"The Christmas Cure" - Hallmark Christmas Movie Review

This movie served as a kick off to Hallmark's annual Countdown to Christmas. The movie is about a young woman, Vanessa, who is a very busy doctor. She is finally able to spend Christmas with her family and she's very excited about that. Upon returning home she crosses paths with her high school sweetheart and finds out that her father is retiring. She spends her Christmas deciding if she wants to take over for her dad or further her career.


 Stars: Brooke Nevin, Steve Byers, & Patrick Duffy

This movie was...ugh. I could not get into it at all. The main love interests had no chemistry whatsoever. Byers' character Mitch was poorly written. Mitch and Vanessa did not seem like high school sweethearts- in fact they seemed like strangers. The majority of the movie focuses on Nevin's character and her inner struggle of staying or going; there is no time spent on the rekindling romance until towards the end. The only redeemable and semi interesting parts of this story was Duffy and his wife and the teenagers subplot romantic story line. I had no emotional attachment to the two main characters. I cared more about Dr. Turner (Duffy) and his wife and their adorable moments, as well as Kyle (Vanessa's younger brother) and his crush Shelly. There were 2 parts that made me tear up- once again these parts had nothing to do with Vanessa and Mitch. There is an elderly woman that Dr. Turner visits weekly since her husband died, Mrs. Willis, and each Christmas she bakes a traditional German cake for her late husband. It was very sweet. Overall, I'd give this movie 1 star and say skip it. There are WAY better movies on Hallmark to watch. 

New Girl Review

I'm obsessed with this show! It's so hilarious. I find myself quoting it all the time. At first, I was a little taken aback  by how quirky the main character Jess is, but she grows on you and you fall in love with her. She's hilarious and just wants to help everyone.

So the show starts with Jess needing a place to live after her boyfriend cheated on her. She goes on Craigslist and finds an add for a roommate. She assumes her roommates will be women, but when she arrives she finds 3 guys waiting for her. This is where we meet Nick, Schmidt, and Coach. They are great. Jess is a very quirky teacher and it takes some time for the guys to adjust. Schmidt does most of his adjusting when Jess' best friend CeCe, who happens to be a gorgeous model, comes to visit. Schmidt is instantly obsessed with her. Coach is replaced in the following episode by Nick and Schmidt's old friend Winston who has come back from playing pro basketball in Latvia.

This group is insane and this show is freaking hilarious. I love it.

The main cast includes:

• Zooey Deschanel as Jessica "Jess" Day
• Jake Johnson as Nick Miller
• Max Greenfield as Schmidt
• Lamorne Morris as Winston Bishop
• Hannah Simone as Cecilla "CeCe" Parekh
• Damon Wayans, Jr. as Ernie "Coach" Tagliaboo

Also, watch out for their BA drinking game called True American. It is so confusing and so funny that even though you barely know any of the crazy rules, you want to grab your closest friends and attempt a game.

I 100% give this show 5 stars...WATCH IT!!!!!!

Book Review - "Autumn's Kiss" by Bella Thorne

I don't even know what to say about this book. I'm so disappointed in it.

***SPOILERS AHEAD***


Ok so it starts off and everyone is suddenly friends and everything has been swept under the rug. I guess that's nice, but there is no resolution from the previous book for the reader. It ends and everyone Renzie is mad at Autumn and Sean is mad at both of them, but now they're all best friends. It's just ridiculous. I'm sorry, but that's not how high school works. It'd be great if it did, but it's not.

Now Autumn has a map that can take her wherever she wants to go. That's cool. It's random, but you get used to it. Autumn finally meets Kyler Leeds and he ends up being a weird character...he's part douche bag but also part sweet guy.

Sean and Autumn finally go out, and it's nice until he cheats on her with Renzie. How does Autumn know this? She appears in his closet on their vacation and witnesses them hooking up. Of course she's devastated, and JJ is there to pick up the pieces. They start going out before Sean even gets back and when he does come back he is pissed at Autumn for breaking up with him via text message and blocking him. Autumn ends up feeling guilty for it and doesn't really feel the same about JJ as he feels about her. What. the. F. I don't think so. She's made to feel bad for breaking up with her boyfriend for cheating on her? Hell no! He says that he felt so guilty that he threw up the next morning and the only reason it happened was because they had been drinking. I'm sorry, but that's crap. He and Renzie end up dating later on. I think Autumn had every right to break up with him. He never would have told her what happened if she hadn't of found out. He really didn't care about her.

With that being said, Autumn is a bitch for jumping into a relationship with JJ so quickly and leading him on. How terrible. He has been nothing but good to her and that is how she is going to repay him? I just can't believe the author made Autumn become such an all over the place character. I also can't believe how guilty she makes Autumn feel about Sean. I think that makes me angrier than any of it. She has no reason to feel guilty. It's ridiculous.

This whole disaster ends with a party at Autumn's where everyone shows up except JJ. The only reason they show up is because Kyler Leeds sends each of her friends a personalized video inviting them there. Sean and Renzie are there as a couple which is a douche move. I thought they were all friends? That doesn't seem very friendly to me. Then Autumn sneaks away and decides to poof off to where Kyler Leeds is. The f?

I just don't even know. The first book was so cute....and this one started off ok I guess, but it ended horribly. I think I'm done with Autumn Falls and her friends.

Book Review - "The Siren" by Kiera Cass

I'm not really sure where to start with this book. The premise is very interesting and unusual. It took me a little while to adjust to it, but once I did I liked it. I liked the bond between the Sirens, I thought it was realistic and yet something that everyone wants. I guess I liked everything but the end. I like HOW it ended (for the most part), but I don't like the WAY it ended. That still makes no sense, but I can't explain without spoilers.

This book is about a Siren named Kahlen. She was saved by the Ocean (who is basically a spirit) when she was drowning after hearing the Siren song. She agreed to spend the next century as a Siren and lure humans to the depths of the Ocean with their song. The Ocean became like a mother figure for her since she lost hers. The girls live on land in together in cities but are forbidden to speak. If they do, whatever human hears their voice will go straight to the Ocean and kill themselves. Kahlen has always been very careful not to speak or bond with anyone that isn't her Siren sisters. She's the oldest one living in the house with the others in Florida. She's unlike her sisters in the fact that she feels immense guilt after each Song and she actually keeps scrapbooks of each shipwreck because of her guilt.

Kahlen meets a boy named Akinli at the library and he is unlike anyone she has ever met. He realizes she can't speak, and he's ok with that. He still talks to her and even gets her a pen/notepad to write with. Kahlen is taken aback by his kindness and she starts to fall for him. They have a date and afterwards, Kahlen freaks out and is afraid of falling in love with him so she forces the girls to move to another state. This basically begins a long journey of Kahlen being depressed and the others being annoyed/worried with her. Once the Ocean realizes what is happening, it/she becomes furious with Kahlen. Kahlen runs away and runs into Akinli who offers her a place to stay with him and his cousins.

Things look great for a little while, until Kahlen makes a major mistake and bargains with the Ocean who adds even more time to her "sentence." Kahlen is devastated about it and her sisters try to help her. Then Kahlen begins to get sick and no one can explain why. She is a Siren and supposed to be inhuman so she should never get sick or need sleep. The girls work over time to find out how they can save Kahlen and what Akinli has to do with it.


***SPOILERS*** IF YOU HAVEN'T READ THE BOOK THEN SCROLL PAST THIS PART!!!

So basically the fact that Akinli heard her voice and without hearing his voice anymore they're both dying. Like seriously?! He's dying without her voice and she's dying without his. The only solution was to turn her back into a human which was really sad because the girls lost their sister. Akinli's family finds her and once he sees her he starts feeling better which is all fine and dandy, except she doesn't remember him. It's sweet that she feels like she loves him without remembering, but the fact that she doesn't remember anything of what they went through makes me feel cheated. Honestly, this whole ending makes me feel cheated and like I wasted my time. I wanted Akinli and Kahlen together, but I also wanted her to be able to remember her Siren life. I realize that was probably too much to ask of Kiera Cass, but still...I feel like the ending was lame and uncreative. I was expecting more.

***NO MORE SPOILERS***








Overall, I like the idea but I am disappointed with the ending...I was expecting more and wanted a little more razzle dazzle.

I give this book 3 stars.

"Concussion" Movie Review

This movie was absolutely magnificent. It was pretty intense. Will Smith did an incredible job playing Dr. Bennett Omalu.

Dr. Omalu is a Nigerian forensic pathologist who ends up doing the autopsy for the famous Pittsburgh Steelers player Mike Webster. Mr. Webster essentially began going crazy before he died and no one could figure out what was going on. He was a drug addict, he was hallucinating, and even tasing himself with a taser. Dr. Omalu found that the cause of Webster's death was head trauma due to concussions. He explains what happens to the brain when we get hit in the head and it is actually pretty scary. He says that hummingbirds wrap their tongue around their brain as a protective measure when they hit their heads and that rams have "padding" to protect their brains when they collide. Humans have no such thing. Our brains just gets smashed and it can only handle so much. Dr. Omalu estimated that Webster had sustained over 70,000 hits to the head in his lifetime. No wonder he lost his mind.

After Dr. Omalu and his colleagues publish their findings, the NFL is quick to shut them down and essentially say that they are wrong. The Steelers former team doctor works alongside Dr. Omalu and proves to be quite the ally. More football players die and Dr. Omalu's test results all come back in support of his hypothesis. The NFL continues to deny it and comes after Dr. Omalu and his family. Dr. Omalu is forced out of Pittsburgh and relocates to California with his wife. a few years later another famous football player commits suicide, but shoots himself in the chest with the specific purpose of Dr. Omalu studying his brain. The same conclusion is found.

Dr. Omalu basically forced the NFL to acknowledge what can happen to players after they play football for so long. Supposedly the NFL already knew about this, but they withheld the information from their players which is pretty shady.

I completely understand why Will Smith was nominated for a Golden Globe award for this role and I hope he wins it- he was truly amazing. I could care less about football and I enjoyed every minute of this movie. It's a must watch!

Book Review - "The Elite" by Kiera Cass

Wowwww. That's all I can say after reading this book. Never have I been so elated, nervous, excited, and embarrassed by a book before. I think that's one of my favorite things about Cass' writing is she has the ability to make you feel exactly what America feels, including being embarrassed for her.

In this book things start of going well between Maxon and America. So well in fact that he throws a Halloween ball for her. He plans on proposing to her and ending the Selection, but things never go quite so easily. Marlee has a major secret revealed which comes between America and Maxon. Maxon is driven to another one of the Elite which only drives the wedge further between our estranged couple. Of course America turns to Aspen in secret which drives me crazy. Things with the rebels only worsen as does the stress of the competition.

The girls are assigned a project which they will present to all of Illea on the Report and in anger, America chooses abolishing the caste system. Needless to say this does not sit well with the King and Maxon ends up taking a beating for her. It is made very clear that the King does not approve of America and she is nearly sent home for her choice.


I love this book and this series for that matter. I can't wait to keep reading to find out what happens between Maxon and America.



Overall, I give this book 5 stars and say it is a MUST READ!

"Pitch Perfect 2" Movie Review

This movie was hilarious. I was laughing so hard (and so was my husband surprisingly).

We catch up with the Bellas in their senior year of college when they are performing for President Obama on his birthday. The set they put on is very theatrical and overdone, and Fat Amy accidentally flashes her vagina to the entire crowd. This causes the Bellas to be kicked out of Collegiate Acapella and they will have to give up their championship tour (FYI they've won the Nation Championships 3 years in a row) and they will not be allowed to defend their title. In an attempt to get them re-instated (if they aren't re-instated then the Barden Bellas will cease to exist for future generations) Beca makes a deal: if they win the World Championships then they get re-instated. Gail and John think it's hilarious and they are doomed to fail because "everyone hates America."

We meet a new freshman, Emily Junk, whose mother was a Bella back in the 80s. She is ecstatic to try out and she's so cute. Hailee Steinfeld did a great job. We find out that Chloe has intentionally failed Russian Literature 3 times so she can remain a Bella and as the girls try to figure out their next move, Beca gets a phone call offering her an internship at a record label. She accepts but declines to tell the Bellas. Jesse takes her to her first day of work and while she's gone, Emily shows up at the Bella house. She asks to join the Bellas' and after an awkward audition where she sings a song she is writing, they ultimately decide to let her join. They head over to the Treblemakers home for an acapella only party where Emily runs into Benji (again) and he is hilariously awkward (again). Beca sneaks in and joins the party where she meets Emily.

The girls work on their choreography and decide to check out the German group who got to take over their victory tour Das Sound Machine or DSM. They watch their performance and are blown away even though none of them want to admit it. The Germans see them there and talk to them after the show- thanking them for screwing up so they could have all of this practice before Worlds. The girls try to trash talk back, but Beca is hilariously pathetic at it with this woman.

They end up against DSM, the Treblemakers, the Tone Hangers (whom Bumper is now a member of), and the Green Bay Packers- yes the Green Bay Packers (a few of the football players sing Bootylicious and it is freaking hilarious) in an updated version of a riff-off where there is $42,000 giftcard for Dave & Busters on the line. The Bellas lose to DSM and are very very angry.

Beca continues at work where she impresses her boss by doing a mash-up while Snoop Dogg is in the recording booth singing one song, and she sings outside. He offers to listen to her demo. She asks him about them later and finds out he isn't a fan of mash-ups, he wants to know what she has to say. She's devastated and takes it like she failed.

Amy and Bumper have a date although Amy was unaware of what he was planning. He asks her to be his girlfriend and she freaks out and refuses and goes back home where she finds an upset Beca.

Chloe freaks out about them not being in synch so she says they're all going on a retreat. They go to a bootcamp where Aubrey is in charge and she attempts to whip the Bella's back into shape. It's hilarious. The girls finally come out with what is bothering them and they bond in typical Bella fashion. Beca takes Emily to the recording studio and produces a demo of her song "Flashlight" and her boss is very impressed with both of them.

The girls graduate and head to Copenhagen for the competition and everything about it is awesome. Everything everything is awesome. Their final song- was perfect. Even DSM's final song was great, but really the ending was flawless.

I loved this movie so much! I give it 5 stars.

Book Review - "The Selection" by Kiera Cass

This book was so crazy. I mean nothing too crazy happens, but the love story is just-ah! It gave me so much anxiety and so many knots in my stomach (the good kind). I love America Singer and I would love to be her best friend. I also love her relationship with her younger sister May and how much she cares for her family (even when they're annoying).

I feel like America is kind of awkward. She's also blunt and wears her heart on her sleeve, but she's still a spitfire. She's so relatable. Another thing I love about her is how close she is with her maids. They are there to serve her but she is always looking out for them and when the palace is under attack, she is concerned for their safety. It's something both Maxon and I love about her.

I am team Maxon and not team Aspen. America deserves better. She deserves to be treated like a lady and taken care of. Plus, Maxon was willing to implement a system of getting food to the lower castes simply because America shared her opinion about their struggles. They are so cute together. The fact that he tells her he'd send everyone home if he knew she loved him, I just- I can't. I was squealing like a 13 year old girl. 

Overall, I love this book and can't wait to continue along with the series. I hope to see America's relationship with Prince Maxon grow and I want him to pick her. 

5 stars for America Singer!! (and May, Marlee, Prince Maxon, Lucy, Anne, and Mary)

"Avengers: Age of Ultron" Movie Review

Oh. My. God.


This movie was everything it was hyped up to be and more.

As a fan of Hawkeye (and Jeremy Renner) I was really really happy to see that he was in this movie a lot more, and you humorously see what an important part of the team he actually is.

You finally learn about the Black Widow (Natasha Romanoff)'s past and wow- I understand her a lot more now. I have always loved her, but this movie brings her to a whole new level.

The Maximoff twins, Pietro and Wanda (Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch), are a great addition to this movie. I didn't think I'd end up caring much about them, but holy crap did that change by the end of the movie.

We finally get a better glimpse into the Hulk (Bruce Banner)'s life. It's not much of a surprise that he views himself as a monster, but it's nice to begin to see the man behind the monster.

Thor doesn't have a whole lot of character development- he just seems to be in a good place and in a good place with the team (until Tony Stark screws things up).

Iron Man (Tony Stark) is his typical self in this movie, but we get a good glimpse at his non-egotistical side. He loves the team and will do anything to protect them.

Captain America (Steve Rogers) has his own growth through the movie. I think he is finally getting a handle on being a man out of his time.

We start right in on the action as the Avengers take down a Hydra base while looking for Loki's scepter and thinks take off from there. Everything about this movie was flawless, I'm not even kidding. There was plenty of humor and one-liners (from more than just Tony Stark) and a lot of running jokes (good job Cap). There were a lot of fight scenes which I thought would get old, but it didn't. Each fight had a purpose- there was no fighting just to fight or blow things up just because. Also, we meet The Vision and he is awesome. Tony messes up by creating Ultron it somewhat rectified by creating The Vision.

I want to say more, but I don't want to give things away so I'm going to do another post on this movie in a few weeks when more people will have had the chance to see it.

All in all, SEE THIS MOVIE - YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED!