winning, best-selling series The Sassy Belles, and the nationally best-selling series In Dixie. After spending nearly 15 years as a talk radio host in talk radio, acting as a principal character on the soap opera, DAYS OF OUR LIVES, owning her own acting school and children’s theater, and raising a son who was a nationally ranked figure skater, Beth returned to her roots; storytelling. “In the south, we are good at stories. We hold them close like fine diamonds, polish them up like precious silver, and we hand them down like a priceless heirloom to our young with the hope that they will tell our stories for us when we are buried beneath the red clay of home.” Except from Southern Exposure, Tales From My Front Porch (Beth’s Memoirist book of essays.). It’s just what we do down south, pass on our stories,” she says.

Though Beth has had a remarkable career, literally from New York City to Hollywood, she has never forgotten where she came from, and what she loves: The Deep South! Beth is also a screenwriter, a voice-over talent for commercials, and a nationally known speaker and emcee. Beth lives with her TV producer husband, award winning promotions and branding executive, Ted Ishler. Her son, graduating with Distinction from Berkeley in the top 10%, is on his way to graduate school in the fall.

I hope you enjoyed the interview. As always, thank you for reading!

xoxo

~Heather

Image: 

My Favorite Movies - "B" is for Bond, James Bond

Is there anything I can say here, that you don't already know? It's a franchise that has cycled through actors from the incomparable Sean Connery to the latest Daniel Craig. A story that's timeless and intriguing and never boring. My husband and I purchased the box set when it was released and we spent a few weeks watching all the movies in order. We've since added Skyfall to our collection and watched Spectre the other night.

Maybe because he was the first, but Sean Connery will always be my favorite Bond. And until Daniel Craig took the helm, I wasn't particularly fond of any other Bond - always wishing Sean would make a comeback. But I do love Daniel Craig and I like the way he plays Bond. I like his humor and his mischievous nature.

In my opinion, when you have a franchise that spans 50 years, there's going to be some changes made. You can't expect a new generation of people to understand what the time was like 20 years before they were born...or even longer than that in some cases! I like that the story is updated a bit for the times. The new spy equipment, the new cars, even Bond's new attitude. He's still a ladies man, but I feel like he's a bit smoother with it.

As long as they keep making Bond movies, I will surely keep watching them...unless they bring back Roger Moore. No thank you.

Article Type: A to Z ChallengeImage: