Parade’s End: The new Downton Abbey?

Parade’s End DVD cover

Click cover for BBC page!

Have any of you guys seen the new BBC/HBO production Parade’s End?

I don’t know about you but this is fast becoming one of my favourite period mini-series! Set during the Edwardian era and the First World War, this epic period drama centers around a wealthy aristocrat Christopher Tietjens (played beautifully by Benedict Cumberbatch) and his loveless marriage to the beautiful but cold, destructive Sylvia (played by the stunning Rebecca Hall). Things escalate when a young suffragette walks in to Christopher’s life, challenging his ideals and his loyalty to his wife.

Downton Abbey comes to mind when watching the trailer for this series but despite appearances, Parade’s End is not much like the beloved ITV hit. Well apart from the setting and the costumes of course. But where Downton only skims the surface of the more serious issues of that time including the decline of the aristocracy, Parade’s End goes deeper, delving on more philosophical and thought provoking ideas of what makes someone a good person and what duty means to each person. The characters are also not as clean cut good or evil and you never know what you can expect as it will go from calm seas to explosive drama all within a single scene. Of course there are still beautiful sets and costumes to drool over and the acting is top notch as expected.

So is it better than Downton Abbey? Still a bit too early too tell but so far it’s great in a different way. Less high tea polite chats and more dramatic and provocative, with some very original, intriguing characters. There’s no security of a happy ending either, unlike Downton.

Currently two episodes have aired and both have been amazing in my humble opinion. Looks like things will get more gritty in the next few eps with the war starting. Beautifully shot and directed by Susanna White with a great screenplay by renowned Tom Stoppard, this BBC production is not to be missed. Try it out for yourself!

Check out the trailer:

And here’s a great look at the making of:

Introducing Debut Author Tracey Devlyn!

I love discovering new authors with new and exciting stories to tell!

Meet Tracey Devlyn whose author website’s tagline reads: “Romancing history one defiant woman at a time.“

Her first novel (also first in the Nexus series) is about a captured British agent who falls in love with the man who helped to imprison her!

Sounds delicious right? 😉

View the exciting details below!

Click cover for more info!

Summary:

A British agent flees her French captor’s torturous dungeon and falls in love with the decoder responsible for her imprisonment.

British agent Cora deBeau has spent the last three years seducing secrets from the most hardened of French spies while searching for her parents’ killer. When her latest assignment goes awry, she suffers at the hands of her French captor until Guy Trevelyan, the Earl of Helsford and master cryptographer, saves her during a daring rescue. Scarred and wary of men, Cora shies away from the one man who could heal her savaged heart.

After rescuing Cora from a French dungeon, Guy discovers it was one of his deciphered messages that led to her captivity. While her enemy tracks them across England, Guy strives to earn her forgiveness. But will he find the scars on her wounded soul run too deep?

RELEASE DATE: APRIL 1, 2012

So will you be picking up this debut in April? 😀

Trailer for Downton Abbey Christmas Special!

Who else is looking forward to the return of the Earl of Grantham’s family and servants? 😀

So many questions to be answered!

Will Mary and Matthew finally get together?

Will Bates and Anna finally catch a break?

Watch the new one minute preview of Downton Abbey now!

Catch the special airing on December 25th on ITV1!

Sneak Peek of The Tatooed Duke by Maya Rodale!

Check out this neat little sneak peek of Maya’s latest romance!

Click cover to view sneak peek!

Summary:

Breaking news, scandal fans: 

You thought you knew the dangerous Duke of Wycliff, London’s globe-trotting adventure addict. Here’s what you don’t know: he’s penniless. Sebastian Digby’s dukely lifestyle is over forever unless he finds a rich bride. But thanks to The London Weekly, everyone knows better than to tangle with this lothario. Besides (as one writer can testify), it seems that Sebastian has been unable to keep his hands of his own lowly housemaid…

And that’s a problem. A big one. 

Because that housemaid just happens to be me. Eliza Fielding. The same undercover Writing Girl who’s been exposing the Duke’s most intimate secrets to the world. And now I’ve gone and complicated everything by falling love with him. Passion and deception have never been so delicious, but now the truth could destroy everything. This is more than a conflict of interest. It’s a seduction where love itself hangs in the balance.

RELEASE DATE:FEBRUARY 28, 2012

Debut Author Anna Randol and her new romance!

I blogged recently about a bunch of new debut authors for 2012 and now we’ve got another one-Anna Randol! Just in case you missed her cover featured on the Avon facebook page.. here is everything you need to know about this new author and her romance which looks set to be a 2012 bestseller!

Click cover for more info!

Summary:

She would gladly relinquish her life of intrigue…

A rare beauty, raised in the exotic heart of the Ottoman Empire, Mari Sinclair knows it’s time to end her career as a British spy when she narrowly avoids a brush with death. Unfortunately her employers think otherwise—and they are not above using blackmail to keep Mari in the Game.

Saddled with a handsome, duty-obsessed “minder” to ensure that she completes—and survives—one last mission, Mari is incensed…for her guardian, Major Bennett Prestwood, is simply too dedicated, too unbending, and too disarmingly attractive. But in the face of dark secrets and deadly treacheries, as the true peril to Mari is slowly revealed, loyal soldier Bennett realizes that, to save and win this extraordinary woman, he will have to do the unthinkable and break the rules—rules that passion and desire have suddenly, irrevocably changed.

RELEASE DATE: JANUARY 31, 2012

 

New Fan Video for Pride and Prejudice!

*Sigh*

I don’t think I shall ever get over Pride and Prejudice-the story, the romance, Lizzy, Darcy… I just had to make another video using a song that I recently became obsessed with! Hope you guys like it!

Five Great Reasons Why You Should Read Historical Romance

Alright, though most of us here are already dedicated readers of what is affectionately referrers to as HR novels, there are a lot of people who are as of yet clueless about the appeal and benefits of historical romance. Just to help make them see the light (so to speak) 😉  and to remind us fans of the value of historical romances I hereby present this list for your pleasure and immediate perusal.

1) The Hero

For the ladies-If there’s one thing we ladies read romance for, it is the hero. Strong, dashing, generous, smart, funny, protective, devoted, the HR hero is everything a woman wants in a man-and more! Guys, take a tip or two from these renowned conquerors of female hearts to help make your own love interest swoon 😛

2) The Heroine

That kick-ass, independent, feisty, brave woman all of us women secretly want to be. Think Lizzy Bennet. The fact that she usually bags the delicious hero at the end is a big plus 😉 You will not find copies of dependent, mopey, weak Bella Swan of Twilight fame in one of these romances (which is a plus for all you anti-Twilight folks)!

3) The History

What would a HR novel be without history in it? Regency, Victorian, Medieval, Georgian… You pick! Reading one of these novels can act almost like a history lesson. I know I’ve learned lots of stuff about life in certain periods of time-did you know that the first famous chef in history came from the Regency period? Or that a governess was the only real job a woman could do in the 1800’s? How about the fact that modern hygiene wasn’t developed until the Regency? So not just for your entertainment!

4) The Romance

The first meeting, the first kiss, the first touch, the first spark… If there’s one thing we humans can’t get enough of, it’s love and how it works. Yeah, we’re still no closer to getting the answers but these novels are a step in the right direction. Filled with all the longing, despair, and passion of relationships, you will be hooked and you won’t want to stop!

5) Life Lessons

Romance novels are a lot more than people give them credit for. They teach you things about life and love-real pearls of wisdom most of the time. Most of the time, the good will triumph over the bad, life is never what you expect, and help can come from the unlikeliest of places.

I hope I’ve convinced even a few of you to pick up a novel if you haven’t and for those of you who love HR books, DON’T stop reading!!! 😉

Regency House Party-Must watch for HR lovers!

I can’t believe this show exists! Imagine a reality dating show where 10 singles dress up and try to find love in a regency themed house party! Loads of fun and lots of things to learn! If you love Jane Austen, this is a must see.

Below is part 1 of 36. To see the rest, click on the video to get to Youtube.

Movie Rave: The Incredible Journey of Mary Bryant

I remember seeing clips of this movie wayyyy back in 2006 on the Hallmark Channel and have been meaning to watch the whole thing. I recently developed a love for Romola Garai who I had seen perform marvelously in other period dramas, like Daniel Deronda, Angel and Emma.

When I got to watch this movie at last, I was so happy I did. It is seriously one of the best period dramas/historical adventure movies I have ever seen. I was literally GLUED to my seat, so into the story I didn’t take note of the time! I think it was also because the movie itself was so fast-paced, it didn’t leave time for the viewer to relax! Romola outdoes herself here as a young English convict who would do anything to be free. The story is based on true events and revolves around her attempt to escape from her prison on what would later be Australia.

The acting overall was brilliant, the settings were beautiful and realistic, the story was unpredictable and intriguing, but I have to say the best part of the whole show was Jack Davenport who plays a British naval officer who Mary uses to escape.He did a brilliant job acting as the man who falls for Mary and wants to help her despite her being ‘the enemy’ so to speak. I felt so bad for him and was just so hooked on his complicated character. I really wanted him and Mary to end up together.

The story was also very inspiring as we discover at the start that Romola’s character wasn’t a villain and was just doing whatever she could to survive harsh circumstances. Her determiniation to survive was inspring and although I didn’t agree with some of the things she did, she would never have survived if she hadn’t. She was really someone who did whatever it took and it led to her finally escaping!

Overall, this was an amazing drama, truly top-notch. I’m not sure how accurate the story was, but it was so well-told, I couldn’t help but love it. It stayed with me long after I saw it and I’m dying to see it once more! If you ever get the chance to watch this, do! You won’t regret it!

Historical Drama Rating: 5 out 5!

Sexiness Rating: 5 out 5-Seriously, with the two leading men being Jack Davenport and Alex O’Loughlin, how can you go wrong? (And guys, Romola Garai is simply lovely here :P)

When the going gets tough… It’s time for Red Bull and Coffee!

Hey Addicts,

Sorry for the lack of posting recently-I’ve been very busy with meeting uni deadlines (an inevitability for a procrastinator like myself) but no worries, got loads of stuff planned for later. As usual expect book reviews and previews of next month’s books cause they’re gonna rock your socks off!

Also, you guys are the first to know about the new music video I have planned for the new BBC drama I just recently watched entitled ‘Our Mutual Friend.’ For those of you who have seen it, you can probably guess the couple I’ll be shipping hehe 😉 John and Bella had me from the first and I LOVED their love story 😀 Awesome chemistry-Such a cute couple and definitely worthy of a new video! So look forward to seeing that in the near future!

One of the cutest couples EVER and my new favourite couple of the moment: