THE LUCKY ONE is set in Hampton, North Carolina, and follows a former marine named Logan Thibault who has arrived there in search of a beautiful, mysterious woman whose picture he found in Iraq on one of his tours. Logan’s dearest friend believed that the photograph kept Logan safe, and that balance will only be restored once Logan finds her and pays his debt. Using a few clues from the photograph, he attempts to find her in North Carolina.

The last thing that Logan expected was to fall in love with Beth, the woman from the photograph that he carried around for the last 5 years. She is a beautiful single mother with a 10-year-old son that looks to Logan as a role model. Though Logan has several opportunities to tell Beth why he is there, he holds back. Beth’s meddling ex-husband will stop at nothing to keep them apart, and when the truth finally comes out it could destroy Beth’s happiness forever.

I own most of Nicholas Sparks’ novels, but chose to read this one because the film adaptation starring Zac Efron and Taylor Schilling is arriving in theaters on April 20th, 2012. I’ve seen the trailers several times, watched an interview or two with the stars, and I am ready and excited to see this story come to life.

THE LUCKY ONE is a beautiful love story, and can definitely hold its own to the love story of Allie and Noah, Paul and Adrienne, and Landon and Jamie. But for whatever reason, I just wasn’t as affected with this one as I have been by some of his others. THE NOTEBOOK (the novel) can reduce me to a quivering mess, but THE LUCKY ONE caused little sadness and no tears, which was shocking to me. That’s not to say that I wanted sadness for any of these characters, because I didn’t. I wanted both Logan and Beth to find their happily ever after, and most definitely with each other. I didn’t want Beth’s Nana health to deteriorate any further, and I wanted Beth’s son to grow up happy and loved with a better father figure than Keith Clayton.

THE LUCKY ONE entirely surprised me with its ending; I was expecting something entirely different than what had happened, and I really am surprised (though relieved) that Sparks ended it the way that he did. If I ever get the opportunity, I most certainly want to ask him why…

Hale Centre Theatre is small and intimate; there is truly not a bad seat in the entire house. Anywhere that you sit, you’ll be able to see in great detail the expressions on the actors’ and actresses’ faces, allowing for an even more engrossing theatre experience. Hale Centre Theatre productions are often pretty sparse with their sets, whereas other Utah theatre companies seem to rely on them to keep audience members’ attention. At Hale Centre Theatre, all theatre goers can focus entirely on the quality acting, singing, and facial expressions that make their shows so memorable.

Hale Centre Theatre’s current show is ZORRO: THE MUSICAL, which opened on February 15th, 2012 and closes on April 11th, 2012. This run is actually the U.S. premiere of ZORRO: THE MUSICAL, and quite an accomplishment for the theatre. Several years ago, a Utah State University professor saw ZORRO: THE MUSICAL in London and called Hale Centre Theatre to tell them they should do the show. In order to gain the rights to do the show, they sent John Gertz information about the theatre, and invited him to view a performance at Hale Centre Theatre. He liked what he saw, and asked them to do the U.S. Premiere of ZORRO: THE MUSICAL. In case you don’t know who John Gertz is, he produced both of the Steven Spielberg ZORRO movies, and owns the rights to all things “Zorro” world wide.

I absolutely adored Antonio Banderas in ZORRO, but ZORRO: THE MUSICAL does not tell the same story. We meet two brothers during their youth, who interpret their father’s teachings very differently. When Diego (Derek Smith) is chosen to be his father’s successor instead of his elder brother Ramon (Paul Cartwright), Diego runs away to Spain. Meanwhile, Ramone climbs the ranks and governs the people unjustly. Life in Los Angeles becomes so horrible after the “death” of Alejandro (David T. Glaittli) that Diego’s childhood friend, Luisa (Megan Lynn Heaps), travels to Spain and begs him to return. Reluctantly Diego agrees, unable to believe that his brother has strayed so far from their father’s teachings.

Diego dons a mask and a cape and calls himself “Zorro”, stepping in when the people need him most, bringing them hope when they thought all was lost. To throw his brother off his scent, he comedically portrays himself as very feminine and non-threatening. While in disguise, he is a master swordsman and is always one step ahead of Ramon and his men. He also wins the heart of the beautiful Luisa, who doesn’t know he is Diego in disguise.

ZORRO: THE MUSICAL features exciting music by The Gipsy Kings, authentic Spanish Guitar, and breathtaking Flamenco dancing, expertly performed by the talented cast. Austin Weyand was the guitarist at the performance I attended, and is an award winning musician who has even studied Spanish Flamenco abroad.

Hale Centre Theatre perfectly cast each and every member in this performance; Derek Smith will make the ladies swoon as Diego, and his chemistry with Megan Lynn Heaps is magnificent. Victoria Greco is fiery yet vulnerable as Inez, and was my favorite in ZORRO: THE MUSICAL. As for Paul Cartwright, I hated him–but I mean this as the greatest compliment I can possibly give an actor. He was chilling in Act 2-Scenes 5 and 6, and disgusted me in Act 2-Scene 8. He was so utterly convincing in the role, even if I did feel he lost his Spanish accent a few times. I haven’t felt this sort of intense hatred for any other actor except  Joaquin Phoenix in GLADIATOR, so well played, Paul Cartwright!

ZORRO: THE MUSICAL is a truly magical experience; I laughed, I cried (a lot), and now I even feel like learning how to sword fight and play guitar.

To purchase tickets for this show, click here.

March Summary: I read 17 books this month. My 1-star ratings were a bit higher this month. 1-star ratings: 4. 2-star ratings: 4. 3-star ratings: 3. 4-star ratings: 6. This was another really good month for 4-star books! I’m having a hard time narrowing it down to my top 3.   

Jen’s Recommended Reads:

Phoebe Kitanidis‘ GLIMMER sucked me in from the very first chapter; I just had to know who these teenagers were and how they had ended up together with no memory of one another. This one was very hard to put down and I breezed right through in a day.

I have been in love with Tristan and Ivy’s love story since I was a tween, and EVERLASTING did not disappoint. I have enjoyed both sequels to the original KISSED BY AN ANGEL trilogy. I want to know every detail there is to know about the next book–right now!

I’ve been a bit disappointed in some of the recently published mermaid books, but Anna Banks won me over with OF POSEIDON.  I loved the banter between Galen and Emma, and the background characters were just as fascinating. I can’t wait to have more “under the sea” adventures with them! And how about that ending??

What were your favorite reads for February 2012?

Feel free to write a similar blog post and share your link, or write your recommended reads in a comment on this blog post.

Buy my Reading Recommendations at Amazon.com

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It wasn’t too long before I was reminded of the things I least enjoy about Lasky’s writing. The author has a very hard task at hand in creating a believable world when writing a paranormal tale. Unfortunately, Lasky just doesn’t provide enough detail or pour enough emotion into her mermaid romances for me to really get into the story.

May is the foster daughter of the lighthouse keeper and his ailing wife, Zeeba. Gar, the lighthouse keeper, had always wanted a child of his own, and one day found May floating in the sea in a treasure chest. Gar and his wife raise her as their own, but May’s life with them is anything but perfect. Gar is a bit of a drunk (though not abusive, and he obviously loves May), and May must answer to Zeeba’s every beck and call. Zeeba also resents May because she is the picture of perfect health.

May wants more out of life, and she especially wants to answer the call of the sea, but her parents have always forbidden her from going in to the ocean. One night May gives in, and transforms into a mermaid. While her underwater escapades bring her great joy, she still feels alone. On land, there are two men that have captured May’s attention, Rudd and Hugh. Of the two, Hugh is the best choice for May. But would Hugh still feel the same for May if he knew of her true nature?

The pacing of this quartet is extremely slow; the first three books appear to be each mermaid sister‘s individual story, which will be intriguing to those who enjoy historical fiction. I think Lasky’s strong point is writing about the customs and behaviors of the people in this century, not magical mermaid elements. There is a bit of a hint of what might be in store once Hannah, May and their yet undiscovered mermaid sister because of a few sections involving a character named Avalonia.

The romance between Hugh and May seemed more like a deep friendship to me, until the final chapter. I felt everything was a teeny bit rushed, and was not quite sure how I missed that Rudd and Hugh were together for some reason. I actually had a difficult time focusing on May. I’d hoped for exciting details about mermaids, which is why I started the series, but very little about them is explained.

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Suspicion is cast on Allie when a new detective moves into town to investigate the accident. Allie claims that she does not remember what happened the night of the accident, but over time terrible memories begin to surface. Is Allie responsible for what happened to Trip, or could her new love interest have been involved with his death? And who is leaving the threatening notes in Allie’s locker, written in Trip’s unmistakable handwriting?

Jennifer Shaw Wolf’s YA debut, Breaking Beautiful, is dark, compelling, and full of mystery and the start of new beginnings. I was captivated by the descriptions of Pacific Falls; I could smell the salty breezes, picture the inn that brings in the tourists, and almost felt as if I were standing above the jutting cliffs where the tragedy occurred.

I felt that Allie was a very realistic character; after a few pages, readers will get strong hints that Trip is not the golden boy of the town that everyone thinks he is. Allie wears sweatshirts to hide the marks he leaves on her skin, and she is unable to express in words to anyone how he truly makes her feel. I’m sure that she feels guilty about the accident, but is also relieved because he can never lay a hand on her again.

I loved Allie’s childhood best friend and new love interest, Blake, because on both the inside and the outside he is exactly the opposite of Trip. He spent some time in juvenile detention, which people still gossip about around town, and is called “Juvie” by the other kids. While he looks tough on the outside, he is kind and loving on the inside. He genuinely loves Allie, and wants nothing more than for her to live happily. Even Allie’s own parents are unable to look past what they see on the surface; Allie’s mother actually encouraged her to stay with Trip because of how it benefited their family.

Breaking Beautiful touches on some extremely important issues. Many teenage girls are in abusive relationships, but stay in them out of fear or because of low self-esteem. Allie is both fearful and suffers from low self-esteem. When she first became involved with Trip, there were definite signs of the abuse that would soon follow, but Allie ignores them because she is the new girl in town and has no friends other than Blake.

The only person who really knows what is going on with Allie’s abuse is her twin brother Andrew, but because he has cerebral palsy, he can’t stand up to Trip and put him in his place. No matter how many times that Andrew begs Allie to tell on Trip, she won’t do it. I was heartbroken for Andrew, who wants to protect his sister, but doesn’t have the voice or the physical presence to step in for her.

I know that a lot of people will probably think that Allie is a really weak character and that she is hard to empathize with because of how much she puts off bringing Trip’s true nature to light. But an abused person cannot change overnight. I’ll agree with those readers for one specific scene that seemed a little extreme in presenting Allie as desperate, though in Allie’s mind she thought she was being strong.

The cast of secondary characters is also quite memorable, especially Trip’s former girlfriend Hannah and Trip’s parents. Hannah still seems to be in love with Trip, and as far as I could tell, had never been emotionally or physically abused by him. I kept expecting her to reveal that he’d harmed her as well and when that didn’t happen, I wondered why. Once readers meet Trip’s parents, they’ll begin to understand why Trip is the way he is, but it still doesn’t explain why Hannah was spared.

I have to give props to Jennifer Wolf Shaw, because there are some really great twists and turns throughout Breaking Beautiful. Nothing quite turned out the way that I was expecting, and I love that this story was so unpredictable. I was even convinced at one point that Trip must still be alive somewhere because his body and truck had never been found. Breaking Beautiful is a strong debut, and I cannot wait to see what Jennifer Shaw Wolf will write next!

Breaking Beautiful hits shelves April 24th, 2012!

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The Last Romanov by Dora Levy Mossanen is the newest historical fiction title to catch my eye that re-imagines what happened in the lavish palaces of the Romanovs during their last few years in a Russia filled with political turmoil. Mossanen’s fictional character Darya is the caretaker of the youngest–and only–male heir, Alexei. She is brought into the palace because her opal eye is said to give her powers of healing, but even she is unable to heal the hemophiliac prince.

For years after the terrible tragedy, Darya blames herself for the deaths of her beloved Romanov family. She feels responsible for bringing the mad monk Rasputin into the lives of the royal family, believing that he can heal the young prince. However, Darya has never failed in her belief that Alexei survived the murders and is still alive somewhere, waiting for her to find him.

The Last Romanov is one of the most descriptive and beautifully written fictional pieces that I have ever read about the Imperial family. I felt as if I had really been transported back to 1917, and the years preceding it. It was obvious to me that Mossanen had meticulously researched Russian history in order to write this novel.

The Last Romanov flips back and forth between Darya’s past and her present, where is she is a 104-year-old woman living in the ruins of the Entertainment Palace, alive and thriving on precious ambergris that keeps her youthful in her old age. Her present is very heartbreaking, and I never felt that the tragedy that befell the Romanovs was her fault. During the passages involving her past, she did find a small amount of happiness with a Jewish artist.

As much as I enjoyed Mossanen’s descriptions, I could not help but feel a slight amount of confusion over a few key plot points. I didn’t quite understand what the “magical seedlings” that grew into berries signified; Rasputin gave them to her before his death with a prophecy that she would not think of them again until she needed them. She believed them to be a poison, but I wasn’t sure if they actually were a poison intended to end her lengthy life. I also was very confused over the ending and what it meant, and might have to take a second look at it to try to decipher what became of Darya.

The Last Romanov is not a book that can easily be read in a few hours; this is one that you will want to dedicate your attention to so that you can absorb all of the fine details and really grasp the meaning of Mossanen’s words.

The Last Romanov will be
in stores April 3rd, 2012. 

Enter to Your Own Copy of The Last Romanov :

Sourcebooks Landmark is generously providing me with 2 copies of The Last Romanov to give away. This giveaway is open to US/Can only. This giveaway ends on April 17th, 2012 at 11:59 PM MST

Here’s how to enter:

• +3: Comment on this blog post with your favorite period of world history. (mandatory entry)
• +1: Follow @LiterallyJen on Twitter (tell me your handle in your comment so I can verify)
• +1: “Like” LiterallyJen on Facebook (you can still get this point if you are already a follower, just let me know in the comment section)
• +1: Follow the author, @dorlev, on Twitter (tell me your handle so I can verify)
• “Like” this post on Facebook
• Tweet about this giveaway (leave me the link to your tweet)

Important: Please make sure you provide me with your links so that I can verify. You can include everything in just one comment rather than a new comment for each thing you do to enter. If links are not included in your comment, you will not get credit for completing it. Thank you!

Click on any of the images above to view the Harry Potter book pages on Amazon.com! I’m still working on collecting the series in hardcover, but I suspect I’ll eventually be buying them all for my Kindle, too.

J.K. Rowling‘s new website, Pottermore, is also closer to its early April launch. Some lucky beta testers out there have early access! Are you one of those lucky duckies? I’m dying to know her new website is all about!

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I was checking out some prices tonight for some new releases that I’ve had my eye on, and in the process stumbled on some great deals that I just had to share with you!

Most of these books are hardcovers and are priced at $6.80 each, which is a great deal! If you walk into your local brick and mortar store, you’ll likely be paying the full $16.99 or $17.99 for these books. These deals will not last, so take advantage now! If you’re not familiar with these books or their authors, click through the images above to be taken to Amazon.com so you can check them out. I’ve read a few of the books I just found on bargain, and rated them 4/5 stars on Goodreads.

I hope you’ve found a new title or two (or five!) to add to your collection! I especially recommend Once in a Full Moon and Stay!

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We were smart enough to park at Gateway Mall because of course there would not be enough parking at City Creek Center with all the masses of people that the new mall would be attracting during its first week of business. It was incredibly lively downtown; I honestly wasn’t expecting the hundreds upon hundreds of people that were crowding every walkway in the new City Creek Center.

City Creek Center, March 24th 2012

Years ago when this project was first in talks, I was working at Crossroads Mall. I can still remember my very first visit to that mall as a 13-year-old. I felt as if I were in a very big city. I had that very same feeling again today. The first thing I thought as we tried to navigate our way through sheets of people was, “I’m not in Utah anymore.” I felt like I was in New York City! Downtown Salt Lake City looks so different than what I remember!

The City Creek Center is impressive looking, and nothing like I had imagined it would be. It’s filled with a bunch of high end stores that I’ll never be able to afford in this lifetime (Hugo Boss, Coach, Porsche Design, Tiffany & Co.) and will probably never even walk inside, to be perfectly honest. It’s one gigantic mall that occupies two sides of the street and is connected with a covered walkway. I also learned that for poor weather there will be a glass enclosure that will cover any open spaces, but that it takes 3 hours for it to get secure. They’ll only do this when they are absolutely certain that there will be bad weather. I always thought that Utah was the worst place to have an outdoor mall.

This was also the first time that we visited a very populated area and didn’t have Zoe in a stroller. My mommy mode was operating at full blast, and I was watching her every move to make sure that she didn’t get separated from us. For the most part she was pretty well behaved, but toward the end of our outing tonight she got a bit cranky, and so did I.

I was pouting tonight, and for what most will think is a very silly reason. First, you have to understand that it has been years since there has been a Disney Store within a reasonable distance from us. I only found out minutes before we entered City Creek Center that they had re-opened a Disney Store downtown. I was literally jumping up and down, clapping, and squealing that I was mere moments away from setting foot inside our very own Disney Store. Only…that didn’t happen. No kidding, there was a really long line to even get in the door of the Disney Store. I begged my husband to leave me there in the line and I’d find my own way home later just because I wanted to get inside so badly.

It’s slightly funny (but actually not, because I’m still pouting), but the next time my toes cross the threshold of a Disney Store will probably be when I touch down in just a little over a week in San Francisco for a Disney sponsored trip to Pixar, the Walt Disney Family Museum, and a couple advance screenings of upcoming films.

In case you are still in the dark about this book, here is the publisher’s synopsis of Slide by Jill Hathaway :

Vee Bell is certain of one irrefutable truth—her sister’s friend Sophie didn’t kill herself. She was murdered.

Vee knows this because she was there. Everyone believes Vee is narcoleptic, but she doesn’t actually fall asleep during these episodes: When she passes out, she slides into somebody else’s mind and experiences the world through that person’s eyes. She’s slid into her sister as she cheated on a math test, into a teacher sneaking a drink before class. She learned the worst about a supposed “friend” when she slid into her during a school dance. But nothing could have prepared Vee for what happens one October night when she slides into the mind of someone holding a bloody knife, standing over Sophie’s slashed body.

Vee desperately wishes she could share her secret, but who would believe her? It sounds so crazy that she can’t bring herself to tell her best friend, Rollins, let alone the police. Even if she could confide in Rollins, he has been acting distant lately, especially now that she’s been spending more time with Zane.

Enmeshed in a terrifying web of secrets, lies, and danger and with no one to turn to, Vee must find a way to unmask the killer before he or she strikes again.

Click here to read the first 50 pages of of Slide by Jill Hathaway for free, and then here to order a copy!

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