Movie Review: Suite Francaise (2014)

Film Title: Suite Francaise
Length: 1 hr and 47 mins
Released: 2014
Genre: Drama and Romance
Rating: NR (I would say a PG-13)
Where I Got It: Netflix


SUMMARY:
During the early years of Nazi occupation of France in World War II, romance blooms between Lucile Angellier, a French villager, and Bruno von Falk, a German soldier.

TRAILER:

Review:
What words to use for this film? 

This was good. Not amazing, but really good. There was a sort of calm to this movie. Yes, there is a lot of sadness and fear from the French citizens of the little town. However, this felt like very realistic in a lot of way. People are just trying to live.

There is a romance in the story, but it is no love story. It is tragic in a lot of ways. It made me sad and I felt bad for Bruno and Lucille. They both want to be free. Her from her mother-in-law's house. Him from his horrible role of a solider. Sure, he does well, but he hates every minute. If only they had met before the war or in a whole different life. 

I felt bad for everyone in a way except for that major creeper and the mayor's wife. SMH. 

The ending had me so unsure of my feelings. It ended how I thought it would end, but I wanted more. It was good though.

The only major issue that bothered me was the accents. Only the Germans had German accents. The rest of the French citizens all had British accents. Sighs. I mean...I got used to it, but c'mon either be authentic or not. Don't do halfsies. Commit to have the proper accents or don't for everyone. Meh. 

In the end, I really liked this film. I actually watched it twice. It was sad. I didn't cry like I expected, but it was a realistic sad movie. I did love the little impossible romance between Lucille and Bruno. It really feels like a good movie to watch on a rainy day with a cup of Hot Cocoa. This shall stamp with 4 stars. 

Book Blast AND Giveaway: The Graham Saga

Please follow Anna Belfrage as her beloved Graham Saga series is blasted around the blogosphere and enter to win Books #1-8!

About The Graham Saga Series

This is the story of Alex and Matthew, two people who should never have met - not when she was born three hundred years after him. It all began the day Alex Lind got caught in a thunderstorm. Not your ordinary storm, no this was the mother of all storms, causing a most unusual rift in the fabric of time. Alex was dragged three centuries backwards in time, landing more or less at the feet of a very surprised Matthew Graham. In a series of books we follow the life and adventures of the expanding Graham family, both in Scotland and in the New World - and let me tell you it is quite an exciting life, at times excessively so in Alex' opinion. Sometimes people ask me why Alex had to be born in the twentieth century, why not make her a woman born and bred in the seventeenth century where the story is set? The answer to that is I have no idea. Alex Lind is an insistent, vibrant character that sprung into my head one morning and simply wouldn't let go. Seductively she whispered about terrible thunderstorms, about a gorgeous man with magic, hazel eyes, about loss and sorrow, about love - always this love, for her man and her children, for the people she lives with. With a throaty chuckle she shared insights into a life very far removed from mine, now and then stopping to shake her head and tell me that it probably hadn't been easy for Matthew, to have such an outspoken, strange and independent woman at his side. At this point Matthew groaned into life. Nay, he sighed, this woman of his was at times far too obstinate, with no notion of how a wife should be, meek and dutiful. But, he added with a laugh, he wouldn't want her any different, for all that she was half heathen and a right hand-full. No, he said, stretching to his full length, if truth be told not a day went by without him offering fervent thanks for his marvelous wife, a gift from God no less, how else to explain the propitious circumstances that had her landing at his feet that long gone August day? Still, dear reader, it isn't always easy. At times Alex thinks he's an overbearing bastard, at others he's sorely tempted to belt her. But the moment their fingertips graze against each other, the moment their eyes meet, the electrical current that always buzzes between them peaks and surges, it rushes through their veins, it makes their breathing hitch and ... She is his woman, he is her man. That's how it is, that's how it always will be.

Graham Saga Titles

Book One: A Rip in the Veil Book Two: Like Chaff in the Wind Book Three: The Prodigal Son Book Four: A Newfound Land Book Five: Serpents in the Garden Book Six: Revenge & Retribution Book Seven: Whither Thou Goest Book Eight: To Catch a Falling Star Book Nine: There is Always a Tomorrow (November 2017)

About the Author

Anna was raised abroad, on a pungent mix of Latin American culture, English history and Swedish traditions. As a result she's multilingual and most of her reading is Anna Belfragehistorical- both non-fiction and fiction. Possessed of a lively imagination, she has drawers full of potential stories, all of them set in the past. She was always going to be a writer - or a historian, preferably both. Ideally, Anna aspired to becoming a pioneer time traveller, but science has as yet not advanced to the point of making that possible. Instead she ended up with a degree in Business and Finance, with very little time to spare for her most favourite pursuit. Still, one does as one must, and in between juggling a challenging career Anna raised her four children on a potent combination of invented stories, historical debates and masses of good food and homemade cakes. They seem to thrive… For years she combined a challenging career with four children and the odd snatched moment of writing. Nowadays Anna spends most of her spare time at her writing desk. The children are half grown, the house is at times eerily silent and she slips away into her imaginary world, with her imaginary characters. Every now and then the one and only man in her life pops his head in to ensure she's still there. For additional information regarding Anna, her characters, extra scenes, and teasers for her next books, have a look at Anna's website at: www.annabelfrage.com. You can also find her on Facebook or follow her on Twitter.

Book Blast Schedule

Monday, November 6 Pursuing Stacie The Reading Queen Locks, Hooks and Books
  Tuesday, November 7 T's Stuff Susan Heim on Writing
  Wednesday, November 8 Bookish So Many Books, So Little Time
  Thursday, November 9 Let Them Read Books
  Friday, November 10 History From a Woman's Perspective Myths, Legends, Books & Coffee Pots
  Saturday, November 11 A Holland Reads
  Sunday, November 12 A Chick Who Reads
  Monday, November 13 CelticLady's Reviews What Is That Book About
  Tuesday, November 14 A Literary Vacation Historical Fiction with Spirit Mello & June, It's a Book Thang!
  Wednesday, November 15 The Maiden's Court Adventures Thru Wonderland
  Thursday, November 16 Carole Rae's Random Ramblings Ms. Stuart Requests the Pleasure of Your Company
  Friday, November 17 Book Nerd
  Saturday, November 18 Passages to the Past The Book Junkie Reads
  Sunday, November 19 Books, Dreams, Life
  Monday, November 20 The Lit Bitch Jorie Loves a Story

Giveaway

During the Blog Tour we will be giving away Books #1-8 in paperback to one lucky winner! To enter, please enter via the Gleam form below. Giveaway Rules – Giveaway ends at 11:59pm EST on November 20th. You must be 18 or older to enter. – Giveaway is open INTERNATIONALLY. – Only one entry per household. – All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspect of fraud is decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion. – Winner has 48 hours to claim prize or new winner is chosen. Graham Saga Book Blast

Book Review: Three Men and a Maybe by Katey Lovell

Author: Katey Lovell
Title: Three Men and a Maybe
Genre: Short Story and Romance
Pages: ebook
Published: December 9th 2016
I Got It: My shelf (Amazon freebie)

It’s the age-old saying. You wait all day for a bus, and then three come along at once. But proposals? That’s just ridiculous. And yet, on New Year’s Eve, as the countdown finishes and the whole pub erupts in celebrations, Cerys finds herself staring at her ex-fiancé, Ricky. Who just so happens to be kneeling on the floor, ring in hand, asking her to marry him. Again.

And if that weren’t enough, hot barman Angelo, and longtime friend Huw also decide to pop the question. At the exact same time.

Three men, two real contenders, but just one choice. What on earth will she do?




What an insanely cute story that was! I read it in one sitting and I want more! MORE I SAY MORE! *shakes fist*. 

The story follows Cerys (can someone please tell me how on Earth this is pronounced?!) who is all depressed on New Year’s Eve due to her lack of a love life. She agreed to be the DD so her pals could drink. Bless your heart Cerys lol. When midnight strikes, she gets hit with three men who take a knee to propose. D: Look you Cerys…I can’t even get one *grumbles about dumb BF*. But yes, three men from all different points of her life who all want her. 

First there is Ricky who is a blooming idiot. They broke up a while back because of his idiocy. 

Second is Huw (and again…please pronounce this name for me) who has been Cerys friend since High School and was her first. 

Third is her current fling Angelo who is just a guy she made out with who works at the bar a week previous. 

Who shall she choose? Or does she deny all? It was so fun to guess especially after reading little snipbits of their pasts. 

For me? I would be picking Huw. He was a darling and has been at her side for years. You can’t trust Ricky the Idiot and you can’t trust Angelo either. No brainer, but I also have never had three proposals dropped on my lap at the same time. Too much pressure for sure!! Be alone or pick one of them. Mmmm

This was all very cheesy and SO unlikely. 

The ending was cute and I loved it until it just ended. No epilogue? No to be continued? No! You can’t do this to me! *shakes fist* Ugh. So frustrating. It felt so unfinished. It was left open-ended and that works in some stories, but with ones such as these I need a conclusion! And no, she does make a decision (I can’t say what or who), but it was made but I want know if her decision was the right one. WAH!

I should read more by this author for sure. This was a good Holiday read even though we still have some time before Xmas and the New Year. I recommend it for sure. I’ll give this 4 stars. 

Tell Me Something Tuesday: Favorite Surprise Books of the Year

Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly discussion post on Rainy Day Ramblings where Rainy discuss a wide range of topics from books to blogging. Weigh in and join the conversation by adding your thoughts in the comments. If you want to do your own post, grab the question and answer it on your blog.

What were your favorite surprise books of the year?

I've had a couple books that surprised me in a good way. 

First, 'Barely a Bride' by Rebecca Hagan Lee. I thought I would barely enjoy this, but I ended up loving it. It certainly took me by surprise. The next one in the series was just okay, but this was good cheesy cover and all. 

'White Lies' by Susan Barrett is next. Simple, boring, and bleh cover. The story sounded decent, but then when I started reading and I couldn't stop reading it! So good, so sad. I didn't expect it to be so sad either. Which it made it even better. Pleasantly surprised. 

Toki and Rei say hello!