MEG HILTY BRINGS DOWN THE HOUSE IN BOSTON
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I ordered this album from Amazon after attending a Meg Hilty appearance with Keith Lockhart and the Boston POPS orchestra at Symphony Hall in Boston. I went to Symphony Hall expecting to see a good show, as I had seen Meg Hilty perform in the TV series "SMASH." Let me tell you, Meg Hilty's performance in Boston was much more than I had expected.

Without any exaggeration, I can say that it was a superstar performance. Time and time again, the audience rose en masse to give her thunderous standing ovations...and she was called back for encores when her performance was over.

I, and possibly many others in the audience, was stunned at the range and power of her voice, which filled that huge concert hall from the large stage to the distant balconies at the far end of the auditorium. She has a big voice, a rich voice, which can ascend to the highest notes without any loss of quality.

Unfortunately, Meg Hilty didn't get the opportunity to display the full range of her vocal talents in her role in "SMASH." She was cast as a vocalist/actress who starred in a Broadway musical about the life of Marilyn Monroe.

She was therefore forced to emulate the small, breathless voice of Marilyn Monroe in most of the songs she sang in that TV series. There were times when she could sing in her own voice in "SMASH," but they were few and far between...and those few songs did not call for virtuoso performances. That's why many of us in the audience were stunned when we heard her sing at Symphony Hall.

Meg Hilty is the real deal. If given the opportunity to perform to her full potential, she can become a superstar. I found her new album "It Happens All The Time" to be very enjoyable, but given the right music and the right arrangements, she can be even better. That's why I rated it four stars and not five.
1933579
For those of us Bostonians of a certain vintage this is a joy.  Great story and pictures.  A real hit for Christmas this year.
4630236
Charlotte MacLeod has a talent for taking all of the ingredients of a standard cozy and cooking up a very tasty little dish.
This book, which is in her Sarah Kelling series, takes a look at a Boston blue blood family on its way down.  Sarah Kelling (of the Beacon Hill Kellings, has been forced to turn her historic, brownstone home into a boarding house.  As a result she has a ready made bunch of entertainly eccentric suspects when one of her tenants winds up unexpectly deceased.
Highly recommended for cozy fans who enjoy a spoonful of absurdity with their mystery.
4304622
Jamie doesnt sleep well, and often wanders around the house until late into the night. So sleeping later into the morning than most, its no wonder she missed her Aunt Pegs frantic phone call. Adams in trouble! Heshes been arrested. Her cousin Adam Muller was found standing over the victim, and despite his diagnosis of Aspergers Syndrome and the circumstantial evidence (Blood on his clothes, fingerprints on the murder weapon, and unsolicited outbursts at the sceneIts all my fault, I did a bad thingIm sorry, Im sorry, Im sorry), the district attorney plans to move forward on charges of murder. It looks bad

Along with former public defender BFF Grace and questionable PI Duke Brossard, Jamie sets off uncovering more than a few motives and suspects. Spike, the drummer of a heavy metal band the Screaming Zombies, owns a music shop of the same name and is not short on ego and conflicts. Theres the lawsuit from his former band mates, mean and nasty attitude, former lovers, domestic violence, and money, there's always money. Jamie interrogates many of the suspects leading to more questions than answers, and Skypes Adam's hypnotherapy sessionhe is the key. However, a second body puts the whole investigation off key.

This is truly a delightful series! Jamie is a quirky with low self-esteem issues, but she is a young woman trying to find her wayvery realistic! She loves her family, misses her mom, and discovers she is a lot more capable than she thought. Her gutsy attitude standing up to the State Attorney, Nick Dimitropoulos, hell-bent on railroading Adam is impressive, and the banter with friends and suspects is entertaining. It is a quick read, or listen in my case, but not short on enjoyment.

Narrator Carrie Lee Martz lends a marvelous skill hitting the mark with her dry tone for Jamie, southern drawl for the PI, and a New York twang for Marian. She provides the emotional fear for Aunt Peg and the difficult communication for Adam. I was totally caught up in the experience.
2283931
I had just attended a wedding in Boston when I read this and it was really great novel, the embedded stories within the story were great...love her novels..they are always fun to read and keep you moving!
280566
Is there anything better than a cozy mystery on a cool fall night? Jessica Fletcher, Donald Bain, and (finally receiving the credit she deserves) Renee Paley-Bain, bring us the latest glimpse into the life of my favorite faux-mystery writer and the idyllic town of Cabot Cove (which also happens to lead the country in murders per square mile). I'm not this book's target audience, being in my mid-twenties, I never saw an episode of Murder She Wrote during it's original run, but fell in love with the spunky and sweet J.B. through Netflix. Since finishing all the episodes last year, these books have become my dirty little secret. They bring back the warmth (weird to say even though a murder taking place is a given) of the show, while adding an additional layer to the characters.

This particular novel is set in Cabet Cove in October and begins with the death of an old friend of Jessica's. Not someone I remember from the show or previous books, this death gets the story rolling, but isn't emotionally taxing. Jessica is tasked with weeding through and organizing the massive collection of books in her departed friend's old home, while Eve Simpson is trying to ready the old, unmaintained home for sale. A mysterious grandson, the change from a natural death to homicide, and a handyman that disapears and reappears at a whim are all causes of concern for Jess.

The Ghost and Mrs. Fletcher has a slightly different feel than the last few Murder She Wrote releases and I really enjoyed the story. So much so, that it was absolutely impossible to put down. The timing couldn't have been more perfect. I love how it aligned to the story (the story and the book release taking place in October) and I'm feeling much more into the Halloween mood after finishing the book. I recommend picking it up, grabbing a blanket, and curling up in front of the fireplace.
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I was in the mood for a good ghost story and this turned out to be a perfect comfort read. The author makes good use of both setting and weather. We're introduced to the historic port city of Wilmington, North Carolina, basking in a fine Indian summer even as Hurricane Nancy gears up for a run at the Outer Banks.

The characters enjoy real places and events -- Riverfest, the Ghost Walk tour, Airlie Gardens, Thalian Hall, the Cape Fear Crime Festival. The author doesn't simply dump all that on the reader but uses it to move the story along.

In one lovely scene, the protagonist and a handsome cop have dinner at the Bridge Tender Restaurant, Maryland Crab Cakes for her, Herb Crusted Grouper for him. "Our table overlooked the marina where yacht lights twinkled in the darkness like a swarm of lightning bugs. Across the channel, Blue Water Restaurant was lit up like a cruise ship." I'm there, with my mouth watering.

The protagonist, Ashley Wilkes, is a historic preservationist who oversees projects like a site supervisor and does a lot of design work. Her older sister, Melanie, is the town's star realtor, attractive and sophisticated.

Their current project is the old Campbell house, a sterling example of late-Federal architecture built in 1840, now abandoned and decaying. The previous owners, Reggie and Shelby Campbell, left six years earlier and as far as anyone knows they bought a villa in Tuscany and settled there.

Once the scene of lively parties thrown by the high-living Campbells, the house is on Wilmington's popular Ghost Walk Tour because of ghostly organ music coming from the long- deserted ballroom.

Melanie buys the house at a foreclosure sale and sells it to the disagreeable Mirabelle Morgan, a TV star with her own cooking show. Ashley lands the restoration job for Mirabelle, who plans to syndicate her show, broadcasting from the kitchen of her new home.

When a restoration worker accidentally knocks a hole in a wall, revealing a hidden closet, Ashley pokes around in the closet and uncovers two skeletons.  These are just the first two in a series of murders that has half the town under suspicion and a local true-crime writer dusting off her keyboard to write a book.

Ashley stumbles across more than her share of dead bodies, sometimes foolishly ignoring the risk, but she's a trouper when it counts in a nail-biting denouement. The author wraps up the ghost story with a sly twist.
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Caroline has had a tough year since the loss of her husband Nicky she is no longer the carefree, fun loving woman she used to be. She has retreated into herself and lashed out unjustly at so many. While she is trying to do better and mend fences she knows it is not going to be easy. Caroline convinces her best friend and fellow Congress woman Christine to invite John McIntyre to her New Years Eve party so that she can try to apologize to him for her slanderous words against him. John arrives at the party yet has no intention of going anywhere near Caroline. He doesnt want or need her apology. Yet when he is confronted by House Speaker Bob and Congresswoman Christine he decides to seek her out. Thiers is a relationship that started off rocky but built into something beautiful. When the world around them starts to change and become something unrecognizable they fight together. Martial law is in place and many are uprising. On the run from the military these two are hell bent on saving who they can and making things right. Caroline ends up in a hospital and things are not looking good. Maureen one of her assigned Doctors has plans for Caroline that do not involve turning her over to her captors. A thrilling fast paced novel with political and romantic intrigue. Cant wait for the next part of this series.
3411604
Anyone who has suffered through the experience of building (or remodeling) a home understands the frustration of dealing with contracts, builders, and architects.  Nothing goes smoothly.  You threaten, cajole, and shout, but you should always be prepared to pay the bills or risk reprisal!

When R.J. and Penny White "stiff" their builder they light the fuse to a ticking time bomb, and receive retaliation they never expected.  They find themselves trapped in a high-tech house and must win a bizarre game to escape with their lives.  During the night they suffer the vengeance of an unhappy builder and hopefully learn a valuable lesson.  Contractors would love to provide this kind of lesson to their most insufferable clients.

The author, Reb McRath breathes life into vivid characters, crafting unique stories with the skill of a talented wordsmith.  In this short novel one of the best characters is the "White House."  No, it's not the famous house in Washington D.C.  This house was commissioned by R.J. and Penny White and it's the beautiful multi-storied house of their dreams.  On Christmas Eve it becomes a gigantic house of nightmares.  When they step through the door ready for a special Christmas Eve party, they have no idea they'd be the only guests, trapped inside with a ticking bomb in the basement and a demonic voice taunting them to play a game of survival. They have three hours to win the game or die.  All the clues are spread throughout the house but they must destroy everything they love to find them.

During the ordeal the Whites learn about themselves and what's really important in their life.  Will they emerge from the house as better people?  Can they survive the experience or will they die trying?  This is a macabre Christmas story worthy of Alfred Hitchcock, Rod Serling, or Edgar Allan Poe.  I pondered over the title "April Yule," tried to understand the meaning, and decided it was a Christmas "April Fools Day" yarn.  The end of the story is surprising, but is the surprise on the Whites or on us?  Buy this book and discover the answer for yourselves.
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Francine Tolliver and Case Duvall were so in love and headed for a future together. He was away on business so much and she started talking and going out to get something to eat with a young man named Marc. Someone started spreading rumors about more going on and Case broke things off with Fancy as they called her. Fancy left for New York to be a model. Now Fancy is back in town because she and her five friends Callie, Morgan, Hope, Charlotte and Olivia have inherited the Savannah House from their most wonderful friend Miss Harriet. She has come face to face with Case and they are both uncomfortable, will it get easier for them.
4707563
I am watching House MD right now and Taub's about to get shot and I am wetting my pants! Oh god she left we be good, we be good, we good!
3037466
I saw a short piece on Erica Ferencik and Repeaters on The Framingham Beat on Access Framingham, and decided to get the book.  Loved that it is set in recognizable communities in New England. Astra is a great name for an Evil woman.  I think it takes guts to twist the empathy out of motherhood.  A supernatural thriller that isn't too out there.  A fun read on creepy October nights. Loved how it came together in the end...also hoping for more.
1068332
I'm new to Fran Lebowitz.  I caught her on a Bill Maher show lately and thought she was a wise ass I could love, coming from New York.  And I did love it.  Sometimes I cringe when her ego gets the better of her, but then I think that ego got her far.  Had me laughing out loud and that's no mean feat.
1572327
Avery Baker and her boyfriend and business partner Derek Ellis are beginning their fifth home renovation project together. Their latest project is to update the 1930s cottage belonging to local news anchor Tony "the Tiger" Micelli. This isn't just any renovation project. The crew of Flipped Out! Is coming to Waterfield, Maine and will be filming the whole project. If that isn't enough pressure, the entire project must be completed within one week. Further complicating the situation, Tony's girlfriend Melissa James plans on making frequent appearances to the home and the beautiful Melissa just happens to be Derek's ex-wife. Things start out better than expected until the second day when Tony is found murdered in the cottage, a victim of a vicious stabbing. All evidence is pointing at Melissa, and while Melissa is guilty of many things, such as constant flirting with Derek, even Avery thinks she is innocent of the murder and reluctantly agrees to help clear her rival.

I really enjoy the home renovation theme in this series. Derek is believable in the role as doctor turned handyman and Avery's design expertise comes in handy for their projects. There are some interesting design ideas in the back of the book, as well as some really useful tips on improving the curb appeal of your home. However, the tips aren't just relegated to the back of the book. Derek and Avery offer information about remodeling a home throughout the book in a way that is smoothly integrated into the story.

Adding to the enjoyment of this installment is the reality TV element. The inside look into the production of the show is fun to read. Many of the supporting characters involved in the show, such as Nina and Fae, are actually more interesting than some of the series regulars, especially Avery's friend Kate who doesn't come across as a fully developed character. Kate seems nice, but with the exception of a few scenes involving her daughter Shannon, she seems to be a part of the background and not vital to the series.

I have read one other earlier book in this series, and am glad to see that Avery is maturing and has stopped pouting (one of the reasons for her nickname "Tink") when she doesn't get her way. I am disappointed, however, that Derek still seems to be fixated on his ex-wife Melissa. While he is adamant that their marriage was unhappy and he would never get back together with her, Derek still drops everything whenever Melissa needs anything. Melissa always seems to have a plan to stay involved in Derek's life, whether to win him back or just to goad Avery. In this case, I agree with Avery that she and Derek should keep their distance from the demanding and self-centered Melissa.

In spite of things often revolving around Melissa, I think the series is improving. I was interested in the renovation storyline as well as finding out the solution to the murder throughout the book. It is a suspenseful story, and the full solution isn't revealed until the very end of the book. Fans of Juliet Blackwell's Haunted Home Repair mysteries as well as mystery lovers who enjoy watching the DIY Network will want to read about Avery and Derek's latest project in Flipped Out!

This review was originally written for The Season E-Zine. The book was provided to me in exhange for an honest review.
2130383
This was a good one. Love the Boston connection. Spencer is family bomb. At least Hawk thinks so. Susan too and the indomitable Pearl.
113561
I enjoyed this fun and modern take on P&P.  Watching it is a great way to spend an evening when you just want some light-hearted romantic escape. My biggest complaint is that one of the best scenes from the original television airing is not included on this dvd.  After dinner with Darcy, Bingley and Miss Bingley, Amanda is asked to entertain them by singing a song.  She sings "Downtown" and it is so hilarious.  I was really disappointed that it was taken out.  You can catch the deleted scene on YouTube.  But if you don't mind great liberties taken with the original P&P you will enjoy this.  Go into it knowing it's just for fun.
3221179
Mud Season brought us right in the front door of her home and the wacky daily adventures of becoming a real Vermonter. Good Grief continued that invitation into her home and heart with the humor and grace only Ellen can deliver. Her books are a must read for anyone who enjoys New England, a good laugh, family and just being your self at all times!