E-book Week March 4th through 10th

As my books are both in print and e-book, I figured I should help out with Read an E-Book Week!
The Madten Authors group will be having a contest during this week where visitors can read excerpts and by answering a question for each one in the comments section, will be elligle to win a that E-book for free!

For those not in the know, E-Books come in a variety of formats and can be easily read on your PC, Laptop, PDA, and even dedicated E-Book hand held devices.

My main publisher, Zumaya Publications will also be doing a buy 1 get 1 free promotion on the E-book version of their available titles and I will post that when I get the info here as well.

Here's the Zumaya Press Release on this:

More than 30 talented authors have joined forces with their publisher, Zumaya Publications, to double your ebook fun during Read an eBook Week, March 4-10.

Between March 4 and March 12, buy one ebook from any of those authors and get another absolutely free. You can choose another book by the same author or mix and match, and have your pick of science fiction mysteries, thrillers, fantasy, paranormal romance, non-fiction and even books for kids.

"This is an opportunity for us," author M. D. Benoit says, "to show that we believe that ebooks are a fun way to read and that readers have the choice of more than one medium when they buy our books."

Take advantage of this special sale, during Read an ebook week only, by visiting http://www.zumayapublications.com/bookstore.html anytime after midnight March 4 and purchasing any of the superb Zumaya titles listed. Then, send a quick note to readanebook@zumayapublications.com from the email you used to make your purchase with your free ebook choice, and we’ll send it to you—simple as that. There’s no limit to how many times you can make a purchase, or how many titles you can buy at one time. Get one. Get them all. Enjoy.

“Zumaya Publications has a book for just about everyone’s taste. We’re delighted to give readers the chance to sample the work of these fine writers,” noted Zumaya Executive Editor Elizabeth K. Burton.

Zumaya Publications LLC is a trade publisher of fine, award-winning fiction and select nonfiction headquartered in Austin, Texas. Zumaya books are published in trade paperback and ebook formats. For the complete catalog of Zumaya titles, visit the website at http://www.zumayapublications.com.

Good Luck All!

Movie of the Week - Ghost Rider

Ghost Rider
Staring: Nicolas Cage, Eva Mendes, Matt Long, Raquel Alessi, Peter Fonda, Donal Logue, Brett Cullen, Wes Bentley

Premise: A young Johnny Blaze tries to save his father from lung cancer by making a deal with the devil. But the devil doesn't just want his soul, he wants his service. And even as he back stabs Johnny on his deal, he warns him that one day he will come to collect his debt. As Johnny reaches the peak of fame as a stunt motorcyclist (courting death with more and more daring stunts - some would say a death wish), he finds the sign he has been looking for, a possibility of a second chance. But that's when the devil decides to come collect his service.

Review: Having been a fan of the comics from way back, I was totally thrilled when I heard they were making this movie. And I was not disappointed! Flaming Skull head abounded and the demonic motorcycle was too sweet for words! Even introduced the chain and the cool jacket with metal stubs. Very much enjoyed the young Johnny Blaze segment and the stunts were cool. Nice action flick. Oh the nightmare was also very sweet. ***1/2!

Book Review - Embraced by the Shadows

Embraced by the Shadows
by Mayra Calvani


Premise: Alana has always had a fascination for the supernatural and macabre. Then she lands what seems to be a dream job, manager of a new restaurant/club called La Cueva del Vampiro (The Cave of the Vampire), with all the supernatural trappings she could ever desire. It is there, while juggling the new job, the usual clashes with her roommate, and a few issues that haunt her from her past, that Alana spies a man that appears like something from one of her recent and very vivid dark dreams.

Review: I think the setting is one of the most innovative and entrancing things about this book. Imagine - Vampires in a sunny, tropical island! Though unfortunately there is not as much description of the unusual location of San Juan, Puerto Rico as I might have liked (I have my fingers crossed this will be fixed for the print version! :P) there's still enough to give the reader a feel of a different place for these dark encounters. Alana's fall into darkness, and her eventual realization that it was never to be truly of her own choice are nicely done. Add in the extra mystery of her mother's veiled death years ago, the interesting cast of characters, and bids for immortality and you're in for an interesting ride. ***1/4! (This title is currently only available as an E-book)

Book Review - Rebel Nation

Rebel Nation
by Christopher Stires

Premise: Alternate Earth where the South succeeded with their play to separate from the Union and become their own country. Now in the present, as the Confederate States deals with a turbulent time of political change and possible brighter future for their minorities, news reporter McKenna Alexander must deal with the fact her ex-husband is rumored to have been the one who put the 5 million dollar hit on a recently released rights activist. Would even Cullen sink to such depths, or does someone else have an agenda and is just using him?

Review: Totally fascinating. If you've ever even considered reading alternate history, this book is for you! Wonderful attention to detail and world building. Great suspense, awesome prose, and plenty of hair raising excitement to boot! Characters are well developed from all sides, with plenty of insights for a nice 360 degree view. Intrigue, love, murder, hate, misguided manipulations, sacrifice, this one has it all! ***3/4!!!

Movie of the Week - Epic Movie

Epic Movie
Staring: Karl Penn, Adam Campbell, Jayma Mays, Faune A Chambers, Jennifer Coolidge, Crispin Glover, Tony Cox, Darrell Hammond, Hector Himenez

Premise: Four orphans leave their crummy lives to go on the adventure of a lifetime.

Review: The cast of characters on the movie poster pretty much says it all. lol. Nothing is sacred in this film. While not a side splitter of a film, there are definitely lots of things to make you grin. The immersion of some outside pop culture items into the movies being made fun of was a nice touch. The tour of Mr Tumnus's Crib was quite interesting. Some of the films being picked on make big splashes, especially Narnia as that one is used as the glue to hold everything together, while others get almost cameos. (The V for Vendetta Michael Jackson was so bizarre! Let alone the baby dropping reference...) Make sure to sit through most of the credits!!!!! You get a fun Umpa Loompa song and a bit with the Mel Gibson look-a-like. The end credit Umpa Loompa song is a riot. Oh and so was the Pirate song. lol. ***

Movie of the Week - Pan's Labyrinth

Pan's Labyrinth
Staring: Sergi Lopez, Maribel Verdu, Ivana Baquero, Doug Jones, Ariadna Gil

Premise: Ofelia is uprooted to the country with her pregnant mother, to join her stepfather at his command post, where he is fighting to repress rebel forces in the mountains of Spain. While there, she encounters a fairy, who leads her down a labyrinth to a faun, who claims that she is the reborn princess of the underworld. To go home and claim her birthright, she must prove herself through a set of tests before the rising of the full moon.

Review: 1) This film is NOT for kids! Please, please, please do not take young children to this film. There is some definitely graphic violence. The R rating is well deserved. :P 2) This film is in Spanish with subtitles. While this did not bother me one bit, there are those out there who may be put off when they go in and see it is not in English. Nothing I had seen before I went to the theater even hinted at subtitles or it being in another language. So just be aware.

Very much enjoyed the film! The violence did get a little on the strong side, but it was used as a means to show the need for escapism. Ofelia is stuck in a very tense place where her new father is concerned with only two things, that his new wife bear him a son, and that he destroy the rebels. Honestly, while the Captain was a totally repugnant human being, there are hints of things never followed on showing an amazing depth and complexity to this odious man. He lives for duty and pride, but at the same time is being consumed from the inside by both. That and the legacy of his father. Enough mystery is left about the faun and the magic in the area that it is left up to the viewer as to what to believe. Most of the special effects were very subtle, but quite well done! ***3/4!!

Movie of the Week - Catch and Release

Catch and Release
Staring: Jennifer Gardner, Tymothy Olyphant, Sam Jaeger, Kevin Smith, Juliette Lewis, Joshue Friesen

Premise: Gray's fiance died during a buddy getaway. As she and her friends try to pick up the pieces after the unexpected death, unknown sides of the man she thought she knew begin to surface. As Gray comes to find out more about her lost lover, the more she also comes to know about herself.

Review: Incredibly cute movie! A totally dysfunctional group of people trying to deal, each in their own way, with their grief and the changes the loss of their friend has brought to their lives. A lot of growing up occurs in the film, as well as unexpected discoveries. Several characters must be seen to be believed. :P Some very cute moments, and many telling looks that spoke volumes. Thoroughly enjoyed its quirkiness. ***1/2

Marketing Madness

I've joined a new marketing group comprised of Zumaya Authors

We are called (no idea where the name came from) Fellow Golden Rule Authors. We now have a blog some of us will be maintaining with writing info, life, any craziness that comes up, maybe even themes. The blog is called Mad Ten "It's a Mad, Mad World - Writing Confessions of Ten Mad Authors . My assigned day is Thursday. (Thursday's Child has Far to Go!) I honestly have no idea what the hey I will be putting up there - heck I have a hard enough time keeping up with this blog! - but we'll see.

The ten authors (who are sometimes 8 and sometimes 5!) are in genres all across the board. So if nothing else, will bring some variety to readers looking for a taste of different things.

Another thing we're doing with the group is trying to boost each other by doing reviews, posting info, and highlighting members on a monthly basis. For February, we're pushing Joan Upton Hall and Mayra Calvani. Both of them have new books that are being featured this month.

Joan Upton Hall - 'Ghostly Tails From Americas Jails - Curl up with 36 stories, complete with photos, of historical hoosegows from all over the U.S. Each jail or prison is now a location for good guys like you to visit, transformed to museums, offices, a theater, even a B&B where the long-deceased sheriff locks up at night.

Mayra Calvani - Embraced by the Shadows - Against the exotic backdrop of Istanbul and San Juan, Alana is a young woman torn between a vampire she cannot resist, and a life she cannot understand. Endowed with her new preternatural powers, she sets out to reveal the identity of her mother's killer... But is she ready to discover the truth?

Mayra is from Puerto Rico, like me! What are the chances of two Puerto Rican Spec Fic writers ending up with the same publisher? It boggles the mind! So it sounds exciting for this book to be set in San Juan. (Sigh - something else for the TBR pile! Wheeee!)

Movie of the Week - Curse of the Golden Flowers

Curse of the Golden Flowers
Staring: Yun Chow Fat, Li Gong, Jin Cheng, Jay Chou, Man Li, Ye Liu, Dahong Ni, Junjie Qin


Premise: The empress of China knows she is not loved by her husband. She suspects that now that he is returning home, he will try to rid himself of her. Regardless of her high station, due to her husbands manipulations, there is little she can do to affect his plans. She means to try anyway.

Review: Yun Chow Fat is so utterly heartless and evil in this film! Eek! That little smile he keeps giving his wife gave me the creeps! lol. Incest, betrayal, plots, subplots, all run mad. The workings of the imperial household were amazing to behold. The lack of privacy, yet the veneer of pretension of it was amazing. A nice touch was how everything was so bright and beautiful but truly only served to hide the corruption and increasing rot inside. Some wonderful moments of emotions conveyed merely by a look are in abundance. Do not expect a happy ending! ***1/4!!!!!

Movie of the Week - Children of Men

Children of Men
Staring: Clive Owen, Julianne Moore, Michael Caine, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Charlie Hunnan


Premise: 18 plus years after the last child was born on Earth, Theo Faron finds himself getting pulled into a an activist movement that may very well spell the salvation for mankind.

Review: A very grim Britain, with despondency and loss of hope left and right. Lots and lots of information is supplied in photos, graffiti, etc just quick glimpses you either catch or miss. Lots of action, betrayal, and more. Quite violent in spots, so be warned. The coolest bit is watching Theo go from a dead human being to actually caring and feeling again. This movie is not for people who like to have answers. A lot of things are never explained and the ending is semi open to interpretation. If that doesn't bother you, it should be a fun ride. Also Michael Caine's use of an old old joke was never seen like this before. :P ***1/4!!!!

Guilty Pleasure - Supernatural

Though the TV show Supernatural is now on it's second season, it has been only recently that I have come to realize it's become a guilty pleasure.

I rarely watch movies or episodes of TV shows more than once straight away, so if I do, it really means it impacted me in some way. Heck if I watch something again in the same year, then you know you have something. :P Anyway, I started watching Supernatural with Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles when the show began last year. Was pretty excited when I saw Jensen was in it as he had impressed me with his acting in Smallville the season before or so. I like his character here even better!

The premise is this - two brothers are reunited after 2 plus years when their father turns up missing. What you find out as they go along is that they are not a normal family. 22 years before, when Dean was 4 and Sam was 6 months, a dark figure invaded their home and though he spent some time with baby Sam, he ends up killing the mother when she shows up in the room and gets in the way. Ever since her death, the father has been training himself and his sons to hunt the evil hiding in the dark and also to try to find information on what killed his wife. So after being raised in rather unconventional means, Sam left to go to college, having a huge fight with his father, who did not want him to leave, and basically was told that if he left never to return. Well, now Dean has shown up saying their father was out on a hunt and has not returned. He wants Sam to help him find him.

Due to matters I won't give away, Sam and Dean stay together after the first episode to continue their search for their missing father.

Though the show is in the monster of the week formula, what I love about it is the high acting skills of those present, and the underlying plot they have already set for the season and those to follow. Season 2 has REALLY turned up the stakes and angst, and we are currently waiting for 1/11 for the revelation we've been waiting for a while regarding Sam.

There is a big dynamic being used by the show, revealing facts and tidbits in increments and even bringing things back to haunt the characters themselves. Case in point would be in ep 1 when Sam brings up the fact that their mother is dead and nothing will bring her back, to which Dean reacts rather explosively. Close to the end of season 1 Dean tells Sam that as someone told him once before nothing will bring their Mom or Jessica back, to which Sam reacts explosively. :P This back and forth switching is something they do when least expected and rather well at that! (They do the same with humor.)

The actors are truly amazing, especially Jensen and Jared. With but a look, you can tell what they are thinking. Totally amazing, and keeps you on your toes, because otherwise you might miss something. :P

I've gone and watched what episodes for season 2 I kept on the Tivo several times (I wallow in angst!) and now got my hands on the Season 1 DVD's and watched the whole thing over. Oh the seeds they have been planting all this time!!!! And the character interplay between the mains and some of the recurring charas are awesome. Yes, I have it very very bad.

So if you have time, go rent season 1 and pay attention. They are being quite subtle in many respects, but it all builds over time. Great characters, great situations, good creepy atmosphere, plenty of twits, and loads of fun!!!

when they returned to Lawrence, his feeling over the spiritual And one thing I discovered....(SPOILER!!!! DO NOT READ IF YOU DON"T WANT TO KNOW!) Sam's gifts... Aside from the visions, which are always somehow related to the demon or those he's touched, he exhibits powers that are always the same as or an immunity to those shown by others. On the episode where they return to Lawrence, Sam's spiritual sensing/connectivity heavily increased after contact with the psychic. On the episode when they met another family like theirs, where the mother was killed when the baby was but 6 months old, they meet a telekinetic, which Sam, later in the episode is able to use as well. Season 2, they meet the man who can command people with his voice, Sam proves totally immune. In the Croatoan ep, again Sam proves immune, this time to the demon virus. I believe Sam is the effect the demon has touched so many children for. Possibly so that Sam can either use the powers of or prove immune to the powers of something the demon can't reach. Which could be the plot lead for season 3. Heh.

Now all I need is to find out what John Winchester told Dean at the hospital about Sam, and see if other suspicions of mine are valid. Must know! Yes, like I said before, I have it bad....

Movie of the Week - Happily Never After

Happily Never After
staring: George Carlin, Andy Dick, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Lisa Kaplan, Michael McShane, Freddie Prinze Jr., Wallace Shawn

Premise: The wizard in charge of making sure that all the fairy tales in the kingdom come out exactly like the books time after time, takes a vacation leaving his two assistants in charge. The two assistants make a ruckus, and end up bringing the device for maintaining balance to the attention of Cinderella's Wicked Step Mother. Tired that the goody slippers always win, she decides to take steps.

Review: It was sad, but this film was very disappointing. The comedy sidekicks were not funny. The prince, who was supposed to be pathetic, was funny! lol. And the plight of the kitchen boy trying to win the maiden's hand and everyone convinced only a prince could do so was, well, a little weird. There were some definite cute moments. The wolves were a howl and the witch bikers on tripped out brooms were fun. But overall it just didn't have spark. Looked like 3 studios had their hands in this one and maybe it was too many. Too bad. :( **3/4

Movie of the Week - The Good Shepherd

The Good Shepherd
staring: Matt Damon, Angelina Jolie, Alec Baldwin, Tammy Blanchard, Billy Crudup, Robert De Niro, Keir Duella

Premise: Edward Wilson, aka "Mother", has a problem - his operation in Cuba was compromised. He has a leak in his organization. As he attempts to staunch the damage and find the leak, he flashes to the past and how he ended up being part of what eventually became the CIA.

Review: Great film! Lots of faces you will recognize. Tons of subtlety every where - you must keep your eyes peeled. A lot of things are not spelled out, though they are there to see, and for connections to be made. A couple of spots, you blink and you will miss what they are saying. Just like the spy world, it's all there in the details, you just have to be able to sift it out and see the picture they paint. Truly enjoyed this. ***3/4!!!!

Hint: Keep the guy they show on the beach in mind for the flashbacks. But most importantly, do not forget the sequence with the dollar bill and what it means toward the beginning! This will come in very very handy toward the end!!!! You'll see! Heh heh heh

Book Review - The Element of Fire

The Element of Fire
by Martha Wells

Premise: Thomas Boniface is the Captain of the Queen's Guard and has for years found himself in a very precarious position. Not only was he at one time the queen's lover, but her son, the heir apparent, does not like him, the heir's confidant wants him dead, and many others would just like him away from the queen's ear. His constant juggling act to maintain order and keep himself alive is suddenly made much more difficult when not only does a rogue wizard enter the scene, but the bastard daughter of the old king shows up as well. And with the sudden uprising of the Fae to deal with as well, Thomas has more than his hands full.

Review: Martha Wells has figured out how to bring back this out of print book so that readers may enjoy it again. I couldn't be happier, since I encountered her writing for the first time only recently and have avidly devoured all I could get my hands on. This particular book is also set in her world of Il-Rien based similarly on the time of the Musketeers. With political intrigue, murder, and Fae running amok, it is a total treat! Go Martha! ***1/2!!

Movie of the Week - Night at the Museum

Night at the Museum
Staring: Ben Stiller, Carla Gugino, Dick Van Dyke, Mickey Rooney, Bill Cobbs, Jake Charry, Ricky Gervais, Robin Williams, Kim Raver, Patrick Gallagher, Rami Malek, Pierfrancesco Favino, Steve Coogan, Owen Wilson

Premise: A "loser" inventor tries out for a night security job at the Metropolitan Museum so he can create some stability in his life for his son. The opening is a result of cut backs at the museum, as they are replacing three older security men with one younger, and cheaper, alternative. But as Larry discovers his first night there, there is a whole lot more to the job description than anyone ever told him - for at night, all the exhibits in the museum come to life. Will he be able to take control of the chaos and his life, or will he let this opportunity for something bigger slip past him like all the others?

Review: This was a light and very fun film! Each room/area of the museum had its own set of surprises and challenges. And it was an utter treat to see Mikey Rooney, Dick Van Dyke, and Bill Cobbs! (Watch the ending credits and you'll see Dick can still cut a mean rug! lol) Lots of funny moments. Lots of cute moments too. Even a little history thrown in for flavor! This movie was fresh and a lot of fun! ***1/2!!!!!

Movie of the Week - Eragon

Eragon
Staring: Edward Speleers, Jeremy Irons, John Malkovich, Djimon Hounsou, Sienna Guillory, Rachel Weisz


Premise: A young farm boy, Eragon, gets drawn into a ploy to free the world from the grip of the dictator Galbatorix, when he finds and bonds with the last dragon egg in the world. Will he and the dragon Saphira be able to bond properly and mature fast enough to be able to join the freedom fighters and help make a difference before they are hunted down and killed?

Review: Unfortunately there was little in this film that has not been seen before. For younger kids or teenagers never exposed to fantasy, it would be a great starter, but for those who have had interest in the genre for a time, there is unfortunately little to recommend it. Mr. Speleers does a commendable job, and Jeremy Irons was superb as always. John Malkovich seemed to be given little to nothing to work with and aside for posturing a lot, must be saving the action for the sequel. The dragon sequences were extremely nice, and Rachel Weisz voice worked well and was one of the highlights of the movie. Light fare, decently enjoyable, don't expect any surprises. **1/2!

Book Review - Arturo el Rey

Arturo el Rey
by Joan Upton Hall

Premise: King Author promised he would return when the world most needed him. But how bad does it have to get for him to fulfill his promise? Arturo has been suffering from strange dreams, dreams of King Author and Camelot. They've become especially strong after a virus ravages the states and has brought humanity and civilization to the brink of extinction. Chaos rules, people become little more than animals - is there something he can do to try to stop this slide into barbarism and restore some order to the world?

Review: This story is rich in detail, thought, and research. The characters come alive on the page and the plight of the survivors becomes your own. Set mostly in Texas, lots of the sites are easily recognizable. Arturo's and Shanna's love comes across as more hormonal than heartfelt, but otherwise the novel is a wonderful story of battle, survival, betrayal, and hopefully lessons learned. I'm looking forward to the sequel and New Camelot's continuing progress. ***1/4!!!

Movie Websites - Too carried away?

There's a trend I've been noticing over the last year or two that, to be honest, seems to be a bad one. This trend affects movie sites. By movie sites, I mean the site created by the film makers for a specific movie. All of them, anymore, are filled with so many bells and whistles, that they take forever to load. Worse, a lot of them get so carried away with java script, they end up leaving no room for actual info on the film, the actors, what have you! Or the navigation process is in no way intuitive, leaving you to hunt and pec and hope you can figure out where to go. Plus each time you click on anything, you go through the rigamarole of java script all over again making everything take forever! And that's on DSL!

Though I still go find the main site and link it, more and more I keep having to go to places like IMB and Yahoo Movies to get the info I need for a simple review! It's a sad trend. *sigh* Hope they get a clue soon! :P But who knows, maybe it's just me. heh.

Movie of the Week - Apocalypto

Apocalypto

Staring: Dalia Hernandez, Marya Serbulo, Gerardo Taracena, Raoul Trujillo, Rudy Youngblood

Premise: A young warrior named Panther Claw, from a South American jungle tribe, has his life thrown into chaos when Mayan warriors steal into his village and slaughter or enslave all those there. Dragged against his will from all he's ever known, he sees the great Mayan civilization going through the throes of drought and pestilence. He and his are to either be sold or become sacrifices. Sacrifices, which according to those in power, will appease the gods and make life good again.

Review: A totally gorgeous film - the vistas and photography were amazing. One beautiful thing done right off the bat, is how Mr. Gibson gets the audience to resonate with Panther Claw and his fellows through a joke played on one of their friends. This basically breaks the ice between the audience and the film and we become immediately involved and start caring for these people who seemed so removed from all we know. A lot of the information comes across very subtly, hints of the Mayan politics, of the manipulation of the popullace, and attempts to retain order at any cost. A bit of mysticism is thrown in and an amazing assortment of actors that get things across regardless of language barriers. There are definitely a number of graphic scenes, like beheadings and the good old pulling the beating heart from the sacrifice--so you will probably want to see it first before taking the kids. Lots of attention to detail, weaponry, customs, attitudes. Lovely! Wish he could have spent more time in the big city so we could have learned more! ***1/2!!!!

Movie of the Week - Stranger than Fiction

Stranger than Fiction

Staring: Will Ferrell, Emma Thompson, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Queen Latifah, Dustin Huffman

Premise: Harold, an IRS auditor, is far from your typical dude. Numbers and analysis are his life, and he leads a very ordered and lonely existance. All this changes one day when he starts hearing a voice - one that narrates his life and even things going on in his life he does not know about. Then one day, the voice pronounces his lack of knowledge about his impending death.

Review: Talk about real life intruding into fiction! lol. Quirky, sometimes deep, this was a fun, and for me as a writer, disturbing film. There are a lot of really neat things they do in this movie, all centered around Harold, like popping spreadsheets and numbers beside his head as he goes through his analytical thought processes. A more pathetic exitance than Harold's would be hard to find, other than possibly the writer, Karen Eiffel. She's been stuck on how to finish a book for years. And somehow it is this very book that ends up being a mirror of Harold's life. Yet the narrating commentary helps Harold break out of his old life and actually start living as he realizes things he's known all along but never noticed. I think one of my most favorite scenes was when Harold stood in the IRS filing room and the narrator talks about how he stood there listening to the sound the file folders made, like waves washing onto the shore. Then if you listened, they did indeed sound exactly like it. It was a beautiful moment. And watching Karen deal with the fact her ending would affect someone real and the decision she makes between possibly her best work ever and humanity, is quite poignant. I think the only thing that soured this little tale for me was the bad editing with regards to the sound boom. I swear it intruded into the film in 3 to 4 different places and totally threw me out of the fantasy, which was rather sad. Since I am a born sucker, I was crying my eyes out by the end. heh. ***1/4!!!