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DVD Review: "The Confession"

"The Confession"

DVD Review
Sony Pictures

Release Date: June 11, 2013
Source: DVD sent by publicist in exchange for an honest review

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

About the DVD: (from the publicist)

Raised by an Amish family, Katie Lapp (Katie Leclerc, TV's "Switched at Birth") always felt the call of another life. Now, her quest to find her birth-mother, Laura Mayfield-Bennett (Sherry Stringfield, TV's "ER"), has drawn her into world of the "Englishers." Along the way, two very different men try to help her overcome a devious scheme to steal her rightful inheritance. Business-minded but kind-hearted Justin Wirth (Michael Rupnow) reaches out to discover Katie's hidden secrets, while her childhood companion Daniel Fisher (Cameron Deane Stewart) sacrifices his own happiness for her future. Katie's heart is divided between two worlds as love reveals the truth in the moving saga based on the hit novel from New York Times bestselling author Beverly Lewis.

Based on the novel by Beverly Lewis and directed by Michael Landon Jr., the film has a screenplay by Brian Bird and Michael Landon Jr. The film was produced by David R. Kappes and executive produced by Brian Bird, Maura Dunbar and Michael Landon Jr.

My Review: 

This movie had the potential to be really spectacular, but unfortunately the focus and structure fell a bit short. I think with a little more planning and better pacing, this film could have hit it out of the park! The middle of the film has great intrigue and secrets, which creates so much excitement and build up! It's really hard to go into detail without spoilers, but not only does Katie have to find away to get her biological mother to see the truth, someone is also hiding the truth from her! Lots of secrets, and lots of drama that the movie could have drawn out more.

While watching this film, I didn't realize that it was part of a series. The prequel to this film is "The Shunning", which unfortunately, I haven't seen yet. That would explain why I felt a bit lost at the beginning. I felt like I was tuning in at the middle of a movie or a season of a tv show. While the beginning felt disjointed and confusing, once the real conflict of the film started, I was drawn in by all the excitement!

Unfortunately, the end is abrupt and falls flat. I honestly thought it must be a 'dream sequence' because everything happened so fast and was wrapped up so neatly. All that intrigue for a let-down at the end. But don't despair, the movie isn't a total bust at all. In fact, the cliffhanger at the end has me itching to see the third installment to see what happens!

The production itself is very high quality. The acting is great and I loved seeing the estate where the movie was filmed. Meant to be Laura's inherited estate, the house is stunning. It reminded me of a modern day Downton Abbey.

Perhaps I would have enjoyed the movie more if the story had focused more on Katie and her relationship with her birth mother, and the two boys you see on the cover of the dvd. It's actually a bit misleading with these three on the cover, because it seems like Laura and her husband take the lead in this installment. I would have preferred the story to focus more on Katie and her journey. A lot of time was spent building up the villain and his story. Maybe with more of a focus the film wouldn't have been spread so thin.  

Bottom Line: While this film did have a slow beginning and abrupt end, I still enjoyed the middle of the movie immensely. I do think it could have been more focused, but it was still enjoyable and I'm looking forward to the next installment!

Trailer:




Purchase "The Confession" here:

http://www.amazon.com/Beverly-Lewis-Confession/dp/B00C4BDG7M/



Disclosure: I received a copy of this DVD from the publicist in exchange for an honest review.

Spotlight: "One Heart to Win"

"One Heart to Win"
by Johanna Lindsey
Publisher: Gallery
Source: received from publisher
Release Date: June 11, 2013

The following description is from goodreads.com:

Some young ladies marry for money and social standing, a few lucky ones marry for love—but Tiffany Warren is marrying to end a feud. Honoring her mother’s promise, Tiffany reluctantly travels west to meet her estranged father and his enemy’s eldest son, rancher Hunter Callahan. Once the Warrens and the Callahans are united by marriage, both clans will stop squabbling over a disputed strip of land. In the chaos of a train robbery Tiffany seizes a golden opportunity: By assuming the identity of her father’s new housekeeper she can live with the father she never knew and assess his true character, as well as that of the neighboring cowboy to whom she is betrothed. But, too late, Tiffany discovers that the rivalry between the Warrens and the Callahans has escalated when the Callahans steal the Warrens’ housekeeper as soon as she steps off the train!Now, Tiffany, who is pretending to be Jennifer Fleming, finds herself living in the enemy camp, under the same roof as her fiancé. All too soon she learns her intended is a handsome, sweet talking charmer whom she has to fight off because he can’t keep his eyes—or his hands—off Jennifer. After Tiffany’s charade is exposed she refuses to marry Hunter to end the feud. As Hunter goes about claiming his rightful bride-to-be, he knows that although he loves two women—proper, elegant Tiffany as well as spunky, passionate Jennifer—he has only one heart to win.

Author Bio:

Find out more about Johanna Lindsey here: http://authors.simonandschuster.com/Johanna-Lindsey/18227659/author_revealed

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publicist/publisher in exchange for a blog post.

Sunday Shout Out 35

Recently, I introduced a new feature here at In the Hammock on Sundays. It's called "Sunday Shout Out" and it's a place where I can give a special shout out to those publishers and authors who have sent me books over the week, as well as those bloggers who have hosted contests that I've won! I'll also be giving shout outs to any other cool books, blogs or bookish news that I've spotted during the week.

For Review

"Faking It" by Cora Carmack

 

 "The Arrangement" by Mary Balogh

"I Never Promised You a Goodie Bag" by Jennifer Gilbert

"One Heart to Win" by Johanna Lindsey

"Hearts Unbound" by Sara Luck

Contest Wins

"Bright Young Things" by Alison Maloney

Won from vvb32 Reads

"The Heiresses" by Alison Rushby

Won from Confessions of a Book Addict

Contests

While you're here, check out the contests currently running at In the Hammock!

Win "The List Lover's Guide to Jane Austen" 6/23

Giveaway: "The List Lover's Guide to Jane Austen"

"The List Lover's Guide to Jane Austen"
by Joan Strasbaugh

Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Release Date: June 4, 2013
Source: N/A

Summary from goodreads.com:

Her life, her work, her legacy--step into the world of the incredible Jane Austen.

It's Jane like you've never seen! Through fun and breezy lists, discover everything there is to know about Jane Austen, the sassy literary genius we know and love. Learn her likes and dislikes, her haves and have-nots, where she traveled, how she lived, and who she knew.

With a wealth of little-known and fascinating information, find out:

-Her friends and her beaux
-Every place she lived or visited
-Books in her library
-Her quirks
-The last lines of everything she wrote
-and much more!

About A Spear of Summer Grass (from the publicist)

The Jane you thought you knew…

Jane Austen comes to life for the first time in list form

Have you ever wondered what books Jane Austen read? Or what her #1 pet peeve was?

Find the answers to these questions in The List Lover’s Guide to Jane Austen, coming this June 2013. Released just in time for the 200^th Anniversary of Pride & Prejudice, author Joan Strasbaugh is a “hard-core fan” and known in Jane circles around the world.

Strasbaugh creates a portrait of this beloved author as a living, breathing human being; The List Lover’s Guide is perfect for any 18^th century Brit lit buff. Austen aficionado or student of literature.

Lists like “Her Social Circle” and “Balls and Dances She Attended” weave a seamless portrait of the woman that Austen was — not based on her fictions, but on her facts.

While including extensive background information on the author (down to the very flowers she grew in her garden), the book also features juicy details like:

·        Possible Suitors
·        Who Broke Her Heart
·        The Hearts She Broke
·        Her Morbid Sense of Humor
·        Jane’s Royal Ancestors

About the author
Joan Strasbaugh has been a proud Janeite for half of her life. She now works as the senior editor of Abbeville Press in New York, and notably organized the Jane Austen in the 21^st Century Humanities Festival at the University of Wisconsin. A former publisher at Jones Books, Strasbaugh also holds a membership to the Jane Austen Society of North America.

GIVEAWAY RULES

The publisher has generously provided a copy of "The List Lover's Guide to Jane Austen" for a lucky reader of my blog.

All you have to do is fill out the Rafflecopter form below.

• US only
• Books will be mailed out by the publisher
• Must be 18 or over 

• Ends June 23

Thanks to everyone for entering! Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

No compensation was received for this blog post.

Enter to Win a Kindle Fire at Crimson Romance!

Hi, everyone! I just heard about a great contest to win a Kindle Fire, fully stocked with every title from Crimson Romance's first year! What a great prize!!

Even better is how easy it is to enter! Just stop by Crimson Romance and enter your email address. That's it! No hoops to jump through!

Reebok Dance Gear in New Styles for Summer!

Reebok Dance Gear Is back For Summer!

I've really been trying to get motivated to work out more, and I think this fun, quality workout gear could help me on my way! Putting on stylish, colorful gear could really brighten my mood and get me ready to dance and work out!

I personally really want these shoes!! What a great way to make workouts more fun! There are even more bright, fun colors on Reebok's site!

Women's Dance UR Lead Mid Shoe

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Mid-cut and low-cut footwear options were debuted, as was a full line of apparel made for movement. Reebok's dance footwear products like the UR Lead Mid have been a hit with dance enthusiasts, combining function and fashion in a way no other sportswear brand has achieved yet.
 
The apparel from last year has been updated for the new season,! Short and long sleeve tops, compression and tights, and even looser fitting pant styles are up for grabs from this colorful and stylish line.  Check out some favorites here!

Reebok Women's Shapewear Lux Tank

 Women's Happy Burnout Tee
 
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 Disclosure: This is a sponsored post with affiliate links, clicking the links and purchasing will result in commission.